USA > Rhode Island > Bristol County > Bristol > Historical sketches of the First Congregational Church, Bristol, R.I., 1689-1872 > Part 3
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MR. BYFIELD was thrifty in his habits, catholic in spirit, and generous in his benefactions, giving away systematically and cheerfully a portion of his income, amounting often to several hundred pounds yearly. One instance of his charities mentioned as worthy of special remembrance for the good it accomplished, was the publishing and gratuitously distributing an edition of ten thousand copies of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism. He was always a faithful and efficient friend of Education and Religion, and a lib- eral supporter of the Gospel Ministry. To his wis- dom, foresight and liberality are we chiefly indebted for our broad and regular streets, our large and beau- ful Common, and especially the school lands which were chiefly his own generous gift to the town, the income from which have been a material help to the cause of education here and a perpetual public charity. Two cups of our Communion Service of solid silver are inscribed as "the gift of Nathaniel Byfield,
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1693." Many other tokens of his interest in and liberal aid of the Church and Ministry here are held in remembrance with us to this day.
Nor was his large generosity confined to the limits of Bristol. His eminent abilities, natural and ac- quired, fitted him for a high position in affairs of State, and he cheerfully gave his services to the various offices, both civil and military, to which he was called by the suffrages of his fellow citizens as well as by royal appointment. Few have passed through a greater variety of scenes in public life. " In the field he quickly arrived to one of the high est places of power. In the State he was honored with many betrustments ; was in commission for the Peace and Judge of Probate ; was several times chosen Speaker in the Honorable House of Repre- sentatives ; sat chief thirty-eight years in the Court of General Sessions of the Peace and Common Pleas for the county of Bristol, as afterwards he did two years for the county of Suffolk ; was one of His Majesty's Council for the province of Massachusetts Bay, a great number of years ; and had the honor of receiving five several commissions for Judge of the Vice Admiralty from three crowned heads ; from King Willliam, in 1697; from Queen Anne, in the years 1702, 1703 and 1709, and from King George the Second in 1728." Being well informed for the exercise of authority, his very looks inspiring re- spect, loving order and possessed of a fine elocution, sincerely devoted to the interests of the community, he discharged all these trusts to popular acceptance.
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His name throughout New England was a household word; and one of the towns of Massachusetts, although he had no special connection with its his- tory, honored itself and paid him the homage of its respect by taking his name which it holds to the present day.
The wisdom and justice of Mr. Byfield's acts as a Civil Judge, are apparent from the remarkable fact that in no case were his decisions ever reversed on appeal to higher powers. It is still more interesting to note his freedom from those superstitious preju- dices which blinded even some of the best men of his time, and which led to the cruel proceedings in the matter of " the Salem Witchcraft" that are a dark blot on the page of history. Those proceedings he had the courage to oppose and condemn ; and had his counsels been followed, no innocent person would have suffered death as a witch.
He did not escape the common lot of public men to suffer unjust aspersion and severe criticisms from political rivals in his own time, and from the detrac- tions of prejudiced or ill-informed historians who came after him; but well authenticated facts give him a highly honorable name.
NATHANIEL BYFIELD surely made his mark, and the footprints of his influence will be traced to the end of time. With all his grand and noble works of life, he had a steady and unshaken faith in the truths of the Gospel, and died in the lively hope of the glorious Redeemer. In 1724, on account of his advanced age, he returned with his family to Boston,
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where he closed his long and useful life 1733, June 6th, in the eightieth year of his age. The sermon preached at his funeral by his pastor in Boston, REV. CHARLES CHAUNCY, D. D., and afterwards published, was from the text JOHN 1 : 42 : Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to him and saith of him, behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile; A very clear and forci- ble presentation of the beauty and worth of " a guileless character;" at the close of which it is applied to Mr. Byfield in these words, viz. :
" I have no need to insert here, not doubting your thot's were upon our Nathaniel while I was representing the character in the text; the application was so easie and ob- vious; and I would hope unexceptionably : having care- fully avoided saying anything but what I thot in justice belonged to him."
An extract from the "Weekly News Letter," of June 14, 1733, appended to the published discourse, mentions, with other facts that are embodied in the foregoing sketch, the following :
" On the 6th of this instant, between the hours of 1 and 2 in the morning, died at his house here, after about a month's languishment, the HONOURABLE NATHANIEL BYFIELD, EsQ., in the 80th year of his age: Having long * been a great ornament both of our Church and State. *
"For his character, justice to his memory requires it should be said-He was greatly valued and honored by those acquainted with him, for his superior genius and abilities ; his great natural courage, Vigor and Activity ; his plain, unaffected, cheerful and instructive way of con- versation ; his catholic spirit; his real Integrity, and un- questionable faithfulness and Honesty; his zeal against
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sin, and to maintain public peace and good order; his first regard to the worship of God, and constant and devout and exemplary attendance on it both in Public and private, and in one word his love to the Ministry, the Churches and Civil and Religious interests of this people: All which being united in the same person and in an eminent degree, as it rendered his life an extensive blessing, so his Death just matter for lamentation.
He lived with the wife of his youth till 1717, upwards of forty years; and the following year married MRS. SARAH LEVERETT, youngest daughter to the HONORABLE GOV- ERNOR LEVERETT, with whom he lived till 1730: when he was again left a sorrowful widower. He died with great inward peace and serenity of soul : and was honorably interred last Monday-a funeral prayer being first made by the elder Pastor of the Old Church to whose Communion he belong'd. He has left his grandson BYFIELD LYDE, EsQ .; (son-in-law to his excellency GOVERNOR BELCHER) Heir to the bulk of his Estate."
The last will of Mr. Byfield, dated 1732, Decem- ber 6th, shows that he had large real estate in Boston, including mansion house, coach house, stable, cow house and two gardens joining ; also, rope walk, ware house, wharf and flats ; also, other tenement houses, stores, etc., and lands, covering a large por- tion of Fort Hill, and various sites from Beacon street west and north to Cambridge street, now among the most valuable in the city ; also large es- tate in several New England towns, together with extensive tracts of land of several thousand acres in Maine and Vermont. His Christian character is manifest in the provisions of this Will, both the rever- ent expression of faith towards God, and bequests of
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charity, together with an equitable division of property among his heirs after the full payment of all debts and other bequests. It was his principle and practice to give largely in life to religious and charitable objects, and he expected the heirs of his estate to follow his example in this respect ; accord- ingly there were no large charitable bequests made in this Will, yet as a token of personal affection and respect for their office, he bequeathed gifts to " all and every" Minister of Christ, of every denomina- tion, in Boston, to the President and professors in Cambridge, and additional bequests to his “ dear pastors," FOXCROFT and CHAUNCY, of the Old South Church. His servants were remembered with Chris- tian affection and counsel, and freedom, with ample provisions to secure the enjoyment of the same, was given to a favorite servant to take effect six months after his decease.
Mr. Byfield was buried in the " Granary Burial Ground," near Park street Church. The tombstone has inscribed the Byfield Coat of Arms, with the name LYDE cut on the shield. The stone which marked Mr. Byfield's grave has long since disap- peared, and is supposed either to be destroyed or, in the changes made in the tomb, to be concealed from view. The following epitaph, the production of REV. MATHER BYLES, was inscribed :
" BYFIELD beneath in peaceful slumber lies ; BYFIELD the good, the active and the wise; His manly frame contained an equal mind; Faithful to God, and generous to mankind;
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High in his country's Honors long he stood, Succored distress and gave the hungry focd; In justice steady, in devotion warm, A loyal subject, and Patriot firm ; Through every age his dauntless soul was tried : Great while he lived, but greater when he died."
MRS. DEBORAH BYFIELD, the wife of his youth and companion for about forty years, was the daugh- ter of CAPTAIN THOMAS CLARKE, of Boston. She united with the Church in Bristol, soon after its organi- zation, and tradition says, was one of the most valua- ble and useful of the female members, a fit associate and help-meet of her worthy husband. We regret that there are no records or materials from which a more extended notice can be given. As her decease occurred in 1717, several years before his return to Boston, it is supposed that she was buried here in the Family Tomb on his farm; but as her death is not recorded in the town books, it is possible that she died and was buried among her family friends in Boston.
MRS. SARAH BYFIELD, the beloved consort of his riper years, who died in Boston, 1730, December 21, was buried in the Burial Ground where his remains were afterwards placed by her side. The Weekly News Letter, No. 1405, of date December 29, 1730, gives the following notice of the funeral :
" Yesterday were buried here the Remains of that truly honorable and devout Gentlewoman MRS. SARAH BYFIELD amidst the affectionate Respects and lamentations of a numerous concourse. Before carrying out the Corpse a
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Funeral prayer was made by one of the Pastors of the Old Church to whose communion she belonged : which tho' a custom in the country towns is a singular instance in this place, but it's wished may prove a leading example to the general practice of so christian and decent a custom. The Pall was held up by the HON. THE LATE LIEUT. GOV. DUMMER with other gentlemen of his Majesty's Council. Among the mourning Relatives went HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR BELCHER, and HIS HONOUR LIEUT. GOV. TAILER, followed by a long train of persons of public dis- tinction and private character; paying their last offices to the Dead, and uniting their sincere condolence with the living,"
On the Sabbath following her decease and burial, her pastor, the REV. CHARLES CHAUNCY, D. D., preached a discourse from the text, James 4 : 14, on " Man's life considered under the similitude of a vapor," from which we make the following extracts :
" She had naturally a weak and tender Body, but a strong and noble soul; which being cultivated and en- riched by a good education and great industry rendered her truly amiable and desirable, and fitted her to be a blessing in the station Providence had assigned her.
"Her temper was lively and cheerful. yet far from light. and vain : being well ballast by a singular discretion. In her most pleasant hours, she was never unfit to enter upon a serious subject, and always treated it with a becoming · gravity and reverance.
" She had a good taste in conversation and was exceed- ingly well turned for it, having a ready wit, a sprightly genius, an easy smooth way of expressing herself: and being able without stiffness or ostentation to be both en- tertaining and profitable.
" She was an honour to her sex, in her exemplary De- portment under all the various characters and relations of
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life : As a neighbor kind and pitiful : As a friend, true and hearty : As a wife tender and dufiful, engaging in her car- riage : reverent and respectful : As mistress in a family, discreet in her management, neat and cleanly, tho'tful of all under her care, indulgent and compassionate to her ser- vants, especially concerned about their souls, and frequent in teaching them the good knowledge of the Lord; in her treatment of strangers, hospitable; courteous, pleasant, observing and edifying to those that came to visit her.
" But her chief excellency and what most recommended to all that knew her was her undissembled piety. She had an habitual prevailing awe and reverence of God upon her heart, which early discovered itself and all along through the course of her life, not only in an utter abhor- rence of everything that savored of irreverance but in a due treatment of those things wherein the Divine honor is nearly concerned. She loved the House and sanctified the day of God and gave her constant, devout attendance on the public worship and all Gospel ordinances; paid a sin- gular regard to the Holy Scriptures; valued the Ministers of Religion; and had an universal regard to all good men. But above all Christ was the object of her love her faith, her hope. Him she embraced as the alone Redeemer of souls ; Him she trusted with the great affair of her eternal salvation; him she loved with her whole heart; Him she made it her care to please in all things; His image she was adorned with, and the graces of His Spirit she lived in the daily exercise of; And we charitably believe she is gone to be with Christ, which is best of all."*
BENJAMIN CHURCH, the third on the list of origi-
*For these memoranda of Mrs. Byfield, also items given in sketches of Mr. Byfield, we are indebted to a volume of · Sermons in " the Prince Library," Boston, containing the two funeral discourses of Dr. Chauncy.
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nal members, is a prominent name in the early Colonial history.
He was a son of RICHARD CHURCH, who came to Massachusetts in the fleet with Gov. WINTHROP ; a carpenter by trade; lived at Wessagusset (Wey- mouth,) and Plymouth, where he was admitted a freeman in 1633 ; married ELIZABETH, daughter of RICHARD WARREN, in 1636 ; was often a member of the "Grand Enquest," and frequently chosen as a Referee ; served, as Sergeant in the Pequot war ; helped build the first Meeting House in Plymouth about 1637; was in Charlestown in 1653; but finally settled in Hingham, where he made his will 1668, December 25th, and died two days after at Dedham, leaving nine children.
He was born at Plymouth, in 1639, and was bred to his father's trade. 1667, December 26th, he mar- ried ALICE SOUTHWORTH, grand-daughter of the dis- tinguished wife of Gov. BRADFORD, second daughter of CONSTANT and ELIZABETH (COLLIER) SOUTHWORTH, of Duxbury, born in 1646. Their early married life was passed in Duxbury, though he temporarily re- sided in various parts of the Colony in the pur- suit of his vocation.
Less than six months after his father's death, 1669, June 1st, he received from the Court a grant of " land att Taunton River," which William Pabodie had taken up and then surrendered, "for full satis- faction for all the right his father Richard Church, deceased, hath to land in this Collonie." He was for many years in the almost constant employ of the 8
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Colony, on juries for the trial of both civil and crimi- nal cases, and was the Constable of Duxbury.
In 1674, influenced by the representations of Cap- tain John Almy, of Rhode Island, whose acquaint- ance he had made during a session of the Court at Plymouth, he visited the territory known then by the Indian names Pocasset and Sogkonate, now Little Compton, R. I., was pleased with it, made a pur- chase, settled a farm, and soon erected two build- ings upon it. This farm was in the north-west part of the town, near the east passage of Narragansett Bay. He was the first Englishman that settled here, "gained a good acquaintance with the Natives, got much into their favour, and was in a little time in great esteem among them."
During the following spring, while he was dili- gently employed on his farm, and hoping that his good success would be inviting unto other good men to become his neighbors, the rumor of a war between the English and Natives gave check to his peaceful projects. Being informed by Weetamoe and some of her chief men of the inimical intentions of PHILIP, the Sachem of Mount Hope, and receiving fuller intelligence of the same at a Great Dance given by Awashonks Squaw Sachem of the "Sogkonate" Indians, to which she had invited him, he immediately set out for Plymouth to apprise the Authorities there and take counsel with them respecting meas- ures to be taken in the emergency. From this time until the close of Philip's war, he was employed in the service of the Colony. Distinguished for re-
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markable physical vigor and activity, exposed from childhood to the perils of Indians, and understanding thoroughly their mode of warfare, he rendered most valuable services as a military leader, and to him more than to any other man belongs the honor of bringing to a victorious close that bloodiest and most terrific of the Indian wars, known as King Philip's war. Late in life he dictated to his, son, THOMAS CHURCH, EsQ., a narrative of this war and of later expeditions, which was published, passed through several editions, and is still the standard history of those times. He was at the head of the party by which KING PHILIP was slain in the swamp at the foot of Mount Hope, and by his skill and bravery a few days after, ANNOWAN, the last of Philip's great war chiefs, was taken captive. His surprise and capture of this warrior has been described as " an act of heroic boldness which has no parallel in modern times." His numerous and perilous adventures with the sav- ages in the region of Narragansett Bay and Cape Cod, read like a volume of romance. His success in these encounters inspired such confidence, that he was subsequently charged with the command of five different expeditions against the Indians in Maine, with the rank of Major and afterwards of Colonel. In consequence of his long and bloody conflict with the savage Indians, he has been unjustly repre- sented as of a hard-hearted and cruel disposition. But he had a merciless and treacherous foe to con- tend with, and there remained no alternative but to meet them on their own ground and by their own
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acts of warfare, or suffer them to carry desolation and death in their most horrid forms through the scattered and feeble settlements of the white men. The historian of Fall River says, "In raising up such a man as BENJAMIN CHURCH for the defense of the Colonists, and in preserving his life amid the imminent perils to which he was subjected, the finger of Divine Providence was most signally manifested." Before the impartial historian this veteran of Indian warfare stands " as a man of integrity and piety, a benefactor to his country, and a friend to his race."
He was no less devout as a Christian than he was brave as a warrior. "I was ever sensible," he says, " of my own littleness and unfitness to be employed in such great services, but calling to mind that God is strong I endeavored to put all my confidence in Him, and by His almighty power was carried through every difficult action, and my desire is that His name may have all the praise." "I desire prayers that I may be enabled well to accomplish my spiritual war- " fare and that I may be more than conqueror through Jesus Christ's loving me." In his home especially he was the devout and consistent Christian. He regu- larly maintained family worship, wherein he read, and often expounded the scriptures to his household. In the observance of the Sabbath and in attending the worship and ordinances of God in the Sanctuary he was exemplary.
After the close of Philip's war he removed to this town and cast in his lot with the first settlers. He purchased largely of the original proprietors and
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held for many years much landed estate. He built the house known as the "Old Talbee House," still standing, near the corner of Thames and Constitu- tion streets. He was frequently elected to offices of trust and served the town with marked fidelity and wisdom. He was public spirited and contributed with great liberality for the support of institutions of Religion and Education. He was several times chosen Deputy to represent the town at Plymouth, and in 1696 was representative at Boston. He had seven children, five sons and two daughters-several of whom were born in Bristol, and have descend- ants still living among us.
From Bristol he moved to Fall River and subse- quently to Little Compton, where he spent his last days on his farm. As years advanced he became uncomfortably corpulent in person. Being severely wounded by a fall from his horse, he sank under it and died. He was buried with military honors in the cemetery on the Common, where the visitor to- day may stand over his ashes and read how highly he was revered in the significant inscription upon his tomb stone. "Here lieth interred the body of the Honorable Colonel Benjamin Church, Esq., who de- parted this life Jan. 17, 1717-18, in the 78th year of his age."
High in esteem among the great he stood, His wisdom made him lovely, great and good. Though he be said to die he still survives Through future time his memory shall live."
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JOHN CARY, fifth on the list of members, emigra- ted from Bridgewater, Mass., to Bristol, among the earliest settlers, and established himself as a Brewer, residing on what is known as Malt house lane, deriv- ing its name doubtless from his business. He was the eldest son of JOHN CARY and ELIZABETH GOD- FREY, who came to Plymouth Colony in 1630. He had ten brothers and sisters. His father was a man of superior education and had great influence in the colony and as an officer of the Church, and, tradition says, "he taught the first Latin school in the colony, and was very pious and public spirited."
On coming to Bristol, Mr. Cary at once took a prominent position in civil and ecclesiastical affairs, and was frequently elected to offices of trust. Soon after the organization of the Church he was chosen DEACON as an associate with DEACON BOSWORTH, which office he held to the day of his death. His family consisted of his wife ABIGAIL, and eleven children, seven of whom were born previous to coming to Bristol, and four of them here. Most of these grew up from childhood in the covenant rela- tion of baptism, and were worthy and exemplary members of the Church. Two of the sons were Deacons and the husband of one of the daughters, SAMUEL HOWLAND. He died and was buried in the ancient burying ground on the Common. An up- right stone was erected to his memory bearing the following inscription :
" Remember death. Here lies ye dust of DEACON JOHN CARY, a shining pattern of piety whose spirit returned to
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God that gave it July 14th, 1721, in ye 76th year of his age.
" A man of prayer, so willing to do good, His highest worth, who of us understood; Fear God, love Christ, help souls their work to mend, So like this saint fit for bliss without end."
Respecting the other constituent members we have only the briefest memoranda." NATHANIEL REY- NOLDS was the son of ROBERT REYNOLDS, of Water- town, Mass., in 1635, perhaps, born in England. He was by trade a shoemaker as was also his father. He lived a while in Boston, where he was admitted freeman in 1665, was a member of the Artiliery com- pany and commanded a company in King PHILIP's war under COLONEL CHURCH. He removed to Bris- tol among the first settlers and was an active and useful citizen, and an exemplary Christian. He died in the faith of the Redeemer at an advanced age, 1708, July 20.
HUGH WOODBURY was the son of WILLIAM WOOD- BURY, born in Salem, Mass., 1650, June 30. His wife was Mary, daughter of Thomas Dixey, and they had several children, but the name in this town has long been extinct. He was among the first who settled here and appears to have been a worthy citi- zen, respected and honored both in civil and eccle- siastical relations. He died 1702, April 17th, in the fifty-second year of his age.
WILLIAM THROOP, called " Goodman Throop " in the record, came from Barnstable in 1680, and was a son of WILLIAM THROOP, who came from Leyden ir.
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1640. Tradition says he was a very pious and godly man and highly respected, as were also his children, two of whom became Deacons in the Church and filled that office for many years. He died 1704, December 4th.
NATHANIEL BOSWORTH was a son of DEACON BEN- JAMIN BOSWORTH and REBECCA STEVENS his wife, born in Hingham, Mass., in 1651. He first settled in Rehoboth, and removed to Bristol in 1680. His mother was killed by the Indians in the early part of King PHILIP's war. His family were numerous and many were their descendants. He was a cooper by trade and a fisherman, and tradition says he worked hand in hand with his associate, Deacon Cary, not only in the interests of their business, but in pro- moting the welfare of Zion which was their chief joy. He was chosen Deacon at the organization of the Church and continued in the office until his death, 1690, August 31st, in the vigor of early man- hood.
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