Townsend Town (part 2 of 7)

"Whereas Col. Josiah Willard, Joseph Stevens, Thomas Phillips by his attorney Isaac Farnsworth, Josiah Willard of Boston Esq., by his attorney Josiah Willard Esq., William Lawrence and yourself, one of the proprietors of the common and undivided lands in Townshend aforesaid, have made application to me Benjamin Prescott Esq. one of His Majesties Justices of the Peace for the county of Middlesex aforesaid for a Warrent for the callingof a meeting of the proprietors of the common and undivided lands to be held at the Public Meeting House in Townshend aforesaid on the last Monday of July current at eleven of the clock in the forenoon, to the end that being dulv mett and formed they may then and there elect and choose a clerk lor the proprietors aforesaid. Also agree upon and order the laying out into lotts and dividing the land remaining undivided in said town, to and amongst the proprietors aforesaid, or such part thereof and in such a way and manner as may be thought best and be agreed on, and choose and empower proper persons for a committee to manage and perform the same, and give them such instructions and directions for their proceedings therein as shall be thought tit.

"Also to hear and examine the claims of the proprietors aforesaid to any interest in the undivided lands aforesaid, and if they see cause to choose a committee for that purpose, and also order proper records to be made up of the grants and rights of lands in said Town.

"Also to hear and examine the accompts of the several committees or persons employed for or in behall of the proprietors aforesaid for their trouble or expense in or about any of the proprietors' business, and of any mone}' resting in their hands due to the proprietors, and order payment of any money that may be found due to any person for any service by them done for the proprietors, and choose and empower proper persons to call and oblige any person so employed to render such accompt if need be. Also to agree upon and appoint some proper way and method for calling and warning proprietors meetings in Townshend for the future upon any proper occasion.

"These are therefore in His Majesties name to require and command you to notify the Proprietors of the common and undivided land in Townshend aforesaid that they convene and meet at the time and place above mentioned, then and there when met and formed according to law, to proceed, conclude, determine and linish the several matters and things above mentioned as the occasion and business of the said meeting, and to the end the proprietors aforesaid may have tiie better knowdedge of the said meeting you shall post up a Notification in Writing expressing the time, Place and Occasion aforesaid of the said meeting in some public place in Townshend aforesaid, fourteen days before the day appointed for the meeting as aforesaid.

superior mental endowments and of commanding appearance." He was the father of Col. William Prescott, who was partly in command at the battle of Bunker Hill. He represented Groton most of the time from 1724 till his death. In 1724, he was a justice of the peace, then only tw^enty-eight years old, afterwards he was a justice of the peace and quorum, and in 1735, he was appointed a judge in the superior court. "In 1738, the year of his death, he was appointed to represent the Province at the court of Great Britain, which office he declined, giving as a reason that he had never had the small-pox. Hon. Edmund Quincy w^as appointed in his stead and died in his mission, of the same disease which Mr. Prescott so much feared would prove fatal to himself. By over-exertion in saving some hay from a shower, he became surfeited, and died in August, 1738, in his forty-third year.'"* This gentleman had much influence in encouraging the settlement of North Town. His judgment w^as almost always consulted in matters affecting proprietary interests. His lands were on Nissequassick Hill.

Daniel Taylor lived on the west side of the road leading from the Harbor to Lunenburg, about half a mile southerly of the garrison previousl}' mentioned. The house he occupied during the latter part of his life, which he built, one of the oldest in town, weather beaten and corroded by the tooth of time, is still standing and occupied. The lands, on both sides of the road, belonging to this estate have been sold piecemeal, with the exception of about four acres on which this old unpainted liouse stands.

It was once elegant, costly in its finish and eligible in its location. Joy at the advent of the helpless infant, the solemn words"! do" and "I will"' at the marriage, and the suppressed moaning of the survivor of the departed, have all been echoed by the shrunken panels on those quaint old rooms. He owned land in fourteen different places in this town, besides being possessed with a good amount of property. He owned more slaves than any other person in town. There were then here five or six families who had negro servants.*

Capt. Taylor, "of the training band," buried three wives, leaving the fourth a widow at his decease in 1783. One of his daughters, by his second wife, Sarah, married Deacon Daniel Adams, in 1772, and was the mother of Daniel Adams, M. D., author of the Scholar's Arithmetic.

Isaac Spaulding, came from Chelmsford, and bought the proprietary right of his oldest brother. Deacon Andrew Spaulding, who was also one of the original proprietors of New Ipswich, New Hampshire. He settled on the south side of the Harbor pond. He was a man of influence and the first Deacon of the church in Townsend, being one of the selectmen several times. The place where his son Jonathan settled, near the southeast corner of the town, was Andrew Spaulding's second division, and it still remains in the same family, the present being the fifth generation :

Isaac, Jonathan, Jonathan, Jonatlian, Sarah H., the present occupant and one of the heirs. This and the Emerv phice are the only locations in this town known to have remained in the hands of the descendants of the first settlers. Zackeriah Emery, hroke the wilderness. Zackeriah, John, Joel, and Charles, the only male heir. Deacon John. Spaulding, (died 1866, aged 72,) was a great-grandson of Deacon Isaac. These Spauldings are and were a robust, intelligent people, honest and upright in every particular, and somewhat noted for their longevity. Without doubt, more persons by the name of Spaulding have been born in Townsend and made it their "continued abiding place," than those of any other name.

"The Spaulding Memorial," a book recently published and in the possession of many by that name, renders it unnecessary to pursue further any notice of persons of that name. The Townsend Spauldings are all descended from Deacon Isaac Spaulding.

It may be considered unimportant b}' some readers and critics, that so much has been said in this work concerning the tirst settlers of this goodly town. But when distant generations shall come and ask of the past, and search lor traces of their pilgrim ancestry, local historv now extant, every sketch in the annals of any town whether small or great, wherever located, and by whomsoever settled, will be perused with iresh interest. In reviewing the povertv and hardships of our forefathers, it would be well to consider some of the advantagrs within their reach. One thing especially favorable to them was the pro(lucti\'eness of the soil, never before laid under contribution by the husbandman. This \\as "Turkey Hills, North Town." Wild game was abundant, wliich. together with the cattle, swine, and sheep, made our ancestors a carnivorous, rather than a "carnally minded" people. Of wild beasts, the onl}- one particularly inimical to their interests, was the wolf. A price was set upon his head for years. The Indians and the wolves expected no quarter from the settlers, there being considerable difference in the price paid for the heads (or scalps) of each. Capt. Lovewell and his men received one hundred pounds for every Indian scalp wherever taken, while the bounty paid by the settlers was "ten pounds, old tenor, for every wolf killed within the borders of the town, during the year."

Certain persons were chosen annually to fire the woods to destroy the trees, that grass and luxuriant plants might spring up for cattle, sheep, and horses. Swine ran free, preying indiscriminately on nuts, acorns, and berries.

The method of travelling in those times, was somewhat slower and surer than was either pleasant or convenient. Oxen hitched to an awkward, clumsy, two-wheeled vehicle, as an apology for a cart, were used to convey parties to church, to weddings and evening entertainments, whenever the roads were suitable for that kind of locomotion. Should the objective point be at a distance, and the "way" rough, horseback travel was the style. Two or three persons would go to church riding on the same horse. The husband, wife, and one or two children, would mount from a horse-block, when, all would "go up to worship" in a "tabernacle," rude and uncouth, yet "how amiable" to these parents. The library of most every family, except the "learned orthodox minister of good conversation," consisted of the Bible, the Psalter, a few pamphlets, and some well read religious books. As manufacturers, it can only be remarked that the use of the spinning-wheel, brought over bv the settlers of Londonderry, New Hampshire, in 1 7 19, must have been known and used generally by these people. Their implements of husbandry and agriculture must have been extremely unhandy, and continued so for a long time. The exemplar}-, moral character, of these descendants of the pilgrims, must not be overlooked. Our ancestors not only believed in integrity of character, but thev lived as they believed. * Bancroft bears this testimony to the early character of New England, in whose honor it is our right to share, that "the purit}" of morals completed the picture of colonial felicity. One might dwell there from 3'ear to year and not see a drunkard, or hear an oath, or meet a beggar. I have dwelt," he adds, "the longer on the character of the early puritans of New England, for they are the parents of one-third of the white population of the United States. Their descendants (in 1834), numbered not far from lour millions. Each family has multiplied, on an average of one thousand souls."

At the first legal meeting of the proprietors, called by Benjamin Prescott, July 31, 1732, Edward Sherman was chosen moderator, and Jasher Wyman, clerk.

"Voted to proceed to a third division of land in said town and lay out to each proprietor sixty acres of land and qualify the same, excluding all meadows, and that Timothy Heald, Shadrack Whitney, Jasher Wyman, Ens. Jonathan Page, Joseph Baldwin, Amos Whitney, and Daniel Ta}-lor, be a committee to lay out said lands, and that each proprietor draw for his lot when laid out."

propriety, of all the swale lands or meadows in the town. Lands are designated in the records in three different w^ays : ''His original or house lot which bears No. - " &c., "His Second," "Third," "Fourth," &c., "division lot," and "His meadow lot," the last of which were sometimes in parcels as small as three acres. There were one hundred and sixty grantees under the proprietors, some having lands in ten or twelve different parts of the town. There are about seven hundred and fifty titles to land in town to be found among these records. At the same meeting, July 31st: -

"Chose a committee to examine the claims of the proprietors." "Adjourned to the first Tuesday in November next." At the adjourned meeting, "chose a committee to examine the accompts of the several committees that have been betrusted with any business for the proprietors."

Josiah Willard, Esq., and Lieut. William Lawrence "were added to the committee to lay out the third division." A vote was also passed whereby any five proprietors, petitioning their clerk in writing, could call a meeting of the proprietors. In June, 1733, "the committee chosen to examine the accounts of the several committees and persons employed in and about the several services done for the proprietors of said town," reported that the proprietors were in debt one hundred and four pounds.

Whereupon "Voted to assess a tax of one hundred and fifty pounds, to be proportioned according to each proprietors' respective interest, and to be appropriated in paying the above mentioned sum of one hundred and four pounds and other necessary charges."

At this meeting, "Voted also by said proprietors, that they would allow and have allowed, unto Henry Parker and Henry Richardson, who built the meeting house in said town the sum of fifteen pounds to ease their hard bargain in building said meeting house, to be paid to them out of the proprietors' stock."

Voted, "that John Stevens, Amos Whitney, and Nathaniel Richardson, be a committee to inspect the commonand undivided land in order to preserve the timber for the benefit of the proprietors."

"Voted that the selectmen of the town be empowered to lay out places convenient to the meeting house for building horse stables, so they may the least incommode the common."

These equestrians housed their horses quite snugl}- closing the doors of these "stables" against the wintry storms, while they, themselves, their wives and daughters, were engaged in worship in a building almost as rayless, chilly and forbidding as were the buildings in which they left their beasts of burden. They scarcely needed a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, when the horses were so much better cared for, in proportion, than were the members of their own families.

Meetings of the proprietors for the first ten years afl:er the incorporation of the town, called by their clerk, by posting notices or warrants in the public places at Groton, and Concord, besides "a notice placed on one of the pillars of the State House at Boston," were frequent. There were only occasional meetings for the last half of the century, ending December 31, 1799, and then only for selling and locating the limited amount of lands not previoush' conveyed.

The last meeting of the proprietors was called "at the dwelling house of John Shipley inn-holder in Townsend Sept i6 1822," more than one hundred years after the line was run between Groton and North Town.

John Shipley's tavern was the same building that is now used for a hotel at Townsend Harbor, and it has been a public house ever since. At this meeting, among other acts, "Voted to close our proprietors' matters and to have our book of records and plan deposited with the town as prescribed by law in such cases.

The committee appointed bv the Assembly- "to allott and grant out" North Town were among the influencial men of the province. Francis Fullam, the clerk of this committee, made some mistakes at their first meeting. "Bartholemew of Worcester," should have been Bartholemew Jones of Worcester, and again, "Stephen Richard for his son Joseph," should have been Stephen Richardson for his son Joseph. There were seven Richardsons. grantees here before 1737 (proprietors' records), among which we find the name of "Stephen Richardson for his son Joseph" in the index of said records. There undoubtedly w^as considerable enthusiasm and good feeling on that May morning when the committee met, at the old town of Concord, to do this work. The noise attending this unusual gathering, the large number present, together with the surroundings of Jonathan Hoberd's "inn," might have been the cause of these and other unhnportant errors. It may be of interest to some to know the fact that the kind of Nathaniel Colburn, the servant of John Hunt, of Concord, the original proprietor, was in part, the farm now owned by the heirs of the late Joseph Haynes, deceased. From this and other circumstances, we may infer that the relations existing between master and slave, in this province, one hundred and fifty years ago, must have been much more creditable to the "superior race," than was that slavery made null and void by the great rebellion.

These men possessed a fair amount of literarv ability, and the records which they made will compare very favorably in every particular with those of their contemporaries in our neighboring towns.

At a meeting of the proprietors in January, 1775, - "Voted to dismiss Mr. Jonathan Wallace as proprietors' clerk, and have chosen James Locke in his room," and at the same meeting - "At the request of Jonathan Wallace it was put to vote to dismiss him in all the offices he sustained in the propriety of Townshend as a committee man, and chose Mr. Lemuel Petts in his room in all said offices." Tiiis was from political motives as will be explained further along in this work.

leave town," tendered his resignation (1786), whereupon the proprietors passed the following, which is the only complimentary vote in their whole records : -

"Voted the thanks of this propriety be returned to Mr. James Locke, late clerk, for all his good services, and that Mr. Daniel Clark be a committee to inform him thereof."

There thus appears a great disparity between the popularity of these two men, whereas one might have been equally honest as the other. Mr. Locke had but little to do as clerk, "the heat and burden of the day"" being borne by Wyman and Wallace.

Meetings were often adjourned from time to time, so that moderators frequently presided at a meeting a year or two from the time of their election.

December 6, 1737, "a township east of the Monadnock hills, on the southern branch of Contoocook river," was granted to Samuel Hay ward, and others, of Concord. This township was afterwards principally owned by Peter

Prescott,* of Concord, who was a large landholder and speculator. To the influence of Concord men may be traced much of the success of Townsend when taking its place among the towns of "the Massachusetts Bay."

Our limits forbid anything further concerning the settlers and founders of this town, quite a number of whom were military men, some holding commissions under the King, and again under the Commonwealth, when our independence was the objective point.

Something of an incomprehensible character comes down to us from these bold and intrepid men. They appear almost within the environment of romance, rather than struggling for homes where they could enjoy ''freedom to worship God." Some barrier, alwa3's overcome, generally interposed between them and success. A wilderness w^as displaced, and in its stead Ceres and Pomona smiled in the sunlight. A savage foe lurked around their cabins and garrisons, but "the annointed children of education were too powerful for the tribes of the ignorant."" And when, after a long time, they began to enjoy the fruits of their labors, and hymns of gratitude ascended from their altars, their king taxed them beyond their endurance and compelled them to draw the sword. Then came "the tug of war," in which they were again victorious. Would that the photographer's art could reach back and give us the forms and features of these brave men. But like the knights of olden time : -

* Tradition 8ay.s that Peter Prescott, dining the time he passed at Peterborough lived in a semi-subterranean cave, snugly ensconced in an abiiipt hillside with a sunny outlook: and that his Concord friends, and the land speculators, would talk about '-Ppter's burrow," of "going up to Peter's burrow," - hence Peterborough or the name of the town.

Ecclesiastical History

Settlement of Rev. Pliiuehas Hememvay. the First Minister of Townsend - Memoir of him by Rev. Mr. Temple - Cliurch Covenant written by Mr. Hemenway - Aceonnt of Servants (negroes) belonging to the Church - Church Discipline - Owning the Covenant - New Lights - Character of Mr. Hemenway - His Death - Settlement of Rev. Samuel Dix - Account of liis Pastorate - Sample of his Eloquence - Action of the Church at the decease of Rev. Mr. Dix - Ordination of Rev. David Palmer - Character of Mr. Palmer as an Educator - The Unitarian Excitement and Withdrawal of Mr. Palmer from the Town Meeting-house - Account of the Latter Part of his Life - Pastorate of AVilliam M. Rogers - Pastorate of Columbus Shumway - Pastorate of David Stowell - Pastorate of Luther H. Sheldon - Pastorate of E.W. Cooke - Pastorate of Moses Patten - Pastorate of George H. Morss - Pastorate of Henrj' C. Fay - Ordination of Albert F. Newton - Names of the Deacons - The Unitarians and Their Ministers - The Methodists.

These descendants of the pilgrims, as soon as possible, placed themselves within the sound of the gospel. Unfortunately for the writer, the records of the town, for the hrst two years after its incorporation, are lost ; so that it is impossible to give as full and particular account of the settlement of our tirst "learned, orthodox minister," as is desirable.

There is no record of the dedication of this building. Neither do we know who were the candidates who came to speak to these people, who were about to establish a cinirch here. Tradidon informs us that the setders, before they had a minister, were accustomed to go to Groton on the sabbath to hear Rev. Mr. Trowbridge, travelling by couples (man and wife), on horseback, and crossing the Nashua River at " stony fording place," where the bridge now^ is between Pepperell and Groton. Frequendy men went on foot the same route and for the same purpose.

This ''minister" was the Rev. Phinehas Hemenway, whom they had invited to be their spiritual adviser, and the "lot," which the committee "purchised," was situated about a quarter of a mile northerly of their meeting-house. The "call" to this gentleman is not to be found, but on the eleventh page of the town records is recorded Mr. Hemenway's answer to such a solicitation, which is as follows : -

"Gentlemen: Having received from 3'ou a call to setde in the work of the evangelical ministry among you. These are to inform you, that, after serious consideradon of the great work to which you have called me, and I hope, fervent prayer and supplication to the throne of Grace for Divine assistance in so great and important an aftair, although it be wdth a trembling soul, yet, I dare not withstand so plain a call from God and his people, but humbly manifest to you my acceptance thereof. And inasmuch as great difficulties and disturbances have happened in some places of this land with respect to ministers salaries through the alteration of our medium of trade or Bills of Credit ; to prevent future trouble or wrong upon either side which may arise upon that head, I desire and expect that the value of our province bills from time to time may be ascertained and secured, and that by a proper vote of the town. Praying God to direct, guide and bless all of you and all your motions and endeavors to settle Christs ministry and ordinances among you; withal, entreating your prayers to the throne of Grace for me, I take leave and subscribe myself ( with thanks for the many kindnesses and respect you have shown for me)

Mr. Hemenway was ordained on the third Wednesday of October, 1734. He lived on the hill where the meetinghouse stood, on the east side of the road, about hfty rods northerly of that location.

At a town meeting on the 29th of July, 1834 - "Voted that they would ascertain the bills of credit for Mr. Hemenway's salary as silver money at twenty-five shillings per ounce, and that the said stated salary shall alter in proportion as the value of silver alters with the goldsmiths and merchants of the town of Boston."

It will thus be seen that the town, in a kindly spirit and with much alacrity, acceded to the reasonable suggestion of their pastor elect, who, with considerable worldly wisdom, foresaw a depreciation in the currencv. Mr. Hemenway's salary was "stated" at £100 per annun, increasing five pounds each year till it reached £130. It appears by the town records, that from 1740 to 1759 ^'^^^ salary varied from £140 to £210. In 1746, the town "Voted to choose a man for a committee to ask Col. Brattle [a Dunstable man] and Mr. Trowbridge [the minister at Groton] their opinions relating to Mr. Hemenway's salary,'" His salary for that year was £170. In 1747, it is put on record at £210, showing that their "opinions" favored an increase of his pay, undoubtedly owing to the depreciation of the scrip then in use. For a part of the time his yearly pay was from £35 to £40 "lawful money," instead of the "old tenor" currency. He received also £100 as a settlement, or with which to commence house-keeping.

"Rev. Phinehas Hemenway, was born at Framingham, April 26, 1706. He was the son of Joshua and Rebeckah Hemenway, of Roxbury. The father settled in Framingham in 1691, and was one of the founders of the church of Christ in this town, Oct. 8, 1701, at which dme he was chosen deacon. He had enjoyed the advantages which Roxbury aftbrded and received a superior education, for the time. He was town school-master in 1706. He was a man of decided convictions and earnest piety.

" In doctrinal belief, he agreed with Edwards ; in church polity, he was a strict congregationalist, as opposed to the presbvterian tendencies of the day. He took a firm stand in favor of the revival under Edwards and Whitefield, and was known by and shared the confidence of, such men as Rev. Messrs. Sewall and Prince of Boston. He was an acknowledged leader in the civil affairs of the town ; was deputy to the General Court, 171 2, 17 17, and held manv important offices of trust. Phinehas, the son. grew up under tiie influence of such a home, and was o-raduated at Harvard College, 1730. No traditions as to his person or character are preserved in the family. He was the first native born son of Framingham to graduate at college, and was elected master of the grammar school, at the close of his senior year. He commenced teaching July 27, and continued in the service one year, for which he received the sum of £50."

It is not known that any of his sermons were printed, and in fact none of his writings have been preserved, except what is contained in the first book of the church records, the first part of which is in his chirographv.

The church covenant was the first record made in this book by Mr. Hemenway. This being all that we have from his pen, it is thought quite pertinent to insert it here in full : -

"Townsend, October 16, 1734. Then there was a church gathered in this place and the covenant whicli was submitted to and subscribed by the persons as follows :

"We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, inhabitants of y'^ town of Townshend in New England, apprehending ourselves called of God into the church state of the gospel, do first of all confess ourselves unworthy to be so highly favored of the Lord and admire that free and rich grace of His which triumphs over so great unworthiness, and an humble dependance on free grace for divine assistance and acceptance &c, do in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ freely covenant to bind ourselves solemnlv in the presence of God Himself His holy angels and all his servants here present : -

God for assistance, to fear Him. cleave to Him in love and to serve Him in truth with our hearts, giving up ourselves to be his in all things ; to be at his direction and disposal, that we may have and hold communion with Him as members of Christs mvstical body according to his revealed will, to our lives end.

"2. That we will bring up our children and servants in the knowledge and fear of God. by his holy instruction according to our best abilities, and in special by the use of orthodox catechisms, that the true religion may be maintained in our families while w^e live, yea and among such as shall live when we are dead and gone.

"3. That we will keep close to the truth of Christ contained in the sacred scriptures ; endeavoring with Godly zeal to defend it against all opposers thereof as God shall call at any time ; and we therefore resolve to take the Scriptures as our sole nth- and guide in all things and not the nnscriftiiral inventions of men.

"4. That we will have a careful inspection over our own hearts, so as to endeavor by the virtue of the death of Christ, to effect the mortification of all our sinful passions and disorderly affections, whereby we may be withdrawn from the living God.

"5. That we will laithfully improve our abilities and opportunities to w^orship God according to the institutions of Christ under the gospel administration, as continually and reverently to attend upon y'" public worship of God. and to have communion with our fellow members in the use of both the seals of the covenant of Grace, Baptism and the Lords Supper.

Ecclesiastical History

"6. That we will peaceably submit to the holy discipline as approved by Christ in his church for offenders, and we also engage that we will obey those that rule over us in the Lord.

"7. That we will walk in love toward our 'fellowmembers endeavoring their edification, visiting, exhorting, comforting (as occasion serveth) and warning any brother or sister walking disorderly, nor divulging private offences irregularly, but heedfully following the precepts laid down by Christ for church dealing in Math. ch. 18, vs. 15, 16, 17, willingly forgiving all that we refer to the judgment of charity that they truly repent.

Soon after the organization of the church, some of the wives of these men, and others of the same sex, were received into the church. Among this list, we find "On March nth 1739 Sarah Hemenway y*^ wife of y^ Rev. Phinehas Hemenway, having received a letter of dismission from y® church of Southboro was received into our church fellowship and communion."

During Mr. Hemenway's pastorate which covered a period of some more than twentv-six years, the church increased in numbers from sixteen to seventy-nine. The letters of recommendation, bv which members were received, during Mr. Hemenway's ministry were from the churches in Chehnsford, Andover, Southboro, Billerica, Hopkinton, Lunenburg and Groton, in Massachusetts, and Nottingham West, Greenhind and New Ipswich, in New Hamps^hire.

An explanation of the figures in this record, made by Mr. Hemenway, may be of interest to some readers. The manner of the change from Old Style to New Style, is substantially and summarily as follows : -

The Julian year consisted of three hundred and sixtyfive days and six hours - making the year too long by about eleven minutes. Pope Gregory XIIL, in 1582, attempted to reform the calendar. From the time of the Council of Nice to the time of Gregorv, this excess of eleven minutes amounted to about ten days. To make it all right, it was ordered that the year 1582 should consist of only three hundred and sixty-five days, and that ten days, between the fourth and fourteenth of October, should be expelled from the calendar for that vear. To prevent any further discrepancies it was also ordered, that no year commencing a century should be leap vear, excepting each four hundredth year. This method set aside three days every four hundred years, at the rate of nearlv eleven minutes per year during that time, leaving an error of only one day in five thousand two hundred years.

Before the time of Gregory, the calendar was arranged by Julius Cajsar. This was the Julian period or Old Style, the Gregorian being known as New Style. All Romanist countries adopted the New Style immediately.

Great Britain, and her colonies, from prejudice against and hatred of anything of papal origin, did not adopt the New Style till 1752, or one hundred and forty years after the ingenious alteration by Gregory. Before 1752 England had two methods of beginning the year. The historical year began on the first of January - the legal and ecclesiastical year on the twenty-fifth of March. The change of style adopted by Great Britain, in 1752, fixed the first of January as the commencement of the year, and abolished the distinction between the legal and historical year.

The difference in the commencement of the respective years, led to a system of double dating from the ist of January to the 25th of March, - sometimes January 26, 1734-5 or 1734, the 4 denoting the legal, and 5 the historical year. By our present method of reckoning, therefore, Mrs. Taylor, was admitted into the church February 6th, 1734.

The church book of records, with the exception of a few pages, is in the hand writing of Mr. Hemenwav and his successor in the ministry. It contains a full and accurate account of the names of the church members, and the time when each' became such, the baptisms administered, and the marriages performed by each of these pastors, together with some examples of church discipline. This book shows the customs and state of society, as well as the fidelity with which our fathers adhered to their church covenant.

The practice of "owning the covenant," man}^ instances of which are recorded, consisted in permitting persons publicly to give their assent to the creed of the church, "or own the covenant" as it was styled, which gave them the privilege of presenting their children for baptism, but not of communion. These persons did not necessarily profess any moral or religious qualifications of membership, but simpl}^ an intellectual assent to the creed, and were sometimes styled "half-way members." They were not subject to the discipline of the church, but sometimes, when admitted to these limited privileges, were required to confess an open fault or oftence. These confessions upon the old records of the church do not prove a "full communion," as is sometimes supposed, but may refer to either method of admission. The term "admitted to full communion" showed a square standing on the church platform, while "owning the covenant" only indicated a partial adherence to the church for the sake of securing the benefit of baptism for their children.

"Whereas Ceesar a negro servant of Mr. John Conant, a member of the church of Townshend has for sometime [ been ] in a disorderly and schismatical way withdrawn and separated from the communion and public worship of said church, to the breach of his solemn co\enant engagements, when he joined in full communion with said church, and to their great grief and ofience, which practice of his tends to the dissolution and destruction of this church and the order of the gospel among us.

"Said church therefore met December i8 1751 to consider and act upon this case, and after prayer to God for direction and assistance and hearing what he had to say in vindication of his conduct, in writing and by word of mouth, the church voted unanimously :

"i. That Cccsars misconduct in separating from the communion and worship of our church in Townshend is in our judgment matter of public scandal.

It would have been interesting if "CcCsar's Commentaries" on his secession from the church had been spread upon the records along with the above account.

"Voted I that after several years consideration and much consultation among ourselves and with others, respecting the case, and having free converse with the said we see cause to retract our former judgment and restore her to the privileges of partaking with us ; and with regard to some difficulties attending the case, we submit them to God and her own conscience.

"2. That she be advised to examine herself diligently to see if there was not some iniquity in her conduct in the said affair. Accordingly she was advised in the name and presence of the church."

We can conceive of nothing that comports more strictly with the teaching of Christ and his immediate followers than this simple act. Men, who thus put themselves squarely on record and live in the same manner that

About the time of Mr. Hemenway's settlement here, the distinguished reformer, John Wesley, came to the theological surface, causing a ripple co-extensive with Christendom. The English church, united with a pampered and proud nobility, contained vice and corruption in their worst forms. A writer thus describes the situation of affairs at that period: "Deism had crept into the universities ; the established church was filled with men who made religion a profession, and had won the highest prizes of the church by the acts of the politician and the grossest forms of intrigue. No one in fact supposed it was wrong to buy a deanery or clamor for a bishopric ; that it was necessary for prelate or priest to be a christian ; or to live in abstinence and go about doing good. The people were left in ignorance and vice, the cottages were filled with want and blasphemy. The bishop's palace was often the haunt of fashionable revelry, and the bishop's chief aim, to save from his vast income a sufficient sum to leave his sons in opulence and marry his daughters to titled husbands."

The remarkable elocutionary powers of Wesley, together with his sublime faith and unostentatious life, gained for him an audience from all grades and conditions of men. His efforts made a lasting impression, favorable to the cause of morality and true piety. Perhaps no man was ever his peer in arousing the vicious, gaining their confidence, and inducting them to a life of peace and religious consolation.

irresistible, soon had admirers and imitators among the sons of Harvard College. Some of the most influential among the clergy, in this vicinity, embraced the "sensational" style of preaching, among whom were Mr. Bird, of Dunstable, New Hampshire, and Mr. Bliss, of Concord. These men were called at the time New Lights. The people in both these towns were exceedingly agitated in this matter. The town of Chelmsford was "infected with lay-exhorters ; and distracted by such persons [ the revivalists] preaching in private houses without the consent of the stated pastor."*

Mr. Bird encountered a bitter hostility, and soon moved out of the town, while the disagreement among the people and church members ended only with their lives.

In Concord, town meetings, church meetings, and ecclesiastical councils, were held in quick succession, their object being the displacement of Rev. Daniel Bliss, who was a New Light. All these movements failed to accomplish what was intended, for Mr. Bliss had a "mouth and wisdom which all his adversaries could not gainsav or resist."

George Whiteheld, a co-worker of Wesley, and a noted preacher, came over from England and visited Concord. He was so impressed on hearing Mr. Bliss preach that he said, "If I had studied my whole life, I could not have produced such a sermon. "f This was the t "In the Boston Evening Post, of March, 1743, is published a letter from "'a gentleman of iinqnestionable veracity, in Hopliinton." giving an account of a sermon, preached there by Mr. Bliss, in which it is said : "He began in a lovr, moderate strain, and went on for some time in the same manner; but towards the close of his sermon, he began to raise his voice, and use many extravagant gestures; and then began a considerable groaning amongst his auditors, which as soon as he perceived he raised his voice still higlu'r, and then the congregation were in the utmost confusion; some crying out in tlic most ilolol'ul accents, some howling, some laughing, and others singing, and ^Nlr. l'.lis>, still niaring to them to come to Christ - they answering - / luill, I will, I'm coiniiif/, I'm cominy. - History of Concord.

last appearance of Mr. Bliss in the pulpit, and his last sermon. He died of consumption in just one week from that time, in comparison, as much lamented then as he was censured during the six or seven years of heated controversy through which they had passed.

The church of Townsend, and its pastor, kept aloof from all these difficulties, which fact alone is sufficient to establish the wisdom of the conservative position taken by Mr. Hemenway during his pastorate of more than twentysix years. It may be said that he lived in strict conformity to the covenant which he drew when the church was gathered. From the information within reach it appears that he was of exemplary character, social in his intercourse with his people, averse to all dogmatical controversies, both in and out of the pulpit, and determined only "to fight the good fight of faith." His mind from boyhood craved the mathematical, perhaps at the expense of the polishing and inspiring influences of poetry and literature. He seldom attempted to move his audience by oratory, and if it cannot be said that "truths divine came mended from his tongue," yet it is a well established fact, that he was a very acceptable preacher of the gospel, and that he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his contemporary brethren in the ministry.*

* At the ordination of Rev. .Toshiia Goodhue, over the second parish in Dunstable, Mass., on the 8th of .June, 17o7, "The Revd. .Josei)h Emerson, of Peijperell, began ye Solemn Kxercises of vt Dav with Prnver: The Kevd. Daniel Emerson, Preached ve Sermon from I.ukc -Jisl linth Phinchiis Hcmcnwin jfavc ye charirc : And tlie Revd. Daniel Wilkins, of Souhfjroiii. ^riivc Tlic ripht IlamI of VA\o\\A\\y." - church records 1,11 \tr. CdiKlliiic. 1 Daniel Kmcisoii. l)clonj,'ed to Hollis, N. U. Souhcfron was the I'ndiannameof Amherst. N.H.]

generations that have appeared and gone, no mutilated manuscript descended in an ancestral line, nothing to satisfy the enquirer, either as to who were the men who assisted when he took upon himself his ordination vows, or who spoke consoling words to his widow and children at his mournful obsequies. The slate head-stone which marks the spot where he was buried contains the following inscription : -

Aged 55

He was sound in the faith, zealous in the Cause of God, meek and patient under trials, Diligent in improving his talents, faithful to his Lord, and to the souls of his people.

At a town meeting, September 16, 1760, "Voted that the Rev. Mr. Hemenway's salary run on six weeks after his decease, provided Madame Hemenway will give the town the boarding of the bearers the six days they preached."

The inference from this record is, that in those days, the death of a minister was considered a public bereavement, and that this town had the deep sympathy of the neighboring churches and their pastors, on this occasion.

At a meeting of the town, June 20, 1760, "Voted to pay all the charges occasioned by the Reverend Mr. Hemenways funeral which are £102 i6s. 8d. old tenor, and that the selectmen provide the preaching of the gospel at present - and provide a place for the minister to keep at."

With commendable promptness the town on the twentieth of October, following : "Voted and chose Mr. Samuel Dix to be their pastor and gospel minister by a unanimous vote." Whereupon the church gave him a call, which he accepted by a formal letter to that body, January 13th, 1761.

Mr. Dix, was a native of Reading, born March 23, 1736; was graduated at Harvard University, 1758, ordained March 4th, 1761, died November 12th, 1797, in the thirty-sixth year of his pastorate, aged sixty-two.

The Dix family, not only in the Rev. Samuel Dix's generation, but in that which preceded it, was noted for great perseverance, strict conformity to puritanical principles united with a good degree of culture.

One of his brothers was the first school-master of the town of Dunstable, New Hampshire, another brother, who resided for a short time in one or two of the neighboring towns in New Hampshire, was the grand-father of John A. Dix, Ex-Governor of New York. They belonged to that class of men to whom we are largely indebted for botli civil and religious liberty.

The class in which Mr. Dix graduated at the universitv contained an unusually large number of men who afterwards entered the ministry, some of whom in abilitv and usefulness were much above mediocrity. One of his class-mates. Rev. Samuel Pavson, was ordained at Lunenburg, September 8, 1762, and died February 14, 1763,

Rev. Simeon Howard, a distinguished divine, of the same class in college, was for a time Professor of Divinity at Edinburgh, Scotland. Thirteen, of this class of thirtyone members, were ministers of the gospel.

When Mr. Dix came to this town, log-cabins were about going out of fashion, being superceded by substantial frame houses, made from lumber sawed at ''Conant's mill," or the mill at the Harbor. The house now owned and occupied by Israel H. Spaulding, was built for Mr. Dix, and he lived there till 1770, when he moved to the parsonage given to the town by Lieut. Amos

In most instances, these houses were large, uncomfortable two-story structures, the rooms on the first floor being generally finished with a suitable panel-work ceiling. The second stor}', which was the dormitory of the family, except the parents, seldom had an\' finish unless perhaps a temporary partition across the middle of the house. The pattering of the rain on the roof in midsummer, or the more blustering music of the wind at the December solstice, were both welcomed b^' the rustic sleepers within.

The town voted to give Mr. Dix £133 6s. 8d. for his settlement, and £66 13s. 8d. lor his annual salar}'. It soon became apparent that this sum was inadequate to his support, on account of the abundance of paper money then in circulation. The town with alacrity increased his pay, in proportion as the scrip lessened in value.

In 1779, the town "voted to raise £1,000 for the support of Rev. Samuel Dix, and his family, the present vear, including his salary," and at a town meeting Julv 4, 1780,

The pastorate of Mr. Dix was a continued era of good feeling and concord, and in fact, no disagreement of any magnitude ever visited the church in this town for nearly a century from the time it was gathered.

Mr. Dix was a very successful pastor, and was much respected and beloved by all who knew him, as a neighbor, a citizen, a "man of God."' In addition to his labors in Townsend he did considerable work of a missionary character at towns in this vicinity, where they had no ordained minister, and only occasional preaching. He did pastoral work in the towns of Raby [now Brookline], Mason, Jaffrey, Hancock, and Limerick [now Stoddard], in the State of New Hampshire, and at Ashby. He took much interest in the moral and religious affairs in these towns, and he had the pleasure and satisfaction of living longenough to know that each of these places had a regularly ordained minister.

The church and people in Brookline were under many obligations to Mr. Dix ; and it was in accordance with his advice and good judgment, that the Rev. Lemuel Wardsworth was chosen first minister of that town. Ashby, also, had no settled minister until seventeen years after Mr. Dix was setded in Townsend. He must have made many journeys to these places, some of them long and tedious, during the prime of his life, not only to preach the word, but to solemnize marriages ; to visit those who languished under pain and sickness ; to alleviate the sorrows of the bereaved, when death had sealed the eyes and frozen the liquid current of vitality.

arrogance, cheerful without levity, and strictly courteous and condescending in his deportment. He gave his undivided attention to his pastoral dudes, and with the exception of one or two patriotic sermons, delivered during the early part of the revolutionary war, he labored faithfully for "a crown incorruptible" both for himself and the people committed to his charge. He was an excellent classical scholar, and as a writer he would lose nothing by comparison either with his contemporaries in the ministry, or those who succeeded him in the church in Townsend.

The following is a sample of his style. It consdtuted an effort complete in itself, and on account of its clearness and brevity it is here inserted in full.

The great Savior, who is the head over all things to the Church, having, in his all governing providence, and as we trust, by his most gracious Spirit, called you. Sir, to this part of his vineyard, and united you with this people in love ; and you being now solemnly introduced to the important work of the gospel ministry, and ordained a pastor of this flock in particular; we charge you, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to be faithful, as is required of his stewards, in the execution of this sacred office, and every part of it.

Preach the word : the word of God ; the same truths and doctrines, which Christ and his Apostles preached. Preach them plainly and fully. Shun not to declare the whole counsel of God. Preach them activelv and urgently, as becomes their inconceivable importance.

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. In order to this, give yourself to reading and meditation, that your profiting may appear to all. Take heed to yourself and to your doctrine ; continue in them, that you may both save yourself, and those that hear you.

We also charge you to be friendly and faithful to our Divine Master, to his Church and the interest of his kingdom, in respect of administering the seals of his covenant. Baptism and the Lords Supper. Teach the people of the Lord to discern between the holy and profane. Seek the purity as well as the increase of the church, which is Gods building ; that being fitly framed into Jesus Christ, the chief corner-stone, it may grow into an holy temple in the Lord.

That you may know how you ought to behave 3'ourself in regard to discipline, in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, learn of Christ and his apostles.

Take the oversight, not as being a lord over Gods heritage, but being an ensample to the flock. Observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. Thus endeavor to preserve and promote the peace, unity and edification of the body of Christ. Now, therefore, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. For this purpose, and that you may be thoroughly furnished to all good works, continue in prayer ; interceding for all men. Pray with and for the people of your charge, not only in public, but also in private. Wait on the Lord, and he shall strengthen thy heart, and bless the people whom you may lead and teach, from time to time, in His name, who is the fountain of all grace and glory.

Whenever you may be called to assist in separating one to the great work, on which you are now entering, attend to his qualifications, especially as to his moral character, and religious sentiments. Lay hands suddenly on no man ; but the things you have now received in trust, commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Be thou, Sir, an example of the believers, in conversation and charity, in faith and purity. Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called.

Dear brother, we give you charge, in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and of Christ Jesus, who. before Pontius Pilate, witnessed a good confession, that you keep this commandment of the Lord, without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of Jesus Christ, who saith. Surely I come quicklv. Amen.

Mr. Dix w^as held in high estimation by the Rev. Ebenezer Hill, of Mason, New Hampshire, who, at his own expense, caused two or three of his addresses to be printed, as exemplars of eloquence as well as piety, and from these the above was extracted. Mr. Dix married Miss Abigail Chandler, of Boston.

The Rev. Stephen Farrar, of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, who preached the funeral sermon of Mr. Dix, says of him : "He sustained the character of an upright and faithful man, who shone peculiarly in the virtues of meekness, patience, humility and self-denial," and that his

During the hitter part of his life, tor sometime, he experienced a degree of illness from which he suffered considerably ; still he attended to his regular pastoral duties. There was a large assembly at his funeral, among which were many ministers, who came considerable distance to pay their respects to the memory of their friend and brother, for whom Death had "unveiled eternity.'' These reverend gentlemen gratuitouslv supplied the pulpit made vacant by the death of Mr. Dix, about two months trom the time of his decease.

The ensuing summer, the town " voted and chose Lieut. Jacob Blodget a committee to obtain a suitable stone to be erected at the grave of Rev. Samuel Dix." On his gravestone is inscribed as follows : -

Rev. Mr. Samuel Dix

Vc liviiiii' nioi'tiils, tiike u solcinu view Of this, my silent, dark and l()ii<>- abode.' Heineinber. you were bom like me to die, Tlieicfore i)re])ai-e to meet a rijiiiteous God.

The town soon began to search for a minister, and in every particular regarded the advice of Mr. Farrar, contained in the funeral sermon : "You are now left as sheep without a shepherd. But the great Shepherd of the sheep still lives, and may His watchful care be your guard and defence. See that 3-ou be not like sheep scattered and dispersed upon the mountains ; broken and divided into parties ; but with united hearts and fervent cries, look to Him who can repair your breach, and give you a pastor according to his heart."

Rev. Joshua Heywood ( D. Col. 1795,) preached throvigh a candidacy of "six sabbaths'* during the summer of 1798, and in the autumn following the tow-n "voted to hire Mr. Whitney (probably Rev. Nicholas B. Whitney. Har. Col. 1793,) for six sabbaths, commencing the third sabbath in February next. The length of time that Mr. Palmer preached as a candidate is not known, the town voting about the first of September, "to hear Mr. Palmer further in regard to a settlement."'

"The church met according to previous agreement, at the meeting house in this place Sept 3'^ 1799, and chose the Rev. John Bullard moderator.

"N. B. Each of the brethren present gave his vote in favor of Mr. Pahner except one, and he had no objection against him. but want of personal acquaintance.

The record continues thus : "Mr. Palmer having been served with a copy of the above votes (the Town concuring in the same) gave an affirmative answer to our invitation. The chh. being notified met accordingly upon adjournment, 2'' da}' of December 1799 - & voted

"i''* To invite the Pastor & delegation of each of the following churches viz, the chhs. in Windham 2-^ societv, N Ipswich, Shirley, Lunenburg, Lisbon, Groton, Ashby, Pepperell, Boscaw^en, Mason, Hollis, Brookline, & Fitchburg, to join in council for the purpose of separating our Pastor elect to the work whereunto he is called.

"2^-^' That Deacons, Richard Wier & Daniel Adams & brother Jacob Blodget, be a committee to prepare and forward letters missive to the above churches for s'^ purpose, and to lay before the council the doings of the church & Town.

be fitted when he commenced occupancy, the manner in which he should leave the same, should he choose to do so, the mode of proceeding in case either party should become dissatisfied, and other "provisos" are profusely spread on the records of the town.

The first day of January, 1800, was appointed for the ordination, the exercises consisting of prayer by Rev. Daniel Chaplin, of Groton ; sermon b}' Rev. Andrew Lee, of Lisbon, Connecticut ; charge by Rev. Ebenezer Hill, of Mason, New Hampshire ; right hand of fellowship by Rev. John Bullard, of Pepperell.

The new year, ordination day, opened bright and pleasant, the mercury being just below the freezing point ; a few inches of snow, fastened down by a hard crust, rendered all kinds of locomotion very agreeable. The learned council, pastor elect, and invited guests, dined at the widow Sarah Conant's tavern, at the Harbor, at 12 o'clock.

After the good cheer of "mine hostess" had been under consideration for a suitable length of time, these venerable divines formed a procession and marched by the music of fife and drum, to the meeting-house on the hill, where they found a crowd in and around the building, through which, with slow progress, they arrived qt the pulpit and its surroundings. This was a perfect holiday for Townsend and its vicinity. In addition to the multitude standing on the ground looking in at the windows, which were partly open for purposes of ventilation, a stage had been built up at the gallery windows, from which a view of the speakers was obtained, and almost everything heard that was said inside the house, in which every foot of room was occupied. These outsiders were very quiet ; not a loud word was spoken, yet occasionally at the motion of a finger, or a wink, a cord would be dropped down when the fisherman aloft would "get a bite" and up would go a bottle or a flask. Who knows that these were not "smelling bottles" to prevent dizziness at that altitude?

Every house in town was open, and the hospitalities of both the season and the occasion were as free as air. A descendant of Samuel Stone, who built and lived in the house now occupied by Samuel Stone Haynes, informed the writer that one hundred people dined with Mr. Stone on that da3% and that twenty-five of them passed the night with him. Most of the prominent men in town were similarly favored with the presence of friends and relatives.

This was the last festival of the kind in which all our people participated, for long before Mr. Palmer left the church militant, and before his successor was ordained, it was my church, my minister, my mode of baptism, and sectarianism began to unfurl the banner of discord.

Rev. David Palmer was born 1768, at Windham, Connecticut, graduated at Dartmouth College, 1797, was preceptor of New Ipswich Academy, 1798, ordained the third pastor in Townsend, January ist, 1800, married Chloe Kinsley of his native town, 1794, '"^"^^ died at Townsend, February 15, 1849, aged 81 years.

Townsend at the time of Mr. Palmer's ordination was an entirely difTerent town from what it was when either of his predecessors entered the ministr} . The privations attending the converting of a wilderness into a township, filled with the industries and embellishments of civilized life, had all been endured and accomplished. The eventful da\s of the revolutionary war, through which our fathers struggled and bled, had all taken their places on the historian's page. Our people had just commenced to manipulate metalic federal money, and enter on the enjoyments of ''life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."' The printing press, had approached the town as near as Leominster on one side, and Amherst, New Hampshire, on the other. Education had received a fresh impetus by the establishing of the academies at New Ipswich and Groton, and by more liberal appropriations for the support of common schools. Enterprise and progress were the watchwords at the commencement of the present century.

Everything considered, the town and church made a judicious choice for their third spiritual advisor. Mr. Palmer was decidedly a popular man in all his social relations, and his influence as a townsman was felt particularly by the children and youth of Townsend. During most of his pastorate it was the custom, among their other duties, for the ministers to examine the teachers, and in part, to superintend the schools.

There was not a school in town that did not hail his approach with pleasure. Most of the elderly people in town, who attended school here in Mr. Palmer's titne, not only remember the blandness of his countenance, but they still retain pleasant recollections of the method in which he would interest and instruct them in their lessons and duties by some chaste anecdote, or simple story told in a peculiarly appreciable manner.

He entered into the spirit of improvement in all things and never frowned on any legitimate amusement. Music he loved, possessing both a cultivated voice and ear.

At a town meeting in 1806, "Voted to grant Fit\y dollars for the support of a singing school this year, and chose a committee to conduct said school. Chose for said committee, Rev. David Palmer, Mr. Peter Manning and Adams, kept on the

Mr. Palmer was also a practical educator outside of the pulpit. About twenty young men fitted for college with him, a part of whom will be noticed in another part of this work.

Mr. Palmer solicited for the money which was paid for the first bell ever hung on any belfry in this town. In the course of the canvass, he spoke to one of his people, an old man bent down by the weight of years, almost to the form of a semi-circle, but possessed of a good amount of wealth. He explained to the old gentleman the object of his visit, setting forth the advantages of having a bell, and in the conversation, he said that every one, and particularly every stranger, who looked u^ and saw a bell in the belfry, would have more respect tor Townsend. "I know" said the octogenarian, rolling his head over on one side and casting up one e3'e to Mr. Palmer, "but I have most done looking 11^." "\ should be pleased then if you prefer looking dozvn, to have you look down into your money purse for a moment." "That can be done," said the old man, handing over three hard dollars to the minister, when they parted in excellent humor.

Mr. Palmer was a successful pastor. During his ministry two hundred and fifty members were added to the church, sixty-two of that number having joined during the year 1826. He studied divinity with Rev. Andrew Lee, of Lisbon, Connecticut. As a preacher, he was rather doctrinal than practical, but interesting, his exercises not being as long as were those of some of his brethren, who exchanged pulpits with him. A few of his sermons were "pubHshed by request of his hearers," one of which was deHvered on the twelfth anniversary of his ordination, from the text, ''This day shall be for a memorial," - Exodus 12, 14. This and other printed discourses were written in a clear, forcible style, exhibiting deep thought, good scholarship, and unfeigned piety.

The introduction of unitarianism into New England, and the inauguration of the Harvard Divinity School in 181 7, swept away all religious unanimity from among the churches. The cities took the initiative in the crusade against the faith and opinions of Knox and Calvin, but were soon reinforced bv most of the large towns in the Commonwealth. This great tidal wave reached Townsend, about 1825. Rev. Mr. Thayer, of Lancaster, was the tirst preacher of this doctrine here. The unitarians increasing- durino- this time, the town voted to grant the use of the meeting-house to them for a certain number of sabbaths at several times. "Owing to some misunderstanding in regard to the rightful use of the meeting house, one sabbath, both denominations appeared and claimed it: but the unitarians had taken possession." - A writer in the interest of the congregationalists thus describes what occurred at that time : -

"Coming into the church one sabbath morning, the pastor found that the unitarians had procured their champion. Rev. Dr. Thayer, of Lancaster, and put him in his place. Walking up in front of the pulpit, Mr. Palmer turned and publicly addressed his people, stating that he felt the pulpit by right belonged to him, but as another had been put in his place, he should not contend with him, nor should he countenance error by remaining. He declared his purpose to retire to the school house, and such as should tbllow him, he would preach to there. Immediately as the pastor left the house, he was followed by his flock, like the faithful sheep w^ho knew the voice of their shepherd, till not a member of the church remained behind, and not one of the singers formed the choir.

"The pastor preached to his flock that flrst sabbath from the text, Nehemiah 6, ii, 'Should such a man as I, flee ; and who is there, that being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life ; I will not go in.' An examination of this text with the verses following, and a consideration of the use at this time made of them, will reveal the words to have been aptly chosen."

The unitarians asked for the use of the meeting-house one-fourth of the time, or that Mr. Palmer would exchange with ministers of that denomination, or with the universalists, that they might enjoy preaching tor that part of the dme. To this, Mr. Palmer would have agreed, but some of the leading men of his church objected. The truth is it was generally known, that Mr. Thayer was in town on the evening belbre Mr. Palmer and his people left the church ; that Mr. Palmer was in consultation with Mr. Thaver during the evening : that their meeting was pleasant and agreeable ; that then a method, whereby the unitarians were to have a hearing during one-fourth of the time, was agreed upon by these ministers ; but that after they had separated, certain influential church members interview^ed Mr. Palmer, and squarel}- objected to the arrangement : and for the sake of eflect, the programme, that was carried out the following day, was ordered. Mr. Palmers text, on arrival at the school-house, is very good proof of a premeditated act. These two ministers had exchanged pulpits several times previous to this time. By this difficulty, some curious phases of human nature were developed. A short time after this, the congregationalists erected their brick church, repudiated Mr. Palmer, and put in his place an eloquent young man, whom they considered amply qualified to combat unitarianism. On the other hand in almost as brief a time, the unitarians finding themselves masters of the situation so far as the meetinghouse was concerned, ordained a minister, took a dislike to him soon after, dismissed him, and, for a time, placed Mr. Palmer back in his old pulpit again.

The conduct of the men of wealth and influence, in the congregational church at that time, towards Mr. Palmer, can never be explained in a manner that will place them in an enviable or even an honorable position. Mr. Palmer never withdrew his connection from the church over which he was ordained, and from which he was dismissed in July, 1830, after a pastorate of thirty and one-half years. After this he preached for some time in Brookline, New Hampshire. Although he was never in indigent circumstances, he was the recipient of man}' favors from kind-hearted people who sympathized with an elderly gentleman deserted by those who should have been his friends.

As a compliment to his integrit}', and from motives of benevolence and respect, he was elected by the town a representative to the General Court in 1833 and 1834. His successor in the ministry also. Rev. Mr. Rogers, extended to him many courtesies and kindnesses during his short pastorate, and although he keenly felt the ingratitude of those who cast him oft', still he encountered old age with cheerfulness, and death with the hope of a believer in the doctrine which he had preached.

After 1830 the town in its corporate capacity was not represented by any religious society or minister of the gospel. Previous to that time, unless by special vote of the town, the expenses of preaching were paid by a tax, assessed on all the polls and estates in town. The congregationalists, considering that another church was about to be organized in Townsend, saw that their church must have a more definite name than "The church of Christ in Townsend" (by which name the church under the town's ministers was known), so that Februar}^ 8, 1830, the church assumed the name, "The Orthodox Congregational Church of Christ in Townsend." A clerk, treasurer and prudential committee, were also chosen about that time.

The tirst pastor of this church, the Rev. William Matticks Rogers, was ordained February 16, 183 1. Invocation by Rev. Phillips Payson, of Leominster; prayer, by Rev. Charles Walker, of New Ipswich, New Hampshire; sermon by Rev. John Codman, D. D., of Boston ; ordaining prayer by Rev. Rufus A. Putnam, of Fitchburg ; charge by Rev. Ebenezer Hill, of Mason, New Hampshire ; right hand of fellowship by Rev. John Todd, of Groton. This gentleman was born in England, but came to this country in his bo3'hood under the care of his relatives who carefully superintended his education. He graduated with honor at Harvard University, 1827, and at the Theological Seminary, at Andover, in 1830, where he ranked the first in his class. His father fell at the battle of Waterloo. His name was Kettell, but at the suggestion of one of his uncles, who had been his patron and was about to endow him quite liberally, it was changed bv an act of the Legislature to Rogers, his uncle's name.

In a pecuniary point of view he was extremely fortunate. The legacy, a rich wife, and the large salaries he received during the last ten or twelve years of his life brought him wealth in abundance. He married Adelia Strong, daughter of Judge Strong, of Leominster. He possessed little physical force and vitality, but was an active, keen man.

The church made a judicious choice in selecting their first minister. As a sectarian, Mr. Rogers was extremely prudent ; and he was much more anxious to build up his own church and society than to pull down that of its opponents, the unitarians. He was a good writer, had a winning address, and was a popular minister. During the four years and live months of his pastorate, one hundred and forty-nine members were admitted to the church. At his request he was dismissed in July, 1835. He removed to Boston and was installed pastor of one of the churches in that city, where he died in 185 1.

Rev. Columbus Shumway was the second pastor. He was born at Belchertown, graduated at Union College and at Auburn Theological Seminary, and was installed, January 6, 1836. In every particular, he was a respectable preacher. Mr. Shumway must have been placed in a delicate position, and experienced all the difficulties of being the successor of a lirst-class man. Undoubtedlv too much was expected from him. The notice of his dismission, tendered to him March 28, 1837, was a surprise to him, from the fact that up to that moment, evervthing on the surface indicated both unanimit}' and satisfaction.

Rev. DAvid Stowell, born 1804, at Westmoreland, New Hampshire ; graduated at Dartmouth College, 1829 ; was installed third pastor of this church. June 2S, 1837.

Mr. Stowell was a man of good intellectual abilities, on account of which he was selected to till this position. There were some irregularities in his conduct during the latter part of his pastorate, which caused both him and the church considerable excitement and trouble. Two or three ecclesiastical councils were convened to consider the case. At the last council, the opponents of Mr. Stowell secured the services of Rev. John A. Albro, formerly of Fitchburg, to substandate the charges alleged against him. A lawyer from Boston appeared as counsel for the defence, and the merits of the case were discussed ably and somewhat sharply by both parties. This council, after due deliberadon, ordered the dismission of Mr. Stowell, on the lifteenth of August, 1843. Before coming to Townsend, Mr. Stowell had been settled at New Boston, New Hampshire, where he preached for some time. From Townsend, he went to Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, where he died in 1854.

Rev. Luther H. Sheldon, the fourth pastor of this church, was born at Easton, 1815 ; graduated at Middlebury College, 1839 ; graduated at Andover Theological Seminar}^ 1842, and ordained, August 15, 1844. Invocation by Rev. Joseph B. Hill, of Mason, New Hampshire ; sermon by Rev. R. S. Storrs, of Braintree ; ordaining prayer, by Rev. Dudley Phelps, of Groton ; charge by Rev. Luther Sheldon, of Easton, (fiither of the pastor elect) ; fellowship of the churches by Rev. E. W. Bullard, of Fitchburg. Mr. Sheldon was a very active man, prompt at an appointment, and always prepared for an}- pastoral work to which duty called him. He took an unusual interest in education, and he served on the school committee, to the advantage and acceptance of all interested. The abolition of slavery was an object that engrossed his attention. Some of his sermons on that subject were printed. During the anti-slavery excitement, and what was known as the Washingtonian movement in the temperance cause, he was more independent and outspoken than most of his brethren in the ministry. He was a diligent student, a forcible writer, and, although not an orator of the first class, he delivered his sermons in an impressive, intelligible manner. In proof that he not onlv had the moral and intellectual equipments indispensable to every minister of his denomination, but that he possessed much shrewdness and good judgment, it may be mentioned that he remained pastor of this church more than double the length of time of that of any of his predecessors, and about four times as long as the longest time of anv of his successors, during the twenty years that followed after his dismission. Mr. Sheldon was dismissed, at his own request, March 7, 1856, after a successful pastorate of about twelve years.

After about the usual time spent in "candidating," the Rev. Eli W. Cook, a graduate of Yale College, 1837, was chosen pastor of this church, and he was installed on the twenty-eighth day of April, 1858. This Cook did not prepare and dispense "the bread of life" in a manner calculated either to please or edify the people, who looked to him for a good example and a character above reproach. Some irregularities caused his connection with this church to be of short dui'ation. It is probable he was not deficient in either natural ability or education, but he lost the confidence of the church and societ}' and was dismissed

Rev. Moses Patten was ordained pastor of this church on the seventh of June, i860. Sermon by Rev. Austin Phelps, of Andover ; ordaining prayer by Rev. Theophilas P. Sawin, of Brookline, New Hampshire; charge by Rev. William T. Herrick, of Pelham ; fellowship of the churches by Rev. George Mooar, of Andover. Mr. Patten was graduated at Dartmouth' College, 1850, and at Andover Theological Seminar}-, in 1855. He was not a fluent speaker, or a man calculated to present a tirst-class sermon ; but he sustained an excellent moral character which won for him the respect of the entire community. Had his intellectual ability been proportional to his wish to do good and his honesty of purpose, perhaps his pastorate would have been longer. He was dismissed April 27th. 1863.

On the twenty-seventh day of August, 1863, the church "Voted to instruct their committee of supply to employ Rev. John C. Hutchinson as their acting pastor." This gentleman had good abilities, but withal, was rather eccentric. Occasionally his sermons, viewed from either a literarv, elocutionary or ecclesiastical stand-point, would not sufler in comparison with those of the popular preachers at that time. Sometimes after reaching near the close of a discourse, to which the most delicate mental organization could take no exceptions, an uncalled-for sentiment or an indiscreet expression would drop trom his mouth which would tarnish the entire eflbrt. His remarks at funerals were generally timely, appropriate and well received. The church record has it, that "July 22, 1866,

Mr. Hutchinson preached his farewell sermon and left this field of labor," being acting pastor some less than three years. He was a close student and attended strictly to his own business.

Rev. George Williams was installed pastor of this church, May ist, 1867 - dismissed February ist, 1869. Mr. Williams had been a chaplain during the rebellion. It was considered, previous to the time when he left, that he did not give that study of and attention to his duties which his calling demanded.

Rev. George H. Morss was the successor of Mr. Williams, the church voting to employ him as actingpastor, June 17, 1869. Mr. Morss was born in Lowell, in 1832. He fitted for college at Phillips Academy, Andover, graduating there in 1857. His health tailing him, he did not enter college. He went south and spent about a year in teaching among the Choctaw Indians. Having regained his usual health, he returned home and took some of the college studies with a private tutor. He passed the usual three years at Andover Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 1862. Mr. Morss was a quiet, conscientious, amiable man. There was nothing overbearing or dictatorial in his manner or intercourse with his fellow-men. His words were well spoken and well adapted to the occasion which called them out. His sermons were carefully written and sometimes considerably above mediocrity. One of them, a historical discourse, printed by order of the church, and the result of much labor, was well recei\'ed. He was dismissed, April loth, 1873. At present, he is located very pleasanth' at Clarendon, Vermont.

On the twenty-ninth day of September, 1873, the church "voted to invite Rev. Henry C. Fay to become its acting pastor ;" and he immediately accepted the invitation and entered upon his duties with this church and congregation. He was born in Shrewsbury, 1827, - graduated at Leicester Academy, 1850, - graduated at Amherst College, 1854, - graduated at the Theological Seminary, Bangor, 1857. Was ordained at Northwood, New Hampshire, 1858, where he remained six years. He was four years at Newton, two years at Hubbardston, two years at Harwich Port, and three and one-half years at Townsend. He is a live preacher, a close student, having much enterprise and force of character. He has most of the qualities requisite for a leader. If he had been educated at West Point, instead of Bangor, he probably would- have succeeded well under "shoulder-straps." Considered as a writer, or a speaker, he is well cultivated and appears to good advantage. He was dismissed in September, 1876.

Three or four candidates appeared, in turn, to preach for the congregationalists, during the next six months, when sometime in the summer of 1877, the church extended a unanimous call to Albert F. Newton to become their pastor. He accepted the call, and was ordained on the fifth of September, 1877.

Rev. Albert F. Newton was born at Salmon Falls, New Hampshire, in 1848 ; graduated at Appleton Academv, New Ipswich, New Hampshire. 1870; graduated at Dartmouth College, 1874 - graduated at Andover Theological Seminarv, 1877. The clergymen of the council, who took a part in his ordination, were as follows: invocation by Rev. Daniel E. Adams, of Ashburnham ; sermon by James H. Thayer, D. D., of Andover ; ordaining prayer by Rev. Marcus Ames, of Lancaster ; charge by Rev. George Pierce, of Milford, New Hampshire ; fellowship of the churches by Rev. J. H. Barrows, of Lawrence; address to the people by Rev. F. D. Sargent, of Brookline, New Hampshire. The day was beautiful, and man}- joyous faces lighted up the large assembly that witnessed these exercises. Mr. Newton has zealously entered upon his labors under favorable auspices, and in the lives of most of his predecessors, he may find patterns worth v of his imitation.

The congregationalists, during the year 1877, erected a set of buildings suitable for a parsonage, the result of the untiring efforts of the Ladies' Benevolent Society, connected with this denomination. The land on which the buildings stand was the gift of Deacon Walter Ha3'nes. The dwelling, for the convenience of its internal arrangements, its general good proportions, and the faithful manner in which it is completed, is a source of credit to the committee which superintended its erection.

As the parsonage house, given to the town by "Lieut. Amos Whitney,'' in 1769, although renovated and wrought into another structure, has escaped the corroding, devouring elements, and come down to us through the lapse of more than a century, so may this elegant, unostentatious house stand, to become the pleasant abode for pastors yet unborn, who in their turn, shall "bring glad tidings" to the on-coming generations. It is a happy thought that this church has furnished a suitable residence for its pastor, situated so convenient to the church edifice.

Names ot" the deacons who continued with the congregationalists at their separation trom the town and those who were appointed b}' them afterwards :

When the congregationalists seceded from wliat was the tirst parish in Townsend, they took with them every member of the church, the communion cups and baptismal t Deacon Walker fell while at work in the hay-Held and died snddenly of heartdisease, lie withdrew from the orthodox cluirch and joined the baptists, about fifteen years previous to his death.

basin ; no one appearing to object, and no one that remained having any use for these things. It must not be taken for granted, that either party to this controversy, during these exciting times, could lay claim to all the consistency or amiability. No one can denv, when comparing the opinions and faith of the trinitarians of the present time, with the printed discourses and doctrines of their clergy of fifty years ago, but that a more rational faith, a more Christ-like spirit has taken possession of the minds and hearts of these disciples of Knox and Calvin. One might attend church anywhere, now, without hearing anything of the doctrines of tbreordination, predestination or election, each of which was extensively preached by the clergy, previous to the advent of unitarianism.

It may appear singular, that a part of the town at that time, making no pretensions to religion, should insist on the use of the meeting-house a part of the time ; but it must be considered, that the people asked for something more than the dry dogmas of the school in which their pastor had been educated. This they would have had (for Mr. Palmer kept up with the spirit of the times), but for an undue influence, exerted bv the same individuals, who eventually cast him off and put Mr. Rogers in his place.

The most prominent men left in 1829, to represent the first parish, were Paul Gerrish, Aaron Keys, Richard W. Pierce, Solomon Jewett, Isaac Turner, Benjamin Barrett, Jr., Jonathan Richardson, and John Preston. Two of these persons were lawyers, all of them men of influence and intelligence, of good morals, and the fathers of the town, but to all appearances not particularlv pious.

The parsonage given to the town by Lieut. Asa Whitney, by act of the Legislature, passed into the hands of the unitarians. There were not any regular meetings of this society on the sabbath, or much preaching for some time after the "orthodox" built their house.

Rev. Warren Burton was preacher for the first parish for a part of the 3^ear 1831. Allow the writer, just here to say, that Warren Burton was a clear-headed man, an excellent scholar, interesting as an author, attractive as a preacher, and by far the ablest minister who preached for this society. He graduated at Harvard College, 1821, died 1866, after a life of usefulness.

For the next three years Rev. Jesse Chickering was the preacher for a part of the time. Occasionally the pulpit was supplied by universalists and restorationists. During the year 1835, there was not much preaching. The treasurer's book of this society does not show that any money was paid for preaching during this year.

Rev. Ezekiel L. Bascom, commenced preaching in the winter of 1836, and continued till the end of the summer, during which time he gathered a church, consisting of about twent3'-five members. Mr. Bascom was a man of prepossessing appearance, of good address, social in his manners, spoke easily and logically, without notes, and his labors were highly appreciated by this denomination. He was an active preacher of the gospel, after this time, at Ashb}'. Graduated at Dartmouth College, 1798, died at Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, April, 1841, aged 6;^, and was buried at Ashb\'.

During the autumn of 1836, Linus H. Shaw preached as a candidate for the office of pastor of this church and society for four or five sabbaths, when he received a call for a settlement, which he accepted. He was ordained, December 21st, 1836. The following was the programme carried out on this occasion : Prayer by Rev. Nathaniel Whitman ; sermon by Rev. Andrew P. Peabody, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire ; charge by Rev. Samuel Barrett, of Boston ; right hand of fellowship by Rev. Charles Babbidge, of Pepperell ; address by Rev. Calvin Lincoln. There was a drenching rain throughout the whole day, and for this reason, there was not a large audience in attendance. Rev. Linus H. Shaw was a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, 1833. For some reason, the mantle of the man w'ho gathered and founded this church did not tall upon this young pastor, for although he was a gentleman of unsullied moral character, a good thinker and a good writer, vet, there was something lacking in his social qualities, whereby he was never popular with his church and congregation. One great obstacle in the way of his success, was, that every time he attempted an extemporaneous address, he made a complete failure. For a man of his experience, he wrote good sermons and read them quite well, but "his occupation was gone" unless his thoughts were fully submitted to writing. After a pastorate of about two years, his connection with this parish was dissolved, and he moved out of town.

From this time till 1852, when the first parish sold the meeting-house to the methodist society, the unitarians had no settled minister. Occasionally, the universalists and restorationists, as well as the unitarians, occupied the pulpit. A gentleman by the name of Sayward labored here the longest of any one from 1840 till the sale of the meeting-house. When the universalists built their meetinghouse at West Townsend, the people in the westerly part of the town, who usually attended the unitarian church, withdrew from that society and associated with the universalists. The most influential members of the first parish, by this move, were found to be residents of the easterly part of the town. There were two meeting-houses at the centre of the town, and two at the west village, so that the influence of the Harbor in asking for one church building, caused the sale of the old meeting-house to be effected.

The meeting-house at the Harbor was built according to written contract, by John Hart and Amos Morse, in 1853. Daniel G. Bean, of Lowell, was the architect. Perhaps the shade of Sir Christopher Wren never hovers over this edifice without hastening to Lowell to salute this "cunning artificer." This house was dedicated in the spring of 1854.

Rev. Stillman Barber was hired to preach by the unitarians, about that time, and supplied the pulpit for some more than two years, when, for some reasons, best known to the unitarians themselves, no monev was raised to support the preaching of the gospel. Mr. Barber left town, and all interest in the denomination melted like an April snow wreath. Since that dme, with the exception of one or two law-suits growing out of some financial matters, and the settlement of its affairs generally, nothing of late, has been heard of "The First Parish in Townsend." The fathers of this denomination have been gathered to the innumerable muUitude of the departed, and

For two years previous to the time that the unitarians sold their house to the methodists, its walls echoed the ringing appeals of two earnest methodist clergymen. Rev. Horace Moulton and Rev. Samuel Tupper.

Rev. Horace Moulton was the pioneer methodist of Townsend ; he seemed peculiarly adapted tor an evangelistic pioneer work ; revivals had attended his labors in nearlv forty towns, before he came to Townsend. His biographer says : " He probably organized more methodist churches from converts saved through his instrumentality, the last half century, than any other minister of our conference." In 1849, ^^^ ""^'^^ stationed in Lunenburg, but he never seemed satistied unless he was engaged in revival work, so he got his place supplied one-half of the time, and preached in Townsend and Pepperell. He organized a class in Townsend, that year, as a branch of the church at Lunenburg. In 1850, Townsend became a separate charge.

In April, 1852, Rev. Samuel Tupper, preacher in charge, organized the Methodist Episcopal Society, in conformitv with the provisions of the statutes of Massachusetts. From 1850, until the present time, 1877, this society has sustained preaching and weekly religious meetings. Considerable interest has been manifested from time to time, and numbers added to the church. The revival that attended the labors of I. T. Johnson, the evangehst, that commenced in January, 1876, was the most extensive the church ever experienced. The membership of the church at that time was forty-four ; the membership the first of January, 1877, was one hundred and twelve, and seventy probationists.

During the history of this church it has enjoyed the services of eighteen dii^erent pastors of various degrees of ability and spiritualitv. Their names and order of succession are as follows : -

Horace Moulton, Samuel Tupper, Pliny Wood, Windsor Ward, J. A. Ames, T. B. Treadwell, A. F. Bailey, M. P. Webster, C. H. Hanaford, S. K. Bailey, Burtis Judd, E. A. Howard, A. K. Howard, T. R. Tisdale, E. Burrlingham, A. P. Adams, A. W. Baird, W. E. Dwight.

The first three gentlemen mentioned in this list are dead ; they were men of influence with their denomination. Mr. Ward died in Townsend and was buried here.

Chapter Iv The Baptists And Uxiversalists

Formation of the Baptist Society in 1818 - Inaujiuration of the Church in 1827 - Levi Ball Chosen Deacon - Action of the Town in Favor of the Baptists - Pastorate of Rev. James Barnaby - Concise Memoir of Mr. Barnaby - Some Account of the Successors of- Mr. Barnaby - Pastorate of Rev. Willard P. Upham - The Universalist Restoration Society - Rev. John Pierce - Committee to Build a Meeting-house - Mention of the Several Pastors of this Society.

"Be it remembered that April 20, 1818, x\sa Baldwin, Joseph Walker, Thomas Weston and Solomon Stevens, who were members of the churches of New^ Ipswich, Mason and Harvard and others, met and formed ourselves into a society by the name of The lirst Baptist Society of Townsend.

In 1827, the Rev. Benjamin Dean "labored here as a missionary under the direction of the domestic Baptist Missionary Society of Massachusetts."

instructed Mr. Dean to call an ecclesiastical council by addressing letters to the neighboring Baptist churches. The letter sent to New Ipswich (which is spread on the records) was as follows : -

"The Baptist society of Townsend send christian love. Beloved Brethren. Sensible of the importance of exhibiting the light of the Glorious Gospel of peace, in all its doctrines and ordinances as they were delivered to the saints, and viewing ourselves incapacitated in our present situation to attend to the ordinances regularly, and having a prospect of being enlarged in numbers, have voted unanimouslv that it is expedient to invite our brethren to visit us and in an ecclesiastical council on the 9"^ day of May next, and should you see cause, after having examined our situation, to constitute us into a visible Gospel Church.

The churches in the towns of New Ipswich, Mason and Milford in the state of New Hampshire, and Chelmsford, Harvard and Littleton, in Massachusetts, were represented in this council by a pastor and delegate. The fourth resolution adopted by this council was tlie following : -

"4. Resolved that we humbly trust that we have the approbation of the great Head of the church in acknowledging Brethren and Sisters, Asa Baldwin, Joseph Walker, Solomon Stevens, Joseph Simonds, Levi Ball, Susanna Holt, Chloe Ball, Elizabeth Stevens, Unity Manning,

Lucy Ball, Chloe Stevens, Almira Stevens, and their associates, The First Baptist Church of Christ in Townsend, and under this impression, we cheerfully fellowship them as such."

On the same day Levi Ball was chosen deacon of this church, and regularly ordained b}' the council. The ministers, who constituted this council, were Rev. Joseph Elliott, of New Ipswich, Rev. Bela Wilcox, of Mason, Rev. Samuel Everett, of Milford, New Hampshire, Rev. John Parkhurst, of Chelmsford, Rev. Abisha Sampson, of Harvard, and Rev. Amasa Sanderson, of Littleton. Mr. Sampson, was moderator, and Mr. Sanderson, scribe.

These ministers in particular were invited to participate in this council because most of the persons who asked for the inauguration of this new church were members of the churches in their several towns.

The business of the council being completed, "Voted to adjourn to the congregational church, at 2 o'clock, for services." At that time and place, Levi Ball was ordained deacon of this church, by the reverend gentlemen of the council, with considerable "pomp and ceremony," each and all of these ministers taking some part in the services.

It is certain that no better man than Mr. Ball could have been chosen and ordained to till this office. The ancestors of Mr. Ball came from Wiltshire, England. He was the grandson of Ebenezer Ball, who was the second child born (1729) in Townsend. He was an industrious, enterprising man, and greatly interested in the success of the baptist church and society. He died in 1849.

There were two or three families in Townsend. of the baptist taith, about the commencement of the present century. These people were obliged, by law, to pay a regular tax for the support of the town's minister, besides being under a moral obligation to contribute towards baptist preaching in the towns from whence they came.

At the annual town meeting, in March, 1805, the year after the present old meeting-house at the Centre was built, this article was in the town warrant : -