USA > Rhode Island > Bristol County > Bristol > Manual of the First Congregational Church, Bristol, R.I., 1687-1872 > Part 3
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
1
SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN OF BRISTOL.
The treaties of the Indian Chiefs MASSASOIT, ALEXANDER and PHILIP, with the Plymouth Colony, secured to them their rights to the land, unless parted with by honorable purchase, but recognized the juris- diction of the Colony under the English Crown over the entire territory. In 1669, the Plymouth Court granted one hundred acres within the present limits of Bristol, to MR. JOHN GORHAM, " if it can be pur- chased of the Indians ;" and the remainder to the
51
town of Swanzey, " for the promoting of a way of trade in this Collonie." On the first of July, 1672, Mr. Constant Southworth, Mr. James Brown, and Mr. John Gorham were appointed by the Court " to purchase a certain p'cell of land of the Indians granted by the Court to the said John Gorum lying att Pappasquash Neck."* After the close of Philip's war on the thirteenth of July, 1677, the Court " rattified, established and confirmed the aforesaid one hundred acres of land to John Gorum's heirs and successors forever." This land was north of the town Cemetery, between the Neck road and the Bay, and remained in the Gorham name and family for several generations down to a quite recent date.
In 1680, The Plymouth Colony granted to John Walley, Nathaniel Oliver, Nathaniel Byfield, and
* Pappasquash, Poppasquash, Pappoosquaws, Pappasqua. This name, so variously spelled, has, according to Dr. Trumbull, two plausible derivations; one, from papasqu, meaning "double " or " opposite to," applicable to the southern end of Bristol, divided by the harbor; the other, from paupocksu, meaning "partridge," applicable to this place as having been a good hunting ground for partridges. Another derivation is fiom Pappoose and Squaws, from the fact that in the early Indian wars the Pokanokets sent their children and wives to this Neck as a place of safety. This last derivation seems to be now generally accepted, al- though it is mere speculation, there being no historical data to establish it. The name was at first used to desig- nate all of the western part of what is now Bristol, includ- ing both the beautiful peninsula to which it is now applied and the land north, as far as the Warren river.
52
Stephen Burton, four merchants of Boston, for £1100, all that portion of territory not previously sold, which is now included in the town of Bristol. The whole of Plymouth Colony was then settled, except this territory, which was the last spot left uncovered in the western march of English population. Mr. Oliver sold his share of this purchase to Nathan Hay- man, another merchant of Boston.
These gentlemen obtained from the Colony special privileges, and made liberal provisions for the settle- ment of the town. Among the former were exemp- tion from all Colony taxes for the term of seven years ; the privilege of sending Deputies at once, as other towns, according to the number of free- men ; a Commissioner's Court to try and deter- mine all actions and causes under ten pounds, with liberty to appeal to the Court of Plymouth ; also, when sixty families were settled, a new County should be organized, and this town should be the County or Shire town. Among the latter were the laying out of broad and regular streets, with building lots of convenient size on them; the donation of lands for the support of the Ministry and Schools ; the reservation of a large and beautiful Common in the central part of the town; and the donation of six hundred acres for the Common improvement of the settlers, and designated as " The Commonage." The proprietors retained for themselves, each, one- eighth part of the original purchase, and, with the above donations, put the balance into the market for sale at reasonable prices. The liberal inducements offered soon drew a number of families here, chiefly
53
from Boston, where the proprietors resided, and from Plymouth Colony. The proprietors, themselves, also settled here with their families, and closely iden- tified themselves with all the interests of the town. On the first of September, 1681, the people assembled together and agreed "the name of this town shall be Bristol."*
*The following names appear on the Town Records, as being admitted Inhabitants at this date :
John Walley, Nathan Hayman, Nathaniel Byfield, Ste- phen Burton, Proprietors; and Captain Benjamin Church, Doctor Isaac Waldron, Nathaniel Williams, Nathaniel Reynolds, John Wilkins, William Ingraham, Nathaniel Paine, Christopher Saunders, Timothy Clarke, John Saf- fin, Solomon Curtis, John Finney, Jabez Gorham, Hugh Woodbury, John Rogers, Jabez Howland, Jonathan Davenport, Richard Smith, Joseph Baxter, William Brown, John Corps, Joseph Ford, John Cary, Edmund Ranger, Benjamin Ingell, George Waldron, Thomas Walker, Thomas Dagget, Thomas Lewis, John Pope, John Martin, David Cary, Increase Robinson, William Hedge, Daniel Landon, Widow Elizabeth Southard, Anthony Fry, John Smith, William Hoar, Robert Dutch, James Burrel, Na- thaniel Bosworth, Benjamin Jones, Eliashib Adams, Zechariah Curtis, John Gladding, Joseph Jacob, Robert Taft, Peter Pampelion, Samuel Woodbury, Samuel Gal- lup, James Burrows, Uzal Wardwell, Benjamin Bosworth, Edward Bosworth, Samuel Penfield, George Morye, Jona- than Finney, Nicholas Mead, Jeremiah Osborn, John Bayley, Joseph Sandy, Jeremiah Finney, Henry Hamton, John Thurston, Richard Hammon, William Brenton, Watching Athercon, John Wilson, William Throop, Maj. Robert Thompson, Thomas Bletsoe, Samuel Cobbett, John Birge, Richard White.
54
EFFORTS TO SETTLE A GOSPEL MINISTRY.
The Proprietors of Bristol and their associates were fully imbued with the spirit of the Puritan and Pilgrim Commonwealths, and took early measures to secure an able Gospel Ministry. During the first year of the settlement they obtained the services of the REV. BENJAMIN WOODBRIDGE,* who removed
*Mr. Woodbridge was a son of the REV. JOHN WOOD- BRIDGE, who was the first pastor of the first Church at Andover, Mass., and a grandson of the REV. JOHN WOOD- BRIDGE, who was a distinguished dissenting minister of Stanton, Wiltshire, England.
His mother was a daughter of the HON. THOMAS DUD- LEY, married in 1641. His grandmother was a daughter of the REV. ROBERT PARKER, who, by his writings, is well known to have been a strong friend and advocate of non- conformity.
The father, born about the year 1613, was sent to Oxford to be educated, but refusing to take the oath of conformity, he was obliged to leave the University, and pursued his studies privately. In 1634 he came to this country with his uncle, the Rev. Thomas Parker. In 1641 he married and settled at Andover. Upon the invitation of his friends in England, he returned there in 1647. In 1662, being ejected by the Bartholemew Act, he again came to this country and became an assistant to Mr. Parker. Subse- quently he was a magistrate of the Colony. He lived to see three of his sons, John, Benjamin and Timothy, in the Ministry, and four of his grandsons preparing for it. He died 1695, March 17, in the eighty-second year of his age. "The piety," says his biographer, " which he imbibed in his childhood increased with his years. He possessed a wonderful command of his passions, and afflictions and
55
here with his family and continued his labors about six years. At the first, beyond the provision of a " house to live in " and wood sufficient for his family's use for one year, there was no fixed salary, but va- rious amounts were rated at different times, probably according to the supposed need of his family and the ability of the town. A house, owned by Nathaniel Byfield, and situated on Byfield street, near the present residence of Hon. I. F. Williams, was hired by the town for Mr. Woodridge's residence, and the lower south room of the same for Sabbath services and other meetings, for which Mr. Byfield received £10 rent per year.
November 29, 1684, it was voted " that Mr. Wood- bridge's salary for this year be made up to Eighty pounds as Money,-and for the next year to be made up Ninety pounds as Money,-and for the year 1686 to be made up as a Hundred pounds as Money, and the sum for each year to be yearly made up, dis- counting of each year so much as shall be contributed by strangers ; and the Hundred per annum to con- tinue till the time that, by agreement of the Court of Plymouth, the Town is to pay towards the Colony charge, and then to come to such further settlement
losses did not shake his peace. Just before his death he refused a glass of wine which was offered him, saying, I am going where I shall have better.".
Mr. Woodbridge was ordained over "the Presbyterian party " in Windsor, Conn., 1670, March 18, and after a Ministry of about ten years came to Bristol.
56
with Mr. Woodbridge as may be according to the ability of the Town, whether it be more or less. And for the raising of the sum yearly, for Mr. Woodbridge, it is to be by contribution, if what they contribute be not less than their proportion accord- ing to such rules as are hereafter set down, and such as contribute short, or not at all, to be Rated by the Selectmen, and gathered by the Constable each year."
This vote met with considerable opposition in the town, and the ninth of December following was re- scinded, and the following proposal of Mr. Wood- bridge was adopted, viz. : " I do propose that from the twenty-fifth day of April next, and so onward during my continuance, I will take up with a free and weekly contribution. Provided, if it doth not amount to sixty pounds per annum, the Town forth- with to make it up, and if ever it come to above an Hundred per annum, the overplus to be at their disposal."
The labors of Mr. Woodbridge were not sufficiently acceptable to some of the leading citizens to favor his settlement, although no opposition was made to employing his services temporarily. This state of things was unfortunate, both for Mr. Woodbridge, who desired a permanent settlement, and for the town, which needed a settled Minister and a regu- larly organized Church. At length the subject was brought before the Town at a meeting, 1686, May 17, when it was propounded whether any persons were against the settling of Mr. Woodbridge. Eleven persons voted against his settlement, and between twenty and thirty voted in his favor.
57
About this time the following letter was addressed " to the Rever'd Mr. James Allen, Mr. Increase Mather, and Mr. Samuel Willard in Boston .*
"BRISTOL, the 11th May, 1686.
GENTLEMEN :- There is a few lines subscribed by my- selfe & some others that I suppose you will have the peru- sal of, & though there is not oppertunity fully to lay things before you, yet I know not but without coming to perticulers you may see reason not to encourage Mr. Woodbridge staying with us. I am satisfied that he is not like to have a quiet & peaceable settlement; nay, those that are estimated by him to be his greatest friends & most desire his settling, yet own they doe not see any probability of it. You may hear somewhat of our motions by Mr. Byfield, but there is more to be said that probable he will mind, but if put upon proofs by Mr. Woodbridges not own- ing or denying wee must desire time not exspecting this would be the manner or the season of issueing but rather an oppertunity of advising. That I may a little give you the state of some things with us please consider
That here in this town 14 [or 15] men that have been members of other churches, Mr. Woodbridge instead of getting more Interest in these hath brought it to that now but 3 that I can perceive can act for his settling.
Among them that are the Proprietors soe called being about 18 in number, though they are not willing to vote him out of town, yet I cannct perceive as things are cir- cumstanced that there is above 5 or 6 that act for his settling.
Take the Town as a Town & I know not whether it will not be good to see who they be & how many that are for recalling & further encourageing him, both which I per-
*Mass. Hist. Coll., VIII., 4th Series, 651.
.
58
ceive he exspects. For Mr. Woodbridges first call which he hath built upon ever since was when we were not a Town & were not a Third so many concerned as now are.
Our designe in the paper we have some of us subscribed & sent. is not to give an account of how many in the Town are dissatisfycd, but that you may see that many of them who are principally exspected to act in Church matters are not satisfyed & though there be but 7 of the 14 I mention above have subscribed, yet I can make out what I there write to be true.
It is exspected that there should be a Town meeting, though those Mr. Woodbridge reckoned when he went away should promote it have been cold in it since, but they have rec'd a note from Mr. Woodbridge that surely will put them that are desirous of his returning to be upon action & it will be with lesse offence for them that are for him to appear then for others that are not satisfyed to act against him. It hath been a great wrong for Mr. Wood- bridg he hath allways reckoned his Interest greater than it is. Some there are that are sincerely for him no doubt ; but if he will make it his own act to leave us I doubt not but matters with us would quickly be quieted, more than the charge of making Mr. Woodbridg satisfaction for what he hath laid out; if he demand, it will render the thing grievous to some. But if wec part I am for doing all things wee are capable of that can rationally be required of us. For my own perticuler I can truly say I never have managed any perticuler controversie with him. I endeav- ored his settlement & promoted his Interest & boare with many discouragements as long as I thought I ought or could doe with a good conscience. It was allways my un- happiness, that whatever I managed, really designing his benefit, other constructions were made of it by him; but that I easyly gott over & thought he should act for himself, or they for him that he thought could doe it more to his satisfaction. I have slited or took little notice of many affronts I have mett with, but some word he hath said of
59
Jate that I have heard him speake, some own others & that I believe I can make out the rest, that I must needs say I take not well from him. How farr of late he hath been guilty in spreading a false report of me in matters that have been much to my damidg & discredit, might be made out if need were. That he should charge me with haveing de- signs as deep as the bottomless pitt ; That he should charge mee not only that my designs tended to it, but that my de- sign was to ruin this town, whereas on the contrary it sufficiently appears I have rather adventured the undoing of myselfe for the good of the Town; That he should charge me that because I was sometimes ready to justifye my sincerity in all our late motions respecting him, & that I had peace in my conscience, lett others charge me how they would, That he believed I had some secret inward guilt lay on mee that made me speake soe much of my peace in these matters ; & then at a Town Meeting, where there was a peaceable issue in ade of some affairs of the Town which it is said he is troubled at, that he should say he questioned whether I had anything to do to vote there. These & other such charges & reflections I never deserved from him, or had he reason for, but these are things that I have not had account of or heard but a little while & therefore not in the least to be reckoned as any part of the ground of my former unsatisfyedness with him. To goe about to give an account of the occasions & reasons of my dissatisfaction & by what degrees it came to that heighth that now it is, would be a larger taske than I can now goe about; but if what Mr. Byfield hath to offer be no ground I doubt not but I shall be able to say that & more when there is oppertunity.
These lines are writt in haste. Be pleased to put a can- did construction thereon. I thanke God I hope I can truely say I would be found doeing of that which is my duty, could easyly passe by personal injurys. It is not the matter of maintenance or anything of any such nature, but an assured & I think well grounded confidence that his
60
settling here is not like to be with love & peace & any com- petent satisfaction to those that are principally aimed at for carrying on church affairs. If he come again there is no hopes of settling church affairs that I foresee; if it be, it will be in some strange and unusual way, & if there be not a settlement of these matters according to the practice of other Churches what sober men that are among us that can will endeavor to remove from us, & we expect no so- ber men to come to us & our place indeed will be outdone. I have mett with several losses & disappointments of late & unexpected dealings from some men, but I reckon this not among the least of my troubles. I hope God will doe me good by all. I should earnestly desire & gladly accept a few lines from you to advise me in anything you thinke necessary. Shall not add but my service & hearty respects to each of you, desiring your prayers for mee, that I may be kept in this hour of temptation & that I may be directed in my duty & found doeing those things that may be for the glory of God and the best good of this place.
Your friend & servant,
JOHN WALLEY."
The following is a copy of the document referred to by Mr. Walley and addressed to the same per- sons, at the same date or a little before .*
[This letter, with the exception of the signatures of the other persons whose names are attached, is in the hand-writing of Mr. Walley.]
" Whereas God who setteth the bounds of the habita- tions of the children of men; hath in his sovereign wis- dome disposed soe many of us to this place as he hath, wce
*Mass. Hist. Coll., VIII., 4th series, 695.
61
do desire to be found doeing those things in our several places & capacities that may be for the glory of His name, the promoting the Interest & Kingdome of Jesus Christ & to be laying of such foundations as might be for the good of ourselves & our Children after us & as it is our duty soe it hath been our earnest desire that we might enjoy not onely the preaching of the word, but other the ordinances of Jesus Christ & although from time to time wee have been in the use of means in order thereunto (yet to our griefe) we find things more & more unlikely for obtaining the same & our motions therein have been hindered, as wee thinke by him who should have most encouraged the same. The Rev'd Mr. Woodbridge, in his paper he left with the Town speaks of his return, if it might be with peace, incouragement and joynt concurrence, neither of which wee thinke he will procure & when we have been discoursing about gathering a church in this place he hath not been willing to promote the same in any way, without he could see some certainty of his being settled & called to office therein. And wee the subscribers, having had op- pertunity to take notice of Mr. Woobdridge his methods & designs among us, have reason to think his settlement here will not be for the glory of God, his good, nor ours; he having had many oppertunities wherein to have had a com- petent comfortable & quiet settlement among us & he never having embraced the same & being he would not be per- suaded to fall in therewith, makes us ready to think that his worke will be rather in some other place than here & that he is not the man that God intends to doe us good by. And if he should be voated in as a minister by a major part of the Town (which we question) or imposed upon us by others we must beare it and desire we may as becomes Christians ; but to be active for his settlement & especially to have any hand in calling him to office amongst us wee must be excused in. It is our griefe that things fall out soe among us. Wee are troubled for him as well as for ourselves, & doe solemnly declare it is not out of any
1
.
6
62
prejudice to his person or any perticular interest or contro- versie of our own, but the keeping of a good conscience in the discharg of our duty wee owe to God, to the Town, to ourselves & one to another; & anything wee can doe for him, that wee may & ought to doe, wee would not be want- ing in, & wee do believe that if he would make it his own act to leave us, it would be the readyest way to settle us, & we trust God will provide for us. To give the reasons of our discouragements wee have not now time for, but if any necessity lyes upon it wee think wee should have time, & if the decision of matters is to be by a Council wee thinke it ought to be upon the place, & then will be best opportu- nity to understand the state of things with us. In the meane time your counsel & advice to us & prayers for us is earnestly desired by your servants to our power.
JOHN CAREY, HUGH WOODBURY, NATHANIEL REYNELLS, NATHANIEL BOSWORTH, JOHN WALLEY, NATHANIEL BYFIELD.
A few weeks later another letter respecting this subject was addressed "To the Reverend Mr. In- crease Mather, Teacher of the Second Church of Christ in Boston. To be communicated to the Church."* The following is a copy of this letter :
" HONORED, REVEREND & BELOVED IN OUR LORD - JESUS,-It is, we doubt not, by the Churches and faithfull in Christ sadly observed, that there are verie uncomforta- ble disagreements among us in this Place, which have an Evill & perilous tendency.
*Mass. Hist. Coll., VIII., 654.
63
And (with griefe wee speake it) of such a Nature they are, and such an influence they have that our peace is much impaired, the worke of Christ Obstructed, our quiet settlement in a way of Church Order and Gospell fellow- ship for the present wholly hindered and the name of God much dishonored.
And although some of us (of God's abundant Grace, and not for any worth in us) have sometimes tasted the Good of Communion with God in His ordinances, which, if our hearts deceive us not, leaves such an impression upon our spirits that we would be willing to Deny ourselves to the uttermost; Rather than become Guiltye of not doing what God Requires of us. to our severall abillityes & in our severall capacityes for the enjoyment thereof, and the settling of a Gospel Church and Ministrie here in a way of peace and order : yet soc it hath pleased God to denye His Presence and Blessing with our endeavours for some years past, that our essays hitherto have bin successles, and our condition at this time is very deplorable. We do therefore Earnestly Request yourselves in our present difficultie to affoard us your helpe by your Elders and Messengers upon the third Wednesday of July next, that being here at that time Assembled they may fully hear & Consider our Case, and give us the Counsell & Advice in the Lord, who, we hope will open our hearts to Receive it; in order where- unto we intreate your prayers, that we may see, & be hum- bled for our sins, which have been a provocation to God & that the Lord will Graciously be reconciled to us & accept us in the Lord Jesus, in whom we are
Your Assured friends to serve you, JOHN WALLEY, NATHAL. BYFIELD. NATHANIEL REYNELLS, NATHANIEL BOSWORTH, JOHN CARY, HUGH WOODBURY.
Bristoll, June 28th, 1686.
For ourselves & in the behalfe of sundry others."
64
We have found no record of the Council thus called. It seems highly probable that it resulted in the withdrawal of Mr. Woodbridge by his own act, and the restoration of peace .*
*He was not long after settled in Kittery, Me. In 1691 he resided in Portsmouth, N. H. In 1698 he was living in Charlestown, Mass., and was employed by the town of Medford to preach for six months, provision being made for conveyance from his home to Medford every Satur- day, and return every Monday. His preaching was so generally acceptable that movements were made to give him a call, but matters were not hastened, and, at length, difficulties arose which prevented his settlement. He was, however, anxious to settle, and persisted in acting as the town's minister, contrary to the advice of a Council of Clergymen and Elders from Boston; and, in spite of votes of the town in 1704, " that what they had done about Mr. W.'s settlement be null and void," and in 1705, "that they would not proceed to settle Mr. W. as their minister." With a few earnest friends he attempted to gather a church " contrary to the advice of the Elders in the neighborhood, without advice or respect of the inhabitants of the town, and without the countenance and concurrence of the neighboring churches." This highly irregular attempt was met by an earnest protest from the town. Appeals were then made to the " General Sessions of Peace," at Charles- town, and to "Gov. Dudley and his Council," both of which were decided adversely to the claims and course of Mr. W. Finally, the case was referred to a Council of Churches who censured both parties, and advised the quiet withdrawal of Mr. W. The advice was not followed. how- ever, and Mr. W. continued to preach until his death, 1710, January 15, after a residence of nearly ten years, aged sixty-five years; and on the same day, with commendable
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.