Canton Town (part 1 of 2)

Statistics

There are two Evening Schools : one in District No. 3, Mr. Bradford W. Drake, and Misses Alice H. Lowry and Miss Snow, teachers ; and one in District No. 6, Mr. Jeremiah E. Earl, teacher. In No. 3 the average attendance is 45; in No. 6, 14.

Source changes here: from History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men, by Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Ed, published 1884; 31,341 words in this source stream.

By Samuel B. Noyes

Indian Name of the Town, Punkapaog--John Eliot - Organization of Precinet, 1715 - - List of Precinct Officers - Incorporation of Stoughton, 1726 - Roger Sherman - War of the Revolution - Various Votes - The Suffolk Resolves - The First Troops from Stoughton - Capt. James Endicott's Company - Other Companies - Committee of Correspondence and Inspection - Documentary History - Incorporation of Town - Names of Petitioners - First Town Officers - War of 1812 - Extracts from Town Records - The First School-House.

Tue Indian name of the town of Canton was '"' Pakemit, or Punkapaog." '" The signification of the name," writes Gookin, in his " Historical Collections of the Indians of New England," "is taken from a This town is spring that ariseth out of red earth. situated south from Boston about fourteen miles." Pakemit, or Punkapaog, was a part of that territory which was granted to the town of Dorchester by the General Court in 1637, and which comprised the present territory of the towns of Canton, Stoughton, Sharon, portions of Foxborough, and Wrentham. In the year 1636, according to Blake's " Annals of

Grant to Dorchester of ye old part of ye Township, as far as ye great Blew-hill: and ye town took a Deed of Kitchamakin Sachem of ye Massachusetts for ye same." That became incorporated as the town

The apostle John Eliot had begun to preach to the Indians at Neponset Mill, Dorchester, as early, probably, as the year 1633. The Neponset Mill, built this year, was the first mill built in this colony,

Revd. Mr. John Eliot, Granted Punkapaog Plantation for ye Indians and appointed men to lay it out, not exceeding 6000 acres." Here the apostle probably came to preach, and the first magistrate who was

Maj.-Gen. Daniel Gookin, came with him. " Eliot's son John (H. U. 1656) began his ministerial labors among the Indians about the time he left college," says Sibley ; and Gookin says, " For sundry years he

1 In the preparation and compilation of this history, free use has.been made of the material furnished by the valuable and timely address made by Hon. Charles Endicott, July 4, 1876, and the published historical contributions made by Hon. Ellis Ames, with their kind assent and co-operation. "8. BON:

"Tn this village," says Gookin, " besides their planting and keeping cattle and swine, and fishing in good ponds and upon Neponsitt River which lieth near them; they were also advantaged by a large cedar swamp, wherein such as are laborious and diligent do get many a pound by cutting and preparing cedar shingles and clapboards, which sell well at Boston and other English towns adjacent."

The territory, including what is now Canton, Sharon, Stoughton, and a part of Foxborough, together with some other parcels of land now in Wrentham and Dedham, was created a precinct, with the necessary of December, 1715. That territory was then a part of Dorchester, and the precinct was called Dorchester South Precinct, until it was all incorporated into a town by the name of Stoughton, in December, 1726. The precinct was organized and held its first meeting March 28, 1716, when Joseph Hewins was chosen moderator and precinct clerk, and Henry Crane, John Fenno, and Joseph Hewins, assessors. The following is a list of officers for the precinct annually, until its incorporation into a town in De-

In 1724 a portion of the new grant was set off to Wrentham, and on the 22d of December, 1726, the town of Stoughton was incorporated, and the present ration, for when the question came before that town to see whether they would agree to its being set off, the vote was thirty-four in favor and twenty-nine against it.

of like character were invested with all the powers By special act Feb. 25, 1783, Stoughtonham took the name of Sharon. This part of the old town of Stoughton (now Canton) constituted the First Precinct or Parish, and

We may assume that the inhabitants of the different precincts lived harmoniously together under one town government, increasing in population and wealth, maintaining their churches and schools, and educating themselves and their children in these as well as in the town-meeting, the militia, and the General Court,

Here, within a mile of this spot, Roger Sherman, whose name is appended to the Declaration of Independence, and who was one of the committee that reported it to the Congress, passed the days of his boyhood and youth, even if not born here upon our own

Canton

The Revolutionary War. - For a series of years preceding the Declaration of Independence the action of the British ministry and Parliament on the subjects of taxation, trade, and labor had been such as to exasperate the colonies, and doubtless led many thinking

That a people like this, numbering two and a half millions, with an extensive territory and ample room for expansion, could long remain subject to a foreign government that oppressed and held them down is utterly inconceivable.

tea-duty were the causes of the American Revolution. "Colonies," says he, "become nations as certainly as boys become men, and by a similar law." claration of the fifty-six at Philadelphia was but the contract signed by the forty-one sad and stricken ones in the waters of Provincetown, with the growth of one hundred and fifty-six years." '" At most, taxation and the kindred questions did but wccelerate the dismemberment of the British Empire, just as a man legislation, the end and purpose of which was to keep the colonies as mere tributaries and market-places for the trade and manufactures of the mother-country, and to prevent our merchants from carrying on trade with any nation other than Great Britain.

The colonies hesitated long before proceeding to active resistance, but having once entered upon it, the path of duty became plain, and they persevered until

In the early spring of 1773 the Boston Committee of Correspondence, at the head of which was Samuel Adams, addressed a letter to the town, and a meeting was called to consider it. The record proceeds as follows :

"Having had opportunity to hear and consider your Letter to us: for which we are obliged and Thankful to you; We, according to our best understanding, think that our rights as Men, as Christians and British subjects are rightly stated by you and in the many instances produced have been greatly infringed upon and Violated by Arbitrary Will and Power. We leader of Revolutionary sentiment, had labored with all his powers to instill into the minds of the people republican ideas. He was unreservedly for separation and independence, which he had avowed as early as 1769, and which he wished to have declared immediately after the battle of Lexington. that sooner or later it must come, and to his view, apparently, the sooner the better.

"Taxation" and "Taxation without Representation'"' were the watch-words to some considerable extent. But it was not simply the paltry taxes that were levied upon the colonies that led to independence. These words were but the terms used to signify and our Brethren in several Towns of the Province, tho'? we cannot Joyn with all the Towns, nor with you in every circumstance and Particular of your Proceeding, Yet we must concur with you and them in Bearing our Testimony against them and in uniting in all Constitutional methods for regaining these Rights and Privileges that have been ravished from us and for retaining those that yet Remain to us and accordingly we grievances as they feel and for Preventing such as they have just Reason to apprehend and fear, that he move that an Humble Petition for these Purposes be Presented to His Majesty, Hoping for a Divine Blessing upon all our Constitutional Endeavours for the Preservation and Enjoyment of all ournatural and Constitutional Rights and Privileges, and Professing twenty-nine laws which restricted and bound down | Colonial industry," "hardly one of which, until the | passage of the Stamp Act, imposed a direct tax." 'They forbade the use of water-falls, the erecting | npon the throne and Rule in Righteousness, and that he may bea nursing father to us his Loyal Subjects and all his officers may be peace and his exactions Righteousness, We subscribe ourselves your distressed Brethren and oppressed fellow subjects."

" Voted to accept of this Letter and that it be Recorded upon the Town Book, and a copy be sent by the Town Clerk to the Committee of Correspondence in Boston." still further exhibited by the action of the town-meeting held on July 11, 1774, when it was ** Voted to dismiss the 2¢ Article, viz: - To see if the Town

It is evident, however, that there were active friends of resistance in Stoughton, and that they were not idle, nor were they long delayed in bringing the town to their way of thinking.

Norfolk), met at a tavern in the village of Stoughton. This tavern, Mr. D. T. V. Huntoon says, was the " Doty Tavern," a building now standing a little to the south of the base of Blue Hill. Joseph Warren was present.

Dunbar, the rigid Calvinist Minister," of the First Parish, continues Bancroft, " breathed forth among them his prayer for liberty, the venerable man seemed siasm.' 'We must stand undisguised upon one side or the other, said Ebenezer Thayer, of Braintree." We do not find that the Stoughton men, who may chosen thereto by any action of the town; so far as our own citizens were concerned, it was an individual matter. It is said, however, by Bancroft, "that the

To this end, and in contempt of Gage and the act of Parliament, they directed special meetings in every town and precinct in the county to elect delegates, was held. The meeting at Doty's Tavern had had its | ; . . emccting at tony s\Tavern had had its | day ; after which the committee met together and effect; the appearance there of the aged minister Dunbar probably had created enthusiasm among the people, given courage to the timid, and hope to all. William Royal was chosen moderator, and it was

" Voted that a Committee be chosen to represent y® Town in a County Convention of y® Towns and Districts of this County to be holden at the house of Richard Woodward at Dedham on Tuesday y* 6th day of September next, with full power of adjourning, acting and doing all such matters and things in said Convention, or in a general Convention of the Countys of this Province as to them may appear of Public Utility in this day of Public and General Distress." ' Voted that five persons be chosen for this Purpose, and also that John Withington, The- or otherwise suffered by a non-compliance with a Late Act of y° British Parliament, intitled 'An Act for the better regulation of the Government of the Massachusetts Bay in North

"That this Committee be also a Committee of Correspondence to advise and correspond with the other Towns in this Province about all such matters and things as may appear to them likely in any way to affect the Public." mittee, of which Joseph Warren was chairman. The convention was adjourned to meet on Friday, the 9th of September, at the house of Daniel Vose, in an elaborate report introductory thereto, from which we extract two lines, in these words: '" On the fortitude, on the wisdom, and on the exertions of this important day, is suspended the fate of this new

And it was ''Voted, That Joseph Warren, Esq. and Doct. Benjamin Church of Boston, Deacon Joseph Palmer and Col. Ebenezer Thayer of Braintree, Capt. Lemuel Robinson, Wil-

| liam Holden, Esq. and Capt. John Homans of Dorchester, Capt. | William Heath of Roxbury, Col. William Taylor and Doct. Samuel Gardner of Milton, Isaac Gardner, Esq., Capt. Benjamin White, and Capt. Thomas Aspinwall of Brookline, Nathaniel

Committee to wait on his Excellency Gov't Gage and inform him that this County is alarmed at the fortifications making on 3oston Neck, and to remonstrate against the same."

The committee on the next day prepared an address " To His Excellency, Thomas Gage, Esq., Captain-General and Commander-in-Chief of His Majthe same to Gage on Monday, the 12th. To this address the Governor replied on the same

_was delivered to Secretary Flucker by Joseph Warren, with a desire that he would present it to the Governor, and request His Excellency to appoint a time for receiving it in form, which, as the committee

These resolves attracted great attention. They were sent by special messengers to our delegates in the Continental Congress, delighting Samuel Adams and John Adams, and creating great excitement in seph Galloway, a loyalist, at one time a member of the Continental Congress, in his ' Historical and Political Reflections of the Rise and Progress of the tive after what had already taken place it is a little difficult to conceive; however that may have been, at an adjourned meeting held a week later the vote was reconsidered, and it was " voted to send all our town, together with the District of Stoughtonham, made choice of Mr. Thomas Crane for their representative, and voted him the following instructions : y® 5th day of October next ensuing, We do hereby Instruct you that in all your doings as a member of the House of Representatives you adhere firmly to the charter of this Province, that you-do no act that can possibly be construed into an acknowledgment of the validity of y® act of y® British Parliament for altering y® Government of Massachusetts-Bay.

lors elected by y® General Court at their session in May last as y® only rightful and Constitutional Counsel of this Province; and as we have reason to believe that a Conscientious Discharge of your duty will Produce your Disolution as an House of Representatives, We do hereby Impower and Instruct you to join with y® members who may be sent from this and y® other Towns in y® Province, and to meet with them ata time to be agreed upon in a General Provincia] Congress to act upon such matters as may come before you, in such a manner as may appear

On the same day the town made choice of Mr. John Withington to meet the committee from the several towns in this province, at Concord, the second Tuesday in October next, in a General Provincial Congress, '' to act upon such matters as may come before you in such a manner as may appear to you most conducive to the true interest of this town and province and most likely to preserve the liberties of all North America."

Jan. 9,1775, the town made choice of Mr. Thomas Crane to represent them in a Provincial Congress to be held at Cambridge the 1st day of February next.

is recommended by ye Provincial Congress." It was further '' Voted to indemnify the constables for not carrying the Province money to Harrison Gray, Esq.,'' who was the treasurer of the crown.

On the same day the Continental Congress and their resolves were fully approved and a Committee of Inspection chosen, consisting of nineteen persons, Viz. : as Minute men agreeable to the advice of y® Provincial Congress," 'and to give them one shilling for half a day's training, for two half days every week." The field-officers with the selectmen were directed to

Whether the meeting at Mr. Vose's was held on the 26th we are not informed, very likely not, for before that time important events were to happen. The 19th of April was fast approaching. Gage had determined to cripple the country towns by destroying

Gardner had been elected province treasurer by the purpose of Gage, and arrangements were made by _which Concord and the Middlesex towns should be really was to divert it from the use of his majesty's officers and treasury and use it for the purpose of resisting the encroachments of the crown.

notified. Paul Revere's famous midnight ride on the 18th of April aroused the people of Medford, Lexington, and Concord, and it almost seems as if the hoofs was heard here in

W1Z. ; Capt. James Endicott's company........+.see+ 83 men. «William Briggs' WT, Barccondacaste' 41 § «* Asahel Smith's SOS assconttesassese 'fy << Peter Talbot's Ec eocnetaeecsessaniCOl mee «Josiah Pratt's COR al stgestlevesecess 33. CSS «¢ ~ Tsrael Smith's "f noeenonececsnca 2, «« Samuel Payson's ae Secaccooot seca a 4 «« Edward Bridge Savels' company....... 64" «Ebenezer Tisdale's THs - saaao5e Bile ue

Capt. Endicott, on the 4th of March, 1776, marched with his company of forty-one men "to the assistance of the Continental troops, when they for- A little later in the same year, with eighty-two men, he marched to Ticonderoga, and on the 28th of March, 1778, to

On the 22d of March, 1776, Capt. Theophilus Lyon's company, forty-seven men, marched to Braintree, and on March 1, 1778, Capt. Lyon, with fortynine men, marched to Castle Island.

The promptness with which the militia met every call was most creditable. Nor was the town less prompt in furnishing its quota to the Continental

May 25th, Thomas Crane was chosen to represent the town in the Provincial Congress for the six months following, and Peter Talbot, Christopher Wadsworth, and Benjamin Gill were appointed a Committee of Correspondence.

We come now to the year 1776. On March 18th, Messrs. Elijah Dunbar, Peter Talbot, Josiah Pratt, Theophilus Curtis, John Kenney, Christopher Wadsworth, and David Lyon were chosen a Committee of Correspondence and Inspection.

All of these men, except the chairman, had marched to the lines, to the music of fife and drum, on the 19th of April, two of them, Talbot and Pratt, as captains, each in command of a company.

On May 22d another town-meeting was held, at which, we may well suppose, the men who had mustered and marched so promptly on the 19th of April were present.' An article in the warrant had informed them that the question of independence was to be acted on by the meeting. The first business was the choice of representatives, and Benjamin Gill and Thomas Crane were chosen.

The date of this meeting was May 22d, six weeks prior to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress, and while the question there was trembling in the balance our fathers passed this resolve :

" Voted, That if the Honourable Continental Congress should, for the safety of this Colony, Declare us Independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, We, the Inhabitants, will Solemnly

On the 4th of July, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted. The following is the action of the Massachusetts Council, showing what measures were taken to give publicity to the document :

"OrpERED, That the Declaration of Independence be printed, and a copy sent to the Minister of each Parish, of every Denomination within this State, and that they severally be required to read the same to their respective Congregations as soon as divine service is ended, in the afternoon, on the first Lord's the same in their respective Town or District Books, there to remain as a perpetual Memorial thereof. "Tn the Name and by Order of y® Council. "R. Derby, Jr., President. "A true Copy, Attest, Joan Avery, Dep. Sec'y." And our town clerk adds, '''faithfully recorded.' Attest, of thirty-eight men, that shall enlist into the service for the Northern Department, against Quebec, the sum of £6 6s. 8d. as an addition to their bounty. May 21, 1777. John Kenney was chosen as "agent of the town, to procure evidence against the 'toreys, and a committee, consisting of John Kenney,

PA NCA March 18th. To 4 day writing circular letters... £0 4. 5. «20th. To 4 day at Johnson's about getting WOOO MOL' THE ALIN <cccccsccleccescree 2. 0. May 13th. To4day taking cognizance of those

"Capt. Theophilus Curtis was allowed............06+ £1. 3. 103. Capt. David Lyon ............ SO RDCOCAEES eG0aaccoo BOTELENG ge, fi (DE Cats OSIANPETAUs corse econcesossssesoors Seen seeetees 28i1G ale Mes And John Kenney's is allowed...........sesssseeseeeee £3. 3. 8.

Some, if not all, of these men must have joined the Loyalist party but a short time prior to the presentation of this report, for both Edward Taylor and Edward Shail marched with Endicott's company on the 19th of April, and on two later occasions, in 1776, Shail's name appears upon the muster-rolls.

March 16, 1778, the town voted to accept the report of the committee chosen to make an average or equal balance of duty, by fixing the pay for the different kinds of service, as follows:

The eight months at the Lines in 1775............. Lo. Ole 005 The two months service at y® Lines in 1775...... es The twelve months service in 1776, excepting the | 20. 0 men that went with Capt. Pope............scessssscceee Nae wie v The 12 months service with Capt. Pope in 1776... 15. 0. 0. The 4 months service at Ticonderoga, in 1776, 8. 0 each man giving credit for bounty received........ i eects The 4 mos. service at the Lines in 1776......... Pome oe We) UE The2 Bi NOL aT iif Oesnccsceesesicsees i WWE (WE The3 '" a Oe SN i Oral iiliececeoes 'Comms Os The3 " s OSC MaINCN AM Liiiitecccoseocions an zee Oe Os The 12 days service at Castle Island in 1777...... OC d== (0: The 3 weeks service at Bristol, R. I. in 1777...... 2. 0. 0. The 2months " " North Kingston, R. I. in . Dapper er esa Senne 2 " " cc : The 3 Stillwater and other } 10. 0. 0.

March 28d it was " Voted That Messrs. Elijah Dunbar, Peter Talbot, Wm. Wheeler, Jed? Southworth, John Kenny, Adam Blackman, Hezekiah Gay, Nath' Fisher, Samuel Shepard, Geo. Crossman, Isaiah Johnson, James Hawkes Lewis, and Samuel Talbot, be a committee to take under consideration the new form

April 7th, ' Voted That Elijah Dunbar, Esq. and Capt. Jedediah Southworth, be a committee to meet in a county convention at Dedham, on the 28th day of this inst, to take into consideration y® new form of government."

And on May 18th the committee of thirteen, appointed 23d March, made an elaborate report against the proposed new form of government. And it was servant of y® town and accountable to them as you really are,) to know y® minds of your constituents, respecting y® important Duties of your Station, who have chosen you to act for their safety & happiness, as connected with y® whole & not for your own private emolument or separate interest, & therefore, y° Town men to have a seat in y® legislative Council, but use your Influence that they may be excluded, (viz,) the members of the Continental Congress and officers holding Commissions under them,

"For this purpose you are directed to exert yourself to have y® Continental Army completed in the most expeditious manner, & see that negligent Towns and Delinquent officers are punished according to law in that case made and provided. And also, you are to vote for such large and speedy supplies as may appear to you necessary to enable y° Commander-in-Chief of our armies to answer the expectations of his Country, that y° war, if Possible, may be ended the ensuing campaign with Immortal Honour to himself & Permanent Glory and Security to y® United States of America."'

Lengthy additions were made to these instructions by the town, which may be found duly recorded in the records. They were also published in the '" Continental Journal" of June 18, 1778:

"To Elijah Dunbar, Esq. - Sir: Whereas y® Town of Stoughton thought proper to instruct their Representative y® last year in matters that concerned the public weal, - and you being the solicited instruction from your constituents for the guidance of your General conduct in that Capacity y® ensuing year, Therefore, y° Town think fit to Direct & Instruct you strictly to adhere, and in the most caucious manner observe & obey"...

. "excepting these two Paragraphs in said Instructions which relate to the form of Government that was proposed to the consideration of the inhabitants of this State for approbation or Disapprobation, which paragraphs are now redundant, as we find by a resolve of the General Court, pass? Feby 29th, 1779, that s¢ form hath been Disapproved by a majority of y® and impowered by your constituents to vote for y® calling a State Convention for the sole purpose of forming a New Constitution or Form of Government, provided it shall appear, on Examination, that a majority of y® people present & voting at their respective Town meetings choose, at this time, to have a New Constitution or Form of Government made, and if such a Convention should be voted to be called, you are hereby instructed to exert your utmost endeavors that some mode may be adopted, whereby the inhabitants of the State, (as nearly as possible,) may be equally Represented in said Convention; and furthermore, you are enjoined ever to be watchful of the Rights

Paper money had now become so much reduced in value that the town adopted a report of a committee regulating the prices of certain articles. We give a sample of these prices as established Aug. 9, 1779:

" Cyder £6 per bbl. and for making, 18s. per bbl. Pertators and Turnips 18s. per bushel, & other sauce in proportion. For a common dinner 15s. other meals in proportion. For lodging 3s. per night. West India Tody at 12s. per Bowl. New England do. 9s. per bowl. Horse keeping one Night on grass 18s. on Hay 15s. Beef 5s. per lb., Mutton, Veal & Lamb, 4s. per lb., Butter, 11s per lb., New Milk Cheese 6s. per lb., New Milk 2s. For Shoeing a Horse £4. - a yoke of Oxen £8."

A committee of twenty-one persons was selected to inform the Committee of Correspondence of any breaches of the resolution respecting these prices.

On May 24, 1780, Thomas Crane, Esq., was chosen representative, and on September 4th the first election for Governor took place, agreeably to a resolve of the State Convention passed on the 16th day of June, and John Hancock had fifty-three votes, the whole number thrown.

"(2d. Whereas we have reason to believe that this year every effort will be made for the return to their possessions of that abandoned set of men, very justly described by the Laws of this Commonwealth, Conspirators and absentees, who voluntarily at the beginning of the war, not only deserted their country's cause, but have aided and assisted the Enemy with their counsels and money, and many of them with their personal services, most inhumanly murdering innocent women and children, therefore, we instruct you to attend the General Court constantly, and use your utmost exertions that they, and every one of them, be forever excluded and Barred from having Lot or portion amongst us. And that the Estates they formerly possessed and have justly forfeited, may be immediately sold, and the money arising therefrom be applied to the Discharge of our public debt; and that such of them as have unwariedly crept in among us, may be immediately and forever removed out of this Commonwealth."

"4th, And, whereas the war is at an End, we earnestly recshall be attempted on them: or you are apprehensive that their | ommend it to you to use your interest in the General Court that our army, both officers and privates, may be paid off as soon as possible, either in money or securities, according to the public engagements made to them when they entered the service. But on no account are you ever to give your voice or vote for the establishing of half-pay officers amongst us, or any thing that may be called an equivalent, but to use your utmost exertions against it."

On the 30th of November, 1782, the preliminary treaty of peace was signed by the commissioners of the two countries, by which the independence of the United States was acknowledged.

When the news was promulgated here we may well believe there was great rejoicing. In 1785 a meeting was held in the old meeting-house, at which the venerable Dunbar was present. His prayers at the Doty Tavern had been answered, and he was doubtless ready himself to depart hence, to be here no more forever. At that great meeting of gladness and joy, it is humiliating to reflect that religious intolerance should have prevented the attendance of the veteran Gridley, whose services in the French war had been so valuable to his king, and in the early days of the Revolution so important to the republic.

The obstructions to the passage of fish up the Neponset, by the dams at Milton, were fruitful sources of contention and litigation, so that, at one time, serious trouble was imminent. A party from Stoughton went to Milton to remove obstructions, when they were set upon by the employés of the mill-owrers and driven away. <A special town-meeting was called to take action thereon. A committee, committee in getting the way through Leeds' Dam, and another committee, of twenty members, as the vote expresses it, was chosen "to stir up the People to go down and assist in opening Leeds' dam, for the fish to go up ;" but cooler counsels prevailed, and the parties contested their rights in the courts.

"These discriminating and disqualifying acts, which serve to irritate the minds of the people, instead of promoting the desirable b'essing of peace, your constituents wish to have repealed, | tial to the security of freedom in a State, has been in any manner violated or restrained in this Commonwealth, and if so, you will endeavour to have the violators impeached and future restraints prevented."

"That if the Tender Act should be continued, which, on account of the present scarcity of Cash, may be for the best, for a limited time, you will endeavor to have amended, so that property may be appraised at the same rate for the payment of a Creditor, as it would have been at the time when the particular Debt was contracted."

"Tn order that all the Inhabitants in the Commonwealth may have full employ, be beneficial to themselves and the Public: You will endeavor by every feasible and rational method, to encourage & promote Ship Building, Whale and Cod Fishery, Agriculture, and every necessary & useful manufacture that may be profitably carried on in the States: - & that large Duties be laid on all imported articles that might be thus manufactured in them; and also upon all articles of Luxury & Extravagance, and that moderate Duties be laid upon many articles of convenience, but none upon the real necessaries of life," should be chosen representative should serve for 6s. Td. per day, and if the General Court should fix the pay at a higher rate, '' y° overplus is to be returned to the town." Col. Frederick Pope was chosen, and accepted the condition prescribed. It is probable that the experiment proved not to be remunerative, for at the next election the subject was dismissed.

Incorporation of Town. - In 1795 the inhabitants of the First Parish met in legal meeting, held at the meeting-house, on the 9th day of March, and voted on the thirteenth article (which was to see if the parish will petition the General Court to be set off as a separate town), that Elijah Dunbar, Esq., Col. Nathan Crane, Mr. Joseph Bemis, Col. Benjamin Gill, and Capt. Elijah Crane be a committee to prepare a petition for the inhabitants to sign for a division of the town. And further voted that Col. Guill, Capt. Elijah Crane, and Uol. Nathan Crane be a committee to present the petition to the General Ceurt.

Spr Tetlon

"The Petition of the Subscribers, Inhabitants of the first Parish in the Town of Stoughton, in the County of Norfolk in s? Comt), humbly showeth that the local situation of said Town of Stoughton is very singular, being near Eleven Miles in length & about four Miles in breadth, as may appear by a Plan thereof, and also that there is a large body of land laying upon and contiguous to the line between the North and South Parishes, which is and always will be incapable of any valuable improvement, which throws the bulk of the Inhabitants of said Parishes at a great distance from each other, which peculiar circumstance makes it always inconvenient & sometimes impracticable for the Inhabitants of either of said Parishes to attend Town Meeting as they have been usually held for some years past, by reason of the great distance of way & sometimes impassable roads. -

"Therefore, your Petitioners humbly pray that the lands within the said first Parish & the Inhabitants thereof, (except those persons and their property that wish to remain with the Town of Stoughton,) may be incorporated into a Distinct and separate Town. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.

At the date of this petition there were but one hundred and forty voters in the parish, so that there were on this paper three names in excess of the entire number of legal voters.

The petition was presented to the General Court June 11th, and an order of notice thereon issued, returnable at a later day. Stoughton, in the mean time, chose a committee, consisting of Samuel Talbot, Samuel Shepard, Joseph Richards, and James Pope, to oppose the petition.

Jan. 20, 1796, a remonstrance, signed by Lemuel Drake and one hundred and sixty-nine others, was presented in the House, being an excess of fifteen names over and above the whole number of legal voters in the Second Parish, - in fact, a few names from the First Parish strance.

On June 10, 1776, the committees of the parish, and of the town, agreed that the matter should be referred to the Hon. Seth Bullard, of the Senate, and

This committee was instructed to visit the town, hear the parties, and report thereon. They spent four days in this service, and on Sept. 3, 1796, made their report in favor of an act of incorporation, and on the 23d of February, in the year 1797, the town of Canton was duly incorporated.

On February 24th, Thomas Crane, Esq., issued his warrant to Laban Lewis, requiring him to warn the qualified voters to meet at the meeting-house in Canton on the 6th of March following, at one of the

First Town Officers - - At a meeting held in pursuance of this warrant, Elijah Dunbar, Esq., was chosen moderator, and Elijah Crane, town clerk; Elijah Crane, Deacon Benjamin Tucker, and Col.

On April 3d the first meeting of the new town | was held for the election of Governor, and Increase Sumner had thirty-nine votes, James Sullivan twenty, | Edward H. Robbins ten, Moses Gill seven, and Wil- | liam Heath one.

lor hishiwaysescestorceaccccocceseossaccnecanee $983.17 | For salary of Rev. Zachariah Howard, PRO L(G codons.ccccoc caccoacconcodancnccn Rosasebar 300.00

In 1798 the town voted for highways $1000, town charges $600, schooling $500, Mr. Howard's salary | $300, and also voted to clapboard the back end of the meeting-house, and board and clapboard the back side of the belfry, also to paint the house.

These votes, and some that follow, will sound strangely to us at this day, when the town has nothing to do with the building or repair of meetinghouses or the support of the ministry, and every in- | dividual selects for his favor and support such church | as best suits him, and is under no obligation to support any other. On the same page of the record above is a registry of a certificate of a committee of the denomination of Quakers, chosen at their monthly meeting, held at Lynn, "that Jonathan Leonard of Canton, doth belong to said Society."' Such certifi- | cates were then necessary in order to relieve the person from liability to taxation for parish purposes. |

Many present will remember Mr. Leonard, who was | engaged with Adam Kinsley in the manufacture of | iron and steel, and was usually called '"' Quaker Leonard." The house in which he lived now forms a part | of the Massapoag House.

In 1799, at a meeting held in December, an article was inserted in the warrant, 'to see if the town | will procure and set up a stove in the meeting house, © for the convenience and comfort of those who attend Public Worship in the winter season," and the | article was dismissed.

In 1800 we find the town instructing their repre- | sentative to petition the General Court, and use his influence, to get the fine remitted that was imposed upon the town for not sending a representative to the General Court in 1799.

"Voted that the selectmen procure Lombard de Poplar trees at the expense of the town, and that they notify the inhabitants to assist in setting them out without expense to the town."

1803. I select these passages: April 4th, '' Voted that the selectmen post notification in the Belfry, calling on Youth and others not to make a tarry in Belfry after Public Worship is

Kinsley, be a committee to deliberate on the subject of Enlarging the Singers' Pew, as also, the subject of singing in general, to the end that that part of publick worship may be

In 1805, this vote, "That Henry Bailey, Joseph Bemis and Jona. Leonard, be a committee to hear the aggrieved parties as respects their time and expense in search for Jack Battus, (the murderer of the young girl Talbot,) and report at April meeting."

March 7, 1808. '' Voted to pay a bounty of one dollar per head or tail, for every Rattlesnake absolutely taken & killed within the town in the months of April, May & October the present year."

Practically this was very much like offering a bounty of two dollars for each snake killed, and very likely it was found to be so, for the next year the town voted the same sum for rattlesnakes' ¢az/s, and cautioned the treasurer "to guard against deception when he is applied to for such bounties."

May 2d. At the election for the choice of a representative, Mr. Bemis, who had been the representative for eight successive years, and was a candidate for re-election, was also the town clerk. His record reads thus: 'The votes being given in, sorted and

War of 1812. - The war of 1812 now begins to be recognized in the records of the town. May 4th, voted to make up the pay for persons volunteering to fill up the quota of one hundred thousand men to fourteen dollars per month, if they go into actual service.

_made to the pay of those persons who were drafted from this town under the last requisition of the Presi- | dent of the United States as shall make their monthly

September 12th. The town voted to furnish each non-commissioned officer and soldier with sixty rounds of ball-cartridges, and directed the selectmen immediately to purchase six hundred pounds of pork, two

We have no means of giving a statement of the number of men furnished for the defense of the country in this war. The rolls are all in the custody of the United States, at Washington.

It is, however, apparent that the town was in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war, and could brook no opposition. It appears that in 1813 the Rev. Edward Richmond, of Stoughton, preached a sermon in Mr. Richey's (Ritchie's) pulpit, on fast-day, in which it is supposed he denounced the war. The town took the matter in hand. On the 5th of April a committee of fifteen made this report :

"Gentlemen of the town, - Your committee, appointed to take into consideration the subject of the Rev. Edward Richmond's fast day sermon have attended the duty assigned them, and do recommend that the town pass a vote expressive of their disapprobation that the Rev. Edward Richmond should hereafter be introduced into the Desk of Canton Meeting House on Lord's Days, Fast Days, Thanksgiving Days, and Lecture Days, as a teacher of Religious Morality, &c., and that the Town Clerk be directed to serve the Rey. William Richey with a copy thereof without delay. ExvisAn Dunzar, per order."

April 1, 1816. A committee reported that they had purchased for the town Mr. Andrew Capen's farm for two thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars. This is the present town farm, which was afterwards sold and again purchased of Mr. Elisha White, about the year 1837. Mr. Andrew Capen was the father of Nahum Capen, Esq., the able author of the " History of Democracy," and formerly postmaster of Boston.

"To see if the town will express their opinion, as there are three Religious Societies within the town, whether they are willing to raise, in any case, any sum of money as a town, for ministerial purposes." no further connection with parish affairs, thus anticipating legislation fourteen years, for the statute dissevering the parishes from the towns did not pass till April 1, 1834.

house built in this town stood somewhere near the spot where the present school-house in District No. 1 We give below the only record we can find of its building, with one or two other incidental votes :

March 28, 1754. "It was put to vote whether ye town would build a School house and it past in ye affirmative, also voted to grant a tax of twenty Pounds to be laid out in building said house and that said School house should be set on ye Town's land near ye Meeting House."

May 20,1754. "The same day it was put to vote whether the town would petition ye General Court that some of ye province Land might be granted to this town to enable it to support and maintain ye School herein and it past in ye aflirmative."

June 7, 1734. '" Voted that there be a Com'tee chosen to build a School house in this town, and the Com'tee chosen were Ens'gn Charles Wentworth, Ley't William Billings and Mr. Preserved Lyon."

"The same day voted that there be four men appointed to take care of ye boys in our Meeting house in time of Publick Worship on Sabbath Days in order to restrain them from play and that they take care of them one quarter of year each and ye men appointed to s'd service are William Wheeler, Philip Liscom, Jun'r, Joseph Hewins, Jun'r, and Richard Hixson.

Sept. 22, 1735. "The same day an accompt of forty shillings was laid before ye Town by ye Com'tee Chosen to build ye School House and then put to vote whether ye town would allow said forty shillings and it past in ye affirmative."

Sept. 29, 1740. " Voted that Sixty Pounds be allowed out of the hundred Pounds granted for Town charges be improved for keeping of School in the several places where it hath been heretofore kept, us also at a place in Town called York s''d Money to be drawn out of ye Treasury by the persons living in said places as the Select men shall order,"

| relating to the Building Two School houses, viz. one in ye Seeond and one in the third Precinct in this town, in such places as each precinct shall appoint, be continued til the next Town Meeting."

Sept. 26, 1744. "To see if ye Town will pass a vote to build Two School Houses, one in ye second and one in ye third precinetin this town (in such places as each precinct shall appoint)

In the early days the inhabitants were, to a very great extent, located in the central and northerly parts of the town; this continued even to a comparatively recent period. Here stood the old meeting-houses ; the post-office, the taverns, and the stores were here. A person of sixty or sixty-five years of age may well remember when there were but twenty dwellings, or thereabouts, on the old Taunton road, between the house of Mr. Samuel Downes and the Sharon line, and but half a dozen at the Stone-Factory Village. Now the southerly portion of the town contains, by far, the larger part of the population, four of the five churches, the banks, nearly all the stores, and most of the manufactories. In this town, as everywhere else, the century now closed has witnessed the feeble commencement, as also the full development of our manufacturing industries. As already shown, it was the policy of Great Britain to discourage manufactures in the colonies. Independence gave our people their opportunity, and well have they improved it. One hundred years ago this was, perforce, an agricultural town. Now the people are devoted to

Ecclesiastical History

First Congregational Church - Organization - The Covenant of 1717 - The First Pastor, Rev. Joseph Morse - Tne First Celebration of the Lord's Supper - The First Deacons - Extracts from the Early Records - List of those who joined the Church during Mr. Morse's Ministry - Death of Mr. Morse - Inventory of his Estate - Rev. Samuel Dunbar - Rey. Z. Howard - Rey. William Richey - Reyv. Benjamin Huntoon - Succeeding Pastors - Church Buildings - Evangelical Congregational Church - Baptist Church - Universalist Church - Roman Catholic Church.

First Congregational Church. - As the history of the First Congregational Church was for more than one hundred years practically the history of the town, it is here given in detail, the facts being taken from the official records.

This society was organized Oct. 13, 1717, and At his ordination five churches were represented, namely, Milton, Dorchester, Dedham, and the two churches in Braintree. Rev. John Danforth, of Dorchester, preached the ordination sermon from Hebrews xiii.

The church covenant 'that was agreed upon by the Rev* Elders and Messengers with the Brethren that were to be in the foundation of said church" was stated under eight heads, and was signed by Joseph Morse, Richard Smith, Peter Lyon, Samuel Andrews, Joseph Esti, Isaac Stearns, Benjamin Blackman, Joseph Hewins, George Talbot, John Withington (who were members of neighboring churches before the ordination), and Benjamin Esti, Thomas Spurr, Joseph Topliff, Robert Pelton, John Wentworth, David Stone, Benjamin Gill, William Wheeler, Edward Bailey, Samuel Hartwell (who were noncommunicants, but yet examined and approbated by the reverend elders some time before the ordination, - viz., June 26th - 27th, - for to be of the foundation of the church when gathered). '" Also, our aged Brother Samuel Pitcher of Milton Church was looked upon as one of the foundation of our church. But he was not able to be present at the Ordination and died about a Month after. Those Brethren that did belong to Milton Church before the ordination, namely, Sam!' Pitcher, Richard Smith, Peter Lyon and George Talbot not having obtained their dismission from Milton Church before the Ordination were not actually and personally in signing the Covenant with the rest of their Brethren, all except Samuel Pitcher whom the Lord removed by Death Noy. 23%, 1717, the next day after our first church meeting. Also, John Withington being ill at the ordination and not present that day signed the Covenant afterwards."

The following is an abbreviation of the church covenant agreed upon to be that form of covenant that those persons should engage in and lay hold of who are received into full communion in this church:

"You DO HERE, in the presence of Almighty God and his People solemnly take and chuse the Lord Jehovah to be your God, promising and covenanting with his help to fear him and cleave to him in love and to serve him in truth with all your heart giving up yourself and your seed after you in covenant with God and this Church to be the Lord's entirely and to be at his disposal and direction in all things, that you may have and hold communion with him and this church as a member of Christ's mystical body, according to his revealed will to your lives' end.

"You do also take the holy scriptures to be your rule of life to walk by wherein you may discern the mind of Christ, and endeavoring to live in the faithful improvement of all opportunities to worship God, according to all his Gospen Insritru- TIONS, taking the great Immanuel the Son of God to be your Savior and Redeemer in all his offices, promising to afford your attendance upon the public dispensation of God's Word, the Administration of the Ordinances of Jesus Christ, especially that of the Lord's Supper, as God in his holy providence shall give you opportunity.

scandalous sins, as the Lord shall keep you, that you may not depart from the living God, and that you may live a life of holiness and obedience to the will of God. - You promise you will peaceably submit yourself to the Holy Discipline appointed by Jesus Christ in his Church and you do now church, obeying them that have the rule over you in the Lord. Of the integrity of your Heart herein you call God the searcher of all hearts to witness, beseeching him to enable you to keep this Covenant inviolably to God's good and edification and where you shall failin observing and keeping it you beg the Lord's forgiveness and pardon and healing for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The same day it was voted that there should be fifteen pounds raised by rate upon the inhabitants and ratable estates within this precinct, and laid out upon the meeting-house as far as that would go towards the finishing of it.

At the church meeting held May 15, 1718, "It was agreed upon to set apart a Day for fasting and prayer by the Church, and to hold it in the Meeting House, for to seek the Lord's favor and the smiles of His Countenance to rest on this Church and Congregation, and that Religion and Godliness might be arising within said precinct, and to hire workmen to doe the work about the meeting-house and to pay them for their work. warned, July 11, 1716, Joseph Hewins, moderator, upon the poll in the minister's rate this present year. The same day it was voted in the affirmative that the assessors receive and pay Mr. Morse his salevey, and

Dec. 5, 1718. A church meeting after a great sickness, to spend some time in prayer, and to discourse about things appertaining to the Church, '"' Note. In the month of September, 1718, was a great sickness in this place; several died, the Minister being near Death, but mercifully spared, being absent from the Lord's House 13 Sabbaths; 10 of them were supplied by Mr. Mekinstry : - the congregation being without preaching 3 Sabbaths."

"That the Church having considered of the Ordination of the persons chosen into the office of Deacons, voted, that they proceed regularly and in convenient time, to the peaceable and full consummation thereof, as God shall enable and direct them."

On Dee whole congregation for furnishing the Lord's table of £3 3s.1d. The first celebration of the Lord's Supper was on Feb. 9, 1718. place Oct. 20, 1713, four years before the church private House. A collection for a Church Stock for the use and benefit of the church. This was the first collection in the church | for the purpose aforesaid, and there was contributed and promised £1, 6d. 0s. - That day Alexander Gordon and his wife, (strangers from Ireland,) were received to communion with us during their abode in this place, and they promised to remain under the Watch and Discipline of the church accordingly.

* March 21, 1720. That day the Deacons paid to Mrs. Amity Morse 15s. in full, for taking care of the Vessels of the Lord's Table till that time from the first improvement of them."

The office of deacon was not lightly esteemed in those days. Those selected by their brethren generally took the matter into serious deliberation before accepting. Thus we find that Deacon Joseph Hewins considered the matter for a full month, and that he hesitated a long time before he accepted the office of elder. The singing was, as we judge, in the congregational style.

"That the church make a fresh application of their request to Joseph Hewins to accept the Office of a Ruling Elder in the church, accordingly such request was directed to him by the Pastor."

"That the Deacons discourse with all communicants in this place to seek after and obtain Letters of Recommendation from the churches they belong unto, to bring to our church in this place."

Of course, it will be understood that we are not giving the church records in full. We make such selections as will show the gradual growth of the church, the officers chosen, and other important events as they transpired. We shall also give the names of all those who were members of the church during the ministry of Mr. Morse.

"At a meeting of ye Freeholders and other Inhabitants qualified to Law legally warned and assembled on November ye 15," (17177) "Joseph Hewins Moderator. was Voted on ye affirmative that ye precinct ( - ) Ten Pounds for to be raysed by a reat for to pay ( - ) precinct is now indebted and to defray ye charge ( - ) nesaseryly arise in ye precinct this presant year to be layed ( - ) upon ye meeting house." choose a Committee of five men for to seate ye meeting house, and ye Committee chosen were Henry Crane, Samuel Bullard, John Fisher, Joseph Hewins and John Puffer."

"The same day it was voted in ye affirmative that ye precinct congregation would give to the Reverend Mr. Morse 35 Pound more than his former salary, for this present year."

'"At a meeting of ye Freeholders and other Inhabitants qualified acording to law Legally warned and asemb/ed in this precinct on November ye 26, 1718. Mr. Nathanael Hubard Moderator." .

"The same day it was voted in ye afermative that ye first Monday and ye last Monday in February annually should be ye set days for ye Inhabitants for to make up their accoumpts with Mr. Morse of the Ministerall Rate.

"At a meeting of ye Inhabitants of this precinct Legally warned and assembled February ye 16th, 1718-19, Joseph Hewins Moderator, - Joseph Hewins was chosen Precinct Clerk and first assessor and John Puffer ye second assessor and Joseph Tucker ye third assessor."

"The same day it was voted in ye affirmative that ye precinct would give to the Reverend Mr. Morse Fifteen Pounds more to be aded to his former salary for this present yeare."'

"The same day it was voted in ye afermative that they would grant a rate to be made of Twentie Pounds and collected of and from ye Inhabitants and estates of said Precinct (- - ) Be lay'd out upon ye Meeting House and to defray any necessary charges that may arise in ye precinct this year."

"The same day it was voted in ye afirmative that the a(ssessors) should reserve ye saide Twentie Pounds of ye Constables hire workmen and pay them, and pay any other charges."

It appears from the records that the officers chosen in March this year did not accept, and a meeting was held in September following (day torn off the record), and Peter Lyon was chosen precinct clerk. Mr. Lyon was again chosen clerk "on ye 21st day of March, 1719=20;"

"The same day it was voted in ye afermative that the precinect inhabitants would give ye Reverend Mr. Morse Sixtie Pounds for his labor in ye work of ye ministry for this presant yeare."'

"At a precinct meeting legally warned and assembled ye 29 The same day John Fenno, Joseph Tucker and Peter Lyon gave an account how they had layd out ye Ten Pound and ye Twentie Pound Rate which were comitted to Constable Haws and Constable Liscom to colect. The same day it was voted on ye afermative that they would choose a Committee of three men for to save ye Meeting house and ye Comittee

"'The same day there was Ten Pound granted to be raysed by way of Rate upon ye pouls and estates in s'd Precinct for to repair the Roof of the Meeting house and to Bank the outside of ye sill of s'd house and to Repaire Mr. Morse's Pew Desently

"The same day the assessors were chosen a Commitie to Receive ye s'd Ten Pounde Rate of ye Constable and hire workmen and pay them for said work and pay other charges arising acording to ye vote."

"Then John Fenno, Joseph Tucker, and Peter Lyon Receved of Constable Liscom 20 Pound which was in full of a Rate which was comitted to him to collect in ye yeare 1719.

"The same day it was voted that ye assessors should be a Comittee for to inquier into ye precincts title to ye Land whare ye Meeting house stands and to get a stronger confermation of the same if nede be."

March 5, 1721-2, the precinct inhabitants voted that they "would give ye Reverend Mr. Morse Sixty Pounds for his labor in the work of the ministry for this present yeare."

"The same day there was chosen a Comittee for to open the Boun" (dary of the meeting) " House Land and the Neighbors Lands adjoyning and to mesuer how" (far it was from) ' the rhode and likewise each way and for the Committee" (to report the) "same to the clark of this precinct; that he may inter" (thesame.) 'The Committee then chosen was John Fenno and."

The other names are torn off; the above in parenthesis we have ventured to supply. The committee thus chosen reported March 15, 1722; but their record is so mutilated as to be entirely unintelligible.

The following are the names of the persons who | owned the covenant, who were baptized and joined to the church in the time of Mr. Morse's ministry, and of such as were before his ordination :

October 20, 1713. By Mr. Danford: Sion, of Mr. Joseph Morse; Thomas, Oliver, Ester, of Thomas Jordan; Sarah, of Benjamin Esti; Samuel, of Joseph Topliff; Christian, of Robert Pelton; Eliakin, Abijah, Jane, of Edward Pitcher; Mary Stone.

June 26, 1717. By Mr. Thatcher: Martha, of John Wentworth; Abijail, of Thomas Speer; Zeriah, of Joseph Tucker ; William, of Thomas Jordan; William, John, of John Wentworth; Amariah, of Joseph Topliff; Edward, of Edward Pitcher; Matthias, of Kleazer Puffer; Thankful, of Daniel Stone.

April 5, 1724, At Dedham, New Congregation at Guilds; Rachel, of Samuel Thorp; Sarah, of Ebenezer Dean; Sarah, of Nathaniel Guile; Hannah, of William Bullard, Jr.; Martha, of - - White, of Dorchester, South Precinct.

March 5. By Rev. Mr. Thatcher: David, of Thomas Jordan; Zebulon, of William Crane; Experience, of George Talbot; Silas, of Edward Wentworth; Benjamin, of Benjamin Gill; Stephen, of David Tilden; Manapah, of John Dickerman; William Witherbee.

During his ministry of ten years thirty-one persons were added to the church, and one hundred and sixty-seven were baptized. He had preached the Word of God ten years and nine months before his ordination. In 1726-27 his connection with the parish was dissolved by mutual consent. He continued to reside in the parish until his death. He

Within this silent grave here now doth ly Him that is gone unto Eternity. Who, when he lived was by good men respected, Although by others was perhaps rejected, Yet that don't hinder his Triumphant Joy With Saints above where nought can him annoy."

He was a man of considerable property, as appears by the following, which is copied from the Registry of Probate for the county of Suffolk, vol. 31, pp. 184, and which may be interesting as showing what composed the property of that day :

"The above Inventory was 'laken & the Goods apprised according to the best of our understanding of what was brought to our View by us at Stoughton.

We have thus gathered from various sources such things pertaining to Mr. Morse and his ministry as seem to be of interest. Mr. Noyes has his autograph in his possession, and an account kept between himself and his mother, Priscilla, dated 1693. The gold-headed cane mentioned in his inventory is now in the possession of one of his descendants at Manchester, N. H. His father died Feb. 3, 1731. paternal grandfather was John Morse, who was the oldest son of Samuel Morse, of Dedham, who was

Joseph Morse was born in Medfield about 1671, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1695. After leaving college he sometime resided in Providence, R. L., where he married Amity Harris. He then resided and preached at Watertown until he came to the place of his ordination, at about the age of fortyseven.

tev. Joseph Morse's children were Joseph, born at Watertown, 1706, who married Bethia Waters for his first wife; John, born at Watertown, 1708; Amity, born at Watertown, 1710; Sion, born 1713, Canton) ; Many of their descendants now reside in Canton.

The Mr. Dunbar above mentioned must have been the Rev. Pastor himself. There was no other man He was a famous singer, and his only son, Elijah, who was born this year, and baptized Aug. 24, 1740, was

The subject of church music caused no little agitation in those days. ing" had been introduced, and, as we are told by Mr. Drake in his '' History of Boston," '" the practice was opposed by the churches generally."

The excitement began somewhere about the year 1720, and raged over all the New England colonies. But it purified and brightened the churches. 'In a great and powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit." Mr. Dunbar's church was at this time (1739-40) in a very flourishing state. Eleven were added to the church during the year, and we do not find any further reference made to the matter of singing.

Mr. Dunbar probably "set" the tunes, as "old Mr. Peter Lyon" had done in Mr. Morse's time, and they sang as they were moved by the Spirit, making melody in their hearts. We fancy we hear them now, standing around that sacred table, lifting up their voices in Barnard's version of Psalm exxxiv. :

Attending in his sacred House, Jehovah celebrate. "Bless ye the Lord, lift up your Hands Within his Holy Place The Lord, who Heaven and Earth hath made Thee out of Sion bless." Mr. Dunbar preached many sermons, which were The following is a reproduction of the titlepage of one:

Of The

Go to now, ye that say to-Day, or To-morand buy and sell, and get Gain. Shall be on the Morrow: For whatis your Life? It is even a Vapour, that appeareth for a little Time, and then vanisheth away.

This discourse was suggested, as he says in a note, by the deaths, which followed each other in rapid succession, of a child of Mr. James Andros and a child of Mr. Samuel May: of Elisha Tailor, Abigail Liscum, Mary Houghton, Mary Clap, young persons, and "The Aged Widows, Mrs. Morse and Mrs. Stearns,

"May Ith. This evening the Chh. voted ye following Bretheren and Sistérs of ye Chh. a Dismission and Recommendation in order to be gathered into a Distinct & Particular Chh. in ye 2d Precinct of this Town: Viz Joseph Hewins, Benjamin Esti, Peletiah Whittemore, Eleazer Puffer, Jeremiah Fuller, Joseph Hewins, Junior, John Noyes, Ebenezer Hewins, John Smith, Eleazer Hawse, Benja. Savel, Daniel Richard's, Benj. Esti, Junior, Ebenr. Esti, Samuel Cowmings, Clifford Belcher, Elizabeth Whittemore, Mary Savel, Rebeckeh Esti, Elizabeth Puffer, Harriet Fuller, Hannah Hewins, Judith Hewins, Mary Hawse, and assisted in the struggle then going forward between France and England for the possession of this And, remarkably illustrating the intimate association between the New England clergy and the tion both by the arts of peace and war, the Rev. Samuel Dunbar, minister of this church and town, accompanied them on their distant and _ perilous journey.

Mr. Dunbar returned to his parochial duties on the 6th of December, 1755. The general thanksgiving had been observed in his absence, Dec. 4, 1755, but whether there had been preaching or not is not recorded. During that year a public fast was observed

There had been preaching for some time, doubtless, in the Second Precinct, now Sharon, before the foundation of the church. We find the following record, 1737-38 :

In those days it was the practice to double date between January 1st and March 25th, thus 1737-38, until the introduction of New Style in 1752. Prior to 1752 the civil year began in March, which was called the first month. To render Old Style into New Style the first month must be reckoned as the third, and eleven days be added to all dates between 1700 and 1752.

In 1741-42. "Jan. 13, 1741-2, The Pastor & Deacons ye Delegates of ye Chh. assisted in ye Ordaining Council, & Ordained ye Rev. Wm. Philip Curtis, Pastor of ye Chh. in ye 2d Precinct began with Prayer, Mr. Nath. Walter, of Roxbury, preached from Acts xx. 28. I gave ye charge, and Mr. Payson, of Walpole, gave ye Right hand of Fellowship."

Mr. Dunbar and his parish took a lively interest in this new church, as appears from various memoranda made by him. Vide the following, 1742:

March 20th, July 5d, and August 28th, the latter, | "A General Fast upon ye account of ye Defeat of General Braddock's Army at ye Ohio. I preached from '

The following is the inscription on the stone which points out the spot in the cemetery where Mr. Dunbar was buried. It was written by his son, Elijah the parish which had been blessed with the same faithful pastor for fifty-five years, It will be remembered that there was no other religious society in all the First Parish of Stoughton, being that territory now included in and forming the town of Canton. Blessed days! when the whole people of the precinct worshiped together around one common consecrated altar !

""Ist. Voted that the Parish will meet together every Lord's day at the meeting house for public social worship, and in order to raise a fund for supplying the precinct Treasury for that purpose.

after service, and that every one that contributes shall have an order upon the Treasurer for the money he has so contributed, and marked once every two months, if he desires it, and the

"4th. Voted Messrs. Elijah Dunbar, Benjamin Gill, and | Adam Blackman, be a Committee, who are hereby authorized and empowered, (provided there shall be a fund sufficient) to supply the Pulpit, for the term of three months, beginning ye |

17th August next, and ending ye 9th of November following, | unless ye Parish otherwise order. | "Sth. Voted that ye Precinct Treasurer pay weekly for |

John Kinney, and Benjamin Gill, be desired to lead and conduct ye public social worship in the following manner, viz: - Ist. To read a portion of ye Holy Scriptures. 2d. To read a psalm to be sung. 3d. To read some pious practical discourse. 4th. Then to read a psalm to be sung, and 5th. To dismiss the assembly by reading an Apostolical Benediction."

1786. "At a meeting of ye Freeholders and other Inhabitants of ye first Precinct in ye Town of Stoughton, qualified to vote as ye Law directs, legally assembled and held at ye Meeting House in yes'd first Precinct this twenty-ninth day of May An. Dom: 1786. -

"Voted to concur with ye Vote of the Church in giving Mr. Zechariah Howard a call to take ye Pastoral care of ye Church in this Place. Nem. Con.

"Voted and granted to Mr. Zechariah Howard ye Sum of Ninety Pounds lawful money as a Salary to be paid him annually while he continues in ye Pastoral Relation to this Church and Congregation.

"Voted and granted Mr. Zechariah Howard a Settlement or gratuity of two hundred pounds lawful money in order to lay a foundation for his comfortable and honorable support, one hundred pounds to be paid him ye first year after settlement and ye other hundred pounds ye second year after his settlement.

"Voted and granted Mr. Zechariah Howard ten cords of good merchantable Firewood to be delivered annually at ye Place of his abode in s'd Precinct, during ye Time he shall continue without a family, or keeping House by himself; and upon having a family or keeping House by himself, voted him twenty Cords of good Merchantable Firewood to be delivered annually at ye Place of his abode in s'd Precinct during his Pastoral Relation to this Church and Congregation.

"Voted that James Endicott, Esq., George Crossman, Esq., and Messrs. Samuel Tucker, Henry Bailey, James H. Lewis and Adam Blackman be a Committee to present Mr. Zechariah Howard with copies of ye Votes of this Precinct Relative to his call and Settlement.

"The Same Day ye Precinct voted to board and shingle one side of ye Roof of ye Meeting House and ye other side of ye Roof together with ye sides and ends of ye Meeting House to be repaired.

"Mr. Zechariah Howard gave an answer to ye Call given him by ye Ch'h and Congregation in this Place who ordered ye same to be recorded - which is as follows, viz.

"«Having taken under mature and serious consideration ye call which you have given me to settle with you in ye Work of ye Gospel Ministry, thinking it my Duty, I heartily accept thereof tho' it is not without Fear and Trembling that I think of taking upon me ye Weighty, ye Solemn and Important Charge. Momentous undertaking was obliged to ery out who is equal to these things, you must be sensible that an unexperienced youth will not only stand in Need of ye greatest Candor and Friendship from ye People of his Charge but more especially of an Interest in their Prayers at ye Throne of Grace for Di- ye Spirit of all Grace that I may in every Respect fulfil ye office of a faithful Minister of ye New Testament, that during my Labors among you I might approve myself unto God and ye Conscience of Men to be in Reality a Servant of Jesus Christ and that I might at all times take such heed to my Life and Doctrines as to save myself and them that hear me. The perfect union and happy agreement that has been and still subsists among you has been a great inducement to my accepting of your Invitation. Friendship that I have already received from Individuals and ye Society at large flatter me that you will cheerfully contribute every thing necessary on your part to my comfortable and honorable support among you. You must not, indeed you cannot rationally expect to find in me, at present if ever a full and complete Reparation of ye great Loss which you sustained in ye Death of your late worthy Pastor. As successor to such a Man I am fully sensible that I must appear to disadvantage, his illustrious example will be a stimulus to Duty and I hope, in many respects Beneficial, but bad Nature been impartial in ye Distribution of her Favors it would require time and much experience to equal his attainments. But as ye great Shepherd of Israel ye kind Parent of ye Universe requires of each and all his servants in exact proportion to what he hath given unto them, I trust that having an Interest in your Prayers, I shall not neglect ye Gift that isin me but be enabled to improve it to ye Honor of God and Benefit of ye Church, finally Brethren pray for me, pray for yourselves; let it not only be ye Study of your lives but your daily prayers that we may each and all of us know what is ye good and acceptable and perfect Will of our God, but ever have an heart and Disposition to perform it. That this Sacred and Solemn connection which we are about to form may be a mutual Blessing, that we might not only live comfortably together here in this world but have a joyful meeting at ye Bar of Almighty God, where I must shortly appear to give an account of my ministry and you of ye improvement you make of it.

in 1805. The following votes concerning the settlement of Mr. Richey will serve to give "an idea," says Hon. Charles Endicott in his historical address, "of the way and manner in which they made a contract for a parish minister seventy years ago.

call to the pastoral charge of said Church and Society of this town.' Thereupon a committee of twenty-five persons was chosen to confer with Mr. Richey, as to salary, etc., and report at an adjourned meeting.

seems to have met the ordeal bravely, for on the 15th the committee reported that the town should grant Mr. Richey one thousand dollars as a settlement, upon certain stated conditions as to length of service, ete., and pay him a salary of five hundred and seventy-five dollars per annum, ' to be computed upon the following staple articles of life, on the Ist week of May, annually, by such committee as the town shall appoint, joined with Mr. Richey, by the Boston prices, viz. : corn, rye, flour, salt-beef and salt-pork, butter, cheese, wool, flax, sole leather, and coffee,' and then they provided that if the salary was not paid in three months after it became due, 'then Mr. Richey to have interest after it becomes due till paid.' ' Also, that the town grant him eight cords of good, merchantable fire-wood

"Tt is clear that an impression soon got abroad that the parson had been too sharp for the committee of twenty-five ; that question of interest to be computed So, at the next meeting, so much of the foregoing vote as related to interest was erased or expunged. But Mr. Richey, on being informed of the repeal, quietly said, in a note to the committee, that he thought he ought to receive his salary when due, and that he should expect interest to be allowed, should there be a delinquency of And the town, on hearing the letter read, again voted the interest clause, in a somewhat modified form.

'"' Another difficulty! How much should be paid in cash under the contract based upon the market price of corn, salt-pork, and the other articles named in the contract ? Messrs. Dunbar, Tucker, and Bemis labored with this problem for I know not how long, but they solved it at last, and reported the result, and also they said it might be useful thereafter as a precedent. The result was that the cash pay for the salary of the minister for the second year of his service was reduced from five hundred and seventy-five dollars to four hundred and eighty dollars and forty-nine cents. The minister appended a certificate to the report, slightly suggestive of a sort of quiet humor, that he had reviewed the calculations made by the committee

This contract, however, did not always operate to the minister's disadvantage, for in one year, during the war of 1812, his salary amounted to

Nov. 28, 1792. His early life was passed on his father's farm. He commenced his academical studies, preparatory to entering college, at the academy in Salisbury, and was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1817.

study of divinity at Andover Theological Seminary. In the spring of 1820, his health failing, he came to Boston, and took charge of an academy in Salem Street. to the ministry of the First Congregational Church in Canton, and was ordained Jan. 30, 1822.

Rev. Henry Ware giving the right hand of fellowship. He soon became widely and favorably known as a most earnest worker and eloquent preacher, and probably delivered more occasional discourses than almost any other minister in the neighborhood. In the latter sermon at the dedication of a new Unitarian Church in Bangor, Me., and the society there prevailed on him to resign his pastorate here, and he was installed at Bangor in June, 1830. In the fall of 1833, his health failing under his numerous and onerous labors, he asked and received a dismission from that church, and spent the winter at Savannah, Ga., preaching to the Unitarian Society there. In 1834 he returned to the North with re-invigorated health, and was installed over the First Congregational Church in Milton (Rev. Dr. Morison's), Oct. 15, 1834.

Again, on account of failing health, he was obliged to resign his charge, and passed the winter in the then far West, preaching at Peoria, Ill., and at Chicago. In the spring of 1837 he was invited to settle at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained one year. June, 1838, he went to Peoria, where he remained preaching to the First Unitarian Church there until August, 1840, when he was invited by the church in

1859, he was installed over the society at Westborough, but his health continuing to fail, he was forced to relinquish his charge in February, 1860.

In the fall of that year, having a desire to return to the place where he had been first ordained to the ministry, and where he had passed so many happy years, he returned to Canton, and refitted and repaired his old house. Here he spent the declining years of his life, blessed with the love and fellowship of those who had known and revered him in his earlier days, the church which was erected through his exertions in the first years of his ministry. His presence and his daily walk were a benediction and a psalm. His name was a household word in every family. The traditions of his early labors were familiar to all. They whom he met at the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, - they whom he had blessed at the marriage altar, - they whom he baptized in infancy, and whom he had watched over in the schools, and counseled in their riper years, - alike revered and loved him, and They who had been his early parishioners (Deacon Dunbar, Deacon Thomas French, George Downes, Deacon Leonard Everett, Silas Kinsley, Elijah Tucker, James Bent, and others) had long been gathered to their final rest, and he seemed almost alone of the men of And when he died,

It does not become us to attempt an analysis of his character. Such a task belongs more properly to those who have known him longer, and who are better qualified otherwise to speak of him. Rev. Dr. Thompson, of Jamacia Plain, at the funeral, spoke of him as having been one peculiarly fitted to be a pioneer in the advance of liberal Christianity. His services were sought for by the infant churches in every part of the country. There was an earnestness of personal vital piety, an animated hopefulness, and an enthusiasm of manner which gave great power and effect to all his pulpit labors.

He was an active and zealous laborer in the cause of human brotherhood, and recognized and steadfastly maintained the rights of all men of whatever color, or creed, or condition. He was the uncompromising He took a was pre-eminently happy. Wherever he went he was welcome. How kind he was! What a large heart he had! How he overflowed with affectionate | tenderness towards all whom he met! nature manifested itself in his obliging deeds ! well he taught how neighbors, husbands, friends, should live! How successfully he personified the Christian graces! What perfect faith he had in the promises of the gospel! And he died in the hope of | a glorious resurrection. He died April 19, 1864.

June 8, 1873, and is the present pastor. The present meeting-house stands on a fine elevation of land in the territorial centre of the town, and is the second built by the parish, since its organization as the First Parish in Stoughton, on the | 5th day of April, 1736. Then there was a small | building in which the church of Dorchester, South - Precinct, had been gathered, Oct. 30, 1717. When ing-house, and it passed in the affirmative, and "the same day y° Precinct choose Preserved Lyon, James Indecut and Silas Crane, a committee to provide materials to build the meeting-house." In it there were | "convenient seats for the Indian Inhabitants of | Stoughton to sit in on y® Sabbath days." The first | meeting-house was taken down, and it is now a barn, I believe, in the Sixteenth Ward of Boston, late Dorchester. The church built in 1745-47 stood until 1824, the First Parish 'in Stoughton" having, on the 16th day of January, 1797, became the town of Canton.

It is interesting to look over the records and to note who were the active men at the time of Mr. Huntoon's first ordination in 1822, not one of whom is alive to-day. Gen. Elijah Crane, Thomas

| "17° 5 Tolman, William Tucker, Laban Lewis, Thomas Crane, Frederick W. Lincoln, were committee of arrangements. The meeting-house then stood farther Mr. Huntoon soon began

Samuel Capen, Israel Bailey, Jesse Fenno, Elijah Endicott, Isaac Copeland, George Downes, was appointed to take the matter into consideration, and on Dec. 3, 1823, Thomas French, Thomas Tolman,

Lincoln were appointed a committee to select a suitable place for the building. Jan. 5, 1824, Thomas Crane, Leonard Everett, Capt. Charles Tucker, were chosen a committee to prepare a draft of a meeting- feet, and to be a house wholly in the Gothic order. The money was raised by subscriptions, by proceeds of the Wheeler donation, and otherwise, and by sale of the old meeting-house, as appears from the following report of the building committee :

" We, the subscribers, having been directed by the building committee to report to the parish the expense of building the new meeting-house, submit the following statement :

"Second. They also state that Gen. Elijah Crane has a demand against the parish for timber, joist, etc., the amount of which your committee have not been able to ascertain; that there are others also in the same situation, viz., Mr. Shaller's bill, Mr. Samuel's bill, and perhaps others; it is also expected that there will be some extra charges by Messrs. Clark and McKendry, for work done by them not specified in their respective contracts.

the old meeting-house amounts to about $200, which in the opinion of the subseribers will cover all demands against the parish for building the new house, not presented to us, and that the cost of said house will not vary essentially from our first calculation of 34927.96.

Baptist Church. - The first Baptist sermon in this town was preached by Elder Joel Briggs, of Randolph, and April 14, 1812, occurred the first baptisms, those of Ezra Tilden and wife Bethial, his brother Abner Tilden, and Enos Upham. The old Baptist society was organized April 27, 1812, with the following persons: Samuel Blackman, Nathan Tucker, S. Tucker, Jr., Ezra Tilden, Nathan Kinney, Benjamin Gill, Jr., Enos Upham, Abner Tilden, Benjamin Lewis, Jabez Cobb, Samuel Canterbury, Elijah Jordan, Elijah Hawes, Spencer Wentworth, Nathaniel Billings, Jr., Jacob Wentworth, Jabez Billings, Thaddeus Churchill, Seth Wentworth, Oliver Wentworth, Isaac Mann.

The pastors from that time to the present have been as follows:' Revs. Henry Kendall, George Evans, Elisha 8. Williams, Edmund Billoon, Thomas Barrett, Henry Stanwood (licentiate), Ferris Moore,

Holmes, T. C. Tinglay, David B. Ford, P. R. Russell, G. W. Hervey, Theron Brown, J. H. Hartman (in whose time the meeting-house was enlarged), Clifton Fletcher, N. B. Jones, Jr., E. S. Uftord. Rey. G. L. Lewis was installed in 1883, and is the present pastor.

and dedicated Jan. 14, 1821. The second building was commenced late in 1835, and dedicated June 13, 1837. This building was remodeled in 1862.

The First Universalist Church was originally known as ' The Norfolk Universalist Society" in the town of Canton, and was organized Jan. 26, 1819, at the house of Mr. George Downs, with eighty-eight members from Canton, and also a number from Stoughton and Sharon, and one from Milton and one from Dedham.

During the succeeding years meetings were held and preaching enjoyed in Leavitt's Hall, and in the old town house in Canton, until, in 1847-48, an eligible spot of land containing a quarter of an acre was obtained in the heart of the South Canton Village on the easterly side of the old Bay road, on which they built a meeting-house. The society was growing with the growth of the town, and it was found expedient, if not necessary, to make a change in the name of the society, and on Jan. 20, 1849, a petition was presented within and for the county of Norfolk, by fourteen members of the society 'commonly known as the First Universalist Society in Canton,' for him to issue his warrant requiring the qualified voters of said society to meet to organize themselves as a corporation and select a corporate name, ete. signed by Daniel Tisdale, Jona. Messinger, John Cram, Samuel Chandler, Uriah Billings, Samuel Leonard, William Mansfield, C. S. Fowler, F. W. Deane, J. S. Shepard, Lawton Smith, V. J. Messinger,

Pursuant to Mr. Ames' warrant, directed to Lawton Smith, one of the applicants for a warrant, a meeting was duly and legally called, and held in the meeting-house of the First Universalist Society in Canton, on Saturday the 3d day of February, 1849, at six o'clock in the afternoon.

2 Mr. Virgil J. Messinger, who was the first clerk chosen by the First Universalist Parish of Canton, has been annually reelected its clerk for thirty-five consecutive years, and is the present clerk, tion or parish, with all the powers given to corporations by the forty-fourth chapter of the " Revised | Statutes," and with all. the other powers, etc., expressed in the twentieth chapter of the " Revised Statutes," under the name of the First Universalist Parish in Canton.

The meeting-house was built in shares, of which there were sixty-five; all the shareholders subse- | quently conveyed their rights and interest in the | house as distinct from the pews to the parish, which | assumed and has retained control of the house as a religious corporation. A committee of three was chosen to appraise the pews and to appoint a day for leasing the same, and William Mansfield, Uriah Billings, James S. Shepard were chosen, who appointed | Saturday, April 14, 1850, at four o'clock P.M., as | the time, and in accordance therewith all the pews | belonging to the parish. thirty-one in all, were put up at auction to be leased to the highest bidder above the appraisal, of which twenty-one, appraised collectively | at one hundred and eighty-eight dollars, were leased for the sum of $243.50. 'Samuel Bradley Noyes, Esq., by request officiated as auctioneer."

Several gentlemen of Canton who were members of | or interested in the First Congregational Parish and _ in other societies, had furnished money for the building of the meeting-house, one of whom is thus men- | tioned in the records of a meeting on March 9, 1852: "Tt was moved and unanimously voted that the thanks of this parish be and are hereby tendered to F. W. Lincoln, Esq., for his very liberal and generous dona- | tion to this parish of his two pews, and all interest in the house and land owned by said society."

The pulpit was supplied by various ministers until Dec. 27, 1854. Rev. Joseph Crehore was installed | as pastor of the First Universalist Parish in Canton. | Rev. Hosea Ballou read the Scriptures; Rev. Lovejoy made introductory prayer; Rev. KE. G. Brooks, | of Lynn, preached the sermon; Rev. W. H. Ryder, of Roxbury, gave installation prayer; Rev. E. Fisher, of South Dedham, charge to pastor; Rev. J. W. Dennis, of Stoughton, right hand of fellowship; Rev.

The parish met on the 17th of the same month, and resolved that they " desire that he will reconsider the reasons which have induced him to tender his resignation,' and if he would "continue his labors as our pastor we unreservedly pledge him our most cordial co-operation, sympathy, and support." This vote was communicated to him by the standing com- Mr. Crehore replied that he " felt constrained to adhere to the decision" heretofore communicated to the parish. The parish then by vote accepted his letter, and his pastorate closed Oct. 51, 1857.

Rev. Henry Jewell succeeded Mr. Crehore as pastor in September, 1858. five months, when he resigned, and accepted a call in a Western State. He was universally respected and beloved by the parish and through the town. torate closed February, 1866.

March 26, 1866, at a meeting of the parish, '' Hon. Charles Endicott made some remarks in regard to the expediency of uniting the Universalist and Unitarian Parishes in this town, whereupon it was voted that a

His pascommittee of three be chosen for that purpose, to confer with a committee of that parish, and Charles Endicott, F. W. Deane, James 8. Shepard were chosen as that committee, which committee at a meeting of the parish held Nov. 12, 1866, reported verbally that it was inexpedient.

| First Universalist Parish of Canton by the Massachusetts Universalist State Convention, Feb. 24, 1868, and on July 9, 1868, by ordination services at the meeting-house in Canton. Mr. Perry resigned Nov. 12, 1869, and his resignation was accepted to take effect Dee. 31, 1869.

Hartwell. There were present as council Dr. Codman, of Dorchester, Dr. Coggswell, of South Dedham (now Norwood), Jonathan Curtis, of Sharon, Samuel Gile, of Milton, Dr. Hitchcock, of Randolph, Dr. Burgess, of Dedham. Dr. Park, of Stoughton, was moderator. There were only ten in number who sought the, organization of a church, and these became the first members, - Deacon Ebenezer Crane,

In 1830 a church edifice was dedicated, and Rey. William Harlow was ordained pastor. Fairchild preached the ordination sermon from John xviii. 38, " What is truth?" Rev. Mr. Harlow remained two years. Rev. John Turner succeeded him as stated supply; he was followed by Rev. Erastus Dickinson, who was ordained in 1835, and gave two years of an ardent youth to the service of the church. Succeeding his ministry were seven years of preaching by supply; Rev. H. G. Park and Rev. John 8. Kidder supplying most of the time.

The old record says, '' Upon his dismissal it became apparent to the church and society that a more attractive house of worship would promote their prosperity." The result of their deliberations and labors and sacrifices was a new and commodious church dedicated, and the last bills upon it paid Aug. 22, 1860.

Up to that date the pastors have been Rev. William Harlow, ordained 1831, dismissed 1832; Rev. John Tucker, engaged 1833, dismissed 1834; Rev. Erastus Dickinson, ordained 1835, dismissed 1837; Rev. Harrison G. Park, engaged 1839, dismissed 1841 ; tev. John 8. Kidder, engaged 1841, dismissed 1842 ; tev. William B. Hammond, ordained June 5, 1844, dismissed Jan. 2, 1851; Rev. Solomon Clark, installed Nov. 12, 1851, dismissed Jan. 19, 1858; Rev. Ezra

Rey. William KE. Dickinson was called, and sent his letter of acceptance to become pastor Nov. 27, 1867. He remained as pastor until April, 1870.

Rev. J. W. Savage was hired to supply the pulpit from the third Sabbath in October, 1874, and continued to do so until Nov. 14, 1880; and later than that date, with the exception of one year's supply by Rev. Mark Taylor, the church has sat under the preaching of various clergymen of the faith.

St. John's Roman Catholic Church. - About the year 1854 Rev. Father Strain, of Chelsea, came to Canton and began to preach in the 'Stone Factory Chapel," in West Canton; with him came Rev. Terence Fitzsimmons, of St. Peter and St. Paul church was begun on "' Chapel Hill," so called, a short distance north of the railroad station in South Canton. Rev. P. F. Lindon succeeded Fitzsimmons, attended by his assistants, Mr. Callaher and Mr. Hatley, till 1861, when the lat- under his auspices, by the Lord's help, the present church was built, and was dedicated in 1868. It will seat, including the choir, seven hundred and seventyfive persons. There are two services on each Sunday, the average attendance on each of which is eight hundred. The number of communicants is over fifteen hundred. It cost about sixteen thousand dollars, and Connected with the church is a parsonage, and a capacious hall and vestry. It is in contemplation to enlarge the present church or to build another.

The Press, Manufactures, Banks, Etc

The Canton Journal - Early Manufactures - The First Cotton- Factory - Present Manufactures - Memorial Hall - Military tecord - Number of Men Furnished - Amount of Money Raised - Various Votes in Relation to Bounties, ete. - Roll of Honor - Revere Encampment, Grand Army of the Republic - The Neponset National Bank - Canton Institution for Savings - Representatives from 1776 to Present Time.

progress of the paper under Mr. Merritt's management was not such as to guarantee success, and at the end of four months he was obliged to step down and out. D.S. Hasty, of Haston, proprietor of the Haston Journal and Stoughton Sentinel, thereupon took the paper in charge, appointing E. B. Thorndike, its present publisher and proprietor, local representative.

mination to place the paper upon a sound basis. From this point it became apparent that his labors would be crowned with prosperity, and that a permanent local paper for Canton was an established fact. In the path to success in journalism, as in the other walks of life, there are obstacles to overcome, and unexpected events often present themselves, which seem for the time to retard progress, and to this the Canton Journal was to experience its share. A few weeks after assuming control of the paper the proprietor, Mr. Hasty, was removed by the hand of death, and thus necessitated another change. At the settlement of Mr. Hasty's estate, A. P. Smith, of Stoughton, purchased the printing-office located at Stoughton, and known as the Sentined office, the several papers there printed, and the good-will of the entire business. Mr. Thorndike continued with Mr. Smith until November, 1880, at which time he purchased the good-will and title of the Canton Journal, and removed the composing-room to Canton, opening in the upper story of Meserve's building, on the corner of Washington and Rockland Streets. Type, presses, and material were added from time to time, until the business had grown to such an extent that a larger printing-room was inevitable.

On the 19th of November, 1881, just one year after the purchase of the Journal by Mr. Thorndike, he secured the services of J. T. Geissler, of Sharon, as editor, who still holds that position. he first of May, 1882, found the establishment in the more commodious quarters on Church Street, known as the " old school-house," where it still remains. Upon entering these new apartments large additions to type, materials, etc., were again made. New presses, including a Campbell cylinder, a power paper-cutter, a steam-engine, and boiler, were put in, and the town of Canton for the first time could boast of a steam printing-office within its borders. On the 27th of October of the same year the size of the Journal was increased to nine

Manufacturing Interests. - Perhaps it may not be generally known that the first cotton-factory by machinery in Massachusetts was located at Canton in 1803.

"Be it Known that we James Beaumont, Abel Fisher and Lemuel Bailey having provided a Building and Machinery for Spinning Cotton Yarn upon the eastern branch of Neponset River in the town of Canton, in the county of Norfolk, Do enter into the following articles of agreement.