USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Taunton > The ministry of Taunton, with incidental notices of other professions > Part 14
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members present at the reorganization of the Church in Norton, were thirteen, as follows : Caleb Atherton, Tisdale Godfrey, Amos Keith, Beulah E. Lincoln, Nancy Lincoln, Hannah Thayer, Lydia Thayer, Patience Lincoln, Betsey Snow, Stella Keith, Nancy Austin, Anna Macomber, Jo- anna Atherton.
The ministers of the church since its reorganization have been Rev. Messrs. Henry C. Cooms, Nathan Chap- man, Samuel J. Carr, John Holbrook, J. G. Bowen, Wil- liam Reed. I have been unable to learn anything of its earlier ministry .* I am indebted for the above facts to the Rev. Mr. Holmes, of Norton.
Congregational Trinitarian Church.
This Church was constituted April 3, 1832, and con- sisted of twenty-two members, viz : Nathan Perry, Leavit Bates, Lysander Makepeace, Jesse Blandin, John Patten, Sarah Makepeace, Phebe Patten, Lydia Shepard, Nancy M. Patten, Hannah Bates, Elizabeth Briggs, Rhoda Loth-
* Rev. Thomas Goodwin, a native of Norton, obtains the following facts concerning the origin of this church, from Mrs. Hannah Dean of Fairhaven, eldest daughter of Timothy Briggs, second deacon of the church :
Elder Goff of Dighton, having preached in Mansfield, a general in- terest was awakened, and large numbers received baptism by immersion. He was assisted and followed by Preachers Simmons and Ingle, the lat- ter quite an eloquent man. The meetings ceased in Mansfield, and a church appears to have been formed in Taunton, near Norton, composed for the most part of the fruits of this revival. This was not far from A. D., 1778. James Briggs was the first deacon. Rev. William Nelson was the first minister in about 1779. He was from Middleboro', and was succeeded in the oversight of the church, first by his brother Samuel, and afterwards by another brother Ebenezer Nelson, whose ministry ex- tended down to about 1797. (See Baker's Ch. Hist., and Benedict's Hist. of the Baptists.) Rev. Ebenezer Nelson has a son Col. Nathaniel Nelson, residing in New-Bedford.
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THE MINISTRY OF TAUNTON.
rop, Laban M. Wheaton,* Eliza B. Wheaton, Josiah King, Clarissa King, Mason Stone, Abigail M. Stone, Harriet Patten, Polly Goodwin, Allen Tucker, Emma Field.
Rev. Spencer F. Beard preached from the organization of the church in 1832, till 1835, but was never settled.
Rev. CYRUS W. ALLEN was the first Pastor of the church. Mr. Allen was born in Taunton, graduated at Brown University in 1826, and previous to his settlement in Norton, labored in the West. He was dismissed March 1, 1842, and is at present settled in Coleraine, of this State.
Rev. Homer Barrows supplied the pulpit a year or two, after Mr. Allen's dismission, but was never settled.
Rev. WILLIAM BARROWS was the second Pastor. He was ordained Sept. 4, 1845, and was dismissed June 4, 1850. Mr. Barrows is now the minister of Grantville.
Rev. FRANKLIN HOLMES, the third and present Pastor, was ordained Sept. 15, 1852. Mr. Holmes has kindly furnished the above statistical notice of the church.
* The " Wheaton Female Seminary," in Norton, was founded by Judge Wheaton, father of Laban M. Wheaton, and a distinguished citi- zen of the place. He was a man of great wealth, with only two children, a son and a daughter. The daughter married Dr. Strong of Boston, and died before her father. The loss of this, his only daughter, suggest- ed to Judge Wheaton, the idea of planting a School for Young Ladies in Norton, making it, as I heard him once remark, " the child of his adoption, in the place of his departed daughter." He liberally endowed it, and now for nearly twenty years it has existed an ornament, an honor, and a bles- sing, not only to Norton, but to all the neighboring towns. The only child of its founder has not forgotten the object of his father's care, as a recent liberal donation of Ten Thousand dollars abundantly testifies. There has been an able succession of Principals of the School, viz : Miss Caldwell, now Mrs. Cowles of the Ipswich Seminary, a beloved pupil and ardent admirer of the widely lamented Miss Lyon, who essentially aided Miss Caldwell in opening the School, not only by her counsel, but by her per- sonal presence ; Miss Knight, now the wife of Rev. Mr. Bean of Little Compton, R. I .; Miss Vose, now the wife of Rev. Mr. Emerson, of South Reading, Mass .; Miss Sawyer, a member of the family of Laban M. Wheaton, Esq., of Norton; Miss Cate, now wife of Rev. William Barrows, of Grantville, Mass .; and the present Principal, Mrs. Caroline C. Metcalf.
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CHURCHES OF NORTON.
The Wesleyan Methodist Church.
This church is of recent origin. It was organized May 3, 1850, consisting of the following members: Solomon P. Snow, minister ; David Cummings, Joseph Snow, Al- bert S. Tucker, Jonathan J. Stanley, Maria J. Snow, Ros- elana R. Cummings, Polly Jones, Nancy Snow, Abigail Tucker. Rev. Solomon P. Snow has officiated as Pastor from the organization of the church till the present time.
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THE MINISTRY OF TAUNTON.
CHAPTER VI.
THE CHURCHES AND MINISTRY OF DIGHTON.
THE " South Purchase " was made of Sachem Philip, in 1672, for £143 .* An Act of Incorporation was not applied for, which should make it a distinct town, until 1712, a short time after Norton was set off. The name of Dighton was selected by the settlers, as is supposed, in honor of the Dighton family, one of whom, Frances, was the wife of Richard Williams, principal purchaser and proprietor - not only of the original Tetiquet purchase, but of each of the subsequent purchases. She was a wo- man worthy of the distinguished honor which the inhabi- tants of that part of the town sought to bestow upon her.
The registry of ecclesiastical events in the history of Dighton is exceedingly meagre, as the brief records which our fathers left have perished, and there is nothing save the scantiest gleaning possible. There is nothing but the most uncertain tradition prior to 1826. Some facts are recollected with regard to the original church of the town, and through the kindness of the Rev. Ebenezer Newhall, temporary supply, have been transmitted for our use.
Rev. NATHANIEL FISHER, first minister of the town, received his call to settle as Pastor in the South Precinct of Taunton, in June, 1710. This was two years prior to the Incorporation of the town. Mr. Fisher was settled in
** Vide 1st volume, pp. 18 and 39.
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CHURCHES OF DIGHTON.
Dighton not far from fifty years. It is a mortifying fact that one who for so long a time was the only minister of the town, " a good man and a worthy minister of the gos- pel," as all transmitted accounts are ready to pronounce him, should sleep in its ancient burial place, without stone or slab to mark the spot of his repose, and with no other assurance of the fact of his burial, but the memory of the aged, and the proximity of the remains of his wife and chil- dren. Mr. Reed, who transcribed the inscriptions which fol- low, was informed by Mr. Gushe, whose period of settle- ment in the town now nearly equals that of the prob- able pastorate of his predecessor, that there never was the least memorial of filial or parochial regard above the re- mains of the departed minister. Mr. Fisher was a grad- uate of Harvard University, in 1706, and (according to Mr. Baylies,) was a native of some town in Norfolk coun- ty in this State. The evidence that there was once such a minister in Dighton, who undertook not only to teach the people in the way of truth and holiness, but to rear a fam- ily for God, is in the grave-yard.
" Here lieth ye body of Nathaniel, ye son of ye Rev. Nathaniel Fisher and Elizabeth his wife, died Aug. 1, 1728, aged 3 years.
In memory of Nathaniel, ye son of Rev. Mr. Nathaniel Fisher and Elizabeth his wife, died Nov. ye 2d, 1748, in ye 15th year of his age.
In memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Fisher, ye wife of ye Rev. Mr. Nathaniel Fisher, who died Sept. ye 23d, Anno Dom- ini 1765, in ye 70th year of her age."
REV. JOHN SMITH was the successor* of Mr. Fisher,
* In an article on the churches in Bristol county in the Am. Quart. Register for 1839, it is stated " Mr. Smith was settled a colleague with Mr. Fisher about the year 1772." Also, that " he continued in the min-
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THE MINISTRY OF TAUNTON.
and the second Pastor of the town. Mr. Baylies pro- nounces him a native of Plainfield, Ct., and a graduate of Yale College .* He was probably settled in Dighton not far from thirty years, removing thence to Pennsylvania, where he died. The only memorial of him which I have seen, is a church document commending George Godfrey to the church of Christ in Taunton, and which appears to be in the hand-writing of Mr. Smith. It is as follows :
" The Church of Christ of Dighton to the Church of Christ of Taunton : - Reverend and Beloved : wishing you grace, mercy and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord and only Savior, through the Holy Ghost ; We inform you that on application made to us by George God- frey, our brother, for leave to remove from us, and become connected with you, as a member of your communion, it is granted ; and, as in good standing with us and as worthy to be received to your holy care and fellowship, he is recom- mended by your brethren in the faith and patience of the kingdom of Christ.
By order of the Church. JOHN SMITH, Pastor. Rev. E. JUDSON.
To be communicated to the Church, Taunton."
Rev. WILLIAM WARREN, a native of New-Ipswich, N. H., and a graduate of Dartmouth College, in 1800, suc- ceeded Mr. Smith, and was the third minister of this
istry till Dee. 1801, when he was dismissed from his pastoral office; re- moving the next year to Pennsylvania, where he died." This last state- ment is substantiated by Mr. Baylies, a native of Dighton.
* The fact of the graduation is derived from Mr. Baylies. There was a graduate of Yale in 1763 bearing that name, but he is not italieised in "Farmer's list of graduates " as a clergyman. During Mr. Smith's ministry, Dr. Ezra Stiles, afterwards President of Yale College, driven from Newport by the invasion of the British, took up a temporary resi- dence in Dighton, and occasionally preached.
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CHURCHES OF DIGHTON.
Church and Society. "He was ordained Pastor of the church, in the year 1802, under the most favorable cir- cumstances, and prospects of usefulness. He was uncom- monly popular; and during the first years of his ministry he seemed to be blessed. In 8 or 9 years he became inat- tentive to ministerial duties, subjected himself to censures, practiced medicine, became loose in his morals, removed to Salem. In 1820, he was excommunicated from the church in Dighton." It is supposed the records of the Church were destroyed by him. The influence of this man and his ministry were baneful in the extreme. It has not ceased to be felt for evil to this day.
In 1826, Rev. William Torrey labored with the church and people for a few weeks.
Dec. 26, 1827, Rev. Preston Cummings* was installed Pastor of the church. He was dismissed in Oct. 1835.
In 1837, Rev. Jonathan King labored for a time with this people.
In April, 1838, Rev. John Shaw commenced his labors as stated supply and acting Pastor. He continued till March, 1843.
In Jan. 1844, Rev. Joseph H. Bailey was ordained Pastor. Nov. 9th, of the same year, he died, much la- mented.
Rev. George Brown, Rev. Mr. Newton, Rev. Wales Lewis and Rev. B. W. Fuller, have been since that time employed as stated supplies.
Second Congregational Society in Dighton.
There was considerable dissension in Dighton the latter part of the last century, connected with the location of
Rev. Mr. Cummings has recently published a work on Congrega- tionalism, which exhibits much research, and is a valuable book for ref- erence on that subject.
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THE MINISTRY OF TAUNTON.
the meeting-house. Rev. Mr. Smith, desiring to make peace between the parties, undertook to preach in both sections of the town, and for a time succeeded in prevent- ing a division. On his leaving however, a permanent sep- aration took place, and when Mr. Warren was settled in the west part of the town, where the "Brick meeting- house " now stands, the "Lower Society," as it is called, located themselves on the border of the river, and invited to settle with them Rev. ABRAHAM GUSHE, their first and present minister. Mr. Gushe is a native of Raynham, a graduate of Brown University, in 1798, and was ordained in Dighton, Sept. 23, 1803. He has therefore nearly completed his half century in the Pastoral office in the same place - a rare thing in these days of frequent remov- als.
Calvinist Baptist Church and Society.
There is a Baptist Society in Dighton, on the borders of Rehoboth, which, according to the Minutes of the " Taunton Baptist Association," was constituted in 1780, and is one of the oldest* in the region. One Elder Goff, a gifted but uneducated man, preached there more than half a century ago, and his ministry was of some length.
The Calvinistic portion of the church now have a house, and maintain separate worship at the "Lower Four Cor- ners," not far from Mr. Gushe's. The succession of Min- isters in this Church either branch of it is unknown to me. The Calvinist Church are now without a Pas tor.
* The oldest is located in Swanzey, dating back as far as 1763. The churches in North Attleboro', North Taunton, now Norton, Dighton, and the 1st in Fall River, are of nearly equal antiquity. The Baptist Church in Seekonk also existed prior to this century.
191
CHURCHES OF DIGHTON.
Christian Baptist Church.
This portion of the ancient Baptist Society worship in the old place near the Dighton and Rehoboth line.
Second Christian Baptist Church.
This Church is planted in the north-east part of Digh- ton, in a manufacturing village, called North Dighton, and is of comparatively recent origin.
Methodist Episcopal Church.
This is located in North Dighton, and has existed about twenty-five years, with the usual change in that denomina- tion of ministerial labor.
192
THE MINISTRY OF TAUNTON.
1
CHAPTER VII.
THE CHURCHES AND MINISTRY OF EASTON.
IF our supposition with regard to the origin of the name given to Taunton North Purchase, at the time of its in- corporation as Norton be correct, we may suppose the same idea was in the mind of the settlers of the easterly part of the Purchase, then included in Norton, when in 1725, or fourteen years after the incorporation of Norton, they applied for a charter, and gave their new town the name of Easton.
The earliest "Book of records of the Church of Christ in Easton," bears date " October 10th, Anno Domini, 1748." The church was organized probably many years before, but precisely how long we do not certainly know.
Rev. MATTHEW SHORT was the first Pastor in Easton. This is the only statement in the records of the church concerning him. Mr. Short graduated at Harvard Uni- versity in 1707, and was the first minister of the town of Attleboro'. He was settled there, Nov. 12, 1712, and was dismissed May 31, 1715 .* It was not many years probably after his dismission, that he was installed Pastor over the new church in Easton. He closed his life among the people of his pastoral charge. His sepulchre is with them to this day. Rev. William Reed, a son of one of
* Vide Am. Quart. Register, for Nov. 1839.
6
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CHURCHES OF EASTON.
Mr. Short's successors, has furnished me with the inscrip- tion on his stone .*
"In memory of ye Rev'd Mr. Matthew Short. De- ceased April ye 16th, 1731, in ye 44th year of his age. The sweet remembrance of ye Just,
Shall flourish when he sleeps in dust."
It has been stated that one Farrar, officiated as minister for a time after Mr. Short's death, and was actually installed, but nothing is known of him. Follow- ing " the records," Rev. JOSEPH BELCHER is to be consid- ered " the second Pastor." "He was dismissed from the Pastoral office Anno Domini 1744." The traditional ac- count is, that he became deranged, and died a lunatic. There were graduates of Harvard University bearing his name, in the years 1690 and 1723, who entered the min- istry. Which, if either, was the minister of Easton, is not ascertained.
Rev. SOLOMON PRENTICE, " son of Solomon, born in Cambridge, May 11, 1705,"# succeeded Mr. Belcher in the Pastoral office. He graduated at Cambridge in 1727, and was installed Pastor in Easton, Nov. 18, 1747. Rev. Messrs. Leonard of Plymouth, Goddard and Eaton of Lei- cester, Balch of Dedham, Porter of Bridgewater, and Crock er of Taunton were present and took part in the services of
* At the same time he sent me the epitaph on the monument of anoth. er minister, of an earlier date, but whether he officiated in Easton or elsewhere I am unable to say. The following is a fac-simile :
"HERE - LISE . THE . BODY . OF - ELDER - WILLIAM . PRATT - AGED - 54 - DIED IN - THE - YEA - 1713, - IANVARY . THE .13 -" .
f See Quart. Register, already quoted.
# Ms. letter of Rev. Mr. Blake.
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THE MINISTRY OF TAUNTON.
Installation. He had been previously settled in Grafton, where he was ordained Dec. 29, 1731, and dismissed July 10, 1747, four months prior to his Installation in Easton. It was the same year with the settlement of Mr. Prentice, that the Church perceiving that there was no Covenant to be found,; thought it expedient to procure one agreeable to the Scripture, and sign and subject themselves unto it, which accordingly they did, and it is as follows :
EASTON CHURCH COVENANT.
WE, the Subscribers, Members of the Church of Christ in Easton, mett together the Sixth day of April A. Domi- ni 1747, Apprehending itt our duty under our present cir- cumstances, solemnly and explicitly to renew our covenant with God, Do therefore personally present ourselves this day in the holy presence of God, to transact with him this important affair of His Kingdom and Glory ; and humbling ourselves before the Lord for all our sins, and the sins of ours, earnestly praying for pardoning Mercy and Reconcil- iation with God, through the Blood of our Lord Jesus, and for the Gracious Presence and assistance of His Holy Spirit, under a deep sense of our own weakness, and un- worthyness, and with an Humble Confidence of His favor-
* He received his call in Grafton, June 24, 1731, on "£90 passable money, or bills of credit, as money now passes from man to man, or as the valuation of money shall be from time to time, or as said money ris- es and falls." £10 were afterwards added. (Willson's Century Ser- mon of Grafton - pub. 1847. Worcester.)
1 Mr. Belcher, in his insanity, cither destroyed or carried away the church covenant and records - as appears from the following church action : "Proposed to know who were members of the church of Christ in this town ; and in order hereunto, it was proposed to choose a com- mittee to wait upon Mr. Belcher, late Pastor in this place, to know of him whether there were in his hands, or whether he knew anything of a covenant this church had submitted unto, and to intreat him, if he had any, to deliver it up to said committee, as also any other records he had in his hands, that belonged or related to this church." It is suppos- ed the application was fruitless.
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COVENANT OF EASTON IN 1747.
able acceptation : Each of us for ourselves, and all of us jointly together, do renewedly enter into Covenant with God, and one with another, in the terms following, that is to say,
First of all, We do avouch the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost for our Portion, and Chiefe Good, and give up ourselves, Body and Soul to Him, to be His Servants, promising by His aid and assistance, to love Him, fear Him, trust in Him, and yield obedience to Him, in all things, all ye days of our Lives.
2dly. Whereas the Son of God in our nature is Exalted as a Prince and a Savior, the only Mediator of ye New Covenant, and Means of coming unto God, We do there- fore through Grace, accept of Him, according to ye Ten- nor of ye Gospel offer, that is to say, as the Prophet, Priest and King of our Immortal souls, purposing and promising to attend His teachings by His Word and Spirit - to lean on His Merrit and Intercession with the Father, as the only way for ye obtainment of ye pardon of our sins, the favour of God, and continuance therein ; and finally the subduing all our Enemies, and working all His works in us and for us.
3d. Whereas there are different apprehensions among those that profess Christianity, with respect to ye Doctrine of Religion : We do declare our consent and adherence to the Westminster Assembly's Shorter Catechism, appre- hending in our Judgment and Conscience that it is agree- able to the Word of God.
4th. Whereas God has promised to be a God unto His People, and their Children after them, We do therefore dedicate our children to the service of God in Jesus Christ, promising that we will seasonably bring those of them that
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THE MINISTRY OF TAUNTON.
are unbaptized to Jesus Christ in the Ordinance of Bap- tism, and as they grow into years of understanding, in- struct them in ye Nature, use and End, of that ordinance, and into the Principles of ye Christian Religion, (so far as necd is ;) That we will sett good Examples of Righteous- ness, Piety, and Sobriety before them - Restrain them as we are able, from being carried away with ye Temptations of their age and time ; Endeavoring that they may be pre- pared for the enjoyment of Christ in all His Ordinances ; and, finally, be much in prayer to God for their Conver- sion and Salvation.
5th. We promise that we will (by the help of God) avoid all ye Superstitions and Inventions of men in the Worship of God, as Derogatory from the Sovereignty and Wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Supream Head of His Church ; that we will not scandalously absent ourselves from any part of Instituted Worship : Do what in us lies to prepare ourselves for upholding and improving all the Ordinances of Christ, to the spiritual benefit and advan- tage of our souls- Leaning upon the promise, that God will meet those that Rejoyce in, and Work Righteousness, and Remember Him in His Ways.
6th. We promise (by the help of God) that we will, with as much frequency as may be, Read, or cause ye Word of God to be Read in our Houses or families, that so the Word of God may dwell rightly within us ; Season- ably and Constantly upholding the Worship of God there, and attending the same with sincerity and affection.
7th. Whereas we have given up Ourselves to ye Lord and to one another, in the Lord, We purpose and promise, that we will live together in holy fellowship and all holy watchfulness over each other, to the prevention off, or re-
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COVENANT OF EASTON IN 1747.
covery from any Scandalous Evils that through ye temp- tations of Satan, or corruptions of our own heart, we may at any time be overtaken with -That we will be as speedy as may be, in making up any difference that may arise, in some Orderly way ; Endeavoring also the temporal and spiritual good of one another.
8th. We promise that (by the help of God) we will have respect unto all the Duties enjoined in the 2d Table, as being necessary Parts of a right ordered Conversation ; Particularly be true and faithful to all our Civil Contracts and agreements with one another, and with all men we may have to do with, that so none may have occasion to speak evil of our Profession.
9th, and finally, where as there is a strong Propensity in our Natures to do what is evil, and sinful, we purpose and promise, that (by the help of God's Spirit) We will keep our hearts, and Mortifie those Lusts that dwell in us ; Avoiding all such temptations as our sinful hearts are wont to be drawn aside withall ; and that we may keep this Covenant Inviolable forever in all the Branches of itt, We desire to deny Ourselves, not trusting in our own Wisdom or Strength, humbly and believingly Depending upon God, in and through Jesus Christ, and the presence of His Holy Spirit with us, and where we come short, there to wait on Him for pardon, and healing for His Name's sake.
(Signed) Solomon Prentice,* Pastor ; Thomas Randall, Ephraim Randall, Israel Randall, Edward Hayward, Jo- seph Crossman, Seth Babbitt, John Phillips, Jr., Thomas Pratt, Joseph Drake, Eliphalet Leonard, Thomas Allger, Benj. Drake, John Selle, Nath. Allger, Joshua Phillips,
* Mr. Prentice probably signed it after his Installation. It was en- tered into by the brethren several months before.
17*
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THE MINISTRY OF TAUNTON.
James Pratt, Samuel Phillips, Robert Randall, Solomon Hewitt, George Keyzar, Benajah Smith, Nath. Perry, James Stacy, Samuel Randall, Thomas Drake, Samuel Drake, James Pratt, Jr., John Whitman, Jr., Jos. Cross- man, Jr., Jonathan Lothrop, John Drake, Jr., Abraham Drake, Mathew Hayward, Ebenezer Phillips, Wetherell Wittum, Thos. Randall, Jr., Israel Randall, Jr., Josiah Perry, Joseph Randall, James Dean, John Kinsley, Sam. Phillips, Jr., Ebenezer Ames, David Newland, John Drake, Henry Howard, Benj. Pettingill, Samuel Briggs, Daniel Niles. Presbyterians admitted : William Pratt, Jr.
" The names of the women, members of the church of Christ in Easton follow." Of these there are sixty re- corded.
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