USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Wenham > The history of Wenham : civil and ecclesiastical, from its settlement in 1639, to 1860 > Part 10
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This scheme was not adopted without considera- ble opposition, many churches and ministers re- garding it as unscriptural and dangerous. By de- grees, however, it prevailed very generally, and in many places continued in use almost till our own times. To guard against laxity of discipline and other evils, which in many places attended it, Mr. Gerrish drew up " a form for such as own the cov- enant and offer their children for baptism."
About this time the unhappy excitement re- specting witchcraft, was at its height. It originat- ed in the neighboring town of Danvers, and ex- tended to several of the adjoining villages. A
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person in Wenham, whose name is not mentioned, accused Mrs. Hale, wife of the Rev. John Hale, of Beverly, of witchcraft; but her excellence and worth were so well known and appreciated that no one appears to have believed the charge. "The whole community was convinced that the accusers, in crying out upon Mrs. Hale, had perjured them- selves, and from that moment their power was de- stroyed, the awful delusion ceased, the curtain fell and a close was put to one of the most tremendous tragedies in the history of real life." The belief in witchcraft was not at this period confined to New England; it prevailed throughout the civilized world. Statutes against it were enacted by the wisest legislators, and sentence of death pronounc- ed upon those who were accused of it, by the most learned and cautious judges of Europe, And when we consider the peculiar education and circum- stances of the early settlers of Massachusetts, it will not appear strange that they should have the prejudices and errors of the wisest statesmen, and of the most learned jurists of their age.
The excitement which pervaded the region, of course extended to Wenham, and four of the jury who tried and presented most of those who were executed, belonged to this place. We have no record, however, that the witches ever held any of their pow-wows within our bounds, albeit one might suppose the great swamp to be a very fit place for their rendezvous.
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During the long period of Mr. Gerrish's minis- try, the church and people under his care appear to have greatly prospered. Careful attention was paid to cases of discipline, and to everything which might contribute to the spiritual welfare of his flock. The assistance of the church and its pastor was often invited to join in organizing churches in other places, and to give advice at councils, in cases of difficulty. Many such occasions are re- corded in the histories of the adjoining towns.
Transgressors of the laws and regulations of the church did not escape unrebuked. The fol- lowing is a form of " absolution," granted to those who, after being reproved, gave evidence of peni- tence and humility :
" Though you have greatly sinned against the Lord, this church, and your own soul, yet, seeing you humble yourself be_ fore God, and penitently fly to the Lord Jesus Christ for mer- cy, resolving through grace, to do so no more ; we tell you as in John ii. 1, 2, and 1 John i. 9, Isaiah lv. 7, 8, Prov. xxviii. 13. This church doth now loose the bonds laid upon you, and re- ceive you again into their communion ; who are to receive you and not upbraid you with your fall, and rejoice in your recove- ry. And we exhort and charge you that you watch more care- fully for the future, and that you avoid temptations, and accept reproofs, and see that you turn not again to your former ways of sin, but obey the Spirit, and keep close to God in the means of your preservation. So help you God, in Christ Jesus our Lord."
This form being publicly read and assented to, the offender was restored to his standing in the church.
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In 1705, a new covenant was formed and solemn- ly approved by the church. This covenant was read and adopted after the communion in July, and again sanctioned in March of the following year, and still again in 1710, and is as follows :
" We, the communicants of the church in Wenham, being under a deep sense of the distress of the church of God in gen- eral, and of the heavy and wasting judgments which have been on this land, and in pursuance of diverse declarations recom- mended to us by our much honored and well affected rulers, ex- horting all well minded among us to do their utmost to check and suppress the growing immoralities and profaneness too manifest in the midst of us; and to endeavor to promote the necessary and much desired work of reformation in ourselves, ours, and others. As one proper means, among others, we do agree and purpose, (Divine grace helping and encouraging) vigorously and resolvedly to set ourselves in our several capac- ities and relations, to detect, prosecute, and reform the growing enormities, which are the enemies and dishonor of our profes- sion and religion.
1. "We will more strictly watch over our own hearts and lives, that we may become more exemplary and inoffensive in our conversation toward God and men.
2. " We will faithfully watch over one another and submit ourselves to the brotherly counsels and admonitions, which may charitably and regularly be given, one to another, and from another to ourselves or ours, as occasion may be offered.
3. " In particular, we will take heed of the love of the world, that it cause us not to neglect our duty to God in our general calling, or abate the zeal and care which we should have of the glory of God.
4. " We will draw near to God in his ordinances, and we will not indulge ourselves in formality and drowsiness in the
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worship of God. Nor will we allow ourselves or ours, in sen- suality, intemperance, or excess in meats, drinks, or apparel.
5. " That we will more strictly guard our thoughts, words and actions, on the Lord's day, and will endeavor to restrain all within our gates from profaning any part of it.
6. " We will more carefully inspect the manners of our fami- lies, and endeavor to command our children and households after us, to serve the Lord.
7. " We will, without partiality, bear our testimony against such transgressions and enormities as shall fall within our ob- servation.
" If so be, by these or other means, we may promote the glorious work of reformation, and obtain the removal of God's wasting judgments we labor under, and the averting of omens impending, and the return of God's gracious presence, with the restoration of his wonted favors and blessings, as in former times, we may be happy."
This covenant shows the strictly practical char- acter of religion in those times, and especially the care and diligence with which church members watched over one another, as well as over their friends and neighbors.
Many of the people from the south part of Ip- swich had been in the habit of attending church in Wenham, and had materially contributed to the support of the gospel here. But in 1714, fourteen church members and seventeen families were dis- missed, to form a new church at Ipswich Hamlets, now Hamilton. £39 11s. 9d. were allowed to them for their share, which was estimated to be one- third, in the meeting-house.
Mr. Gerrish continued to serve the town with
15
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general acceptance, till the seventieth year of his age, and the forty-seventh of his ministry. The following is the account of his death in the church records :
" Jan. 6, 1720. This day ye Revd. Mr. Joseph Gerrish, ye faithful and useful minister of ye place, who was seized with a vertigo a few days since, which quickly turned into something of an apo- plectic aspect, departed this life in ye 70th year of his age. He was born at Newbury, March 23, 1650 ; educated by ye learned and venerable Mr. Thomas Parker; took his degree at Harvard, 1696; preached first at Dover and then at Wenham, May 25, Anno 1673. He came to dwell here July 6th, following, and was solemnly set apart for ye work of the ministry, Jan. 12, Anno Christi 1674-5. This place prospered so (Deo juvante) under him, that at his death there were more than three times the number of families, which there were at his first coming to them. He was a person of excel- lent piety, a gentlemanly spirit, of a singular good- ness in his temper, an uncommon example of hos- pitality, greatly esteemed by all ye towns of ye vi- cinity, but especially a rare blessing on all ac- counts, unto this town, where God had stationed him ; who at his death, in suitable expressions of honor and sorrow, universally testified yt they looked on him as a holy and righteous man, and a valuable servant of God. His body was decently interred, Tuesday, Jan. 12th, a vast multitude being present to do him honor at his burial."
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We need add nothing to this quaint yet striking testimonial to the character of this excellent man. Under his ministry, nine hundred and eighty-seven persons were baptized, two hundred and thirty-six owned the covenant, and two hundred and thirteen were admitted to full communion with the church. No distinct registry appears to have been preserv" ed of marriages and deaths. Nor was his reputa- tion confined to the immediate scene of his labors. The learned Cotton Mather thus concludes a ser- mon upon the occasion of his death :
" How can we see the departure of ministers who had a lustre among the righteous, without some sad apprehensions of the glory departing ? So much going that was our beauty and our de- fence, and that cry not be made, 'My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof.' The cry is heard upon the death of the gracious, humble, faithful Mr. Joseph Gerrish ; a man on many accounts, but especially those of righteousness, more precious than fine gold, than the golden wedge of Ophir ; the useful minister of Wenham, whom a distemper of an apoplectic as- pect arresting him as he was near finishing the seventieth year of his age, has newly fetched away to the mansions, which his great Saviour had prepared for him. He is one of the elders who has obtained this good report, that he was a holy and righteous man. A person of excel- lent piety, one of a gentlemanly as well as relig-
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ious disposition; one of a singular goodness and sweetness in his temper ; candid, courteous, full of condescension ; an uncommon example of hos- pitality ; a singular blessing to the town where God had stationed him, which, under his conduct, became thrice as big as he found it at his first coming to them. And his people at his death, with an universal concurrence in expressions of their love to him, testified some sense thereof, tes- tified what an esteem God had given him in the hearts of those that were acquainted with him. Farewell, O man greatly beloved ! May his be- reaved flock that had been happy in him for six and forty years, now find the compassion of our Great Shepherd concerned for them."*
Mr. Gerrish was buried in the grave-yard, where a reddish stone slab, the inscription upon which has unfortunately become illegible, marks the spot of his resting-place. The town showed their re- spect for his memory by voting £20 for his funeral expenses, and many years after his death, they
* We add, in respect to Mr. Gerrish, the testimony of John Dun- stan, Esq., an English gentleman who visited him in 1686. "It were endless to enter on a detail of each faculty of learning Mr. Gerrish is master of, and I therefore take his character in short hand. The philosopher is acute, ingenious and subtle. The divine curious, orthodox and profound. The man of a majestic air with- out austerity or sourness; his aspect is masterly, yet not imperious or haughty. The Christian is devout without moroseness or starts of holy frenzy or enthusiasm. The preacher is primitive without the occasional colors of whining or cant, and methodical without intrica- cy or affectation ; and, which crowns his character, he is a man of public spirit, zealous for the conversion of the Indians, and of great hospitality to strangers. He gave us a noble dinner, and entertain- ed us with such pleasant fruits as I must own old England is a stranger to. Taking leave of this generous Levite, we thought it high time to prosecute our designed ramble to Ipswich."
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made a generous appropriation to repair the mon- ument over his grave. He left a widow, a daugh- ter of Richard Waldron, Esq., and five children.
Being thus deprived of their spiritual guide, the church, about three weeks after the death of Mr. Gerrish, held a private fast, with the assistance of the Rev. Messrs. Chipman and Prescott. It was voted to appoint a committee of six to supply the pulpit, and also to observe the 10th of February following, as a public fast, " to seek God's face and favor in our bereaved state, and his blessing on our endeavors for a re-settlement, and that the congregation be desired to join with us in the work of said day."
March 15th. The church gave a unanimous call to Rev. Joseph Emerson, to settle with them, which call was concurred in by the town, on the 18th. After some considerable time, Mr. Emerson sent them a letter dated at Boston, July 11th, de- clining their call. Aug. 20th, the church voted to give a call to Rev. Daniel Perkins, of Charlestown' which was at first agreed to by the town, but at a second meeting an unhappy difference arose about the salary, some wishing to make it £90, while the town would give only £80 a year. Upon this dif- ference of opinion, Mr. Perkins declined to preach any longer at Wenham. The church then engaged Mr. Robert Ward, teacher of the grammar school at Charlestown, to preach for the three ensuing Sabbaths. His first text was Ps. cxix. 113. "Order 15*
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my steps in thy way." So much were the church and society pleased with these efforts, that they voted unanimously, Oct. 20th, to invite Mr. Ward to be their pastor, offering him £90 annually, in bills of credit or passable money, for his salary, and £100 for his settlement. The following note from the young men of the town, addressed to Mr. Ward, will show the strong impression which his preaching and other services had made upon all classes of people.
" To MR. ROBERT WARD :-
" Sir :- We whose names are hereunto subscribed, living in Wenham, and not in a capacity to vote in town concerns, do not only declare our willingness, but also our desire is, that you would be pleased to take up with our church and town's call. And in so doing, we, the subscribers, shall be much obliged therein, and are yours to serve in whatsoever is duty from us to yourself."
Nov. 7, 1720.
James Kemball,
Abraham Kemball,
John Kemball,
John Rogers,
Daniel Kemball,
Paul Kemball,
Thomas Browne,
Daniel Allen,
Zaccheus Goldsmith,
Israel Triker,
Samuel Batchelder,
Josiah White,
Thomas Kemball,
Daniel Fairfield,
Edward Waldron,
Thomas Baker,
John Moulton,
Jeremiah Perkins,
Nathaniel Kemball,
John Dodge,
Joseph Tarbox,
Robert Herrick,
Daniel Clafling,
George Thoping,
Thomas Dodge,
James Rix,
Josiah Kemball.
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Such a testimonial of respect and kind feeling must have been very gratifying to Mr. Ward, and it is not strange that, with such encouragement, the invitation was cheerfully accepted. The fol- lowing is his letter of acceptance :
" To ye much respected, ye committee appointed to notifie to me the call of the church, and ye concurrence of ye congregation at Wenham :
SIRS :- I have seriously weighed your important call, and have sought direction from Heaven, that, in this great affair, my steps might be ordered according to the Word of God. I have also consulted my fathers in the ministry, who have unan- imously advised me to look upon your invitation as a call of Christ, and to comply therewith. Whereupon I do, with the greatest concern and seriousness of mind, accept it as such, en- gaging, by Divine assistance, to attend, and so far as God shall enable me, to carry on and discharge all the duties of a gospel minister towards this church of Christ; and I earnestly beg your prayers to God for me, yt He would qualify me daily, more and more, for it ; yt He would direct and enable me by his grace, so to live and so to preach, as becomes a minister of Christ, and one that watches for souls. Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer is, yt I may at all times come unto you in ye fullness of the blessings of the gospel of peace, and that my ministry may be a means of turning many to righteousness ; a savour of life unto each of the souls committed unto my charge, whereby I shall have unspeakable joy and they an inconceiva- ble reward in the day of our Lord. I am yours, henceforward, in ye service of ye gospel.
ROBERT WARD. Wenham, Nov. 13, 1720.
Mr. Ward was ordained Jan. 25, 1721. The church in Charlestown, the 1st and 3d churches in
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Ipswich, the 2d church in Beverly, and the church- es in Topsfield and Manchester, were invited to take part in the council. The church in Charles- town, in consequence of the distance and of illness in the pastor's family, did not come, but sent a high testimonial to the worth and excellent char- acter of the pastor elect. The exercises of the or- dination were commenced with prayer, by Mr. Ca- pen, of Topsfield ; Mr. Ward preached from 2 Sam. vii. 18. Mr. Rogers, of Ipswich, gave " the awful charge." Mr. Fitch, the right hand of fellowship, and Mr. Wigglesworth closed with prayer. “We sang ye three last staves of Ps. 132, and Mr. Ward pronounced the blessing."
Feb. 21st was observed as " a day of fasting and prayer, and to renew the solemn covenant with God and one another." Mr. Ward began with prayer, and then preached from Ezra viii. 21. "To seek of him a right way for us." The covenant drawn up by Mr. Gerrish was read, and the assent of the church signified; the brethren signified their assent by holding up their hands, the sisters by rising."
The church appears to have been highly pros- pered during the entire period of Mr. Ward's min- istry. It was voted April 7, 1727, to observe a day of fasting and prayer, in private, to beseech the favor of God upon us, that he would unite our hearts to fear his great name, and that he would vouchsafe the great blessing of early piety to our
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children and those who descend from us." These efforts of the church were so successful that with- in a year of the time, fifty-six were admitted to the church and seventy-five " owned the covenant."
But amidst these proofs of the prosperity of the church and the usefulness and piety of its pastor, we suddenly meet with the record that " Rev. Mr. Ward being sick, a committee was chosen by the town to supply the pulpit, and it was voted to raise £30 for the purpose." Soon after he died, July 19, 1732, in the 38th year of his age, and the eleventh of his ministry. During the ten and one-half years which he served the church in Wenham, two hundred and sixteen persons were baptized, one hundred and eighteen admitted to full communion, seventy-five owned the covenant, fifty-four couples were married, and one hundred and twenty-two died. The town showed their re- spect for his memory by voting £26 towards his funeral expenses. He was born, as appears from the inscription over his grave, in Charlestown, Sept. 23, 1694, and graduated at Harvard, 1719. He was twice married; first, to Priscilla, daughter of Hon. James Appleton, of Ipswich, who died in 1724, aged twenty-eight years ; and secondly, to Margaret, daughter of Daniel Rogers, Esq., of Ip- swich, who survived her husband, and died in 1743, aged forty-four years. From the records it appears that she did not unite with the church until after the death of her husband. Both the
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wives of Mr. Ward lie by his side in the old part of the burial ground.
Being again deprived of their spiritual head, the church, according to their usual custom, held " a day of prayer and fasting, seriously to implore the direction of Heaven in the choice of another pastor." A committee appointed to seek a candi- date, engaged Mr. John Warren to preach for six Sabbaths, at the end of which he received a call from the church and people, to become their pas- tor. A salary of £130 was offered, with £200 upon his settlement .* An appropriation of £23 was also made for the expenses of the ordination, which occurred Jan. 12, 1733. The 1st and 3d churches in Ipswich, the two churches in Beverly, and the first three churches in Salem were invited to assist in the exercises of the day. Mr. Prescott, of Salem, opened with prayer, Mr. Wigglesworth, of Ipswich, preached from Heb. xii. 17, " As they that must give an account." Rev. Mr. Rogers, of Ipswich, gave the charge, and Rev. Mr. Fisk, of Salem, the fellowship of the churches. "Two staves of the 132d Psalm" were sung, and the bene- diction pronounced by the pastor.
" A day of prayer and fasting was held, June 15, 1734, for the revival of religion, that the blessing of God might be on the rising generation." This special effort appears to have been followed by in-
* This large increase in the amount of salary, above what had pre- viously been given, is to be ascribed to depreciation in the value of the provincial money.
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creased religious interest, and a large accession to the church.
In 1737, the town was visited with a terrible epidemic, of which about twenty persons died in the course of three months. Two families lost the entire number of their children, viz., Mr. John Gott and Mr. Richard Dodge ; the former of whom lost five and the latter four. A public fast was appointed, to improve this season of affliction. Rev. Mr. Champney preached in the morning, from Jer. ix. 24; Rev. Mr. Chipman, in the after- noon, from Jer. ii. 30. Thus did our forefathers acknowledge the hand of God in the hour of afflic- tion, as well as in the time of prosperity. A pow- erful revival followed, and within the following year we find that thirty-five persons were united with the church. From the previous accounts it will appear that this church was no stranger to re- vivals of religion, and accordingly we find them ready to sympathize with such works occurring in other places. About the year 1740, occurred the Great Awakening, as it has been called, under the labors of Whitefield, Edwards and others. After the first generation of Puritans had passed away, religious zeal and interest appeared to decline. Coldness and lethargy very generally prevailed among the churches, and when the new reforma- tion arose, no little opposition was encountered from many distinguished persons, both of the cler- gy and of the laity. On the other hand, it was as
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warmly supported by an assembly of one hundred and thirteen pastors, at a " meeting in Boston, July 7, 1743, occasioned by the late happy Revival of Religion in many parts of the land." Among the names of those present, appears that of Rev. John Warren, pastor of the church at Wenham.
In 1743, " a century lecture" was delivered by Mr. Warren on the hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town. This lecture unfor- tunately appears not to have been preserved. It doubtless contained much interesting and valuable matter respecting the early history of the town, which cannot now be replaced.
Mr. Warren was settled on what appears to have been a liberal salary for the times, yet so fluctuating was the state of the currency that it became necessary repeatedly to make special grants for his maintenance. In 1743, £30 were thus given, and the same the following year ; then £70 a year were added to his regular salary for three years. In 1746, the parish voted to give £100 to Mr. Warren in addition to the £130 a year, on which he was settled ; the next year, this grant was raised to £170, and in 1748 to £220.
Mr. Warren's health appears to have been for several years rather feeble. He died July 19, 1749, in the 45th year of his age, and the 17th of his ministry. The town supplied the pulpit during his illness, and voted £20 for the expenses of his funeral. He was born at Roxbury, Sept. 18, 1704,
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graduated at Cambridge, 1725, began to preach in 1727. His epitaph says of him, that "he was a burning and shining light, beloved of his brethren in the ministry, as well as of his own flock, and deservedly lamented at his death."
Soon after the death of Mr. Warren, the church and town united in the choice of Mr. Samuel Turrell for their pastor. But Providence had not so ordained, for on the 10th of February follow- ing, he was removed by death before his answer to the people of Wenham had been given. Under these circumstances, the 9th of May was observed as a day of prayer and fasting. A few days sub- sequently, Mr. Joseph Swain, of Reading, was unanimously invited to become their pastor ; £70 lawful money was offered as a salary, and £133 6s. 8d. granted upon his settlement. The ordination took place Oct. 24, 1750. Rev. Mr. Perkins, of Bridgewater, preached from Deut. viii.11. Rev. Mr. Wigglesworth, of Ipswich, offered the ordaining prayer and gave the charge, and Mr. Hobby, of Reading, gave the right hand of fellowship.
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