USA > Rhode Island > Bristol County > Barrington > A history of Barrington, Rhode Island > Part 18
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 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49
The results of Mr. Heath's ministry may be seen in part from the following records of baptisms, admissions to the Covenant and to full communion in the Church from 1728 to 1740 :
TIE
In
2
218
THE HISTORY OF BARRINGTON.
A RECORD OF THOSE THAT ARE ADMITTED TO FULL COMMUNION IN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN BARRINGTON FROM NOV. 13, 172S.
Sarah, the wife of Hezekiah Tiffany Dec. 8, 1728.
Nathaniel Peck, Jonathan Vial, July 20, 1729.
Jemimah, wife of Joseph Chaffee,
Rachel, wife of Thomas Swift,
Sept. 6, 1729.
Hannah, wife of Joseph Chaffee, Jr.,
Abigail, wife of Nath'iel Pain
Sept. 28, 1729.
Josiah Humphrey at a Ch. meeting
Jan. 2, 1729-30.
Desire, the wife of Sam'l Kent
Feb. 14, 1729-30.
Sarah Heath, by a letter of Recommendation from Little Compton .
March 5, 1730-31.
Rachel Allen & Hannah, daughters of Eben'r Allen
Mary, wife of Hezekiah Chaffee
March 5, 1730-31. June 6, 1731.
Wido, Mary Vial
Oct. 10, 1731.
Edward and Mehitabel Bosworth, by a letter of recom- mendation from Bristol
Jan. 7, 1732.
Elizabeth, wife of James Adams
Jan. 7, 1732.
Zachariah Bicknell
March 26, 1732.
Offa, Negro woman servant
April, 23, 1732.
Sarah Holbrook, admitted at a church meeting .
Sept. 1, 1732.
Susana Kent, admitted
May 20, 1733.
Mary Allen, daughter of Eben'r Allen
July 1, 1733.
Sarah Peck, daughter of Nath'iel Peck
Oct. 21, 1733.
Ebenezer Tiffany, James Bicknell, Matthew Watson, and Ruth, the wife of James Bicknell, were taken in at a meeting May 3, 1734.
Nath'iel Mills, admitted at Mrs. Bicknell's
July 28, 1734.
Mercy Vial, (widow) .
Feb. 2, 1734-5.
Samuel Allen, Esqr. .
Feb. 23, 1734-5-
Hannah Bicknell, by a letter of recommendation from Ashford .
April 30, 1736.
Josiah Humphrey, Jun'r, 18 years old
May 23, 1736.
Ebenezer Allen, Jun'r, 15 years old, and Sarah Allen, daughter of Ebenezer Allen .
June 13, 1736.
Mary Humphrey, wife of Jonas Humphrey Hannah Andrews.
Dec. 19, 1736.
Emmitta Auger (Alger). .
Dec. 31, 1736.
Jane Barnes, wife of Sam'l Barnes
March 11, 1736-7.
Mary Allen, wife of John Allen Aug. 7, 1737.
Deborah Allen. wife of Joseph Allen, Jun'r Apr. 2, 1738.
Habijah, the wife of Josiah Humphrey, Jun'r,
May 5, 1738.
Bethiah Peck, daughter of Nath'iel Peck,
(at a Church meeting held previous to the Sacrament).
--------
Dec. 19, 1736.
السـ
-
EPO
E
T
N
219
COVENANT MEMBERS. -
Sarah, wife to Felix Negro · Bathsheba Peck, daughter of Deacon Nath'iel Peck June IS, 1738. June 30, 1738. Ruth Allen, wife of Daniel Allen, at a Church meeting previous to the Sacrament Aug. 31, 1739.
Nathan Fippin, (Phippin) at a ch. meeting Feb. 29, 1739-40.
Nath'iel Peck & Alice Peck, his wife, of (Rehoboth) July 6, 1740.
NUMBER OF COMMUNICANTS AT THE LORD'S TABLE.
False reports having been spread with respect to the number of Com- municants of late at the Lord's Table here, I from this time forward shall record the number of males and females that are present belonging to our Church and none else and for the single record.
PELEG HEATH, Pastor.
July S, 1739,
S males,
19 females, 21 females,
Sept. 2, “
7 males,
Nov. 11, " 6
24
Jan 6, 1739-40,
7
20
March 2, "
6
66
15
May 4, 1740,
66
15
60
July 6, "
9
17
A RECORD OF THOSE THAT HAVE OWNED THE COVENANT FROM NOV. 13, 172S, IN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN BARRINGTON.
James Smith, Jr., and his wife, Jerusha Joseph Chaffe
July 20, 1729.
Sarah, wife of John Torrey
Sept. 14, 1729. Sept. 28, 1729.
Robert and Mehitabel Watson .
Nathl. Peck, 3rd, and Alice, his wife
Oct. IS, 1730.
Mary, wife of Hezekiah Chafee
June 6, 1731.
Jacob Bosworth
April 2, 1732.
Felix, Negro
April 23, 1732.
John Maxfield,
June 4, 1732. June 4, 1732.
Andrew Shannon, an Irishman
March 11, 1733.
Bethiah Read, daughter to John Read
March 18, 1733.
May 5, 1734.
Feb. 23, 1734-5.
May 18, 1735.
March 7, 1735-6.
July 4, 1736.
July 11, 1736.
Gideon Franklin
Aug. 1, 1736.
-
William Tripp, a lad of 14 yrs. old Joseph Allen, Jun., (over the river) Constant Vial, and Sarah Vial, his wife Susanna Medbury & Hannah Tripp . Elizabeth Franklin, wife of John Franklin Hannah Medbury
Rebecca Treadwell
March 16, 1728-9.
James Bicknell, & Ruth, his wife
..
--------
TREFF
3 /mcil
-
220
THE HISTORY OF BARRINGTON.
Joseph Vial, and Ruth, his wife
Sep'r 12, 1736.
Mary, the wife of Jonas Humphrey
Dec. 19, 1736.
Hannah Andrews .
Dec. 19, 1736.
Sarah, wife of Felix, negro Dec. 19, 1736.
Janes Barnes, wife of Sam'l Barnes March 6, 1736-7.
Keziah Barnes, daughter of Jane Barnes
March 6, 1737.
Mary, wife of John Allen
Aug. 7, 1737.
John Allen .
Nov'r 27, 1737.
Ruth, daughter of Daniel Allen
Nov'r 26, 173S. July 1, 1739.
Solomon Peck
Rogers Richmond & Susannah his wife on ye day of the death of the child at Gideon Franklins house
July 23, 1740.
Brill, Mulatto man of mine, (Peleg Heath)
Aug. 31, 1740.
A RECORD OF MARRIAGES KEPT BY PELEG HEATH, PASTOR OF CHRIST'S CHURCH IN BARRINGTON FROM NOV. 13, 1728.
Marriage Fee.
£. s. d.
December 18, 172S. Ebenezer Tiffany and Miriam Green 0 10 C
Dec-r 19, 172S. Joel Chaffee & Elizabeth Bicknell .
0 IO 0
Jan. Ist, 1728-9. Thomas Peck & Deliverance May . 0 IO O
Feb. 6, 1728-9. Recompence Tiffany & Experience Stockbridge 0 IO 0
Dec-r 4, 1729.
Daniel Paine & Leah Smith 0
IO
0
May 28,. 1730. Thomas Allin & Althea Baker
10
May 11, 1732. Cornelius Carpenter & Mehitable
May II, 1732.
Jonathan Vial & Hannah Kinnecut 0 IO
July 13, 1732. William Clark of Warwick & Eliza- beth Barnes of Barrington 0
IO O
July 27, 1732. Jonathan Drown of Bristol & Sarah Kent of Barrington O IO 0
March 19, 1733.
Matthew Watson & Bethiah Read O
O
Sep-tr 13, 1733.
Peter Bicknell & Rachel Smith
IO
Apr. 11, 1734.
Samuel Peck of Rehoboth & Hannah Allen of Barrington I
O O
Apr. 25, 1734.
John Adams & Elizabeth Brown both of Barrington .
I
O O
Aug. 22, 1734.
Sam. Cheese & Experience Samson Indians 0 Sharp Blaken & Downs Genners, . Negro man, Indian woman . . 0
5 O
Aug. 14, 1735.
5 0
Nov-r 27, 1735. Matthew Pratt of Weymouth & Abi-
gail Peck of Barrington . O O
Peck
IO 0
new b anTse
1
MARRIAGES AND BAPTISMS.
221
Marriage Fee. £. s. d.
March 3rd. 1736-7. Ebenezer Adams & Hannah Allen I
both of Barrington ·
O O March 17th. 1736-7. John Allen & Mary Kelley both of Barrington .
0
IO 0
July 14th. 1737. Jonathan Gibbins & Elizabeth Bar- ney both of Barrington IO 0
Jan 19th. 1737-S.
Josiah Humphrey Jun & Habijah Brown both of Barrington ·
0
15 0
Dec. 29th. 1737. Solomon Peck and Keziah Barnes both of Barrington . · I 0 O
Jan. 25, 1737-S. Jeremiah Mathews of Providence & Susannah Medbury I 0 0
July 6, 173S.
Nathaniel Bosworth of Rehoboth & Jane Brown of Barrington O
12 6
July 27, 173S. William James Jun. of Newport & Sarah Allen of Barrington .
I
O 0
Dec-r 18, 173S. Job, Negro man & Mary Frank, Negro woman of Barrington 5 O O .
May 29th, 1740. Aaron Lyon of Woodstock & Eliza- beth Allen of Barrington O .
IO O
Sep-tr 4, 1740. Nathaniel Toogood of Rehoboth &
Eunice Manchester of Barrington . 0
IO O
A RECORD OF BAPTISMS KEPT BY PELEG HEATH, PASTOR OF CHRIST'S CHURCH IN BARRINGTON, WHO WAS ORDAINED NOV. 13, 1728.
1728. Nov. 17, Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel & Abigail Pain of Reho- both.
Dec. 8, Sarah, daughter of Hezekiah and Sarah Tiffany. Dec. 15, Samuel Allen, an adult person.
1728-9. Feb. 23, John Wilson, son of Samuel Low. March 16, Sarah, daughter of Joseph Chaffee, Jun. " Hannah, daughter of James Smith, Jun.
1729. July 20, Joseph Chaffee, an adult person, as also his whole family, Benjamin, Thomas, Abigail, James, Joseph, Samuel & Stephen.
July, 20, Ruth, daughter of James Bicknell. Aug. 3, Mary, daughter of Josiah Humphrey.
Sept. 14, Josiah, son of John Torrey. Sept. 28, Robert, son of Robert Watson. Nov. 2, Hannah, daughter of James Bicknell. Nov. 16, John, son of Jacob Hartshorn of Bristol.
1730. May 3, Rachel, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Viall. May 31, Edward, son of James Adams, Jun.
----
---
1
M
222
THE HISTORY OF BARRINGTON.
1730. Sept. 20, Peter, son of Edward Bosworth.
Oct. IS, Alice, wife of Nathaniel Peck, tertius, (adult) also two of the children, Thomas & Mary. Oct. 20, Jerusha, daughter of James Smith, Jun. Dec. 6, Sarah, daughter of Samuel Low.
1730-31. Feb. 27, Sarah, daughter of James Viall.
1731. June 6, Mary, wife of Hezekiah Chaffee, (adult) & two of the children, John and Mary.
June 13, Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel & Bethia Peck.
July IS, Comfort, son of Nathaniel and Alice Peck, of Reho- both.
Aug. I, Jabez, son of Jabez Carpenter of Rehoboth.
Aug. S, Elisha, son of Thomas Dexter.
Aug. 15, Sarah, daughter of Josiah Humphrey,
Oct. 20, James, son of James Bicknell.
Oct. 22, Hezekiah Chaffee, (adult) at home on a sick bed.
" 23, Bethia Medbury, (adult) on a sick bed.
" 24, Elijah, son of Eben Bowen of Rehoboth.
31, Lucy, daighter of William Brown of Rehoboth.
Nov. 7, Josiah and Elizabeth Chaffee, his wife, also two of their children, Joshua and Elizabeth.
Nov. 7, Josiah, son of Joseph Chaffee.
1732.
Jan. 2, Hezekiah, son of Mary Chaffee.
Feb. 27, Mary, daughter of Peleg and Sarah Heath.
April 2, Jacob and Lydia, son and daughter of Jacob Bosworth. " Ruth, daughter of James Smith Jun.
66 9, Timothy, son of Ebenezer Hill of Rehoboth.
23, Felix, Negro man servant.
June 4, Peter Maxfield, an adult person & Peter, son of Peter Maxfield.
June 4, Rebecca, wife of Eleazer Treadwell.
Oct. 1, Charles Peck & Abigail Read, grandchild & nephew of John Read.
Nov. 26, Eunice, servant child of John Read, baptized on his account.
Dec. 10, Mary, daughter of Joseph Bosworth, of Rehoboth, bap- tized at Rehoboth.
1733.
Feb. 25, Molly, daughter of Joseph and Hannah Allen.
March IS, Mary, daughter of Andrew Shannon, an Irishman.
April 1, Nathaniel, Enos, Susanna & Anna, children of Nathaniel Walker of Rehoboth.
July 29, James, son of James Smith Jun. & Jerusha, his wife.
Aug. 5, Lydia, daughter of Ephraim Bliss of Palmer's River. Sept. 16, Jonathan, James, Phebe, Hannah, children of Eben- ezer & Rebecca Treadwell.
Oct. 7, Christian, daughter of Nathaniel & Alice Peck of Reho- both.
-
التـ
223
BAPTISMS.
1734. March 3, Peleg, son of Peleg & Mary Richmond.
May 5, William Tripp, servant boy to Hezekiah Tiffany, on his own account, age 14.
May 5, Abigail, daughter of Matthew & Bethia Watson.
June 30, Caleb, son of Caleb Lyon of Rehoboth, baptized there. Sept. 1, Peleg, son of Peleg and Sarah Heath, born Aug. 27, 1734.
Nov. 17, Hannah, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Viall.
1735. Feb. 23, Joseph Allen, Jun. (adult) and four of his children, Joseph, Elisha, Benjamin, and Hezekiah Allen.
March 9, Molly, daughter of Matthew & Bethia Watson.
May IS, C'onstant, son of Constant & Sarah Viall.
Aug. 17, James, son of Peleg & Mary Richmond.
Sept. 14, Sarah, daughter of Joseph Allen, Jun.
Oct. 12, Abigail, daughter of Nathaniel & Alice Peck of Reho- both.
1736.
Nov. 2, John, son of Nathaniel & Abigail Pain, of Rehoboth. Jan. 11, Molly, daughter of Joshua & Hannah Bicknell.
March 21, Peleg, second son of Peleg & Sarah Heath, born March 3, 1736.
March 7, Susanna Medbury. Her father is an Antinomian Bap- tist.
March 7, Hannah Tripp, (adult) a servant girl to Hezekiah Tif- fany.
March 21, Nathaniel, son of Deacon Josiah Humphrey.
July 4, Viall, son of John and Elizabeth Franklin.
July 11, Hannah Medbury, an adult person.
July 18, Rachel, daughter of Matthew & Bethia Watson.
Aug. 11, Gideon Franklin (an adult person) of Rehoboth. " Daniel, son of Gideon & Mary Franklin.
Aug. 15, Sarah, daughter of Eleazer and Rebecca Treadwell.
29, Sarah, daughter of Constant & Sarah Viall.
" 29, Anna, daughter of Felix, negro man.
Sept. 12, Ruth Viall, wife of Joseph Viall.
Oct. 3, John, son of James Smith Jun. and Jerusha his wife.
Dec. 19, William, son of Jonas and Mary Humphrey.
Dec. 19, Hannah Andrews, an adult person.
Dec. 19, Sarah, wife of Felix, negro.
1737.
March 6, Jane Barnes, " her husband is a ridged Antinomian Baptist."
March 6, Keziah Barnes, daughter of Jane Barnes.
Mar 6, Ruth, daughter of Joseph and Ruth Viall.
May 29, John Rogers, son of Peleg and Mary Richmond.
June 19, Nathaniel, son of Jonas and Mary Humphrey.
Aug. 7, Mary, wife of John Allen.
Aug. 21, Sarah, daughter of William and Mehitabel Mathews.
-----------
-
.
-
-
224
THE HISTORY OF BARRINGTON.
173S.
Feb. 26, Nathaniel, son of Peleg & Sarah Heath, born Feb. 20, 1738.
March 5, Ruth, daughter of Deacon Josiah Humphrey & Han- nah, his wife.
March 5, Ruth, daughter of John & Elizabeth Franklin.
March 26, Jerusha, daughter of Felix, negro, & Sarah, his wife.
May 1, Becca, daughter of James & Rebecca Brown, baptized at home when like to die.
May 21, David, son of Gideon Franklin & Mary his wife.
June 11, Stephen, son of Robert Bates and Margaret his wife.
Aug. 6, Eleazer, son of Eleazer Treadwell & Rebecca, his wife.
Oct. 15, Jonathan, son of Joseph & Ruth Viall.
March 4, Elkanah, son of Josiah Humphrey, Jun., & Habijah, his wife.
1739.
March 4, Patience, daughter of Peleg and Mary Richmond.
April 1, Mary, daughter of Samuel Read, of Rehoboth, baptized at R.
May 27, Molly, daughter of Ruth Allen, daughter of Daniel Allen.
July 1, Solomon, son of Solomon & Keziah Peck.
July 15, Alice, daughter of John & Abigail Tinker.
Dec. 9, Michael, son of Jonas Humphrey & Mary his wife.
1740.
Feb. 24, Malakiah, son of Felix, negro & Sarah his wife.
March 16, Asa, son of Gideon & Mary Franklin.
June 1, Abigail, daughter of William & Mehitabel Mathews.
July 23, Susanna, daughter Roger & Susanna Richmond of Bris- tol; on the day of the child's death, at the house of Gideon Franklin of Rehoboth, private baptism.
Aug. 10, Keziah, daughter of Solomon & Keziah Peck. Aug. 31, Brill, mulatto man of mine, on his own account.
For the period of over two years after Mr. Heath's dis- mission, the people were without a settled minister, hearing candidates and stated supplies. December 14, the town voted " £100 to pay a minister or ministers to preach to this town," and Captain Joseph Allen, John Adams, and Josiah Humphrey were chosen a committee " to provide the town with a minister to preach to the town as there shall be occasion." Josiah Humphrey was to take care of the meeting house. May 22, 1741, the town treasurer was ordered to pay out the £100 to the Committee as needed for a minister or ministers.
Mr. Heath's successor was the Rev. Solomon Townsend,
-
.
@31
--
MATTHEW WATSON BRICK MANSION, NAYATT.
T
------
225
REV. SOLOMON TOWNSEND.
who was born in Boston in 1716, graduated at Harvard College with the degree of A. M., in 1735, commenced his ministry among this people in 1743, and died December 25, 1796, in the eighty-first year of his age, and the fifty-fifth of his ministry. As " Father Townsend," as he was called, is remembered by one who well knew him, he was over five feet and six inches in height, of a spare frame, plain in dress, and scrupulously economical in habits, as the times and salary demanded. He wore long, grey hair, was baldheaded, and possessed the proud distinction of a large nose.
He wore in summer a gay colored chintz morning gown and a cocked hat and short breeches with knee buckles. In winter he wore green small clothes and a long coat, and at his death was laid out in a black broadcloth suit, purchased by the people. Soon after his settlement, the town of Bar- rington, with the whole of Bristol County, was set off to Rhode Island Colony, and the town system of Church support and tithing was given up, and the minister was supported by free contributions of the people. Silver and gold they had but little to give, and the products of the farm were annually sent to replenish his oft-times empty stores and larder. His wife, Rebecca, died when young, and Mr. Townsend never married again. His house was kept by Miss Betty Renuff. One day, towards noon, as Betty was cooking a kettle of clams for dinner, she saw old Dr. Stiles of Newport, riding up, on horseback, to the front door. " What shall we do ? What shall we get for dinner ?" said Betty, as she thought of the frugal repast of clams, bread and butter for so distinguished a guest. "Dr. Stiles has come to dine with us." "Never, mind, Betty," said Father Solomon, "clams that are good enough for me are good enough for Dr. Stiles." Without apology, Mr. Townsend invited the Doctor to sit down to a Barrington dish, which was not only a rarity, but a luxury to his Newport friend. They visited the grave of Willett together, and Mr. Town- send was about to rub the moss from the stones. "Don't rub it off," said the good Doctor, " that's sacred moss."
15
---------------
#
J
H
226
THE HISTORY OF BARRINGTON.
In conversation with some students on moral philosophy, Mr. Townsend told them that he studied such a philosophy. When asked to explain, he said that his philosophy was to pull off his boots, if he did not want them on. It is said that he often went into tears, when telling the value "of this precious book, the Bible." He was a thorough student of the Bible and had a large library of the best Puritan theology. He was thoroughly in sympathy with the early Congregational divines and scholars and when Whitfield came to America found little to approve in his methods and teachings. In fact, he joined with other of the New Eng- land clergy in his protest against them, as follows :
" When Mr. Whitfield first came among us, he used his utmost craft and cunning to strike the passions and en- gage the affections of the people, and when he had wrought them into a fond opinion of his excellence and they began to look upon him as endowed with an uncommon measure of the Spirit, he continued to insinuate that unconverted min- isters could do little or no good to souls ; that dead men might as well beget living children. Having thus prepared the way, he leaves the country with the most vile insinua- tion, 'That many, nay most that preach, I fear, do not ex- perimentally know Christ and the universities are become dark -darkness in the abstract.' Well, what is the lan- guage of all this ? He that runs may read. Dead men may as well beget living children as an unconverted minister do good to souls. The most of your ministers are unconverted ; you must, then, if you have any regard to your souls, separate from them and seek better help. But what will you do? You can't have any help from the colleges : there is nothing but darkness that may be felt. You must then content yourselves with some illiterate exhorters, until you can have a supply from the Shepherd's Tent, the Orphan House, or elsewhere.
It appeareth to us, that the Devil with all his cunning could not take a more direct step to overthrow these churches, hurt religion and the souls of men."
------
Shoje ch
227
REV. SOLOMON TOWNSEND.
Joseph Avery of Norton,
John Greenwood,
David Turner,
Rehoboth,
Ebenezer White, Norton,
Solomon Townsend of Barrington,
John Burt of Bristol.
His prayers contained many gifted thoughts and he often quoted and used the same expressions. He prayed for those who traveled by land, for a horse is a vain thing for safety. Also for the sons of Zebulon, who went down upon the sea, and who did business on the mighty waters.
The following incident illustrates "Father Townsend's " interest in young people and his kind treatment of his col- ored boy as a culprit : Hooker Low had a white boy bound to service and Mr. Townsend a colored apprentice. Both played truant and went fishing on Sunday. Both were brought before the magistrate and were sentenced to pay a fine or be whipped. Mr. Low allowed his boy to be whipped, but Mr. Townsend paid the fine and saved the boy the disgrace of a public whipping at the town whipping post. The colored boy, at the expiration of his service, went to sea, and, after many years' absence, returned to Barrington and called at Mr. Townsend's for a night's lodging. Mr. Townsend gave him food and lodgings, not recognizing his guest as his former servant. In the morning the man made himself known as the boy who once served him and then handed his old master a bag of money as a present in return for his former kindness. Mr. Townsend afterwards, in tell- ing the story, referred to it as an illustration of the parable of casting bread upon the waters and finding it again after many days.
In the summer he preached two sermons on the Sabbath, and in the winter, only one. There was no Sabbath school and no Sabbath or week-day prayer-meetings. In the pre- paratory lecture, he was assisted by neighboring ministers.
--------
------
-
ப்பத்தி நீறுமதி மீட்புற்! IT
CongressoT aN . billes by
228
THE HISTORY OF BARRINGTON.
Although the records of the Church have been lost for that memorable half century of Mr. Townsend's pastorate, and the town records have no hints as to the Church affairs, probably no period of our history was more interesting since our foundation, and none so full of peace and progress. The records of that ministry were written upon the hearts of the young and old of this community, and though we cannot read the written page, we can behold the more in- effaceable monuments of truth, piety and order which such a life and such teachings established. Si quaeratis monumenta circumspicite. "If you seek for memorials, look around you."
At the ordination of his successor, Rev. Samuel Watson, February 28, 1798, the Rev. Dr. Hitchcock, of Providence, gave the charge to this people, and paid the following tribute to the memory and character of this venerable man :
"May much of the spirit of your good old Elijah de- scend and rest on the young Elijah who succeeds him in office. The name of Townsend will long be dear to you in this place. His memory will long be venerated in the Churches, and never will be obliterated from the minds of his acquaintances. Happy in his ministry for fifty-five years, you still feel the good effects of the same. Your best testi- mony of respect to his memory, will be to preserve that order and harmony in your proceedings which do you so much honor, and to transfer your affection to his successor in office. With a mind most pure, placid and patient, and a character exceptionably good and estimable, he was interred with every mark of respect by an affectionate people."
Rev. Thomas Noyes, pastor of the second Church in Need- ham, at the installation of the Rev. Luther Wright, speaks of the "faithful, pious, and evangelical Townsend, who, through a long and successful ministry, was an ornament to his profession and a glory to human nature." His people passed the following eulogium upon him, when they erected the slab to his memory in Pines Hill Cemetery :
-
---
2
للتحقطعة ذا
229
REV. SAMUEL WATSON.
SACRED TO THE MEMORY of the REV. SOLOMON TOWNSEND, Who died Dec. 25, 1796, aged So years ; ALSO
REBECCA HIS WIFE, Who died July 24, 1773, aged 55 years. Mr. Townsend was born in Boston, Oct., A. D. 1716; was graduated at Harvard College, A. D. 1735; was ordained pastor of the church and congregation in Barrington A. D. 1743, and continued faithful in his charge 53 years, when death put a period to his labors and his re- mains were consigned to this tomb.
1
Beneath this sculptured stone and mouldering heap, The reverend teacher rests in quiet sleep ; From youth's first dawn he trod the sacred stage, To the dim twilight of declining age ; He taught the soul in virtue's path to stray, Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way.
In 1798 Rev. Samuel Watson succeeded to the pulpit made vacant by the death of Townsend. Mr. Watson was a native of Barrington, being the son of Matthew Watson, Jr., and the grandson of Matthew, Sr., of whom we shall, in an- other place, have occasion to speak. He graduated at Brown University in 1794, studied theology, was installed in 1798, and was ordained over the Congregational Church in Barring- ton the same year. He was a talented and able preacher, and the people were very harmonious and united during his ministry. At his ordination, he lived with his father on the estate and in the house now owned and occupied by his Watson descendants. He received as a settlement $210, and his annual salary was from $200 to $250. After his in-
.
-------
------
230
THE HISTORY OF BARRINGTON.
stallation, he exchanged pulpits with his classmate Miles, of Grafton, and saw in his congregation, on a stormy Sabbath, in a neat, plain dress, a young lady, to whom he was at- tracted. He sought an introduction, courted and married her. Her name was Martha Turpin Bicknell, of Attleboro'. After his marriage his grandfather bought the Richard Greene place, and moved the house from a cellar in front of Mr. Kinnicutt's to the site of Mr. Staples's residence. This house, known as "The parsonage," is now owned and occu- pied (1898) by Mrs. Charles Miller. Mr. Watson preached two sermons in summer, and one in winter, on Sundays. He taught private pupils, and boarded some of them at his house. His habits of thought were such that he wrote rapidly, even in company. He walked across his farm and back to his study on the mornings of the days when he wrote his ser- mons. He kept a sideboard for liquors, which was the minis- terial fashion at that day, and treated himself, as well as his friends, to the best drinks the times afforded. He was held in high esteem among his people, and during his pastorate, ninety-two persons were added to the Church.
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.