USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Mason > History of the town of Mason, N. H. from the first grant in 1749, to the year 1858 > Part 35
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Not only did the men display courage, and resolution, and publie spirit, but I have been told by the women themselves, that they have traveled, some two, and some three miles through the woods, with nothing to direct their way but marked trees, to carry dinner to their husbands, when work- ing at the meeting house. I believe that some of my hearers would think such a case a great hardship, if the case was theirs.
But, however strong female fortitude may be in duty, where none are exposed to danger but themselves, how must the tender mother suffer, if her young children are absent a little longer than was expected, or if out of sight when the light of day departs-where the wolves and other wild animals are so numerous, that their noise in the night would break those of their rest, who had toiled all day, and needed the refreshment of sleep ?
Many of the carly settlers reared up and left large families, and their descendants are numerous in the town; but some of the families are almost extinct. Our fathers, where are they ? Many of them lived to be old. But they are gone .*
As to natural curiosities, this town does not abound in them. There are no very remarkable caverns, or precipices, or streams; and we all know that the face of the ground is uneven, and the soil is stony. There is, however, in the deep
* A case I will here name as very uncommon and remarkable. Deacon Hall, of whom I have spoken, built him a house in the early period of his settlement, and dwelt in it, with his fam- ily (which was not small) to his old age-till it was no longer habitable, and never did an instance of death occur in that house. Nevertheless, the builder, and I believe all that were brought up in that house, have gone the way of the earth.
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hollow, east of the old meeting house, (where by some con- vulsion of nature the rocks are thrown together in wild con- fusion,) a small cave, which those who have visited, have thought worthy of a visit. The streams of water are small, yet they afford some valuable mill sites, on which are now eight saw-mills in operation part of the year, and six run of stone for grinding grain.
In this place, I will name another fact, which may be con- sidered belonging to the history of the town. The hills were favorite hunting grounds, and long before a grant of the town was obtained, and for years after it began to be settled, the hunters frequently kindled fires in the woods for the benefit of their hunting. And if the hunters did not fire the woods, some men from lower towns did, that young sprouts might come up for young cattle to feed upon. By these means, some parts of the town, especially Pole Hill, so called, rang- ing south from the stone school house, was greatly injured, while yielding grain to those who did not own the soil. And some families in Groton used to make hay in the meadow, near the centre, called Nose-meadow, where they had a camp, and in the latter part of winter send up young cattle, and a black man named Boad, to feed and tend them, until they could get their living in the woods .* Here Boad used to spend months alone, year after year, like Robinson Crusoe, "sole monarch of all he surveyed."
The period to which we have now arrived, was to this town like that of youth, just blooming into manhood. They began to think, and talk of being incorporated. They had a desire to be like other towns; and yet had fears whether equal to take such a stand. This kind of trembling state of mind appears from their votes at meetings, where the subject was agitated. At a meeting called partly for this purpose, April, 1766, it was finally voted, not to be incorporated at present. Thus it rested until January, 1768, and the meeting was
* Boad's camp was but a few rods from the spot, on which Joel Ames' house now stands .- This Boad was a slave.
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adjourned four weeks for consideration. At the adjournment it was voted to be incorporated, " and that Lt. O. Parker be appointed to attend to the business, and get it accomplished as soon as may be."
The next point to be settled, was the name by which the town should be called. And at a meeting held June, 1768, it was voted that the town be called Sharon. It does not appear from any records I have seen, or from any tradition which has reached me, why the name of Sharon was dropped, and the name Mason adopted. There was, however, a report current among the old people, that "a bell was sent from England for this town, as a present from the heirs of Mr. Mason," which, if fact, will account for the name. It is also reported, that by the knavery of the agent of Mr. Mason in Boston, the bell was lost to the town-that he sold the bell, and absconded with this and other dishonest gains. And the bell on the Old South in Boston, is said to be that bell. The next meet- ing was warned in the name of the inhabitants of Mason ; and the place was no longer known as Number 1. But although they had assumed a rank among the towns in the Province, they felt themselves, as a society, weak and feeble. When the first tax was assessed under the corporation, there were but seventy-six rateable polls, and probably not more than fifty-six voters; for young men between eighteen and twenty-one years of age were rateable, and their rates charged to fathers or masters. And for a number of years, Brookline, then Raby, was classed with Mason to send a rep- resentative to the General Court; and the meetings for choice were held alternately at Brookline and Mason.
It will be necessary now to take some notice of the church, in connection with the history of the town. At that time a town was an incorporate religious, as well as civil society. And all the inhabitants of a town belonged to that society, except they united with, or formed another religions society, according to law. The meeting house erected by the original proprietors, was by them given to the town, and remained
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the only house for their religious assemblies, and other public meetings, until the year 1790. It was an uncomfortable place. In that house did your fathers worship; and uncom- fortable as it was, seldom did a Sabbath pass, even in the cold of winter, in which there was no meeting, after they had a stated ministry. A good number of the early settlers were members of the Congregational church, in the towns from which they removed, but no church was formed in Mason, until the year 1772, at which time Mr. Jonathan Searle was ordained their pastor. The church then consisted of twenty- one members, twelve brethren and nine sisters, all of whom are gone to their long home. When the church was gathered, it was stated to be a Calvinistic church, and that their articles of faith agree substantially with the principles of religion, contained in the Shorter Catechism of the Assembly of Divines.
Shortly after the settlement of Mr. Searle, unhappy diffi- culties arose between the pastor and the flock, which eventu- ated in his dismission, in nine years and three months after his ordination. From that time Mr. Searle ceased to preach, but continued in the town, and officiated as a civil magistrate, to an advanced age. During his ministry, only fourteen were admitted to the church by profession, and nine by letter, and eleven owned the covenant, as it was called, according to the practice of many churches in New England, in those days. The last admitted by profession in Mr. Searle's ministy, was in April, 1777, and but one more, and that by letter, until 1790. Here was a long death-like sleep ! but one added to the church in thirteen years. The sleep seems to have been profound-death-like indeed, until the year 1785, when a great revival of religion, and of the work of God, com- menced in New Ipswich, under the ministry of the venerable Farrar-a name venerated indeed by all who knew him. The gracious work extended into other towns; and this part of the vineyard was remembered in mercy. Some few chris- tians were awakened, and brought to apply themselves to
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neglected duties ; and the people in Mason, especially the young, flocked to the solemn meetings in New Ipswich, and soon some were reproved of sin, became anxious for their souls, and after a time, rejoiced in hope of pardoning mercy. Such, however, was the state of the church in Mason, broken, and dispirited, that the young candidates for the church were led to seek admission to the church in New Ipswich, to which they had become peculiarly attached by that acquaintance, which their situation and intercourse had brought about ; and by that mutual love which new-born souls, who have mourned, and wept, and prayed and rejoiced together, must feel. Their request was granted, on condition that they remove their relation whenever the church in Mason should become in a settled state. In the year 1790, the resident members of other churches removed their relation, and the church was increased to thirty-six in number, and in the same year, Nov. 3d, was the present pastor ordained, and constitu- ted pastor of this church. In this long period of fifty-six years, there have been precious seasons of revival. I will mention some of those seasons. In 1802, the church was increased by the addition of forty-four members-in 1812, added twenty-five-in 1826 and 7, added eighty-six-in 1834 and '35, added thirty-eight ; and in 1841, added eighty-three. The whole number of members, received by profession and letter, is rising four hundred and fifty.
A Baptist church was embodied in this town, Oct. 28, 1786, then consisting of seven members, three males and four females. Additions were made by letter and profession to this church in this and neighboring towns. About this time, Mr. Wmn. Elliot, an inhabitant of the town, commenced preaching the gospel, and labored much in this and other towns, as an evangelist, until in August, 1788, the church of which he was a member, gave him a call to become their pastor, which call he accepted, and was ordained by an eccle- siastical council, on the 3d Wednesday in November, 1788. For a time, the care of almost all the Baptist churches in the
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vicinity, came upon him. He raised up a numerous family, and had two sons settled in the ministry. He lived to a good old age, his last sickness was very distressing, which he endured with patience, and died in the triumphs of faith, June 14, 1830, aged 81 years. The church of which he was pastor, is now merged in the Baptist church in Mason village.
In the month of May, in the year 1833, another church and society was gathered and embodied in this town, consist- ing at the time, of twenty-three members. This society assume only the name of Christian.
Since the year 1790, there has been no inconsiderable increase of inhabitants, and no little improvement in build- ings, and other accommodations. The exact number of voters in 1790, is not ascertained; but in 1768, we may calculate about fifty-six, and in March, 1845, our check list told three hundred and six legal voters. In the year 1790, when almost the whole town undertook to build a meeting house, it was with many discouragements and fears. They felt poor and weak-handed for such an undertaking. The house was built and remains the meeting house of the town. And now, besides this, we have three meeting houses, and three religious socie- tics, and probably each society equally able to build their house, as was the first.
I can reckon up but one hundred and ten dwelling houses, of every description, standing in the town in 1790. And at that time, on all the ground which contains this flourishing village, there were standing the first mill built here, one dwelling house, built at two times, for the accommodation of two families, and one barn .* Now we can count fifty-two dwelling houses, three stores, one meeting house, three fac- tory buildings-one in full operation, carrying two thousand four hundred and sixty-four spindles, in this village.
Compare the present state of the Columbian Factory, with the one first built here, and it will give a fair view of the advance of our country in manufactures, arts and commerec.
* The widow Polly Hill now occupies the remaining part of the house.
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The first Cotton Factory in Mason, commenced operation in the year 1813, with one hundred spindles, in four small frames, and was kept running night and day. At that time, the price of cotton was from twenty-five to thirty cents per pound, and the price of yarn, No. 16, was one dollar per pound. In 1814 cotton was forty cents, and yarn one dollar and sixteen cents per pound. At that time all the cotton was picked by hand, in private families, and the cloth was wove in house looms; and the price of shirting, was from thirty to forty cents per yard. For constant market the cloth must be sent in wagons to Albany. And at that time there was no market here for farm produce.
At the time referred to, 1790, there were but four, and those very poor, school houses in the town; now there are ten ; some of them may be called good. And not only is the number of dwelling houses increased, but there is an advance in elegance and convenience. At that time many of the dwellings were miserably poor; and but one in all the town, Mr. Parker's, had any paint on the outside, and that scarcely perceptible by reason of age. And I can think of only three rooms in all the town, then adorned with paper hangings.
Since those ancient days there have been great changes in customs and fashions, and manner of living; and many con- veniences have been introduced; but whether on the whole for the better, remains to be proved. At that period there was not a chaise, or other wheel carriage for pleasure, in all the town, (a light one horse wagon, for pleasure or business is a modern invention,) neither was there one single sleigh. To ride on horseback was fashionable for men and women ; and could they have a single horse, this was traveling in style. It was not uncommon for a man and woman to ride on the same horse to meeting or a short journey, and carry one or two children. Probably if I should tell some of my young friends, that their mothers and grandmothers rode on a pillion behind their husbands, they would have no idea of that casy and commodious seat, a pillion. But, I have frequently seen
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a man and his wife ride together on a horse to meeting, on the sabbath, after their united ages amounted to one hundred and sixty-nine years. It was also not uncommon for families to ride to meeting, or to make social visits, in the winter, on sleds drawn by oxen, and they would chat and smile as cheer- fully, as they now do in a stage and four or six.
And will you, my young friends, believe that your mothers and grandmothers, and those who moved in the first grade of society, were not ashamed to be seen in the religious assem- bly, or in any company on other occasions, dressed in their plain, decent, warm, home-made clothing, or at the most, in the summer, in a chintz gown, and a white linen apron ? Such was indeed the fact. And you may judge, whether they were not more comfortable than they would have been in some mod- ern dresses-whether the change to costly elegance and finery has been a real advance in the enjoyment of life.
In the early period of the settlement, it was often imprac- ticable to keep the roads open in the winter, so as to pass with a team or a horse from house to house, to meeting or to mill. The people were not however confined at home, through a long and dreary winter. Every family, and almost every man was provided with a pair of snow shoes, otherwise called rackets. (It would doubtless be as difficult at this day to give our young men a correct idea of rackets, as to give our young ladies a correct idea of a pillion. ) With these snow shoes they were enabled to walk on the snow, and after passing a few times would have a good foot path from house to house. And not unfrequently were they necessitated to get up their wood, and carry their grain to mill, on hand sleds drawn on these racket paths. And although horses could not travel, you may not think the young ladies or their mothers were confined at home, and must lose all the pleasures of social visits, while the snow lay deep on the ground. They too would put on the snow shoes, and travel off; and although enduring a little more fatigue, they enjoyed their visits, it is
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presumed, as well as do ladies at the present day, when wafted over the snow with the music of bells.
Our ancestors were a hardy race, but they were sometimes visited with sickness, and death entered their dwellings. For a long time they must have obtained all their medical aid from other towns; for there never was a resident Physician in the town, until about 1790, when Dr. Joseph Gray and Dr. William Barber established themselves permanently here. Dr. Barber is yet living. Dr. Willis Johnson commenced medical practice here in the year 1814.
The inhabitants were not so exactly on the peace establish- ment as to have no litigation; but they were necessitated to seek legal advice and services from gentlemen of the bar in other towns. For there never was a lawyer became an inhab- itant of this town, until the late Samuel Whiting, Esq., opened an office, and commenced residence about the year 1825. At the time of my earliest acquaintance with the town, there were, and there had never been, but two justices of the peace in the place, Jonathan Searle and Benjamin Mann; they remained the only magistrates in the town several years after this. Esquire Mann held his office until he removed from the town, and Esquire Searle held his until his death. Who was the first Representative of the town in the General Court, as it was then called, is not easily ascertained. But it appears that as early as the year 1775, Amos Dakin was chosen by the joint ballot of Raby and Mason, to represent them in a Convention at Exeter in December; and likewise commis- sioned to act in the Assembly, if requisite. This must have been the time when Mr. Dakin traveled from Mason to Exe- ter on snow shoes, because not practicable in any other way. He may be considered the first Representative. The first Grand Juror chosen was Thomas Tarbell, the first petit Juror drawn was Zachariah Davis-the year 1771.
The early inhabitants of the town of Mason were true sons of liberty. When the difficulties between the mother country and the Colonies, arose to such a pitch as to take away the
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hope of accommodation, they were ready to act with decision. I have never heard of but one inhabitant of Mason, at that time, who was unfriendly to the cause of the Colonies. Cap- tain Samuel Tarbell was then considered a tory, as those were called, who were disposed to espouse and maintain the cause of the King and Parliament in all their oppressive acts against the Colonies. He, after the war commenced, fled and took refuge within the British lines. When it was apparent that the Colonies must submit unconditionally, or, weak and feeble as they were, must defend themselves against the mighty power of Great Britain, these sons of the forest were by no means behind any of their brethren, in making preparation for defence, and in readiness to step forward and exert their strength, when called to action. In the year 1774, meetings of the town were frequent; and it appears that there was great unanimity in their resolves, which were all of the defen- sive character. In this year they voted to purchase a town stock of ammunition, and a quantity of arms. At the same time, they entered into solenin covenant to suspend all com- mercial intercourse with Great Britain, until her acts of Par- liament leveled at the rights of the Colonies should be repeal- ed, and the Port of Boston, which was then shut, should be opened. This covenant was substantially the same, as was entered into in the Colonies generally ; but the spirit of these sons of liberty was seen in the closing up of the solemn cov- enant, the last clause of which was in substance, that " all who refused or neglected to come into this or a like agree- ment, ought to be, and should by them be considered and esteemed enemies to their country." Such a covenant was not only voted in town meeting to be accepted, but a com- mittee was appointed to see that the covenant be signed by the inhabitants, and to take and report the names of all who refused to sign. This committee consisted of the following persons : Amos Dakin, Samuel Brown, Joshua Davis, Nathan Hall and James Wethee. Also, in 1775, a committee of inspection was appointed, to see that the resolves of the Con-
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tinental Congress be duly observed. And to prepare for comfortable subsistence as well as for defence, in town meet- ing it was voted, in view of the increasing difficulty which might be expected, of procuring such a necessary article as salt, "that thirty hogsheads be purchased, while it could be had, for the use of the town."
We have evidence also, that the fathers of the present gen- eration were not only brave and prudent in Resolves, but also in action.
When tidings arrived in Mason, that the Regulars, i. e. the British troops, had gone out from Boston, and proceeded as far as Concord, and that blood was actually shed in Lexing- ton and Concord, the men dropped their tools, and with all possible speed, hastened to the spot, where blood had flowed. And I have been informed that the training soldiers, on this occasion, ready to avenge the blood of their slaughtered countrymen, marched under officers, who held their commis- sion from the King, whose troops they were willing to engage, without thinking of any impropriety. New Hamp- shire troops were distinguished in the war. And as far as can be judged at this time from town records and tradition, Mason bore its full proportion, with other towns, in sufferings and effective labor.
I wish I could give you the names of all the Mason men, who were with the gallant Stark in the battle of Bennington. Many of the young men of the town spent their best days in the army. Some of the elderly men were found in the tented field ; but many of the soldiers entered the service of their country in their very boyhood, not by compulsion, but by voluntary enlistment, and continued in the service, until the independence of the country was acknowledged, and peace spread her blessings over the land. A few, and but a few of them all, survive to the present day.
The names of most of the early settlers in the town, are handed down in their posterity. A few families have lost their name, yet the greater part of the present inhabitants,
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are descendants of those who cleared the forests for them. Who will be ashamed of such ancestors ? We pretend not that they were faultless; but let their descendants emulate their virtues, and avoid their errors and faults, as far as they are known, and Mason will be a happy spot in our favored land.
Your attention is now called to another subject, which makes a part of the history of the town, yet of a different character from that which we have been contemplating.
Health is said to be the greatest of temporal blessings. Of this we have been favored with, at least, a common share with other towns around ; and we can tell of many instances of longevity. In the course of the forty last years, there have died in this town fifty-seven between eighty and ninety years old, fourteen between ninety and one hundred. One man, Jonathan Foster, exceeded one hundred years, and another, Oliver Eliott, one hundred and two and one-half. It may be well to note in a passing remark, that these two old men were very temperate in the use of intoxicating drinks, for the age in which they lived, and their common food was of the plainest kinds.
But notwithstanding the acknowledged healthiness of the place, and many instances of longevity, we have had seasons of calamity, in which mortal sickness has prevailed. We have had two seasons in which angina maligna, or throat distemper, or canker rash, so called, has spread terror and dismay over the place, and carried many of the young children and blooming youth, to an early grave. In the year 1810, this dreadful distemper made its appearance, in the last of March, or beginning of April, and continued to spread dismay, until the month of August. In this short period many fami- lies felt the scourge, and death cut off twelve children, all but two, under the age of five years. Again, in the years 1818 and 1819, the same dreadful disease was epidemic in the town, and many of the children and youth fell before this destroyer. These years were the years of the greatest mor-
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tality ever known in the town ; in one 34, in the other 31 deaths, 65 in two years. In the reign of this malignant disease, but one aged person fell before the shaft of death, while 40 were cut down under the age of eighteen. With respect to the visitation of this malignant distemper at this time, it is to be remarked, it began in the South East part of the town, in the family of Darius Hudson, in a small house stand- ing on an highly elevated spot, not near any other building; this was about the middle of September, 1818 ; and it continued to rage until the beginning of August, 1819. It is noted, it began in the South East part of the town. By this, you will understand, that we have no knowledge that the sickness existed at that time, in any neighboring town, and certainly it was not in any other house at this time. Its first appear- ance was in its most malignant form. In the short space of eight days, three out of seven children died in the first visited family. The disease did not spread in the nearest families. This did not appear to be a radiating point, from which contagion should issue forth in all directions. Instead of that, its next appearance was at a good distance, at least a mile to the North East, where there had been no communica- tion between the families. And the third case was in the extreme South part of the town. And thus it extended from East to West, from North to South, to every part of the town. Neither was it always the case, that all the children of the same family, or who lived in the same house, where the sickness was, had it. And not only, as in the first instance, but in other instances, those had the disease, who had not been exposed to catch it, as they say, by coming in contact with the diseased, or entering infected places.
Here I will name one extraordinary case, and leave it without comment.
There was a little girl in a family in the South side of the town, somewhat remote from neighbors, who was the only child in the house. She was an adopted daughter; and the foster mother had such forebodings of death, should the 15
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disease attack her child, and such apprehensions of danger from exposure, that from the first knowledge she had of the existence of the disease in the town, she restricted her child to the house, and suffered no child from abroad to enter her doors. This secluded child fell sick of this frightful disease, and died.
In conclusion of this point of interesting history, I state that in the space of the last forty-six years, there have been removed from this town-from their houses, and fields, and possessions, to the narrow home appointed for all the living, a number, little, if any short of eight hundred and thirty. What a congregation this would make ! more than half the number of the present inhabitants. Looking at the past, what changes may be expected in the future ? It is believed that there are but two living, on earth, who were members of the Congregational church, in this town, in the year 1790, (Lydia Wilson and PollyDunster,) and but two who were at that time at the head of a family, (widow Withington and James Wethec.) O how often have we all been admonished to prepare for death, and for that judgment which is after death. Death doth not select his victims among the aged, but often levels his arrow at the fairest blooming youth. Let such another period, as we are contemplating, pass away, and few, if any, of the present active inhabitants of this town, will be on carth.
Be not offended, then, with one who has passed the greater part of his short life with you, and whose glass of life is just run out, who would affectionately entreat you to consider your latter end-would direct your attention to the end of time, and to your present preparation to dic. O remember, Christ in you is the hope of glory, and the only hope that will not fail. Look away to the Lamb of God, as the only savior of sinners-go to him as sinners-go without delay. Or if you have already made Christ all your salvation, let him have your heart-let him have your life, and then when you shall have done with all things here below, you will not
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only rest from all your labors in the peaceful grave, but you will live in the full enjoyment of the love and favor of Christ, forever and ever. Your friend prays that your future history, may be pleasantly instructive to all who come after you; and may your last end be peace.
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LIST OF PUBLISHED DISCOURSES.
The following list includes, it is believed, all the published discourses of Mr. Hill.
1. A sermon delivered at Mason, April 11, 1803, at the funeral of Miss Persis Lawrence, daughter of Mr. Stephen Lawrence, aged 23 years. Text Eccl. 8 : 8. Printed at Amherst, by Joseph Cushing.
2. A sermon delivered at Mason, March 22, 1805, at the funcral of Miss Hannah Lawrence, daughter of Stephen Law- rence, Esq. Aged 26 years. Text, Psalm 90 : 12. Printed at Amherst, by Joseph Cushing.
3. A sermon delivered at Mason, July 18, 1805, at the funeral of Mr. Luther Lawrence, son of Stephen Lawrence, Esq., aged twenty years. Text 1 Cor. 15 : 21. Printed at Amherst, by Joseph Cushing.
4. A sermon delivered at New Ipswich, June 3d, 1811, at the funeral of Miss Ruthy Bachelder. Text, Psalm 88 : 7, 8, 18.
5. A sermon delivered at New Ipswich, August 6th, 1811, at the funeral of William Kimball Bachelder. Text, Eccl. 9 : 12; with an appendix, containing a sketch of the life of Miss Bachelder, and extracts from her letters and papers. Printed at Boston, by Munroe and Francis. Sermons and appendix, pp. 48.
6. A sermon delivered at New Ipswich, September 22, 1815, at the funeral of Miss Clarissa Davis. Text, Eccl. 9 : 4; with an appendix, containing extracts from her diary and letters, by the Rev. Richard Hall. Printed at Boston, by Samuel T. Armstrong.
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7. A sermon delivered at Mason, May 16th, 1817, at the funeral of Mrs. Mary Blodgett, wife of John Blodgett, Esq. who was instantly killed by being thrown from a wagon. Text, Ezekiel 24 : 18. Printed at Amherst, by Richard Boylston.
8. A sermon delivered at Brookline, November 27th, 1817, at the interment of the remains of the Rev. Lemuel Wadsworth, pastor of the Congregational church in that place. Text, 2 Cor. 5 : 1. Printed at Amherst, by Richard Boylston.
9. A sermon delivered at Mason, August 28th, 1826, at the funeral of Joseph Addison Robbins, son of Joseph B. Robbins and Hannah his wife. Text, Jer. 9 : 21. Printed at New Ipswich, by Salmon Wilder.
10. A funeral sermon delivered at Mason, on Lord's Day, December 10th, 1826, occasioned by the death of Capt. Hiram Smith, who deceased December 6th, 1826, aged twenty- five years. Text, Job 21 : 23-26. Printed at Amherst, at the Cabinet press.
11. A sermon delivered at Mason, at the house of James Wood, Esq., November 4th, 1835, being on the completing of his eightieth year. Text, Psalm 90 : 9-12. New Ipswich, printed at the News Gatherers's office.
12. A sermon preached at Ashby, at the house of Mr. Jacob Cowdry, on the birth day of Mrs. Tabitha Pearson, who then completed the one hundredth year of her age. Text, 2 Sam. 19 : 34, 35, 37. Amherst, printed by Richard Boylston.
13. The substance of two lectures on the History of Mason, delivered before the Lyecum in Mason village, Febru- ary, 1846. Printed at Fitchburg, by W. J. Merriam.
These, with some contributions to the Medical and Agri- cultural Register, a periodical conducted by Dr. Daniel Adams, and some occasional communications to the Farmer's Cabinet, a newspaper published at Amherst, N. H., comprise all his printed works, so far as is known at this time.
In a family monument of native granite, erected in the old grave yard, is inserted a marble tablet, with an inscription, of which the following is a copy :
HIS CHURCH AND PEOPLE DEVOTE THIS TABLET TO THE MEMORY OF THE
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BORN IN CAMBRIDGE, JAN. 31, 1766.
GRADUATED AT HARVARD COLLEGE, 1786.
ORDAINED PASTOR OF THE CHURCH, AND MINISTER OF THE TOWN OF MASON, NOVEMBER 3, 1790.
DIED MAY 20, 1854, IN THE 89th YEAR OF HIS AGE, AND THE 64th OF HIS MINISTRY.
A FAITHFUL SERVANT, HE DEVOTED HIS TIME AND STRENGTH TO THE WORK OF HIS LORD AND MASTER; READY AT ALL TIMES TO DIRECT THE ENQUIRING, TO CHEER THE DOUBTING, TO WARN THE SINFUL, TO VISIT THE SICK AND AFFLICTED, AND OFFER TO THEM THE COMFORT AND SUPPORT OF RELIGION; AFTER A LONG LIFE OF USEFULNESS, HE DEPARTED IN PEACE, HUMBLY TRUSTING TO RECEIVE THE WELCOME MESSAGE, WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT, ENTER THOU INTO THE JOY OF THY LORD.
5€
5C
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