Plymouth Town (part 26 of 54)

Jacob Thompson was born in or near 1662, and died Sept. 1, 1726, aged sixty-four years. The history of this church, published in 1854, .>ays uf him that he was " a mau of distinction as a surveyor and magistrate; he surveyed the twenty-six men's purchase, and divided it among the proprietors in lots, aud also the proprietaries of several neighboring towns. He was a man of great weight of character. and took the lead in the deposition uf xMr. Palmer. Several of his letters to neighboring miiii.-ters on tb.it subject are still extant. He was cousidered a man of sound piety, and a pillar iu the church, and greatly respected."

To be a little more explicit, Jacob Thompson (or Tomson, as he wrote his surname) was elected a selectman of Middleboro' in 1697, and by successive elections held that office twenty-five years. He represented the town at the General Cuurt in 1716 and 1719, and was commissioned as a justice of the peace fur the county of Plymouth July 22, 1720. In the local ujiliti;i of JliJdleboro' he was lieutenant as early as 1701, and captain in 1703, which office he held until 1716, the uiilitia at that time throughout the whole town being embodied in one company, of wliich C.ipt. Jacob Thompson was the commander.

Samuel Wood was born iu or about the year 1G48, and died Feb. 3, 1718, iu his seveutieth year. He was a son of Henry Wood, and a brother of Abiel Wood, before named. Samuel Wood was elected a selectman of Middleboro' in 1684, and in 1691, '03, '04, '00, 1706, 'U7, 'OS, and '00.

Ebenezer Tinkham was born about 1G45. He was deacon of this church as early as 1695 ; selectman of the town of Middleboro' in 1601, 1696, 1700.

Jonathan Cobb. He was born about 16G0, and died Aug. 15, 1728, aged about sixty-eight years. He was deacon of this church at an early date, but the records do not state precisely when.

John Fuller. He was a son of Rev. Samuel Fuller, tiie first or earliest pastor of this church. John Fuller was born about 1668, and died in or near 1710.

Pastors. - Ilev. Samuel Fuller, the first pastor of this church, died Aug. 17, 1695, or a little more than seven mouths after hia ordination. Several ministers received invitations to supply this vacant pulpit, and in August of the next year, Mr. Thomas Palmer, of Plymouth, was applied to, and engaged to preach a quarter of a year, i'or which be was paid thirteen pounds, and the town soon after voted him an annual salary of thirty-five pounds, and iu November, 1698, the town voted " that his goods shall be brought from Plymouth at the town's charge." The precise date of his ordination is not certainly known, but it is thought to have taken place as early as 1702, and possibly a year or two before.

To the ordination or settlement of Mr. Thomas Palmer a very strenuous opposition was oftered on the part of several members of the church, and committees were chosen both by the church and the town '- to devise means of a regular, comfortable, and peaceable settlement." Against Mr. Palmer the charges were brought of misbehavior in the church, aud intemperance.

A council was called by the church ex parte, which condemned him, but this was quickly followed by a council called by the town, which council advised that " as the town earnestly desired both old and young to enjoy his ministry, he should continue his ministry until the council should more fully agree."

Finally a council of twelve churches was convened that advised the church to depose Mr. Palmer. In 1705 liis salary was forty pounds, and in 1706 a like sum, " provided he continue in the work of the ministry the whole year; if removed, to pay him proportionally ;" but in November, 1706, voted, " to seek out a man for the supply of the ministry."

On the 3d of June, 1707, the town voted ' to provide for the ministers and messengers that are to sit iu council;" and Dec. 12, 1707, the selectmen were instructed to agree with Mr. Peter Thatcher for the work of the ministry for ([uarter of a year.

Rev. Peter Thactlier was ordained Nov. 2, 1709, from which time he continued as pastor of this church, until his death, April 22, 1744, - a period of nearly thirty-five years.

*' Votedf by the cliurcb of Middleborough, tliiit in pursuance uf tbe advice of twelve churches in council here convened, wliicii have declared that Mr. Tbouius Pulmer, the former niini^iter anil pii:stor, ouglit to be removed from the work of ilie gospel uiini^itry, .lud suspended from couimuoion at llic Lord's lahle fur hia scandalous immoralities ; therefore, in eoni'ormity to said advice of said council, ns also upon the advice of a convention of reverend ministers at Boston, the church dolh now look on Mr. l*iiimer as no longer their pastor, hut as deposed from the tuiuistry, and also suspended from the tubtc of the Loi'd; and we withdraw from the said Mr. Palmer, ami unite iu uur endeavors to settle the ordinances of tbe gospel among us."

But Mr. Palmer, although deposed from his pastorate and ministry, and barred also from the communion, was not easily or effectually disposed of, silenced, or quieted, but sued the parish for his salary, and obtained u judgment of the law of the land for the recovery of fifty-two pounds, and continued to preach to a few hearers in his own house.

We shall, therefore, in this connection pursue his personal history no further, as his subsequent life being devoted to practicing instead of preaching.

Rev. Peter Thatcher, the third pastor of the First Church iu Middlcboro', and in that office the iiuuiediate successor of Rev. Tliomas Palmer, was Lorn at Milton, Mass., Oct. 6, 1G88.

His father, whose Christian name he bore, was pastor of the church at Milton ; his grandfather, Thomas Thatcher, minister of the old South Church in Boston, and great-;.:randfathor of Peter Thatcher, a Puritan divine in Salisbury. I'^ngland. Peter Thatcher, the Middleboro' minister, graduated at Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass., in 170G.

He began his ministry at Sliddlcboro', iu September, 1707, and was chosen pastor of the church June 30, 1708, or a little before he had attained to twenty years of age. He was ordained Nov. li, 170U. He was united in marriage Jan. 25, 1711, with Mary, a daughter of Samuel Priuce, Esq., then of Rochester, but afterwards of Middleboro'. She was a sister of Rev. Thomas Prince, p.istor of the old South Church, Boston, greatly distiuguished as a chronologist and historian.

Rev. Mr. Thatcher, of Middleboro', is said to have had an excellent library, and reputed a hard student, laborious pastor, and sound preacher. His death occurred April 22, 1744. The house occupied by Rev. Mr. Thatcher in Middleboro' was burned Feb. 3, 1780. Rev. Israel W. Putnam, iu a discourse preached to this church on the one hundred and tiftytirbt anniversary, Jan. 5, 1845, said, coucerniug Mr. Thatcher, -

"He bc<;:tD to preacli to Itiis church anil people Iu circuiustaiices of great tlifficulty, iiia^iiuucU as Mr. Palmer eoutitiued for suuie time to ])reaeh in a private liou:;e to a portion of the people who adheied to him, notwithstanding the course which had been pursued with him by the church.

"But Mr. Thatcher cuuie to this pluee in the spirit of his master. His aim wo^ to preacli the gospel, and so highly did ho eunimeud liimsclf in that character that on June ;{U, 170S, he was chosen by the chureli as their pastor before he was. twenty years old. His ordination, however, did nut take place until Nov. '2, ITUt).

** Mr. Thatehor brought to the work of the ministry here a mind of strong native powers, and highly cultivated by the un- i euuimon advantages he enjoyed under the instruction of his j reverend father, whose library is said to liave been rielily furnished with the works of the learned and pioua Puritan authors, aud whose bouse was a great lesort of the iiioat elni- ' ncMt ministers of the day.

** But, beside a mind thus well disciplined for liis work, lie had -A heart to love it. His soul was deeply imbued with the spirit of the gospel, and, from inclination u.s well as from a sense of duty, he gave himself wholly to his work, and truly may it bo said of him that bis pi-oGting appeared to all. His knowledge of the Scriptures was deep, his manner of jjresenting divine truth to the minds of his people was clear, persuasive, and eonvLucing, his addresses at the throne of grace were humble,

** As we might expect, God blessed tlie labors of aueli a man. Under his ministry the church constantly increased for uniny years in nuuibers and in strength. But toward the close of his life he became much discouraged by what he considered a growing inditference to spiritual things in the chuich and among' the peoplo.

" He seriously conteuiplated preaching a farewell sermon and leaving his charge, and declared to his biographer that he slioulj have done it bad he not been embarrassed in finding a suitable text. But this season of discouragement was not long, for in 17-11 he saw among the people of his own charge the Iteginning of that reviving work of (^oJ which continiieil for more than two years.

" He labored in gathering in its glorious fruits till his strength was finally exhausted. His death occurred Apr. 2L'd, 1744, in fifty. sixth year of his iige, in the thirty-lilth of his ministry, anil just before the expiration of the lirst hall-ecnlury of this church's existence. He was interred in hi^ own 'roiub, tbeu, and till recently, the only one in the Burying-ground near his house.

" How great a loss was such a man to the people of his eiiarge, and how deeply lauientcd by them was his death ! But less thau X have now said of hiiu could not be omitted, while I was endeavoring to show you that God had giaciously bestowed un this church a truly evangeliciil ministry."

During the ministry of Rev. Mr. Thatcher in Jliddleboro', about four hundred and thirty persons were added to this church, of which more than one huudred were brought in at a revival that took place in 1728, but that which acquired the name of the "Great Awakening" occurred from 1740 to 1742, when about one hundred and twenty live were gathered iu. It may not, in this connection, be aiui.^s to notice the fact that, during the ministry of Mr. Thatcher, Rlr. Thomas Palmer, who was unbles.-ied in his conneetiuu with the ministerial office here, was happily reclaimed, as the following, from the church records, fully serves to show :

'-November 13, 1737. This dtiy Mr. Thomas Palmer, the former pastor of this church, had tiie censure of the church taken oU, and was restored to communion by unanimous vote of the church, alter hearing his confession. '

This restoration of Mr. Thomas Palmer, together with the facts in his subsequent history, atford consoling reflections, as the evidence of recorded facts fully shows that he retrieved his character, and when he had come to be older was also a wiser and belter man.

three hist years of liis life could scarcely be expected to take place without excitiug some feelings of hostility on the part of those who did not sympathize with its character and spirit. Such persons, singular as it may appear, though few in numbers, were members of this church, and became active in inducing the parish to take an unprecedented course in the choice and settlement of another minister, which innovation the church resisted, and, as the event showed, successfully, yet the occurrence was for a time disastrous, as it occasioned a division in the parish, a majority of whom, with a small minority of the church, kept the control of the meeting-house, and procured preaching for themselves.

The church, in the mean time, with the other part of tiie people, proceeded in the settlement of the Christian ministry. Leaving the meeting-house in a peaceable manner, they withdrew and worshiped for a time in a private dwelling.

The church at first invited as their minister Peter Thatcher, the old pastor's son, but for some reason, not, pcriiaps, fully e.Kplaincd, withdrew that call, and sent one to Rev. Sylvaiius Cooant, who came to Middleboro' in September, 1744.

The parish now asserted its legal rights by inviting another candidate for their minister, Mr. Conant preaching in the same house with the other candidate, one Occupying the pulpit in the forenoon and the other in the afternoon.

The parish then by vote refused to allow Mr. Conant to preach in the meeting-house at all. and henceforth for a time his meetings were held in the former residence of the late pastor deceased, by invitation of his widow, who was then occupying the premises.

Jlr. Conant, although called to the work of the ministry in this place in the autumn of 1744, was not ordained until the month of March in the succeedinz year, when the services of his ordination were peribrmed out of doors, in front of the Thatcher mansion. The friends and supporters of Mr. Conant went resolutely at work to build a meeting-house upon the " Upper Green," which was raised July 17, 1745, and ere long finished so as to accommodate the Rev. Mr. Conant and his worshiping congregation.

Not to be outdone, the parish caused their candidate for the ministry to be ordained, the services of which ordination were performed in the meeting-house Oct. 2, 1745, the church, by its committee, offering a strenuous protest against the proceeding. The church and parish, as was remarked, had now a hard business with a new meeting-house to build, the old meeting-house to repair, two ministers and two churches to sustain, and, more than all, crimination and recriminations and alienations among brethren, - '-old lights" and "new lights," the church and the standing party.

A tax made by the parish against the new society as well as the old wellnigh brought on open war, added to which was a lawsuit about the records and the furniture of the Lord's table, and the quarrel was not allayed and difficulties adjusted without an application to and relief from the Colonial Legislature. »

A law was passed by which those who chose to worship ill the new meeting-house might file their names with the clerk of the old society, and thus become members of the new, and in 1748 more than two hundred persons availed themselves of the privilege thus afforded.

Another law was passed in 1754, by which the societies were reunited. The Rev. Thomas Weld, called by a majority of the parish and sixteen members of the church, was a resident, if not, indeed, a native, of Boston. He graduated at Harvard College, in 1723. He continued to preach in the old meeting-house until Jan. 8, 1749, when the parish voted to dismiss him, and he soon after brought an action for his salary, which put his former people to much trouble and expense.

These troubles caused great embarrassment to the parish in paying its expenses, to meet a part of which it, the same year, voted to sell to David Simmons the old meeting-house, exclusive of the pews and pulpit, for the sum of £13 6s. 8d.

"He was a descendant of the celebrated Roger Conant, who waa with the Plymouth Pilgrims in 1023, and removed to Salem. He was born in 1720, and graduated in 1740, at Harvard College. He was a son of Lot Conant, the son of Nathaniel, who came from Beverly, and settled in Bridgewater before 1690. He began his ministry here Sept. 9, 1744; was called to be pastor October 1st of the same year, and was ordained March 28, 1745. He continued his ministry, at first at the bouse of Madame Thatcher, and after the meeting-house was built (which was the same year), in that house till his death, which was of the smallpox, Dec. 8, 1777. He was buried with eight of his parishioners, in a field of one of them."

"So sleep the souls and leave to groan, When sin and death liave done their worst; Christ hath a glory like his Which waits to clothe their wasting dust."

The causes that served for a time to divide this church were not coiitiued in their operations or efl'eets to tlie town of MiddieUiro', but spread quite extensively throughout the then colony, now State, of Massachusetts, making many divisions in churches, which have never, even to this day, becu remedied, causing bickering and strife not yet allayed, and inflicting Wounds that never healed ; in short, causing injuries that a century of time, that great pacifier, h;w been found insuiEcieiit to heal.

Why the people of Middleboro' were more fortunate than those of many other places in the effort to heal differences may have been, in a great degree, owing to the character and conduct of the Rev. Sylvanus Conant, the pastor retained, who was distinguished for his urbanity and conciliatory manners, and who succeeded, in a few years, in uniting the people of both parties in his favor. He is represented as having been a lively, animated preacher, and is said to have done all that any man could do under such multiplied diflScultics and such perilous circumstances, being times of war, viz , the French and Indian war and the Revolutionary war. During a portion of the Revolutionary war Mr. Conant, for a time, performed the duties of chaplain to oiii: of the regiments in the patriot service. Had Mr. Conant been a different kind of man, doubtless in MiddK'boro', as in many other places, the church would have remained divided, and instead of again becoming one church, would have continued aii two, adhering to those differences in religious seutiment that then divided, and for one hundred and forty years have continued to divide, among the Congregationalists, the Unitarian from those of the Trinitarian faith and practice.

Soon after the death of Rev. Mr. Conant this church cxteuded an invitation to Mr. Abraham Camp, a graduate of Yale College, to become their pastor, which call he seems to have declined.

Rev. James Davis was with us in 1807. Mr. Barker preached a ceutury sermon one hundred years after tiie organization of the church, in which many of the historical records are taken notice of arid the character of our pastors given, whicli was printed at the time, also a sermon on the death of Deacon B. Thomas, in which his life aud character are very graphically drawn.

Those who had lived under the miiii>try of Mr. Conant thought there was in iMr. Barker a strong contrast between the two in pastoral visitations and cheerfulness, and condescension out of the pulpit, but there was very little complaint.

Rev. Emerson Paine was a graduate of Brown Univei-sity in 1813, was ordained Feb. 11, ISIG, not without much opposition, aud after a laborious ministry (the opposition continuing), he was dismissed on his own request by advice of an ecclesiastical couneil July 4, 1822.

He was afterwards, for a number of years, pastor of the church iu Little Compton, 11. I., and afterwards preached in Halifax, where he died April 20, 1851, aged sixty-five years.

Rev. William ]']atou was the next pastor, of whom the church hi-story, before alluded to, says, " lie was installed March 10, 1824, having been previously, I'mten years, pastor of the church in Fitchburg, was a graduate of Williams College in 1810, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1813.

He was dismissed at his own re(|uest, March 3, 1834, by a council, and was settled in Charlotte, Vt., aud afterwards in Hardwick, in this State. He died in West Brookfield, April 12, 1840.

The nest pastor was Rev. Israel W. Putnam. He was a iiiitive of Danvers, Mass. He graduated at Dartiuoutli College, 1809, and at the Theological SoiniDary at Andovcr in 1814. He was settled as pa.-^tor of the North Churcli in Portsmouth, N. H., from March 15, 1815, to March 15, 1835, and was installed pastor of thi.s church Oct. 28, 1835.

Much that has herewitli been presented concerning the Fir.-t Congregational Church and parish in Middleboro' was derived from several historic discourses delivereil. in 1845, by Rev. Israel \V. Putnam, commemorative of the completion of one hundred and fifty years since the original gathering and formation of that church.

Samuel Barrows was ordained deacon July 25, 1725. He w;is admitted to member.ship Feb. 20, 1715. He died Dec. 30, 1755, in his eighty-third year, and must therefore have been born in or near 1673. He was elected a selectman of Middleboro' ID 1723, and by successive elections held that office for twelve consecutive years. In 1744 he was again chosen, and held tlie position one year. He probably acted as deacon for several years before being ordained as such, as the title is applied to his name in the public records of Middleboro' as early as 1723, and perhaps before. Deacon Samuel Barrows was elected to represent the town of Middleboro' in the General Court that commenced its .session in Boston, Wednesday, May 25, 1720, and re-elected to that place in 1730-31 and 1733-34. In the division that occurred in this church immediately after the death of Rev. Peter Thatcher, Deacon Samuel Barrows, with sixteen or seventeen male members of the church, together with a majority of the parish, took the side of the " old lights," or '' standing party," as sometimes called, which party in many New England churches came finally to reiireaent the Unitarian element as opposed to the Trinitarian, the intellectual rather than emotional, those of less faith and more knowledge, and who sought to be practically good rather than professionally pious ; who accounted good works as better than good words, and well doing more essential than well saying, in short, who sought to bear the cross themselves rather than get oflF with the cheap excuse that " Jesus jiaid it all ;" and if such, indeed.

; were those in that generation wiser than the children of light, either new or old ; and singularly enough, in their efforts to cause things to remain in statu quo, those Unitarians have made greater departures from the faith and practices of their fathers, as also as more of them, tlian the " new lights," whose new-fangled doctrines they could neither tolerate, fellowship, or

I patiently endure; and thus have both parties pmcticaily illustrated the conduct of that son who said he would go and went not, and he who said he would

' Ephraim Wood was ordained deacon July 25, 1725. He was a son of Samuel Wood, and born in or near the year 1679. Admitted to membership in this church Aug. 22, 1715. He died July 9, 1744, in the sixty-fifth year of his age.

Samuel Wood was chosen deacon Jan. 30, 1735, and ordained to that office March 5, 1737. Deacon Samuel Wood was a son of Samuel Wood, and a brother of Deacon Ephraim Wood. Deacon Samuel Wood was born in or about 1684. He was a selectman of Middleboro' in 1744 ; representative to the General Court in 1744, and again in 1745. He joined this church March 4, 1718.

Ebenezer Finney came to Middleboro' from Norton. He united with this church Nov. 3, 1734; was made a deacon in 1737, and died Sept. 21, 1745, in his forty-seventh year; born in or about 1G98.

Benjamin Tucker was chosen deacon in November, 1745. He was admitted to membership March 24, 1729. He died July 9, 1781, in his seventy-sixth year; born in or near the year 1705; elected a selectman of Middleboro' for the years 1748-49, 1750- 51, and 1752. He was town treasurer in 1744, and representative to the General Court in 1746; commissioned as a coroner for the county of Plymouth Dec. 27, 1734, and that appointment renewed Oct. 10, 1755, and Jan. 28, 1762.

Gcrshom Cobb was made deacon at the same date as Benjamin Tucker. Deacon Gershom Cobb was born 1714; admitted to membership in this church July 1, 1739. In his old age he left Middleboro' and removed to Hardwick.

! ' It is hoped that neither party, Unitarian or Trinit;iriuii, will take olfunae at the free expreseiond iiidulgud by the writer, who is an avowed infidel, and well near an Atheist, aa it is from such a stand-point that these matters are viewed.

Ichabnd Morton was received iuto this cliurcli May 11, 17C0 ; chosen deacon Jan. 3, 1782; died May 10, 1809, iu the eighty-fifth year of his age, and cousei(Uently must have been born iu or about 1724.

Abiier Bourne joined tlie cliurch Dec. 1, 1782 ; cliosen deacon Juue 8, 1796; conioiittcd suicide May 25, 1806, being in tlie fifty uinlh year of Lis age. He was a selectman of Middieboro' in 1784-86, and 1788-89. Of tlie second company in the local militia of Middieboro' he was commissioned ensign, to rank from May 9, 1776 ; promoted to lieutenant April S, 1778, and to captain Juue 2, 1780. He cumuuinded tliat company on an expedition to Rliode Island iu war of American Revolution.

Josliua Eddy united with this churcli April 9, 1797, and was elected deacon Oct. 10, 180iJ. He died May 1, 1833. A very interesting and iustructive account of liim wa.s published in the July issue of tlie " New England Historical and Genealogical Register," in 1854, to which a further allusion may properly be made in the military history of this town.

Perez Thomas joined July 13, 1802, and became deacon May 4, 1803. He died May 21, 1828, aged scventy-.seven. He was a representative to the General Court in 1787.

James Sprout joimd Nov. 17, 1810; cliosen deacon Oct. 26, 1834 ; died April 15, 1837, in his sixtythird year. He was by trade u carpenter, and was the architect of the cliurch edifice of this church and society, erected in 1828, and dedicated Jan. 1, 1829.

John Freeman became a member July 12, 1807; elected deacon Oct. 26, 1834 ; died Feb. 20, 1847, aged fifty-nine. He had been dismissed to a church at Carver in 1846.

The first meeting-house of this First Congregational Cliurch ill Middieboro' is said to have been located near the former residence of the late Dr. Stertevaiit, and wa.s probably used as a place of public worship during the ministry of Rev. Samuel Fuller, and remaining as late as the year 1701, in August of which it was sold at auction for Hb 2s.

The second meeting-house was built on what is knowu as the lower green, and near where now stands a school-house. It was erected in 1700. Tlie dimensions were thirty-six feet by thirty, and sixteen-foot stud. It at first had two ridge poles and four gableends, but in 1745 this was changed for a pitched muf, so culled.

The third house of public worship stood a few rods northeast of the present church edifice, and was erected in 1745. It was raised on the 17tli of July in that year. The land on which it stood was jmrchased of Ebenezer Sproutt by deed bearing date June 9, 1745, and came to be called the upper green.

The fourth liouse is that still standing, having been erected in 1828. The lot was purchased of Zelias Cushman in 1827. The building of this house cost nearly thirteen thousand dollars. Deacon James Sproutt was the architect. The house was dedicated Jan. 1, 1829. The parsonage hou^e was built iu 1832. The land on whicii it stands was purchased of Hercules Cushman.

The Fund of the First Congi!.eg.vi'ion.\l CllUKCll AND SociKTY. - The house built by llev. Sylvauus Conant was by his heirs sold to this parish, and was by the parish sold to Rev. Joseph Barker, and the sale-money funded. At a later date Mr. Samuel Tinkham devised the whole of his farm in " the Little Precinct" to this parish, the income of which was to be for the support of the minister for the time being. The fund was soon sufficient by its income to pay the salary of the pastor, and was so appropriated until the dismissal of Itev. Mr. l']atoii. By a process that aeems not to be wholly understood. and by the erection of a parsonage, this fund was diminished from nine thousand dollars to less than three thousand, so that the greater part of the salary had to be raised by subscription.

Mr. Tinkham and wife were exemplary members of the church. The following is the iiiseiipiiuii on their monument ou " the Hill," where they are buried :

'- Wbcn in lift) be was beuovoleut to tbe poor, iinJ in bis lu.-t will gave all bis real estate for the 8up|iort uf Ibu pulilic wor- :,bip of Goil in tbid precinct.

Other Congregational Societies and Churches. - From the date of the incoiporalion of the town of Middieboro' until July 19, 1719, - a period of half a century, - the geographical limits of the entire town were embraced in oue purisli ; that was then divided, und tlienceforth Tor a time icnown as the East and West Piecincts. The East Precinct contained the meutiiiii-house and much the largest portion of the luembcMS of the church.

The dividing line between llie precincts was drawn from a point near the mouth of Fall Brook, and running westerly by the Trout Brook to the line of Taunton.

The West Precinct included what was tiicn the southwest part of Middleboro', since set off and made a new and distinct town, called Lakeville.

How many members of the First Church wore dismissed to become members of the West Precinct Church, organized Oct. 6, 1725, is not now positively known.

The records of the old and now East Precinct Church show that Ebenezer Richmond and William Strobridge became members of the West Precinct Church, and on the 24th of March, 1727, Elizabeth Hackct was dismissed to join that church.

From the most reliable evidences now to be obtained (as some parts of the early records are lost) the church of the West Precinct was formed Oct. 6, 1725.

The names of the female members at the date of the formation are not now known, but the male members were as follows : John Thrasher, Ebenezer Richmond, James Reed, Richard Waste, Samuel Hoar, Thomas Pickens, Williniu Ho.ikins, John Huckelt, James Sproutt, Elections Reynolds, Edward Richmond, and William Strobridge. The first or earliest church edifice in the West Precinct stood upon the easterly side of the highway, a few rods south of the former residence of the late William Paul, and was erected in 1724. Rev. Benjamin Ruggles was the first settled minister in this West Precinct or Parish. He accepted the call by letter bearing date of Oct. 25, 1724, which was in reply to a vote of the precinct or parish passed Sept. 8, 1724. It was at first agreed to give Rev. Ml. Ruggles ninety pounds as a settlement, and to pay him at the rate of seventy pounds per year for his services, but the yearly pay was from time to time incrc:iscd until it reached oue hundred pounds, and, perhap.s. even more, as shown by the precinct or parish records, still well preserved ; but it may have been that the apparent incrcasu in his salary was only fictitious, and made to cancel the loss that he would otherwise have sustained from a depreciating currency.

The ordination of Rev. Benjamin Ruggles as pastor of the Congregational Church in the West Precinct or Parish of Middleboro' occurred on the 17th day of November, 1725, from which time he continued to labor, with much acceptance and usefulness, till his dismission in December, 1753, or a period of twentyeight years. His name appears in the histoiy of his time as a friend of revivals, but the lo.ss of the records of this church prevents the giving of the names of those who were added during his ministry (that covered the period still known as that of the ''great awakening" or " great revival" begun in 1741 ;. Rev. Benjamin RuL'gles graduated at Yale College in 1721. During the ministry here of Rev. Benjamin Ruggles, Edward Richmond and John Hackett sustained the positions of deacons, both of whom were probably appointed in 1725.

From the close of Mr. Ruggles' ministry for a period of nearly eight years this church was destitute of a regularly-settled pastor, the pulpit being temporarily supplied by seven different ministers, and although this condition of affairs was attended with what was regarded as "spiritual declension," yet during that time (viz., 1759) the old meetinghouse was abandoned and its place supplied by the erection of a large, commodious, and comparatively expensive church edifice, that continued to be used as a place of public worship until 1835, or a term of about seventy-six years. The site of that house wa-s a few feet westerly of the present neat and convenient chapel, that was erected in 1835. The second meeting-house was supplied with galleries upon three sides, and also with a projection over the pulpit, a little higher than the minister's head, which projection was familiarly known as the " sounding-board," but had no steeple, and appeared upon the outside to have always been free from the adornments of paint. The "spiritual declension" before alluded to, together with the term of nearly eight years suffered to jiass in which the church and precinct were destitute of a regularly-settled pastor, being temporarily supplied by seven different ministers, and during which time the second house of worship was erected, doubtless gave rise to the doggerel description, which tradition has preserved of that house and its worshiping congregation, in the censorious words, -

Rev. Caleb Turner was the second pastor of this church, being ordained to the gospel ministry therein April IG, 17G1. He, like the Rev. Mr. Ruggles, was a student of Yale College, where Mr. Turner graduated in 1758. His mini.stry here was long and happy, or at least reasonably happy, and continued from 1701 until 1801, a period of about forty years.

fuur persons were received to membership in this ! church. He administered the ordinance of baptism to one hundred and eighty, solemnized three hundred , and one marriages, and attended about three hundred i funerals. His remains and those of his wife were inteired in tiic ancient cemetery near by, and graves ] of both marlicd by suitable gravestones bearing in- i scriptions. , j

Job Macomber was appointed a deacon of this church in 17(>2, Scth Richmond and Jo.seph Richmond in 17UG, George Leonard and Benjamin Dean in 1792, and George Staples in 1799.

Thomas Crafts, the lliird pastor of this church, was installed as such Nov. 18, 1801. Mr. Crafts graduated at Harvard in 1783. He remained as pastor eighteen years, and died at the age of sixty-one years.

Samuel Staples was appointed deacon of this church in 1803, John Morton in 1804, and Edward Paul in 1812. During the minittrations of Rev. Mr. Crafts to tills people sixty-two persons were admitted to membership (6lly-five by profession and seven by letter). He administered eighty-seven bapti.sms and soletunizcd sixty-one marriages. At the commencemeut of his labors here the church numbered but about a dozen members, that during his ministry were so increased as to leave forty at its close.

The fourth pastor was Rev. John Shaw, who was installed July 21, 1819. He was a graduate of Brown University, Providence, R. I., in 1805. His ministry iiere continued fifteen years, during which sixty-five persons were admitted to the church by profession and eight by letter, or seveuty-three in the whole. i

He administered sixty-eight baptisms, and solem- j nized one hundred and thirty-three marriages. At the close of his labors here the church consisted of : .seventy-four members. '

Refore coming to Middlcboro', Rev. John Shaw liad been settled in the ministry at Carver, where he was ordained in 1807. Mr. Shaw left Sliddleboro' , in 1834, and for two years this church was without a pastor, and during that time (viz., in 1835) the old Mieeting-house, erected in 1759, was taken down and i a third house of worihip erected, which continues to ' be used for that purpo.se until the present time.

Willie Rev. John Shaw was pastor of this church tlie following-named members were appointed dea- 1 cons : Caleb Bassett and Benjamin Riclimond in ' 1821, Epiiraim Leach and Zattu Pickens in 1828. | persons joined this church by profession and five by letter. He administered thirty-four baptisni.s and solemnized twenty-nine marriages. Andrew Huskins was appointed deacon in 1838.

The sixth pastor was Rev. Jesse K. Bragg, a graduate of Amherst College in 1838. His pastorate over this church commenced Oct. 19, 1842, and ended June 30, 1851, continuing a little loss than nine years. During that time the adniLssions to this church were eighty-five persons, viz., sixty-nine by profession and sixteen by letter. The Rev. Mr. Bragg in the mean time administered sixty-.'^even baptisms, solemnized sixty-two luarriages, and attended one hundred funerals. The church at tlie close of Mr. Bragg's labors numbered one hundred and fifty.

Rev. Calvin Chapman, the seventh pastor, commcDced his ministerial labors here in July, 1851, and was installed on the 22d of October in that year. He graduated at Bowdoin College in 1839. His ministry here terminated Oct. 30, 1857. Admissions to the church five, viz., three by profession and two by letter.

Rev. Augustine Root was ordained and installed as eighth pastor May 20, 1858. His ministerial labors here closed May 13, 1860. During the tw6 years of his pastorate fifteen persons were added to the church, and all by profession. Frederick A. Paul and Myrick Haskins were appointed deacons in 1858.

During the next year no minister was settled, but about four months of the time the pulpit was filled by Rev. George G. Perkins, and as stated supply he preached from May 4, 18G1, to May 3, 1HG3. The admissions to the church were twelve by piolessioii and two by letter.

Rev. James Ward preached to this church and society from June 7, 1SG3, until Dec. G, ISGS, and during that time two persons were admitted tu church membership by profession.

Rev. Homer Barrows, a former pastor, resumed ministerial labors here Oct. 31, 18G9, and remained until April 21, 1872, having admitted to the church eight persons by profession.

From April 20, 1873, to Si-pt. 30, 1877, Rcv. Charles W. Wood labored as stated supply. The additions in four years and five months were eleven by profession and two by letter.

Rev. I. C. Thacher preached here from Oct. 7, 1877, to January, 1880. He was installed as the ninth pastor Jan. 15, 1879. Twenty-four persons were admitted into the church by prol'ession and seven by letter. James W. Paul was appointed deacon in 1879.

Mr. Roche, eighty years ago, made this precinct the present of a hearse or carriage for the dead. That gift, as nearly as can now be ascertained, was uiade by Mr. Roche about four years before his death, and in his last will and testament he bequeathed as a fund for the support of the preaching of the gospel in this precinct or parish the sum of four thousand dollars.

The remains of Mr. Roche were interred in an ancient cemetery then in Middleboro', now in Lakeville, and his grave marked by a handsome slab of white marble, laid horizontally upon a substantial freestone base. That tombstone bears the following inscription :

Hugh Montgomery, Esq., waa a native of Middleboro', that part now Lakeville, but spent the most of his life in the practice of the law at Boston. His remains rest near those of Mr. Roche. Mr. Montgomery loft to this church and society, for the support of the gospel, the sum of three thousand dollars. That with the money given by Mr. Roche now constitutes a fund of seven thousand dollars. Mr. Montgomery also gave two hundred dollars for the improvement of the ancient cemetery where his remains are buried.

Middleboro' and Halifax Congregational Church. - The town of Halifax was incorporated July 4, 1734, from parts of Middleboro', Pembroke, and Plympton, soon after which the following-named

These were dismissed Oct. 13, 1734, and were among the original members of a Congregational Church there established, and which still exists.

Rev. John Cotton was settled as the first pastor of the Halifax Church, and he afterwards attained to considerable distinction in civil office, as also in the field of literature.

The successors of Mr. Cotton as pastors of this Middleboro' and Halifax Church and Society wore as follows: Rev. William Patten, ordained in 1757; Rev. Ephraim Briggs, ordained in 1769, and who died in 1801, and was the same year succeeded by Rev. Abel Richmond, Rev. Elbridge G. Howe, and llev. Freeman P. Howland. But a more extended account would more properly constitute a part of the history of Halifax instead of Middleboro'.

The Titicut Congregational Church and Parish. - Rev. S. Hopkins Emery, now of Taunton, Muss., in a religious discourse delivered before this church and society, June 6, 1875, when speaking of its original gathering and formation, said, -

"The controversy which at this time raged throughout New England, especially in Connecticut, between what were callL-<l the New Lights, or new measure revival men, and tlie old established churches, more stiff, staid, and formal in their ways, - this controversy reached the Titicut plantatiuu, and was quite heated in all this region.

" Those of you who have read the history of those exciting times, when Whitetield, Davenport, and the Tennents were in the midft of their evaogotist movements, when President Edwards, Bellamy, and Hopkins were at the height of their power and commanding intluence, need not that I should go into I details.

i " It was the period of the Great Awakening, as it has been ! called, or rather I am coming to a period when theru may be I said to have occurred a reaction and a sad decline. ** The Great Awakening was in 17-lU.

" It is most melancholy, the narrative of party feeling and party strife, crimination and recrimination in connection ^vitb the extraordinary efforts which were then put forth for the extension of Christ's kingdom.

" Alas I liow many crimes have been committed against God and man at such times of wicked provocation, und what I'eartuI breaches of the good law of Christian fellowship and brotherly jove !

"All these jcurs of which I liiive heen speaking, from 1713, wlien Ihe precinct was set off, to 1747, no church organiziilion h;ij sprunj^ up, for the reason, prohably, timt the cliurclies in the vicinity, and those of this precinct who would be likely to constitute the churcli, were not quite certain whether it would be on Old Light or a New Light Church."

the former had been collecting the materials of which to build a meeting-house, and as early as Jan. 25, 1744, voted to raise fifteen pounds, old tenor, by way of tax for the support of a minister.

Again the outside wicked worldlings, upon the 4th of February, 1745, showed a still greater anxiety to promote the cause (it was so common for professed Uhristiaiis to say these " had no part or lot in") " by voting thirty pounds, old tenor, for preaching, and, March 3Ist, to have preaching, and to have Mr. Tucker to preach, if he may be obtained, and that Abiezer Edaon shall board him;" which last clause is of itself enough to show that the persons voting were practically- instead of spiritually-minded, for they had the worldliness to provide for Mr. Tucker in what he should eat and drink and wherewitlial be clothed, thus so conclusively showing theirs was not faith but works, " for after all these things do the Gentiles seek," that for this or some other cause Mr. Tucker refused to be employed by them at all, and so was tediously prolonged the time that in Titicut Precinct or Parish the saints would not, and the sinners could not, esiabliah a regular ministry and preaching of the gospel among them.

But before we further go in stating what was attempted, and, from one cause or another, failed to be accomplished, let us adopt and proceed to be governed by a chronological system, mentioning occurrences and facts in the order that these severally and successively transpired, thus showing more regard for the what and the wlirii than to who were the actors in the relative Older of our successive notices, and to do which will coiumcnce with the petition of the people of this locality, asking to bo set off, and by law established, as a precinct or parish. Here is a copy of that petition: we being voted off from said towns, in order for a distinct Township, did, at your session in May last past, petition for the ostablishment thereoff, our petition being lodged in Council as we are informed, And not acted upon, ^Ve do therefore pray that our said petition may be revived, and that if your Excellency and Honours do not see meet to set us otf a Tovvnship, that you would establish us a distinct Precinct, according to the bounils of the votes of the towns herewith c.\lubitcd, that being our present request unto you. That so we may enjoy the (iospcl privileges among ourselves. That so we may worship Go'l, so a^ to bring a Blessing on ouiselves and chiljrcu. And that your E.\cel]ency and honours would rcinerubL-r and act for us, we, your humble petitioners, as in duty buniiil, ^Iki II ever pray."

This petition received a favuiable notice from the General Court that by an act passed Feb. 25, 1744, set off the territory desired, and by law constituting it a new, distinct, and separate precinct, tliencel'uitli known as the Titicut Parish. This date of incorpi)- ration is that given by llev. S. Hopkins l']mcry, in his history of the church of North Middleboro', but Hon. Nahuiu Mitchell, in his history of Ciidgewater, fixes that date upon the 4th of February, instead of the 25th of that month. The liiat pariah meeting was warned to be held at the dwelliug-house of Nehemiah Washburn, in Bridgewater, at ten o'clock on the morning of Wednesday, March 21, 1741.

Of that meeting Nehemiah Washburn was chosen moderator, and Amos Keith clerk, and Mr. Washburn was subsequently made the precinct or parish treasurer. From the date at which the Titicut Pariah was incorporated three years was suffered to pass before a parish vote could be obtained to build a church edifice. Doubtless some portions of the timber fur such a structure had been procured, and possibly fitted into a proper frame that may have been rai.-ed, us at the parish meeting held March 20, 1747, at the house of James Keith, it was voted " to provide materials to enclose and cover the meeting-house ;" also " to see if an answer has been made to a Petition presented to the General Court for the confirmation of a grant of land given to the precinct by the Indians." Concerning the frame for a meeting-house, it appears that certain pursons hud obtaiuuJ sucli, and that it was lying or standing near tlie house of Mr. Abraham Barden, which frame tiie proprietors tliereof, for a named consideration, quit-claimed to Benjamin White, of Middleboro', and Benjamin Washburn, of Bridgewater, a committee chosen to act in behalf of the precinct, and this, said Rev. Mr. Emery, probably was the frame removed to about the present site of the church edifice in 1747 it was voted to inclose and cover.

'* The whisperings of the pines mingled with the praises of (iod'a people as they met here from week to week to worship God. Vei-ily, the trees of the tield did clap their hands. The little hills rejoiced on every side. IIow still and quiet were those sweet days of sacred rest ! How strong was the attraction of the simple, unpretending plain place of worship which stood here to the few fauiities on citlier side of the river which were wont to^retlier within its consecrated walls to meet God, and here Iliio speak to them through Ilis written Word or the mouth of His ministering servants !"

But how came tho.se early European settlers to be thus fortunately provided with a place so attractive and beautiful in which to locate their unpretending little house of public worship ? Was it purchased at a high price, or was it a gift from the most pious among their number? No, neither, but as when the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked, his experiences at the hands of the heathen among whom he fell were now repeated ; for as then, even now the barbarous people showed HO little kindness, and immediately following the vote passed to build this church edifice was another to see if an answer has been made to a petition presented to the great and General Court for the confirmation of a grant of lands given to the precinct b^ the Indium.

The Indian Job Ahanton donated fifteen acres of land, declaring it to be " for the use of such a gospel ministry aa is established by the laws of this province, minding to encourage the settlement of a gospel ministry."

Stephen David donated eighteen acres and threequarters, that he expressly declared to be " for the encouragement of settling and maintaining the gospel ministry in said precinct agreeable to the good laws of this province ;" and thus nearly thirty-four acres of these two Indian men's land were given towards the support of a preached gospel.

But of the meeting-hou.se lot, that spot of scarcely equal beauty and loveliness in the whole town, this wa.s the free and generous gift of that other Indian, Jamus Thomas, the deed conveying which we at the riak of wearying our readers here present entire, verbatim et literatim :

" Know all men by these Presents, that I, James Thomas of Titicut in the Township of Middleborough in the County of Plymouth in the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England, Indian man yeoman, minding to encourage the interest aud prosperity of Titicut Precinct, (so called), which consists partly of said Middleborough and partly of Bridgcwater iu said County, by giving a certain piece of land to said Fiecinet for a Meeting House to stand on, for a Burying Place and for a Training Field, and having obtained liberty and power of the great and General Court of said Province therefor, have therefore, by virtue of said power and by the consent and advice of uiy Guardians hereto tcatiOed, given and granted, and by these presents do fully freely clearly and absolutely give and grant unto the inhabitants of said Precinct, forever. Five acres of land in said Titicut whereon the Meeting House now stands bounded as foUoweth ; ' Beginning at a stake and stones, about eight or nine rods from the northwest corner of said meeting house, from thence running south seventeen degrees cast forty live rods to a stake and stones near a white oak tree, marked; from thence east seventeen degrees north eighteen rods to a stake aud stones, and from thence north seventeen degrees west foitylive rods to a stake and stones; from theuee west seventeen degrees south to the bounds first mentioned together with all the privileges and appurtenances thereof. To have and to lioM unto the said inhabitants in fee simple for the uses aforesaid t'orever

*' In witness whereof, I, the said James Thomas have hereunto set my hand and seal, this fifteenth day of .-Vugust Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and fifty, and in the twentyfourth year of His Majesty's Ueign.

"The Guardians aforesaid, in testimony of their uilvice and I consent to the above granted premises by the said James Thomas to said Precinct, have hereunto subscribed their names. ! "John Cisniyo

Aud thus is shown tlie trutii of the statemeiu of I'lov. S. Hopkins Emery, tiiat llie Indians at and near Titicut " were not iuditierent to the interests of tlie wliites, and bore no mean part in the early history of this church and parish ;" but how were these kind sentiments aud friendly acts met, reciprocated, and returned to tlie savage barbarian by his civilized Christian neighbor ? Let the Rev. Mr. Emery, who lias critically examined into that matter, answer. Hear him : " I am sorry to be obliged to record it concerning these early settlers that they had a distinct pew, one side out of the way, high up over the stairs, for the colored people, both Indian and negro." And we will here add, if heaven is up above, as we have been so often told that it is, then were those Indians ueantr heaven llian the vfhites in more respects than one, for their conduct was as much more commendable than that of the white people, as much higher toned as was their location in church more elevated. With what superlative contempt must those colored people have listened to hypocritical pratings from the pulpit upon the text, " God hath made of one blood all the nations of the earth I" and how must they improved under that gospel teaching that forbids greater respect paid, or more honorable seats assigned, to those arrayed in costly raiment! thus giving evidence of their wealth by the richness of their apparel.

Four years intervened between the date at which the Titicut precinct or parish was incorporated and the formation therein of a Congregational Church, and during that period Rev. Joseph Snow, pastor of a New Light Ciiurch in Providence, 11. I., and Rev. Isaac Backus, then a young minister I'rom Norwich, Conn., visited Titicut and preached to the people here.

Both Snow and Backus were revivalists. They preceded and accompanied their preaching with much visiting and free intercourse among the people of this parish, and were in turn kindly entertained. It is told of these two young men that they were so well provided with the words of their testimony that while on a visit to this place they preached twentyfour sermons in ten days, and the Rev. Mr. Emery truly remarked, " If there had been a dearth of preaching during the year 1747, there was uut likely to be during 1748." So pleased and profited were the people by the preaching of Mr. Backus as to request him to remain with them, aud during the month of January, 1748, he preached thirty sermons, and the time appeared to have fully come for a church to be organized in this parish without longer waiting fur the full consent of all the neighboring churches.

"Accordingly," says the Rev. Mr. Eniciy, " Articles of Faith and Covenant were drawn up, and on tlie 16th of February, 1748, sixteen poisons si^'iiud theui solemnly, as in the presence of God, after having met together several times for prayer and declaring what God had done for their souls one to another."

Here are the names of those persons who then embodied as a church : Jonathan Woods, Joseph Harvey, William Hooper, Ephraim Leach, Onesimus Campbell, Samuel Alden, Joseph Phinnuy, Israel Wasliburn, James Hooper, Joseph Harvey, Jr., Leah Washburn, Ruth Leach, Sarah Leacli, Esther Fobes, Abigail Fobes, and Abigail Fobes, Jr., being ten men and six women.

There were received into this clmrch in 17IS, eighteen men and twenty-six women ; in 174D, one woman ; in 1750, two women ; in 175-, one woman ; but some of these soon after seem to have fallen away or withdrawn from the church, or to have been so exercised on the subject of baptism - its modes and subjects - as to have lost their evidenci; as God's children, and failed in the sympathy and cuiniuunion of saints. Then followed councils - live in all - and renewals of covenant and attempts at di>cipline, until it is said that this church really died out and became extinct; but this the Rev. Mr. Emery deiiie.-, and says the church " was so weakened and reduced by the constant agitation of the ([uestiun of baptism that many left and lost their interest ; but at length a Baptist Church of six members was formed." And thus it seems this church was divested of that warring element and its agitators, one of whom was its pastor, the Rev. Isaac Backus.

Rev. Isaac Backus had been chosen pastur of this church March 31, 1748, at which time Jonathan Woods aud Israel Washburn were elected deacons, and Mr. Backus was ordained aud installed April lo, 1748, the ordination sermon being preached by the Rev. Mr. Snow, of Providence. Some time in 174S the framo for a meeting-house was so inclosed and covered that it could be used for public worship. The Rev. Isaac Backus acted as pastor of this church until the IGth of January, 175G, when he, with

Ou Thursday, Oct. 21, 1756, the precinct or parish and Congresational Church at Titicut concurred in their votes to call as their pastor the Rev. Solouiun Reed. Voted to Mr. Reed the use of the pari.sh lands and sixty pounds lawful money for his annual salary. Mr. Reed caoie, and remained as their pastor from 175G to his death. May 7, 1785, or about twenty-eight years.

During the pastorate of Rev. Solomon Reed sevcuty-five baptisms are recorded and one hundred and seven marriages solemnized. Four deacons were at different times chosen, viz., Mr. Fobes, Samuel Keith, Zephaniah Wills, aud Daniel Leach. The third pastor was Rev. David Gurncy, who filled this position from about July, 1787, till his death, July 30, 1815. His pulpit labors commenced here at the date first iiientioued, but he was not ordained until Dec. 5, 1787. His salary was fixed at sixty pounds in cash or farm produce at cash price, and the interest of what the parish lauds liad been sold for. This was afterwards changed from " farm produce" to " corn and rye at cash price." During his pastorate of nearly twenty-eight years seventy persons were admitted lu church membership, and he solemnized one hundred aud thirty-two marriages. Deacons chosen : July 31, 1799, Isaac Perkins; and April 29, 1807, Elijah J'^aton and Isaac Wilbur. Baptism administered to eighty-two, viz., twenty-nine adults and fiftythree infants.

It was during the uiinistry of Rev. Mr. Gurney that a legacy of two thousand dollars was left to this church by Mr. Nicholas Roche, of what was then Middlcboro' (now Lakcville), aud of whom an extended notice is given elsewhere. Rev. Philip Colby was the fourth pastor. He was ordained and installed Jan. 1, 1817, and liere remained until his death, Feb. 27, 1851, a period of thirty-four years. During his pastorate were received one hundred aud seventy-eight persons. lu 1832 voted to renovate, repair, and paiut the old mcetiug-house, and put in an additional number of stoves and build horse-sheds. The first stove used in that meeting-house was a gift from Gen. Shepherd Leach, of Easton ; and at a parish meeting held March 10, 1828, it was "voted to accept the stove."

Concerning the ordination of Rev. Mr. Colby occur the following charges : Voted, " To allow for spirits for ordination $8.90 cents ;" but this does not seem to have been deemed enough, as additional demands were made for spirits, two dollars and thirty-nine cents, and " for spirits not brought into former bill, $2.50 cents," and just how spiritually minded they were upon that occasion may be inferred from the fact that the parish were charged thirteen dollars aud seventy-nine cents for strong drink used. Witli Rev. Philip Colby ends the long pastorates.

Rev. Thomas E. Bliss was pastor from June 2, 1852, to May 15, 1855. He commenced to preach here in November, 1851. Sunday morning, Feb. 28, 1852, the meeting-house was burned. A new house was built that began to be used in June the same year. Rev. Charles Packard was the nest pastor. He was installed Oct. 17, 1855, and he remained until Oct. 22, 1857, or a little more than two years. Then came the Rev. E. G. Little, who as pastor labored with this people from the latter part of 1857 to Sept. 15, 1867.

Next came Rev. Henry L. Edwards, whose engagement commenced March 3, 1868, and continued until the 30th of June, 1873. Then came and filled this pulpit Rev. S. Hopkins Emery, to whom the writer of this article is so largely and deeply indebted for a very large part of the information here presented concerning the Titicut Congregational Church and Parisli.

North Rochester Parish. - The name of North Rochester Parish was given to parts of Middleboro', Rochester, and Freetown set oflF, and by legislative enactment made to constitute a parish in 1793. The north line of this North Rochester Parish, called as fixed upon, perambulated and defined in 1794, Wiis to run from Pocksha Pond, in Middleboro', by the north line of farms then owned by Nehemiah Beniict and .Martin Keith, Eaqs., and thence due east to the line of the town of Carver, thus embracing within the incorporate limits of this North Rochester Parish ijuite a large portion of the southeasterly part of Middleboro'. For the use in public worship of the people of this parish a meeting-house was erected soon after upon a hill near that junction of the roads in North Rochester where once was a tavern, aud where now is kept a post-office, and this bouse, without a steeple or the adornment of paint, stood until within a few years since, when it was demolished to give place to a neat white chapel, erected upon or very near its site, and which chapel is still standing. To give a full and understanding account of religious events and observances iu that part of Middleboro', incorporated in 1793 as a portion of the North Rochester Parish, requires that the writer shall go back to the date uf the incorporation of another parish that covered some part at least of the identical territory, together with some other localities not embraced in the parish iu- corporated iu 1793, and which earlier iiicorpoiation | Ebenezer Keen, Eli.sha Hatch, Joseph Pliinnoy, Nawas known as tlie Third Parish in Rochester and ' thaniel Morton, John Berinet, Steplicn West, William West, Daniel GrifTcth, John Ashley, Thomas West, Jr., John West, Joseph Richiuoud, Elijah Brisrgs, Joshua Crapoo.

-' To Hia Exvelleiiri/, Williaiii Shirleij, Eaij', CajjI. Gimi) .t 'j'otf iit chit:/ iu it over hia MaJ' Piuvince u/ the Afitna^ ^*^y ] J- to y^ IIuiM*' his Miijetitie\ Cininci/ ti: Hoiiie uf liepn^'^^ jlI ; 'J'heir Scgnitniit,

" Tlic Pel" of SuuJiy Inliabil^uiuc ol' ye Town of Kochester, MiUilk-borough, Daitniuulb, .t Tiverton, aliai Fieetouu, Hum- l biy Sbewetb : '

**TbaL wbercas a number of ye Inhabitancu of the First Pro- ; eiiict io Roeliester on ye LM'^ Jay of Octo'^'', 1744, Obtaiiieil an , Onlur of this Iloii^l*-' Court, IiiijjovveriDg them to draw oiit of ye t ^j Prccinet Treasury so mucii aa They are assess'' toward tiie s*^ Preeinct Tax, Jcc., iu order to Support the Publick worship of j God, who iu conjunction with ye rest of us Pet" wiio Live in I ye remote parts &, Corners of the Several towna afores*^, Except souie few who are uneasy respecting ye Ministry where they belong, i as the s*^ parts of s'^ Towns are all Joyning and eun- ' sidcred Together From a convenient Situation for a Parish, The [ centre whereof being already agreed on by us, it is six miles Dist:ince from any other Publick worship, and the Preparation ! already made w'*^ the convcniency & benefit we hope to recicve for Ourselves and Posterity hiitli mov*^ us in this affair,

*' Wherefore your Hon^^* Pe" Pray that we with our Families A Estates, together with those persons belonging to ye Towns afores^, who are willing to Joyn with us within Five years, considering ye Soil of ye vicinity is good ^ a grate Part of il is unsettled, may be Incorporated into a Parish in order for a luore Comfortable S: Convenient Enjoyment of the Publick worship of God. Notwithstauding some of u? are not Voted otf from ye Precinct where we belong, and to do duty X recicve Priviledg in ye Premises as yr Jfon" in yr Grate wisdom Ji. Justice Shall see tit. and yr ilonours' Pet" as ia Duty bound Shall Ever pray."

Alter the petition had been sent Nicholas Crapo and Scth Crapo tiled their names with the provincial secretary in its aid, aud the following-named persons were added to the list of incorporators by act of the General Court: Caleb Blackwell, Ebenezer Lewis, Thomas Swift, Elisha Freeman, Benjamin Peirce,

" In y" Uouse of Rep«", August 2-lth, 1747, Head i Ordered that tlie Pet" Serve the Parishes in P.ochester, .MiiKlleborougb, it Dartmouth, to which they respectively belong, with Copys of this Pel", that they shew cause, if any they have, on the First Friday of the next Siting of this Court wliy Tlic Prayers thereof should not be granted.

" At a Great <t General Court or Asseuibly for their Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, begun i hold at Boston upon Wednesday, the 27lh day of .May, 1 7-4S, .t continued by Adjournment i Prorogation to Wednesday, the 14th of Octof Following, then met. Octo' 23'', 1747.

"John Quinoy, from the Committeo on Petitiun of Divers Inhabitants of Rochester, Middleborough, Dartmouth, .t Freetown, gave in their Report, viz. :

" In Council read i ordered that this report be aeceptud, anil that all the Petitioners except W"" Ashley, Stephen Amlros, and John Barden, belonging to yc Town of Freetown, with their Families Jc Estates, together with such others of the First Parish in Rochester i ye Town of Dartmouth as shall in ya sjtace of Twelve Months from this lime join with Ihciti and return a List of their names unto the Secretary's olliee within that Term, be and hereby are made a Distinct an.l Separate Precinct or Parish accordingly, and vested with such Powers and PrivilcdgeB as other Precincts or Parishes wilhiu this Province do or by luw ought to enjoy, Piuvided the wliuic included in y*^ s** first Pjirish in Rochester do not c.vcecd a Fimrlh part of the ratable Estate of s''.

"To Edward Winslow, Esq., one of his .Maj" Justices of the I Peace for ye County of Plym". We, the Subscribers, liihabij tants of the Thiid Precinct or i^arish in Uoehcslcr, pray that I Pursuant to y^ Law of this province, page 142, you will Im- I power one of us to call y*-' first meeting of s'' Parish, being recently set oQ' by y^ Great JL General Court of this Pi'ovince by tlioir order of Friday, 23, OctC, 1747, herewith pre.-en''.

' That date was evidently old style iu the mode of reckoning time, else the petition would have by several months antedated the iLCt of the Legislature forming the Parish.

.lub^jcriber, by Noalt Sprugue and other iDhubituats of Lite Third Prcciuct or Parish in Rucheater, for a Warrant to call y^ first nieetiiij; of a'^ Preciuct.

" These are Therefore to require Capt. Noah Sprague, one of <d Put", to Notify y*^ Freeholilera anJ other Inhabitants of .s** Precinct ur Parish Qualified by Law to Vote in Pjirish Meettn^::j, that they meet at some Convenient Time Jc place iu i'^ Parish by wri^hting under hiu hand Po>ted in some Pubiick place in ?'^ Parish Fourteen Days before y*^ Day appointed for the Meeting, Fairly Kxpressin-^ in s*^ Warniu;^ vv'td ncedfull to be Transacted at s^ Meeting Agreeable to Law.

" Plym" S.S. Pursuant to a Warrant to Me Directed froui Kdvv^ Wiiislow, Esq*"., one of hiy Maj" Justices of y* Peace for y^" County of Plym":

'- These are Therefore to Notifye &, warn the Freeholders and others Inliabitance of y*^ Third Precinct or Parish in Rochester, Ac. Qualify** by Law to vole in Precinct meeting, to meet at y® New Meetinghuu^'e in s"^ Parish on Tuesday, the 22** Day of March Iii^', at Nine 0' Clock forenoon, to Chuse suuh ParrUh otlicera as n*^ Law Directs, and to Chu^e a Com'" to Supply y° Pulpit.

*' At a Afeetiug of the New Parriah or Precinct fn Kouhestor iL other Towns adjacent Legally warned at y* New Mooting house in Rochester on Tuesday, y® 22"* Day of March, 1747, The a^ Parrisli or Precinct made Choice of Caleb Blackwell Moderator for »** Meeting.

"And at s^ Meeting made choico of Joseph Ashley, Nath Snow, TIio' Wiiitredg, Benj** Rooth, John Peterson, Mark llaakel, & Al'ial lloskins Com"*^ for b^ Parrish the ensewtng year.

"And u* s** Meeting it was moved whether y" Parrish would unite in >eting a Day nppart for Prayers to God for Direction in y« art'airs before us.

"Tbc.-o are to Gi\'u Pubiick Notis to the Inhabitnnee of the Third I'reeinct in Rochester, ic, that they meet together at y* New Meeting hou:<o in a** Parrish on Fiyduy, y® Last Day of Scptcni', [iiat., at one of yo clock in y« after-noon, to cum into some Alea.-ture to treat with Mr. Thomas West about his settlement with us in y*' work of y* Ministry, and to take care to make him Satisfaction for y^ time he Preaches with us.

" At 8** Meeting made choice of Mark Haskel Clerk for a-^ Duy, and at s** Meeting made choice of Caleb Blackwell, Noah Sprague, Natb" Snow, and Mark llaskel a Com"-^ to Treat with Mr. Thomas West about his scttleing with us in y*^ work of the Ministry.

"And voted that the Com"^ ahal ofier Mr. Tho* West two Hundred Pounds old Tenor with the Improvement of y*^ Parrish Farm so called with all y^ appernances yearly.

'* These are to Notify and warn the Inhahitanceof the Third Parrish la Rochester, Xc, to assemble &. meet together on Fryday, the 21"' of this Inat., October, at one o'clock after uuon, at y" Meeting house in h** Parrish, to treat with ih<»sc persons that have Purchased a Farm for y° Minatree ; and to do what may be then Thought Proper in that respect.

''Also to manifest their minds what they will Give Mr. Thomas West by way of a Settlement Time Conveuant; also to do what may be then Thought Proper Respecting y"^ moveing the Meeting House.

" At a meeting of y* Third Parrish in Rochester, itc, on Fryday, y« 21'' Day of Octo', 1748, The Parrish mado choice of Jolin Peterson Moderator for a'* Meeting, and at a** Meeting Deacon Roger Uoskel, Ephruim Haskel, &. Kben** Haskel mado an otfer to y* Parrish that aa they are Purchacers in y" Parrish Farm so called, they will Each of them givo to s*^ Parrish y« Income of one Eleventh part of b'^ Farm as a Free will uttering; Provided the Parriah will Free them from all Taxes to the Parrish so Long aa they continue so to do, iLc; also that if they sell it, the Parrish shall have the Priviledg of Purchasing it at y-" same rate they gave for it.

"And at a'* Meeting Voted to Give Mr. Thomtis West Two Hundred Pounds old Tenor for aSettlcment, Provided he settles with us in y^ work of y*^ Gospel Ministry, to be paid at ye End of Two years.

" And at &<* Meeting John Peterson, Abial Hoskins, & Daniel Higbe was Chosen a Com*^ to treat with those persons that now own y'' Meeting house, to see on what Terms it might be made a Parriah House.

" At a Meeting of the Com**" at y* Housu of Noah Sprugue, October 24, 1748, appointed by j" Parrish at their Meeting of September 30i*», 1748, to Treat with Mr. Thomas West about his settling with us in y* work of y" ministry, it was Found needful to offer to b*i Mr. Thomas West the Fifty pounds old Tenor pr annum in addition to the two Hundred pounds before voted to Ingage him in a^ work. And acordiugly hereby we do it, aa Witness our hands.

*' Mr. ThotiiUH West's Aimioer To the Third Pttrrlnh in Ruvhetter, iic. " Dearly Beloved in our Lord &. Savior Jc:)uj Chri.it, I hartily thank yuu fur tlie respect you havo shewa [qc in tlic i:ull you liave Given me to Settle aiiion;^ you in the work of llic Gus|*ol Ministry, iL for the otfers you have made me for my Iiicuurageuient, viz., of two Hundred I'ounds old Tenor us a Free Gift and of the Iiuproveujcnt of the Parriah Farm (ao caJit'd), and of Two Huudred iL Fifty Pounds old Tenor pr. annuiu :nj Lung a^ I ?liall continue your minister.

*' And 1 do, upon mature JL Prayerful! conjideratioii, by Ihcae Presents, accejit of your eall, A, us I think, of y« call of <jud, and of your otters aa aforeaaid, Even to aettlc anion;^ you as your Pastor and Teacher, Provided tliere shall be in Due time a Chuich Gathered aiiiou-^ you, aecordinj; to the rules of tlie Gospel, which ahull Freely <Su unanimously make choice of me ad Their Pastor, und tiie Parrish shall concur with their choice, according to y" Laws of this Province. Aud now, bejjing your Prayers to God for mo, I am your real Friend aud Servant in the Gospel of Christ, our Dear Uudeemer.

"That they uieet together at y*^ Nevf Meeting houjie in s"^ Parri:^h on y^ Tentli Day of this Inot., Nov., at lU o'clock In >-= forenoon, to licar the report of the Com. that was to treat with those persons that built t'^ House, and to see if s^ House may be tlie Parrish House, and if it becomes the Parrish House, to set the time when to go to work about removing it. And if it do not become tbe Parrish House, to cum into Some Measures about Building a new one, and also to do any thing that may be tbot proper at s"^ Meeting.

atfair, report as followeth, viz.. That Noah Sprague will give one-<^{uarter of his in s'* house to s'J Parrish ; y^' Widdo Holmes gives in y" same manner; Nicholas Snow Si Nath" Snow give ! their right to s*^ Parrish ou condition that they are at no charge in removing it and seting it up aa fur us y*-' same materials will admit: Thomas Whitridg gives his right to s'l Parrish; Mark Haskel gives his right, being that part that was Ellas Miller's, to y*-' Parrish, provided it stands between tlie cross- ' road by Tbo" Ashley's k Whitfield's; Tho^ Ashley gives his right on same conditions ; iVter Crapo gives accoidingly.

" Com'^-, " At s^ Meeting the Question was put, Whether the Parrish i will accept of s^ House on y^ terms as is reported ; it pasv' in y*^ Negative.

j " On a Motion made Jc seconded, y*-* above Vote was reconsidered. And voted to accept of y« Meeting House as a Parri.-h j IIou/>e on y« Terms as was reported, .lud at v' Meeting voted i that Monday be tbe day to begin to take down ,t move \ '^ I Meeting House.

'- And at s'i Meeting, voted that Noah Sprague, .lu-.-ph A^h- I ley, John Peterson, Mark Haskel, and Jetliro A.^hky be a Com**-' to Pitch on a Convenient spot of ground to Sett y- Meeting House on between the cross-road by Tliu^ AsblcyS and Mr. ' Whitfield's.

" At a Meeting of y« 0^ Church in Rochester, Xc. on Friday, ( y Twelfth Day of May, .\.D. 1740, The above answers wen- read .t accepted by y« Church.

" In porsuanoe Whereof, at a meeting uf y*^ o'' Parrish in Rochester, Ac, ou Munday, ye 26 Day of .September, 174'J, Legally Warned, Tbe Question was put whether the Parrish will assign one-Eighth part of s** Parrish Meeting H<mse for y"-' use of tbe h^ Indians to attend the Publick Worship in, upwn condition the Commissrs for propagating y^" Gosfiel among y- Indians will pay one-eighth part of y cost of s'* House to ^ ' P:irri.-ih on orders, Estimating s*^ House when Fini.-hed at Eight Hundred pounds old Tonor, and it pass' in the allirniative.

Tlie parisli records from which were copied the forcgoiiij; fueta coucernin^ ihe Third Parish of Rochester, aud the adjoiniug towus of MiJdleboro', Dartmouth, Hod Freetown, were very iutelligibly and concisely kept from March 22, 1747. to Marcii 18, 1783, or about ten years prior to the date when the present Nortli Rochester Parish, part of which is in Middlcboro', was incorporated, and those records are deemed to be tile bust and most reliable evidence now extant of the early religious condition of that part of Middleburo' now within the North Rochester Parish, and this is the excuse now offered why the same have been so liberally copied and extensively used in connection with the history of the North Rochester Parish.

The Central Congregational Church. - This religious body was organized in the meeting-house of the Fir>t Precinct, March 25, 1847, and at its formation consisted of thirty-three members, all of whom were, at their own request, dismissed from the First Congregational Church in Middleboro', aud cordially recommended for the enterprise. They built au elegant place of public worship at the Four Corners Village in 1S49, and on the lljth of August of that year Rev. Isaiah C. Thacher was installed pastor ; Horatio G. Wood, Ebenezer Pickens, and James D. Wilder were chosen deacons.

The additions to this church were: In 1847, three; 1848, four; 1849, ten; 1S50, forty five; 1851, ten; aud iu 1S52, five; and the names of the original members, together with those added from year to year, were as follows :

Rev. Isaiah C. Thacher, the first pastor of this church, was a graduate of Union College in 1841. He had been settled in the tiospel ministry at Mattapoi-sett before coming to Middleboro'.

The Separatist Church. - As one of the direct results of the preaching of Rev. George Whitefield in this country came a division in the Congregational Church of New England, which separation or division has widened until it is now principally noticeable in the two sects termed Trinitarian and Unitarian Congregationaliats. But all who at that time left the " Old Light" Congregationalists did not go with the other branch of that church, as some became Culvinistic Baptists, and some stopped a step short of that, calling themselves simply " Separatists" or " Comeouters" from the Congregationalists.

At least one Separatist Church was formed in Middleboro', and remained a distinct religious assembly until the death of its minister, when it ere long became merged in the Second Calvinlstic Baptist Church, then in Middleboro' (now Lakeville). The place of public worship of that Separatist Church was at " Beech Woods," so called, and they appear to have purchased a church edifice standing in East Freetown, and removed it to Beech Woods, iu Middleboro', which house of public worship finally came to be occupied by the Second Calvinistic Baptist Church of Middleboro', and was thus used as a place of public worship until May 19, 1798, when it was accidentally destroyed by fire, that at the same time

Tliat church edifice burned IMay 19, 1798, was built near tlie site of the former residence of tlie late Rev. George Tyler, in East Freetown, and removed to Boech Wood.s, tlien in Middleburo' (now in Lakevillo), between the years 1741! and 1751. At a subseciueut date the Calvinittic Baptists put up a inectiiiLi-liouse in East Freetown, nearer the line of New Bedlord, which came to be called the "Elder Abner Lewis meetinghouse," that was long since demolished, and this explanation is given that the reader may not mistake one for the other, or suppose these church edifices to have been identical.

Of that Separati.-it Church at Beech Woods Rev. James Mead was ordained paator Oct. 3, 1751, and he died Oct. 2, 1750. These Separatists joined with the people who sat under the preaching of Rev. Ebeuezor Iliuds, and he was ordained the pastor of those united bodies of people Jan. 2G, 1758. At a council held at Titicut May 27, 1752, the Separatist Church at Beech Woods was represented by Rev. James Mead and Deacon William Smith.

The Calvinistic Baptists. - That very prolific writer, Rev. Cotton Mailier, of Boston, is our autliority for saying that many of tlie first or earliest European Settlers of Massacliusetts were Baptists, and to tliis he added that " they were as holy, and watchful, and fruitful, and heavenly a people as perhaps any in the world." The position occupied by Rev. Cotton Mather was not at all calculated to prejudice his mind in favor of the Calvinistic Baptists as a religious denomination, but, on the contrary, against it ; and hence a compliment of this kind, coming from his pen, may justly be considered as praise of the highest order.

The oldest Baptist Church in America is that in Providence, R. L, formed in 1639, and the oldest in Masrtachus-etts is that in Swansea, formed in 1GG3. The Second Baptist Church of Ma.'isachusetts in point of afire is at Boston, organized in IGtJo.

Calvinistic Bapii>t Churches were formed in different parts of Ma.-isacliusctts before the close of the seventeenth century, ;is follovvs: Tiverton, then in i\lassachusetts, but now in Rhode Island, in KiSS; Chilmark, in 1C93; and a second church at Swansea, in 1(193.

The earliest formation of Calvinistic Baptist Churches in Massachusetts in the eighteenth century were the following: South Brinifield, in 173G ; Leicester, 1738; Second in Boston, 1743; Bcllingham, 1750; Rehoboth, 1753; First in Middleboro', in 175G; Second in Middleboro' (now Lakeville), in 1757; and the third in Middleboro', 17G1.

** I went curly to pour out my soul to God, an J wa^ enatluj to rust all ujy alVitira wilU biui, and espucialty tiiu wuik ul' lliid day, for nouo of tlie elders that were aunt for were yut cuiiie, and I found a measure of willingness to leave the case with the Loni to sen<l whom lie pleased.

'* Nut lon^ after came Elder Ltouiid and Deacon Culllus from the Baptist Church in Boston, and Elder liuund and Est|uiie Bullock and Joshua Briggs, brethren from the ;!!ecoud liiiptist Church in Rehoboth.

'* And they proceeded to read the letters from us and their churches* answer thereto, and enibodied into a council and oliosti Elder Hound Moderator, ami Elder Bound Clerk ; atid after inquiring into the priueiples aud standing b(jth of the ehureb and uiyself, and of our coming together in this relation, they declared themselves satistieil therewith.

**Then these two elders laid on hands, and ICtdcr Uuund mado the first prayer and gave the charge, and Elder Itfiund gave the Right Hand of Fellowship and made the last prayer.

A revival of religion was felt in this first Baptist Ciiureh, which began in the latter part of 1778, and immediately preceding which the Rev. Mr. Backus said that for five years " coldness aud stupidity had greatly prevailed therein." 'That revival," said the same authority, " was at its height in July, 1780." Mr. Backus continued: "The first person added to the church in this revival was on February 28, 1779," aud ere long tlie number received had increased to eii;hty-tive, about two-thirds of whom were residents of Biidgcwater, and in which town a huge Baptist meeting-house was soon after built, and the hi.-tory of this church is, perhaps, in fact, as much, or even mure, a part of the liistory of Bridgewater than of Middleboro', although those who assembled for worship in that large lueetiug-house became a separate body of worshipers, and employed another minister, while still constituting a branch of this first C.dviuistie Baptist Church.

Of this church, Mr. Backus said that, at its tbrniatioo, " it was tlie only Baptist Church iu an exteut of country of above a iiunJred miles long, - from BelrniL;ham to the euJ of Cape Cod, and near fifty miles wide betweeu Bostou aud Kehoboth."

Their uumber was small for many years, though tliey bad some reviving from time to time, until such a work came on iu 1779 as increased their number iu three years from fifty-nine to one hundred and thirtyeight. Aud in forty years they buried tliirty-four, dismissed sixty-one, and excluded twelve, while DJuety-oue members remained.

" Scveu members of this church," said Backus, have been ordaiued to the work of the gospel ministry, namely : James Mellen, Abner Lewis, Asa Hunt, Elijah Codding, Job Macomber, Samuel Nelson, aud David Leonard, the last of whom was ordained as an itinerant, December 17, 1794." Rev. Isaac Backus, the first pastor of this church, died at his post and while still engaged in the work of the gospel ministry, having " never changed or wished to ciiange his place."

"As It Christian and Minister the character of this man was truly eon^))ieuous. As pa.'^tor of u ctturcb iu this town, fur liftyeij^lit years, he was ciiiineutly useful aud beloved, lli.-^ domestic aud relative duties, as a husband and parent, were disehur;^ed with lidelity, tenderness, and atfeetiou. His y.eal and persevering iniiu.-try in the cause of civil and relij^ious liberty, tltrtiuj^h a lung laburioua life, is still manifest in bis writings as an Historian of tbe I>aptist denominatiou, and defender of the truths of the ductrinc of Christ. Having uniformly borne testimony in his life, conversation, and ministry, of his ardent love to his Divine .Master and the ditctrino of the Cross, in an advanced uge he was called from his beloved charge, and numerous Christian friends and bretbrea, to sleep in Jesus, and bis spirit into the garner of bis heavenly Father, as a shock of corn fully ripe.

Concerning this First Baptist Church in Middleboro' the Rev. S. Hopkins Emory, while pastor of the Congregational Church at Titicut, North Middleboro', remarked, -

** A large number of ministers have gone forth from this, the First Baptist Cbureli of Middlcborougb, which has well earned the title not only of mother of churches but of mother of ministers; the list being as follows; James Mellen, Abner Lewis, Asa Hunt, Elijah Codding, Job Macomber, Samuel Nelson,

"The last named recently died, having hlled with great promise of usefulness and euiinence in bis profession tbe othce of jtrofessor of Ecclesiostical History to Madison University, Hamilton, N. Y., deeply lamented by all who Inul watched itis progress, and had such high hopes concerning his future."

An ancient queen when inquired of concerning her jewels is said to have pointed proudly to her cliildren aud said, "These are my jewels;" and in this attempt to write the history of this mother of Calvinistic Baptist Churches, and as Rev. Mr. Emory trutblully adds, the mother al.so of Calvinistic Baptist ministers, may we uot be excused for occupying some space in this publication in giving brief notices of several of these, her children, bright jewels in the crown of her everlasting rejoicing.

He was the second pastor of the Baptist Church at Brimfield, which Rev. Isaac Backus iufurms us was the first or earliest church of this denominatiou gathered within the limits of Hampshire County, it having been formed Nov. 4, 1736, Rev. Ebenczer Moulton being the same day ordained as its pastor.

James Mellen was the immediate successor of Mr. Moulton in the ministry at Brimfield. Sir. Mellen was ordaiued pastor of the Brimfield Baptist Church Sept. 11, 1765.

Mr. Backus further wrote concerning Mr. Mellon, " ilo was a faithful and successful pastor until lie finished his course in a joyful munuer Aug. 5, 1709.''

Abner Lewis was born in Middleboro', March 16, 1745, and joined the First Baptist Church of this town in 1705, or when he was about twenty years of age, and began to preach in 1770, improving bis gifts at East Freetown as early as 1773, his labors there being blessed.

A Calvinistic Baptist Church was formed in East Freetown Sept. 13, 1775, of which Abner Lewis was ordained pastor June 26, 1776. Here his ministerial labors were so successful that four years later this church had increased to oue hundred and twenty-eight luembers, and had erected a church edifice near what is now known as the '- county road," and not far from the line that divides Freetown from New Bedford.

"'The publio difBoulties in the country, with the unhappy temper of some of the members of tbe church, caused Mr. Lewis to ask a disinissioo from them, which be obtained in August, 17 34.

** * Ttie behavior of some in tbi^ cburcii bas cnujfeJ a niimbtr tu uai^ UDii receive Uisuii^^^ious from it tu utber cburclie:>, wliilu iouie have died and others removed away, uutii tbey have becuiuc very 5Uiall/ - aod to this tealimuuy of the trutliful Eaekus we ean now, with eijual truth, add that thia bouse, thus ' divided against itself,' so fell tliat not only was one stone not left ujion another, but in the locality where it ouce existed and tlourished nearly all knowledge of its history is lost io forgctfulness and bulled iu ubliviun. From Noveiuber, 17^U, to Septenibei', 17'JJ, Rev. Abner Lewis was pastor of tlie North Baptist Church in Attlcborouyh. ile traveled and j)reaelicil in various places, and for a tiuie filled a pulpit in Harwich, on Cape Cod,

-* Asa Hunt was born at liraintree, Maas., in July, 1744. He preached for a tirue in Kaynharu, and WUS ordained [lastor of the Third Calvinistie Uaptist Church iu iliddleborough, Oct. .10, 1771. His ordin.atiun sermon was preached by Rev. Isaac Uachus, from - Cor. iii. chap, fi verse, * Wlio alstj bath luatle us able uiiniutera of the new tcstaincul; nut of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit givcth life' The sermon was published under the title of ' Evangelical Ministers described and distinguished frora Legalibta.' Backus' history informs that the Third Baptist Church in Middleborougb gave the Kev. Asa Hunt ' a good place for a settlement, beside the use of the Uliniateriat lot.'

-' His preaching was acceptable, . . . and such u work of the .Spirit of God began among them in March, 1780, as caused the addition of one hundred and thirteen meutbers to their church by September, 17SU, wbeu they bad one hundred and ninetyfour in all.

" But in time of gicat changes in our country about money and worldly property, Mr. Hunt entangled himself so much in the alfairs of this life as caused much unhappiness, and he in- Slated upon a dismission from bis church, which they granted, though with reluctance, in December, 17S'J.

'* Ho had been on a journey into Virginia (where he preached to good purpose! the year before, and he traveled into New Jersey and Pennsylvania after his dismission, but he never removed hia family.

*' lie was called to visit bis eldest son, who was sick with the dysentery in the college at Providence, where the fattier was seized with the same distemper and died there Se|it. 2U, 17U1."

Elijah Coddioj; was the successor of Rev. James Melluii as pastor of tlie Baptist Church in lirinifield, where he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry Nov. 11, 1773. Backus says of Rev. Elijaii Codding and iiis ministry, " And tliough it was a low time with them at South Brimticid for some years, yet such a heavenly shower was granted iu 1779 as increased their numbers from twenty-three to two hundred and thirty-six in four years."

Job Macombcr was the son of a Congregational deacou in Jliddleburo', but he became a member of the First Calvini.stic Baptist Church of that town iu 1772, and by preaching began to piomulgate its doctrines and advocate its faith and practices only two years later, lie preaclied for a time at New Gloucester, in what is now the State of Maine. A Calvinistie Baptist Church was formed at Bowdoiuliam, Mc, May 24, 1784, of which Mr. Macombcr was ordained pxitor Aug. 18, 1784.

wife, Elizabeth Rowland, and born in that part of Middleboro' which in 1853 was set ufl' and incorporated as a new town called Lakcville,' April G, 174S. His brothers, William Nelson, born July IS. 1741, and Ebenczer Nelson, born Oct. 211, 17^3, were al-o Calvinistie Baptist ministers, and bis brutlier, Anjns Nelson, born in 1743, was a deacnu. Samuel Nel.iun was a grandson of Thomas Nel.-oii, who is said to have been the first or earliest resident of Middluboii/ who became a Baptist, and joined the church of that j denomination in Swansea, many years before any I Baptist Church was gathered in Middlcburu'. ITupe I Nelson, the grandmother of Samuel, was also a B;i[i- I ti->(, and she joined the Bajiti.st Cliuich at Swan.-ea, j Aug. 5, 1723, and communed at the Luid's laliN; I witli the Seeoud Baptist Church in MidJIuboru' ^n^lW I Lakeville) when she was more than a hundred years old, and at the date of her death - viz., Dee. 7, 17S2 - had attained to the remarkable age of one hundred and five years, six months, and twenty days, her lineal descendants at that lime numbering about three hundred and thirty-seven persons. A most remarkable " Mother in Israel" was she.

Samuel Nelson was the successor of Rev. Asa Hunt in the pastoral office to the Third Calvinistie Baptist Church in Middleboro', where Mr. Nelson commenced his labors some time during the month of May, 1793, and of the condition of that church spiritually, and of the community in which it was located morally, when those labors were commenced, the historian Backus bore testimony as follows : "The church waa in low circumstances, and young people got to be .so extravagant in vanity that they could hardly be kept civil in times of public worship. " And in the beginning of the next month such a divine influence was granted that old Christians became all alive in religion, and such a concern for the soul and eternity appeared among old and young through all the busiest time iu the summer that they had frequent crowded meetings in season and out of season without the least disturbance from vain persons, which before were so troublc^oinc."

Mr. Saiuuel Nelson was ordained pastor of the Third Calvinistie Baptist Chuich in Sliddleboro' Jan. 16, 1794, and within the year following about thirty persons were added to this church. Rev. Samuel Nelson continued to be the minister of this church until his death, that called him from the field of his faithful labors to the place of rewards, Sept. 9,

' The legal voters of what is now Lakeville had votcil hy a decided majority to call their town Nelson, but tliis being discouraged by the members of that family for whom the honor was intended, it was afterwards changed tu the name it now bears.