USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Leicester > Topographical and historical sketches of the town of Leicester : in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: furnished for the Worcester magazine and historical journal > Part 3
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length became so notorious, that six gentlemen from Worcester voluntarily assumed the character of mediators and visited the town for that purpose. A public entertainment was provided for them, but their efforts had no success and there was no cessation of hostilities till the town voted to join with the church in calling an eclesiastical council to discharge him from being their minister. This was on the 13th January, 1735, and he was dismissed, March 6th of the same year from his connexion with the church and socie- ty in this town. He continued to reside here till his death in 1737. He was by his special direction buried on his own land, apart from the graves of his people. He was unwilling that his ashes should repose by the side of those with whom he had once worshipped in the sanctuary and to whom he had broken the consecrated bread; his grave is now visible in a mowing field, about 30 rods north of the meeting house-a monument of human frailty. The long continued difficulties, of which we have given an outline, were too important a subject in so young and thinly populated a town to be soon forgotten. They are still handed down by tradition and form anecdotes illustrative of the times in which they occurred. We for- bear repeating these, or dwelling any longer upon the character of one, who, with all his frailties, had many redeeming qualities. He left a family, from which have sprung many,who, in later times, have been distinguished for their learning, usefulness and talents, and have been among the most respectable citizens of their day.
After the dismission of Mr. Parsons, preaching was supported for a time, by contributions taken up on each Sabbath, and a Mr. Rice employed for a while. In 1735, the church and society set apart a day for fasting and prayer, for directions in regard to a suc- cessor to Mr. Parsons. . And on the 30th January, 1736, they gave a call to Mr. David Goddard, who was a native of Framingham, to settle here, and voted him £300 settlement, and £100 salary, so long as he remained their minister. Mr. Goddard accepted this invitation, and in a short and pertinent answer, expressed his wish that the church should be governed according to the rules of the " Cambridge platform," adopted by the New England churches, in 1648. His salary, while their minister, was often in arrear; but his connexion with his people was uniformly happy and satisfacto- ry, and an addition of £50 per annum was voluntarily made to his salary for several years. He was ordained over the society, June 30, 1736, and died January 19, 1754, at Framingham, where he was seized with a fever, when on a journey. He had been a min-
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ister of this church but 13 years, and was 48 years of age, at the time of his death. He alone, of the five clergymen who were set- tled here, previous to the present one, died in the ministerial ser- vice of the society ; all the others were dismissed from their con- nexion.
In July, 1736, Mr. Joseph Roberts, Jr. was invited to settle as the minister over this society, accepted the invitation, and was or- dained, October 23, 1754. The town voted to give him £133, 6s. 8d. silver money, " as a settlement," and £66, 13s. 8d. per an- num, salary, in silver money, at 6s. 8d. per ounce. The salaries before this time had been paid according to the currency of the day, which was often so depreciated, that what seems at first a large sum, was greatly reduced by this depreciation. Provision was made at his ordination to entertain " ministers, messengers, and scholars."*
Although settled under favorable auspices, the relation of Mr. Roberts to the town soon became unpleasant. The precise causes of the disaffection do not appear, but they had become so strong in 1762, that the society voted to concur with the church in calling a council to settle the difficulties that there existed. The meeting of the inhabitants was called by personal notice to each. They made provision to entertain the council, though they declined taking part in drawing up a list of grievances which the church was going to present to the council. The council met, and recommended a dis- solution of the connexion between Mr. Roberts and his people, and on the 14th day of December, 1762, he was accordingly dismissed. This did not, by any means, comport with Mr. Roberts' feelings, but it put an end to the difficulties between him and the people of the town, as he removed soon after from Leicester into Western, or its vicinity, where he died within a few years, at a very advanced age. He lived while a minister here, in the west part of the town, where he owned a considerably extensive tract of land. He was a bachelor, and was possessed of a good estate. Money seems to have been his favorite object, and his reply to the invitation of the society, to become their minister, is a singular specimen of pro- fessed devotedness to God and his service, and actual sordidness -and avarice.
* From the death of Mr. Goddard, till the settlement of Mr. Roberts, the town had been supplied with preaching, and the sum of £17} was now ap- propriated to pay those who had entertained the preachers, while the greater sum of £18 was appropriated to defray the expense of keeping their hor ses during the same time.
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Although the Society were unfortunate in having to provide themselves again with a clergyman within so short a time, they were happy in obtaining one who united them again as a religious society. 'In August, 1763, Mr. Benjamin Conklin was invited to settle as a minister over the society, and was ordained, November, 23, of the same year. His salary was the same as that given to Mr. Roberts, and at his ordination, provision was made to entertain " Ministers, scholars, and gentlemen." His relation of minister to this church and society continued till June 30, 1794, when his grow- ing bodily infirmities induced him to accept a proposal from the so- ciety for his dismission, by giving him a gratuity of £170, and an exemption from taxation. The society, at the time of dissolving the connexion between them, expressed to him their thanks for his useful and arduous services, and their sympathies for his declining health and increasing infirmities. The council that dismissed Mr. Conklin, consisted of the Rev. Drs. Sumner, Bancroft, and Austin, and in the result of their proceedings, they bore most unqualified testimony to his high character as a clergyman and a citizen. He survived until January 30, 1798, when he died, at the age of 65. A plain headstone, in the burying ground, in Leicester, bears this inscription, which he had selected for the purpose in his life time. " Hic jacet, Benjamin Conklin, M. in expectatione diei supremi. Qualis erat, dies iste indicabit." He married the widow of Dr. Lawton, who had been a practicing physician in this town. He left three children, one only of whom survives. He was a native of Southold, on Long Island, and was graduated at Princeton Col- lege, in New Jersey. He came here when about thirty years of age, and was a minister of this society for more than thirty years, including the trying period of the Revolution, and the troublesome times of the insurrection, known under the name of "Shay's war." It is most conclusive evidence of his prudence and firmness, that during the whole time he officiated here, he was acceptable to his people, and every attempt by disaffected individuals to remove him was controlled and defeated by his society. Though never distin- guished for brilliancy of talents, he was a respectable preacher, and ever possessed a commanding influence among his people. He was a firm friend of his country, and never hesitated, even at the darkest period of her history, to avow the sentiments which he entertained. In one of the neighboring towns, it was thought by some of the people, that their clergyman did not preach strongly enough in favor of the cause of liberty ; " then," said he, " I will
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exchange with Mr. Conklin, and he will satisfy you, I am sure." He was also a decided friend of the government during the insur- rection of 1786, and became obnoxious to the insurgents, on ac- count of his active exertions to support the laws and the govern- ment, and in one or more instances was obliged to seek a refuge away from his house from personal violence from the insurgents. In his person, Mr. Conklin was rather above the middling stature, and somewhat inclined to corpulency. His address was easy and familiar, and his conversation abounded with anecdote. He, at times, indulged in humor, of which he possessed a considerable share. He was pleasing and interesting without being brilliant, and useful and instructive without being great. He performed the duties of his station honorably and acceptably, and among the pat- riots of the revolution, he deservedly held a very respectable place.
After the dismission of Mr. Conklin, Mr. James Tufts was em- ployed to preach as a candidate by this society, and a majority of them desired to settle him, and accordingly gave him an invitation to that effect. But a few of the society dissenting from him in re- ligious sentiments, he declined accepting the invitation. He after- wards became, and we believe still is, the minister of Wardsboro', in Vermont.
In 1795, the Rev. Jesse Appleton preached here as a candidate for settlement. He was, at that time, very young, and though not very popular at first, he became very acceptable to all, and strong efforts were made to induce him to settle. But though unanimous- ly invited, he declined the invitation, much to the regret of all the society. He afterwards became President of Bowdoin College, in Brunswick, Me. in 1807, and died in 1819, very much lamented.
After him, ZEPHANIAH SWIFT MOORE was employed to preach here, and, in October, 1797, was unanimously invited to become the minister of this church and society. He was ordained here, January 10, 1798, upon a salary of $400 per annum. He continu- ed here till October 28, 1811, when, having been appointed Pro- fessor of the Languages in Dartmouth College, he was dismissed at his own request. Dr. Moore filled too important a sphere in society during his life to be passed over in silence, when giving what purports to be a history of a town to which he held the rela- tion of a minister of the Gospel for almost 14 years. He was born in Palmer, in this State, but removed in early life to Wilmington, Vt. Here he labored with his father, who was a respectable farm- er, till he was twenty years of age.
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A part of his course of study preparatory to admission into col- lege, he pursued at Bennington. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1793, with a high character as a scholar. He studied Divinity with the Rev. Dr. Backus, of Somers, in Connecticut. He was appointed Professor of Languages in Dartmouth College, in 1811, and continued there till 1815, when he received and accept- ed the appointment of President of Williams College, in Massachu- setts, where he continued till his appointment of President of Am- berst Collegiate Institution, which has, since his death, been char- tered as a college. This appointment was made in 1821, and he held the office at the time of his death, June 30, 1823. He died at the age of 52 years, leaving a wife, but no children.
In every station which he held, he exhibited powers of mind, and strength of character to perform the duties incumbent upon him, with the greatest honor and success. He was, indeed, no or- dinary man, and we feel that any attempt to delineate his charac- ter, or do justice to bis reputation, as a scholar, as a christian, and as a man, must, in a great measure, fail. We hope some abler pen will yet do justice to his memory.
He was an indefatigable student, and possessed a remarkably sound and discriminating mind. His acquirements were extensive in al- most every department of science and literature that came under his examination. But his favorite study, next to that of Theolo- gy, were moral Philosophy and Metaphysics. He was possessed of an unshaken firmness of character, and though cool and deliberate in forming opinions or arriving at conclusions, when they were once formed, he adhered to them with fearless resolution till con- vinced of his errors. He was often able to carry through a favor- ite plan with success, which to others would have seemed hopeless and desperate. His progress from the plough to the chair of Pres- ident of a College, though never rapid, was sure and unwavering.
In every situation in life, he was kind, social, and engaging. But it was in his own family, and at his own fireside, that he exhib- ited most fully those qualities which we love and admire. His conversation was of an elevated and improving character, and no one could leave his society without having been delighted and in- structed. In the government and discipline of a college, he had no superior. His accurate knowledge of human nature, his deci- sion of character, and his urbanity of manners, while they enabled him to discriminate properly in the subjects of his government, car- ried respect and enforced obedience, and at the same time won the
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confidence and affection of the pupil. As a writer, his productions may be considered as almost a model of fine composition. He rare- ly indulged in rhetorical ornaments of style, but was always neat and perspicuous, and often eloquent. His sermons were always heard with interest and attention, and would be read with pleasure as well as profit.
The writer has known Dr. Moore in almost every situation in life, and has had cause to love and respect him, while he admired those qualities of mind which he exhibited under all circumstances, and some of them the most trying. But it would be improper to intrude any personal feelings towards him in this place; we are only to speak of his character as it should be known in history, and we regret that we can do it so little justice. But we are not sufficiently removed from the time in which he lived, to have his character and reputation presented in their proper light. His is a fame that will brighten, and be remembered, when many whose genius was more brilliant and dazzling, will be forgotten. His name must ever be remembered as connected with Amherst Col- lege, for to his reputation and exertions, more than any other thing, may the early success and even existence of that institution be ascribed. We leave it to posterity to do him justice. His pri- vate virtues may be forgotten ; for those only who knew him could appreciate them ; but his character as a theologian, an instructor, and as a President and Director of a Seminary of learning, will be remembered.
He married, soon after becoming the minister of Leicester, to a daughter of the late Thomas Drury, of Ward, in this county, who still survives him. In his person, Dr. Moore was large, and very well formed; his manners were dignified and easy ; his voice, though not very loud, was clear and distinct, and its tones remark- ably pleasant. His manner of delivery was entirely free from af- fectation and attempt at display : he made use of but little action, but he was always listened to with interest and attention.
He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity at Dartmouth College, in the year 1816. In the year 1818, he preached the an- nual election sermon, before the executive and legislature of Mas- gachusetts. He was, for some years before his death, a member of the American board of commissioners for foreign missions. His election sermon, and a few occasional sermons, were the principal productions of his pen ever published.
Although the town consented to the dismission of Dr. Moore
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with reluctance and regret, and his removal was then considered a public misfortune to his society, they were so fortunate as to unite immediately in giving an unanimous call to Mr. Jobn Nelson, Jr. to become their minister. He accepted the call, and was ordained March 4, 1812; but a little more than four months from the time of Dr. Moore's dismission. His salary at first was $450 per annum, but is at present, (1826) $650. Mr. Nelson was a native of Hop- kinton, in this state, from whence he removed with his father to Worcester. He graduated at Williams College, in 1807, and was subsequently a tutor in that college, and afterwards pursued his theological studies under the tuition of the Rev. Dr. Austin, of Worcester.
From the time of the dismission of Mr. Parsons, the congrega- tional society have, for the most part, been in a state of great peace and tranquillity, and this spirit has prevailed in regard to re- ligious opinions throughout the town; although there have, for many years, been several religious societies who have places of worship here. The first congregational meeting house was erect- ed before the year 1721, though not completed till many years after- wards. That, having gone much to decay, and being inconvenient, a new one was erected and completed in 1784 and '5, a little in the rear of the original house.
From the settlement of Mr. Parsons, till 1768, if the society was provided with church music at all, those who sung were scattered promiscuously through the audience. In that year, "the use of the hindermost seat in the front gallery" was appropriated to "those who had learned the rules of singing," and it was not till 1780, that the singers were allowed to sit in the front seat in the gallery.
Besides the congregational society, there has, for a long time, been a society of Baptists, and one of Friends; an Episcopalian society has recently been organized in the town. There was, from 1777 till 1783, a society of Jews resident in this town. They removed here in the winter of 1777, from Newport, in Rhode Is- land, to escape from the war then raging so violently along our coasts, and especially threatening the devoted island upon which Newport is situated, then in possession of the enemy. There were, in the whole, including servants, about seventy who removed here ; though many of the servants were not of the Jewish faith. A- mong the most respectable Jews, were Aaron Lopez, and four others of the name of Lopez, Jacob Revera, and Abraham Men-
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dez .* Most of them engaged immediately in trade, and Aaron Lo- pez, in particular, was very extensively engaged. He occupied, and in part built, the house afterwards occupied for the Academy. Licences to these are recorded in the town records, "to sell Bohea and other Indian teas." They all resided here until after the peace of 1783. Although, so far as respected their religion, they were entirely distinct from the rest of the inhabitants of the town : they were, in all other respects, on terms of great intimacy and friend- ship. They always observed the rites and ceremonies of their law, and their stores were closed from Friday evening until Monday morning.t They were prudent, industrious, and enterprising, and many of them were elegant in their address and deportment, and possessed an extensive knowledge of the world. They were much respected and esteemed by the inhabitants of the town, and always seemed to remember with pleasure, the kindness and civilities they, on their part, received while resident here, and availed them- selves, ever afterwards, of every opportunity that presented to ex- press these feelings, as many who experienced their attentions when in Newport would attest.}
Of all those who removed to this town from Newport, no one now remains here. The last of their number removed, a few years since, to New York. The synagogue where they worship- ped, is now desolate and forsaken; the grass waves luxuriantly in the court yard ; and the little furniture remains, as when last used for holy service more than thirty years ago. The church yard, in which most of this number are buried, is still preserved in a state of uncommon neatness and beauty. But we have digressed, per-
* Aaron Lopez occupied what was afterwards the old Academy. Joseph was the son of Aaron, and lived with him. Moses and Jacob were clerks for Aaron. Mendez lived, for a time, where B. Hobart now lives, about half a mile north of the meeting house, and afterwards in the old house at the foot of the meeting house hill, called the "Southgate house." Revera lived in the house which forms a part of the Hotel, opposite the meeting house.
t A child of one of the families having one day tasted of some pork, in one of the neighbor's houses, its mother, immediately, upon learning the fact, ad- ministered a powerful emetic, and thus cast out the sin of which it had been unconsciously guilty.
# The death of Mr. Aaron Lopez, the most wealthy and intelligent of their number, took place under circumstances peculiarly distressing. Trav- elling to Providence, himself in a gig, accompanied by his wife and family in a carriage, he drove into Scott's pond, in Smithfield, to water his horse, when, from the abruptness of the shore, the horse sunk immediately beyond his depth, and drawing the gig after him, threw Mr. Lopez into the water, where he perished, in presence of his family, whose efforts to save him were unavailing.
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haps too far, to follow to their last resting place, those, who once formed a respectable portion of the population of this town. Their history had no important connection with that of the town, and it entirely ceased at the time of their removal in 1783.
A society of Anabaptists was formed in this town, about the year 1738. The first minister of the society was Dr. Thomas Green, a physician of considerable note in his day. It was chiefly through his instrumentality that the society was gathered. This church appears to have once formed part of a society of Baptists in Sut- ton, of which Dr. Green was one of the pastors.
Dr. Green was a native of Malden, Mass. and was one of the early settlers of Leicester. His circuit of business as a Physician was extensive, and his life was that of active and persevering industry. His success as a preacher was also very considerable, and a very respectable society was gathered. A meeting house was built through his agency, about three miles from the congregational meeting house. This house requiring great repairs, the society, in 1825, enlarged and repaired it, and it is now a very neat and convenient house of worship. Dr. Green died in 1773, at the age of 73 years, after a life distin- guished for its activity and usefulness. His descendants, though not very numerous, have been among the useful and distin- guished men of the county ; and some of them have particularly excelled in the profession of medicine, for which they have shown a predilection.
Dr. Green was succeeded, as a pastor of this church, by the Rev. Benjamin Foster, D. D. whose talents and acquirements rank- ed him among the highest order of the profession. He was a na- tive of Danvers, Mass. and born June 12, 1750. At the age of 18, he entered Yale College, where he was regularly graduated, and afterwards pursued the study of Theology under the tuition of Dr. Stillman, of Boston, and was ordained over the Baptist Church in Leicester, in 1772, where he continued several years, and while there, published some controversial tracts of considerable merit. Soon after leaving Leicester, he was settled in Newport, R. I. and, in 1788, became the pastor of the first Baptist church in the city of New York, where he continued till his death, in 1798. He re- ceived the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity at Brown Uni- versity, in 1792, in consequence of a learned treatise upon " the seventy weeks of Daniel," which he had previously published. He was a distinguished scholar, an eminent preacher, and a consis-
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tent christian. He fell a victim to the yellow fever, which pre- vailed in the city of New York during the summer of his death. Not daunted in the performance of his parochial duties, he was unremitting in his attention to the sick and dying, and he shrunk not from those scenes of affliction, from which so many of the best and the bravest recoiled with terror. He died August 26, 1798, at the age of 49 years. He was twice married, his first wife being the daughter of the Rev. Dr. Green, of Leicester, and the other, a lady from New York.
Dr. Foster was succeeded in the charge of the Leicester church by Mr. Isaac Beals ; whose successor was Mr. Nathan Dana; and his again was Mr. Peter Rogers, who became the pastor of a church in Leyden, Mass. after his removal from Leicester. Since Mr. Rog- ers' removal, the church has been supplied pretty constantly with preachers, though no one has been regularly ordained over it .* There are funds, in lands, to the amount of $1000, belonging to the society, and though called to struggle with difficulties, it has ever maintained a respectable standing. It had, in 1812, seventy eight communicants in the church, and, at present, there are about forty two. Mr. Harris at present officiates in this society as their pastor, though he has not been ordained. A part of this society were separated, about 1818, and formed a part of a Baptist society in the northeast part of Spencer, and to this circumstance may be referred, the diminished number of its members.
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