Plymouth County, Massachusetts - Biographical sketches (2 of 6 so headed), 1884

Biographical sketches

Hon. James H. Mitchell was born in East Bridgewater, Nov. 18, ISIL!, and died June 30, 1872. He was the youngest son of Hon. Nahum Mitchell, author of the " History of Bridgewater," and Nabby, his wife, who was a daughter of Gen. Sylvanus Lazell.

Mr. Mitchell was educated at the public scliools of his native town, and at the academies at Bridgewater and Exeter, N. H., and at a very early age he entered into business on his own account. He was engaged in trade at Pensacola, Fla., as a member of a tirm, before he was of age. He afterwards settled in business at Bangor, Me., where he remained several years. In 1833 he married Harriet Lavinia Angier, of Belfast, Me., a daughter of John Augier, who was a son of Hon. Oakes Angier, a distinguished lawyer, who lived in West Bridgewater, who was a fou of llev. John Angier, the tirst minister of the East Parish of Bridgewater. Mr. Mitchell, while still a young man, weut into business iu Philadelphia as a partner in the firm of Hathaway & Co., coal merchants. This firm did a large commission business for the leading mines iu Pennsylvania. After that firm was dissolved, Sir. Mitchell continued the business for several years alone. His trade being largely with New England, in 1S50, he removed to his native town, and purchased the estate which had been owned and occupied by liev. John Angier, and by his son and successor iu the pastorate, llev. Samuel Angier, where he continued to reside until his death.

Mr. Mitchell opened his office at 02 State Street, Boston, where he conducted a large, successful, and profitable business for more than twenty years. He was constant and untiring in his devotion to business, and during the wliole period of liis residence in East Bridgewater, so long as health permitted, his habit was to go by the first, or 7 a.m., train to Boston, returning by the last, or 5 p.m. His experience in business had been considerable. He had eiijuyed good fortune, and had been overwhelmed by misfortune, and undeistood well that success depended on industry, economy, and constant attention to business.

Having but a slender fortune, and a large and dependent family, his devotion to business was an imperative duty, and he allowed nothing to interfere with it ; but that duty discharged, all his time and all lii= tbouglits were devoted to his home, his family, and friends, and no man ever performed his duty to wile and children with greater tenderness and tidelity than he, and when, in the midst of a useful and apparently vigorous life, he suddenly faltered, languished, and died, a shadow fell upon that huuseliulJ which w.is never lifted. His wife survived him only a lew months, and died March IC, 1873. He was u man of the most correct habits, given to no excesses in speech or conduct; and yet of social and generous nature, and accustomed to dispense a liberal huspitnlity, and to extend a warm and hearty welcome to his home and table to all comers.

Mrs. Mitchell was a lady of rare personal beauty and of singular simplicity and purity of character. Their life in Philadelphia had been such as to give them great social advantages, and their home liad been one of great attraction. During tlicir re.-iidenee there they ibrmed the personal actjuaintauce and friendship of many of the most distinguished persons of the county in public and professional life. Daniel Webster and Rufus Choate were among tlicir frcfiuent guests, and their respect and regard for their host and hostess were testified by choice tokens and gifts, which are treasured with pride and alleciion by their children.

Mrs. Mitchell was a lady of great refinemeut and uf pure tastes, and a great lover and constant reader uf the best current literature, both secular and religious. Mr. Mitchell shared with her in these tastes, and, though unable to devote much time to their cultivation and enjoyment, he never failed to I'onter and encourage them in liis family. Theirs was a model home, the centre of aflection, culture, and taste, and none ever visited it without pleasure, and few lel't it without regret.

As a citizen he was public spirited and enterprising, ready at all times to do liis share to ])roraotc the be^t interests of the town and community.

The church of their choice, the old society uf their ancestors, was an object of their wannest att'ection, and their house was always open to entertain visiting or exchanging clergymen of their denomination. No belter expression can be given of the esteem in which Mr. Mitchell was held tiian that found in a letter written at the time of his death to Mrs. Mitchell by tiiat distinguished Unitarian divine. Rev. F. U. Hedge, D.D., who had been their pastor when they lived iu Bangor, and a frequent visitor afterwards at

" Mv MKAR Mrs. Mitchkll, - Since I could not be present at Mr. .Mitehelt's funeral, I must write to say hovr profouniily I jyuj|iuihize with you in your bereavement. I think of you a great tleal in these days, and knowin;; you as well as I do, I feel that Llie loss of a husband on wlium you and all your family depended so much must bo a terrible blow. I recall the time of our lirst acquaintance in Iian;;ur, when you were butb younj;, and I, too, had the greater part of my life before uie. I was then inipresscil with Mr. iMitchell's vigor and his strong all'ectiim fur you, and all my subsequent :ic(iuaintance has deepened th.-it impi'cssion.

'- lie was certainly a true and faithful .itay of his family, - one who felt the responsibilities of husband and father, and endeavored to do full justice to those relations. He was also one who fi-lt his obligations as a citizen. Ho iliil what in him lay to proutute the best interests of the church ami town with which 111: was connected by hereditary ties and affections. I rejoiced to witness, after his removal to liridgewater, bis growth in nianliui'.-s, usefulness, and public spirit. His career as a public man has been very honorable; he has trodden in the footsteps of a father whom be revered and whom all revered; he has worthily fullilled his calling, and leaves behind biin a name of which his children may be proud, and which will be to yon a precious legacy.

I know how your heart must bleed with this alllictiou, and mine bleeds with you and for you. Jlr. Mitchell was my friend of m.iny years, and one to whom - though our spheres were so dill'ercnt - I felt a sincere and wurm attachment. T liope, my dear friend, that you will tind comfort in the thouglit that tbe.-e bereavements are not the work of chance, but ordinations ot infinite wisdom and love, and these separations are not fore\'cr. Yours, I know, will be the sorrow with the upward, .Hid not the downward, look,

Mr. Mitchell held nuiuerous public offices, althoiit;h lie never for a moment aouj^ht or would have accepted any public position which eudanirered or seriously interPered with his regularly-established private busines.s, which he rcL'arded as the sheet anchor of his hopes, upon wliich the happiness of himself and family depended. No public office within the jxilt of the people would have yielded him the income which his business furnished and his necessities demanded.

He Was une of the electors of Ma.ssachusetLs iu I860, and had the distinguished honor of beitij; the Uies.seni;er who carried tiie electoral Vule of iMassachusetus, cast for Abrahaui Lincoln, to Washington, iu January, 1861. He was twice elected to the Mtissachuactts Senate, serving in the ycai's 1S6"J and 18(i3. He wa.s one of the in.spectors of the State Altushousc, at Bridgewater, almost constantly from its establishment to his death, and took a deep interest in the success of the institution. Mr. Mitchell was not by nature a partisan, and was never inclined to engage in political controversy. He was, however, an active Republican from the urganizalion of that party to the day of his death. During the period of the war of the Rebellion of ISGl, he and his patriotic wife were foremost in good words and works in promoting the Union cause. Nothing which patriotism or charity demanded of them was left undone. Their children were tiie following: Henry Hedge, married Mary Texauna Whiteliurst, of Norfolk, Va.

Cuarles Wescott Iiakris

Charles Wescott Harris was born inSmithfield, R. I., Aug. 12, 1822. He was the sou of Handy Harris and Abigail Kent. The father began life as a Methodist preacher, but early entered a medical college in New York, from which he graduated and then entered upon the homoeopathic practice of medicine, spending a large part of his life in the town of Yarmouth, Barnstable Co.

The subject of this sketch early iu life developed a love for the profession of his father. He entered the New York Homoeopathic College about 184G, and graduated from it after a full term of study. He began practice in the city of Taunton, Bristol Co., with Dr. Barrows, remaining there, however, but a short time.

From the time of his removal from Taunton till August, 1851, he practiced in Wareham, Plymouth Co., but he then returned to Taunton, where he remained till July, 1854. His many patients iu \Vareham at this time induced him to return to them, uud the next ten years he was a resident of that town, accumulating, during this period, a large and lucrative practice, which extended into all the adjoiuiug towns. His circuit here was a very extensive one, making it necessary to ride many hours every day. The severity of his professional labors begau to admonish him by the recurrence of a physical infirmity, from wliicli he liad for years suiferud more or less, tliui he must give up so large a pmctice, or at least seek one wliich did not require sueli severe exposure to the weather. Accordingly in 1SG4 lie removed to the city of Provideuce, where he remained two years, long before the end of which li-e found his eiieigies again overtaxed by his professional work.

In the year 18GG he removed to East Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., where he settled upon the homestead of his wife, Lucinda K. Keith, whom he had married in 1850. He was greatly devoted to agricultural and liorticultural pursuits, and it liad been one of the fondest dreams of his life that he might some day be permitted to lay aside his professional cares and gain health and pleasure in indulging in tliese oeeupatiuiis. Adding by purchase to tiie bounds of the farm, he soon made it attractive and interesting to all ; but ho w;is not long allowed to enjoy this mode of life.

lie was a physician whom patients sought, and here he was soon sought out by those who adopt his metliods of practice. His experience at Wareham Was soon repeated, and lung before his death, whicli occurred May 24, 1884, his business had become very extensive. He had patieuts in nearly all the surrounding towns.

Besides being a skillful and safe physician, he was possessed of a most enviable disposition ; gentle as a woman, kind-liearted, sympathelic, and generous, liis features always lighted by a pleasant smile, his appearance in the sick-chamber was most welcome to the suffering victim of disease. The expressions of love and esteem from tlie numerous throng of relatives and friends which gathered about his grave on tiiat mild day in May was a more elo(|Uent testimonial to his goodness and his merits than any words of eulogy which we can write or utter.

Dr. Harris was a devoted member of the Union Orthodox Church in East Bridgewater during ids residence in tliat town, and was also a member of Salucket Lodge of Ma.ions, in the same town.

James Sidney Allen

Hon. James Sidney Allen, sou of Sidney Allen and Mehitabel Dyer Bates, daughter of Moses Bates, of East Bridgewater, was born in East Bridgewater, July o, 1831. His boyhood was passed in his native town, where he received the educational advantages afforded by the common schools of that

I day. Industry was one of his marked charactcri istics, and at the early age of seventeen years he had arrived at that proficiency which enabled him to command a man's wages in the tack-factory and aloo in making shoes. From that time until twenty years of age he made shoes for various manufacturers. Then he commenced in a small way on his own account in West Bridgewater, and from that time tu the I present, except three j'ears (185li-;")5), he has bet-n manufacturing. He continued the business in ]']a^t Bridgewater until 187-, when he erected a faelory in Brockton, and has since carried on the business in that city. In the beginning uf the business in East Bridgewater the production was .small and but few persons were employed. It has increased until at the present time the annual production amounts to nearly three hundred thou.sand dollars, and one hundred and ' fifty hands are employed. Mr. Allen resided in West j Bridgewater four years, from 1848 to 185:!, when lie I went to Campello and remained nearly two years, and . then returned to his native town, where he now re- ' sides.

Oct. 6, 1852, he united in marriage with Mary Porter Churchill, daughter of Deacon Charles Churchill, of West Bridgewater. Two children survive, viz.. Dr. Bradford Allen, now a piacticiiig physician in Brockton, and Louise, who was born in 1805. Dr. Allen was born Jan. 2."^, 1857. He graduated from Amlierst College in 1878, and from the Harvard Medical College in 1882, and completed his medical studies abroad, at Vienna, Berlin, and at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, one of the celebrated institutions of Europe.

Mr. Allen's wife died in 1870, and in 1871 he married Alice, daughter of Josiah Richards, 1'].m|., of West Bridgewater. She was a teacher in Bridgewater Normal School. Their family consists of three children, viz., Lyman Richards, born 187!) ; James Sidney, Jr., 187ti ; and Elbert Grover, 1871).

Mr. Allen has ever been tlioroughly identified with the interests of his native town and county, and all measures tending to advance the welfare of either have found in him an earnest advocate. He has been called to many positions of trust and responsibility. He has been selectman and on the school committee of East Bridgewater, representative in tlie Legislature in 1804 and again in 1871, and for two terms, 1882 and 1883, was senator from the Plymouth Second District. He is a member of the Union Congregational Church at East Bridgewater.

Hull. Willaid Phillips, son of Joseph Phillip.s, was born ill Ejst Biidgcwator, Doc. 19, 1784, but as liis family removed to Hauijjshire County while he was a child, the most uf his youlli was passed in different towns of that locality, one of which was CummiDj^ton, where lie lived several years. Up to the age of uioeteeii he enjoyed no advantajres of education, except the couimon district scliools of that neighborhood, but liad protited so well by their iu.'-tructions tliafut eighteen he taught a school in the neighboring town of Go>hen. At nineteen, iiaviug for a few months taught a second school at Chesterfield, lie began studying Latia under the instruction of bis friend and townsman, Calvin Briggs, a medical student at that time with Dr. Bryant, tlie father of our great poet, William Cullen Bryant.

Having decided, in spite of many obstacles, to enter Harvard College, Sir. Phillips studied and resided for some time with James Thomas, Esq., of East Bridgewater ; afterwards studied with Rev. Mr. Niles, of Abinglon, completing his preparatory course at Bridgcwater Academy, then under the care of RicliarJ Sanger, who hud been tutor at Harvard. After more than two years alternate study and schoolkeeping, in ISOG, he was admitted a student at Harvard. After graduating, he taught for a time in Boston, which calling he gave up on being appointed to a tutorship at Harvard. During intervals of his duties there he studied law, and on resigning liis position as tutor entered the law-office of Benjamin Gurham, of Boston, as junior partner. In 1825 and 1S2G he was representative to the.General Court. From 1839 to 1847 he was judge of prob;ite for Suffolk County, giving up the practice of law in 1845. In 1843 he became president of the American Life Insurance Company, holding the office until 1SG.1. Judge Phillips is known as author of valuable works, both political and legal. For several years lie was both editor and publisher of the Avicriaut Jurist. From 1837 to 1841 he was one of the commLsaioners appointed by Governor Everett for reducing " the law of crimes and punishments to a systematic code." He wrote several articles in the " Eucyclopujdia Americana," and, with Edward Pickering, edited the first American edition of " Collyer on Partnership."

Judge Phillips married, June 12, 1833, Hannah Brackett Hill, daughter of Hon. Aaron and Hannah (Quiucy) Hill. Mr. Hill was for many years postmaster of Boston. His wife died Feb. 25, 1837. He married, Sept. 3, 1838, her sister, Harriet Hill. Judge Phillips died at his residence in Cambridge on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 1873, at the age of eighty-eight years. His only surviving child is Willard Quiucy Phillips, Esq., a son of the first marriage.

1 River in that city, flows through ihe northeasterly GEOGRAPHICAL -TOl'OfiRAl'IlICAL-ECCLESIAS. j part of this town. Called here M^utflehl River, has an

The- First Settlements - First Congregational Society - Old ; excellent water-power near the centre of the Meeting-IIoiises - Kcv. Jamc3 Keith - Ills Ministry - The | town, on Town River, where a griuiJin"--uiill, saw- OKI Hou^o of Rev. J.-,.ues Keitb-Its Location, ete.-In- | ,uiii_ ^ branch of 0. A.nes & SoDs" shovef-manufacto- \cutory of Rev. James Jieith - Raptist Chuieli - Tlic New : , , , , - ,

I Deacon Samuel Edsou built the tirst mill in the an- TuE town of West Bridgewater' is located in the j tieut town of Bridgewater soon after its settlement, nortliweaterii part of the county, and is bounded as ! "" another dam, called Ames' Dam, just below follows : On the north by Brockton, on the east by i uiain dam, is where shovels were lirst made by East Bridgewater, ou tlie south by Bridgewater, and ' O. Ames' ancestor. Also, as recently as 1 S20 or 18"J 1, on the west by Bristol County. I there was a mill at this place where wool was carded

The town is generally level aud well watered. The | '""^ made into rolls for spinning, and a njill whore the north aud northwesterly part is higher and somewhat ' cloth was fulled, colored, and dressed ; and the farmers undulated; and the south aud southeasterly part lower 1 °^ ''''* *d'^ adjoining towns brought the .shearing of and flat. It has a strong soil and the cultivated parts | '-''-^''' flocks, first to be carded, and, after the wives are generally fertile, much of it, having a clayey sub- j ="'J daughters had spun and wove it, again to he stratum, very good grass lands. Swampy forests are I <;ulored and dressed.

prevalent, aud natural meadows abound. The Hock- i -A- broad, low rock, a few rods below the mills, on omock meadows in the southeasterly part skirting the '''<^ north side of the stream, is now to be seen, upon river form a range of over three hundred acres. ' wlyeh, tradition says, Old Minister Keith stood to

Its waters are the Town River, the outlet of Nippe- i P^ach his first sermon to this people, fruui the text, nicket Pond, and a tributary of Taunton Great River, ' " Behold, I caunot speak ; for I am a child" (Jer. i. which enters the town iu the southwest and flows '^)> 'i ltJt>3. probably, he being about twenty years through the centre in a crescent course and leaves "'i^-

Several other rivers and rivulets, coming from the : '*'''° Arst iu the interior of the Old Colony, wore north, enter Town River in its course through the j made within the territorial limits of the present town town; the most westerly one coming through Easton, i ^^' West Bridgewater in 1651. The first .settlors called Hockoiuock River, in this town, affords a "ood ''^"^ ^ house-lot of six acres each granted them on the mill-power iu the northwest part, flows south and '^owu River, aud the plantation was called Nuckatost, joins the main stream about half a mile north of the o"" Nuncketetest. The settlement was compact, the poud in the town of Bridgewater. A smaller stream, i house-lots being contiguous for mutual protection called West-Meadow Brook, in the westerly part, ' against the Indians, and, as a further protection having its source in Brockton and flowing southerly, ' against the incursions of the natives, the inhabitants near Cochessett village, also afiords a mill-power ; and erected a stockade or garrison on the south side of were iiupaneled, and laid out four roads for public coriveiiicucc, two of them startinir from the tueetini;- hou3e of 1G61, ooe leading toward Boston and one toward Taunton, and two others branciiinj? off from these two roads, one at Sandy Hill, leading toward Plymoutii, and one at the head of Edward Fobes' two house-lots toward the Great Meadows.

First Congregational Society. - The first moetiuij-house was erected in West Bridsrewater about IGGO. It was built of logs near the site of Simeon Dunbar's house.

The second meeting-house was erected in 1674, opposite where Maj. J. D. Barrill lives. Its size was forty by twenty-six tieet, fourteen feet studs, at an e.^cpeusc of fourscore pounds, not including " the making of gallaries or seating, ten pounds in money, ten pounds in merchantable boards at four shillings a hunilred."

The third meetiug-house was built on the site of the second building in 1739. Committee of the old house, Nicholas Byram, John Washburn, Samuel Allen, John Ames, Deacon John Willis, and Goodman (Samuel) Edson. Committee of the new one, Jonathan Hayward, Jr., Israel Packard, Thomas Hayward i^od), Ephraira Fobes, and Ephraim Hayward; size of the house, fifty by thirty-eight feet, twentytwo feet posts, covered with shingles ; eleven places for pews .-(old for one hundred and forty-three pounds ten shillings sixpence. A pew was built on the left of the pulpit for the minister's family. Long seats instead of pews in the body of the house, two galleries, one above the other on three sides.

In 17C7 a new spire was erected, balcony repaired, and bclJ purcha.-^ed. This was the second bell in town ; the North Parish had a bell in 17G4. This building continued in u.se for seventy years, till the erection of the fourth house, on land of Ganialial Howard, near the orchard of Jonathan Copeland, 1802. The old church was sold to the town for a town huu.ie, belfry removed. The building was taken down ill 182;). The first pastor was the Rev. James Keith, who was ordained Feb. 18, 1U(J4, and continued ill the ministry tifiy-six years, lie died July 23, 1719.

" He lived and died," says Mr. Latham, " in a hou.^e in this town now owned and occupied by George M. Pratt. It is situated on River Street, between the residence of Mrs. Sarah H. Howard, widow of Amasa Howard, on the west, and the residence of Miss Louisa Perkins un the east.

" The house was built in 16G2. It fronted south, Was two stories high in front, one story high back side, posts sixteen feet high, fifteen feet wide in front, thirty-four feet deep, with front entry five feet wide; chamber-stairs and chimney back of front door in the southeast corner of the house, one front room about ten by twelve, with a bedroom back of that, and a kitchen, with pantry, back of bedroom and chimney. In the second story was an entry, a front room, and a bedroom corresponding to the rooms below. No cellar under this part of the house.

" In 1678 the house was enlarged by an addition of eighteen by thirty-four feet to the east side of the house, two stories high in front, one story high back side, making one large front room, eighteen by eighteen feet, with a bedroom, back stairs, and an enlargement of the kitchen in the back part, the rooms in the second story corresponding to the front room and bedroom below, the back part of the second story of the old and new part of tlie house remaining unfinished ; a cellar under a portiou of this new part, with a stone drain across the road to the Town River.

"The house remained in this condition without material alteration for one hundred and fifty-nine years, - from 1678 down to 1837, - when Thomas Pratt, father of George M. Pratt, cut off about fourteen feet of the north side of the house, so as to leave the north side of the .same height as the front side of the hou.se, thereby making the south roof thirteen and one-half feet long, and the north roof oidy twelve feet long, building a new chimney in the place of the old one, then taken down, but much smaller, and leaving the rooms in the front and middle parts of the house as they were before this amputation. The brick in this old chimney were much larger than modern brick, and were laid in clay. The shingles upon the walls were taken off, and clapboards put on in place thereof, this house now being a two-story house, thirty-two feet front and twenty feet back, with a porch annexed to the back side, the windows upon the three sides of the house being the same ever since the memory of man, except such as were cut off as aforesaid, and except square glass in place of the old diamond glass and bull's eyes.

"The annex, or addition of eighteen by thirty-four feet, made in 1678, was quite fully devclnped and apparent on a personal examination of the inside of the house a few years ago by the writer, and the fiauic-work, timber, doors, materials, and inside construction of the house exhibit strong marks of antiquity.

-' In the case of the inhabitants of Bridgewater versus the inhabitants of West Bridgewater, reported in the seventh volume of ' Pickering Reports,' page 191, and in the ninth volume of Pickering, page 55, in the years 1828-29, brought for the support of Daniel Keith, a pauper, then aged eighty-one yeais, a great-jrrandsoa of the Rev. James Keith. Tliis pauper, witli his father, Daniel Keith, and jiraiidf.itiier, Joliii Keitli, .son of the Rev. James Keilh, lii'ed and died ill the plaintiff town. It became necessary to prove where, in old Brid^ewater, Minister Kcitli lived and died, and sundry old people were witnesses of, and sundry depositions of ancient people Were then (1828-29) taken for that i)urpose, as well as to prove the j:enealof:y of the pauper ; and some of said deponents and witnesses well rememherod the house then i 1S28) owned and occupied by Arrabclla, dauiihter of said Amasa Howard, deceased, and widow of Reiijainin Eaton, deceased, as far back as 1750, and said it was then (1750) an ancient-looking house, and had always appeared the same as it theu (1828-29) appeared. That case was tried, and before tlie whole court, twice, and the fact that the Rev. James Keith lived and died in that house was then well and satisfactorily established.

" The homestead of Rev. James Keith consisted of two house-lots of six acres each, with a ten-acre lot at the head of said house-lots, and with a liouse thereou built by the town, conditionally ;:iven by the town to him in consideration of his future services as their minister, and remained entire until about 1800 ; and though this house and a portion of the homestead on which it stands has been owned and occupied by many persons ;is tenants, in common and otherwise, yet the title to tiiis house and portion of the liomestead has always remained in and been confined to four persons and their families, to wit :

" We have never been able to find any record of the date of the birth of Rev. James Keith, nor the date of his marriage to Susanna, daugliter of Deacon Samuel Edson, or of the date of the birth of his chiidreu, except Joseph. In the pamphlet referred to on the third page of this book it is stated that they were married May 3, 1GG8, but that date was acknowledged by the author to be conjectural and without authority, and we have no confidence in that date. His son. in that pamphlet, is said to have married Mary Thayer, of Weymouth, May 3, 1G95. The records of Bridgewater give the dates of the births of his children, but not of liis marriage, James, his oldest cliild, being born Jan. 8, 169U. Susanna, daughter of Rev. James Keith, was married, in Taunton, to Jonathan Howard, of Bridgewater, Jan. 8, lt>89, and died soon after without issue, and the Rev.

James Keith was probably born as early as 1(j43, atid began to preach in Bridgewater soon after liis arrival, in 16C2. Master James Keith probably continued to preach and perforin the office of minister for tluit people from that time to the time of his scttletnciit, Feb. 18, 1G64, old style, but when In' arrived, or in what ship, or who his parents were, or his brotiiers or sisters, if any, were, or when he fir^t went into possession of this house and land does m.t apjicar. Tiie town had employed one .Mr. Btiriker to serve them as minister for IGGO, IGUl, and perhaps a part of 1GG2. He then declined to accept their invitation to settle among them. The town had [)reviuu.-5lv, without rel'ereuce to any particular minirrter, a-reud to give their minister a purchase right with all privileges.

" In support of the above history of this house, we present the following extracts from the first volume of town records, and a copy of the inventory of the Rev. James Keith, recorded in the fourth volume of Probate Court Records at Plymouth, page 185 :

" Volume I. pajje 31). ' It is agreed upon liy tiio towne, mcett together the sixt-and-twcntiulb of Deseiiiber (IfiCl), lliat tiiere shall be a bouse built for a minister upon the town's lands, where it shall bo tbouglit rao^^t convenient, and that [lie { said house and grounds is to be freely giuen to that minister y^ shall liue and die amongst us, being called by the towne to the work of the minisCry, or by a chureh gathered aecordiiig to the order of the gospel, with the consent of the towne; a.- also a complcat purchase, with uplands and meadow lands, according us other lownesuien haue.'

" This record further provides for the uimtijigeiicy of death, a short time of service, and inability to serve, and occupies the last half of said |iage.

"This house was probably built in lGli2, in pursuance of the town's agreement on the 2(ith day of December, IGGl, but not finished May 1.!, lGG-1, when the town employed two persotis tu Uni.-»h the chimneys and glass the windows, as follows ( I kh page) :

*' The roof was probably a tliuLchcd ruul" ut tii>i, auJ tlie house unoccupied aud uegleutod at tiidl ; and on the 11th of October, 1GG4, the house rctiuned some repairs and iinprovemenU, and the record in tlic same book, page 43, reads as follows :

**' This record made the 1 Siii of February, IGti I. Tlie towne, bein;; nu-ut togetlier, doth deeliire and hold forth that the towne did tlicn resigne and iiiuke oner to Mr. Keith the bouse and garden beioDgiiig to the minister's lolt or purulia^ie, according to the tennor of tlie agrccmeut made between Mr. Keith and the towne, and gaue liim free liberty to possess it.'

" And on the o4th page of said book is a full record of the terms of his settlement made witli the town under date of Feb. 18, 1C64, old style; and amoui^ other thiiij;.s, the town agreed to ' giue Ma.ster James Keith,' conditionally, ' twelue acres of land, already laid out, with a dwelling-house built upon the same by the towne ; the lands well known, and liing upon the Mill Riuer, and joining to the lands of Natli' Willis on the one side and to George Turner on the other side.'

" Sept. i;-i, 1670, page 60, ' town choose a committee to let out Mr. Keith's burn, and to set the work forward and do their endeavor to see the workman paid for his labor;' and, May 23, 1C73, on page 6S, the town gave him full title to his house and lands, as follows :

"'It was agreed upon by the inhabiluots of the towne of Bridgewater, the thrce-and-twentieth of May, one tliousand si.t hundred and seventy-three, lliat Master James Keith, in considcr.ition of liauing been some competent time in the work of the oiini>try among them, ."liould baue the dwelling-house and oul-bou>es be is possessed of, with the twelue acio lot he liues upon, as al-^o all the lands, whether uplands or meadow lands, belonging to a full purchase.'

" And did then freely give and grant the same to him, his heirs, and assigns ; and on Nov. 20, 1675, page 71, ' uoted there shall be a garrison made about Mr. Keith's house.'

" On the 20th of September, 1677, page 74, the town ' uoted to raise and give Mr. Keith 24 lbs. toward the building of him a conuenient roome or dwelling-house,' as follows :

" ' The town being mett together the twentieth of September, 167T, did arnin and agree to give freely to Mr. Keith twenlyand-four pounds, to be paid at his house - the one half to be paid in Indian corne. and the other half in boards and clapboards, by the last of April insuing the date hereof; and the said twenty-four pounds to be raised by way of rate upon the inbubitantd of the town, which was given to Mr. Keith toward the building of him a conuenient roome or dwelling-house; the boards at bt. a hundred and clapboaids, shaven, at 5s. a hundred.'

" The inventory of Rev. James Keith, recorded in the fourth volume of the Probate Record, page 185, was taken Aug. 25, 1719, by John Field, Isaac Johnsou, and John Ames, Jr., and contains ten items of personal property, amounting to lG71bs. and lis., and shows the internal division and arrangement of the house at that time, corresponding to the rooms and condition of the house at the time of the alteration in 1837, to wit:

Mr. Keith was succeeded in the ministry by Rev. Daniel Perkins, who was ordained Oct. 4, 1721, and was pastor sixty-two years. He died Sept. 2'J, 1782. Rev. John Reed was the next pastor, ordained June 7, 1780, and continued his ministry here until his death, Feb. 17, 1831.

Rev. J. G. Forraan was .settled April 1, 1849. liev. Russell A. Ballou was settled April, 1S52. Rev. Ira Bailey supplied the pulpit in the summer of 1857, and was settled April 21, 1858.

Rev. Tlieodore L. Dean began his services with the society April, 1865, and was ordained as pastor Feb. 14, 1866. His services with the society terminated April 1, 1867.

lu April, 1867, the Rev. J. G. Forman, a former minister, supplied the pulpit a few Sabbaths, and was invited to become the .settled minister again after the repairing of the church building, which was completed during the months of June, July, and August, and during said months the church was closed.

the fourth church edifice which this society liad built and used for public worship sioce the settlement of tlie Rev. James Keitli, in 1664. Tradition locates the first building for church use in several difierent places, but history is silent in relation to it. The second and third meeting-houses stood on what is now the Central Square, and it was the place where the entire population of the original township of Bridgewater assembled for public worship. The last on that location was a three-story building, having two tiers of galleries. The west end of said building stood about where the soldiers' monument now stands.

About the time that the Rev. Mr. Forraan commenced his second term of service with this society it eame into possession of a bequest of twenty thousand dollars, made by the late Capt. Benjamin B. Howard, the income of which was to be applied to the support of the ministry in this church.

The society being thus encouraged in its prospective condition, entered into an engagement with Mr. Furman for a term of five years, and a longer time conditionally; but at the end of three years the engagement was brought to a close, and the society was again without a pastor March 27, 1S70.

Uev. F. P. Hamblett supplied the pulpit after May, ISTl, and was installed a.s pastor April 'JD, 1872, and continued as pastor about four years.

Rev. William Brown supplied the pulpit a part of the time during the summer of 18S3, and was engaged as pastor of the society for a term of five years, commencing on the 1st of September, 1883, without a formal iujtallation, and is the present pastor.

Baptist Churcll.' - Originally there was but one church in Bridgewater, and that was of the Puritan order, or, as wc of to-day s:iy, strictly Orthodox Cungre;;ationalist. We find this church maintained its purity during the pastorate of its first pastor, Rev. James Keith, and, for aught we iinow, fur the first few years of that of its second pastor. Rev. Daniel Perkins ; but in 1748 we find the eliureli began to be troubled with Separatists; probably these were the fruit of the giral au>iiL(iiui(/, or po.saibly the fruit of the preaching of John Porter, wliose sermon on the ?i^cto Wnj/ So excited the ire of Mr. Perkins.

We find, by referring to the church records, tliat at a church meeting held Sept. 12, 1448, "To consider the case of some of our brethren who attended a separate meeting at private houses the last two Sabbaths, the following question was put : Whether those that remain steadfastly adhering to the ministry and discipline of this church are not bound to infjuire into the reasons of the conduct of their brethren in separating from them, and act agreeably to what they shall find? Voted in the affirmative by a iarire majority. Also voted that Deacon Edson, Mr. Keith, Esquire Johnson, and Mr. John Willis be a committee to di. - course with the brethren that arc for upholilinir such separate meeting on the Sabbath, and that they give in their reasons, if any they have, for so doing, "

At another meeting, held Sept. 21, 1748, only nine days after, the record says, " Stopped the church after lecture, and the votes of the church were read, and then the reasons of the separating brethren were communicated, and the question was put. Whether these reasons are in the judgment (jf the brethren sufiBcient to countenance the upholding of a separate meeting on the Lord's day? Passed in the negative. Voted, that they should be admonished not to go on in such disorder, but to return to the only Communion of the Church, and that we could not on any other terms be free to hold communion with them."

Oct. 10, 1748, the church voted as follows, viz. : " Tliat they continue of the same mind as before, not to justify the conduct of their separating brethren, and that we defer the consideration of their ease till Monday, the 31st instant, and that meanwhile their pastor and two brethren be desired to discour>e with them."

Oct. 31, 1748, the church met, and a number of the Separatists desired a dismission to foriu a church by themselves for the reasons already given. The church voted in the negative, and voted to still further wait on their brethren and see if they will return to an orderly walk with us.

At a church meeting held Dec. 12, 1748, '- It was voted that such of the brethren as continue to separate from us be publickly admonished and suspeiiJeil from our communion till they return to order, peace, and fellowship with us."

" Jan. 8, 174'J, read an admunilioii and suspension for twenty-eight members of this church, viz. : Joshua Willis, Exjierience Willis, Silas Willis, Thomas Willis, Jr., Susannah Willis, Nathaniel Harvey, John Snow, Hannah Snow, Elezer Suow,- Mary Snow,- Samuel

Lothrop, Abiel Lothrup, Duuiul Lothrop,* KhoJa Lothroj),' I:iiuic Lothrop, Patience Lothrop, Ruchel Alger, Joseph Alger, iMary Alger, Joseph Alger,' Jr., Joseph Ames, Susauuah Amea, Aboer Hayward, Mary Hayward, Mary Lotiirop, Mary Howard, Esther Soper, aud Patieriee Hall. Voted that this bo sent by the hands of Deacon.-. Fobes and Burr, John Willis, and Samuel Dunbar."

Thi^ was the action of the church in relation to the Separati.-,[s in 1748-4'J, three years alter the ureat awakeiiinj;. Therel'ure we may safely infer that these Separatists were the fruit of that awakenitig, and alao infer that the First Church iu Bridgewater had followed in the downward ci'urse with tlu- uilur New England churches, although it had not as ytt admitted members without a relation of their Christian experieuce. But at a church meeting held May 28, 17138, nineteen years after the exclusion of the Separatists, the church voted : " That no relation of experience should be required of persons desiring admission to the church, nor be improved unless the person desiring admission desired it." In this band of Separatists we find the nucleus, or embryo, of the First Baptist Church. Some of this band came back, and were made to acknowledge and confess the " sin of separation," and were restored to the fellowship of the church. Many of these twenty-eight persons were inhabitants of the west part of the town, and that some of them, at least, remained steadfast in the " liberty wherewith Christ had made them free" is evident from the fact that there is recorded in the old church records a statement that committees were appointed from time to time to '- Discourse with our western neighbors to endeavor to win them back to the fellowship of the Church."

The First Baptist Church in Bridgewater was formally organized June 7, 1785, a little more than thirty-six years after the expulsion of the Separatists. Thus more than a generation of men had been born and passed away between these events.

The late Dr. Ide, of Springfield, in speaking of the slowness uf the divine operation, once said, " Majestic slowness is the order of divine progress. God never changes. Immutable in His nature and in His counsels. He acts in both the world of matter and in the world of mind by the same line of procedure. The creature is impatient, the Creator deliberate. The creature, whose sum of earthly life is bounded by threescore years and ten, hurries to and fro in the restlessness of his will, seeking to push forward his

I objects by excitement, by passion, by turmoil. The j Creator, serenely seated on His eternal throne, upholds all things in the majestic repose of unlimited power, and calmly waits the issues of the agencies and developments He has ordained. With Him a thousand years are as one day."

Forty years Israel wandered in the wilderness from Egypt to Canaan, subject to the corrective discipline ' of the Almighty, by which to render thoni a people suitable to go in and possess the land. Of their wanderings we have a partial record. But two of all that came out of Egypt entered the promised land. Of the little band of Separatists who were driven out of the Egypt of the old church we know nothing except by tradition. How often they were fed with heavenly manna," or how often they " smute the ' rock" and were refreshed by the waters of divine j truth, we have no record. Five of their number, I after thirty-six years of wandering, became members I of the First Baptist Church at its formation, having I previously joined the First Church iu Middleboro'. ! How constantly they had preaching we are not accu- { rately informed, but doubtless often, especially during j the years immediately preceding the formation of the ; church. Backus often visited them, and preaching to them, strengthened and encouraged them by his prudent counsels.

In 1779 this vicinity was visited by an extensive revival of religion, as a result of whose preaching it is not known. Backus was here, and, no doubt, some of his co-laborers. How many persons were the subject of God's converting grace at that time it is not known. Mr. Seth Howard is supposed to have been the first person who received apostolic baptism in this town. He was baptized by Mr. Backus, .March 10, 1779, and united with the First Church in Middleboro'. He was one of the sixteen members of that church who were dismissed May 3, 1785, for the purpose of constituting a Baptist Church in Bridgewater. Previous to the formation of this church, the Baptists here had gathered quite a congregation, aud Elder George Robinson had preached the year immediately preceding. The council for the recognition of the church met June 7, 1785. It consisted of the pastor and delegates from the First Church, Middleboro'. Isaac Backus Was the pastor; who the delegates were is not known. The church in Taunton sent as delegates Deacon Ebenezer Bust, Jabez Briggs, aud probably the pastor ; the church iu Attleboro' sent their pastor. Job Seamans, and Brethren George Robinson and Jacob Newland.

Three of those who wore dismissed froiu the church at Middleboro' not being present, afterwards signed the covenant, making sixteen members. Their names were as follows: Elezer Siiuw, Seth Howard, Darjiel Lothrojj, Joseph Alger, Daniel .\lger, Jes.se Howard, Nathaniel Ames, James Perkins, Rhoda Lothrop. liathshoba Carver, liebeckah Pool, Maltiah Howard, Mary Perkins, Mary Snow, Mary Ames, and Charity Howard.

Thus wa= formed the First Baptist Church in ]>ridgewater. As we look back at that event from our standpoint we may think the progress slow ; but when we call to mind the obstacles and hardships which all dissenters from the standing order had to encounter, we almoat wonder that it was so rapid. They were persecuted, oppressed, and made to suffer all manner of indignities ; they were compelled by law to helji support the churches of the standing order; and if they resisted the payment of such unjust taxes, their property w;l3 restrained and they themselves imprisoned. The first Baptist meetiug-house built in Boston hail its doors nailed up by order of tiie marshal, and a notice posted upon it forbidding meetings being held therein under " pains and penalties."

There were also circumstances which tended to retard lliis movement, and first among these was the fact that, although the dissenters were somewhat numerous, yet there were but few that fully embraced the doctrines of the Baptists; another was, the pastor of tiie church was aged and infirm, and, in the course of nature, must soon give place to a new and younger man ; and in the coming man there was a faint hope that the churcii might be revived, and take her former position as to faith and practice. But when, in 1780, Kcv. John Reed was ordained as his colleague, all hopes that the ciiurch might be placed on a gospel footing and a reconciliation take place speedily vanished. Then it was that the movement, commenced so long ago, took special form, and soon developed into a Baptist Church.

We now proceed, in the second place, to speak of the ministry of the church. The church, at its first meeting, July 8, 1785, " voted to give Elder Robinson a cull to settle with us in tlie work of the ministry, with a salary of sixty pounds," and, March, 178(), Elder Robinson gave his answer to the call in substance as follows : He did not wish to be burdensome unwilling to grant his rccpiest, and he continued as he was able until June, 1707, when he became so eni feebled iu body tliat he refused longer to act as pastor. Mr. James Reed supplied the pulpit until September, and then was employed for a year at a salary of fifty pounds. At the expiration of Mr. Reed's year, Mr. Robinson, having somewhat recovered his health, again supplied the pulpit for a few months, but the warm weather coming on, he was obliged to cease preaching, aud gave up his charge in June, 1798. He ministered to this people about fourteen years, and was pastor nearly thirteen years. During his ministry there were thirty-eight added to the church by baptism and five by letter. The first individual ba|itized , after the constitution of the eliureh was William Curtis, in December, 1787, and the last during Mr. Robinson's pastorate were Betsey Andrews and [tli.imar Phinney. Mr. Robinson was a faithful minister, of fair education, as a preacher above the average, and was greatly beloved by his people.

This w:is just after the coiupletiuu of the present lucetitii: house, wlilch at that time was coDsiJered almost a wouder for beauty. After a while spent in friendly ehat, Dr. Reed asiced liim to go and see his new meeting-house. After looking the house over, as they were about leaving it, Dr. Reed asked Mr. Hinds wliat he thought of it. Says Elder Hinds, " In ulden times we used to have wooden mcetinghouso and i/ohlcn miuistei-s ; but tilings are changed, - now we liave gulJeii, meeting-houses and icooJcu ministcrf."

In Septeinber. 1799, Elder Hinds exchanged with Elder \'alentiue W. Rathburn, of Bellin^ham. Tiie church and society were so plea.sed with him as a man and as a preacher that he was pre.ssingly invited to visit them again, which he did during tiie winter of 1799 and 1800, and in May, 1600, he removed with his family to this town. His ministrations were so bles.sed of God that soon tlie church seemed to awake from their stupor, and the attention of the people was aroused to the subject of religion. Many inquired tile way of salvation, and on tlie 1st day of June ten, having obtained liope, were added to tlie church by bapti.Mu. The glorious work thus begun continued tlirougliout the year, and to some extent throughout the next two years. During the yeai-s 1800, 1801, and 1802 there were fort^'-two persons added to tlie church by baptism. After this the interest abated. "On the first Wednesday of September, 1805, the church met to supplicate the throne of grace that a bles.sing might be poured out upon the church and people. These meetings were continued at intervals for four months, when the Spirit of the Most High seemed to rest on the people. Conference meetings were held often and fully attended, and the Spirit of the Lord wrought mightily among the people, and in tlie year 1806 twenty-.seveu were added to the church by baptism."

Elder Rathburn continued with the church until the spring of 1812, and ou the 26th day of March, 1812, he resigned his office. The reasons he gave fordoing so were; " First. The health of himself and family would not admit of his longer residence here. Second. He concluded his work was accomplished and felt one else might do better." During his pastorate of about twelve years one hundred were added to the church. Mr. Rathburn was a man of pleasing manners, genial and social in his habits, and could easily accommodate himself to the company of the young or old. He was a sound preacher, and ardently loved liis work.

be obtained. Mr. Silas Hall preached occasionally. Elder Lovell was, however, the chief oupply until the autumn of 1814, when Elder Amasa Smith, of Sutton, was employed for a year, and in April, 1815, wns received to membership and to the pastorate. lie remained until Dec. 16, 1816. During the two years of his ministry the church enjoyed one of the mcjit extensive revival seasons ever known in this vicinity. Elder Smith was a man of ordinary education. As a preacher he was energetic, and had the peculiar talent of putting liis subject liome to the liearts of his hearers. Forty were added to the church in 1815 and 1816.

"Sept. 16th, 1817, Rev. Flavel ShurtlefF was ordained at the Baptist uieetiug-house to the work of an evangelist," and on the 21st of the same month was received as pastor of the church. Mr. Sliurtletf continued as pastor until June, 1820, - a period of between two and three years. His ministry seemed to have effected little. There was but one admitted to membership during his pastorate. Elder Shunlett' was a highly-educated man, probably more so than any of his predecessors. He seemed to have lacked the energy necessary to success.

The church evidently depended on supplies for the nest seven years, among whom were Eldridge, Loring, Benson, Lovell, aud others. In 1827, Elder Matthew Bolles commenced his ministry, which continued about two years. He was a man of good education, and a powerful preacher. The last pei-sous admitted to the church were baptized Sept. 6, 1829.

We will now proceed to the third division of our history, - the growth of the church, the causes of its decline and subsequent dis.solution. The church at its formation was evidently as truly apostolic as there is any reason to hope for in this age of the world. Its members had passed the almost fiery ordeal of persecution, and had maintained the principles of the gospel with firmness and decision. Their " faces were Set as a fliut Zionward." United to the church was a large congregation and society, a large portion of wliich had fled to this fold as a shelter from unjust burdens placed on them by existing laws, which were all in favor of the churches of the standing order. The society had built a new and comfortable meetinghouse the year before the formation of the church.

The first twenty-five years of the church were its bright days. Her membership was large and influential ; and had she not adopted souie of the dan;;erous usages of the Pilgrim times, she would no doubt have continued to advance in prosperity. One of the most effective causes of the decline of the church was the adoption and cultivation of a system of espionage aniung its members. By their coveuaut they agreed to have au oversiglit aud care of each other, and this was made a plea for forcing iuto the church all tlie petty jealousies, as well as all the individual aud private affairs, of its meiubers.

Aa there was a Judas among the Apostles of our Saviour, so doubtless was it with the church. Designing men, professing godliness to some extent, came into the church to secure that which they could in no other way so easily obtain. The etfect of this soon appeared in the muailest decline of spirituality in the church ; aud while true love to the Lord and the brethren should characterine the professed disciples of the Matter, and is the grand element of true Chri.stianity, so love of self and the world is its opposite. The love of self evidently largely increased among its meuibers during its latter years, uutil its spirituality was almost lost. In support of this conclusion, it is only necessary to refer to tlic record of the last meeting of the church, held Sept. 1, 18:^1, which says, " The churcli met at tlie reijucst of some of its members, not having had a meeting for some mouths, nor a communion ibr eighteen months. Eev. David Curtis being present, presided. It was proposed, if there was uniou and fellowship enough in the church, to have a communion, when it appeared there was not, and the meeting adjourned to the 8th instant. At the adjourned meeting a committee was chosen to examine into the state of the church, and report at an adjourned meeting to be held Sept. 24th. The committee reported the church in a deplorable state, and recommended a spiritual and efficient discipline, and the difficulties aud troubles among its members be disposed of according to the rule of the gospel. This report was rejected upon the ground that it was not po.ssible to carry it into effect, owing to broken, scattered, and divided state of the church."

Tills is the last entry in its record. It needs no word or comment. We can contrast in our minds this sad eud with its bright beginning. It was declared extinct by an ecclesiastical council Feb. 19, 1833, after an existence of nearly forty-eight years. During these years it liad five pastors, and two hundred and seventeen persons were admitted to its membership. It had three deacons, viz. : James Perkins, Jr., and James Perkins (third), who were ordained to the office at the meeting of the Warren A.ssociation, which met with this church Sept. 8, 1708 ; the third deacon was Nathan Alger. It hud two clerks, viz. : James Perkins and Albe Howard.

We now come to our fourth and last division, viz., the history of the present church. Although the first church had, as a body, lost all its life and spirituality, yet there were a few of the members " who had a hope through grace of inheriting the promises, and were desirous of promoting the cause of the Lord, and of securing to themselves the privileges of the people of God. Twelve persons, inoinbers of the First Church, met Feb. 6, 1833, and agreed to solicit the aid, by pastors and delegates, of four Baptist Churches to form them into a regular church of Christ." The churches responded to their call, and Feb. lU, 1833, the c uncil met. It consisted of the following pastores and delegates: Piev, Asa Nile.i and Brother Avery Lothrop, from the First Church, Middluburo' ; Ilev. Silas Hall and Brother Robert Cuuke, uf the Abington Church ; Rev. Isaac Smith and Biother John May, of the Stoughton Church. Tlic council organized by choosing Rev. Silas Hall moderator, and Rev. Isaac Smith clerk. The council subsequently voted to proceed to the organization of the church. Upon the recognition of the church, Rev. Isaac Smith preached the sermon, and Rev. Asa Niles gave the right hand of fellowship. Si.x brethren and six sisters signed the covenant.

This new church, although strong in faith, was few in numbers, and of very small nieaus. Unlike the First Church at its formation, it had no large society or new meeting-house ; they had no society, and their meeting-house, from neglect of its owners, had become so dilapidated as to be unfit to hold meetings in. As an evidence of their feeble condition, reference is had to the records. The church was organized Feb. 19, 1833, and up to April had not obtained a minister for even a day. In April, Rev. Caleb Cleik visited them, and on the 18th instant the church held its first conference. On the 21st two persons were admitted by baptism, and Rev. Mr. Clerk Liake hreud to them for the first time. During the year 1833 six were added by baptism and three by letter.

The church was supplied with preaching mostly by the students from Newtou Tiicological Institution, with an occasional visit from some urdalned minister, uutil the summer of 1837. Twelve had been added and the church to some degree emerged from her leeble state, the present meetinghouse was built, and in December, 1837, the first covenant meeting was held in this house.

In July, 1838, Rev. Bartlctt Pease iireaehed three Sabbaths, and was subseijuently received by the church as their first pastor. He continued as pastor uutil June, 18-11, about three years. July 25, 1841, Samuel S. Leightou was engaged as pastor for one year. He continued until March 13, 1842, about eight mouths. April 3Ulh, Rev. Caleb Benson became pastor, and continued as such until Aug. 11,

1844. After Mr. Benson's resignation the pulpit was occasionally supplied until May, 1845, when i Pelej; S. Whitman was en^aijed for one year, and was subsequently called to be ordained as pastor, which he declined. Mr. Whitman left in April, 1846. Rev. Jeremiah Kelly supplied from November, 184G, to May, 1847 ; Rev. Silas Hall from May to Aujiust, 1847. Rev. A. W. Carr waa the principal supply from AuL'ust, 1847, to October, 1849, when he bejjan his studies at Newton. Durins; his stay at Newton he occasionally preached, and Dec. 15, 1850, was received as pastor. July, 1851, Rev. G. S. Stock well began his labors, and continued until March, 185;->, when he was dismissed to the church in Pawtucket, R. I.

From the spring of 1S53 to February, 1859, the meeting-house was shut up most of the time, and the church in a very low state. In 1842 there were fifty-five members, and in February, 1858, it had decreased to twenty-nine members. After nearly seventeen yeai-s of decline, - during the last seven of which the meeting-house had been closed the most of the time, - in February, 1859, the efficient missionary of the Baptist State Convention, Rev. Hcrvey Fitts, visited the church, and obtiiined Rev. Samuel Hill to labor with the church for several months. His labors were successful in reviving the church, and in the ensuing summer Rev. Cephas Pasco became pastor. He continued with the church as pastor until his death, which occurred June ^i, 1871, - a period of eleven years and nine months, in which the church was greatly strengthened and built up. Each succeeding year of his pastorate endeared him to the hearts of the church and people, and united him to them more closely in bonds of Christian love and aifection, and added to the respect that all who knew him entertained for him. Truly he was a man of God, - jieaceful, modest, retiring, always " about the Master's business."

After Mr. Pasco's death the pulpit was supplied by various candidates until October 22d, when the church voted to extend a call to Rev. Joseph Barber, of Bolton, he having preached one Sabbath, but not as a candidate. Sunday, November 19th, a letter was read to the church from Rev. Mr. Barber accepting the call. He commenced his labors as pastor Dec. 1, 1871, and continued with them until March 1, 187G, - a period of four years and three months.

Rev. H. H. Beaman was called to the pastorate June 25th, and commenced his labors Aug. 1, 1876, and was dismissed in May, 1881. He was succeeded by Rev. J. W. Dick, in August, 1881, and continued until February, 1882, wheu he was succeeded by Rev.

W. S. Walker, on Oct. 1, 1883, who is the present pastor. The following were the original members of the present church : Albe Howard, Louisa Howard, Franklin Ames, Mary Ames, Otis Alger, Susan Alger, Nahum Williams, Olive Williams, David Howard, Philip E. Hill, Abigail S. Howard, Eunice Harvey.

The New Jerusalem Society.' - The New Jerusalem Society was organized by the presidirii; minister of the Massachusetts As.sociation of the New Jerusalem April 21, 1847, consisting of sixteen or eighteen nienihers.

There had been several persons of that faith in this town during several years previous to the institution j of the society, who held meetings for worship when ; a minister could be obtained ; and they had built a I house for public worship some time previous to the I above date. But being a rural town, and the population was so transitory, they have never been numerous enough to support regular preaching; and the nura- I hers became so small after a few years, reduced by i deaths and removals, that the meetinirs wore discontinned, and the remuiuing members joined societies in '. adjoining towns.