Three historical addresses at Groton, Massachusetts, Part 6

Author: Green, Samuel A. (Samuel Abbott), 1830-1918
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Groton [Mass.]
Number of Pages: 364


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Groton > Three historical addresses at Groton, Massachusetts > Part 6


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13


The distinction is purely technical, and relates solely to matters of ecclesiastical government and congregational polity. The Puritans laid great stress on questions of this kind, and until a church was gathered the seals or sacra- ments could not be administered. During these two years of preaching the Lord's Supper was never celebrated, and children were taken elsewhere to be baptized. This would make July 13, 1664, the date of the organization of the first church at Groton, as well as of the first ordination.


A few weeks after this time, Mr. Willard took a young wife, Abigail Sherman by name, the daughter of the Rev- erend John Sherman, who was the minister of Watertown. She lightened the labors of her husband, and made herself useful and beloved in the neighborhood. In the summer of


77


1665, - the exact date of the record being torn off, - Mr. Willard's salary was increased by ten pounds, a heavy tax at that time; and his family was also increased by about the same amount, his eldest child being born on July 5. The record reads thus : -


It was . . . of Mr Willerde our ... declared by voate yt our time of ... yerly so longe as god shall please to . . . gether shall begine and ende vpon the 29 [d]ay of september


It is furthermor agreed and decleared by voate yt ME Willerde shall be alowed in consideration of his labours amonste vs this next yere Inseui [ng ] the full pposion of fifteye pounds to be payd by euery Inhabetant acordinge to his pposion and as nere as may be in yt which his nessety requir[es] and furthermor in con- sideriation of the tim being betwene the furste of July laste past and ye last of september next we do herby agree and promise vnto him yt we will paye him twentey pounds for the first thirde parte of tim at or befor the last of september next and twentey pounds mor at or befor the furste of May next and twentey too pounds and 10 shilings more at or before the last of septem- ber next after which will be in ye yere 1666.


The visible church in the wilderness was now beginning to prosper. It was outgrowing the accommodations fur- nished by the minister's house, and something larger than an ordinary dwelling was needed. For a long time it must have been a matter of much thought, and the great question of the day among all classes of this little community. Finally the matter culminated in the following vote : -


At a town metting vpon The 21 of the 7 moth 1665 It was this Day agred and voated yt they will haue a metting house bult forthw [ith.]


It was this day agreed and by voate declard yt Sargent James Parker and Richerd Blood shall make the couenenant with the carpenders for the caring one the worke puided yt noe other pay shall be Requrd of any man puided he will pay his proposon in his labour giung the carpenders a wekes warng


A few weeks later we find in the records the following contract, made between the town and Mr. Willard, and duly signed by the different persons whose names are affixed : -


£


78


16 of the 10 moth 1665 It was this day agreed and by a vnanams voatte declared yt for as much as god by his puidanc haue setteled Mr Willerd our Rauerante Pastor by sole[mn] Ingeagment amunst vs we do therf [ore] frely giue him yt acom- adatione formerle stated to the minestry to gether with the house and all other apartanances apertayni [ng] ther vnto to him and his for eur from this day forth puided he do contineue with vs from this day forth till seaue[n] yers be xpired. But in cause he shall se cause to remoue from vs be for the seauen yers be xpired it is ag [reed] by our Rauerant paster one one par [t] and the town one the other yt he shall leaue thes holle acomada- tione to the town and be aloued what it shall be Judged by In- deferant men mutally ch [osen] on both parteys and so the hous and lan [d] to Remayn the towns to despose of haung aloued as aforsayd for what improument he haue made vpon it But if it shall pleas god to take him by death then the house and land . . . to his eayers frely for euer


and hervnto we do enterchangebly sett to our hands the day and yer aboue wretten


SAMLL WILLARD JAMES PARKER WILLIAM LAKIN JAMES KNOP


In the name and with the consent of the towne


In the summer of 1666 Mr. Willard's salary was again increased; and at the same meeting several votes are re- corded in relation to the meeting-house.


at a generall town meeting held 26 [probably 5th month, 1666.] . . . It was agreed and declared by vote that our re [ver- end] Pastor Mr Willard should haue sixty pounds al [lowed] him for this year Ensuing : beginning at the 29 of Semptember I666:


And also euery inhabited, is hereby ingaged to pay vnto our reuerent Pastor the third pt. of his pption in merchantable corne at price currant and also to cutt and Car[t] to his house and there to Cord for him the aforesaid 30 cord of wood at fiue shilling p cord, betwixt this & the 25th 1om


Att the same meetinge, Nathaniell Lawrenc and Samuell Woods now agreed with to lay the planks vpon the meeting and to do them sufficiently, and they are to haue 4 s 6 :d p 000 alowed them in the meeting rate


79


Att the same meeting, James Knapp & Ellis [ Barron] were agreed with to make 2 doores for the meeting house & to mak 2 p of stares for If : and to lay the vpper floure for 48 6


At the same meating Will Greene and Joshua Whittney where cohosen, to he [lp] the Glassiar Goodm [an] Grant to bring vp his glasse and to be allowed for their tim in the meeting house rate


In December, 1666, "a true account" in detail of the cost of the meeting-house was rendered, giving the sum total of the expense up to that time. In modern phrase, we should say that the building committee made a report, giving the items of the cost, - although it was not signed by any of the members. It is as follows : -


A true account of all the pticuler soms of all the work done to the meeting house frame and other charges as nailes hookes & hinges glasse and pulpit et :


Inpr for Thatch 5-0 0


It to John morsse for thathing and getting withs I I3 0


It for wages for those did attend the thatcher 5


14 8


It carting clay & stones for daw [b]ing the wall & under pinning 0 0


3


It the dawbing of meeting house walls


4 128 6


It laths and nailing on


2 0 0


It for nailes


3 12 3


It for nailling on the clap bords 7 IO 8


It for getting the sleepers and laying of them


I 4


0


It for planks 600 & halfe 2


18 6


It fo seanson bords 700 & 5 foot 2


12 IO


It for laying of the lower flore at 4$ 6ª p 000 I 8 2


It making doores and two payres of stares


I O 0


It for laying 40382 of bords on the gallery floors 2


0 0


It for shutts for the windows and making p'uison


for Mr Willard to preach till we haue a pulpitt 0 10 0


It making a pulpitt


3 O 0


It for glass for the windows 3 5 0


It for 200 of bords and more nails and more work done by carting & laying seats &c I 8 0


50 16 10


80


The meeting-house was now built and ready for use. I doubt if there was a person in the town who rejoiced more at this result than Mrs. Willard; and her congratulations to the minister and brethren must have been hearty and sin- cere. In housewifely language, homely but expressive, there was to be no more tracking in of mud on Sundays, and no more cleaning, after a hard day's washing, on Mondays.


There was no dedication of the building, for this would have been contrary to the usages of the Puritans. They never indulged in such ceremonies; and if the town had then erected these historical monuments they never would have had the exercises of this afternoon. Perhaps some of you may think that it would have been wiser if this genera- tion had acted in the same way. It is not unlikely, however, that Mr. Willard took a suggestive text and preached an appropriate sermon on the first Sunday that the building was used; but of this there is no record. I hold in my hand, however, a little volume* containing three sermons which were preached there by Mr. Willard at other times. It is entitled, -


* This copy has a special interest for me, as it once belonged to a reverend ancestor of mine, and bears his autograph signature on the title-page. It came into my possession very lately, after being out of the family for more than one hundred and eighty years.


.


81


VSEFVL INSTRUCTIONS. for a profeffing People in Times of great SECURITY AND DEGENERACY:


Delivered in feveral


S E


R M N S on Solemn Occafions :


By Mr. Samuel Willard Paftor of the Church of Chrift at Groton.


CAMBRIDGE: Printed by Samuel Green. I 673.


It is a book of exceeding rarity, - only three copies are known to be extant, - and it forms the only relic which time has spared of the first meeting-house of Groton. It suggests many a contrast between that dreary and unfinished building where our fathers met for worship, and this spa- cious and commodious hall where we are now assembled.


Like all meeting-houses of that period of which we have any record, this structure was probably square or nearly so, and, as we have reason to suppose, measured about forty feet each way. It was two stories in height, and had two doors. The roof was thatched, and probably a steep one. The front gallery was on the north side of the house, so that the building must have been on the south side of the road, and faced the north. This confirms the theory that it stood on Mr. Boutwell's land. There were also galleries on the east and west sides of the building, and the pulpit was placed in the south end. The window-panes were small, and prob- ably of diamond shape. There was, we may suppose, an hour-glass near the pulpit, which Goodman Allen, the sex-


II


Soul Buell vysS USEFUL INSTRUCTIONS for a profefling People in Time s of great. SECURITY AND DEGENERA CY: Delivered in feveral


SE R M O NS


on Solemn Occafions :


Nathe Hunting & Dono amici Dof. Green 14 April . 1005.


By Mr. Samuel Willard Paftor of the Church of Chrift at Groton.


Ezek.3.17. Son of Man, I havemade thee a Watchman to the Howfeof Ifrael: therefore hear the Word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.


Amos 3.8. The Lord God bath Spoken, who can but Prophefy?


Jer. 2. 31. O Generation , See ye the Word of the Lord: bave Lheen a wilderness unto Ifrael? a Land of darkenefs? wherefore fay my People, we are Lords, we will come no more unto thee.


Haggai. I. S.Z. Thus faith the Lord, Consider your wayes.


CAMBRIDGE: Printed by Samuel Green. 1673


806


To bis Beloved Friends the Inhabitants of GROTON.


T Hat it was not a defireto appear in publick, but to ax. Swar your requests, gave light to the ensuing Sermons, je are my witnefes, and that in the publishing of them, I have now endeavoured to varnifli and paint them aver with flourishes of men-pleafing. words ; the thing it felf may Speak ; in the reading you fall finde Nothing but what was delivered in Preaching. . Touching the occasion of them I need not advertife you, you may well enough call to minde, the loud voice of Speaking providences, which forbad me iu fuch a day to be filent : The fad hand of God which was upon the poor hoffefed Creature, which produced that an Ifai.26. 9. bath founded through this Wilderness, but you were eye witnefes of it ; the Lord affect your hearts, and give you to learn righteousness. The other two were alfo upon folemn Occasions, the band of God upon this Land, and us in particular, bids Minifters to cry a= loud ; the Lord God bath Spoken, who canbut Prophefie ? I know mans corruption is not willing to beclofly dealt withal, but I hope many of you have not fo learned Chrift. My bearis defire and prayer for you is, that you may be prepared for fhaking times, and the nearer they approach the more need have we to be haltened and roufed from.our loytering. If thefe poor labours of mine, may help in that great bufinefs, I!have my ends fully answered ; and my defire for you is, that thofe affections may be blown up again in thereading which were kindled in the preaching; I know I have but a while to beamong you, if God please to make me by thefe, or any other weak endeavours, to be under bim infi umental of your eternal good, Ifhall dye with joy ; . and fo meet you all ar the right hand of our Judge in that great day, is the higheft ambition of


Your unworthy Minister.


A 2 S. W.


84


ton, watched and turned when the sand had run out. There was no ponderous Bible on the preacher's desk, as the read- ing of the Scriptures formed no part of the regular worship. With this exception, the order of services on the Lord's day was about the same as it is at the present time. The prayers were of an almost interminable length; and the singing, doubtless from the Bay Psalm Book, was done by the con- gregation. The only instrument used was the pitch-pipe of the leader, who lined off the psalms to be sung by the singers. What was wanting in harmony was made up by fervent devotion. The Groton Musical Association, I fear, would find much to criticise in the musical method of that day. However much it may have fallen short of scientific tests, it inspired a religious zeal, and added a pious fervor to the exercises.


It was the custom in the early days of New England life to choose a committee "to seat the meeting-house," as it was called; which meant to assign the seats to the congre- gation during a certain length of time. This was done every year or two, to meet the changes that would naturally take place from death or other causes. The seats consisted of long benches with backs, capable of accommodating six or eight persons. The men were placed on one side of the house, and the women on the other; and sometimes the young folks had special places given to them. Separate pews for families had not yet come into use. The seating committee was considered an important one, but their de- cisions were not always satisfactory. The seats in the Groton meeting-house, however, were allotted by the town; although in the record of the meeting on November 11, 1667, there is a reference to a seating committee. Two public meetings, only one week apart, were held when they were assigned, " according to a rulle of proportion," as the ex- pression was at a subsequent meeting. In the second Groton meeting-house, built but not finished in the year 1680, the seats were assigned, first, according to station or " ofis "; secondly, according to age ; and, thirdly, wealth or " money." The votes at these two meetings were as follows: -


85


Att a Town mee[tin]g held 24 10m [ 1666.]


It was agreed & by vote Declared yt all the lower seates in the new meeting house that now is: should be deuided six for men & six for women, And also the two front seats of the Gallery : the best prouision that the town can prouide both for the Min- ister and also for the people to sit upon, against the next Lords Day come seauenight and every one to be placed in their places as they shall continue for the future


Att a Generall Town meeting held 31th Iom 1666 ffor better pceeding in setling seates for the women as well as for men It was agreed & by vote declared that the ffront Gallery on the north side of the meeting house should be devided in the midle ; and the mens that shall be placed there; their wiues are to be placed by their husbands as they are below


It appears from the following entry that Mr. Willard's salary was continued during another year. A part of it was to be paid in " country pay," according to the custom of that time, and the prices for the different articles of food seem to be fair. They are based on the silver money of that period, paper currency not yet having come into circulation.


Att a generall Towns meetting held 10th gm 1667 It was agreed and by vote declarded to giue vnto Mr Willard our pastor for his maintenance for this present yeare beginning the 29th 7m should haue sixty pounds, to be paid at two payments the one halfe to be paid into to him, betwixt this and the last of March next: and the other half of the pay to be paid vnto him by the last of September next after the date hereof. And for quality ; the major pt of the Towne agreed yt one third pt each inhabitant shloud pay his third pt of his proportion; in wheat at 5$ p bushell or porke a [t] 3 pence p pound or butter at 6 pence p pound fo . . . thirds in Indian corne at 38 p bushelle: or other ... at the price currant as it passeth be- twixt ... amongst ourseleues.


This meeting seems to have been adjourned; at any rate, another meeting was held the next day. Timothy Allen, the sexton, lived near to the meeting-house, which was, per- haps, one reason why he was chosen to the office.


86


Att a generall Towns meetting held IIth gmth 1667 The towne agreed with Thimothy Allen to swe[ep] the meetinge house & to puide water ffor the babtizing of the towns children from time to time, for this yeare ensuing, and the sd Thimothy allen is to haue twenty shillings allowed him for his labor in the next townes rate


At the same meettinge it was agreed that the seats in the meetinge should be mad in a pleaine and desent and comly manner, and euery seuerall company (that ar now present in- habitants and as they are now placed by the towne and the Committey formerly chosen,) they should build their seates at their owne charge, And all the fronteers both aboue and below, shall be at the charge of the laying the foundation sills for the seates that are behind them; And what euer any maior pt of any company that are placed together in any seat shall agre to build their seats the minor are hereby inioyned to pay with their neighbors and it was further agreed that whereas the seates are larger than the present inhabitants do fill vp then when any shall placed hereafter in any seate or seates yt then they are hereby enioyned to pay an equall pportion to be & with those that haue laid down the pay for the building of the seates


In order to keep complete the historical chain of facts, I make the following extracts from the town records, which comprise everything found there relating to the minister or the meeting-house, from this time to the destruction of the town : -


The : 8 of the 10 moth [ 1668.] It was this day voted by the mayior part of the towne that the minist[er have] sixty fiue pounds for this yeare beginning the twenty nine of September 68 shall shall [sic] be Raysed the one halfe vpon the Accom- dations and the other halfe vpon all the visible estat of the towne wiłł longley Richard blood and sum others declaring the Contrarie by voyt


[1669.]


it was voted that our pastors maintenance should be Raysed the one halfe vpon the Acomidations and the other halfe vpon the visible estat of the towne and the sum to be sixtie fiue pounds as followeth


F


87


first to pay 30 pounds in Corne and tenn pounds in provision and what is wanting in provision to be payd in Corne and . . . tewnty fiue pounds to be payd in . . . seasonnablelye or other- wayes in Corne


[December 15, 1669.]


[At] the same meeting were chosen [ John P]age and John Nutting by the [town] to see that Mr Willard haue maintenance duely and truly payd him and that they bring the towne a gen- erall acquitance :


Agreed with Timothy Allen for the keeping the meeting house cleane for twenty shillings and to be payd in his town charges


At a generall towne meeting 12 of the IIth month 1669 agreed vpon voted and agreed vpon that all publik charges excepting the ministers shold be raised vpon the accomedations till the towne see good to repeall it


At a generall towne meeting Novem 1 [1]670 It is this day agreed vpon and voted that Mr Willards maintenance and all other Towne charges shalbe raised for this present yeare the one halfe vpon accomodations and the other halfe vpon visible estate


At the same meeting agreed vpon that Mr. Willard should haue sixty five pound for this present yeare and a sixth pt shalbe payd in flesh provision that is to say in merchentable pork beef butter and cheese betwixt this and chrismas mer- chentable wheat five shill per bush barley 4s per bush rye 4s pease 4s and Indian cor [n] flesh meat to be payd .. . per pound and butter at 6 . . .


[December 12, 1670.]


At the same meeting agreed with Timothy Allen to keep the meeting housse cleane for this following year for twenty shill-1 0 0.


[February 27, 1670-71.]


Also agreed vpon at the same meeting that all thos seats that are yet to build in the meeting house shalbe built in a generall way also a committee chussen to treat with thomas Boydon to build them (viz) Sergent James Parker corporall Knop John Pag Ellis Barron and Nathaniell lawrance


88


At a Generall towne meeting held October 16 1671 This day agreed vpon by the towne and voted that Mr Willard shall haue sixty fiue for this year ensueing and that he shall hau his wholl yeares pay by the latter end of december and the maner of his pay as followeth one third pt of his pay in prouision and english corne and those that cannot pay in prouision and in english corne they are to pay their Indian corne at two shill and three pence the bushell soe as to answer that third pt of their pay which was to be payd in English corn and prouision and the rest of their pay they are to pay at prise currant (that is) their Indian corne - 3$ per bush wheat at 5$ per bushell _ pease Rye barley at 4$ per bush and pork and beeffe at 3ª per pond and for the maner of their payment to be raised as it was the last year the one half vpon the accommodations and the other vpon the estate.


At the same meeting were chusen Sergent william lakin and nathaniell lawrance and that they shall se that Mr Willards pay shalbe brought in and faithfully payd to him according to the agreement of the towne


At a Towne meeting held Sept 16 1672 It was agreed vpon and by vote declared that their shalbe a committee chusen by the towne which Committee shall haue power to seat euery man according to their best discretion and that every man shall pay to the value of the seat they sit in the seates also beeing valued according to their proportion and disproportion by this committee chussen and the committee chussen and the names of the men are these


Sergent Parker 1 and - James knop -


Sergent Lakin


Tho= Tarball


John Morsse S


Att a generall Towne meeting held Octo 14 1672 It was this day agreed vpon and by vote declared that Mr Willard shall haue for this present year eighty pound and the maner of his pay as followeth a third part of his pay a followeth In english corne and prouision wheat at five shil p bushell Rye barley and pease at four shill pr bushell pork and beefe at 3ª p pound and all such as cannot pay his third part of his pay in english corn and prouision they shall pay In Indian corn at 2 shill p bushell and the remainder of his pay In Indian Corn at 3 shill p bushell his fire wood also above his eighty pound


89


and furder these persons here set downe doe promise and Ingage to git Mr Willard hay mowing making and fetching home for eight shilling p load at a seasonable time (viz) in the midle of Jully


Sergent Parker


Timothy Allen


Rich= Blood


Ellis Barron


James ffiske


Thomas Smith


Tho= Tarball Se


and


John Morsse


sergent Lakin


Joseph gilson


Rich= holden


Pelleg Lawrance


At the same meeting and by vote declared that Major Willard shalbe a fre commoner amongst vs for feed for cattell wood and timber


At a generall towne meeting held The 7th of the 9th month 1672 It was this day agreed vpon and by vote declared that all Inhabitans in the towne shalbe seated in the meeting house ac- cording to a rulle of proportion impartially (by the towne or by a committee chussen by the towne) according to their best dis- cretion and the seates to be valued and each man to pay accord- ing to the seat they sit in and they are to place in the seats below in the body of the meeting house sixe persons in a seate and to fill vp the first and second seat first and to sit fiu persons vnder the window and five persons in a seat in the front gallery and eight persons in a seat in the east and west gallery - the per- sons that are first to be seated are maried persons and also such single persons as may and ought according to a rulle of pro- portion be seated with them and the other young persons to be seated till they have filled vp all the seates that are already builded and all such persons as want seates after this done they haue liberty granted to them by the towne at the sam meeting to build them themselves or their parents for them at their owne cost and charge in such a place or places as are thought most meete and convenient by the towne and those that are to build them and the towne haue voted to submit to the comitees order herein


and the commitee chussen by the towne at the same time the persons are as followethe


Richard Blood Land


Sergent Parker 6 James Knop


Joseph Parker


John Morsse


12


90


At a Generall towne meeting held Nouember 13 1672 It was this day agreed vpon and by vote declared that the remainder of the pay that is still behind for the building the seates in the meeting house shalbe raised in a generall way notwithstanding all other actes done to the contrary either by towne or commitee


William Longley seni descenting


At a meeting of the select men no 13 72 A Towne rate made for the defraying of seuerall towne depts and put into the con- stables hand to gather (viz)




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.