HISTORY CHURCHES AND MINISTERS, AND OF FRANKLIN ASSOCIATION, IN FEANKLIN COUNTY, MASS. AND AN APPENDIX RESPECTING THE COUNTY. BY REV. THEOPHILUS PACKARD, JR., Late Pastor of the Congregational Church in Shelburne, Mass. BOSTON: S. K. WHIPPLE AND COMPANY, 100 Washington Street. 1854. Entered according to an Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by Theophilus Packard, Jr., In the Clerk's Office of tlie District Court of the District of Massachusetts. DUTTON & WeNTWORTH, PRINTERS, 37 Congress Street, Boston. CONTENTS Pkeface and Explanation, .----. page 1 Franklin Countt Mass. ------- "7 AsHFiELD. Congregational Church. Pastors : Jacob Sherwin, Nehemiah Porter, Alvan Sanderson, Thomas Shepard, Mason Grovesnor, Burr Bald- win, Sereno D. Clark, and William H. Gilbert. Preachers who origi- nated from Ashfield : Rufus B. Bement, William Bement, John Cross, Anson Dyer, Alvah Lilley, Elijah Paine, John C. Paine, William P. Paine, Melzar Parker, Samuel Parker, Charles S. Porter, Freeman Sears, Oliver M. Sears, Preserved Smith, Preston Taylor, Morris E. White, and Francis Williams. Other Denominations : Baptists, Episcopalians, Methodists, Universalists, and Unitarians. Summary of all Preachers from Ashfield. --------- page 9 Bernardston. Congregational Churches. Pastors: John Norton, Job Wright, Amasa Cook, Vinson Gould, Bancroft Fowler, Frederic Janes, and Charles Kendall. Preachers who originated from Bernardston: Samuel C. Allen and Elijah Wollage. Other Denominations : Baptists, Methodists, Unitarians, and Universalists. Summary" of all Preachers from Bernardston. -■- - - - -- - page 32 BucKLAND. Congregational Church. Pastors : Josiah Spaulding, Ben- jamin F. Clarke, Preston Cummings, and Asa B. Smith. Preachers who originated from Buckland : Jesse Edson, Washington A. Nichols, Leb- beus R. Phillips, David Rood, and Lathrop Taylor. Other Denomina- tions : Baptists, Episcopalians, and Methodists. Summary of all Preach- ers from Buckland. -------- page 52 Charlemont. Congregational Churches. Pastors : Jonathan Leavitt, Isaac Babbitt, Joseph Field, Wales Tileston, Stephen T. Allen, John D. Smith, Moses H. Wilder, and Aaron Foster. Preachers who originated from Charlemont : James Ballard, Roswell Hawks, Theron M. Hawks, Lemuel Leonard, and Daniel Rice. Other Denominations: Baptists, Methodists, Unitarians, and Universalists. Summary of all Preachers from Charlemont. -------- page 64 IV CONTENTS. CoLERAiNE. Congregational Church. Pastors: Alexander McDowell, Daniel McCIellan, Samuel Taggart, Aretas Loomis, Horatio Flagg, and Cj^rus W. Allen. Preachers who originated from Coleraine : Oren John- son, Aretas G. Loomis, Elihu Loomis, Lorenzo Lyons, Luke Lyons, Jon- athan McGee, William Riddel, and Hugh Wallace. Other Denomina- tions : Baptists, C-h-r-i-s-t-i-a-n-s, Methodists, Perfectionists, and Univer- salists. Summary of all Preachers from Coleraine. - - page 80 CoNWAT. Congregational Church. Pastors : John Emerson, Edward Hitchcock, Daniel Crosby, Melancthon G. Wheeler, Samuel Harris, and George M. Adams, Preachers who originated from Conway: Joel Baker, Elisha Billings, Richard S. Billings, Abel B. Clary, Dexter Clary, Stalharn Clary, David Dickinson, Harrison G. O. Dwight, Sam- uel M. Emerson, Samuel Fisher, William Fisher, John A. Nash, Edward W. Root, Joseph K. Ware, Samuel Ware, and William Ware. Other Denominations : Baptists, Episcopalians, Methodists, Unitarians, and Uni- versalists. Summary of all preachers from Conway. - - page 99 Deerfield. Congregational Churches. Pastors : John Williams, Jon- athan Ashley, John Taylor, Henry Seymour, Alfred E. Ives, Benjamin Rice, Tertius S. Clarke, William M. Richards, Abraham Jackson, Moses K. Cross, and David A. Strong. Preachers who originated from Deer- field : Hiram P. Arms, Selah R. Arms, Joel Bordwell, Zenas Clapp, Orin Cooley, John Hawks, Jr., Ebenezer Hindsdale, Edward Hitchcock, Asa Johnson, Alonzo Sanderson, Rufus Wells, Eleazer Williams, Ste- phen Williams, Warham Williams, and Edward Wright. Other De- nominations : Baptists, Episcopalians, Methodists, and Unitarians. Sum- mary of all Preachers from Deerfield. - . - _ page 123 Erving. Congregational Church. Pastor: Josiah Tucker. Other De- nominations : Baptists, and Universalists. Summary — one preacher from Erving. ..---_... page 160 Gill. Congregational Church. Pastors : John Jackson, Jabez Munsell, Josiah W. Canning, James Sandford, William Miller, and Edward F. Brooks. Preachers who originated from Gill: William M. Richards, Samuel H. Riddel, and Jubilee Wellman. Other Denorpinations : Meth- odists, and Unitarians. Summary of aU Preachers from Gill. page 163 Greenfield. Congregational Churches. Pastors : Edward Billings, Roger Newton, Gamaliel S. Olds, Sylvester Woodbridge, Amariah Chandler, Charles Jenkins, William C. Fowler, Caleb S. Henry, Thomas Bellows, Samuel Washburn, Lorenzo L. Langstroth, and George C. Partridge. Preachers who originated from Greenfield : Edward Billings, Jr., Charles C. Corse, John F. Griswold, Charles P. Russell, and Samuel M. Wood- bridge. Other Denominations : Baptists, Episcopalians, Methodists, and Unitarians. Summary of all Preachers from Greenfield. - page 173 CONTENTS. V Hawley. Congregational Churches. Pastors : Jonathan Grout, Tyler Thacher, Henry Seymour, Moses Miller, and John Eastman. Preachers who originated from Hawley : Orramel VV. Cooley, Marshall L. Farns- worth, Pindar Field, Thomas A. Hall, Urbane Hitchcock, Jonas King, Foster Lilley, Jr., Alfred Longley, Moses M. Longley, Isaac Oakes, Al- vah C. Page, Jeremiah Taylor, Oliver A. Taylor, Rufus Taylor, Timothy A. Taylor, and Thomas H. Wood. Other Denominations : Methodists. Summary of all Preachers from Hawley, _ . . page 202 Heath. Congregational Churches. Pastors : Joseph Strong, Moses Mil- ler, Calvin Butler, Samuel M. Emerson, Josiah Fisher, and Alpheus Graves. Preachers who originated from Heath: Stephen T. Allen, Joshua Leavitt, Lowell Smith, David H. Thayer, and John C. Thompson. Other Denominations: Baptists, Unitarians, and Universalists. Sum- mary of all preachers from Heath. page 225 Leverett. Congregational Church. Pastors: Henry Williams, Joel Wright, Joseph Sawyer, Jonas Colburn, Freegrace Reynolds, and David Eastman. Preachers Avho originated from Leverett : Levi A. Field, Levi Field, William S.Smith, and Avery Williams. Other Denominations : Baptists, Episcopalians, Unitarians, and Universalists. Summary of all Preachers from Leverett. -.-_.- page 239 Leyden. Baptists, Episcopalians, Methodists, and Universalists. Sum- mary of all preachers from Leyden. Dorrelites. - - page 249 Monroe. Universalists, and Unitarians. Summary of all Preachers from Monroe, -- page 2(30 Montague. Congregational Church. Pastors: Judah Nash, Aaron Gates, Moses B. Bradford, Benjamin Holmes, and James H. Merrill. Preachers who originated from Montague : Lucius R. Eastman, Walter Gunn, and Justin Marsh. Other Denominations : Baptists, Episcopalians, and Unitarians . Summary of all Preachers from Montague. page 261 New Salem. Congregational Churches. Pastors : Samuel Kendall, Joel Foster, Levi French, Erastus Curtis, and William H. Hay ward. Preach- ers who originated from New Salem : Josiah L. Armes, Caleb Clark, and John Taylor. Other Denominations: Baptists, Methodists, Unitarians, and Universalists. Summary of Preachers from New Salem, page 274 NoRTHFiELD. Congregational Churches. Pastors: Benjamin Doolittle, John Hubbard, Samuel C. Allen, Eli Moody, Bancroft Fowler, Horatio J. Lombard, Nathaniel Richardson, and Luther Farnham. Preachers who originated from Northfield: Caleb Alexander, Joseph R. Field, Lucius Field, Thomas P. Field, and Frederic Janes. Other Denomina- tions : Baptists, Episcopalians, Metliodists, and Unitarians. Summary of all Preachers from Northfield. page 282 VI CONTENTS. Orange. Congregational Churches. Pastors: Emerson Foster, Josiah Tucker, and David Peck. Other Denominations: Baptists, Metho- dists, Unitarians, and Universalists. Summary of all preachers from Orange. -... page 298 RowE. Congregational Churches. Pastors: Preserved Smith, Jonathan Keith, John C. Thompson, Andrew Govan, and Benjamin F. Clarke. Preachers who originated from Rowe : Joseph W. Clary, Noah Cressey, Preserved Smith, Jr., and Sereno W. Streeter. Other Denominations : Baptists, Methodists, and Unitarians. Summary of all Preachers from Rowe. -- page 3C8 Shelburne. Congregational Churches, Pastors : Robert Hubbard, Jesse Townsend, Theophilus Packard, Theophilus Packard, Jr., and George F. Bronson. Preachers who originated from Shelburne : Amariah Chandler, Rufus Childs, Daniel T. Fisk, Ezra Fisk, Pliny Fisk, Samuel Fisk, Rob- ert Hubbard, Jr., Giles Lyman, Theophilus Packard, Jr., and Levi Pratt. Other Denominations: Baptists, Methodists, Unitarians, Universalists, Shaking Quakers, and Episcopalians. Summary of all Preachers from Shelburne page 322 Shutesbury. Congregational Church. Pastors: Abraham Hill, John Taylor, and Ezra Newton. Preachers who originated from Shutesbury: Dyer Ball, Oliver Hill, and Samuel W. Leonard. Other Denominations : Baptists, Methodists, and Universalists. Summary of all Preachers from Shutesbury. -----_--- page 356 Sunderland. Congregational Church. Pastors : Joseph Willard, William Rand, Joseph Ashley, Asa Lyon, David H. Williston, James Taylor, Henry B. Holmes, Solomon B. Ingram, Austin Cary, Henry B, Hosford, and Sereno D. Clark. Preachers who originated from Sunderland : Ed- ward Billings, Eli F. Cooley, Joseph Field, Alpheus Graves, Horatio N Graves, Austin O. Hubbard, Jonathan Hubbard, Ochus G. Hubbard, and Rodolphus B. Hubbard. Other Denominations: Baptists, and Unita- rians. Summary of all preachers from Sunderland. - - page 365 Warwick. Congregational Churches. Pastors: Lemuel Hedge, Samuel Reed, Samuel Kingsbury, and Roger C. Hatch. Preachers -who origi- nated from Warwick : John Fiske, Moses Fiske, Nahum Gould^,' Junius L. Hatch, Francis Leonard, Swan L. Pomroy, and Levi ^^yJeaton. Other Denominations : Baptists, Episcopaliscris, Unitarians and Universalists. Summary of all preachers from Warwick. - - _ page 397 Wendell. Congregational Church. Pastors: Joseph Kilburn, Hervey Wilbur, John Duncklee, William Claggett, Salmon Bennett, and Noa- diah S. Dickinson. Preachers who originated from Wendell : Warren CONTENTS. Vll H. Beaman, and Joseph Sawyer. Other Denominations : Baptists. Sum- mary of all preachers from Wendell. - . . - page 408 Whatelt. Congregational Churches. Pastors : Rufus Wells, Lemuel P. Bates, John Ferguson, J. Howard Temple, Charles N. Seymour, and Jonathan S. Judd. Preachers who originated from Whately : Pnmroy Belden, Perez Chapin, Lucius W. Chapman, Alvan Sanderson, and Rufus P. Wells. Other Denominations : Baptists and Methodists. Summary of all Preachers from Whately. page 413 General Summary, .-.--_--" 425 Table No. I, of all the existing Churches in the County, - - " 426 Table No. II, of all the Preachers who originated from the County, "426 Table No. HI, of all the Orthodox Congregational Churches in the County, "427 Table No. IV, of the Orthodox Congregational Pastors of the County, "429 Table No. V., of the Orthodox Congregational Preachers who originated from the County, " 433 History of Franklin Association; its Members and Licen- tiates, -- " 438 Appendix, - __.-.----" 451 Table No. I, of the Incorporation and Valuation of the Towns, - " 451 Table No. II, of the Population of the Towns from 1790, - - " 452 Table No. Ill, of the Educational and other Statistics of tlie Towns, "453 Courts in the County, _--_----" 453 Counselors, ----------- 454 Physicians, -_----.---" 454 Banks, Papers, Various Societies, " 455 Productions, &c., ---------- 455 Benevolent Contributions, " 455 PREFACE. The chief object of this work is, to present a brief view of the most important and interesting facts in the history of the Orthodox Congregational Churches and Ministers of Franklin County, Mass, In doing this, it has seemed suita- ble to take some notice of the other religious denominations in the county. To furnish a full and particular history of any religious denomination, is a work that belongs most ob- viously to a member of that denomination. Hence the brevity of the account given of those religious orders to which the author does not belong. So intimately connected has been the Franklin Association of Ministers with the Orthodox Congregational Churches and Ministers of the county, that a brief sketch of its history, and some notice of its members and its licentiates, seem necessary to the completeness of this work. The Appendix is designed to furnish a variety of information relative to the county, which i3 not collected in any single work, and to which reference can easily be made. This work is intended to be a collection of facts. It has been the aim of the author to relate, upon satisfactory evi- dence, what has taken place in reference to the subjects here considered ; and not generally to offer his conjectures, or speculations, or inferences. No small amount of time and effort has been required to obtain full and reliable in- formation. To secure such information, probably about eight hundred letters have been written, and nearly as many received. All but eight of the living Orthodox Congrega- 1 -4 PREFACE. tional Ministers, who have been and now are pastors in the county, and who originated from it, have themselves kindly furnished the statistics in their history. This work was commenced seven years since, under the direction of Frank- lin Association ; but they subsequently committed it entirely to the hands of the author. He alone is responsible for the production. It is believed, that no work, embracing just such a field as is here occupied, has yet appeared before the public. This is only an approximation to what should be done. Should this humble attempt exert any influence in leading to the preparation of full and detailed Ecclesiastical and Ministerial histories of the difl'erent sections of our country, or of New England, one valuable purpose will be answered. Such histories ought speedily to be written. Respect for our noble ancestors, justice to ourselves, benevolence to our posterity, and the interests of the Christian Religion, de- mand them. In the accounts given of Ministers, the author has intended to give only the statistical facts in the history of the liv- ing, and generally to insert the biographical notices written by others, respecting the deceased. Such biographies occupy no small portion of the volume. As correct delinea- tions of Preachers of the Gospel, who either received more or less of their early training in this county, or who exer- cised the functions of the pastoral ofiice in the churches of the county — being men of widely diiferent endowments, habits, tastes and degrees of education — and many of them having been pioneers in the ministry in the newly settled towns of this region, and consequently subjected to peculiar hardships and privations — the biographies, it is hoped, may not be uninteresting to the religious and reflecting portion of the people in the county. In those unhappy cases, in which ministers have fallen into faults or immoralities, only a brief and general statement of the fact has been given ; minute details have been omitted. PREFACE, In the limited account given of those denominations, with which the author is not connected, he has especially en- deavored to state facts with fairness and correctness. For his information he has been chiefly dependent on the kind- ness of ministers, officers, and members of churches, and others connected with those denominations. If mistakes have been made, they probably originated with those who furnished the accounts. Explanation. — A few explanatory words may render the plan, method, and statements of the following work more intelligible and easy of comprehension. A few facts of a general nature respecting the county and the several towns, are deemed a fit introduction to a particular account of the churches and ministers in the respective towns. A more full account of churches and ministers is given in some cases than in others. The reason for this, generally is, inability to procure the information lacking. In some cases, the early records of churches are not to be found. For this reason the enumeration of religious Revivals and Ecclesiastical Councils, and some other events noticed in the following pages, is not complete. Ministers from this county who be- came Presbyterian, are ranked in the Congregational order, and the distinction between these two orders is not generally observed in the account of ministers given in this work. Although a person has preached but a short time, and has then wholly left the ministry for some other employment — and although he has not been ordained — yet every such per- son who has originated from this county, has been reckoned in this work as a Preacher, so far as the knowledge of the author extends. If a preacher has not been ordained, he is not strictly a minister, but a licentiate ; and in this work the title of Mr., and not of Rev., is applied to him. When min- isters have left one denomination for another, they are no- ticed and reckoned in both the denominations. When it is said in the following pages, that a minister or preacher 4 PREFACE. originated from a certain town, it is meant, either that he was born in the town, or lived in it in early life. In the account here given of the Methodists, the distinction be- tween the Episcopal and Wesleyan orders, and between a church and a class, is not probably always observed. As the Unitarian denomination was once reckoned as belonging to the Orthodox Congregational order, and the time of sepa- ration is not definitely fixed, it has been a difficult and deli- cate work to state when the seven Unitarian churches in the county that were originally Orthodox, changed their denom- ination ; and consequently the statements on this point have been somewhat general and indefinite. The pastors of these churches at the period when this change of denomination was in progress, have been classified as Orthodox or Unita- rian, according to the best information of the author. If he has erred in the classification, his error is unintentional. The religious organizations among the Universalists are not called churches but societies. In the arrangement of the towns, and of the different denominations, except the Ortho- dox Congregational order, and of the preachers who origin- ated from the county, the alphabetic order is generally ob- served. A star * prefixed to the name of a preacher signifies that he has deceased. The mark of interrogation annexed to figures indicates an uncertainty as to their correctness. While mention is made of some of the persons, who have preached as supplies among the various churches, yet it is not pretended that the whole number have been noticed. It has been found impossible to learn the names of all who have supplied for brief periods — especially in the early his- tory of the churches. Probably the names of all the preach- ers in the other denominations beside the Orthodox Con- gregational, who have originated from the county, are not mentioned in this work. After taking great pains, the author has enumerated all of this class known to him. In preparing such an amount of statistical matter as is found in this work, respecting which it is so easy to make PREFACE. 5 mistakes and so difficult to be correct and accurate, the author dares not flatter himself, that the book is entirely free from errors in this respect. He has done all that seemed reasonable and practicable, to make it a reliable repository of facts respecting the Ecclesiastical and Ministerial History of the county. As such it is humbly commended to the candid attention of the people of the county, for whom principally it was prepared. FRANKLIN COUNTY, MASS. In 1662, the territory of this county, then inhabited only by wild beasts and Indians, was incorporated as a part of Hampshire County. It was incorporated as Franklin Coun- ty, June 24, 1811. The following graphic description of it is given in Hayward's Gazetteer of Massachusetts, pub- lished in 1849 :— "It is bounded on the north by Windham County, Ver- mont, and a part of Cheshire County, New Hampshire ; east by Worcester County ; south by Hampshne County ; and west by the County of Berkshire. '• The surface of Franklin County is elevated ; the Green mountain range extends from north to south, presenting some of the wildest and most picturesque scenery in the state. The soil of the county, however broken by hills of no common height, is exceedingly fertile ; its numerous ex- pansive valleys of rich alluvion produce the finest crops of all sorts of grains and grasses ; while its mountain-sides afford rich pasturage for countless flocks and herds. "Few sections of our country equal the county of Frank- lin in the extent and value of its hydraulic power. The noble Connecticut pierces its centre from north to south ; the romantic and powerful Deerfield pours its volume of water from the west, while Miller's river comes in from the east with its rapid current, joins the two former near the heart of the county, and passes to the ocean. These rivers, combined with their numerous tributaries, watering every section of the county, produce a water-power of great extent and usefulness. 8 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS " Until within a few years the people of this county have confined themselves chiefly to the pursuits of agriculture ; and in that their soil and climate have favored them ; but since it has been discovered that our workshops had better be located at home than abroad, they have commenced man- ufacturing most of those articles for which they had been dependent on others ; and it cannot be doubted that in a few years, with its gigantic water-power, aided by steam in its transportation, this hitherto secluded county will become an important district, both in its agricultural and manufacturing operations." The territory of the county has been calculated to contain 723 square miles. It is divided into twenty-six incorporated towns ; of which the following is an alphabetical list, viz, : Ashfield, Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont, Coleraine, Conway, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Greenfield, Hawley, Heath, Leverett, Leyden, Monroe, Montague, New Salem, North- field, Orange, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, Sunderland, Warwick, Wendell and Whately. The population of the county in 1790, was 21,743 ; in 1800, it was 26,300 ; in 1810, it was 27,421; in 1820, it was 29,418; in 1830, it was 29,630; in 1840, it was 28,812; and in 1850, it was 30,869. Excepting Dukes and Nantucket, it has the small- est population of any counties in the state. The first settlement made in the county, the first church formed, and the first minister employed and settled, were in Deerfield. The early settlers of this town, Green- field, Bernardston, Northfield, and some other towns, passed through some terrible scenes of Indian warfare. Religious controversy has not greatly prevailed in this county. About the middle of the last century, some discus- sion arose respecting the terms of admission to the church. In the early part of this century, the subject of christian fellow- ship between the Orthodox and Unitarians was agitated witii some interest and zeal in the community. About a quarter of a century since, the respective religious systems of the OF ASHFIELD. 9 Orthodox and Unitarians, were subjects of discussion to a considerable extent in the county. Between 1818 and 1834, five Unitarian churches or societies were formed in the county ; and six Orthodox churches were organized, which to some extent were secessions from Unitarian churches. Many of the churches have enjoyed repeated seasons of religious revival. In 1831 and 1833, protracted meetings of several days were held in many of the religious societies in the county. During the year 1831, more than 550 were ad- mitted to less than twenty of the Orthodox Congregational churches. There are now in the county eight incorporated Acade- mies; about 8,000 children in attendance on the district schools ; about 50 practising physicians ; some 25 counsel- lors, and 160 justices of the peace ; and about 80 churches, 80 religious meetings on the Sabbath, and 80 preachers, of all denominations. ASHFIELD. The territory in this town was given to Capt. Ephraim Hunt of Weymouth, for his services in the Canada expedi- tion of 1690. It was actually conveyed to his heirs in 1736. In honor of Capt. Hunt it was called Huntstown till its in- corporation June 21, 1765. The town began to be settled about 1742. It had a small military garrison in 1750. On account of the French and Indian war the settlements were abandoned for a season in 1755. Its population in 1850 was 1394. Five churches have been organized in this town, viz., one Congregational, two Baptist, one Methodist, one Episcopal, and a Universalist society. CONGREGATIONALISTS. Church. The Congregational church was organized Feb. 22, 1763, with 15 members. The first Meeting-house of the Congregationalists was built in 1766. The second was built in 1812. Col. John Ames, 2 10 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS of Buckland, contracted to build this house, and had nearly- finished itj when he committed suicide. The fear of sus- taining a serious loss by the contract, and probably a degree of insanity, led to this melancholy catastrophe. The second house was thoroughly remodeled about 1840. Eleven Revivals have been enjoyed by this church and people, resulting in the addition of about 430 members to the church. The first was in 1780, and 25 were added; in 1797, and 71 added; in 1801, and 13 added; in 1807, and 46 added; in 1816, and 20 added; in 1821, and 81 added ; in 1828, and 18 added ; in 1829, and 87 added ; in 1831, and 36 added ; in 1834, and from 20 to 30 added ; in 1843, and 14 added. Several Councils have been called to settle difficulties among this people; one was called in Feb., 1774; one was called April 24, 1832 ; one by an excommunicated member, July 1, 1835 ; and one by the church, June 1, 1847. The Charitable contributions of this people, in 1853, amounted to |329 50. The church in 1853 numbered 180. In 1852 the Sabbath School contained 245 members. The first Congregational preaching in town was by Revs. Messrs. Dickinson of Hadley, and Streeter. The following persons were invited to become pastors of the church, who did not settle in the ministry in Ashfield, viz.. Rev. Sylves- ter Woodbridge in 1815, for whose ordination a council was convened, Jan. 2, 1816, but, upon the presentation of a pro- test, they declined to ordain him ; Rev. Stephen C. Crosby, May 6, 1818; and Rev. Ezekiel Russell, Nov. 30, 1835. This church has existed about 91 years, and has had settled pastors about 87 years, and has been destitute of the same only about three years. This church has had eight pastors. Pastors. 1.* Rev. Jacob Sherwin was ordained as pastor of this church, the day after its organization, Feb. 23, 1763, and, after a ministry of about eleven years, was dismissed May 17, 1774. He was born in Hebron, Ct., Feb. 25, 1736, and graduated at Yale in 1759. After his ordina- OF ASHFIELD. 11 tion in Ashfield, a contest arose between the Congregation- alists and the Baptists respecting their claims to a lot of land of several hundred acres, which was to accrue to the society which first settled a pastor. The case was decided in law in favor of the Congregationalists. Conflicting ac- counts of this affair are given by the different parties. The views of the Baptists on the subject, are given in the Minutes of the Franklin County Baptist Association for 1852. Mr. Sherwin lived in Ashfield several years after his dismission ; officiated as a justice of the peace, and as town clerk, and preached some in Buckland, and other neighboring towns. Mr. Sherwin at length removed to Sunderland, Vt., and was installed as the pastor of one of the Congregational churches in that town, March 18, 1790. Rev. Nehemiah Porter, of Ashfield, preached the sermon on the occasion. Some singular circumstances occurred in connection with his settlement in this latter place. A lot of land in the town had been given for the support of the pastor who should be first settled. Two churches had been formed in different parts of the town, and each wished to have its min- ister settled first, so as to obtain the land. Both pastors were settled on the same day, and the land was claimed for both. Rev. Dr. Lee, afterwards a pastor in Colebrook, Ct., and Rev. Mr. Sherwin were the pastors. Suits at law were commenced. "The matter was continued in the County Court for a long time, and a great deal of curious testimony was adduced from the clocks and watches of Sunderland, respecting the point in question. At length, with a discrim- ination which has seldom, if ever, been equalled, it was decided that the settlement of Mr. Sherwin preceded that of Dr. Lee about two minutes. This settled the matter in re- spect to the law, but not in respect to the Gospel. The expenses of the suit were heavy, and the alienation such as could not be healed. Some of the best men left the place, among whom was the father of the late Jeremiah Evarts, Corresponding Secretary of the American Board. An awful 12 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS declension followed, and the moral desolation remains yet to be repaired." See Am. Q-uart. Register, vol. 15, p. 135. Mr. Sherwin was unable to officiate as pastor for several years previous to his death. He died and was buried in Sunderland, Vt. Rev. Mr. Jackson, then of Dorset, Vt., de- livered the sermon at his funeral. The following is the epitaph on his monument, viz. : " In memory of Rev. Jacob Sherwin, who died Jan. 7, 1803, aged 66 years, 10 months, and 7 days." " When Christ appears in yonder cloud With all his favored throng, This dust shall wake and sing aloud, And Christ shall be the song." 2.* Rev. Nehemiah Porter was installed Dec. 21, 1774. On the first day of the council only two ministers were present; messengers were despatched for the absent mem- bers. Mr. Hubbard, of Shelburne, arrived the next day, and the council proceeded. Mr. Porter preached his own installation sermon. He was born in Ipswich, March 22, 1720 ; graduated in Cambridge in 1745 ; ordained in Ipswich, Chebacco Parish, now Essex, Jan. 3, 1750 ; dismissed in June, 1766, and then preached several years at Cape Canso, Nova Scotia. He lived to have two pastors successively settled as colleagues with him in Ashfield. Being in his one hundredth year at the settlement of his last colleague, he ascended the pulpit on that occasion, and, blind by age, and tottering in step, with a tremulous voice affectionately exhorted the people to live at peace among themselves. The following obituary notice, by Rev. Thomas Shepard, was published in the Boston Recorder, vol. 5, No. 33 : " Rev. Nehemiah Porter was born at Ipswich, in the Coun- ty of Essex, State of Mass., March 22, 1720, O. S., of honest and respectable parents, who early dedicated this son to the Lord, and brought him up in his fear. Nehemiah, when a child, was put under the instruction of the Rev. Mr. Wig- OF ASHTIELD. 13 glesworth, the faithful and pious minister of the parish where he Hved. Here he became the subject of deep relig- ious impressions, which issued in a hopeful conversion to God, the evidence of which he exhibited by a public pro- fession of his faith in the Lord Jesus, and by a life and con- versation which adorned his profession. At length a strong desire was excited in his mind to become a minister of Christ, and to preach and recommend that religion to others, the excellency of which and the power of which, he had seen and felt in his own soul. This being communicated to his father, with whom he then lived and labored, he was again sent to Mr. W., to attend to his preparatory studies. * * Soon after his settlement at Chebacco, he married his first wife, the daughter of Rev. Mr. Chipman of Beverly, by whom he had ten children. With this amiable and pious woman, the companion of his youth, he was called to part in the meridian of her life. * * * in 1778 Mr. Porter married his second wife. * * He occasionally exhorted and prayed in public, with edification to his hearers, until he reached his one hundredth year. In June, 1819, the Rev. Thomas Shepard was ordained the second colleague with Mr. Porter. Hundreds, if not thousands, will remember to the day of their death, the novel and melting scene of the ordination day. They will remember the venerable appearance of their senior pastor, bending under the weight of about one hun- dred years, as he passed along the broad aisle, leaning on his two staffs ; they will remember the firm and steady step with which he ascended the pulpit stairs without aid, the fer- vency with which he engaged in the consecrating prayer, with his apostolical hand on the head of his young col- league, and the distinct, audible, and aff'ectionate manner in which he addressed a few dying words to his beloved flock, in the form of a charge. With his second colleague he lived in great harmony and christian affection until his death. ''As a preacher Mr. Porter sustained a very respectable character ; if not a star of the first magnitude, yet he shone 14 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS with a clearness and degree of lustre, which rendered him an ornament to the church. * * * His sermons were always plain and simple, well calculated to instruct and im- press the mind, and delivered with remarkable animation, pungency, and holy fervor. His ministerial labors were blessed to the awakening and converting of many sinners, and to the enlightening, comforting, and edifying of many christians. * * * For several years, previous to his death, religion was the constant theme of his conversation. It may be truly said, that he preached daily to those who visited him in his own house. * * * He devoted many hours, every day, to secret prayer. * * * He trusted solely in the merits of Christ for salvation. When told that he had labored a long time in the ministry, and had been instrumental of doing much good, he would reply, " I have been very unfaithful. I hope I shall obtain mercy through Christ." * * * He expressed great confidence in God, and spake of death with much composure. At 9 o'clock, P. M., (Feb. 29, 1820,) he calmly fell asleep in peace." The following incidents, communicated to the author, will still further illustrate the character of Mr. Porter. He was a chaplain in the American army, at the surrender of Bur- goyne. He used to say, with a great deal of animation, " I conquered him. The decisive blow was struck, and the battle decided, while I was holding a season of special prayer in a retired place, with a few pious soldiers." He had great firmness and decision of character. Once, when preaching on politics, a gentleman of the opposite party rose in his pew and said, " Mr. Porter, you had better let that subject alone." Upon which, with a stamp of the foot, and great energy, he exclaimed, " Silence," and proceeded with his discourse. He was a strict observer of the Sabbath. He would frequently go into his field, where his men were at work, on Saturday afternoon, to urge them to finish their labor by the going down of the sun. At Mr. Porter's request, Rev. John Emerson of Conway OFASHFIELD. 15 preached his funeral sermon. He lacked but twenty-two days of completing one hundred years. On his gravestone, near the Congregational church, is the following epitaph : — " Mr. Porter was a faithful minister of Christ ; with long life he was satisfied ; he fell asleep in Jesus, in hope of a joyful resurrection and a blessed immortality." " The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance." He held the pastoral office in Ashfield, about forty-five years. 3.* Rev. Alvan Sanderson was installed as colleague with Mr. Porter, June 22, 1808. He was born in Whately, Dec. 13, 1780 ; graduated at Williams College, in 1802 ; studied theology with Rev. Dr. Hyde of Lee, and for a short time, with Rev. Dr. Lyman of Hatfield ; was licensed by the Berkshire Association, Oct. 17, 1804; was ordained as an Evangelist, at Westhampton, Feb. 4, 1807 ; the ordination sermon was preached by Rev. Rufus Wells of Whately ; and he fulfilled several missions in Vermont and Maine, in the service of the Hampshire Missionary Society, previous to his settlement in Ashfield. The following is an extract from a biography of him, written, it is supposed, by Rev. Mr. Spaulding of Buckland, and published in the 14th vol. of the Panoplist and Mission- ary Herald for 1818, at page 393 :— " His duties to his flock occupied his time, and engrossed the sensibilities of his heart. In their afflictions, he was af- flicted ; he sympathized in their sorrows, and rejoiced in their welfare. On occasions in which he thought his public performances had not possessed a warmth suited to the solemnity of the subject, his reflections on his own unwor- thiness and coldness, and his earnest supplications for pardon, showed his estimation of the responsibilities of his office, and his anxiety to be a faithful watchman over immortal souls. He enjoyed many encouraging evidences of a blessing from heaven upon his labors. His people gave a laudable attend- ance on his ministry, and exhibited much personal attach- ment, which he assiduously employed for their spiritual im- 16 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS provement, that through his influence and exertions their souls might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. His de- sire was to be spent for them. The strength of his benevo- lence towards them, urged him to exertions which broke down' a constitution not capable of sustaining extreme fatigue. " On the 3d of Feb. 1814, at a public lecture, in which the assembly was very large, after the pronunciation of an elab- orate discourse, he felt an unusual weariness, as the imme- diate consequence of his efforts in speaking. This was followed the next day by a spitting of blood. This symp- tom frequently occurring within a few days, excited some alarm, but did not induce Mr. S. entirely to suspend his public services. On the Lord's day, Feb. 13, he was unable to preach, and soon after an entire suspension of ministerial labors became indispensable. From a journey, undertaken as a means of restoration, he returned in the month of June, and was soon after attacked by a copious haemorrhage, which so much reduced him, that his life was despaired of. Prov- idence, however, had ordained a lengthening out of his tran- quillity, and raised him up, not indeed to resume his public pastoral labors, but to do something, where he greatly de- sired to do much, as a helper of souls in the way to heaven. " His confinement was not long, though for a time it as- sumed a threatening appearance. When it became evident that he could not soon, if ever, again undertake public speak- ing, his concern for the religious interests of his people would not permit him to stand in the way of their enjoying active services in a successor. He accordingly requested a dismission, which was granted, by advice of a council called to ordain another pastor. * * * " A consumption gradually advanced, and finally bore him away to the land of silence, whence he now speaks to us in the devout affections and humility of his life. While death was silently approaching, and his system sinking under the weight of disease, his mind was calm, and his faith and hope were in God. * * * OF ASH FIELD. 17 " Mr. Sanderson's life was comparatively short, yet long enough to produce, for the instruction and comfort of his re- lations and acquaintance, an example of Christian piety and ministerial fidelity, displaying the power of grace and the excellence of religion. His person was rather below the middle stature, his temper was mild, his manners afiable, rather distinguished for gentleness and courtesy to all. His intellect, though not of the first class, yet by the unanimous testimony of his acquaintance, was truly respectable. His application to study, was that of a man searching for truth, such as will make men wise unto salvation. His mode of sermonizing was clear and convincing in the exhibition of doctrine, though not fascinating in style or maimer. In all departments of his sacred employment, he was serious and judicious, desiring to leave a good impression on those with whom he was conversant. His brethren in the ministry will witness, that in his intercourse with them he ,was always conciliating and instructive. He possessed a tenderness, a sensibility, and freedom of address, eminently adapted to the offices of friendship and the enjoyments of social life. Among his people he was serious, familiar, sympathetic, and obliging ; was much in their society, a large portion of his time being spent in parochial visits, which were so divided among the scattered population of his parish, that they showed the interest which all had in his affections. For these purposes he had more leisure than most clergymen, resulting from his freedom from domestic cares. "Although his salary was small, so well was it managed by prudence and economy, that, together with some little pat- rimony, it enabled him to procure a decent library, to be lib- eral in deeds of charity, and to accumulate something for appropriations to such objects as he wished to patronize. As his near relations were above want, he considered himself at liberty to devote his property to public uses. Accordingly, it was principally disposed of in the following bequests, viz. : To the church in Ashfield, to purchase a Bible, twenty dol- 3 18 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS lars ; to the religious society with which he had been con- nected, for the support of a Pedobaptist Congregational min- ister, four hundred dollars ; to the Hampshire Missionary Society, two hundred dollars ; to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, three hundred dollars. The remainder of his estate he committed to the care and management of trustees, for the continuance of the school, which he had begun under encouraging auspices. This last item is expected to amount to fifteen hundred, or two thou- sand dollars." The school here referred to, Avas afterwards incorporated as " Sanderson Academy." Mr. Sanderson was never married. He died June 22, 1817, on the ninth anniver- sary of his settlement in Ashfield, in his 37th year. Rev. Mr. Spaulding, of Buckland, preached at his funeral. His re- mains sleep by those of his aged predecessor, near the sanc- tuary. His ministry in A. was about eight years. Among the numerous preachers who supplied the desk during Mr. Sanderson's sickness, and previous to the settle- ment of the next pastor, were Rev. Luke Whitcomb, Rev. Stephen C. Crosby, and Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge ; the latter of whom was invited to settle, but the want of unan- imity among the people prevented the council, when con- vened, from ordaining him. 4, Rev. Thomas Shepard, D. D., was ordained colleague pastor, June 16, 1819. Rev. Dr. Shepard of Lenox preached on the occasion. Mr. Shepard was born in Norton, in 1792 ; graduated at Brown in 1813; studied theology at Andover ; was licensed by Londonderry Presbytery, April, 1816; was employed till 1819, as a missionary and teacher in Georgia, and as agent of the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb at Hart- ford, Ct. After his dismission from Ashfield, May 8, 1833, was an agent for the American Bible Society, about two years ; and was installed in Bristol, R. I., April 30, 1835, where he still remains. During his ministry of fourteen years in Ashfield, two hundred and seventy-four were ad- mitted to his church. Dr. Shepard received his Doctorate from Brown University, in 1853. OFASH FIELD. 19 5. Rev. Mason Grovesnor was installed pastor, May 9, 1833. He was bora in Craftsbury, Yt., Sept. 13, 1800; grad- uated at Yale, in 1827; studied theology at New Haven ; was ordained as an Evangelist at Guilford, Ct., March 22, 1831 ; was dismissed from Ashfield, after a ministry of about two years, July 16, 1835 ; was installed at Sharon, Ct., Sept. 28, 1836, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Lathrop ; dismissed from Sharon, Jan. 28, 1839 ; installed at Hudson, O., Dec. 22, 1840, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. L. P. Hickok ; dismissed from Hudson in August, 1843 ; was then at the head of a female seminary in Hudson, till 1847, and has since been an agent of the Society for the Promotion of Collegiate and Theological Education at the West, and re- sided in New Haven till 1853, when he left his agency, and became connected with the College at Jacksonville, Illinois. 6. Rev. Burr Baldwin was installed pastor, April 20, 1836, and Dr. Brown preached on the occasion. He was born in Fairfield, (now Easton,) Ct., Jan. 19, 1789; grad- uated at Yale, in 1809 ; studied theology at Andover ; preached for several years as a missionary in Ohio, Virginia, New York, and New Jersey ; acted as agent for several be- nevolent societies ; preached as stated supply for two years, in New Jersey; installed at Montrose, Penn., in October, 1824, and the sermon was by Rev. Cyrus Gildersleeve ; installed at New Hartford, Ct., Feb. 17, 1830, and the sermon was by Rev. Mr. Andrus ; dismissed from New Hartford, Feb. 6, 1833 ; dismissed from Ashfield in Sept., 1838 ; then taught an academy in Newark, N. J. ; and since 1847, has been a missionary in the Montrose Presbytery in Pennsylvania, and resides in Montrose. He exerted an important influence in the early introduction of Sabbath Schools into our country. In 1815 he gathered the first Sabbath School in Newark, N. J., and in six weeks had 300 scholars. Lack of health prevented the fulfilment of his early purpose to become a foreign missionary. He has one daughter, now laboring in the foreign field, the wife of a missionary. Mr. Baldwin's ministry in Ashfield was about two years and a half. 20 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS 7. Rev. Sereno D. Clark was ordained pastor, June 11, 1840. He was born in Southampton, in 1809 ; graduated at Amherst in 1835 ; studied theology in part at Andover ; was dismissed from Ashfield, April 22, 1851 ; installed at Lee, June 11, 1851 ; dismissed from Lee, June 22, 1852 ; and was installed at Sunderland, May 31, 1853, and Dr. Cleaveland of Northampton preached on the occasion. He is the author of a premium tract on Christian Benevolence. Mr. Clark's ministry in Ashfield was about eleven years. 8. Rev. William H. Gilbert was installed pastor, Dec. 3, 1851. The sermon on the occasion was preached by Rev. George Richards of Boston, and was published, with an Appendix, containing a historical sketch of the Con- gregational Church and Society and Ministry in Ashfield. Mr. Gilbert was born in Weston, Ct., in 1817; spent his early life in Colebrook, Ct. ; graduated at Yale, in 1841 ; studied theology, both at Andover and New Haven ; or- dained over the first church in Westminster, Yt., Oct. 21, 1846, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. Davis of Westfield ; and was dismissed from Westminster, March 5, 1851. An interesting memoir of Mr. Gilbert's first wife, who was Miss Elizabeth Mosely of Westfield, and who died Dec. 13, 1846, has been published by Dr. Davis. Mr. Gilbert is now in the third year of his ministry in Ashfield. Of the eight pastors of this church, six were dismissed. The average length of their pastorates has been about eight years and a half. Five of them are living. congregational preachers who originated from ashfield. 1. Rev. Riifus B. Betnent was born in Ashfield, June 5, 1808 ; finished the course of study at the Rensselaer Insti- tution in Troy, N. Y., in 1830 ; studied and practised med- icine several years ; removed to Michigan in 1835 ; was a member of the Legislature of that State in 1838 ; studied theology with Rev. Dr. Cleaveland, now of Northampton ; was ordained in Clarendon, Mich., in Nov., 1840 ; preached OFASHFIELD. 21 in Ohio and Indiana ; visited Egypt, Arabia, and Palestine ; has given thirty courses of lectures on Chemistry, seventy- five courses on Botany, and a thousand lectures on Ancient History. He resides in Bedford, Ohio. In 1853 he deliv- ered his course of lectures on Ancient History, in various places in New England. 2. Rev. William Bemeiit, brother of Rufus B. Bement, was born in Ashfield, April 5, 1806 ; graduated at Dart- mouth, in 1828; studied theology at Princeton; was li- censed by Hampden Association, in the fall of 1832 ; preached at Hamden Plains, Ct., in 1833 ; was ordained at East Hampton, Oct. 16, 1833, and Rev. M. E. White preached on the occasion ; was dismissed from East Hamp- ton, in April, 1850; installed at Elmira, N. Y., March 5, 1851, and Rev. E. Y. Swift preached the sermon at his in- stallation. Mr. Bement still labors at Elmira. 3. Rev. John Cross was born in Ashfield, June 1, 1797 ; removed to Fabius, N. Y., in 1805; prepared for the minis- try in part at Oneida Institute, Whitesborough, N. Y. ; was licensed by the Oneida Association, in 1833 ; preached in Geneva, Oriskany Falls, Oneida, and Camden, N. Y., several years ; was an anti-slavery agent, from 1836 to 1846, in New York and Illinois ; and was once imprisoned in Knoxville, 111., for harboring a fugitive slave, a widow, and her chil- dren ; united with the Wesleyan Methodists in 1846, and was a circuit preacher till 1851 ; is now an agent of the Methodist Academic and Collegiate Institution at Wheaton, 111., and resides at that place. 4. Rev. Anson Dyer was born in Ashfield, April 18, 1798 ; was in the employ of the American Board, as a teacher and laborer among the Choctaw Indians, from 1820 to 1828 ; his wife died at Elliot, in 1822 ; he studied theology with Rev. Moses Hallock, of Plainfield ; was licensed by Franklin As- sociation in 1829 ; was ordained by the same body as an Evangelist, April 21, 1831, at West Hawley, where he sup- plied for several years. He was deposed from the ministry 22 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS by Franklin Association, for unministerial conduct, March 26, 1834. He resides in West Hawley, as a private citizen. Mr. Dyer, within a few years past, has been an inmate of the Asyhim for the Insane, at Brattleboro', Vt. 5. Rev. Alvah Lilley was born in Ashfieid, Dec. 19, 1797; removed to Buckland in 1805 ; removed to Hawley in 1809 ; graduated at WiUiams in 1824; studied theology at Aubm-n; was licensed by the Cayuga Presbytery, N. Y., in June, 1827 ; was ordained as an Evangelist, at Franklin, N. Y., July 15, 1829 ; has supplied various churches in New York ; installed pastor at Newfield, N. Y., June 11, 1835; dismissed from Newfield, Sept. 10, 1839 ; preached in Gorham, N. Y., from 1839 to 1844 ; and since 1844 has been preaching in Pewaukie, Wisconsin, and in neighboring places, under the Home Missionary Society, and now resides in Pewaukie, Wis. 6.* Rev. Elijah Paine was born in Ashfieid, Dec. 9, 1797; graduated at Amherst in 1823 ; studied theology with Dr. Humphrey, then President of Amherst College ; ordained pastor at Claremont, N. H., April 1, 1829, and the sermon was by Rev. John Richards ; dismissed from Claremont in 1834 ; installed at West Boylston, Nov. 13, 1834, and Rev. Thomas Shepard preached on the occasion ; and died while pastor at West Boylston, Sept. 14, 1836, in his 39th year. His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Josiah Clarke, of Rutland. The following obituary notice of Mr. Paine, written prob- ably by Rev. Mr. Clarke, of Rutland, was published in the Boston Recorder, Nov. 4, 1836 : — " By this mournful event, the wife and children have lost a kind husband and father ; parents, brothers, and sisters, one who was a worthy pattern of filial and fraternal affec- tion ; and the church and people an able and faithful pastor. On no occasion have we witnessed a more deep and univer- sal expression of sorrow, than was manifested by an over- flowing congregation at his funeral. In his brief ministerial OFASHFIELD. 23 course, he has left imperishable memorials of his faithfulness and devotedness to his work. During the five years he was in Claremont, N. H., his preaching and labors were remarkably blessed ; and the church there gave an united and full testi- mony of his being ' a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.' Soon after his installation in West Boylston, in No- vember, 1834, a powerful and extensive revival commenced. His soul was in that work. It was too mighty for his already shattered frame, and accelerated the terrific disease that ter- minated in his death. He thought it not expedient to dis- tract the minds of his people by the voice of strangers, and therefore had little foreign aid. The peculiarity of his preaching was a lucid, argumentative, and forcible exhibi- tion of truth. There was no attempt to produce excitement, except through the medium of the understanding ; and no encouragement given, except to those who were ready to give a reason of their hope. Hence the revival was still, solemn, and uniform in its progress, permanent and salutary in its influence. He had greatly endeared himself to the children and youth of his parish, by kind attention and re- ligious instruction, and was, in the strength of Jesus Christ, rearing up a generation of intelligent and efficient christians. It would be difficult to describe the sensation caused by this mournful event, among the younger part of the congregation. They showed by their grief, that an impression had been made upon their minds, which would not soon be erased, and that the attachment to their instructor was of no ordi- nary kind. " His brethren in the Association to which he belonged, consider that they have lost one of their brightest ornaments. He stood high among them as a scholar, as a theologian, as one of sound judgment, of firm principles, and of that inde- pendence and integrity of mind, which can be formed only by being thoroughly imbued with the spirit of Christ." The following brief extracts are from a sketch of him in the American (Quarterly Register for the year 1837, vol. 10, p. 143 :— 24 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS " The good of his people and the glory of God were the all-absorbing objects which occupied his whole soul. * * * Though endeared to his family, friends, and society, death checked the career of his extensive usefulness in the midst of his days. * * * He possessed that independence and moral courage, that he was not afraid, nor ashamed, to go wherever his duty called. Rarely occurs an occasion, where deeper sympathy and mourning were manifested, than when the solemn group consigned his mortal remains to the tomb." He was one of three brothers who were ministers of the Gospel, sons of Hon. Elijah Paine, of Ashfield, — notices of whom here follow. 7. Rev. John C. Paine was born in Ashfield, Jan. 29, 1806 ; never received a collegiate education ; pursued clas- sical studies at Andover, and Meriden, N. H. ; received the honorary degree of A. M., from Amherst, in 1843 ; studied theology at Princeton, N. J., and Andover; was settled at Rehoboth, June 6, 1837, and Rev. William P. Paine preached on the occasion ; was dismissed from Rehoboth, April 5, 1847; was installed in Gardner, Jan. 12, 1848, and Rev. William P. Paine preached the sermon ; and he still remains pastor at Gardner. 8. Rev. William P. Paine was born in Ashfield, Aug. 1, 1802 ; graduated at Amherst in 1827 ; was a tutor two years in Amherst ; finished his theological course at Andover in 1832; was ordained in Holden, Oct. 24, 1833, and Rev. Elijah Paine preached the ordination sermon. He is still a pastor in Holden. 9. Mr. Melzar Parker was born in Ashfield, Nov. 7, 1815 ; removed from there when five years old ; returned when eighteen years old, and lived there for some time, and afterwards lived in Hamilton County, N. Y. ; graduated at Amherst in 1838 ; finished a course of theological study at East Windsor Hill in 1842 ; was licensed in 1841, for four years, by the Windham County Association, at Woodstock, Ct. ; and in 1845 his license was renewed for four years, at OFASHFIELD. 25 Killingly, Ct., by the same Association. Mr. Parker never was ordained, and when his last license expired, he ceased to preach. In 1843, he went, under the patronage of the Sabbath School in Dr. Todd's society in Pittsfield, as a mis- sionary to Long Lake, N. Y., and spent eighteen months in that vicinity. Notices of this mission of Mr. Parker may be found in the New York Observer, and Evangelist, and Tribune. Mr. Parker afterwards preached at Elizabethtown^ N. Y., and Oriskany, N. Y. He removed to Wisconsin in 1850, and has held the offices of justice of the peace and town supervisor. He now resides at Weyauwega, Wapacca County, Wisconsin. 10. Rev. Samuel Parker was born in Ashfield, April 23, 1779 ; graduated at Williams in 1806 ; studied theology with Dr. Packard, of Shelburne, and was licensed by Hampshire Association, in October, 1808 ; finished a course of theological study at Andover in 1810 ; was employed as a missionary several years in Steuben and Alleghany Counties, N. Y. ; was ordained as pastor at Danby, N. Y., Dec. 24, 1812, and Rev. Hezekiah Woodruff, of Aurora, preached on the occasion, and the services were held in a barn ; relinquished his labors in Danby in 1826 ; acted as an agent for Auburn Seminary for a time ; was settled in Fabius, N. Y., in 1828 ; was dis- missed from Fabius in May, 1831 ; installed at Middlefield, Mass., July 11, 1832, and was dismissed from there May 23, 1833 ; started in 1835, under the American Board, on an ex- ploring tour through Oregon, and returned by the Sandwich Islands, in the spring of 1837, and published an account of his tour, in a volume of some 370 pages. In reference to this journey, Mr. Parker says in a letter to the author of this work : " I crossed the continent by land, explored various parts of the Oregon country, from the head waters of the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean. I lived on game, having no bread or substitute for bread, about five months ; slept on the ground about seven months ; several times I was in such dangers, that I did not expect to live from one 4 26 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS five minutes to another, and yet I was not conscious at any time of having any regret for having engaged in the enter- prise. I found the Indians friendly, and anxious to learn the way to be saved." Mr. Parker has since labored in behalf of the Bible Soci- ety, and preached in various places. In a state of infirm health, he now resides in Ithaca, N. Y. He has two sons, who are ministers, viz., Rev. Samuel Parker, Jr., and Rev. Henry W. Parker pastor of Bedford church, Brooklyn, N. Y. 11. Rev. Charles S. Porter was born in Ashfield, Dec. 9, 1803 ; is a grandson of Rev. Nehemiah Porter ; graduated at Amherst in 1827 ; finished the theological course at An- dover in 1831 ; defrayed, by his own earnings, the entire ex- pense of his education, board, clothing and tuition, through his academical, collegiate, and professional course, except his board at home while preparing for college ; was ordained pastor at Gloucester, and the sermon was by Dr. Beecher ; dismissed from Gloucester in May, 1835 ; installed over the Second Avenue Church, New York, about 1835, and the ser- mon was by Dr. William Adams ; dismissed from New York in November, 1841 ; installed at Utica, N. Y., March 23, 1842, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. Lansing ; dismissed from Utica in November, 1844 ; installed at Plymouth, May 25, 1845, and tiie sermon was by Rev. Edward N. Kirk ; dis- missed from there Feb. 1, 1854 ; and was installed pastor of the Phillips Church, South Boston, Feb. 22, 1854. 12.* Rev. Freeman Scars was born in Harwich, Nov. 28, 1779, and with his parents removed to Ashfield, at the age of seventeen years ; graduated at Williams in 1804 ; studied theology with Dr. Austin of Worcester, and Dr. Packard of Shelburne ; was licensed by Franklin Association, April 10, 18C5 ; preached at Rowe, and was invited to settle there ; v.-as ordained at Natick, Jan. 1, 1806, and Dr. Kellogg, of Framingham, preached on the occasion; in December, 1810, went to Savannah, Geo., for the recovery of his health, and returned June 2, 1811, in a low and declining state, and died OFASHFIELD. 27 June 30, 1811, in his thirty-third year. Rev. Dr. Bates, of Dedham, preached his funeral sermon. Rev. Stephen Pahiier, in an occasional sermon preached at Needham, March 22, 1812, says of Mr. Sears: "His talents were re- spectable ; his elocution was pleasing ; and, from early life, he was exemplary and distinguished for piety." Bigelow, in his History of Natick, says of him : " From the acquaint- ance which the compiler had with Mr. Sears, he judged him to be a Calvinist of the Doddridge school ; blessed by the Author of every good gift with too much good sense to be an enthusiast, and with too much good nature to be a bigot." He published an oration delivered on the 4th of July, and a letter written to his people while in Georgia. From that kind and affecting letter, the following is an extract : — " On a critical and prayerful review of my ministerial labors among you, I find myself in many respects deficient ; not that I regret the plainness of my preaching, nor the doctrines that I so fre- quently inculcated ; these, together with the threatenings denounced against the ungodly, and the comforting of saints, afford me pleasure to reflect upon. I do not think of any doctrine that I have advanced among you, that I am not willing to seal with my death. I must therefore solemnly exhort you to continue unshaken in all the great and glori- ous doctrines of grace." Rev. Elias Nason, the present pastor at Natick, says of Mr. Sears, "He was much esteemed by his people ; and though his ministerial course was very brief, nevertheless it was attended by the Spirit and the bless- ing of the Lord. He died triumphant in the faith." The fol- lowing is the epitaph on his gravestone at Natick, viz. : "His bereaved flock, from sentiments of gratitude and respect, con- secrate this stone to his memory : — " To us his flock his death doth speak ; Be Avise in time ; your Saviour seek ; He loves his own ; he makes them blest ; They die in peace ; in heaven they rest." 28 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS 13.* Rev. Oliver M. Sears was born in Ashfield, Nov. 29, 1818 ; graduated at Williams in 1842 ; finished his theolog- ical course at East Windsor Hill in 1846 ; preached a year at Chesterfield ; was ordained pastor at Dalton, Sept. 29, 1847, and Rev. Samuel Harris, of Pittsfield, preached the ordination sermon. Mr. Sears died while a pastor at Dalton, Sept. 29, 1853, aged 35. The following extracts are from an obituary notice of him, published in the Puritan Recorder, in October, 1853 :— " Rev. O. M. Sears, pastor of the Congregational Church in Dalton, died on Thursday, September 29, 1853, the an- niversary of his ordination six years before. His sickness was a violent dysentery, of so short continuance that he rode to Pittsfield on the Saturday before his death. " His funeral was attended on Monday, Oct. 3. Prayers were offered at the parsonage by Rev. P. K. Clark, of Hins- dale, and at the church by Rev. J. Knight, of Peru, and Rev. J. Todd, D. D., of Pittsfield. The sermon was preached by Rev. S. Harris, of Pittsfield, from Philippians i. 21, ' For me to live, is Christ, and to die, is gain.' The house was crowded ; and there were few of the throng who were not sincere mourners. * * * " He was a modest and lovely man, a christian eminently humble, a firm and affectionate friend, a sound theologian, an able preacher, a laborious, sympathizing and successful pastor. He was beloved by his whole people with remarka- ble unanimity and cordiality. His death is felt as a severe loss, not only by his family and his congregation, but by all the associated ministers and churches. " The violence of his sickness was so great that he could say but little. But he was sustained by the doctrines which he had preached, and experienced largely those consolations of the gospel which at the bed of death he had so often of- fered to others. His sickness and death were marked by patient submission, intelligent faith, and heavenly calm- ness and peace." OF ASHFIELD, 2?^. The following is an extract from the obituary notice of him published in the New York Observer, of Oct. 20, 1853 : " In the field of labor, from which he has been called, he early won the confidence of his people, and of his brethren in the ministry, as a man of warm and large-hearted piety, a thor- ough scholar, a sound theologian, an acceptable preacher, a wise, judicious and faithful pastor, and reliable on all occa- sions ; and it is not too much to say, that he continued to grow in their confidence and afi"ectionate regards to the last. His end was such as might have been expected from the man — he went down into the valley, having a calm trust in His Saviour, serenity, and peace, and joy of soul." " The tears of a sorrow-stricken people attested their warm attach- ment to their now deceased pastor. Besides those thus be- reaved, Mr. Sears leaves in their loneliness an afflicted widow and two little daughters to mourn his loss." 14.* Rev. Preserved Smith. See the account of him, in the account given of the Pastors in Rowe. 15. Rev. Prestoti Taylor was born in Ash field, Nov. 28, 1793 ; in 1815 was married and moved to Goshen ; without a collegiate education began the study of theology in prepa- ration for the ministry, and, in 1824, pursued his studies with Rev. Walter Chapin, of Woodstock, Vt., and with Rev. Rufus Nutting, of Randolph Academy, in Randolph, Vt. ; was licensed Feb. 8, 1825, by the Royalton Association, Vt. ; preached at Bridgewater, Vt., from 1825 to 1830 ; was or- dained as an Evangelist at Barnard, Vt., Feb. 8, 1826, and the sermon on the occasion was by Rev. Ammi Nickels, of Braintree, Vt. ; installed as pastor in Barnard, Vt., Nov. 3, 1830, and the installing sermon was by Rev. Thomas Shepard ; dismissed from Barnard, Nov. 4, 1834 ; installed as pastor in the West Parish, Westminster, Vt., April 1, 1835, and the sermon was by Rev. Charles Walker, D. D. ; dis- missed from Westminster, Nov. 9, 1836 ; installed as pastor at Strafford, Vt., and the sermon Avas by Rev. Phineas Cook ; dismissed from Strafford, Nov. 20, 1838 ; installed at Waits- 30 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS field, Vt., Jan. 23, 1839, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. Wheeler ; dismissed from Waitsfield, Aug. 10, 1842 ; sup- plied three years in East Berkshire, Vt. ; since 1845 has sup- plied in Sheldon, Yt., where he still resides. He received the honorary degree of A. M. from Middlebury, in 1850, and was a county judge for Franklin County, Vt., in 1852 and 1853. 16. Rev. Morris E. White was born in Ashfield, April 27, 1803 ; graduated at Dartmouth in 1828 ; finished the theo- logical course at Andover in 1831 ; preached in West New- bury, Greenfield, and North Adams, from the first and last of which places he received invitations to settle ; was or- dained in Southampton as pastor, June 20, 1832, and the sermon was preached by Dr. John Brown, of Hadley ; a council met to dismiss him from Southampton, Dec. 22, 1852, and the dismission took eff'ect Jan. 1, 1853. Mr. White now resides in Northampton. 17. Rev. Francis Williams was born in Ashfield, Jan. 2, 1814; living nearer meeting in Buckland, he attended there, and united with the church when fourteen years of age ; graduated at Williams in 1838 ; finished the theological course at East Windsor Hill Seminary in 1841 ; was installed as pastor in Eastford, which is a parish in Ashford, Ct., Sept. 20, 1841, and Rev. Dr. Bennett Tyler preached on the occasion ; was dismissed from there in 1851 ; was installed as pastor in Bloomfield, Ct., Dec. 31, 1851, and Rev. Dr. Milton Badger, of New York, preached on the occasion. Several sermons of Mr. Williams have, by request, been pub- lished. He is still a pastor in Bloomfield. A larger number of Congregational Preachers have origi- nated from Ashfield than from any other town in the coun- ty. Of the seventeen preachers reckoned as sons of Ashfield, sixteen were born in Ashfield ; thirteen were graduates ; sixteen have been ordained ; two have relinquished preach- ing, viz., Mr. Melzar Parker and Rev. Anson Dyer ; one was the son of a Baptist minister, and left the Orthodox OF ASHFIELD. 31 Congregational ministry and became a Unitarian minister, viz., Rev. Preserved Smith; one became a Methodist minis- ter ; two had sons in the ministry, viz.. Rev. Preserved Smith and Rev. Samuel Parker ; and thirteen are now- living. Rev. Lebbeus R. Phillips was born in Ashfield, but as he early removed to Buckland, and continued to live there till manhood, he has been reckoned as a son of that town. Rev. Oliver A. Taylor lived about two years in Ashfield, in early life, before he removed to Hawley. OTHER DENOMINATIONS. Baptists. The first Baptist church in Ashfield, the sect being called at first " Separatists," Avas formed July 2, 1761, with ten members ; in 1853 it had forty-eight members. From 1787 to 1798 this church was divided into two bodies, and Revs. Chileab Smith and Enos Smith were ordained over one of the divisions. Among the preachers who have supplied the first Baptist church are the following, viz., Revs. Ebenezer Smith, Enos Smith, Dana Brown ordained Aug. 25, 1836 ; Edward Hale, William Norris installed Aug. 31, 1842 ; A. B. Eggleston, George Stearns, and Mr. S. H. Amsden in 1853. A second Baptist church was formed June 3, 1830, and, about 1841, ceased to maintain its organi- zation. They were supplied by Revs. Orra Martin and Josiah Loomis. The following Baptist preachers originated from Ashfield, viz.. Revs. John Alden, John Alden, Jr., David Alden, Adiel Harvey, and Jesse Hartwell. Episcopalians. The Episcopal parish or church in Ash- field was organized June 15, 1820. The following preachers have supplied it, viz.. Rev. Dr. Titus Strong, Rev. Lot Jones, Rev. William Withington, Rev. Silas Blaisdale, Rev. Jacob Piersnn, Rev. Joseph A. Stone, Rev. Benjamin Austin, and Rev. Charles Cleaveland in 1853. Methodists. The Methodist church in Ashfield was formed probably about 1830. It has been supplied by Revs. 32 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS Asa Niles, George W. Green, John Caldwell, Samuel Heath, Henry S. Shed, and A. S. Flagg in 1853. The following Methodist ministers originated from Ashfield, viz.. Revs. John Cross, who was once a Congregational preacher, but united with the Wesleyan Methodists in 1846 ; Hart F. Pease, who has been, and now is, so successfully employed in doing good at the place called the Five Points, in New York city, and Elijah Ward. Universalists. The Universalist society was formed Dec. 11, 1841. It has been supplied by Revs. A. W. Mason, Hosea F. Ballou, Earl Guilford, J. A. Kinney, and J. Gifford in 1853. Two Universalist preachers, viz., Revs. Earl Guilford and Barnabas Hall, originated from Ashfield. Unitarians. One Orthodox Congregational minister, who originated from Ashfield, became a Unitarian minister, viz., Rev. Preserved Smith. Summary of Preachers who originated from Ashfield : Orthodox Congregationalists, 17 ; Baptists, 5 ; Methodists, 3 ; Universalists, 2 ; Unitarians, 1. Total, 28. BERNARDS TON. A tract of land six miles square, including what is now Bernardston, Leyden, and a part of Coleraine, was granted, in 1735 or 1736, to the officers and soldiers who were in the Fall Fight at Turner's Falls, in Gill, in 1676. From the fact that this battle was fought at the Falls, the town, for twenty years, was called Fall Town. The original proprie- tors were ninety-nine. The town began to be settled in 1738. The first four houses were built of hewn logs, with port holes through the sides, and served as forts for protec- tion against the Indians. The town was incorporated March 6, 1762, and called Bernardston, in honor of Governor Ber- nard. Provincial Governor of Massachusetts. The population of the town in 1850 was 937. Five churches have been organized among the people of this place, viz., one Congre- OFBERNARDSTON. 33 gational that has become Unitarian, one Orthodox Congre- gational, one Methodist, and two Baptist, and a Universalist society. ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONALISTS. First Church. The first Congregational church in town was formed in Deerfield, Nov. 25, 1741, and was originally, and for a long period, of an Orthodox character, but, in the early part of the present century, became Unitarian. The first Meeting-house was built about 1740, on Huckle Hill, and it was " Voted, that a committee be chosen to cut the brush and burn them, ten rods round the Meeting-house." In 1772 the house was removed, and the location decided by a committee from abroad. In 1791 it was again removed. In 1823 it was removed to the present location, and was re- built in 1824, and repaired in 1850. This church, previous to its becoming Unitarian, had three pastors. Pastors. 1.* Rev. John Norton was the first pastor, and was ordained as pastor of the church at its organization in Deerfield, Nov. 25, 1741, and Rev. Jonathan Ashley, of Deerfield, preached on the occasion ; the sermon was pub- lished, and is in the library of the Antiquarian Society at Worcester. He was dismissed about 1745. Mr. Norton was chaplain at Massachusetts Port, in Adams, when it was taken, in August, 1746, by an army of 900 French and Indians, under Gen. De Vaudreuil. Mr. Norton was taken and car- ried into captivity, and wrote an account of the captivity, which was published. He was settled as pastor of East Hampton, a parish in Chatham, Ct., Nov. 30, 1748, and died, while a pastor there, with the small pox, March 24, 1778, aged 62. He was born in Berlin, Ct., in 1716, and gradu- ated at Yale in 1737. Mr. Norton was dismissed from Ber- nardston by request of the people, " on account of the un- settled state of the times." His ministry in Bernardston was about four years. 2.* Rev. Job Wright was settled as pastor in July, 1761. He originated from Easthampton ; was born in 1738 ; grad- 5 34 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS uated at Yale in 1757 ; lived in Bernardston after his dismis- sion, March 13, 1782, till his death. He was dismissed at his own request, on account of the scarcity of money, and was allowed freedom from taxation in the town for five years, and the usual privileges of settled ministers. The following notice from Hon. H. W. Cushman, was published in the Greenfield Mercury, Nov. 16, 1833, viz. : " Mr. Wright was a gentleman of an ingenious, sound, and discriminating mind, enriched by habits of studious research. His piety was exemplary and ardent, and his qualities in the circle of domestic and social life endearing. His mind was quick, and his judgment rapid, in the attainment of its object. In his politics, and he devoted considerable attention to the subject, Mr. Wright was ever a firm friend of liberty and equal rights. During the revolutionary war, he was a whig in heart and in deed. He was several times a candidate, but never elected, for the office of senator in the Legislature of ihis State ; received a commission of a justice of the peace, and filled repeatedly several civil offices in town. Mr. Wright never engaged in controversies upon theological sub- jects, believing, as many others do, that but little good results from it, and that we ought to devote our whole attention to the practice of the religion we profess. As a preacher of the gospel, his sermons were chaste and instructive j as a man, he was kind and affectionate ; and as a christian, he exem- plified the doctrines of the Bible in a high degree of perfec- tion." The following notice of Mr. Wright is from the pen of Hon. S. C. Allen, and was published in the Greenfield Mercury, Nov. 16, 1833, viz. : "I loved Mr. Wright for the simplicity of his manners, and his high intellectual attain- ments, combined in so great a degree with the christian character and conduct. It always aff'orded nie a feast to hear that good old man converse. He was very sociable, and his mind was well stored with correct and useful ideas of men and things, which he communicated to others with OF BERNARDSTON. 35 a great deal of ease and pleasure. The talents and useful- ness of Mr. Wright were much underrated by his cotempora- ries, the inhabitants of Bernardston." Mr. Wright died in Bernardston, Jan. 24, 1823, aged 85. The following obituary notice of him is from the Franklin Herald, Greenfield, Mass., of Feb. 4, 1823: "At an early age he received the honors of Yale College, and soon after settled in the ministry at Bernardston. Here he continued serving God in the gospel of his Son more than twenty years, when, circumstances rendering it expedient in his view to request a dissolution of the pastoral connection, he was honorably dismissed by an ecclesiastical council. From this period he chose retirement, and, to the end of life, sustained a consistent and irreproachable character. He was a man of quick apprehension and strong powers of mind. Courteous, affable, and instructive, none could fail to be pleased with his society. To his family and particular friends he was greatly endeared. His religion was of a pure and elevated character, and he ardently wished the diffusion of the spirit of the gospel. To him it would have been cause of great joy to see a union of all who are in pursuit of virtue, holiness, and heaven. During a long and distressing sickness, his faith and charity did not fail. Though he de- sired to depart and be with Christ, he prayed for patience, and, by divine grace, was enabled to wait with patience his appointed time." His ministry in Bernardston was about twenty-one years. 3.* Rev, Amasa Cook was settled as pastor, as appears by the letters missive convening the ordaining council, Nov. 12, 1783, and Rev. Dr. Hopkins, of Hadley, preached the ser- mon. He was born in Hadley in 1750 ; graduated at Brown in 1776 ; studied theology with Rev. Dr. Hopkins, of Had- ley ; was licensed Aug. 2, 1780, by Hampshire Association ; preached for a time at Rowe, before his settlement in Ber- nardston ; was dismissed from his charge in B., after a min- istry of about twenty-two years, in May, 1805, on account 36 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS of difficulties relative to his moral character and conduct. Hon. R. E. Newcomb and Hon. G. Bliss were the advo- cates before the council by which his case was tried. He was never settled as a pastor in any other place, but lived in B. till his death, and died there, June 11, 1816, in his 66th year. The following is the epitaph on his gravestone, in the North burial yard, in B., viz. : " If all my life I tried in vain to save, Hear, oh hear me, speaking from the grave." The next pastor of this church, after Mr. Cook, was Rev. Timothy F. Rogers, who was of the Unitarian denomination. This church becoming Unitarian, for a further notice of it and its other pastors, see the account of that denomination in Bernardston. Just previous to Mr. Rogers' settlement, Rev. Elisha Rockwood supplied the church for a time. The three pastors of this church, during its continuance in the Orthodox connection, were dismissed ; two of them died in the town ; and the average length of their pastorates was about fifteen years and a half, and none of them are living. In the 68 years from the organization of this church till the settlement of its first Unitarian pastor, it has had a settled ministry about 46 years, and has been destitute of the same about 22 years. Second Church. The second Congregational church was organized Jan. 13, 1824, with fifteen members. The most of this number were members of the first Congregational church, and withdrew from it after it became Unitarian. Two Meeting-houses have been built by this church and society ; the first was erected in 1831, chiefly at the expense of Hon. Job Goodale ; the second was built on the site of the first, in 1846. Previous to the erection of their first house of worship, this church held their meetings in the Baptist house of worship, for a considerable period — the two denominations occupying the house alternate sabbaths. Two OF BERN ARDSTON, 37 revivals have been enjoyed ; one in 1841, and forty-one were admitted to the chnrch during the year ; one in 1852, and eleven were added. In 1839 an accession was made to the church of members from Gill. No council has ever been called to settle difficulties in this church. A council was called, April 18, 1849, to grant the request of the pastor for a dismission, but they refused to do it. The amount con- tributed to the cause of benevolence in 1853 was |190 52. The number in the Sabbath School in 1852 was 65. In 1853 the church numbered 63. This church hasreceived missionary aid for thirteen years, amounting to $1,170. Previous to the settlement of its first pastor, it was supplied, among others, by Revs. Samuel Taggart, Ezekiel Rich, AVilliam K. Talbot, Aretas Loomis, Dr. Packard, T. Packard, Jr., and Joseph Haven. This church has existed about 30 years, and has had a settled ministry about 18 years, and been destitute of the same about 12 years. This church has had four pastors. Pastors. 1.* Rev. Vinson Gould was installed pastor Oct. 30, 1833, and the sermon on the occasion was by Rev. Artemas Boise. He was born in Sharon, Ct., 1771 ; gradu- ated at Williams in 1797 ; was a tutor two years at Wil- liams ; studied divinity with Dr. Backus, of Somers, Ct., and was settled at Southampton Aug. 21, 1801, and Dr. Backus preached on the occasion ; dismissed from South- ampton Jan. 5, 1832 ; in 1804, during his pastorate at S., he performed a mission in Maine of twenty weeks ; dismissed from Bernardston Dec. 21, 1836 ; afterwards lived in South- ampton. While a pastor in S., about thirty young men from the town received a collegiate education, and became min- isters of the gospel, chiefly through his influence. His wife, the daughter of Dr. Sylvester Woodbridge, of S., died in 1837. One of his daughters married Rev. Alexander McClure. Mr. Gould died at Southampton April 4, 1841, aged 68. His ministry in Bernardston was about three years. The follow- ing obituary account of Mr. Gould was prepared by the late 38 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS Rev. Dr. Bela B. Edwards, and was published in the Boston Recorder : — " Vinson Gould was born in Sharon, Litchfield County, Ct., on the first of August, 1773. He was the eldest son of a large and highly respectable family. His youngest brother, Rev. Wm. R. Gould, is pastor of a Presbyterian church in Gallipolis, Ohio. His parents were persons of intelligence and of eminent piety. They lived to an advanced age, and died greatly lamented. Their prayers, and the remembrance of their instructions, are an invaluable legacy to their chil- dren, and their children's children. Their eldest son, when not more than five or six years of age, received religious im- pressions which were never erased from his memory. These were occasioned by his mother's reading to him the story of the sufferings and death of Christ. His childhood and youth were passed much as those of others of like age are. When he was between fourteen and seventeen years of age, he was the subject of many serious impressions. He often prayed, read the Scriptures, and attended religious meetings, and be- came very solicitous respecting the condition of his soul. For two or three years subsequently, his religious views appear to have been vacillating between Arminianism, Uni- versalism, and Deism. He read many books advocating the latter doctrine, even down to Paine's Age of Reason. This, of course, caused much grief to his anxious friends. His universalist tendencies, however, were soon checked by an incident which occurred in his presence. A number of his acquaintance, men of respectability, and somewhat advanced in life, and who were regarded as Universalists, in conver- sation together, not only confessed deistic sentiments, but denied the existence of God. The hypocrisy and impiety of this course, filled him with fear and astonishment. He left them, and never after associated with any that were called Universalists. " In the year 1795, Mr. Gould entered the sophomore class in Williams College. He was still solicitous respect- OF BERNARDSTON 39 ing his salvation. ' In view of my state and danger,' he remarks, 'I was often alone on my knees and in tears. I used at times to think that there was no mercy for me, that I was wholly given up of God, and that my own destruction was sealed. I was led to this idea by considering that, not- withstanding all my cries and tears, I was still in an uncon- verted state. I thought I had done almost as much as any person ever did, before he was converted ; and that if God meant to give me a new heart, he would have done it before this time. So I continued through my college life, except that I changed my religious sentiments (in respect to Armin- ianism.) Sometimes I was encouraged to hope for mercy, and then I was again discouraged, but still persevered in my round of duties. In my senior year, I established the prac- tice of prayers in my room at 8 o'clock in the evening, when, by invitation, several serious scholars came in and took part. I had all along attended conferences in college every Satur- day evening, and now I sometimes lead in the exercises. I did not consider myself a christian, though, I believe, some others did.' Subsequently he says, ' I saw that I was in the hands of a sovereign God, who had a right to do with me as he pleased. In short, I found I was a poor, depraved, and perishing creature.' These convictions terminated, as there is every reason to believe, though the precise time was not known, in personal piety, in the possession of that good hope which ever afterwards sustained him. " In his literary standing, he took a very high rank in his class. Among the members of it — (ten in all, the third which graduated at Williams College,) were Asa Burbank, M. D., Professor in the Berkshire Medical Institution; the excellent Rev. Jedediah Bushnell, of Cornwall, Vt. ,■ and Elijah H. Mills, LL.D., an eminent Senator in Congress from Massachusetts. Mr. Gould, as is understood, particu- larly excelled in the department of the languages. "Immediately on leaving college, September, 1797, Mr. Gould commenced teaching an academy in his native town. 40 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS At the end of thirteen months he closed his connection with it, and commenced the study of divinity with the Rev. Charles Backus, D. D., of Somers, Ct., a minister of distin- guished piety and theological attainment, who guided one of those private schools of divinity, which has honorably as- sociated his name with those of Bellamy, Smalley, Hooker, Burton, Emmons, and others. " Mr. Gould was licensed to preach the gospel in June, 1799. From that time until September, he supplied the pulpit in New Marlborough, Mass. In October he took charge of a class in Williams College, as tutor. Here he re- mained — highly respected, able and faithful in the discharge of his duties — till April, 1801, Avhen he went to Southamp- ton, to j)reach as a candidate for settlement in the ministry. He was ordained on the 21st of August, 1801, as colleague pastor with the aged and venerable Jonathan Judd, the first minister of the town. There was a singular unanimity in the invitation tendered to him, which was the more remarka- ble, as many candidates for the place had supplied the pulpit before him, and several parties in the church and congrega- tion had been formed in consequence. His ordination ser- mon was preached by Dr. Backus. He appears to have en- tered on his work in a spirit of deep self-abasement, and with earnest prayers that he might fulfil the ministry which he had received of the Lord Jesus. His spiritual fitness for his duties was obviously increased by the death of Miss Anna Collins, daughter of the Rev. Mr. Collins of Lanesboro,' a young lady of great worth of character, with whom he ex- pected to enter into the marriage relation. A brief diary, which he kept, showed that her death made the deepest im- pression on his feelings for a long time. " Mr. Gould's ministry continued till the 5th of January, 1832, a period of thirty-one years. The town, containing at the time of his dismission about 1300 inhabitants, had all been included in one ecclesiastical society. For almost a century from the settlement of the place, the whole popula- OF BERNARDSTON. 41 tion, with a very few exceptions, were Congregationalists, and cordially attached to the ministry that was placed over them in the Lord. The original settlers were eminently pious people, nearly all of whom received a dismission from the church in Northampton, in the early part of the great revival of religion, under President Edwards. Their chil- dren were brought up in the faith and practice of the parents, and, as a church, furnished excellent materials for the pas- toral labors of their youthful watchman. " Mr. Gould possessed several qualifications for his work in an uncommon degree. " His religious belief was thoroughly evangelical. The system of doctrines, commonly called Calvinistic, accorded not only with his intellectual convictions, but appeared to be identified with the most sacred feelings of his heart. In fact, his earliest impressions of religion, the long struggles which he went through before he attained the stability of the christian hope, were vitally connected with the great points which are at issue between the Calvinist and the Ar- minian. He thought that he had a personal and experi- mental proof that the creed of the first was in accordance with the Bible, while that of the last was not. In his ser- mons, particularly in the introductory years of his ministry, he gave great prominence to the doctrines of total depravity, the supreme divinity of our Lord, the perfect atonement ac- complished by his sufferings and death, the absolute and holy sovereignty of God, election, the necessity of regener- ation by the special influences of the Holy Spirit, and their kindred truths. These great themes were the life of his preaching, and the life of his soul. He exhibited them fear- lessly in his sermons, in his extempore lectures, and in his conversation. In revivals of religion, he did not disguise them, lest they should prove unpalatable, and mar the work. He felt that at such a time, they ought to be preached with unwonted earnestness. In the latter part of his life, his in- terest in them revived. He steadfastly opposed all specula- 6 42 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS tions, which in his opinion tended to rob them of their virtue, and to ruin the souls of men. "Among his qualifications for sermonizing, was a remark- able power for illustration. Very few ministers made more pertinent use of passing events. The leading characteristic of his mind was quickness of apprehension. He seized, with the rapidity of instinct or intuition, upon any casual inci- dent, which could throw light upon the subject in hand. If he did not possess that power of patient investigation en- joyed by some, he appeared to need it less. An apt quota- tion, an unexpected allusion, a vivid description, gave the truth which he handled a lodgment in the memory or in the affections, which no exact analysis or cogent argumentation could have done. The attention of many a thoughtless hearer was arrested by a felicitous metaphor, or a happily applied providential event. •' The trait to which we have just alluded, laid the foun- dation, with other things, for an excellent pastoral charac- ter. At a religious conference in a school-house, in conver- sation with children, in introducing unwelcome topics to the irreligious, at the bed of the sick and dying, Mr. Gould was exceedingly apt. He fitted his remarks with wonderful skill. A single observation sometimes sunk like lead into the heart of the profane scoffer, or the thoughtless sinner. If there was an avenue to the conscience, he would find it. If a kind of holy adroitness, of sacred archery, could be of avail, it was at his command. "In addition to this power of apposite and vivid illustra- tion, Mr. Gould was endued with great susceptibility of emotion. There seemed to be a perfect correspondence be- tween the activity of his intellectual powers and the excita- bility of his feelings. There was no sluggishness in the movement of any faculty. The ardor of his passions was an admirable auxiliary in his pastoral labors. Few ministers ever excelled him in the chamber of sickness. There was no affectation of sympathy ; there were no cold words. He OFBERNARDSTON, 43 carried a brother's heart to the pillow of the dying. His sympathy was instant and most consoling. Some of the prayers which he offered, as the spirit of a dear friend was departing, will never be forgotten. He did not shrink, on such occasions, from the presentation of plain truth. But his heart was full of tenderness, as the tones of his voice were of sympathy and love. " Mr. Gould's success in the ministry, through the accom- panying influences of the Holy Spirit, was great. During the summer and autumn of the year in which he was or- dained, about 20 persons entertained a hope of eternal life, and united with the church. In the year 1805 there was a most signal manifestation of the grace of the Holy Spirit. God then appeared in his glory in building up Zion. About 100 were supposed to be the fruits of this awakening. Eighty were added to the church. In 1812 and 1813, there was a marked attention to the concerns of the soul. In 1815 and 1816, a still more powerful revival of religion was en- joyed. In the latter year, the church was increased by an addition of 46 members. At several subsequent periods, the same Divine influence was conspicuously manifest. In 1822 and 1823 particularly, many individuals are supposed to have commenced a religious life. In such favored seasons, Mr. Gould's mode of dispensing religious truth was singularly plain and solemn, and sometimes very affecting. The num- ber of members that united with the church, while he was pastor, was 715. " Forty-six individuals, natives of Southampton, have ac- quired a collegiate education. Thirty-seven of these are now living, and thirty-two are, or have been, ministers of the gospel. The question has often been asked, why a small town, containing a little more than 1000 inhabitants, should afford the advantages of a public education to so many of its sons ? In reply, it may be said with truth, that the principal cause was the efficient agency of Mr. Gould. He made it one of the leading objects of his ministry. The youthful 44 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS parishioner who had promising talents, and a desire to preach the gospel, or to be useful in some other profession, he took by the hand and steadily encouraged. If necessary, he kind- ly removed the difficulties which might be felt by parents and other friends. The studies preparatory for college were, in many cases, superintended by him, or by his accomplished lady, and not seldom as an entire gratuity. Being himself a good classical scholar, he took a personal satisfaction in con- ducting the studies of his young friends. As a teacher, he possessed kindness and promptitude, ever ready to appreciate difficulties, while he had the firmness to require that the pupil should be master of his lessons. In this way, Mr. Gould exerted an extensive and very happy influence. He was thus the means, indirectly, of proclaiming the messages of life to thousands, and of guiding multitudes to the man- sions of eternal rest. Indeed, the good accomplished by him, mediately, was, doubtless, greater than that which was the fruit of his direct exertions. " In this connection, it may be stated, that he gave much time and thought in promoting the interests of the common schools. His peculiar talents had here a fine opportunity for employment. The ease, the perfect facility, with which he could adapt his remarks to the capacities of those whom he addressed, have been acknowledged by all who were familiar with the circumstances. He assisted in the examination of the teachers. He visited the schools two or three times in a year, attentively listened to the recitations, and made re- marks and closed with prayers, to which the most heedless youth could not but attend. The same interest in children was manifest in the annual catechetical instruction which he superintended. In the summer of every year, nearly all the children and youth in the place, between the ages of six and sixteen years, assembled in two parallel rows in the aisles of the meeting-house, and recited to the pastor, in the hearing of many of the congregation, in four or five successive Sabbaths, the whole of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism. OFBERNARDSTON. 45 The considerateness with which Mr. Gould put the more dif- ficult questions to the trembling catechumen, so that he might not miss, will long be remembered. Well would it be for our churches if this venerable compend were still taught in the same manner. " The more general interests of philanthropy and benevo- lence were promoted by Mr. Gould in an effectual manner. Early in his ministry, he labored for some months with good success as a missionary in the destitute portions of Maine. When it was proposed to remove Williams College to North- ampton, Mr. Gould acted jvith gratifymg success as an agent in raising the large fund which the trustees of the college named as a condition of the removal. Of the old and very useful Hampshire Missionary Society he was a trustee and active friend. The Hampshire Education Society also found in him an intelligent and warm supporter. The dawn of the foreign missionary enterprise, in 1810, he hailed as the indication of a brighter era to the church. Of the property which God had given him (larger than most clergymen are favored with) he was a liberal almoner. At a day when comparatively few christians were awake to their great duty of laboring for the conversion of the world, he entered with characteristic ardor into the various plans of benevolence. " In 1808 Mr. Gould was married to Miss Mind well Wood- bridge, only daughter of Sylvester Woodbridge, M. D., an eminent physician in Southampton. Mrs. G. died in No- vember, 1837. She was a lady of strong, original powers of mind, which had been highly cultivated. Her social and domestic character were also very attractive, to which were added the crowning graces of intelligent and un- affected piety. They had six children, all of whom are living. Their house was ever the abode of hospitality, of great intelligence, and of pure and christian affection. " After his dismission from the church in Southampton, in 1832, Mr. Gould taught a High School in South Hadley. He subsequently preached for some time in Bernardston. 46 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS He then returned, with his family, to his house in South- ampton, continuing to preach, as occasion offered, in the neighboring towns, and still feeling the deepest interest in the progress of the Redeemer's kingdom. In the course of the year 1840, indications began to appear that he was af- fected by a threatening internal disorder. Towards the close of the year the symptoms became decided, and all hope of his recovery was abandoned. Here, however, we may say, ' behold the faith and patience of the saint.' Amid the bit- ter pains of his inexorable malady, the great truths, which he had so long preached, had power to afford him effectual consolations. Some particulars of his conversation, noted down at the time by the affectionate friends at his bed-side, may be interesting. " When informed of the nature of his disease, in Novem- ber, 1840, he manifested the most perfect composure. From that time he gave up all hope of living beyond a few months. He had the full use of his reason, and seemed to look upon another world as a reality which he was soon to meet. Leaving this world, to use his own language, was ' like passing from one room to another.' One night, after retiring, he was heard to say, ' This earthly tabernacle is evidently dissolving ; nature is giving way ; I am fast approaching the swelling of Jordan.' Yet he remained in cheerful spirits to the last. He made every necessary worldly arrangement for his departure, and continued to be interested in whatever interested his friends. His sufferings were unintermitted, ex- cept when he slept, and at times excruciating. In great agony, he could be heard praying, ' Deal gently with nle, O Lord, I pray thee. Almighty Father, let me not murmur. May I be still, and know that thou art God. What grace, what triumphant grace, does it require to be perfectly patient under bodily anguish.' In his devotions he would give thanks that his pains had been no greater, and would add that this is indeed a small thing when compared with mer- cies which he received. OFBERNARDSTON. 47 " He showed his fondness for reading as long as he lived. Many hours he daily spent in listening to Baxter's Dying Thoughts, to various religious biographies, but especially to the Bible. The book of Job was read to him several times. He Avould inquire with the deepest interest the opinions of those around him on various texts. Sometimes he would look out at the window upon the thousand objects which had been so long familiar to his eye. ' God knows,' he said, ' that there are few who look with more delight than I do on the beauties of an opening spring. I thought it would please Him to let my eyes behold them once more, but it seems otherwise.' He planted various kinds of grain in glasses, and watched from day to day the beautiful blades which grew from them, and which continued to grow long after the hand that planted them was motionless in death. This resignation, so clearly shown by his manner, his coun- tenance and his voice, was sometimes lost in rapture, in reflecting on the perfect government of God. A verse of Watts's Sapphic Ode was often on his lips : ' Now to the goodness of my Lord and Master I will submit all I have or hope for ; Sweetly as babes sleep, will I give my life up, When called to yield it.' He would converse with his friends and former parishion- ers who came to visit him, in respect to their spiritual good, forgetting his own weakness and disease ; and would urge them, in the most earnest manner, to give all diligence to make their calling and election sure. '' At one time he said, ' For a few months I have enjoyed much of the presence of Christ. It is wonderful that he gives me such sweet peace in contemplating his character.' The last week of his life he spent in more ease than any preceding one of his sickness. He was confined to his bed, and much of the time was under the influence of opiates. Yet his mind was occasionally clear, and he seemed to be as 48 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS well aware as either of his friends that the hour of his de- parture was near. Every morning there was a more deathly paleness on his countenance. But the same peaceful sub- mission still appeared. Every pain, every struggle for breath, was met with the same heroic fortitude. Again and again would he minister consolation to his distressed chil- dren, and assure them of his perfect willingness to leave the world. When his mind was so clouded that he was unable to hold a connected conversation with his friends, his voice would be lifted up in prayer, and for some minutes every faculty of his soul, and every feeling of his heart, would seem to resume their former place. Even during the night before his death he seemed still conscious of his situation. ' I thought,' he said, ' that I was on a bed of roses, and they said that they would carry me safely through.' One of his last expressions was, ' I thank thee, blessed God, for these sweet thoughts.' Sunday morning, April 6th, he seemed to be in a dying state, and was apparently unconscious of what was passing around him during the day. About 5 o'clock, P. M., he was observed to swallow, which he had not done during the day. His youngest child, in the hope that con- sciousness was about returning, seized the moment with avidity, and said, ' Father, we think you are going to heaven. Mother, we believe, is already there. We will try to meet you there. Father, do you not hope you will meet all your children in heaven ?' He turned on her his dying eye, and distinctly answered, ' Yes.' It was his last word. In a few moments his emancipated spirit, we cannot doubt, joined that blissful society where there is no more pain, and where tears are wiped from off all faces. Welcomed, we are sure he was, by not a few loved ones, who had gone before him, the wise, the good, the venerable, all washed in the blood of the Lamb, and, through eternity, to sing his praises. " The funeral solemnities were attended by a large con- course of people. The sermon was preached by his excel- OFBERNARDSTON. 49 lent and greatly beloved brother and friend, the Rev. Pay- son Williston, of Easthampton." 2. Rev. Bancroft Fowler was installed pastor, Dec. 21, 1836, and Rev. Roger C. Hatch of Warwick preached on the occasion; and was dismissed Dec. 31, 1838. For further notice of him, see the account of the pastors of the second Congregational church in Northfield, where he was settled previous to his settlement in Bernardston. His ministry in Bernardston was about two years. 3. Rev. Frederic Janes was installed pastor, Nov. 4, 1840, and Rev. Charles Wiley, of Northampton, preached the sermon. He was born in Northfield, May 6, 1808 ; pur- sued collegiate studies at Yale and Amherst, but did not graduate ; spent several years in teaching, and in studying theology ; preached in North Walton, N. Y., from 1837 to 1838, and in Colchester, N. Y., from 1838 to 1840 ; was dismissed from Bernardston, Nov. 9, 1843 ; installed in Pel- ham in 1844, and Rev. Richard M, Chipman preached the sermon ; dismissed from Pelham in 1845 ; the three follow- ing years was an agent of the American Protestant Society ; then had charge of a female seminary .one year, in Western New York ; then preached in Michigan a short time ; has been residing several years in New York city, and is now there, editing the " Christian Parlor Magazine." His minis- try in Bernardston was about three years. He was ordained as an Evangelist in New York city, Nov. 8, 1837, and Rev. Joshua Leavitt preached on the occasion. 4. Rev. Charles Kendall was installed Jan. 24, 1844, and Rev. T. Packard, Jr., preached the sermon. Mr. Ken- dall was born in Westminster, Feb, 14, 1813 ; graduated at Amherst in 1839 ; finished the theological course at the Union Theological Seminary, New York, in 1842 ; preached as stated supply at South Hadley Falls, previous to his set- tlement in Bernardston. He is still nominally a pastor in Bernardston, and in the tenth year of his ministry there, 7 50 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS though he has not been with them since December, 1853, and is residing in Mercersburg, Pa. Of the four pastors of this church, three were dismissed ; three are still living ; and the average length of their minis- try in Bernardston is about four years and a half. CONGREGATIONAL MINISTERS ORIGINATING EROM BERNARDSTON. 1.* Rev. Samuel C. Allen was born in Bernardston, and having been settled as an Orthodox Congregational pastor over the first Congregational church in Northfield, a further notice of him is given in the account of the Orthodox pastors of that church. 2.* Rev. Elijah Wollage was born in Bernardston, about the year 1769 ; graduated at Dartmouth in 1791 ; ordained at Guilford, Vt., March 13, 1793 ; dismissed from Guilford, April 10, 1797; settled in Cambridge, Vt., from 1805 to 1806 ; again preached in Guilford, Yt., for a time, and left there in 1818 ; settled as pastor in Rockingham, Vt., from 1818 to 1821 ; settled as pastor at Pultney, N. Y., about seven years ; supplied at Wheeler, N. Y., and at Rock Stream, in the town of Starkey, N. Y. ; and died at Rock Stream, town of Starkey, Yates County, N. Y., July 18, 1847, aged 78. The following obituary notice of him was published at the time of his death : — " More than half a century he la- bored in the ministry with great acceptance and usefulness. As the pastor of various congregations in Vermont, during the space of thirty years, his 'praise is still in the churches;' and for the last twenty-five years of his life in Western New York, with a mind unimpaired by age, and a body free from disease, he ever exemplified the truth he so earnestly preached to others, by his daily walk and conversation. He fell, as it were, with his armor on, being struck down by an acute and rapid disease, while preparing sermons for the ap- proaching Sabbath. A devoted minister, a good man, a kind husband and father, he has gone to his rest, and his works follow him." His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. OF BERNARDSTON. 51 Ethan Pratt. The following is the epitaph on his grave- stone, viz. : " For more than half a century he proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ, and has now gone to receive his reward." Of the two Congregational ministers who originated from Bernardston, both were natives of the town ; both were graduates ; both became pastors ; one left the ministry and became a Unitarian, and was a Representative to Congress ; and both are dead. Rev. Samuel H. Riddel passed a short period of his early life in Bernardston, but a longer period in Gill, in connection with which place, a further account of him is given. Rev. Alonzo Sanderson was born in Ber- nardston, but early removed to Deerfield. A notice of him is given in the account of Deerfield ministers. OTHER DENOMINATIONS. Baptists. The first Baptist church, which was consti- tuted in 1789, existed only a few years, and was disbanded. Its only minister was Rev. Levi Hodge. The second Bap- tist church was organized in 1808, and in 1853 had 96 mem- bers ; and the following ministers have supplied it, viz. : Revs. Josiah Richardson, Peter Rogers, Edward Green, Stephen S. Nelson, Benjamin F. Remington, Erastus An- drews, Aaron Burbank, Charles Farrar, John Green, George E. Fuller, and Calvin L. Baker in 1853. It is not known that any Baptist minister ever originated from Bernardston, Methodists. A Methodist class was formed in 1799, and the church was organized July 1, 1852. They have had preaching only a portion of the time. Among the preachers who have supplied them, are Revs. Messrs. Bromley, Ward, J. S. Day, John Beckwith, Horace Smith, and Randall Mitchell in 1853. Unitarians. The Unitarian church was originally an Or- thodox Congregational church, and organized in Deerfield, Nov. 25, 1741, and became Unitarian about half a century since, as stated in the account of Orthodox Congregation- alists in Bernardston. 52 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS Rev. Timothy F. Rogers was ordained over the church, Sept. 20, 1809, and died while pastor in B., Jan. 26, 1847, aged 66 ; Rev. Asarelah Bridge was installed colleague pas- tor, Feb. 18, 1846, and preached his farewell sermon, March 31, 1850 ; Rev. Thomas Weston supplied from December, 1850, to January, 1852 ; Rev. William W. Hebbard began to supply in April, 1852, and still continues to supply this church and people. No Unitarian minister is known to have originated from Bernardston ; but Rev. Hon. Samuel C. Allen, who was for a short time a pastor of the first Congre- gational church in Northfield, after leaving the ministry, be- came a Unitarian. For a further notice of whom, see the account of the Congregational pastors in Northfield. Universalists. The Universalist society in Bernardston, was established June 19, 1820 ; and its preachers have been Revs. John Brooks, Aurin Bugbee, R. S. Sanborn, William S. Ballon, Orrin Perkins, and Hymen B. Butler in 1853. In the centre of Bernardston, within a circle of a radius of forty rods, are five Meeting-houses belonging to Unitarians, Orthodox Congregationalists, Baptists, Methodists, and Uni- versalists, Summary of Preachers originating from Bernardston — Or- thodox Congregationalists, 2. Total, 2. BUCKLAND. A part of the territory of this town was taken from Charle- mont ; and the first settlements were made on the Deerfield river, and in the south part of the town. A Mr. White and Captain Nahum Ward were among the first settlers. The town was incorporated April 14, 1779. Its population in 1850 was 1,056. Three churches have been organized in Buckland, which are still in existence, viz., one Congrega- tional, one Baptist, and one Methodist. OFBUCKLAND. 53 CONGREGATIONALISTS, Church. The Congregational church was organized in October, 1785, with eighteen members. The first Meeting- house was built in 1793, and was rebuilt in 1846. Previous to the erection of their house of worship the congregation for some time held their meetings in a barn. Eight revivals have been enjoyed, resulting in the addition of about two hundred and thirty to the church. The first in 1799 and seventeen added; in 1808, and eighteen added; in 1816, and fifteen added; in 1822, and sixty-six added ; in 1831, and twenty-seven added ; in 1842, and forty-four added ; in 1849, and seventeen added ; and in 1851, and twenty-five added. A council was called to settle difficulties, Oct. 21, 1800. In the 68 years since the organization of this church, it has had a settled ministry about 58 years, and has been des- titute of the same about ten years. The church gave an in- vitation to Rev. John Keep, in 1848, to settle as their pastor, but he did not become their pastor. The charitable contri- butions for 1853 amounted to ^266 89. The number in the Sabbath School in 1852 was 200. The number of members in the church in 1853 was 190. This church has had four pastors. Previous to the first pastor. Rev. Jacob Sherwin, of Ashfield, and Rev. Jonathan Leavitt, of Heath, preached as supplies. Pastors. 1,* Rev. Josiah Spaulding was installed pas- tor of this church, Oct. 15, 1794. He was born in Plainfield, Ct., Jan. 10, 1751 ; graduated at Yale in 1778 ; studied theology with Rev. Dr. West, of Stockbridge ; was licensed to preach, Jan. 7, 1780 ; ordained as pastor in Uxbridge, Sept. 11, 1782, and dismissed from there, Oct. 2, 1787. The dismissing council say, " They view Mr. Spaulding's chris- tian character in a fair and amiable light, and hope Christ will use him as an instrument of speedily building up his gospel, and promoting his cause in the world." He was in- stalled in Worthington, Aug. 21, 1788, and dismissed from 54 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS there, March, 1794. He was next settled in Backland, where he died while pastor of the church. The death of his wife occurred about two months previous to his own, and he preached a sermon on the occasion, March 2, 1823. The sermon, with an obituary notice of Mr. Spaulding, written by Rev. Thomas Shepard, then of Ashfield, was published. From that biographical account the following extracts are taken : ^'Mr. Spaulding received the afllictive dispensation, which deprived him of his wife, as a solemn call of Providence to set his house in order for a speedy departure from this vale of tears. His health had for some time previously been evi- dently declining, and now, though he mourned not as those who have no hope, yet every remaining tie to this world seemed to be loosed, and his arrangement of his domestic concerns, his conversation, his preaching, indicated in him a strong premonition that his work on earth was soon to close. Nothing, however, appeared alarming in regard to his health until the 27th of April, when, after having preached with un- usual strength and animation in a neighboring pulpit, he was attacked very violently with a disease to which he had before been occasionally subject. On Wednesday following, he was so far revived as to be carried home, with favorable symptoms of recovery. His disorder, however, soon re- turned with a violence that baffled all medical skill ; and, on the morning of May 8th, exhausted nature ceased to struggle, and he calmly fell asleep in the arms of Jesus, in the 73d year of his age. * * * As a minister, Mr. Spauld- ing held a very respectable standing in the church. His powers of intellect were of a superior class. To extensive reading he added much thought. He became familiar with the great and distinguishing doctrines of the gospel, not by admitting the conclusions of others without examination, but by bringing his own mind to a patient and laborious investi- gation of them. He was habitually a student. His percep- tion of truth was not intuitive. He did not comprehend his OFBUCKLAND. 55 subject at a glance. He was deliberate, made sure his progress by carefully weighing every argument that related to the point before him, and, in a way peculiar to himself, rendered his conclusions clear and convincing. In his work on Universalism, in the hands of the public, there may be, in the opinion of some, an unnecessary expansion of argu- ment and diffuseness of style, yet no candid and patient reader can lay doAvn the book without being convinced that it contains an unanswerable refutation of the dangerous doctrine therein considered. There was little in Mr. Spaulding's person or manner in the pulpit that would be called commanding. He possessed not the graces of elocu- tion, yet he was an instructive preacher. The weight of sentiment, with which his discourses were fraught, could scarcely fail of gaining the attention of the thinking part of his audience. There was a solemnity in his manner, and not unfrequently an ardency of feeling, that was calculated to affect the heart. His ministry was blessed with several seasons of religious revival. * * * "As a christian^ Mr. Spaulding must be considered as preeminent. The doctrines of grace which he believed, and which he preached, had a truly sanctifying influence on his own heart. He aimed to be a living example of the renovating and purifying power of religion. He was a man of prayer. The solemnity, pertinence and fervency with which he approached the throne of grace, in public, in the family, or by the bed of sickness, evinced to all that heard him, that prayer was the delight of his heart, and his com- munion with God uninterrupted. The permanent derange- ment of his only son, whom he designed to educate at college, and upon whom he had hoped to lean in declining life, was a sore affliction, but evidently instrumental of weaning his aflections from earth, and placing them on the immutable source of all good. His conversation was spiritual and edifying ; he was always ready to impart counsel to the young, consolation to the afflicted, and wholesome advice to 56 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS all with whom he had intercourse. No one, whose heart was devoted to the interests of religion, could visit him in his family without coming away impressed with the con- viction that there dwelt a man of God. During his last sickness, while reason remained, and at lucid intervals after it was impaired, his conversation was such as became a minister of Christ in his dying moments. He expressed himself with diffidence in regard to his hope of heaven, but seemed to have the most exalted and consoling views of the character of the great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. "As a. parent, Mr. Spaulding was tender, affectionate and faithful. His children were near his heart, and he ceased not daily to bear them in the arms of faith to the throne of grace, that ' they might know the Lord.' He submitted patiently to the chastisement of God, in relation to his de- ranged son, and, while struggling under the embarrassment of a small income, he went far beyond his means in support- ing him while confined in his own house for more than eleven years. * * * His church and people have been be- reaved of an affectionate, pious and able minister of Christ. His brethren in the ministry have been bereaved of one whom they highly respected and loved, and whose faithful services they will long remember with gratitude to the great Head of the church." The following account is from Rev. Mortimer Blake's History of Mendon Association, and was furnished by Rev. Asa B. Smith, a successor of Mr. Spaulding in the ministry in Buckland : " His ministry in Buckland was a successful one. There were several seasons of special religious interest during his ministry, the last of which was the year before he died, when there was probably the most powerful revival ever enjoyed among this people. * * * Mr. Spaulding was a sound, doctrinal preacher, who instructed his people well in the great truths of the Bible, and laid the foundations so thoroughly that they remain to this day. The fruits of his OFBUCKLAND. 57 ministry still exist in the church, and they form its strongest pillars. * * * As a preacher, his manner was rather dull and uninteresting ; but what he lacked in manner he made up in matter. On his death bed he was visited by some of his people, who came to confess the wrong they had done him. He felt that he could not die without an interview. When it was over he said he could die in peace. His memory still lives among the people. They looked up to him as their father, and when they now speak of him, they usually give him the title of 'father.' " The account given by Mr. Smith narrates the case of Mr. Spaulding's unfortunate and only son Josiah, as follows : " Bearing his father's name, the pride of his parents, and designed by them for the ministry, he has been a raving ma- niac for forty-four years. He is now almost 65. For some two years after he became deranged, he was not confined ; but his father's life was repeatedly endangered, and he was chained for some two years. For the last forty years he has been shut up in a cage. No clothing can be kept on him. He remains constantly in a sitting posture, with a blanket wrapped about him, and only leans back against the cage when he sleeps. He has remained in this position so long that his limbs cannot be straightened. Before he became deranged he had been for many months in an interesting state of mind, and his parents entertained a hope for him. He was nearly or quite prepared to enter college, and was teaching school when the first signs of insanity appeared. He appears to become more and more demented." The author subjoins the few following disconnected items in the history of Rev. Mr. Spaulding. The result of the council that settled him at Uxbridge, says : " An objection being offered by Mr. Preston against this doctrine, or at least that he did not understand it, viz., God's foreordination of every thought, word, and action ; voted by the council that said objection hath no weight." In conversation with a minister, who objected to the doctrine of God's decrees, and 58 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS said the doctrine made man a machine, Mr. Spaulding re- plied, " Well, let man be a machine ; but he is an intelli- gent, vokmtary, accountable machine." Being invited on one occasion to preach in a part of Buckland where minis- ters had preached to great acceptance without notes, he preached a sermon from memory. His audience were de- lighted, and argued, that as Mr. S. usually preached with notes, and at that time had no notes, and preached so won- derfully, God must have inspired him for the occasion, and thus showed his approval of that method of preaching. Mr. S. replied that all the inspiration there was in the case con- sisted in his having committed to memory the sermon he had preached. Rev. Noah Cressey says of him : " Mr. Spaulding was a moderate, grave, candid, humble man. He preached clearly and forcibly the good old Calvinistic doctrines. He might be called a reformation preacher, to shake the dry bones. He did not love money as many do. Once he married a couple, and the bridegroom gave him only a dollar. He demanded another quarter, (the lawful fee,) and, when he got it, gave the whole to the bride." He published quite a number of valuable sermons. He had prepared a theological work of considerable extent for the press at the time of his death. The manuscript being lost, it was never published. His work on Universalism is among the references in the Andover course of Theological Study. He married Miss Mary Williams, daughter of Judge Williams of Taunton, with whom he lived over thirty-nine years, and by whom he had five children, four of whom, daughters, are dead. Three of his daughters married and left children. He died in Buckland, May 8, 1823, aged 72. Rev. Sam- uel Taggart, of Colerainc, preached his funeral sermon. The following epitaph is inscribed on his gravestone, viz. : •'Merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come." " Of the forty-one yeais of his ministry, iive were spent at Uxbridge, OFBUCKLAND. 59 six and a half at Worthington, twenty-eight and a half at Buckland." 2. Rev. Benjamin F. Clarke was ordained as pastor of the church, Feb. 4, 1824, and the sermon was preached by- Rev. Charles Jenkins, then of Greenfield, which was pub- lished. Mr. Clarke was born in Granby, Jan. 18, 1792; previous to his preparation for college, studied medicine ; graduated at Williams in 1820; finished the theological course at Andover in 1823 ; dismissed from Buckland, May 2, 1839 ; installed pastor in Chelsea, Nov. 20, 1839, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Storrs of Braintree, and he was dismissed from Chelsea, Aug. 3, 1842 ; installed pastor at Rowe, June 7, 1849, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Samuel Harris then of Conway, and he was dis- missed from Rowe, Oct. 23, 1850 ; then resided at West Hawley ; in the spring of 1852 began to supply at North Orange, where he still preaches. His ministry in Buckland was about fifteen years. 3. Rev. Preston Cummings was installed as pastor of the church, Jan. 1, 1840, and the sermon was preached by Rev. John Ferguson of Whately. Mr. Cummings was born in Seekonk, May 1, 1800, and afterwards lived in Attleboro' ; graduated at Brown University in 1822; studied theology with Rev. Dr. Park, then a Professor in Brown University ; ordained as pastor in Lebanon, N. Y., Aug. 22, 1825, and the sermon was by Rev. John D. Pierce, of Sangerfield, N. Y., and dismissed from Lebanon in February, 1827; in- stalled pastor of the first church in Dighton, Dec. 26, 1827, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. Calvin Park, then of Stoughton; and dismissed from Dighton, Dec. 31, 1835; installed pastor of the North Church in Wrentham, July 6, 1836, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. Jacob Ide of Med- way ; and dismissed from Wrentham in March, 1838 ; and dismissed from Buckland, Dec. 31, 1847; then resided sev- eral years in Holden ; and now lives in Leicester, with his only surviving son, who is a physician in that place. In 60 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS 1852 Mr. Cummings published a " Dictionary of Congrega- tional Principles and Usages," a volume of some 400 pages. "After being settled one year, a providential injury left him exposed to short periods of insanity for the rest of his life. He spent between four and five months in the State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester, in the years 1849 and 1850 — the last time self-committed, and with good advantage. Had it not been for this, he would never have prosecuted the work of his Congregational Dictionary ; but there he could attend to it with peculiar facilities (having access to the Antiquarian Library in Worcester); and it was a sanitary employment." His ministry in Buckland was about eight years. 4. Rev. Asa B. Smith was installed pastor of the church, March 22, 1848, and the sermon was by Rev. Austin Cary of Sunderland. Mr. Smith was born in Williamstown, Vt., July 16, 1809 ; graduated at Middlebury in 1834 ; studied theology at Andover and at New Haven ; ordained as a mis- sionary, Nov. 1, 1837 ; preached for a time at Woodbridge, Ct., in which period a revival was enjoyed, and about 50 were added to the church ; under the patronage of the Amer- ican Board, started for Oregon, March 15, 1838, with his wife ; rode 2,000 miles on horseback ; reached his destina- tion, Sept. 1, 1838 ; remained in Oregon, among the Indians, three years ; on account of the failure of his wife's health, removed in 1841 to the Sandwich Islands, and remained there till 1845 ; then, on account of his own ill health, left the mission; returned by way of China and South Africa, to the United States, May 4, 1846 ; then supplied a year in South Amherst ; and still remains pastor in Buckland, now in the sixth year of his ministry there. Of the four pastors of this church, one died while a pastor, and two were dismissed ; and the average length of their pastorates is about fourteen years and a half; and three are OF BU C KL AND. 61 CONGREGATIONAL MINISTERS WHO ORIGINATED FROM BUCKLAND. 1.* Rev. Jesse Edson was bom in Buckland in 1773 ; graduated at Dartmouth in 1794; studied theology with Rev. John Emerson, of Conway ; was licensed by Hamp- shire Association, Aug. 4, 1795 ; supplied, for a time, the church in Gill ; was ordained in Halifax, Yt., Nov. 23, 1796, and Rev. John Emerson preached on the occasion ; and died as pastor in Halifax, Vt., Dec. 14, 1805, aged 32. The following account of him is from a manuscript his- torical discourse, delivered by Rev. Alpheus Graves, while a pastor in Halifax, Vt. : — " During his ministry, ninety-nine were added to the church — eleven of whom were received by letter. In the fall and winter of 1797 and '98, there was a general revival of religion in the town, of the fruits of which, forty-three united with the Congregational church in 1798. A considerable number united with the Baptist church, the same year. Mr. Edson was highly acceptable to his people, both as a minister and as a pastor, receiving their affectionate confidence. As a preacher, he was sound in doctrine, though not characterized as a doctrinal preacher. In his intercourse with his people, he was courteous, intro- ducing the subject of religion in an easy and happy manner. His person was tall and slender. His preparations for the pulpit were made with readiness. He interested himself in the young people of his charge, and was accustomed to preach to them one sermon a year. Mr. Edson's salary was one hundred pounds. He died at an early age, much la- mented by his people, leaving a widow and three children." He published an interesting sermon, which he preached to the young, Oct. 17, 1799. His remains sleep beside those of his successor. Rev. Thomas H. Wood, near the sanctuary where they preached the gospel. The following epitaph is on Mr. Edson's grave- stone, viz. : — 63 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS " My flesh shall slumber in the ground, Till the last trumpet's awful sound; Then burst the chains in sweet surprise, And in my Saviour's image rise." 2. Rev. Washington A. Nickols was born in Buckland, in 1808 ; graduated at Amherst in 1834 ; finished the theolog- ical course at Andover in 1838 ; ordained as pastor in Brook- field, in September, 1838, and the sermon was preached by- Rev. Dr. Snell, of North Brookfield ; was dismissed through failure of health, in 1842 ; and has since been employed in a large family school in Brookfield, till 1853, when he relin- quished it. He married a daughter of Rev. Moses Miller. He is now preaching in Chicago, Illinois. 3. Rev. Lebbeus R. Phillips was born in Ashfield, Nov. 1, 1806, and in early life removed to Buckland, where he lived and made it his home, till settled in the ministry. He graduated at Williams in 1836 ; studied theology at East Windsor Hill ; preached in Halifax, Vt., a part of the years 1839 and 1840 ; was ordained as pastor in Sharon, July 25, 1841, and Rev. Dr. R. S. Storrs, of Braintree, preached the sermon. Mr. Phillips still remains a pastor in Sharon. 4. Rev. David Rood was born in Buckland, April 25, 1818 ; removed to Plainfield in 1827 ; graduated at Williams in 1844; finished his theological course at East Windsor Hill in 1847 ; was licensed to preach in Northampton in 1846 ; was ordained as a foreign missionary at Plainfield, Oct. 7, 1847, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Morris E. White, then of Southampton ; embarked for his destina- tion in South Africa, Nov. 3, 1847 ; and is now laboring as a missionary among the Zulus in South Africa, at Umlazi, a station five miles from the sea, 5. Rev. Lathrop Taylor was born in Buckland, Aug. 3, 1813 ; graduated at Middlebury in 1839 ; finished the theo- logical course at Andover in 1842 ; was settled as pastor of the Spring Street Church in Taunton, May 10, 1843, and Rev. I. P. Langworthy, of Chelsea, preached the sermon ; OFBUCKLAND. 63 and he was dismissed from there in June, 1S45 ; installed as pastor in Springfield, Vt., Oct. 1, 1845, and Rev. Erastus Maltby, of Tannton, preached the sermon ; and he was dis- missed from there, Nov. 4, 1851; installed as pastor in Fran- cestown, N. H., Nov. 19, 1851, and the sermon was by Rev. Austin Richards, of Nashua, N. H. Mr. Taylor is still pas- tor in Francestown, N. H. Some other ministers have spent a portion of their early life in Buckland. Rev. Theron M. Hawks removed from Charlemont to this place in 1835, at fourteen years of age ; an account of whom is given in the sketch of Charlemont ministers. Rev. Alvah Lilley removed to Buckland in 1805, at eight years of age, and lived there five years ; a notice of Avhom may be found in the account of Ashfield ministers. Rev. Francis Williams, a native of Ashfield, lived near the borders of Buckland, and was connected with the church and meeting there. Of the jive Congregational ministers here enumerated as sons of Buckland, four are supposed to have been born in Buckland ; all received a collegiate education ; all have been settled as pastors, except one, who is a foreign missionary ; and all but one are now living. OTHER DENOMINATIONS. Baptists. In a history of the Baptist church in Ashfield, published in the Minutes of the Franklin County Baptist Association for 1852, it is said : " On the 22d of July, 1789, ten individuals were delegated from this church to form a branch in Buckland." The clerk of the Baptist church in Buckland makes the date of the organization of that church to be Nov. 21, 1828. Its number of members in 1853 was 26. The following preachers have supplied the church, viz. : Revs. Linus Austin, James M. Coley, Benjamin F. Reming- ton, John K. Price, Amherst Lamb, Alden B. Eggleston, P. P. Sanderson, James Parker, and James Clark in 1853. One Baptist minister, Rev. William Wilder, originated from Buck- land. 64 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS Episcopalians, Rev. Lucius Carter, of this order, orig- inated from Biickland. Methodists. The Methodist society existed many years as a fractional part of a large circuit, and consequently had no separate records. The date of the organization of the church cannot be ascertained ; but it is as early, probably, as 1820, or perhaps still earlier. The following ministers have supplied as preachers, viz. : Revs. Ibri Cannon, Orrin Peir, Henry Hat- field, John Nixon, Samuel Avery, John J. Matthias, Moses Ammadon, Robert Travis, J. B. Husted, Alexander Hulin, Elias Crawford, John Luckey, John Parker, Hiram H. White, William Todd, Joel Knight, Noble Shepard, Philo Hawks, Ziba Loveland, Erastus Otis, Otis Wilder, Windsor Ward, Daniel Graves, Simon Pike, William Gordon, Mr. Oakes, C. C. Barnes, William Taylor, E. K. Avery, S. Drake, Leonard Frost, Proctor Marsh, Porter R. Sawyer, Henry S. Shedd, George W. Green, Homer W. Clarke, Moses Palmer, A. G. Bolles, Solomon W. Johnson, Solomon Cushman, George E. Chapman, A. S. Flagg, M. Leffingwell, and Austin F. Her- rick in 1853. The Methodist Meeting-house at Shelburne Falls is on the Buckland side of the line, but the church and society are considered as belonging to Shelburne. One Meth- odist minister has originated from Buckland, viz., Rev. Wind- sor Ward. Summary of preachers originating from Buckland. Con- gregationalists, 5. Baptists, 1. Episcopalians, 1. Meth- odists, 1. Total, 8. CHARLEMONT. This was a frontier town during the French and Indian wars, and was greatly exposed to the attacks of the enemy. In the limits of the town were three garrisons, Taylor's, Rice's, and Hawks', which were part of a line of fortifica- tions projected by Colonel Williams in 1754. The town was incorporated, June 21, 1765. The population in 1850 was 1,173. Five churches have been organized in Charle- OFCHARLEMONT. 65 mont, viz., three Orthodox Congregational, one Baptist, one Methodist and one Unitarian. CONCREGATIONALISTS, First Church. The first church became extinct, and, the records being lost, it is not certainly known when it was organized, or when it became extinct. As the town was incorporated in 1765, and the first pastor was settled in 1767, and the deacons were chosen in 1767, the church was probably formed about the time of the settlement of its first pastor, in 1767. The church was probably disbanded, or considered extinct, at the time of the dismission of the first pastor, April 15, 1785, as a part of the members, living in Heath, were at that time organized as a church in Heath, and a new church was formed about three years afterwards in Charlemont. But little is known relative to this first church, which is now defunct. The two meeting-houses, in which they wor- shiped, were situated in that part of Charlemont which is now included in Heath. The second one was built about 1767. Unhappy differences between the pastor and people arose during the latter part of his pastorate among them. From the town records it appears that his people, or the town, considered him as dismissed from them, not by a council, but by their own vote, Aug. 29, 1781. He, not considering himself dismissed from the church, and being refused the use of the meeting-house, gave notice that he should held meetings and preach at his own private house ; and he continued thus to do for several years, a few of his people attending upon his ministrations. At length he claimed his salary, and it being refused, he commenced a legal prosecution and recovered it. At one stage of the dif- ficulties, the pastor called a council to advise in relation to his dismission from the church. The council advised him to continue for six months longer, in the hope that a recon- ciliation might be effected during that time. During the 9 66 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS difficulties, Rev. Jesse Reed preached in Charlemont, as a supply, to a portion of the people who were disaffected with the pastor. Mr. Reed continued to preach for several years ; was reproved by the Association of Ministers for preaching in the parish, when the pastor was not dismissed ; made his confession to the Association, and died in Charlemont in January, 1791, and was buried there. He had lived in the town about ten years. The first church, during the proba- ble period of its existence, from 1767 to 1785, had but one pastor, whose nominal ministry in Charlemont was about eighteen years. Pastor. *Rev. Jonathan Leavitt was the first and only pastor of this church, and was installed over it near the close of 1767. He was born in Suffield, Conn., Jan. 22, 1731 ; graduated at Yale in 1758 ; ordained as pastor in Walpole, N. H., May 27, 1761 ; dismissed from Walpole in May, 1765 ; held the pastoral relation about eighteen years in Charlemont ; and- passed the remainder of his life on the same spot, the place of his residence being included in Heath at the incorporation of that town in 1785. He died in Heath, Sept. 9, 1802, aged 71. The council that dis- missed him from Walpole, say of him : " We esteem him a young gentleman endowed with many desirable minis- terial accomplishments." Mr. Leavitt's first wife was Miss Sarah Hooker, of Farmington, Con., who died suddenly, Oct. 11, 1791, by wrong medicine given by her daughter. She was the mother of twelve children, the first of whom Avas an only daughter. The eleven sons lived to arrive at manhood, but are now dead. Two of Mr. Leavitt's grandchildren, viz., Joshua Leavitt and Jonathan Leavitt, and one great grandchild, R. S. Leavitt, are now ministers. Mr. Leavitt's second wife was Mrs. Tirzah, the widow of Jonathan Ashley, Esq., of Deerfield, who died Nov. 22, 1797. A ministerial acquaintance of his says of him : " Mr. Leavitt dressed in the costume of his day. He wore a great white wig and a cocked up hat, and made a dignified ap- OFCHARLEMONT. 67 pearance. He would do more execution with one nod of his wig, than you or I could in talking half an hour." Another minister, connected by marriage with the Leavitt family, says : " Mr. Leavitt was pastor of the church in Charlemont through the hard struggle of the Revolution, which was especially hard upon the farmers of the new mountainous settlements. His people fell greatly short of furnishing an adequate support for his very large family, and, after twelve years, ceased to pay him anything. After the close of the Revolution, he obtained a part of his neg- lected salary by a legal course, which created dissatisfac- tion on the part of some of the people, which did not sub- side in many years. Mr. Leavitt was endowed with good talents ; was a gentleman in his manners ; hospitable and very sociable in his arnple home ; and a christian man in his deportment, at home and abroad. His sermons are sound in theology, and manifest a mind that is able to Avork with profound subjects ; not fresh and beautified by the imagina- tion, not ardent and overflowing with love, but didactic, dry, and clean, and very long. His services were delivered in a dull monotony, and his prayers were incredibly long, in pub- lic and in family devotions. Feb. 28, 1802, Mr. Leavitt writes : ' My son Joshua went away the June preceding the death of his mother, and has not been heard of since.' The last of July following he learned that bales of cotton had been seen in the city of New York, marked ' Joshua Leavitt.' The father immediately started on a journey of discovery, and, on his return, was taken sick, and died soon after reach- ing home. It was a plain case of travel disease, induced by anxiety, excitement, and horseback journeying of several days in the sun." A manuscript account of his death says : " He endured the pains and distress of his disorder with great patience. He manifested, during the course of his sickness, the most en- tire resignation to the will of his Creator, and, at last, ap- peared to expire without a struggle, in the hope of a blessed immortality." 68 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS The following obituary notice is taken from the Green- field Gazette, of Sept. 20, 1802 : " Mr. Leavitt was taken sick with the dysentery on the 20th of August, while at- tending upon his youngest son, who was sick with the same disorder. For eighteen days he endured the pains and dis- tresses of his disorder with great patience. During the time of his sickness he manifested the most cheerful resignation to the will of his Creator, and a firm belief in the mercy of God through the merits of Christ. A little before he breathed his last, he raised his hand to his head, and endeavored to close his eyes as well as he could, and, at the close of life, appeared to expire without a struggle, in the hope of a happy immortality. It is but just to remark, that, in early life, Mr. Leavitt made a profession of his belief in the religion of Christ, and ever after appeared to be steadfast, zealous, and sincere in maintaining the doctrines of the gospel. He considered the scriptures as the only perfect rule, and the character of Christ as the only perfect example, for the con- duct of men. His hope of acceptance with God was in his mercy, through the merits of the Redeemer. This hope seemed to be a cordial to his spirits, in all the trying and distressing scenes of his life, and his unfailing support while passing through the dark valley of the shadow of death. ' Blessed is he who trusteth in the Lord, whose hope the Lord is.' Mr. Leavitt has left a numerous family and many friends to mourn the loss of an aff'ectionate husband, a most excellent father, and a faithful friend." In 1801 he published a volume on the "New Covenant and the Church's Duty." Second Church. The second church was organized June 6, 1788, with sixteen members. The council, embrac- ing Revs. Nehemiah Porter of Ashfield, John Emerson of Conway, and Roger Newton of Greenfield, was in session three days. The first Meeting-house was built about 1790, and the second, located about two miles west of the first, was built in 1845. This church has enjoyed nine revivals, as the fruits of which nearly two hundred united with it, OF CHARLEMONT. 69 viz., in 1792, and forty additions ; in 1815, and eighteen additions ; in 1821 ; in 1824, and seventeen additions ; in 1828, and twenty additions ; in 1830, and forty-one addi- tions ; in 1842, and twenty-six additions ; in 1847, and twenty additions ; and in 1850, and eighteen additions. Councils have been called by this church to settle difficulties as follows, viz., Feb. 9, 1791 ; May, 1792 ; Feb. 25, 1795 ; July 13, 1842 ; and Oct. 31, 1843. This church has given invitations to the following ministers to settle as pastors, who declined to settle, viz., Rev. Enoch Pond, March 20, 1789 ; Rev. Thomas Moore, Dec. 15, 1790; Rev. Caleb Blake, May 5, 1791 ; renewed the call to Mr. Blake, July 10, 1791 ; Rev. Gordon Dorrance, July 2, 1794 ; Rev. Theodore Hins- dale, Nov. 24, 1794 ; Rev. Tilton Eastman, Feb. 6, 1799 ; Rev. James Kimball, Aug. 2, 1824 ; Rev. Parsons Cooke, D. D., Nov. 15, 1824 ; Rev. Theodore J. Clark in 1852. The amount contributed to the cause of benevolence, in 1853, was |99 39. The number in the Sabbath School, in 1852, was 120. The number in the church, in 1853, was 87. In the 65 years since the church was organized it has had settled pastors about 47 years, and has been destitute of the same about 18 years. This church has had five pastors. Pastors. 1.* Rev. Isaac Babbitt was settled as pastor, Feb. 24, 1796, and dismissed June 7, 1798. He was born in Easton, Conn., Feb.* 26, 1757, and, at about twelve years of age, removed to Hanover, N. H. ; graduated at Dart- mouth in 1783 ; studied theology with Rev. Eden Bur- roughs, D.D., the father of the notorious Stephen Burroughs; preached some in Vermont ; was married March 20, 1795, to Miss Prudence May, daughter of Deacon Ezra May, a major in the revolution, and who is reported to have been the very first settler in Goshen. After his dismission from Charlemont he resided about one year in Goshen, and removed to Hartwick, N. Y., about 1801, and engaged in agriculture ; he removed to Seneca Falls, N. Y., about 1832, and lived there till his 70 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS death. He had seven children, three daughters and four sons, several of whom are now living in the western states ; one son. Rev. Calvin W. Babbitt, a graduate of Amherst College and Andover Seminary, resides in Metamora, 111. A minister of Mr. Babbitt's acquaintance says of him : " Mr. Babbitt was a modest, sober and pious man. In his sentiments he might be called a strict Calvinist. He was a plain preacher, but not very forcible. His way and manner of delivery were not pleasing. He was a good man, I trust, but an unpopular preacher. He had a kind of tickling in his throat, which rendered his speaking disagreeable." In his speaking he had a habit of hemming so frequently as to injure his delivery. A correspondent says of him : " Mr. Babbitt was frank in his manners, social and cheerful in his disposition. His death was caused by a cancer on the limb, from which he suffered some years. During his last illness, and for some time previously, he seemed waiting for the summons to go hence. He said to a friend, a few hours before his death, that he had good news to communicate. The gentleman inquired what it was, when he replied that his physician had said he could survive but a short time. He seemed delighted at the idea of leaving earth and earthly things." Mr. Babbitt died at Seneca Falls, N. Y., Aug. 8, 1833, aged 76. Rev. A. G. Orton, who attended him in his sick- ness and preached at his funeral, says of him : '' Through all his illness, till death came to his relief, though he suffered much, he was never heard to breathe a syllable of complaint ; his countenance, ever calm and bright, with a smile of more than earthly joy, looking forward to his release with patient hope, and a firm unwavering trust in the God of his salva- tion." His physician, who was inclined to skepticism, said that he had seen more evidence of the reality of religion in the case of Mr. Babbitt than he had ever witnessed before. " To see a case so afflictive as that, so distressing and pitia- ble, yet so calm and joyful, there's something which no OFCHARL.EMONT. 71 mortal can gainsay." An obituary notice of Mr. Babbitt was published soon after his death in the " Seneca Far- mer."' Mr. Babbitt's ministry in Charlemont was about two years. 2. Rev. Joseph Field was installed pastor, Dec. 4, 1799 ; and was dismissed from Charlemont, July 10, 1823. He was born in Sunderland, in 1772 ; graduated at Dartmouth in 1792 ; studied theology with Rev. Dr. Charles Backus of Somers, Ct. ; settled as pastor in Fairfield, Herkimer County, N. Y., Dec. 4, 1797, and the sermon was by Rev. Eliphalet Steele of New Hartford, N. Y. ; dismissed from Fairfield in the spring of 1799 ; supplied a short time in Westminster, Vt., (West Parish), and was then settled in Charlemont. Mr. Field married a daughter of Rev. John Emerson of Conway. He performed a missionary tour in 1805, in the State of New York, under the Hampshire Missionary Society. He has published several sermons ; a volume of Strictures on Rev. Daniel Merrill's work on Baptism ; a volume of twelve ser- mons on the Divine Government ; a Treatise on the Trinity ; and " Clerical Discipline," in two parts. He was a Rep- resentative of Charlemont to the Massachusetts Legislature m 1828, 1835, 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, and 1842. He has continued to reside in Charlemont since his dismission. His dismission was in consequence of his becoming a Unitarian. He has supplied the Unitarian church in Charlemont, more or less, since his dismission from the Orthodox church. After the change in his doctrinal views, an account of the mutual doings of Mr. Field and the Franklin Association with which he was connected, was recorded by the Associ- ation ; and Mr. Field also gave his views of the same, in "Clerical Discipline." His ministry in Charlemont was about twenty-three years and a half. 3.* Rev. Wales Tileston was ordained pastor, March 16, 1825, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. William B. Sprague of Albany ; and he was dismissed from Charlemont, March 22, 1837. Mr. Tileston was born in Williamsburg, Nov. 24, 72 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS 1792 ; pursued his collegiate studies chiefly at Williams, but graduated at Union in 1822 ; studied theology at Andover, and with Rev. Dr. Asa Burton of Thetford, Vt. ; was li- censed by Orange Association, Vt., Aug. 6, 1823 ; installed as pastor in Nunda Valley, N. Y., in the spring of 1838; dis- missed from there in 1840 ; resided there two years, and supplied neighboring churches ; supplied at Perry Village, N. Y., in 1842; supplied in Perry Centre, N. Y., in 1843; in 1844 removed to Rockford, 111., and lived there four years ; in 1849, removed to Galesburg, 111., and preached at Andover, 111., till June, 1850. Rev. Abel Caldwell of Hunt's Hollow, N. Y., preached his installation sermon at Nunda Valley, N. Y. He buried his first wife in the early part of his ministry, in 1827. She was Miss Rebecca Gookin. His second wife, a Miss Clapp, from Greenfield, survives him. He had nine children, four of whom are living. Rev. Lemuel Leonard, a former parishioner of Mr. Tiles- ton in Charlemont, says of him : " The most obvious and prominent things that impressed my mind were his kind- ness of disposition and sympathy, which qualified him emi- nently to minister to the sick and dying as a spiritual adviser and comforter. His interest in the young, and his encour- agement of young men to acquire an education, were re- markable ; and many of the young people of his charge in Charlemont remember his kindness and encouragement to this day, with great thankfulness." An obituary notice of him was published, from which the following is an extract, viz. : — '^ Mr. Tileston was a man of sound mind, and a firm believer in the Orthodox faith, in which he had been reared. His ministry was blessed, es- pecially in the early part of it, by the conversion of many. A paper, found since his death, containing resolutions for the government of his heart and life, written out in the early part of his christian life, evinces a mind deeply impressed with the truths of the gospel and the duties it enjoins. His end was peace." He died with the dropsy, at Galesburg, OPCHARLEMONT. 73 111., Feb. 22, 1851, aged 59. Rev. Flavel Bascomb of Galesburg preached his funeral sermon. His ministry in Charlemont was about twelve years. 4. Rev. Stephen T. Allen was ordained as pastor, April 18, 1838, and the sermon was by President Hopkins of Wil- liams College ; and he was dismissed from Charlemont, April 24, 1839. Mr. Allen was born in Heath in 1809 ; made a profession of religion at thirteen years of age ; graduated at Amherst in 1833 ; finished the theological course at Ando- ver in 1837 ; installed as pastor in Merrimack, N. H., May 23, 1839 ; dismissed from Merrimack, Sept. 4, 1850, in con- sequence of failure of health. Since leaving Merrimack, Mr. Allen has been engaged in the publishing and editing department in New York city. He now edits the Mother's Magazine and Merry's Museum, in New York. His minis- try in Charlemont continued only about one year. 5. Rev. John D. Smith was ordained as pastor, Nov. 20. 1839, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. Packard of Shel- burne ; and he was dismissed, Aug. 11, 1844; and resettled as pastor in Charlemont, over the same church, June 21, 1848, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. Osgood of Spring- field ; and he was dismissed from Charlemont the second time, May 19, 1852. Mr. Smith was born in Hanover, N. H., April 9, 1812 ; graduated at Yale in 1832 ; studied the- ology at New Haven and at Andover ; supplied one year at Athol, previous to his ordination at Charlemont ; after his first dismission from Charlemont, he pursued medical studies at Baltimore, Md. ; and since his second dismission from Charlemont, he has continued to reside in the town, and has supplied in various places. The following is from an address occasioned by the death of Nathan Smith, M. D., the father of Rev. J. D. Smith : — •' Connected with the last sickness of Dr. Smith, there was one interesting event, to which I cannot forbear to allude. His three elder sons had been educated by him, and intro- duced into the medical profession ; but his younger son 10 74 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS (John D. Smith) was yet to receive his education. The dying father, under the pressure of poverty, could make no provision for him. That he was poor, after all his toils for the advancement of medical science, and for the alleviation of human misery, is no reproach to his name ; for he was not in embarrassed circumstances, as some have been, in consequence of his vices and extravagance. Perhaps he was poor, because he had not a heart to exact his dues from the children of poverty. Perhaps he was poor, because he was liberal and generous. He could not provide for the educa- tion of his youngest son. He had nothing to bequeath him. His own toils and cares were over. Who would be a father and friend to his son ? In this state of solicitude and anxi- ety, the door of his sick chamber was opened, and there stood before him a respectable physician of Boston, (Dr. Shattuck) formerly his pupil ; and he came to tell him to die in peace, because his son should he taken care of. This visit for this object, and as a testimony of affection and re- spect, sent a thrilling stimulating power through his whole palsied frame. His countenance was lighted up with joy. The tongue of the paralytic was loosened, and he spake with distinctness ; and doubtless there was not absent from the gladdened heart a warm emotion of gratitude to God." In accordance with his promise to the dying father, Dr. Shattuck liberally assisted the son in passing through his collegiate and professional course. Mr. Smith was chosen to represent the town of Charlemont in the Legislature of Massachusetts, in 1854. Of the jive pastors of this church, all were dismissed ; one became a Unitarian ; and three are now living ; and the av- erage length of their pastorates is about nine years and a half. Since the dismission of their last pastor this church has been supplied by Rev. Theodore J. Clark, Rev. Edward Clarke, Rev. Levi Packard, and Mr. Samuel Fisk. Between the pastorates of Mr. Allen and Mr. Smith, the church was supplied some time by Professor John Tatlock of Williams College, and Rev. George Lyman. O F C H A R L E M O N T. 75 Third Church. The third church was organized in the east part of the town, Aug. 6, 1845, with forty-three mem- bers. Its first and only Meeting-house was built in 1847. A season of revival was enjoyed in 1848, and twenty-seven were added to the church. A council was called to give ad- vice in a case of difficulty, Aug. 2, 1848. The amount contrib- uted to the cause of benevolence, in 1853, was $63 95. The number in the Sabbath School in 1852, was 120. In 1853 the church numbered 80. Previous to the settlement of their first pastor, the church was supplied by Rev. Na- thaniel A. Keyes, who had been a missionary of the Amer- ican Board to Syria. Two pastors have been settled over this church. In the eight years and a half since the organization of this church, it has had a settled ministry about five years and a half, and has been destitute of the same about three years. Pastors. 1. Rev. Moses H. Wilder was installed as pastor, March 17, 1847, and Rev. Dr. Absalom Peters of Wil- liamstown preached on the occasion ; and he was dismissed from Charlemont, Oct. 3, 1848. Mr. Wilder was born in Winchendon, June 19, 1798 ; did not graduate at any col- lege ; did not study at any Theological Seminary ; was li- censed to preach in Indiana, Oct. 23, 1831; ordained as an Evangelist at Tamworth, N. H., April 21, 1835, and preached himself on the occasion ; was a pastor at Bath, la., three years ; installed pastor at Georgetown, Ohio, April 23, 1840, and the sermon was by Rev. Eleazer Brainard ; dis- missed from Georgetown in April, 1842 ; installed pastor at Wadsworth, Ohio, in 1843, and the sermon was by Rev. James Shaw; dismissed from Wadsworth in July, '1845; after leaving Charlemont, was installed at Salem, pastor of the Howard Street Church, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. Storrs of Braintree ; dismissed from Salem, Oct. 8, 1851 ; installed pastor at Harwich, Dec. 10, 1851, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. George W. Blagden of Boston. Mr. Wilder has been employed as an agent of benevolent societies seven 76 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS years ; has been under the Home Missionary Society seven years ; has preached over 3,000 sermons ; is still a pastor in Harwich. Mr. Wilder's pastorate in Charlemont continued about one year and a half. 2. Rev. Aaron Foster was installed pastor, Feb. 13, 1850, and Rev. Samuel Harris preached on the occasion. Mr. Foster was born in Hillsboro', N. H., March 19, 1794, and was trained up among the Quakers. . He graduated at Dartmouth in 1822 ; finished the theological course at An- dover in 1825 ; was ordained as an Evangelist at Rutland, Yt., Oct. 19, 1825, and Rev. Phineas Cook, then of Ack- worth, N. H., preached on the occasion ; supplied five years various churches in Laurens, Abbeville, and Pendleton Dis- tricts, in S. C. In April, 1828, while driving rapidly in a chaise, near Charleston, S. C, his horse was killed by light- ning ; in 1829, he was a member of the Presbyterian General Assembly at Philadelphia; was installed pastor in Pendleton, S. C. in 1830, and Rev. Anthony Ross preached the ser- mon ; in September, 1833, went to Fort Covington, N. Y., received a call to settle there, but declined it, and continued to supply the church there for several years ; in 1837 went to Constable, N. Y., and preached there till November, 1843 ; spent some time in an agency for the American Peace Soci- ety in 1844 ; in November, 1845, began to supply the Rob- inson Church in Plymouth, and continued there till his re- moval to Charlemont. In 1851 he was a delegate to the World's Peace Convention at London. In 1853 he was a delegate from Charlemont to revise the Constitution of Mas- sachusetts. He is still a pastor in Charlemont, in the fourth year of his ministry there. Of the tiDO pastors of this church, one was dismissed ; both are now living ; and the average length of their pastorates is about two years and a half. OFCHARLEMONT. 77 CONGREGATIONAL MINISTERS WHO ORIGINATED FROM CHARLEMONT. 1. Rev. James Ballard was born in Charlemont in 1S05 ; graduated at Williams in 1827 ; instructed in the Academy at Bennington, Vt., for ten years, till 1837, having had charge of more than five hundred ditferent scholars, and having pre- pared more than forty for college ; studied theology with Rev. Dr. Beman of Troy, N. Y. ; was licensed by the Con- gregational Association, in New York city, in 1837 ; re- moved, in 1837, to Ohio, and preached in the vicinity of Columbus till 1838 ; then removed to Grand Rapids, Mich., and preached there and at Grandville for several years ; or- dained as an Evangelist in 1839, at Galesburg, Mich., and the sermon was by Rev. Stephen Mason of Marshall, Mich. ; while supplying the church at Grand Rapids, he bought, for the benefit of that church, of Louis Campau, a Catholic house of worship for $3,700, for the payment of which he collected of the New England churches $2,800. The bal- ance has nearly been paid by the church, and they now enjoy a large and commodious house of worship. In 1847 he retired from the ministry at Grand Rapids to a farm in the vicinity. In 1850 he was invited to take charge of a large Union School in Grand Rapids. He is now in charge of that school, and preaches to a neighboring church. 2. Rev. Roswcll Hawks was born in Charlemont in 1788 ; graduated at Williams in 1811 ; studied theology with Rev. Dr. Packard of Shelburne ; ordained pastor in Peru, Oct. 8, 1815, and dismissed from there in April, 1823 ; installed pastor in Cummington, April 20, 1825, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. Humphrey, then President of Amherst College ; since his dismission from Cummington, for the most part, he has been general agent and steward for the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, and resides at South Hadley, and preaches occasionally. 3. Rev. Theron M. Haivks was born in Charlemont, Oct. 78 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS 24, 1821 ; in 1835 changed his place of residence from Charlemont to Buckland ; graduated at Williams in 1844 ; finished the theological course at Union Theological Semi- nary, New York city, in 1851 ; since then has been em- ployed chiefly in teaching in that Seminary. 4. Rev. Lemuel Leonard was born in Charlemont, of Baptist parents, Nov. 23, 1812 ; pursued preparatory studies in Heath, and, in 1830, united with the Congregational church in that place ; was a member of Amherst College from 1830 to 1832, and then left college on account of ill health, and did not graduate ; studied with various instruc- tors, and completed the theological course in the East Wind- sor Hill Seminary in 1839 ; was licensed by Franklin Asso- ciation in 1838 ; ordained at Portageville, N. Y., as pastor, Oct. 30, 1839, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Wales Tileston, then of Nunda Valley, N. Y. ■; dismissed from Portageville, Aug. 19, 1849, and has since preached as a stated supply at Moscow, N. Y. Mr. Leonard married a daughter of Rev. Moses Miller, formerly of Heath. 5. Rev. Daniel Rice was born in Conway, Oct. 13, 1816; at one year and a half of age removed to Charlemont, where he lived till manhood ; united with the church at thirteen years of age ; graduated at Amherst in 1837 ; was principal of the Academy in Hancock, N. H., two years ; pursued theological study for a time at Andover, and finished his theological course at Lane Seminary, Ohio, in 1842 ; was settled as pastor at Troy, Ohio, in 1842, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. John W. Hall of Dayton, Ohio. Three seasons of revival have been enjoyed during Mr. Rice's ministry at Troy, and, in 1843, between forty and fifty were added to his church. Mr. Rice is still a pastor at Troy, Ohio. Some other Congregational ministers have spent a short portion of their early life in this town, who are not num- bered in this sketch among the sons of Charlemont. Rev." Jedediah Bushnell, who died pastor of the church in Corn- O F C 11 A R L E M O N T . 79 wall, Vt.j Aug. 2, 1846, aged 77, spent three years in Char- lemont, to learn the trades of shoemaker and tanner. Rev. Noah Cressey, now of Portland, Me., removed to Charlemont when about eighteen years of age, and resided there till he began to prepare for the ministry ; but, as he lived for a longer period in early life in Rowe, a notice of him is given in the account of ministers who originated from that town. Of the five Congregational ministers here reckoned as sons of Charlemont, four were born in that town ; four Avere graduates ; and all are now living. OTHER DENOMINATIONS. Baptists. The Baptist church in Charlemont was formed about 1791. The following preachers have supplied it with preaching, viz., Revs. John Green, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Palmer, Ebenezer Hall, Samuel Carpenter, Nathaniel Rice, Mr. Mc- Cullock, James M. Coley, Darius Dunbar, David Pease, Ben- jamin F. Remington, R. P. Hartley, S. Bently, M. J. Kelley, James Parker, and Hervey Crowley in 1853. This church, in 1853, had 67 members. One Baptist minister originated from Charlemont, viz., Rev. Philander Hartwell. Methodists. Methodism seems to have been introduced into the town about 1806 or 1807 ; classes were formed in 1828 and 1831, and, for some time, the Methodists in this place were connected with those in Rowe. Nothing definite can be learned respecting the origin of the present Methodist church in Charlemont. Preaching has been supplied by Revs. Samuel Eigmy, John Nixon, A. Hulin, E. Andrews, J. B. Husted, E. Crawford, J. C. Bonticou, S. W. Sizer, William Todd, O. C. Bosworth, Windsor Ward, Horace Moulton, E. P. Stephens, Samuel Heath, D. K. Bannister, William Kimball, C. Hayward, W. Wilicutt, Lyman Wing, J. W. Lewis, W. Taylor, E. Bugbee, E. K. Avery, C. C. Barnes, Proctor Marsh, L. Frost, Porter R. Sawyer, David Mason, G. W. Green, Moses Palmer, William Bordwell, E. 80 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS A. Manning, Ichabod Marcy, Amasa Taylor, A. A. Cook, David K. Merrill, and William Pentecost in 1853. Method- ist preachers originating from Charlemont : Revs. Daniel Graves, Philo Hawks, David L. Winslow, Otis Legate and William Legate. Unitarians. The Unitarian church in Charlemont was formed about 1830, and has been supplied with preaching by Revs. Joseph Field, C. Nightingale, William Cushing, Benjamin Parsons, George F. Clarke, Mr. Hervey, and R. Bacon. They have had but little preaching for some time past. They never had a settled pastor. Universalists. Two Universalist preachers. Revs. Joseph Barber and William Barber, originated from Charlemont. Summary of Preachers originating from Charlemont : Con- gregationalists, 5 ; Baptists, 1 ; Methodists, 5 ; Universal- ists, 2. Total, 13. COLERAINE. This township was granted in 1736, and for a time was called Boston Township. Settlements began as early as the year 1742, for the people that year "voted about calling a pious Orthodox minister to settle with them," and applied to Boston Presbytery, April 16, 1745, for preaching. The early settlers were chiefly Scotch-Irish, and generally Presbyteri- ans. In the town four garrisons were maintained, one of which was the dwelling-house of the first minister, Mr. Mc- Dowell. Several of the inhabitants were killed and some captured by the Indians. The town was incorporated June 30, 1761, and received its name in honor of Lord Coleraine of Ireland. Tradition says that he " was so well pleased with the honor done him, that he sent the inhabitants a fine bell, but, through the unfaithfulness of the agent to whom it was intrusted, it never reached them. It is believed to be still in existence, and used in one of the churches in Bos- ton." See Barber's Historical Collections relating to Massa- OFCOLERAINE. 81 chiisetts, page 242. The population of Coleraine in 1850 was 1785. Four churches have been organized in Coleraine, viz., one Presbyterian, which, after about sixty years, was clianged to Congregational : two Baptist and one Methodist, all of which are in existence, having meeting-houses and preaching. CONGREGATIONALISTS. Church. The present Congregational church was origi- nally Presbyterian, and, as its early records, even down to 1819, are not to be found, it is not known definitely when the church was organized. In 1745 the inhabitants of the town sent a letter to Boston Presbytery, putting themselves under their care, and asking for a preacher. " June 5, 1750, the Presbytery appointed Rev. Mr. Abercrombie of Pelham to ordain elders among them, and prepare the way for the administration of the Lord's Supper." The church was probably formed not long after this, in 1750. April 29, 1819, the church made request to have its connection with the Presbytery dissolved, and it was changed in its organi- zation to a Congregational church, Dec. 9, 1819. Four Meeting-houses have been built among this people ; the first was commenced about 1742, and located about a mile south- east of the present one, but the pulpit and pews were not finished before 1769, and, in October, 1764, it was voted to coloj^ the Meeting-] Louse blue ; the second was built in 1795, about a quarter of a mile north of the present one ; the third was built by a disaffected party in 1795, about two miles south-east of the present one ; the fourth was built in 1834, and was remodelled in 1853. The two houses built in 1795 were for many years occupied alternately on the Sabbath by the church and people. A revival occurred in 1831 in con- nection with a protracted religious meeting, and about fifty were added to the church. An interesting account of it was published in the Greenfield Gazette, Aug. 1, 1831. Rev. Mr. Taggart, in his published farewell sermon to the people of his charge in Coleraine, in 1819, says : " Our church has 11 82 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS been uniformly small, as we have never seen any remarkable ingathering time." The amount contributed to the cause of benevolence, in 1852, was ^14 55 ; the Sabbath School, in 1852, numbered 50 ; and the number in the church, in 1853, was 42. Previous to the settlement of a pastor. Rev. Mr. Aber- crombie of Pelham supplied occasionally ; Rev. Daniel Mitchell, from Ireland, supplied in 1749, 1750, and 1751, to whom the people gave a call to settle, but the Presbytery, Aug. 13, 1751, refused to have him settle as pastor. After Mr. McDowell's death the people, in 1763, sent for Rev. Mr. Thompson in Nassau Hall, N. J., and for Rev. Mr. Paine on Long Island ; in 1764 Rev. Mr. Kinkead supplied them ; in 1766 they voted to have Rev. Jonathan Leavitt preach for them ; April 13, 1767, they voted to call Rev. Simeon Miller to settle as pastor. This church has had six pastors, three Presbyterian and three Congregational. Pastors. 1.* Rev. Alexander McDowell was ordained as pastor, according to the records of the Boston Presbytery, of which he was a member, Sept. 28, 1753 ; and the Pres- bytery appointed Revs. Messrs. Parsons of Amesbury, Aber- crombie of Pelham, and Prentice of Easton, to perform the ordination. He is represented to have been born in Ireland ; he graduated at Harvard in 1751 ; was licensed by Boston Presbytery, March 18, 1752, and supplied Coleraine for some time before his settlement there. He preached before the Presbytery according to their appointment, at Newbrny, Aug. 14, 1752, and the Presbytery say they "found his dis- course to be censurable to a high degree ;" whereupon he made a written acknowledgment that he " had used hard, bitter, and injurious reflections ;" and Presbytery theji voted that he should be " solemnly rebuked, and, upon his submis- sion, restored." He was dismissed from his charge in Cole- raine, and according to tradition on account of intemperance, sometime between March and August, 1761, and died in Coleraine sometime between January and October, 1762, OFCOLERAINE. 83 leaving a widow, a son and daughter. He was buried in the old burial yard near the first meeting-house, near the graves of Hugh Riddell's family, but no stone marks the spot. Rev. Mr. McDowell and Rev. Edward Billings of Green- field are the only pastors buried in Franklin County, at whose graves no stones are erected, or are in progress of erection. As the ministerial lot in Coleraine fell to Mr. Mc- Dowell as the first minister, and descended to his widow, she was censured by the people for not providing stones for his grave. The town. May 9, 1768, " voted not to get grave stones for Mr. McDowell's grave." His family long since removed from this part of the country. Mr. McDow- ell's ministry in Coleraine was about eight years. 2.* Rev. Daniel McClellan's salary as pastor commenced June 1, 1769. He was constituted pastor of the church some time previously at Philadelphia, Penn., by the New Castle Presbytery, to which he belonged. He received the call from Coleraine, Oct. 20, 1768, and was dismissed from the Pres- bytery to go to Coleraine some time subsequently. He was born in Pennsylvania about 1737 ; received his education in Edinburgh, Scotland, and in Ireland ; was ordained in Ire- land by the Reformed Presbytery, or Covenanters ; came back to this country about 1766 ; preached two years in the connection of the Covenanters ; was then deposed by them for owning the government of the Presbyterian Synod of New York and Philadelphia ; was then examined and re- ceived to the New Castle Presbytery in 1768 ; and died pastor at Coleraine, April 21, 1773, in his 36th year. Tra- dition says that Coleraine church twice sent a man to Phila- delphia to obtain him ; and also, that Mr. McClellan, having received another call, and being undecided which to accept, said he would set up a stick of wood perpendicularly, and let it fall, and to whichever of the two places towards which it should fall he would go ; and the stick falling towards Coleraine, he went there. Mr. Hugh Bolton went for him, and accompanied him and his wife and their three colored 84 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS servants. From Troy, N. Y., they were obliged to go on horseback. From Charlemont to Coleraine it was then a wilderness. He is represented as having been a man of abilities, a good scholar, a respectable divine, and, what then was considered rather extraordinary among the neighboring ministers here, a Hebrician. His Hebrew Bible, published in 1609, is now in the possession of Rev. J. McGee, who married his grand-daughter. His grave is in the old burial yard, near that of his successor, Rev. Mr. Taggart. The epitaph on his grave stone is as follows, viz. : "In memory of the Rev. Mr. Daniel McClellan, the faithful and beloved pastor of the church of Christ in Coleraine. He departed this life April 21, 1773, in the 36th year of his age." " Write, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, &c. Rev. xiv. 13." Mr. McClellan's ministry in Coleraine was about four years. 3.* Rev. Samuel Taggart was ordained pastor, Feb. 19, 1777 ; was dismissed from his pastoral charge by the Lon- donderry Presbytery at their meeting, Oct. 28, 1818 ; preach- ed his farewell sermon to his people, Jan. 3, 1819, which was published ; and he died in Coleraine, April 24, 1825, aged 71. Mr. Taggart was born in Londonderry, N. H., March 24, 1754. His parents were emigrants from the North of Ireland. His father was a ruling elder in the second church in Londonderry. His family were religiously educated. Rev. Mr. Taggart graduated at Dartmouth in 1774 ; studied theology with Rev. David McGregore of Londonderry, N. H. ; and was licensed by the Presbytery of Boston, June 1, 1776. Being a member of that Presbytery, and, without consulting them, having conferred with the Associate Presbytery of New York in relation to uniting with them, he was sum- moned before the Boston Presbytery as an offender, and, after a long discussion, correspondence and delay, he was dismissed June 2, 1785, Avith a general recommendation. It appears that he subsequently joined the Londonderry Pres- bytery. That Presbytery, when they dismissed him from OFCOLERAINE. OO Coleraine church, say, in their records, " We most cordially recommend him to the christian public as an eminently able and faithful minister of the gospel of Christ." Mr. Taggart's first wife died in 1815. On returning from Congress, after an absence of five months, he found her in her coffin, and several of his children on sick beds. By his first wife he had fourteen children, six of whom are living. By his second wife, who was from Washington, D. C, and who lives in Guilford, Vt., he had three children, who are living. He fulfilled a mission under the Hampshire Missionary Society of four months, in 1802, in the western counties of New York. He itinerated and travelled over 1400 miles, and has left a detailed and lengthy journal of his mission. He wrote a biography of himself, consisting of sixty quarto pages, which has been preserved. He published a volume on the " Evidences of Christianity," a treatise on the Saints' Perseverance, and numerous single sermons, orations, and addresses. He was a representative to Congress for fourteen years, from 1804, and read the Bible through every winter he spent at Washington. His absence from his people proved unfavorable to their religious prosperity. John Ran- dolph, who was in Congress with him, is reported to have inquired of him at one time, " And with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness ?" 1 Sam. xvii. 28. When on his missionary tour near Albany, while in a public house, he heard a man use profane language, and said to him, that from his appearance he judged him to be a man of veracity, and he presumed the company present would take his simple word as true without the use of an oath. The man apologized, said he was ashamed of him- self, for his mother had taught him better, and thanked his reprover. A ministerial cotemporary of Mr. Taggart for many years, says of him : "His sermons were evangelical, scriptural, able and long. He once said, he had no short sermons. He was 86 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS not eloquent, but monotonous and dull in his delivery. He had a remarkably tenacious memory, and could remember to a great extent the ages of his people and the dates of their deaths. He was eccentric in his manners, even in the pulpit." While in college, attending a religious service, he was observed to be busily engaged in catching flies. When called to an account for not attending to the exercises, he told the college officer that he did give attention to them, and could repeat what was said ; and then he pro- ceeded to repeat what was uttered on the occasion witli great correctness. In the early part of his ministry in Cole- raine, he is represented as having rode on horseback to Rev, Mr. Hubbard's, in ShelburnC; holding in his hands a riding-stick and a large jack-knife, and was found by Mr, Hubbard, dismounting before his door, thus armed, who jo- cosely accosted him : " Mr, Taggart are you for war ? " upon which Mr, T, replied, that soon after he started from home, he used his knife to cut a stick, and had not thought of having it in his hand since then. In his preaching, he was accustomed to say frequently, ' aye but,' and would occa- sionally turn so far around as to look out of the pulpit win- dow. In public prayer his eyes would often be open, and he would watch persons entering the church at such times, till they reached their seats. In telling a story, his eccen- tricity strikingly appeared, as the author well recollects. When he came to the gist of the story, he would become animated, straighten himself up in his chair, rub his hands together with much earnestness, and run out his tongue and. roll it rapidly from one side of his mouth to the other. He was not accustomed to visit his people very much, or to be very familiar with them. He found it difficult, even to con- verse with his own children on religious subjects in a per- sonal manner. When one of his sons was at one time in an interesting state of mind, and he wished to have him in- structed, he did not feel free to converse with him, but wrote over a sheet of paper to impart counsel and instruc- OFCOLERAINE. 87 tion to him, and requested a neighboring minister to con- verse with him. In person, Mr. Taggart had a large frame, was fleshy, was slow and moderate in his movements. His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Packard of Shel- burne. The epitaph on his gravestone is as follows, viz. : — " This stone is erected in memory of Rev. Samuel Taggart, who was born March 24, 1754. Was ordained in this place, Feb. 19, 1777. Represented this District in Congress four- teen years ; and died April 24, 1825. He had an amiable disposition, a discerning and well-improved understanding ; was an able divine ; and preached the gospel with delight, until a few days before he departed, as we trust, to be with Christ." " My Saviour shall my life restore, And raise me from my dark abode ; My flesh and soul shall part no more, But dwell forever near my God." The following obituary of him appeared in the Franklin Herald, Greenfield, Mass., May 10, 1825: — "He was pos- sessed of native mind and talent above the ordinary stand- ard ; his perceptions clear, his memory peculiarly retentive, and his judgment sound. These he improved in the course of his life by extensive reading and by application to those various branches of knowledge too, which lay beyond the sphere of his immediate profession. His religious sentiments were evangelical, commonly denominated Orthodox. These he apparently derived from a careful, extensive and repeated examination of the sacred scriptures. In regard to religious doctrine, he was neither shackled by human systems, nor swayed by the opinions of men. The Bible, which he pe- rused much in early life, was his standard. * * * His mode of delivery in preaching, was not in itself alluring and pleas- ant ; nevertheless his sermons were always instructive, evan- gelical, and weighty : they were peculiarly rich with Bible truth and doctrine, Bible proof and argument, Bible illustra- 88 CHURCHES AND JflNISTERS tion and spirituality, combining in due proportion and in proper connection, doctrinal, practical and experimental re- ligion. * * * His general ability and integrity, his general character and worth, procured for him a large share of re- spect and confidence from that extensive portion of enlight- ened community which knew him. * * * The productions of his pen are not unworthy of notice and commendation. Although, in point of taste and ornament, he hardly kept pace with the hastening step of improvement in what is called the art of fine icrithig, still, however, his writings are all interesting and valuable." Mr. Taggart's ministry in Coleraine was about forty-one years and a half. During Mr. Taggart's absence at Washington, and be- tween his dismission and the resettlement of the ministry, a large number of ministers preached to this church as supplies : among whom were Revs. Robert Hubbard, Dr. A. Chandler, Pliny Fisk, Dr. Edward Hitchcock, Preserved Smith, Jr., Dan Huntington, Mr. Torrey, Mr. Brackett, Jairus Burt, and Horatio Flagg, the last of whom declined a call in 1827 to settle. 4. Rev. Aretas Loomis was installed Aug. 5, 1829, and Rev, Thomas Shepard, then of Ashfield, preached on the occasion ; and he was dismissed after a ministry of about six years in Coleraine, March 9, 1836. Mr. Loomis was born in Southampton, Dec. 19, 1790 ; graduated at Williams in 1815; studied theology with Rev. Vinson Gould of South- ampton ; was licensed by the Hampshire Association, Au- gust, 1817; was ordained as an Evangelist at Belcherto wn. May, 1818, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge, then of Greenfield ; was a missionary one year, under the Hampshire Missionary Society, in Western Vir- ginia ; preached as stated supply in Randolph County, Va.. for six and a half years from 1819 ; preached in West Wind- sor, Vt., six months in 1826 and 1827 ; supplied in Castle- ton, Vt., in 1827 ; began to supply in Coleraine in 1828. After his dismission from Coleraine, was installed in the OF C OLERAINE 89 second Congregational church in Bennington, Vt., April 27, 1836, and Rev. Dr. Charles Walker preached the sermon ; was dismissed from Bennington, Nov. 6, 1850 ; then sup- plied in New Preston, Ct. ; in October, 1851, removed to Hebron, N. Y., where he has since lived and preached. Mr. Loomis has two sons, who are ministers, a notice of whom may be found in the account of ministers originating from Coleraine. Between the dismission of Mr. Loomis and the settlement of the next pastor, the church was supplied by the Rev. Messrs. Packards of Shelburne. 5. Rev. Horatio Flagg was installed as pastor. May 3, 1837, and Rev. T. Packard, Jr., preached the sermon; and he was dismissed, May 23, 1848. Mr. Flagg was born in Wil- mington, Vt., Jan. 24, 1798 ; graduated at Amherst in 1825 ; studied theology with Dr. Packard of Shelburne ; was li- censed by Franklin Association, February, 1827 ; supplied in Coleraine in .1827; was ordained in Hubbardston, Yt., Jan. 24, 1828, and Rev. Dr. Charles Walker preached on the occasion ; was dismissed from Hubbardston, June 10, 1834 ; installed in Clarendon, Vt., in 1835, and Rev. Ira Ingram of Brandon, Vt., preached the sermon ; was dismissed from Clar- endon, Nov. 15, 1836 ; then began to supply at Coleraine. In 1851, Mr. Flagg represented the town in the State Leg- islature. Since his dismission, he has continued to reside in Coleraine. His ministry in Coleraine was about eleven years. 6. Rev. Cyrus W. Allen was installed pastor, Feb. 28, 1849, and Rev. John C. Paine of Gardner preached the ser- mon ; and was dismissed, Nov. 23, 1852. Mr. Allen was born in Taunton, Oct. 28, 1806 ; graduated at Brown in 1826 ; studied theology at Andover ; ordained as an Evan- gelist at St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 6, 1833 ; was an agent of the Tract Society for three or four years, in Illinois and Mis- souri, after being licensed ; was a stated preacher for two years at Potosi, Mo. ; installed as pastor in Norton, July 8, 1835 ; and was soon dismissed from there ; installed pastor in 12 90 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS Pelham, N. H., Feb. 1, 1843 ; and dismissed from there, May 12, 1847: and installed at Hubbardston, Dec. 29, 1852, and Rev. J. W. Chickering preached the sermon. Mr. Allen remains a pastor in Hubbardston. Mr. Allen's ministry in Coleraine was nearly four years. Since the dismission of their last pastor, this church has been supplied to some extent by Rev. L. L. Langstroth. Of the six pastors of this church, five were dismissed ; three are still living ; and the average length of their pasto- rates was about twelve years. CONGREGATIONAL MINISTERS ORIGINATING FROM COLERAINE. . 1. Rev. Oren Johnson was born in Coleraine, Feb. 22, 1801 ; graduated at Williams in 1829 ; finished the theolog- ical course at Auburn in 1832 ; was licensed by Franklin Association, September, 1831 ; ordained as an Evangelist in N. Y. State, Sept. 17, 1833, and Rev. Mr. Higgins of Bath, N. Y., preached the sermon. Mr. Johnson was never in- stalled as the pastor of any church. He was employed as a Home Missionary several years in Steuben County, N. Y., and Elkland, Penn. In 1844 he removed to Beaver Dam, Dodge County, Wisconsin. He has supplied that place and Clason's Prairie more or less. He still lives in Beaver Dam. 2. Rev. Areias G. Loomis, son of Rev. Aretas Loomis, was born in Randolph County, Va., Oct. 16, 1820 ; lived there about six years, and about two years in Greenfield, and from 1828 to 1836, in Coleraine. He graduated at Wil- liams in 1844 ; finished his theological course at East Wind- sor Hill in 1847 ; supplied six months in West Charlemont, and six months in Colebrook, Ct. ; was ordained as pastor in Bethlehem, Ct., Jan. 30, 1850, and his father preached the sermon. He is still in Bethlehem. He was licensed by the Hampshire Association in July, 1846. He was married in 1853, to Miss Elizabeth M., a great-grand-daughter of Rev. Dr. Joseph Bellamy. 3. Rev. Elihu Loomis, son of Rev. A. Loomis, was born OF C OLERAINE. 91 in Randolph County, Va., Oct. 13, 1823, and lived there about three years, and two years in Greenfield, and eight years in Coleraine. He graduated at Williams in 1847; finished the theological course at Princeton, N. J., in 1850; and was ordained pastor in North Pownal, Vt., Oct. 22, 1851, and the sermon was preached by his father. Mr. Loomis was licensed by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, N. J., in 1850, and immediately began to preach at Pownal, where he was settled. Ill health constrained him to leave his people, and request a dismission in May, 1853, though the pastoral relation is not formally dissolved. Since then he has resided chiefly at Bedford. He was married Nov. 25, 1851, to Miss R. Augusta Lane of Bedford. 4. Rev. Lorenzo Lyons was born in Coleraine, April 18, 1807; lived there for about twelve years, then lived in Mon- trose, Penn., and subsequently in New York. He gradu- ated at Union in 1827 ; finished the theological course at Auburn in 1831; was ordained as a Foreign Missionary at Auburn, N. Y., Oct. 20, 1831, and Rev. Josiah Hopkins preached on the occasion. He embarked for the Sandwich Islands, Nov. 26, 1831; reached Waimea, July 16, 1832; was constituted pastor of the native church in Waimea, by the Hawaiian Clerical Association in June, 1835. In a letter to the author, dated June 23, 1852, Mr. Lyons says: "In the autumn of 1836 some cheering signs appeared. There was the commencement of a revival. In May, 1837, Mrs. Lyons died, while we were attending the general meet- ing of the Missionaries at Honolulu. On my return, the re- vival was still progressing. A new impulse was given to it by the death of Mrs. L., to whom the people were much at- tached. The work went on with great power. I was occu- pied day and night with inquiring souls. My house was thronged. The revival continued for two or three years, till nearly all the people in my field were professedly converted and gathered into the church. The whole number received to this church, on examination, is 6,169, of whom about 92 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS 3.000 have deceased. While it must be acknowledged that this was a great and marvellous revival, yet after several years' observation, I am thoroughly convinced, that a great number of the professed converts were deceivers and de- ceived. Many have apostatized ; and many, who remain as still connected with the church, will probably never reach heaven. * * * After laboring twenty years among the hea- then, I have come to the conclusion, that it is a great work to fit a heathen soul for heaven. With man it is impossible. Though the Sandwich Islands may boast of having the largest churches in the world, yet should trying times come, multitudes now in the church will doubtless fall away, and be found no longer with the followers of Jesus. At the day of Judgment it is to be feared, that though multitudes have been called, but few will be chosen as fit subjects for heaven. Let me repeat it, and let my humble declaration be sounded throughout Christendom — it is a great and sloiv work to con- vert and christianize a heathen nation. Missionaries must be satisfied with slow and small progress; and their supporters must learn to join in the satisfaction. The great probability is, that but few of the heathen will be saved. Yet those few are to be saved out of the midst of multitudes, and that through the knowledge of the gospel. There is no other medium, through which these chosen few can secure the blessings of the great salvation. Ignorant of the glorious gospel, all must be lost. Hence the Saviour's last injunc- tion : ' Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.' And this injunction must be obeyed, or none will be saved. Obeyed, some will be saved, though multitudes, who hear, will reject the offers of salvation, and perish forever. But the salvation of the few will fill all heaven with shouts of rejoicing, and prove a source of joy unspeakable through the ages of eternity." Mr. Lyons is still in Waimea. 5.* Rev. Luke Lyons, brother of Rev. Lorenzo Lyons, was born in Coleraine, Oct. 2, 1791, and lived there chiefly till OFCOLERAINE. 93 about 1812, and then went to Albany, N. Y., where he en- gaged in teaching and in preparing for the ministry. He never graduated at any college, but received the honorary degree of A. M., from Williams, in 1823 ; completed the course of theological study at Princeton, N. J., in 1821; was licensed by the Albany Presbytery, Sept. 20, 1821 ; then preached in Dorchester, S. C. ; ordained as an Evangelist at Albany, N. Y., Oct. 8, 1822, and Rev. Mr. Monteith preached; supplied in Esperance, N. Y., and was installed pastor there in August, 1824, and left there, Oct. 1, 1827 ; was installed as pastor in Cortlandville, N. Y., July 30, 1828, and Rev. Dr. Lansing preached on the occasion ; remained there about four years ; installed pastor in Rochester, N. Y., March 12, 1833 ; remained there about six years ; was then a pastor in Allegan, Mich., about two years ; was then pastor in Jerseyville, 111., from 1840 till his death, in 1845. Cor- respondents, acquainted with him, say of him : " He was in- deed very much beloved among all his acquaintance, and the Lord smiled upon his labors :" " He was a faithful, de- voted, and successful minister:" "As a pastor he was greatly beloved. He was eminently successful in building up churches, and in winning souls to Christ. Converts multi- plied under his preaching. While his interest and sympathy extended to all ages, classes, and conditions, the young were his peculiar care. He was singularly successful in discover- ing and developing talent ; in finding hands for all work, and work for all hands, in the Lord's vineyard ; in guiding the young, through a preparation for, and into, fields of use- fulness ; in getting young men into the ministry. The in- fluence of his benevolent and genial spirit, not confined to his own church, was diffused throughout the communities where he labored. He sought to elevate society by the es- tablishment of schools and seminaries of a high order, and the multiplying of other means of information." He mar- ried Miss Aurelia Fobes, who survives him, and has charge of the Montecille Female Seminary in Godfrey, 111. Mr. 94 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS Lyons died in Jerseyville, 111., Jan. 11, 1845, aged 53. His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. A. T. Norton, of Al- ton, 111. 6. Rev. Jonathan Mc Gee was born in Coleraine, Oct. 5, 1789; graduated at Williams in 1814; completed the the- ological course at Andover in 1817 ; was licensed by the Londonderry Presbytery in April, 1817 ; was ordained as pastor in Brattleboro', East Village, Vt., Jan. 13, 1819, and Rev. Samuel Taggart, then of Coleraine, preached the sermon ; was dismissed from there, September, 1834 ; installed pas- tor of the first church in Dunstable, N. H., (now Nashua,) Jan. 1, 1835, and Rev. Dr. Barstow of Keene, N. H., preached the sermon ; was dismissed from there, June, 1842 ; installed pastor in Francestown, N. H., Aug. 16, 1843, and Rev. Dr. Amos Blanchard of Lowell preached the sermon ; was dismissed from there, Oct. 25, 1850 ; began to preach in Greenfield, N. H., January 1851, where he still resides and preaches. During Mr. McGee's ministry in Brattleboro' three revivals were enjoyed ; one in 1827, by which twenty- five were added to the church ; one in 1831 and 1832, and ninety-five were added ; one in 1833, and one hundred and two were added ; and during his ministry in Nashua a re- vival was enjoyed, in 1837, and sixty were added ; one in 1842, and about one hundred hopeful conversions were the fruit of it. 7.* Rev. William Riddel was born in Coleraine, Feb. 4, 1768 ; graduated at Dartmouth in 1793 ; studied theology with Rev. Dr. Burton of Thetford, Vt. ; was licensed at Newbury, Vt., in January, 1794 ; afterwards spent five months with Rev. Dr. Emmons of Franklin ; supplied in Charlemont and Chesterfield ; ordained as pastor in Bristol, Me., in August, 1796, and dismissed in 1804 ; spent about one year as a missionary in New York ; supplied in Townsend, Vt., from 1808 to 1810 ; occupied a farm in Gill from 1810 to 1815, and preached occasionally ; installed in Whitingham, Vt., Sept. 27, 1815, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. Packard ; OF COLERAINE, 94 dismissed from there, August, 1817 ; resided in Bernardstoii from 1817 to 1819 ; then in Hadley two years ; then in Ber- nardston about twelve years ; and afterwards chiefly in South Deerfield, till his death in 1849, Oct. 24, at the age of 82. Mr. Riddel indulged a hope in Christ while teaching in Con- way, and during- a revival, in the winter of 1788-9. In 1797 he married a daughter of Rev. Dr. Samuel Hopkins of Hadley, She died in 1813. Of seven children, three be- came heads of families, two of whom are now living, one of whom is Rev. Samuel H. Riddel, a notice of whom may be foujud in the account of ministers originating from Gill. The following extracts are from a manuscript biographical account of Mr. Riddel, prepared by his son : " His sermons, though little set oif with the graces of rhetoric or of oratory, in which he did not excel, were clear, logical, sound, earnest and instructive." " From conscientious views, in regard to the use of property, and a desire to have the means of doing good beyond, as well as within, the circle of his own private relationships and attachments, he always practised the strict- est economy with more than ordinary self-denial. It was not to accumulate or hoard property that he was careful of personal expenses, but because he valued it for nobler and more liberal purposes. Few men ever regarded property with a slighter attachment for its own sake, or appropriated it more cheerfully for all benevolent objects, whether of a public or private nature, which seemed to him to have a valid claim upon the support of christians. His sympathy with the designs and movements of these great objects was strong and active ; and the satisfaction which he found in contributing something from time to time for their advance- ment was far superior to that of any mere personal indul- gence." It has been ascertained that his contributions to benevolent objects previous to his death amounted to more than $4,000, and his bequests by will to such objects amounted to nearly an equal sum. " When it is considered that in his youth he gave up his whole patrimony to his 96 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS brothers; that he obtained his education by his own unaided efforts ; that he realized less from his profession than almost any minister of his day, his salary never having exceeded three hundred dollars annually ; that he never devoted him- self to any scheme for amassing property ; and that he re- ceived no aid in this respect from his ' family, his case furnishes an eminent example of what, under the Divine blessing, may be accomplished by economy and careful management, from a high benevolent motive." '-During a considerable portion of his life he kept a private record of his spiritual exercises." " During the last two years of his life he entered upon and nearly completed a careful revision of all his manuscript sermons." " He possessed naturally a strong physical constitution, and enjoyed remarkably uni- form health during the whole course of a life, which was con- tinued until he had nearly completed his eighty-second year. Only once did he remember being confined by sickness, which was by a slight attack of fever during one of his college vacations. He retained all his faculties of body and mind in unusual vigor to the last." His views and feelings during his last sickness, and when near death, may be learned from the following record of his expressions : '' I have no other plea," said he, "but that of the poor publican." A clergy- man conversing with him made some reference to his life, and his experience as a christian and a minister of the gospel, as furnishing a source of peaceful reflection now, " That," he said, " does not satisfy me. People will say you have been a christian so long we suppose you have no anxiety : you have nothing to do but to die ; as if religion were like money in the bank, and they should say, you have so much of it laid up that you are secure — you can't break. But my view of religion is different. Religion is a thing, which, to enjoy it, you must have it — must have it in exercise.''' " The Saviour will do right to hide from me the light of his countenance at this time, I have so often back- slidden from him. But O, to see him in the beauty and OFCOLERAINE. 97 glory of his character." " God is all my salvation, and all my desire." Being asked, a day or two before his death, if it were the will of God, conld you not give yourself into his hand this day? " Yes, this moment," was his reply. When it was supposed that he would never more recognize those around him, he again opened his eyes upon them, and, speaking to his son, said, " Do you see that I am dying ? The Lord bless you all. I am calm and resigned — calm and resigned. I have been remarkably calm all day.'^ Then, in a voice of the most heavenly sweetness and seren- ity, he offered a few petitions of fervent prayer, entirely- appropriate to his case, which were the last audible supplica- tions breathed from his lips to the eternal throne. He con- tinued for some time longer ; but, without any struggle at last, his hands composed upon his breast as in a gentle slum- ber, he fell asleep in Jesus." Dr. John Woodbridge of Had*- ley preached the funeral sermon. His remains were removed to Gill and buried by the side of those of his wife, and an appropriate service was performed on the occasion by Rev. Josiah W. Canning. 8.* Rev. Hugh Wallis was born in Coleraine, June 15, 1767, whose father, James Wallis, was an elder in Rev. Mr. Taggart's church ; graduated at Dartmouth in 1791 ; studied theology at Cambridge ; was licensed by Berkshire Associa- tion, June 14, 1793 ; ordained at Bath, Me., Dec. 9, 1795, and Rev. Eliphalet Gillett preached the sermon, which was published ; dismissed from there, Aug. 16, ISOCi ; installed in Pompey, N. Y., Jan. 5, 1803, and dismissed from there, Jan. 1, 1809 ; installed in Norwich Society, Litchfield, N. Y., Dec. 5, 1809; dismissed from there, April 20, 1814; then performed a mission in Genesee County, N. Y. ; then preached in Pembroke, N. Y., and afterwards about a year in Gates, where he lived six years after he ceased preaching, and died in 1848. He also preached in Sheldon and Alden, N. Y., and was instahed in Stockton, N. Y. He aided in forming many of the churches in Western New York,, and 13 98 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS the Presbytery of Genesee ; for more than twenty-five years his house was a home for ministers in that region. He was married to Miss Mary Duncan of Coleraine in 1798, who died in 1805, and who was sister to the first wife of Rev. Samuel Taggart, by whom he had one son, Hugh, now living in Pembroke, N.Y. ; was married to Susannah Upham in 1808, who died in 1837 ; and was married to Mrs. Nabby Butterfield in 1839, who survives him. He died in Gates, N. Y., Sept. 7, 1848, aged 81. Rev. James Ballintine preached his funeral sermon. The epitaph on his grave- stone is the following : " He has gone down to his grave, like a shock of corn fully ripe." Of the eight Congregational and Presbyterian ministers here reckoned as sons of Coleraine, six were natives of the town ; seven were graduates ; seven were pastors of churches ; one is a foreign missionary ; and five are living. OTHER DENOMINATIONS. Baptists. The first Baptist church in Coleraine was formed Sept. 5, 1780, with nineteen members. Among the preachers who have supplied this church are Revs. E. Smith, Obed Warren, John Green, R. Freeman, Thomas Purrington, George Witherill, James Parsons, George Robinson, J. M. Purrington, Joseph Hodges, Francis Smith, Milo Frary, An- thony V. Dimmock, and William E. Stowe in 1853. This church had 96 members in 1853. The second Baptist church was formed in 1786 ; and in 1853 had thirty mem- bers ; Rev. Edmond Littlefield preached to them eighteen years ; Revs. Mr. Smith and Arad Hall supplied one year each ; Rev. Edward Davenport has supplied them more or less for about thirty-five years ; to some extent, preaching has been furnished by Revs. D. H. Grant, Nathaniel Ripley and C. L. Baker, and A. W. Goodnow. Methodist preachers have also occupied their house of worship considerably since 1830. The following Baptist ministers are from Coleraine, viz.. Revs. Stephen Call, Anson Clark, Ichabod Clark, OFCONWAY. 99 Frederic Freeman, Joseph Freeman, Jeremiah Hall, Daniel B. Purrington, Jesse M. Purrington, Thomas Purrington, Moses Randall, Joshua Vincent, J. Ransom Washburn, Jona- than Wilson, Edward Davenport, and Israel W. Wood. C-H-R-i-s-T-i-A-N-s. One C-h-r-i-s-t-i-a-n preacher. Rev. Harvey Totman, originated from Coleraine. Methodists. A Methodist class was formed in 1832 ; and the earliest records of the church date back to 1836. The following preachers have supplied preaching, viz., Revs. J. D. Bridge, E. Mason, Freeman Nutting, D. E. Chapin, H. P. Hall, John Cadwell, W. A. Braman, A. S. Flagg, W. M. Hubbard, and Rev. Mr. Middleton in 1853. The following Methodist ministers are from Coleraine, viz.. Revs. Zaccheus Davenport, Joseph B. Dennison, Origin Dunnell, Lorenzo Hastings, Ichabod Marcy, and Thomas Marcy. Perfectionists. One preacher of this order. Rev. Loren Hollister, originated from Coleraine. Universalists. Universalist preacher from Coleraine, Rev. Reuben Farley. Summary of Preachers originating from Coleraine : Con- gregationalists, 8 ; Baptists, 15 ; Methodists, 6 ; C-h-r-i-s- t-i-a-n-s, 1 ; Perfectionists, 1 ; Universalists, 1. Total, 32. CONWAY. This town was incorporated, June 16. 1767, and its population in 1850 was 1831. Three churches have been organized in Conway, viz., one Congregational, one Baptist, and one Methodist. congregationalists. Church. The Congregational church was organized, July 14j 1768, with thirty-two members. The first Meet- ing-house was built in 1769, and was occupied till the second house was built, which was in 1842. The second and present house of worship is located a short distance 100 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS north of the site of the first one. The first pastor preached on his first Sabbath in Conway in a barn, and the preceding Sabbath in Brattle Street Church, Boston ; and the council that ordained him was called together by a horn. Nineteen revivals have been enjoyed, and, as the result, about six hundred added to the church, viz., in 1771, and twenty-three additions ; in 1780, and fourteen additions ; in 1788, and one hundred and eighteen additions ; in 1806, and ten additions ; in 1808, and ten additions ; in 1816, and fifty-four additions ; in 1817, and eleven additions; in 1822, and forty-one additions ; in 1825, and eleven additions ; in 1828, and thirty-eight additions ; in 1829, and eleven ad- ditions ; in 1831, and sixty-one additions; in 1838, and twenty-eight additions ; in 1842, and eighteen additions ; in 1843, and sixty-five additions ; in 1846, and fifteen ad- ditions ; in 1848, and fifty additions ; in 1850, and forty- nine additions ; in 1852, and thirty-five additions. From the organization of the church to the close of 1852, one thousand and thirty-six persons were received to this church. Counrils to settle difficulties were called. May 20. 1778 ; Dec. 23, 1783 ; and Oct. 25, 1809. This church has given invitations to ministers to settle as pastors, who declined to settle, as follows, viz., Rev. Mr. Judson, Rev. Hervey Wilbur, July 15, 1816 ; Rev. John Maltby, March 29, 1826. In the eighty-five years and a half since the organization of this church, it has had settled pastors about eighty-one years and a half, and has been destitute of the same four years. The amount contributed to the cause of Benevolence in 1853, was 1 1,192 89. The number in the Sabbath School in 1852, was 300. The number in the church in 1853. was 342. This church has had six pastors. Pastors. 1.* Rev. John Emerson was settled as pastor, Dec. 21, 1769, and died while in the pastoral office, at Con- way, June 26, 1826, aged 81. The following obituary, OF CONWAY. 101 written by Rev. Dr. Hitchcock, now President of Amherst College, appeared in the Boston Recorder of Dec. 22, 1826: "Mr. Emerson was born at Maiden, in this State, Nov. 20, 1745, O. S., and was the son of Rev. Joseph Emerson, minister in that place. A circumstance worthy of notice is mentioned of his father, that during a ministry of nearly fifty years in that town, he was detained from the house of God but two Sabbaths. He preached both parts of the Sab- bath on which he died. A more particular account is given of him in Alden's Collections, and in Allen's Biography. "John Emerson, the subject of these remarks, was the youngest of thirteen children, three of whom were ministers of the gospel. His education was strictly religious ; and would in these days be called puritanical. His mother, daughter of the distinguished and eccentric Samuel Moody, minister in York, Me., was assiduous in her instructions, and never suffered a day to pass, without retiring with some one of her children, for secret prayer. In this parental faithful- ness we discover the foundation of the religious character and usefulness of their youngest son. Indeed he seems to have been one, who was sanctified from the womb. He could not recollect the time, when religious exercises and duties were not familiar to him ; and at the age of ten, in the absence of his father and elder brothers, he was in the habit of conducting family worship. He entered the Uni- versity at Cambridge, at the age of thirteen, and graduated in 1764. * * * Mr. Emerson, after due preparation for the ministry, was invited to succeed his father in his native place. But he did not comply with the request, nor with several others of the same kind, from parishes in the eastern part of the State. In 1769 he was unanimously chosen to the pastoral office by the inhabitants of Conway, a place that had been incorporated only two years before, and con- tained only four or five hundred souls. He, however, ac- cepted the invitation, and half a century afterwards he very shrewdly described the commencement of his labors there, 102 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS by saying, 'It was literally, John preaching in the wilder- ness.' He lived, however, to see that wilderness disappear, and more than two thousand souls to be settled in the place. The church, which was organized July 14, 1768, rather more than a year before his settlement, rapidly gained strength under his ministrations, and within fifty years he had admitted five hundred and twelve to her communion. In June 21st, 1821, it being the fifty-second year of Mr. Em- erson's ministry, and he having become incapable of sustain- ing the cares and duties of a large parish, a colleague pastor was settled with him, whose ministry, however, in conse- quence of feeble health, continued only to November, 1825, a little more than four years. During that time Mr. Emer- son continued to preach and perform parochial duties occa- sionally ; and sixty-eight individuals united with the church, making the whole number from the beginning of Mr. Emer- son's ministry to its clbse, five hundred and eighty persons. To these add the thirty-two, who were originally organized, and it gives six hundred and twelve, the whole number who have belonged to the church in Conway, up to the time of his death. After the dismission of his colleague, he again became sole pastor of the church ; he entered Avith as lively interest as ever into the ministerial work, and exerted him- self to the utmost to supply the deficiency. When the pulpit was not otherwise supplied, he officiated, and seemed to feel an increased anxiety for the church and people whom he loved. He even went to the house of God on the day before he died, prepared to preach, and would have done it, had not another clergyman been providentially present. The next day, June 26, 1826, in the 81st year of his age, without any warning, and probably unconscious of his danger, he was gently released, almost in a moment, from all earthly trials. Dm-ing his ministry, he had followed one thousand and thir- ty-seven of his people to the grave, and only one or two of those who settled him were left behind. "Being rather careless of his manuscripts, it is not possible OF CONWAY. 103 to State the precise number of his written sermons ; they pro])ably amounted to about thirty-five hundred. In fifty years, he administered baptism to twelve hundred and nine- teen subjects. His ministry was blest with several revi- vals. * * * " The whole length of Mr. Emerson's ministry was nearly fifty-seven years. On the 26th of Dec, 1819, he preached a half century sermon, which exhibits a valuable history of the town from its first settlement, by one who had been an eye witness. He there states, that for fifty years, the whole time in which he had been unable to perform the duties of the ministry, did not amount to one year. Thus it appears, that in this instance the ministry of the son, added to that of the father, exceeded a hundred years ! ''After stating these facts in regard to Mr. Emerson, it seems hardly necessary to add, that he was faithful in his holy calling, — for the preaching of unfaithful pastors God does not permanently bless. Since he Avas the first spiritual guide of the church in Conway, and continued to a recent period, it will be just to compare the present religious state of that people with that of a place similarly situated, which for fifty years has been destitute of religious instruction, and to estimate the fidelity and usefulness of his ministry by the difference. That church and society are emphatically his epistle, known and read of all men. He was warmly at- tached to his people, and towards the close of life his de- sires rose almost constantly to God for a blessing upon them. " Neither is it necessary, after what has been stated, to add that Mr. Emerson believed and preached the doctrines of grace. For a genuine revival of religion has never yet re- sulted from the exhibition of any other truths, or where these were withheld. In his half century sermon he says to his people, ' the peculiar doctrines we have adopted, and to which we still adhere, by way of distinction are called Calvinistic, viz. : entire human depravity, the necessity of regeneration by the special operations of the Holy Spirit, 104 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS justification by faith, an obedient holy life flowing from evangelical repentance of sin, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, love to God, &c. These doctrines, which are emphatically doctrines of free grace, have been invariably held and pub- licly preached to my people.' Not long before his death, when he supposed himself on the very borders of the grave, and was giving directions for his funeral, he expressed to the writer of this notice his unwavering belief in these same truths ; and declared in particular, that he could form no idea of that religion, which excluded the doctrine of atone- ment. He seemed desirous of leaving his dying testimony in favor of those grand peculiarities of the gospel. " It is not intended in this sketch to attempt a minute delin- eation of the character of Mr. Emerson. To those acquainted with him, this would be useless ; and to others, the works that follow him exhibit his character better than eulogy could do it. A prominent trait must not, however, be omit- ted. He was eminent as a man of iprayer. '■ He spent more time,' says his son, the present minister of Manches- ter, ' in the devotional exercises of the closet and family, than I ever witnessed in any other man ; most of the time from the close of the Sabbath exercises, until dark, was spent in this way.' And it may be added, that probably during the last years of his life, the greater part of his time was spent in communion Avith God. For twelve years pre- vious to his death, he was greatly troubled in conversation with an impediment in his speech, in consequence of a par- alytic affection. But it is a curious fact, that whenever he led in devotional exercises, this impediment almost entirely disappeared. What could be the reason, but that he had be- come more habituated to pray than to converse ? In this praying spirit we discover the secret of his faithfulness and success in the ministry. "It ought also to be mentioned, that Mr. Emerson's char- acter was long and severely tried in the school of afiiiction. Suffice it to state, that for twenty years a son, whose early OF CONWAY. 105 days were bright and promising, was a chained maniac be- fore his parent's eyes. One and another partner he was called to yield to the grasp of death, and more than half of a numerous family." His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Edward Hitch- cock, his successor, from which the following is an extract, viz. : " Early was the grace of God implanted in his heart ; and through a long summer was holiness growing and ex- panding under Divine cultivation, watered by the showers of Divine grace, and gathering strength amid the tempests of affliction, that raged long and fiercely around him. For many a year, has the heavy fruit seemed ripe for the harvest ; and at last has he come to his grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn in his season." Rev. Moses Miller says of him : ''I considered Mr, Emer- son as a model preacher in the age in which he lived, in his delivery and style of composition. His enunciation was ex- cellent. His manner of preaching was solemn, dignified, affectionate, and respectful, as becometh an ambassador of Heaven." Mr. Emerson studied theology with his father ; one of his brothers, Joseph, was a minister in Pepperell ; and another brother, William, was a minister in Concord ; he had one son, Samuel M., who was a pastor in Heath, of whom some account is given in the history of Heath pastors ; and Rev. John B. Emerson, late pastor in Newbury port, was his grandson. He published several occasional sermons. His ordination sermon at Conway was preached by Rev. Joseph Ashley of Sunderland. His first wife died May 25, 1806 ; and his second wife, Dec. 8, 1821. On his gravestone are inscribed the folloAving texts, viz. : " If a man die, shall he live again ? " — Job. " I am the Resurrection and the Life ; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." — Jesus Christ. 2. Rev. Edward Hitchcock, D. D., LL.D, was ordained pastor in Conway, June 21, 1821, and Rev. Chester Dewey 14 106 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS preached on the occasion ; and was dismissed from Conway Oct. 25, 1825. He was born in Deerfield, May 24, 1793 ; did not pass through a regular collegiate course ; pursued classical and theological studies at New Haven ; received the honorary degree of A. M., from Yale, in 1818 ; LL.D. from Harvard in 1840 ; and S. T. D, from Middlebury in 1846. After his dismission from Conway, he was a Pro- fessor of Chemistry and Natural History in Amherst College, from 1825 to 1845 ; and has been the President of that Col- lege since 1845. He has published large and elaborate works on geology, and various smaller works on other sub- jects. His ministry in Conway was about four years. 3.* Rev. Daniel Crosby was ordained pastor in Conway, Jan. 31, 1827, and Rev. Dr. Justin Edwards preached the sermon ; and he was dismissed from Conway, July 24, 1833. He was born in Hampden, Me., Oct. 8, 1799 ; graduated at Yale in 1823 ; finished the theological course at Andover in 1826 ; after leaving Conway was installed pastor of the Winthrop Church in Charlestown, Aug. 14, 1833, and was dismissed from there in May, 1842, and then entered upon editorial duties at the Mission House in Boston in behalf of the American Board, while he resided in Charlestown, where he died, Feb. 28, 1843, aged 43. The following extracts are from the funeral sermon preached by Rev. David Greene, viz. : " As a public re- ligious teacher, Mr. Crosby was lucid, scriptural and rational. There was a vein of common sense and practicalness, an honestness of intention, a directness of aim at the intended object, and an earnestness in his endeavors to accomplish it, which were highly characteristic ; and his sermons, while they did not bear the marks of great genius, or learning, or profound research, yet showed, every one of them, that they had been laboriously thought out and constructed by him- self. * =* * As a pastor, Mr. Crosby was remarkably method- ical and efficient. As to his official visits to his people, as a shepherd set to watch over the flock, few if any of them are OF CONWAY. 107 disposed to charge him with partiality or neglect, or with want of fidelity and appropriateness. His work was planned out and kept before him. He took pains to know the re- ligious state of every family, and almost, may it be said, as far as the human mind can know, the religious state of every soul. His visits were always acceptable ; and families, even the children in them, love to expatiate on what they enjoyed on such occasions. * * * " At Conway, where he spent nearly six years of his ministry, and where he was called to his work with great unanimity, there was a growing interest in his preaching and pastoral labors, and a steady advance in the religious and missionary feeling of the people till his removal. The im- pressions made, especially on the young, by his sermons, his concert lectures, and his family visits, are still fresh in their most affectionate and respectful recollections, and can never be forgotten. * * * " During his residence in Conway, two seasons of religious revival were enjoyed, and one hundred and thirty-two persons were added to the church on profession. * * * " When attacked with his last illness in December, he was confident from the first that he should not recover. In the taking down of this house of clay, he anticipated a long and painful sickness, and a distressing death, and expressed some fear that he might be left to impatience and complaint. * * * One day he said to a friend who visited him, ' I have been examining myself to learn if I have any will of my own respecting the result of this sickness, and I find that if it were left with me, I should, of choice, with the highest pleasure, refer it back to God, to do just as he sees best. I have examined the point repeatedly, and I am sure I am not mistaken.' When his physician informed him that he prob- ably could not recover, he said to a friend the next day, ' I feel much better than yesterday ; then I was in suspense as to what the Lord would do with me ; now I understand that I am soon to die, and I am relieved from all uncer- 108 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS tainty.' On another occasion he said, . ' There is nothing in me, and I have done nothing which I can offer as a ground of acceptance with God. All my hope is in Christ.' * * * ' Here I am,' said he, ' with no pain, no anxiety, all my wants met, just waiting God's time to die.' * * * < In look- ing forward to heaven,' said he, ' I can conceive of nothing better than serving God perfectly and forever.' " Mr. Crosby published a small work on the " Character of Christ," and several sermons. His remains were interred in the Mount Auburn cemetery, in Jessamine Path, and the following is a part of the epitaph on his gravestone, viz. : " The Winthrop Church have erected this monument in grateful remembrance of their beloved pastor, who during eight years labored among them with eminent fidelity and success." " For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." 4. Rev. Melancthon G. Wheeler was installed pastor in Conway, June 19, 1834, and Rev. Dr. Storrs of Braintree preached on the occasion ; and he was dismissed, Aug. 18, 1841. Mr. Wheeler was born in Charlotte, Vt., in 1802; graduated at Union in 1825 ; studied theology at Princeton, N. J., and Andover ; was ordained as an Evangelist at New- buryport, Aug. 12, 1829 ; supplied about a year at Falmouth ; installed at Abington, Oct. 13, 1831, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Daniel Huntington ; dismissed from Abington, Aug. 28, 1833 ; after his dismission from Conway lived in South Hadley and performed some agency for the Seminary ; installed in Williamsburg, October, 1843, and Rev. Mr. Condit, then of South Hadley, preached the ser- mon ; dismissed from Williamsburg, March, 1845 ; resided a year in Northampton, and supplied the Edwards Church four months ; in 1847, travelled as an agent for the New York Observer ; in 1848, commenced an agency for the American Colonization Society, in which he is still engaged ; from 1848 to 1852 resided in Auburn, and since then has lived in Auburndale, West Newton. His ministry in Conway was about seven years. OF CONWAY. 100 5. Rev. Samuel Harris was settled as pastor in Conway, Dec. 22, 1841, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Daniel Crosby ; and he was dismissed from Conway, Feb. 11, 18.51. Mr. Harris v/as born in East Machias, Me., Xinie 14, 1814; graduated at Bowdoin in 1833 ; finished the theological course at Andover in 1838 ; installed as pastor of the South Church in Pittsfield, after being dismissed from Conway in 1851, where he still remains. He is the author of several treatises that have received premiums. His ministry in Con- way was about nine years. 6. Rev. George M. Adams was ordained pastor in Conway, Sept. 18, 1851, and Rev. Dr. William T. D wight preached on the occasion. Mr. Adams was born in Castine, Me., July 7, 1824 ; graduated at Bowdoin in 1844 ; finished the theological course at Andover in 1850, and spent some time in Germany in theological studies. He is still a pastor in Conway, in the third year of his pastorate there. Of the six pastors of this church, four were dismissed ; four are still living ; one was a pastor of the church fifty-six years and a half ; and • the average length of their pastorates in Conway is about fourteen years. CONGREGATIONAL MINISTERS ORIGINATING FROM CONWAY. 1.* Rev. Joel Baker was born in Conway, March 7, 1768, and died in West Granville, Sept. 1, 1833, aged 65. The following is an extract from the unpublished sermon preached at his funeral by Rev. Dr. Timothy M. Cooley of East Granville : " His parents were respectable and religious, his father being deacon in the church, and his mother a member emi- nent for christian graces. Little is known of his childhood and early youth, except that he was visited with epileptic affections, from which he was entirely recovered, through the divine blessing on the care and kindness of his excellent mother. He was early devoted to literary pursuits, with reference, I believe, to the ministry ; and, in 1792, was grad- 110 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS uated at Dartmouth College. His theological studies were under the instructions of Rev. Joseph Lyman, D. D., of Hat- field ; and he received license from the Hampshire Associa- tion. June 21, 1797, he was ordained to the pastoral office in this place, (West Granville) ; and to you, beloved hear- ers, it is known with what painful diligence, with what zeal for the glory of God, and unquenchable desires for the salvation of souls, he has executed his ministry. His record is on high. " His ministry commenced at a most eventful period of the world. It was the era of Missions. England was send- ing forth the heralds of the gospel to the islands of the sea. The cause of Home Missions was awakening in the hearts of the wise and the good a deep and active interest. He was for one term one of our earliest missionaries to the West. It ivas also the era of revivals. It was his privilege to witness three distinct seasons of revival ; and during his ministry more than two hundred were added to the church by profession. He was an affectionate pastor. His ser- mons, if they failed in logical accuracy, were plain, practi- cal, and evangelical ; his prayers were spiritual ; and his pastoral visits, in which he was abundant, were in a special manner pleasing and profitable. As a christian, though he was wont to speak of himself with diffidence and fears, he manifestly reached high attainments. Whether he could refer to the precise time of his conversion, or whether, like Baxter, he could fix upon neither the day, the month, nor the year, is a point of minor importance. Probably the dawn of his religious hopes was in that early period when he ex- perienced long and distressing sickness. ' He was chosen in the furnace of affliction.' He walked with God in days of prosperity, for years of quietude not a few fell to his lot. He was also prepared for changes and trials. We remember with what exemplary submission he closed the eyes of two of his sons in the midst of their brightening prospects, and resigned them to the grave. OF CONWAY. Ill " But it was in ' the chamber where the good man meets his fate,' that our 'lamented brother appeared with most at- tractive loveliness. However his rising, or meridian, or de- clining sun may have been overspread with clouds, ' his setting sun shone bright.' He experienced months of wast- ing disease. He could review the past and look forward to the future. In his best days he feared that he should be deserted in the final struggle. But no ! His covenant God Avas with him. Often, very often, he spoke of God's good- ness. He spoke of peace and joy. With sweetest compo- sure he imparted to his children his dying counsel and patriarchal blessing. His last hour was an hour of triumph. Awaking from a deep lethargy, he was sensible that the time of his departure had arrived. He could speak but few words. He was heard to say, ' Death ! death !' Being asked, ' Are you ready and willing to die ?' ' Yes, yes,' was his prompt reply. With a hope full of immortality, with beneficence beaming in his dying eyes, he looked a long, last farewell, and, without any apparent suffering, he 'fell asleep in Jesus.' It had been his expressed desire that he might depart on the Sabbath. Even this request was granted. Last Sabbath, at midday, his spirit took its flight. ' Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.' " Mr. Baker, previous to his settlement in West Granville, preached in Gill and Chesterfield, and received a call to settle in the latter place. Rev. John Emerson preached his ordination sermon. The two sons, referred to in the fore- going extract, were Curtis Baker, a student at Andover, and Phinehas Baker, a medical student. The epitaph on Mr. Baker's gravestone is the following, viz. : " For thirty-six years the faithful and revered pastor of the church in this place. Died in peace and triumph, September 1, 1833." " O grave, where is thy victory !" " Erected by the church." 2.* Mr. Elisha Billings was born in Sunderland, Oct. 1, 1749 ; graduated at Yale in 1772 ; was licensed by Hamp- 112 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS shire Association, 1774, and preached a few times, but •' was compehed, after a year or two, to desist from preaching and engage in other pursuits, on account of bodily weakness." He died in Conway, Aug. 7, 1825, aged 76. He preached about six months in Westchester, N. Y., during the Revoki- tionary war, and received several calls to settle as a pastor, but never received ordination. He was a deacon in the church in Conway from 1812, and held several important public offices in the county. A lengthy and interesting ex- tract from his funeral sermon was published in the Recorder and Telegraph, Nov. 25, 1825. He removed from Sunder- land to Conway about the close of the Revolutionary war. One of his daughters married Rev. Ezekiel Russell, and one married Rev. Robert O. Dwight, a foreign missionary. 3. Mr. Richard S. Billings was born in Conway, Sept. 29, 1819 ; in 1837 removed to Trenton, N. Y. ; graduated at Amherst in 1847 ; finished the theological course at An- dover in 1850 ; has been a resident licentiate at Andover and New Haven, and has supplied in several places, but was never ordained. 4.* Mr. Abel B. Clary was born in Conway, June 17, 1795 ; removed in 1801 to Hartford, Washington County, N. Y. ; and in 1804, to Adams, Jefferson County, N. Y. He was bred a merchant, and lived ten years in Sackett's Harbor, N.Y. Being converted after his marriage, he turned his attention to the ministry, but did not pursue a regular course of study. He never graduated at any college, and was never ordained. He was licensed by the Black River Association, N. Y. ; and preached about four years in vari- ous places in New York state. While on his way to preach as an itinerant in the Shenandoah Valley, Ya., he died of typhus fever at Wilkesbarre, Penn., Jan. 1, 1833, aged 38. Rev. Dr. Nicholas Murray preached his funeral sermon. A ministerial correspondent, intimately acquainted with him, says : " He was a man of uncommon depth of christian ex- perience, very eminent in prayer, and in that faith which OF CONWAY. 113 expects great things. His soul was very familiar with what is called, and very properly, travail for the regeneration of sinners. He was a member of the Presbyterian church of Sackett's Harbor, and one of its elders ; and both as a private member and a preacher, he was ' faithful under death.' " He was a brother of Rev. Dexter Clary, a notice of whom immediately follows. 5. Rev. Dexter Clary was born in Conway, Feb. 1, 1798 ; in 1801 removed to Hartford, N. Y. ; and in 1804 to Adams, N. Y. He never graduated at any college ; pursued a course of study at Watertown, N. Y., and studied theology under the direction of the Watertown Presbytery, and attended theological lectures at New Haven ; was licensed in 1828 ; ordained as an Evangelist, Jan. 12, 1829, at Watertown, N. Y., and Rev. Jedediah Burchard preached on the occa- sion ; preached till 1835 in Northern and Western New York ; in- 1835 and 1836 preached in Montreal, Canada ; then supplied in Rome and Brown ville, N. Y., several years ; in 1840 began to preach in Beloit, Wisconsin, and in Feb- ruary, 1844, was installed pastor in the first Congregational church there, and Rev. Stephen Peet preached on the occa- sion. Mr. Clary was dismissed from his pastoral charge in Beloit, in September, 1850, and has since then been an agent of the American Home Missionary Society, and resides in Beloit. During his ten years' pastorate in that place about three hundred were added to his church. 6.* Rev. Stalhatn Clary was born in Conway, April 10, 1782 ; never graduated at any college ; studied theology with Rev. Dr. Packard of Shelburne, and with Rev. Moses Miller of Heath ; was licensed by Franklin Association in 1823 ; was ordained as an Evangelist by the same body at Shel- burne, Nov. 4, 1823, and Rev. Dr. Edward Hitchcock preached on the occasion. Mr. Clary removed to Conhoc- ton, N. Y., in November, 1823, where he remained, preach- ing there and in various places till 1827 ; and then removed ;.. Prattsburg, N. Y., and was a Home Missionary in Steuben 15 114 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS County one year ; preached in Pultney, N. Y., from 182S to 1830 ; and in Benton one year, and died in Hopewell, N.Y., while attending a protracted meeting there, Nov. 25, 1831, aged 49. Mr. Clary Avas eminently devoted to the service of his divine Master ; was peculiarly solemn and heart- searching in his preaching ; was active and useful in numer- ous revivals ; and the blessing of God most signally attended his labors. A great amount of labor devolved upon him while attending the series of meetings at Hopewell, N. Y., on account of the illness of most of the other ministers. On the Sabbath previous to his death he preached three times, and sat up a great part of that Sabbath night, laboring with a learned infidel physician, on the subject of personal religion, who renounced his infidelity and hopefully yielded jiis heart to God before morning. It was remarked by Mr. Clary that this was the most interesting scene he ever witnessed. He was taken sick on Monday with pleurisy, and died on Wednesday night. His last breath was spent in prayer. He left a widow and several children. 7. Rev. David Dickinson was born in Conway, July 24, 1770 ; studied medicine, and practised several years in Ash- field ; afterwards studied theology with Rev. Mr. Crosby of Greenwich, and with Rev. Mr. Holt of Hardwick ; was or- dained as pastor in Plainfield, N. H., July, 1803, and Rev. Mr. Holt preached the sermon; dismissed from there, in 1817; installed in Columbia, Ct., January, 1819, and Rev. Mr. Bas- sett of Hebron, Ct., preached the sermon; dismissed from Columbia, June, 1837 ; preached several years in Mexico, and Lowville, N. Y. ; and about 1840, removed to New Bremen, Lewis County, N. Y., where he still resides. Re- vivals have attended his labors. For some years past, the infirmities of age have compelled him to relinquish preach- ing to a great extent. Mr. Dickinson never graduated at ;any college. 8. Rev. Harrison G. O. Dioight was born in Conway, Nov. 22, 1803 ; in 1804 removed to Utica, N. Y. ; graduated OF CONWAY. 115 at Hamilton in 1825 ; finished his theological course at An- dover in 1828 ; was ordained a Foreign Missionary at Great Barrington, July 15, 1829, and Rev. Dr. Beman preached the sermon. Mr. Dwight preached for a time at South Ab- ington, and performed an itinerary agency for the American Board, previous to his embarkation. He embarked for Mal- ta, Jan. 21, 1830, and arrived there in February; and soon made an exploring tour in Armenia, with Rev. Dr. Eli Smith ; and removed to Constantinople, June 5, 1832, where he has since labored. He visited this country in 1838 and in 1849. Among the several works he has published, are the following, viz. : — " Smith's and Dwight's Researches in Armenia;" the "Memoirs of Mrs. Elizabeth B. Dwight.'" his wife; and "Christianity Revived in the East." As an illustration of the perils and hardships of some missionaries, I am permitted to record the following account. Mr. Dwight has twice been in imminent danger of shipwreck, often in the midst of robbers, breathed a cholera atmosphere where tens of thousands were falling around him, and stood for several successive years in the midst of the loathsome and deadly plague. For seven years after his arrival at Constan- tinople, the plague almost constantly raged around him ; and its victims at some times were in every house in his imme- diate neighborhood. In 1837 it entered his family. His wife, and little son of two and a half years, were attacked the same da^^. His family physician came, and finding the disease was the plague, deserted them. With no physician, and no help except some aid from a German woman, he took the whole care of his wife and son. His son died in two days, and his wife on the twelfth day. He had seen whole families swept away, and expected his own would be. But God spared him, and during those days of sorrow, and the thirty following solitary days of quarantine, poured abun- dant consolation and joy into his soul, so that he hardly knew whether he was in the body or out of the body. He was afterwards constrained to believe that God was prepar- 116 CHURCHKS AND MINISTERS ing him by that discipline for the trying labors of several subsequent years of missionary life, when the enemies of the cross were multiplied, and persecution raged. Mr. Dwight buried a son of fifteen years, in 1853, of whom an interesting account is given in the "Journal of Missions" for July, 1853, Mr, Dwight still lives in Constantinople, em- ployed in the missionary service. 9.* Rev. Samuel M. Emerson was a native of Conway, and died while a pastor in Heath ; and an account of him is given in the history of the Heath pastors. 10. Rev. Samuel Fisher, D. D., was born in Sunderland, June 30, 1777, His father, who resided in Westhampton, died just previous to his birth, in the Revolutionary Army in Morristown, N. J. Mrs. Fisher, his mother, at his birth Avas making a temporary stay with her brother-in-law, Dr, Samuel Ware, then living in Sunderland, On the day of his birth, he was given to Dr, Ware. For a few years he lived with his mother in Dedham, and in 1782 he went to Conway, to live with Dr, Ware, his uncle, where he re- mained till he joined college. He graduated at Williams in 1799 ; then was a preceptor in Deerfield Academy ; then a tutor in Williams College, from 1801 to 1803 ; then studied divinity with Dr, Hyde of Lee ; was licensed Oct, 3, 1804, by the Berkshire Association ; was ordained as pastor in Wilton, Ct,, Oct, 31, 1804, and dismissed from there, July 5, 1809; installed at Morristown, N, J,, Aug. 29, 1809, and dismissed from there, April 27, 1814; soon after installed in Patterson, N. J., and dismissed from there in 1834; then took charge of a church in Ramapo Works, N, Y,, until 1840 ; then, being unable to preach, lived in West Bloom- field, N, Y., till 1843 ; then lived in Albany, N, Y. ; and from 1844 to 1850, supplied a church in Greenbush, N. Y. ; and since 1850 has lived in Orange, N, J. He received his doctorate from Nassau Hall in 1827. He buried his wife in 1850, He has had six children ; all have become hopefully pious; five of them are living; and one is the Rev, Samuel OF CONWAY. 117 W. Fisher, D. D., of the second Presbyterian church in Cin- cinnati, Ohio. Dr. Fisher is brother of Rev. William Fisher, an account of whom here follows. 11.* Rev. William Fisher ., though not a native of Con- way, yet as he spent the chief part of his early life there, is reckoned as one of the sons of Conway. The following obit- uary notice of him was published soon after his death : — '' Died at Allensville, Switzerland County, Indiana, of con- sumption, on the 19th of April, 1840, Rev. William Fisher, in the 65th year of his age, and the 33d of his ministry. Mr. Fisher was born at Westhampton, Mass., Nov. 20, 1775. His father, Lieut. Jonathan Fisher, at the call of his country, left his family and joined the army of Washington, marched into New Jersey, and died at Morristown in the spring of 1777, when William, the subject of this notice, was but little more than a year and a half old. He left a widow and seven children, four sons and three daughters, the oldest being but about nine years old. Mrs. Fisher, soon after the death of her husband, being in straitened circumstances, removed with her family of little children to Dedham, her native place, and lived with her father. William lived with his mother at Dedham, until he was eight or nine years old, when he went to reside with his maternal uncle, Dea. John Avery of Conway, Mass. He continued with his uncle at work, until after he was twenty-one years old. While he resided at Conway, and during an interesting revival of re- ligion in that place, he became hopefully pious, and joined the church, then under the pastoral care of the late Rev. John Emerson. As near as the writer of this notice can rec- ollect, he was then under sixteen years of age. After his majority, he was for several years employed as a common laborer in different parts of the country. About the year 1798 he went to Williamstown, Mass., and was employed as a laborer in the erection of the new college building, which he afterwards inhabited as a student. For several years he had manifested an ardent desire to obtain an education, that lis CHURCHES AND MINISTERS he might be qualified to preacli the gospel ; but had hitherto been prevented by the want of means. But soon after he left Williamstown, he made up his mind to obtain an educa- tion. Accordingly, in the spring of 1800, he went to the academy in Deerfield, Mass., of which his younger brother was then preceptor, and commenced his studies. Here he pursued his classical studies with untiring diligence, until the fall of 1802, when he entered the Sophomore class in Williams College, of Avhich class, his younger brother was then the instructor. Though, in consequence of his poverty he was obliged during some part of his collegiate life, to en- gage in keeping school, yet by a close application to study, he was enabled to maintain a respectable standing in his class, and to graduate with honor in 1805. Soon after he left college he went to Lee, and pursued his theological studies under the direction of the late venerable Dr. Hyde. He was licensed to preach the gospel in the summer of 1807, by the Berkshire Association. After preaching for a short time on probation, he received a call from the congregation in Middlesex, (now Darien) in Fairfield County, Ct., to become their pastor. He accepted the call, and was ordained and installed pastor of that church in the fall of 1807. Here he labored with great diligence for nearly twelve years, and was successful in arousing the sleeping energies of the church, and in winning souls to Christ. A goodly number were hopefully converted under his ministry in this place. But the congregation being small, they felt themselves una- ble to raise an adequate support for his increasing family, unless he engaged in keeping school. He therefore felt it to be his duty to seek another field of labor. Accordingly the pastoral relation between him and that people was dissolved in April, 1819. He was employed the following summer as a missionary in Western New York ; and in October of that year, he removed his family to Meredith, Delaware County, and was shortly after installed pastor of the church in that place. There he labored with great fidelity and persever- OF CONWAY. 119 ance for about sixteen years. The population being then sparse, and the congregation being extended over a large ter- ritory, his labors were rendered very severe. But his labors were owned and blessed of God. Five seasons of general refreshing were enjoyed by his people, during his ministry among them, and large accessions were made to the church. From a small and feeble flock, when he went amongst them, they increased to a large and respectable church. Mr. Fisher had, for many years, been afliicted with a disorder in his stomach, which often caused him great distress. In conse- quence of the arduousness of his labors at Meredith, this dis- order increased upon him to such a degree, that in 1835 he felt himself unable any longer to discharge the duties re- quired of him in that extensive congregation. He accord- ingly asked and received a dismission from his people in September, 1835. He then removed with his family to the State of Indiana, where his oldest son had previously settled with his family. He purchased a farm and located himself in Allensville, Switzerland County. Here he continued to preach the gospel, gratuitously, to the destitute inhabitants of that region. He succeeded in organizing a small Presby- terian church in Allensville ; and reorganized another, about nine miles distant, which had fallen into decay. To these he alternately preached, while his strength enabled him. After he became too feeble to minister to both, he confined his labors to the church in Allensville, till the past winter, when he took a severe cold, accompanied with a distressing cough and great prostration of strength, which terminated his ministerial labors. He continued to decline till the 19th of April, when he breathed out his spirit into the hands of his Redeemer. '•Mr. Fisher was possessed of a mild and amiable disposi- tion ; and yet he Avas firm and pesevering in whatever he undertook. This trait in his character was manifested in his acquiring a collegiate education almost entirely by the labor of his own hands. As a preacher, he was warm and ani- 120 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS mated. He prqached the doctrines of grace plainly and pointedly, and yet with much simplicity. His hopes of a blessed immortality brightened as he approached the close of life ; and he cheerfully resigned up his soul to Him who gave it. A few days before his death, he was informed of the death of one of his classmates, Rev. William Bonney of Nelson, Ohio, when he said to his family, ' They are all getting the start of me, but I shall soon follow.' A short time before he expired, he was asked whether he still felt that glorious confidence in his Saviour. He ansAvered em- phatically, / do. Mr. Fisher was married to Miss Rhoda Bard well of Goshen, Mass., Oct. 25, 1807. By her he had six children, three sons and three daughters. All his chil- dren became hopefully pious. His sons and two of his daughters survive him." 12. Rev. John A. Nash was born in Conway, Sept. 8, 1798 ; graduated at Amherst in 1824 ; studied theology at Andover and at New Haven ; was licensed by the Hampshire East Association, in the fall of 1826 ; was ordained as pastor in Binghampton, N. Y., in the spring of 1835, and remained there three years, till the loss of health compelled him to relinquish the ministry. Both previous and subsequent to his settlement, Mr. Nash has been employed as a teacher. He has taught two years in Hadley ; one in Hopkinton, N. H. ; six in New York city ; seven in Pittsfield ; and six in Amherst, where he still remains. He is the author of a work called the " Progressive Farmer." In 1852 he became a teacher of agriculture in Amherst College. In 1853 he trav- elled several months in England. 13. Rev. Edward W. Root was born in Conway, March 15, 1820 ; graduated at Yale in 1844 ; studied theology at New Haven ; was a tutor in Yale College, from 1847 to 1850; was licensed by the New Haven East Association in 1848; was ordained as pastor in Williamsburg, Nov. 13, 1850, and the sermon was preached by President Woolsey of Yale College. Mr. Root still remains in Williamsburg. OF CONWAY. 121 14, Rev. Joseph K. Ware was born in Norwich, ^Vpril 21, 1793, and removed to Conway at three years of age ; grad- uated at Amherst in 1824; studied theology at New Haven; ordained as pastor in Palmer, Nov. 12, 1827, and Rev. Dr. Humphrey preached the sermon ; and was dismissed from there, March 16, 1831 ; then preached several years in New- ark, N. Y., and one year in Walworth, N. Y. ; then took charge of a High School in Palmyra, N. Y., two years ; then supplied in Havanna and Burdette, N. Y., four or five years, and one year in Dresden, N. Y. ; and for several years past has lived in Canandaigua, N. Y., supplying neighboring churches, as his health would permit. He is a brother of Rev. Samuel Ware. 15. Rev. Samuel Ware was born in Norwich, Sept. 5', 1781, and removed to Conway, about 1797; graduated at Williams in 1808 ; studied theology Avith Rev. Vinson Gould of Southampton ; was licensed by Hampshire Association, October, 1809; was ordained as pastor in Ware, Oct. 31, 1810, and Rev. Y. Gould preached the sermon. William Hyde, Esq., of Ware, says of him in his published address, delivered at the opening of the new Town Hall in that place, in 1847 : " He was a usefid minister, and was much blessed in his labors for more than fifteen years, and gath- ered one hundred and ninety-seven into the church. * * * He was dismissed in consequence of ill health in 1826, (July 19), and the following vote, passed by the town, July 3d, will show the esteem in which he was held." "Voted, unani- mously, that agreeably to his request we dismiss and cordially recommend the Rev. Samuel Ware, as an exemplary chris- tian, and an able, judicious, and faithful minister of the gos- pel." Mr. Ware lived from 1827 to 1833, in Conway; from 1833 to 1838, in Amherst; from 1838 to 1848, in South Deerfield ; from 1848 to 1853, in Shelburne ; and now re- sides in South Deerfield. Since his dismission, he has sup- plied for short periods, destitute churches, and among others,. 16 122 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS those in Rowe and Tolland. He is a brother of Rev. Josepli K. Ware. 16. Mr. William Ware^ son of Dr. Samuel Ware, was born in Conway, May 22, 1784; studied a short time at Williams College, but never graduated at any college ; prac- tised as a physician in Ware, and five years in Westminster, West Parish, Vt. ; studied theology with Rev. Timothy Field of Westminster, Yt. ; was licensed by the Windham Association, Vt. ; preached in Jefferson County, N. Y., and two years in Windsor, Poquonnock Parish, Ct. ; about 1829 removed to Clear Creek, Chautauque County, N. Y., where he still resides, as a physician and farmer. He was never ordained, and has for many years relinquished preaching. About 1845 he became a Baptist. Rev. Sylvester Hovey went to Conway to live in 1805, at eight years of age, and died in Hartford, Ct., May 6, 1840, aged 43. He had been a professor in several colleges. Rev. Daniel Rice was born in Conway, but, as he removed in early life to Charlemont, he is noticed in the account given of the ministers originating from that town. Mr. William F. Avery and Mr. Augustine Root of Conway, are pursuing theological studies at Andover, preparatory to the ministry. Of the sixteen Congregational preachers, who are here reckoned as the sons of Conway, eleven were born in the town ; eleven were graduates ; twelve have either been pas- tors or have been ordained ; one is a Foreign Missionary ; and ten are now living. OTHER DENOMINATIONS. Baptists. The Baptist church in Conway was consti- tuted in 1788, and dissolved in 1819, and reorganized in 1820, and the number of members in 1853, was 110. Among the preachers who have supplied this church, are Revs. Adam Hamilton, Amos Shevi, John Leland, Asa Todd, Calvin Keyes, Josiah Goddard, Mr. Himes, Mr. Grant, OF DEERFIELD. 123 Phineas Pease, Abbott Howe, William H. Rice, David Wright, Henry H. Rouse, Joel Keiiney, P. P. Sanderson, Richard Lentil, C. A. Biickbee, M. Byrne, and Phineas Pease in 1853. The following Baptist ministers originated from Conway, viz., Revs. Josiah Goddard, Foster Hartwell, Calvin Keyes, and Edmund H. Smith. Episcopalians. Rev. John Avery, of this order, originated from Conway. Methodists. A Methodist class was formed, May 18, 1852, and was reorganized in September, 1853, and now has 17 members. They have been supplied by Revs. William F. Lacount and A. S. Flagg in 1853. One Methodist min- ister. Rev. Increase B. Bigelow, originated from Conway. Unitarians. Rev. Luther Hamilton, of this denomina- tion, was born in Conway, He once belonged to the Ortho- dox church in that town. Universalists. Revs. Otis W. Bacon and W. Wilcox, Universalist preachers, originated from this town. Summary of Preachers originating from Conway : Ortho- dox Congregationalists, 16 ; Baptists, 4 ; Episcopalians, 1 ; Methodists, 1 ; Unitarians, 1 ; Universalists, 2. Total, 25. DEERFIELD. The Indian name of this town was Pocomptuck, and it began to be settled by white people about 1670, and was incorporated May 24, 1682. It began to be inhabited before any other town in the County, and has been the scene of dreadful slaughter by the Indians. The population in 1850 was 2421. Within the limits of the township six churches have been organized, viz., four Congregational, one Baptist, and one Methodist. ORTHODOX congregationalists. First Church. The first Congregational church in Deer- field was probably organized not far from the time of the 124 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS settlement of the first pastor, in 1686, but the exact period of its formation cannot be ascertained, as the early church records are not to be found. So far as can be learned, the building of the second house of worship was commenced about 1693 ; and October, 1696, it was " voted that the rules for seating the Meeting-house be age, estate, and dignity ;" the next house was built in 1729 ; and the present one was erected in 1824. Between 1696 and 1708 this church received from the General Court £110 for the support of the gospel. This church became Unitarian in the early part of the present century. While it maintained its Orthodox character three pastors were settled over it. In the 121 years since the probable period of its organization till the settlement of its first Unitarian pastor, it had settled pastors about 110 years. Pastors. 1.* Rev. John Williams was the first pastor ordained in the county ; and it is supposed that he was settled over this church May 17, 1686. He was born in Roxbury, Dec. 16, 1664 ; was the grandson of Robert Williams, who came from Norwich, England, to Roxbury in 1638, and from whom all the families of Williams, in this part of the country, are supposed to have originated. He graduated at Harvard in 1683. The following account of his captivity, at the capture of Deerfield, is taken from the American Quarterly Register, vol. 10, p. 268 : " On the morning of Feb. 29, 1704, the town was attacked by 200 French and 142 Indians, from Canada, the people being almost wholly unguarded. The snow was four feet deep on the ground. Mr. Williams' house was entered. Two in- fant children and a black domestic Avere murdered. Him- self, his wife, and five children were taken prisoners. The number of prisoners taken in Deerfield was 112. The num- ber killed was 47. The enemy lost about the same number. The distance to Canada was 300 miles. Mrs. Williams, being unable to travel, was tomahawked. She was a daugh- ter of Rev. Eleazer Mather of Northampton. On the 25th OF DEERFIELD. 135 of March, Mr. "Williams reached Chamblee, 15 miles from Montreal. In 1706 he was redeemed, and, with 57 of the captives, returned down the St. Lawrence to Boston, which town they reached on the 21st of November. Among those who returned were two of his children. The others were also redeemed, with the exception of his daughter Eunice, who remained in Canada. Mr. Williams did not return im- mediately to Deerfield. On the 30th of November the town chose nine commissioners to proceed to Boston and treat with Mr. Williams for his resettlement. He accepted the call, though the war still continued with unabated fury. On the the 9th of January, 1707, the town agreed to build him a house, ' as big as Ensign Sheldon's, and a back room as big as may be thought convenient.' " The following is an extract from Mr. Williams' " Re- deemed Captive" : " They came to my house in the begin- ning of the onset, and, by their violent endeavors to break open doors and windows with axes and hatchets, awaked me out of sleep ; on which I leaped out of bed, and running towards the door, perceived the enemy making their entrance into the house. I called to awaken two soldiers in the chamber, and turning toward my bedside for my arms, the enemy immediately broke into the room, I judge to the number of twenty, with painted faces and hideous acclama- tions. I reached up my hands to the bed-tester for my pistol, uttering a short petition to God for everlasting mer- cies for me and mine, on account of the merits of our glori- fied Redeemer ; expecting a present passage through the valley of the shadow of death ; saying in myself, as Isaiah, iii. 10, 11, 'I said, in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave : I am deprived of the residue of my years. I said I shall not see the Lord, even the Lord, in the land of the living : I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.' Takmg down my pistol, I cocked it, and put it to the breast of the first Indian that came up ; but my pistol missing fire I was seized by three 126 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS Indians, who disarmed me and bound me, naked as I was, in my shirt, and so I stood for near the space of an hour. Binding me, they told me they would carry me to Quebec. * * * " I cannot relate the distressing care I had for my dear wife, who had lain in but a few weeks before ; and for my poor children, family and christian neighbors. The enemy fell to rifling the house, and entered in great numbers into every room. I begged of God to remember mercy in the midst of judgment ; that he would so far restrain their wrath as to prevent their murdering of us ; that we might have grace to glorify his name, whether in life or death ; and, as I was able, committed our state to God." Allen's Biographical Dictionary says of him: "At length, after witnessing the most agonizing scenes during a journey of three hundred miles, Mr. Williams arrived in Canada. Here new trials awaited him, for every exertion was made to convert this heretic to Popery. His Indian master, after seeing the inefficacy of other methods, lifted his hatchet over the head of his prisoner, and threatened to bury it in his brains if he did not instantly cross himself and kiss a crucifix ; but Mr. Williams was governed by too elevated principles to be made to violate conscience from regard to his life." A note in Holmes' American Annals says : " One of his daughters [Eunice] became assimilated to the Indians, to one of whom she was afterwards married. No solicitations could prevail with her to leave her family, or to renounce the Ro- man Catholic religion, which was, with much artifice, instilled into her mind, at an age and in circumstances favorable to the seduction. She repeatedly visited her relations in New England; but she uniformly persisted in wearing her blan- ket and counting her beads." After his return from captivity he married his second wife. Miss Abigail Allen of Windsor, Ct. Three of his sons became ministers of the gospel, viz., Eleazer, Stephen, and OF DEERFIELD. 127 Warham ; the last two of these were carried into captivity with their father. Eleazer was a pastor in Mansfield, Ct. ; Stephen was a pastor at Springfield, (now Longmeadow) ; and Warham was a pastor at Watertown, (now Waltham). Two of his daughters married ministers. Four of his grand- sons were ministers ; and eight of his grand-daughters mar- ried ministers. Rev. Eleazer Williams, an Episcopal minister at Green Bay, Wisconsin, has been represented by some as being the DaKjihm, the son of Louis the Sixteenth, late king of France ; but it appears more probable that he is the grandson of Eunice Williams, and the great-grandson of Rev. John Williams of Deerfield. Mr. Williams published several works besides the " Re- deemed Captive," and preached the Convention sermon at Boston in 1728. He died while a pastor at Deerfield with the apoplexy, June 12, 1729, aged 64, and in the forty-fourth year of his ministry. Rev. Isaac Chauncey of Hadley preached his funeral sermon. The Boston News Letter contained the following biograph- ical notice of him, viz. : " God, who first sent him to us, and inclined his heart to settle Avith us in our small beginnings, hath made him a great blessing unto us. His heart was engaged in his work, and [he] was abundant in his labors, both in season and out of season ; plainly, faithfully, and frequently warning, urging, and entreating both elder and younger unto piety and perseverance in it. He was much in prayer, and singularly gifted in it. We hope through grace he has left many seals of his ministry among us. The divine Providence which fixed his post in one of the frontier towns of the Province, fitted him for it by giving him patience and cheerfulness of spirit, so that he was won- derfully carried through all the difficulties, distractions and dangers that he encountered. And his prayers, counsel and example did not a little contribute to the support and en- couragement of his people from time to time." Rev. Rodolphus Dickinson thus describes him : " The 128 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS character of Mr. Williams was extensively known, and held in high estimation, as may be learned, aside from other respectful attentions, by his appointment to preach to a general Convention of the clergymen of Massachusetts, at Boston. He is represented by his contemporaries, who have witnessed his efforts before the most enlightened and power- ful auditories in the Province, as a powerful and affecting preacher. He is also commended for his domestic virtues, his eminent piety, humility, sincerity and goodness of heart. His voluntary abandonment of the scenes of his beloved nativity, secure from the incursions of the savages, to settle in a frontier place, perpetually exposed to their depredations, where personal safety, so indispensable to other enjoyments, was for many years a stranger to their habitations ; and his return to the work of the ministry, subject to the same dangers, after the complicated afflictions of his captivity, evince his ardent love for the people of his care, and testify that he was animated with the spirit of a martyr in the ad- vancement of the gospel. It is impossible to peruse his interesting narrative of the destruction of Deeriield, and the slaughter and captivity of its inhabitants, in the suffering in which he so largely participated, without being inspired with a respect for his talents and piety, and an admiration of that unexampled fortitude which could sustain him under private calamities such as rarely happen to man, and a view of public desolations, similar, though less extended, to those apostrophized by the mournful son of Hilkiah. But a holy resignation to the Supreme Disposer of events was the balm of every sorrow. His path was lighted by a hope that looks beyond this transient scene. He was redeemed from the flames, passed through the wilderness and sea of dangers, and, as we trust, reached a temple eternal in the heavens." The length of Mr. Williams' ministry in Deerfield, includ- ing the two years of his absence in Canada, was about forty- three years. During Mr. Williams' absence in Canada a Mr. Choate OF DEERFIELD. 129 preached for this people ; and, after Mr. Williams' death, the pulpit was supplied for a time by Revs. Benjamin Pier- point, John Warren, and James Chandler, all three of whom were invited to Settle, but declined. 2.* Rev. Jonathan Ashley was the second pastor of this church, and was ordained, Nov. 8, 1732, and the sermon was by Rev. William Williams of Hatfield, and was published. Mr. Ashley was born in Westfield about 1712, and was a descendant of Robert Ashley, who came from England and settled in Springfield in 1639, and was a relative, probably a cousin, of Rev. Joseph Ashley, once a pastor in Sunderland. He graduated at Yale in 1730. In the controversy respect- ing the qualifications for church membership that was prevalent in the country during his ministry, he was in opposition to President Edwards, and, after the president's dismission, preached by request on the subject in North- ampton, and the discourse was published. In the war of the revolution he was inclined to favor the cause of the British, and occasionally introduced politics into his ser- mons. According to tradition, when he was once preach- ing in Greenfield, and discoursed in the morning too favorably in behalf of American toryism to suit the people, the meet- ing-house was fastened up in the afternoon, and he was prevented from preaching. He afterwards preached in his own pulpit in Deerfield concerning the doom of those Ameri- cans who had fallen at Lexington, as being fearful in the- future world: and, on the next Sabbath, when he attempted to enter the pulpit, he found it firmly fastened up with spikes. Requesting a deacon present, who was a black- smith, to unfasten the pulpit, the deacon gravely replied that he did not use his tools on the Saibbath. Mr. Ashley then sent for an axe or maul, and split down the door of the pulpit before the eyes of the congregation, and held the service. An intelligent Deerfield correspondent says of him :: " He would send for the young men to his study and ad- monish them for their roguish tricks. The hoys believed 17 130 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS he had transcendental powers, for their more private and secret transactions seemed to be known to him. He sent for two boys on one occasion and told them to bring their CARDS ; and, after severely reprimanding them, ordered them to burn their cards, and to throw them into the fire in his presence." He refused to act in the council for settling Rev. John Ballantine in Westfield, in 1741, because the churches invited were not named in the letters missive. Rev. John Taylor, his successor, says of him : " Mr. Ashley had a discriminating mind, independence of feeling, and was a pungent and energetic preacher." Allen's Biographical Dictionary thus speaks of him : " He possessed a strong and discerning mind, and lively imagination, and was a pungent and energetic preacher. He proclaimed the doctrines of grace with a pathos which was the effect not merely of his assent to their divine authority, but of a deep sense and lively view of their importance and excellency." The American Quarterly Register says : " Mr. Ashley is said to have been a man of ready talents, and many of his sermons in the latter part of his life were delivered from very com- pendious notes." During his ministry of forty-eight years at Deerfield, he officiated in 249 marriages, and 1,009 bap- tisms. A citizen of Deerfield gives this account of him : " Mr. Ashley was a tall, well proportioned, venerable looking man, ranking in biblical knowledge and theology next to President Edwards. His Sunday exercises were unusually long and wearisome. He commenced without an introduc- tory prayer, and th« congregation sung but once in the morning. They assembled at ten, and the clock would often strike eleven before his prayer was finished. He would then take his Bible, read his text, lay it aside, and looking straight forward, neither to the right nor to the left, address his congregation till the clock struck twelve." On account of the dissatisfaction among his people with his politics, they refused for several years, contrary to their agreement, to procure for him his firewood. A council was OF DEERFIELD. 131 called and was held ten days. John Trumbnll, the histo- rian, advocated the case of the people. During the session of this council occurred the dark day, May 19, 1780. Mr. Ashley was sick at this time, and the sickness proved to be his last. He died pastor of the church, Aug. 28, 1780, aged 68. Rev. David Parsons, Sen., of Amherst, preached his funeral sermon. The following is the epitaph on his grave- stone : " Leaving a name dear to his friends and acquaintance for his social and pleasing deportment, and particularly for his zeal in the cause of Christianity, which, united with superior knowledge, and a ready utterance of moral and divine truths, rendered him a shining light in the station where God had placed him." The length of his ministry in Deerfield was nearly forty-eight years. Between the pastorates of Mr. Ashley and his next suc- cessor, Rev. Samuel Goodrich was invited to settle, but declined. 3.* Rev. John Taylor was the third pastor, and was ordained Feb. 14, 1787, and was dismissed on account of ill health and a failure of his voice, Aug. 6, 1806. He was born in Westfield, Dec. 23, 1762. He was the fourteenth child of Hon. Eldad Taylor, who was the fourteenth child of Rev. Edward Taylor, who came from England in 1668, and was the first minister, and for a time the only physician in Westfield, and was guided in his first journey to the place by marked trees. Rev. John Ta^'lor graduated at Yale in 1784, and studied theology with Rev. Mr. Atwater of Westfield. In 1802 he performed a few months of missionary service under the Hampshire Missionary Society, in the Black River country, N. Y. The instructive missionary journal which he kept has been incorporated into the documentary history of New York. In 1807, one year after his dismission from Deerfield, he removed to Enfield, Ct., and engaged in agri- culture, and was often elected to represent the town in the State Legislature, and as health improved he preached oc- casionally, and received one invitation to settle. In 1817 132 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS he removed to Mendon, N. Y., supplied the destitute settle- ments around him with preaching, and was an efficient agent in organizing numerous Congregational churches, and was invited to settle at Canandaigua, N. Y. He removed to Bruce, Michigan, in 1832, where he preached and labored till his death. One of his sons thus speaks of him, in reference to his residence m Michigan: "Although he had attained to three score years and ten, when he first entered upon the work allotted to him in that rude wilderness, he preached to his little congregation for eight years with scarce a single intermission from bodily weakness or ill-health ; and his intellectual powers seemed in no degree to suffer decay on account of his advancing years. In 1835 he wrote to one of his children, ' I assure you our days in our old age are spent happily. My health is good, although I feel more and more the debility of old age. I am able to preach regularly, and am much encouraged by having an excellent church of about thirty members, and a constant and attentive audience.' In 1838 he wrote, ' I send you the Michigan Observer, in which you will find some of my ideas respecting slavery. I know not how you view this agitating subject, but I think I fore- see consequences that are alarming. The question of slavery is, and must be agitated, be the consequences what they may. There is no national sin (except, perhaps, our treatment of the Indian tribes) of equal magnitude with this. We have had for four or five weeks a most powerful and wonderful work of God going on among us. It began in a protracted meeting in Romeo. * * * After which we kept up the meeting in our school-house, and all the people. Deists, Universalists, scoffers, &.C., except about eight or ten, are rejoicing in the Lord. This has been the most remarka- ble display of grace I have ever witnessed.' * * * There were two causes, dear to humanity, which deeply engaged his sympathies while he lived in Michigan, Temperance and Human Freedom ; and although his great age might have been pleaded with justice as a reason for exemption from all OF DEERFIELD, 133 extra labors, intellectual or physical, yet, when his assist- ance was solicited, he made no such plea, but was always ready to render his aid in the promotion of those humane and benevolent enterprizes. Copies of his addresses were often secured for the press, and had a large circulation. The vigor of his mind remained in a high degree unim- paired to the last." He died with the apoplexy, after lingering in an unconscious state one week, Dec. 20, 1840, lacking three days of being 78 years old. He published a discourse, which he preached on the centennial anniversary of the destruction of Deer- field by the French and Indians in 1704 ; and also published in the Greenfield paper a lucid account of that strange sect in Leyden called Dorrelites. He married Miss Elizabeth Terry of Enfield, Ct., by whom he had eleven children, seven of whom lived to adult years, only three of whom are now living. All his children, who lived to reach manhood, and fourteen of his thirty grandchildren, have either died in the faith of the gospel, or are members of evangelical churches. His descendants are scattered abroad in Con- necticut, New York, Michigan, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas and California. The following article, relative to Mr. Taylor, was fur- nished for the " Ladies' Repository," Cincinnati, Ohio, by Rev. Resin Sapp, a circuit preacher of the Methodist denomination : " The fully Ripe:' " Observe his awful portrait and admire ; Nor stop at wonder : imitate and live." " On a lowering and murky Saturday evening in Decem- ber, my horse stopped at the residence of an aged Congrega- tional minister, who resided in the neighborhood of one of my regular Sabbath appointments, in the northern part of Michi- gan. I gently tapped at the door, having my portmanteau 134 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS resting on my left arm. I was immediately ushered in by the amiable hostess of the house, the daughter-in-law of the old gentleman, by whom I was introduced to him. I found him to be, ' An aged man, a man of cares, . Wrinkled and curved, and white with hoary hairs.' " He had transcended the period allotted to the children of men, as pilgrims on earth ; and to be released from the buzz of the world had taken up his residence in a quiet and peace- ful neighborhood, waiting the call of his Master to enter the upper sanctuary. His features were those of an aged pil- grim. I was reminded of Abraham, the friend of God, and of Israel, ready to gather up his feet and depart. The old gen- tleman had accompanied his son to this country eight or ten years ago, and had since then gathered around him a small but interesting flock, consisting principally of Scotch Pres- byterians, and his own countrymen, New Englanders. To these he ministered each succeeding Sabbath the treasures of the gospel from his well-stored and deeply pious mind. I had not been in his company long, before I found myself sitting at the feet of a teacher, who in his conversation was remarkably interesting and instrnctive. He had been edu- cated in one of the New England colleges, expressly for the ministry, and this was the fifty-third year of his attendance at the altar. It was like talking to past ages. He had been a close observer of transpiring events. He spake of religion as it existed sixty years since in the land of steady habits, and of the wonderful changes which had come over the face of things since that period. He vividly described the prog- ress of the French infidelity, and the danger which many supposed religion was in, of receiving a final overthrow. He said, 'I am truly astonished at the contrast presented between the sermons written in those days, and those written after the storm had subsided.' He then adverted to the rapid rise and immediate succession of Unitarian ism, which had made OF DEERFIELD. 135 its appearance but a short time before the age of infidelity, and seemed to think that the latter was aided in its progress by the fojmer. After mentioning these things with great apparent interest, a flash of joy beamed in his countenance, as he spake of the final triumph of religion and vital piety. Our conversation gradually changed from one subject to an- other. He was familiar with the early politicians of our country. He spake of the elder Adams, of Hamilton, and the great Jefterson, on whom he passed some severe criti- cisms. At length I asked'his views of the Millenium. His answer awakened my deepest interest. He thought the pe- riod was approaching, and believed it would be gradual. The revivals of religion, which were taking place through- out the length and breadth of the land, were the mere pre- cursors of some great moral revolution. In confirmation of this, he referred to the prophecies, and spake particularly of the calculations made upon the mystical periods in the book of Daniel. He had lived, when revivals were almost un- known to the people of New England ; and in two instances where they commenced in his church, they were not under- stood, and discouraged. In speaking of the evident changes in religious feelings and societies as evidence of the approach of this long expected period, he remarked with emotion, ' There is something important at our door ; and I appre- hend that the day of the battle of God Almighty is at hand. Some great events are almost bursting upon us. Fire thrown from the altar into the world, will produce commotion. The political appearances of Europe and Asia at this time indi- cate mighty conflicts and revolution.' " The hours of evening passed with interest, until the clock struck nine, when he observed that the time for retire- ment had come. He arose and went to the book-case, and took down a large family Bible, and read the third chapter .of the first book of Samuel, which gave the account of Sam- uel's call to the office of a prophet. This was the chapter in regular order for family devotion. I was invited to attend 136 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS the service at the altar. This done, we retired with the most interesting and pleasing feelings for our nightly repose. Little did any of us think that this aged minister's end was so near at hand ; or that the measure of his days was full. How uncertain is life ! It was even so ; his last hour was expiring. I arose the next morning and found him com- muning with the ^'Holy Book divine." The services of the morning were unusually solemn — just as they should be in the chamber of death. He read the chapter in order ; and assisted by his grand-daughter, a girl of about twelve years of age, who stood by his chair and rested her arm around his neck, sung one of Watts' beautiful hymns ; after which, he offered his last audible prayer. He retired to his room to prepare for church, and while there fell to the floor : I as- sisted to raise and place him on the bed. But his labors were closed. He was gathered, as fruit fully ripe, into the garner of the Lord. There fell one of Zion's polished pillars." On his gravestone in Bruce, Macomb County, Michigan, is the following epitaph : — "Living the faith of our Lord Je- sus Christ, he preached the gospel faithfully for half a centu- ry, according to the doctrine, order, and discipline of Christ and his apostles, as practised by his pious Puritan New Eng- land ancestors, and fell asleep, Dec. 20, 1840, aged 78 years." Beside hio remains rest those of his beloved com- panion, with whom he had lived more than half a century in remarkable conjugal felicity. Mr. Taylor's ministry in Deerfield was about nineteen years and a half. Mr. Taylor was the last Orthodox pastor settled over the first church in Deerfield. A council was called, Aug. 11, 1807, to settle Rev. Samuel Willard as pastor of the church ; but they declined to do it on account of his sentiments. Another council, entertaining Unitarian sentiments, was called from a distance, Sept. 23, 1807, by whom he was settled. A written controversy relative to this transaction, and the settlement of Rev. G. S. Olds in Greenfield, was car- OF DEERFIELD. 137 ried on in the community, in which five pamphlets were published, and by the perusal of which, a more full under- standing of the case may be obtained. Of the three pastors settled over this church while it re- mained Orthodox, one was dismissed ; all are dead ; and the average length of their ministry in Deerfield was about thir- ty-six years. In 1807, Rev. Samuel P. Williams was invited to settle as pastor, but declined. A notice of the Unitarian pastors of this church may be found in the account of the Unitarians in Deerfield. Second Church. The present Orthodox Congregational church in Deerfield, as distinguished from South Deerfield, was organized June 2, 1835, with 18 members. Meetivg- house : The first and present house of worship, belonging to this church and people, was built in 1838. Previous to this time, they had worshipped in the central school-house. Re- vivals: Some more than usual religious interest was enjoyed in this community in the years 1837 and 1839. Nine were added to the church in 1837, and seventeen in 1839. Char- itable aid: This church began to receive charitable aid in supporting the gospel in 1836, and has received $2,350. The amount contributed to objects of benevolence in 1853, was $57 65. The number in the Sabbath School in 1852, was 120. The number of members in the church in 1853, was 85. For a short period after its organization, this church was supplied with preaching by the neighboring ministers ; and then by Revs. Messrs. liUcius Field, Gordon Dorrance, Barber, and Russell ; Rev. Pomroy Belden then preached as a stated supply from 1837 to 1842. This church has had two pastors settled over it ; and in the eighteen years of its existence has had a settled ministry about ten years. Pastors. 1. Rev. Henry Seymour was settled as pastor of this church, March 1, 1843, and was dismissed, March 14, 1849. He was born in Hadley, Oct. 20, 1816 ; grad- uated at Amherst in 1838 ; finished the theological course 18 138 CHURCHES AND 5IINISTE: at the Union Theological Seminary, New York, in 1842. He was installed as pastor in East Hawley, Oct. 3, 1849, and the sermon was by Rev. T. Packard, Jr.. Mr. Seymour still preaches in Hawley. His ministry in Deerfield was about six years. 2. Rev. Alfred E. Ives was installed as pastor of this church, Sept. 5, 1849, and the sermon was by Rev. S. G, Buckingham of Springfield. Mr. Ives was born in New Haven, Ct., Dec. 12, 1809; graduated at Yale in 1837; studied theology at New Haven ; was ordained as pastor in Colebrook, Ct., Sept. 25, 1838, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. Bacon ; and was dismissed from Colebrook, May 2, 1848. Mr. Ives is still pastor in Deerfield, and in the fifth year of his ministry there. Of the two pastors of this church, one was dismissed ; both are living ; and the average length of their ministry in Deerfield was about five years. First Church in South Deerfield. This part of the town began to be settled about 1750, and the inhabitants of it most generally attended public worship in the ancient village in this ancient town, until the settlement of Rev. Dr. Willard in 1807. Those members of the first church in Deerfield, who resided in South Deerfield, not being satisfied with the sentiments of their pastor, requested a dismission from the church ; their request being denied, they asked the church to unite with them in calling a mutual council to act in the case by giving advice to the parties ; this request likewise being denied, thirty-five of the members called an ex parte council, Dec. 23, 1807, for advice. The council advised the aggrieved members to consider themselves as being no longer connected with that church, and also as being at liberty to unite with such evangelical churches as they might choose. In accordance with this advice, they continued to worship with various churches in the vicinity for several years, until they procured preaching for them- selves. The first Congregational church in South Deerfield ^vas organized, June 30, 1818, with eighty members. The OF DEERFIELD. 139 first Meeting-house of this church and people was built in 1821, and was rebuilt and removed about half a mile south of its original location in 1848, and is the house of worship now used by this church and society. The account of revivals in this church cannot be given so fully as is desira- ble, on account of the loss of some portion of the records. A revival was enjoyed in 1826; also in 1828, and eighteen were added to the church ; likewise in 1838, and fifty-eight were added to the church. This church called councils to settle difficulties in December, 1836 ; in June, 1843 ; and in January, 1846. In the thirty-five years since the organiza- tion of this church, it has had a settled ministry about twenty-six years, and has been destitute of the same about nine years. The amount contributed to the cause of chris- tian benevolence in 1853 was |248 10. The number in the Sabbath School in 1852 was 100. The church in 1853 numbered 86. In 1848, Rev. George Lyman was invited to settle as pastor of the church, but declined. Somewhere between 1780 and 1787, the first religious society in Ueer- field allowed the people in South Deerfield to have ,^132 of the ministerial fund to procure preaching for themselves ; and the Rev. Dr. Dwight, who was afterwards President of Yale College, supplied them six months. In 1818, South Deerfield received $1700 as their portion of the ministerial fund. Previous to the settlement of a pastor in South Deerfield, Rev. Rufus Pomeroy preached as a stated supply. At other times this church has been supplied by Rev. Dr. Samuel M. Worcester, Revs. Messrs. Packards of Shclburne, Rev. William Thayer, and Rev. George Lyman. This church has had five pastors. Pastors. 1.* Rev. Benjamin Rice was installed pastor of this church, Feb. 10, 1819, and Rev. Edwards Whipple of Charlton preached on the occasion ; and he was dismissed, Jan. 31, 1827. Mr. Rice was born in Sturbridge, May 9, 1784 ; graduated at Brown University in 1808 ; finished his theological course at Andover in 1811 ; preached for a time 140 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS in Sturbridge, and as missionary in Maine; was ordained as pastor in Skaneateles, N. Y., July 7, 1813, and Rev. Hezekiah Woodruff preached the sermon ; and he was dismissed from there in August, 1817; after his dismission from South Deerfield, he was installed as pastor in New Gloucester, Me., Oct, 1, 1828, and Rev. Thaddeus Pomroy preached the sermon ; and he was dismissed from there, Aug. 26, 1835 ; was installed as pastor in Buxton, Me., Dec. 9, 1835, and Rev. Dr. W. T. Dwight preached the sermon ; and he was dismissed from there, Oct. 12, 1842 ; preached as a stated supply in Winchendon from November, 1843, till January, 1846. Mr. Rice's first wife was Miss Harriet Barrett of Sharon, Ct. ; his second. Miss Almira Whipple of Charlton ; and his third. Miss Lucy Whitney of Win- chendon, who survives him, and by whom he had his only children, three in number, who are living. Mr. Rice died in Winchendon, July 12, 1847, aged 63. An obituary of him was published in the Boston Recorder soon after his death. Rev. Lewis Sabin of Templeton preached his funeral sermon, from which the following is an extract : — " The ministry which he thus ended was one of more than ordinary usefulness. About one hundred and thirty were added to the churches under his pastoral charge, and more than this number have been hopefully converted under his preaching. These results must be regarded as signal and Extraordinary seals of his ministry, when viewed in con- nexion with the limited size of the congregations where most of his labors were performed. * * * His natural tem- perament was mild. * * * By the grace of God he had great command over his feelings. * * * He was careful not to speak ill of others. Enemies he felt that he always had ; but he appeared to love them ; he prayed for them ; he showed no disposition to retaliate. His views of truth were highly evangelical. He loved the great doctrines of grace ; and he everywhere held forth these doctrines of the Bible — the entire depravity of the human heart since the fall — the OF DEERFIELD. 141 purposes of God — election in Christ — regeneration by the Holy Spirit — and justification by faith through the atone- ment of a Divine Redeemer. Hence the converts under his ministry became staid and steadfast christians, as he had the pleasure of learning after years of trial had put their princi- ples to the test. They were indoctrinated. Rooted and grounded in those truths, which give Christ the throne, they were able to stand. Numbers of them have been highly useful in the church, and some of them in the gospel minis- try. He was remarkable for his high regard for the Bible. A minister once said to one of his parishioners, ' Your min- ister is a bible man.'' He bowed submissively to the very word of scripture. He labored most of all to bring his people to read the scriptures. In each of the places where he held the pastoral charge, he held a Aveekly bible class, which in two of the places was very large and eminently blessed. In Deerfield nearly every member of his flour- ishing bible class was hopefully converted before his dismis- sal. He admired the Westminster Catechism as an excellent compend of scripture truth, and taught it regularly to his children on Sabbath eve. He was faithful in his discipline of the church, and in two instances it was difficult cases of discipline that caused his dismission. No man was more conscientious in everything than he was. He wished to make the word of God his guide in ministerial and christian duty ; in business transactions ; in relative duties ; and in the care of his property. He felt a deep interest in the missionary and benevolent enterprises of the day, and con- tributed systematically a certain proportion of his income for their promotion. He believed in a perpetuity of the Abrahamic covenant, and deeply felt the obligation and importance of infant baptism. He devoted his own children to God in baptism. He felt strong desires for their conver- sion. He had strong confidence in the covenant, but he often feared the covenant might be broken through his unfaithfulness to them, and that they, though children of 142 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS the kingdom, might be cast out. His course is now finished. His setting smi was overcast with clouds. His mind was thought to be somewhat impaired during the last two years of his life, owing to the state of his health; but for the last few months both mind and body were unstrung. In his last lucid season, being asked if he felt prepared for death, he ansM'"ered, 'Yes, I have a hope, which is an anchor to my soul.' " On his tombstone is inscribed the following : — "For thirty-six years he toiled, a faithful soldier in the cause of Christ, and has now gone to his reward in that world, ' where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.' " His ministry in South Deerfield was about eight years. 2. Rev. Tertius S. Clarke was ordained as pastor in South Deerfield, Oct. 3, 1827, and Rev. Dorus Clark, his brother, preached the sermon ; and he was dismissed from there, April 1, 1833. Mr. Clarke was born in Westhampton, Dec. 17, 1799, and lived there mostly till sixteen years of age ; graduated at Yale in 1824 ; studied theology at Au- burn ; after his dismission from South Deerfield, was in- stalled pastor in Haddam, Ct., May 10, 1835, and Rev. Dr. Yan Arsdale preached the sermon ; and he was dismissed from there in April, 1837 ; was installed pastor in Stock- bridge, June 16, 1837, and Rev. Dr. Hawes of Hartford, Ct., preached the sermon ; and he was dismissed from there, April 20, 1850 ; was installed pastor in Penn Yan, N. Y., Sept. 16, 1850, and Rev. Dr. Todd preached the sermon ; and he was dismissed from there near the beginning of 1853, and was installed pastor in Franklin, N. Y., Feb. 2, 1853, and the sermon was by Rev. Samuel J. White. Mr. Clarke's ministry in South Deerfield was about five years and a half. 3. Rev. William M. Richards was ordained pastor, Nov. 25, 1835, and Rev. Mr. Perkins of East Amherst preached the sermon ; and he was dismissed, Sept. 6, 1843. Mr. Richards was born in Hartford, Ct., July 11, 1805; at two and a half years of age he removed to South Deerfield ; in 1809 he removed to Gill, where he lived twelve years, and OF DEERFIELD. 143 then lived in South Deerfield ; he graduated at Williams in 1832 ; studied theology at Auburn ; after his dismission from South Deerfield, preached at Norwich, N. Y., in 1844 and 1845; in 1846 preached in Oxford, N. Y. ; from 1847 to 1850, he preached in Hamilton, N. Y. ; then preached two years in Morrisville, N. Y. ; and in October, 1852, removed to Waukegan. 111., where he still preaches as a stated supply. His ministry in South Deerfield was nearly eight years. Between the pastorates of Mr. Richards and his successor, among the preachers who supplied, were Rev. Gideon Dana and Rev. William Thayer, both of whom buried their wives while supplying there. 4. Rev. Abraham Jackson was installed as pastor, Oct, 22, 1845, and Professor Aaron Warner of Amherst College preached the sermon ; and he was dismissed from there, June 7, 1847. Mr. Jackson was born in Carver, July 28, 1793 ; pursued classical and theological studies at Barigor, but never graduated at any college ; ordained as pastor in Machias, Me., Oct. 3, 1821, and Rev. John Smith, Professor in Bangor Seminary, preached the sermon ; was dismissed from there in the spring of 1834 ; installed pastor in Kings- ton, Nov, 12, 1834, and Rev. Thomas Boutelle preached the sermon ; installed pastor in Walpole, N. H., Jan, 10, 1838, and Rev. Mr. Merrill of Acworth, N. H., preached the sermon; remained pastor in Walpole seven years ; after his dismission from South Deerfield, he supplied a year or two at East Ma- chias, Me. ; and has lived since then in Walpole, N. H., and supplied the church in Q,uechee, Vt., till September, 1852. Not far from this last named period, he became a Unitarian in doctrine, according to his own statement, and has been of late supplying the Unitarian church in Windsor, Vt., though he resides in Walpole, N. H. His ministry in South Deer- field was about one year and a half. Between the pastorates of Mr. Jackson and his successor, the church was supplied with preaching a part of the time by Mr. Lucius M. Boltwood, and Rev. George Lyman. 144 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS 5. Rev. Moses K. Cross was installed pastor, Sept. 4, 1850, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. H. B. Smith, then of Amherst College. Mr. Cross was born in Danvers, Sept. 24, 1812; graduated at Amherst in 1838; studied theology at Andover ; was ordained at Palmer, as pastor, Feb. 2, 1842, and the sermon was by Rev. M. P. Braman ; and he was dismissed from there, March 7, 1849. Mr. Cross is still pastor at South Deerfield, in the fourth year of his ministry there. Of the jive pastors of this church, four have been dis- missed ; four are now living ; one became a Unitarian ; and the average length of their pastorates in South Deerfield is about five and a half years. The second church in South Deerfield, called the Monument Church, was organized Jan. 25, 1848, with seven members. Its first and present Meeting-house was built in 1848. Revivals have been enjoyed in 1850 and 1851 ; as the fruits of the first, twelve were added to the church ; the second was confined to laborers in the shops chiefly, who were not permanent residents in the place. The amount of contributions to the cause of christian benevolence in 1853, was $239 44. The number in the Sabbath School in 1852, was 100. In 1853 the church numbered 77. Previous to the settlement of its first pastor, this church was supplied by Rev. Josiah Tyler, now a missionary in South Africa. In the six years since the organization of this church, it has had a settled pastor about five years. This church has had but one pastor. Pastor. Rev. David A. Strong was ordained pastor, March 21, 1849, and Rev. Charles Bentley preached the ser- mon. Mr. Strong was born in Haddam, Ct., May 6, 1820; graduated at Williams in 1845 ; studied theology at East Windsor Hill ; and is still pastor in South Deerfield, in the fifth year of his ministry there. OF DEERFIELD. 145 CONGREGATIONAL PREACHERS WHO ORIGINATED FROM DEERFIELD. 1, Rev. Hiram P. Arms was bom in Windsor, Ct., in 1799, and at an early age removed to Deerfield, where his an- cestors, for five generations, had lived, and where he lived for some years. He graduated at Yale in 1824 ; studied theology at New Haven ; was licensed in 1827 ; engaged in teaching for three years; ordained as pastor in Hebron, Ct., June 30, 1830, and Rev. Joel H. Lindsley, D. D., preached the sermon ; installed at Wolcottville, Ct., Feb. 6, 1833, and Rev. Royal E. Tyler preached the sermon ; remained four years at Wolcotville ; installed as pastor of the first church in Norwich, Ct., Aug. 4, 1836, and Rev. Dr. Hickok, then of Litchfield, Ct., preached the sermon ; in this church a revival was enjoyed in 1846, by which about one hundred were added to their number, Mr. Arms is still pastor at Nor- wich, Ct. 2. Rev. Selah R. Arms was born in Deerfield, Feb. 21, 1789, where he lived seven years, and then removed to Wil- mington, Yt. He graduated at Williams in 1818 ; studied theology at Andover ; supplied for three years in Cavendish, Grafton, and Windham, Vt. ; settled as pastor of the churches in Grafton and Windham, Yt., Jan. 5, 1825, and Rev. Dr. Charles Walker preached the sermon ; in 1832, dismissed from the church in Grafton ', in 1835, dismissed from the church in Windham ; supplied in Livingstonville, N. Y. ; again became pastor of the church in Windham, Yt., and continued there from 1836 till 1849 ; since which time he has resided chiefly in Springfield, Yt., engaged in agriculture, and preach- ing occasionally. 3.* Rev. Joel Bordivell was born in Deerfield, Oct. 24, 1732 ; admitted to the church in that place, Aug. 26, 1756 ; graduated at Yale in 1756 ; studied theology with Professor Daggett of Yale College ; ordained as pastor in Kent, Ct., Oct. 28, 1758, and continued in the pastoral office in that 19 146 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS place a little over fifty-three years, and until his death. He married a sister of Rev, Rufus Wells of Whately, and two of his children are still living in Kent, Ct. An intelli- gent correspondent writes from that place concerning Mr. Bordwell : " He was a faithful and beloved pastor ; distin- guished as a scholar, and particularly as a linguist ; and pre- pared many young men for college, and frequently had theological students in his family. The aged members of his church speak of him with great affection, and considered Iiim fully equal in talents and learning to any minister then living in the county. As nearly as I can ascertain from the church records, there were two hundred and seventy-five added during his ministry." The Rev. Maltby Gelston, his son-in-law, of Sherman, Ct., says of him : " In his ministry he was blessed with revivals of religion that greatly elevated the church and increased the congregation. He was associ- ated with a class of ministers who were revival men, who were also harmonious in sentiment and in efforts to do good. In all their aspirations and preaching they loved to walk in the path of Edwards and Bellamy. As a man, he was open- hearted, and, by his frankness, kindness, and plain dealing, he gained an ascendency over his people, and improved it for much good. As a preacher, he was of a ready mind. On an unexpected emergency he would rise before an assem- bly and break directly into his subject, and proceed with light, affection, and force, and enlist the feelings and at- tention of the assembly." He died in Kent, Ct., Dec. 6, 1811, aged 79. 4.* Mr. Zenas Clapp was born in Deerfield, Jan. 30, 1796 ; studied at Williams College, but graduated at Dart- mouth in 1821 ; studied theology at Auburn ; taught acade- mies in Ashfield, Amherst, Deerfield, Chittenango, N. Y., and Ovid, N. Y. ; was a tutor in Amherst College from 1823 to 1824 ; was on a farm in Salina, N, Y., for a short time ; after being licensed, preached only a few times, and was compelled, from ill-health, to relinquish preaching and teach- OF DEERFIELD. 147 ing ; in 1836 removed to the milder climate of St. Augustine, Florida, and there died of pulmonary complaints, Jan. 29, 1837, and lacked one day of being 41 years old. He was a beneficiary of the Hampshire Education Society, and in his will bequeathed the most of his property to this Society. But, through mismanagement, it is believed that the Society has realized but little from his bequest. He is supposed to have accumulated considerable property. In 1822 he mar- ried Miss Pamela Clary, who survived him, married again, and has recently deceased. Mr. Clapp was unable to endure public speaking, and was never ordained, but was chiefly employed in teaching. 5. Mr. Oriti Cooley was born in South Deerfield, Aug. 18, 1801 ; spent two years at Amherst College, and gradu- ated at Union in 1827 ; studied theology at New Haven ; was licensed by the Eastern Association of New Haven County, Ct. ; preached a year in Tolland in 1832-3 ; after two years' trial of the employment, relinquished preaching, on account of ill-health ; and since then has been en- gaged in teaching, living in Carlinville, 111., till 1850, since which time he has lived in Chesterfield, 111. Mr. Cooley was never ordained. 6. Rev. Jolm Hawks, Jr., was born in Deerfield, Jan. 22, 1823 ; graduated at Amherst in 1847 ; completed the course of theological study at the Union Theological Seminary, New York, in 1850 ; began to preach in Montezuma and Newport, Yermilion County, la., in 1850, as a Home Mis- sionary, and still continues to preach there, residing in Mon- tezuma. Mr. Hawks was ordained as an Evangelist at Bainbridge, la., Aug. 28, 1851, and Rev. S. K. Sneed preached the sermon on the occasion. 7.* Rev. Ehenezer Hindsdale was born in Deerfield, in 1706 ; graduated at Harvard in 1727. A credible corres- pondent in Deerfield says of him : " He administered bap- tism in two instances in Deerfield in 1736. He became intemperate, and made public confession thereof in 1750. 148 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS Previously he had relinquished the gown for the sword, and was dubbed Colonel. He married Abigail, daughter by his second wife of the Rev. John Williams of Deerfield." It ap- pears that he was ordained a minister, but it is not known that he was ever pastor of a church, nor where he preached during the short period of his ministry. For a considerable time previous to his death he lived in what is now Hinsdale, N. H,, and was promoted to many town offices, and seems to have been an active and influential citizen of the place. The following epitaph is on his tombstone in Hinsdale, N. H. : '' Underneath reposited is the body of Colonel Ebe- nezer Hindsdale, who, for his supernatural endowments, ex- tensive learning and usefulness, not only in private life but in various important public offices he sustained, was far known and admired. After a long illness he died, Jan. 6, 1763, in the 57th year of his age." 8. Rev. Edward Hitchcock, D. D., LL.D., was born in Deerfield, and having been settled as a pastor in Conway, a notice of him is given in the account of the pastors in Conway. 9. Rev. Asa Johnson was born in South Deerfield, Feb. 13, 1802 ; studied two years at Amherst College, and gradu- ated at Union in 1827 ; studied theology at Auburn ; or- dained as an Evangelist at Henrietta, N. Y., Jan. 2, 1830, and Rev. Dr. Perrine, Professor in Auburn Seminary, preached the sermon ; preached one year in Richmond, N. Y. ; in- stalled pastor in Nunda, N. Y,, February, 1833, and Rev. Moses Hunter preached the sermon ; dismissed from there in September, 1837 ; preached one year in Goshen, la. ; has preached eleven years in Peru, Miami County, la., and still lives in Peru, la. 10. Rev. Alonzo Sanderson was born in Bernardston, Jan. 24, 1808, and at about one year of age removed to South Deerfield, where he lived till manhood. Mr. Sanderson graduated at Amherst in 1834 ; finished the theological course at Andover in 1837 ; preached a year as a Home or DEERFIELD. 149 Missionary in Canada ; ordained as pastor in Ludlow, in January, 1839, and Rev. Dr. Osgood preached his ordination sermon ; dismissed from Ludlow in May, 1845 ; installed in Tolland, July 12, 1843, and Rev. Mr. Dwight, then of Win- sted, Ct., preached the sermon ; dismissed from Tolland in May, 1852 ; in June, 1852, began to preach in Wellington, Ohio, where he was installed as pastor, March 1, 1854. Mr. Sanderson was licensed by Franklin Association, Aug. 9, 1837. 11.* Rev. Rnfus Wells was born in Deerfield, and having been settled as a pastor in Whately, an account of him is given in the sketches of the Whately pastors. 12.* Rev. Eleazer Williams^ the eldest son of Rev. John Williams of Deerfield, was born in that town, July 1, 1688 ; being absent at the time of the destruction of Deerfield and the captivity of his father's family, he escaped the horrors of that scene ; he graduated at Harvard in 1708 ; was ordained as pastor in Mansfield, Ct., October, 1710, where he remained in the pastoral office about thirty-two years, till his death in that place. He had two brothers, who were ministers, two sisters who married ministers, and three daughters who mar- ried ministers. His daughter Eunice married Rev. John Storrs, his daughter Sarah married Rev. Hobart Estabrook, and his daughter Mary married Rev. Dr. Richard Salter. The following epitaph is on Mr. Williams' gravestone : " Here lies the body of Rev. Eleazer Williams, pastor of the church in Mansfield, descended from venerable ancestors, but more nobly born from above ; and with faithfulness, prudence, zeal, and courage, improved the gifts and graces his divine Lord had entrusted him with, in the work of the ministry here being found with his loins girt, and looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus to eternal life. At his Mas- ter's call he fell quietly asleep in Jesus, Sept. 21, 1742, in the 55th year of his age, and the 32d year of his pastoral work. ' Them that sleep in Jesus, God will bring with him.' " 150 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS 13.* Rev. Stephen Williams, D. D., was a son of Rev. John Williams of Deerfield, and was born in that town, May 14, 1693, and was taken a captive with his father at the destruction of Deerfield in 1704, carried to Canada by the Indians, and returned to Boston, Nov. 21, 1705. He wrote a full and interesting account of his captivity, which is pub- lished in the Appendix of the " Redeemed Captive." He graduated at Harvard in 1713 ; received his Doctorate from Dartmouth in 1773 ; ordained as pastor in Springfield, (now Longmeadow,) Oct, 16, 1716, and continued pastor of the church about sixty-two years, till his death. The American (Quarterly Register, vol. 10, p. 273, says of him ; " In 1745 he went to Louisburg as a chaplain under Pepperell, and, in 1755, he went to Lake Champlain, in the same capacity, under Sir William Johnson, and, in 1756, under Winslow. He was much honored by the officers and soldiers. By his first wife, Abigail Davenport, daughter of John Davenport of Stamford, Ct., he had seven children, three of whom were ministers ; all were present at his funeral. Probably he was the principal means of sending a missionary to the Housa- tonic Indians, for, on the 9th of September, 1734, he went to New Haven and engaged John Sergeant for that purpose." He gave Mr. Sergeant the charge when ordained as a mis- sionary in Deerfield in 1735. Mr. Williams had two brothers who were ministers, and two sisters who married ministers, and three sons who were ministers, viz., Stephen, Jr., who was settled at Woodstock, Ct. ; Warham, who was settled at Northford, Ct. ; and Nathan, who was settled at Tolland, Ct. The following is the epitaph on his tombstone at Long- meadow : " In memory of Rev. Stephen Williams, D. D., who was a prudent and laborious minister, a sound and evangelical preacher, a pious and exemplary christian, a sincere and faithful friend, a tender and affectionate father and consort, and a real and disinterested lover of mankind. Departed this life with humble and cheerful hope of a OF DEERFIELD. 151 better, June 10, 1782, in the 90th year of his age, and 66th of his ministry." " Softly with fainting- head he lay Upon his Maker's breast ; His Maker kissed his soul away, And laid his flesh to rest." Just before his death he called his family together and thus addressed them : " It is a great thing to die. I am afraid of death. I am afraid of the pangs and throes of death, for death is the wages of sin ; but I am not afraid to he dead, for I trust, that, through the merits and grace of my dear Redeemer and Advocate, Jesus Christ, the sting of death, which is sin, is taken away." An engraving of Rev. Mr. Williams is inserted in the edition of the " Redeemed Captive," published by Doctor Stephen Williams in 1853. 14.* Rev. Warham Williams, son of Rev. John Williams of Deerfield, was born in that town, Sept. 16, 1699. The following obituary notice of him was published in the Boston Gazette, of August 6, 1751 : " Waltham, June 22, 1751. This evening died here the Rev. Warham Williams, the faithful and beloved pastor of the church in this town. He was son of the venerable Mr. John Williams. When be- tween four and five years of age, he was taken, with the rest of the family, by the Indian enemy, Feb. 29, 1703-4, and carried to Canada. Great kindness was shown him by the Indians, who sometimes carried him in their arms, and sometimes drew him on sleds over the snow and ice. Provi- dence designed his preservation, that he might in time to come be an active and useful instrument in advancing the kingdom and interest of Christ among us. He was in cap- tivity near upon three years, and then returned to his native country, having entirely lost the English language, and could speak nothing but French. However, he soon recovered his mother tongue, was put to school and made great pro- ficiency in the Latin. At the age of 16 he was admitted 152 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS into Harvard College, where he was very studious, and im- proved much in all kinds of useful learning, took his degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1719, and Master of Arts in 1722. June 11, 1723, he was ordained to the pastoral care of his flock, and has ever since, except a few of the last months, carried on the whole work of the ministry, discharging his office with much success. The advantages of a pious edu- cation made an early, deep, and lasting impression upon him. He was eminently endowed with ministerial gifts and graces ; copious and fluent in prayer, with expressions well adapted to all occasions and circumstances ; methodical, solid and judicious. In his preaching, his subject was always [rela- tive] to the state of his own people, or the conduct of Divine Providence towards our nation and land. His voice was indeed small, yet there was always an agreeable warmth and fervency discovered in the delivery ; a spirit of piety towards God and compassion to the souls of men breathed in all his public performances. He was zealous in promoting the most substantial things in religion, and in bearing testimony against everything vicious and immoral, and especially among his own charge ; very prudent in managing religious affairs, whereby peace and good will were remarkably pre- served in the town ; and what crowns all, he adorned his profession as a christian, and his character as a minister, by an exemplary, holy conversation. Those who knew him best valued him most. He bore his lingering sickness with great patience and full resignation, having a comfortable hope of his interest in the special love and favor of God through Jesus Christ. When a friend said to him, ' I hope God will yet spare you for a blessing to your family and to your flock,' he replied, ' Were it put to me to choose whether to live or die, I would cheerfully refer it back again to God, and say, Lord, not as I will, but as thou wilt.' He has left a sorrowful widow and five children." Mr. Williams had two brothers and one son, who were ministers. He had four daughters, who were married to the OF DEERFIELD. 153 following ministers, viz., Revs. Samuel Woodward, Job Gushing, D. D., Jacob Cashing, Joseph Parsons, and Eliphalet Williams — one daughter having been married twice. Mr. Williams was struck with the palsy while in the pulpit, Feb. IS, and died in Waltham, June 22, 1751, in the 62d year of his age. The following is a part of the inscription on his gravestone: "Here lie the remains of the excellent, pious, and learned Divine, the late Rev. Warham Williams, the first and beloved pastor in the church at Waltham. He was indeed a burning and shining light, of superior natural powers and acquired abilities, diligent in study, apt to teach, fervent in prayer, accurate and instructive in preaching, pru- dent and faithful in discipline, tender and skilful in comfort- ing, grave in his deportment, agreeable and edifying in con- versation, meek towards all men, constant and candid in friendship, endearing in every relation, resigned in adversity, a bright example in behavior and doctrine, universally es- teemed, and died greatly lamented." 15.* Rev. Edward Wright was born in Deerfield, May 1, 1815, and died in West Haven, Ct., Oct. 23, 1852, aged 37. On the occasion of his death a sermon was preached in his native place by Rev. Alfred E. Ives, which was published ; and from the biographical sketch appended to the sermon the following is an extract : "At the age of eight years, his father died, and his early training devolved on a devoted mother, who still survives him. He continued at home spending his time in the school and on the farm, till about the age of seventeen years, when he was apprenticed to Capt. Thomas White of Ashfield, Mass., to be taught the black- smiths' trade. There he came under the pastoral instruction of Rev. Mason Grovesnor, and in the subsequent year was a hopeful subject of renewing grace. Though he had before been a moral youth, the change in him was marked ; and the strong characteristics of promptness and boldness in duty were immediately evident. At the time of his conversion^ Capt. White was absent from home ; and, in consequence, the 20 154 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS wonted family devotions were omitted. Young Wright felt that the circumstances devolved a duty on him ; and imme- diately conferred with the members of the family, and ob- taining their permission, although himself the youngest of his fellow apprentices, who by no means sympathized with him in his religious feelings, he assumed the responsibility of leading their devotions at the family altar till the return of Capt. White. Those fellow apprentices and himself are the ' three mechanics ' referred to in the little Sabbath School book, ' The Mountain Gleaner.' " After mature deliberation and counsel, he devoted him- self to the work of the gospel ministry ; and purchasing the remaining time of his apprenticeship for this object, at the age of nineteen years he commenced studies preparatory for college, at the Academy in Deerfield. He found on his re- turn, that measures were already in progress towards the for- mation of an Orthodox church in Deerfield. There had previously been in the village only the church for some time Unitarian, at which he and his relatives had attended ; and he now found this ' new sect,' or newly revived old sect, everywhere spoken against. But all the influences exerted upon him, all the opposition and the derision to which he was subjected, could not move him. His eyes had been opened. Nothing less than the • atoning sacrifice of God manifest in the flesh, could meet his deep spiritual wants. And he rejoiced, rather, that he was accounted worthy to sufl'er shame for the name of Christ. His interest, his ener- gies, and his heart, were given to the new church, which was organized, June 2, 1835. He was active at this time in sustaining frequent meetings for christian conference and prayer, and the influence he exerted was decided and happy. If any were desponding, he was always hopeful. If any were fearful, he was bold. "In the year 1836, he entered Yale College, and was graduated with a respectable standing as a scholar in 1840. He pursued his professional studies in the Theological de- OF DEERFIELD. 155 partment of the same Institution. During his course of edu- cation, as testified by his teachers, he invariably manifested a sweet and amiable temper ; while his kind, cheerful and happy disposition, united with his consistent and active piety, gave him an excellent and extensive christian influence. " During his last year in the Seminary, he was invited to preach in West Haven, in the pulpit of the venerable Rev. Stephen W. Stebbins, then infirm. The divine blessing attended his labors, and more than fifty, the fruit of the re- vival, were added to the church. He was soon afterwards invited to settle as colleague pastor with Mr. Stebbins, — a befitting colleague and successor of one, whose name in the churches is still as ointment poured forth. He accepted the invitation, and was ordained, June 28, 1843. The same year he was united in marriage with Miss Susan Arms. " In this field of labor he continued till death, cheered with the evident approbation of God, and with repeated manifestations of the special presence of the Holy Spirit. The church, very small at the commencement of his labors, has been increased in numbers and strength. Dependent before on missionary aid for the support of its pastor, since the time of his settlement and through his influence the ec- clesiastical society has sustained itself unaided ; and at the time of his death, his people were engaged in erecting a new and greatly improved house of worship ; and they attribute their successful action in this work to his influence and efl'orts. They had hoped to see his form and hear his voice within its completed walls ; but his voice is silent, and they will see his face no more. " As a preacher, Mr. Wright was serious, earnest and pun- gent. Important thought, stated with clearness, neatness and taste, characterized his public performances. In his parochial visits he was faithful, while friendly and cheerful. The character of his piety, — which bore a just relation to both the understanding and to the emotions, which could see clearly and hold strongly and intelligently the distinctive ob- 156 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS jects of faith, and could also feel and melt or kindle and glow at the cross, — was evident in all his ministrations. The in- fluence which went out from him, was not simply that of the truth faithfully dispensed, but more perhaps that of a heart thoroughly imbued with the truth and deeply moved with love to God and man — the influence of truth warm and intense with feeling. " Soon after their marriage, Mrs. Wright devoted a portion of her time to the instruction of a class of young ladies. These eff"orts were gradually extended, until they resulted in the establishment of the present Female Seminary in West Haven. The maturing of this Seminary, the erection of the building on its beautiful site, and the procuring of funds needful for this object, the contriving and carrying out of all the minute details of the plan, with the labors and cares of the Principal of such an institution, devolved upon Mr. Wright. The religious interest, also, which has been re- peatedly manifest in the Seminary, while rejoicing his heart, has added to his anxieties and labors. '•These duties, with those included in his pastoral re- lation, and of late the labor and anxiety connected with the erection of the new house of worship — in all which, not only a leading, prompting influence, but also the planning and carrying out of no small part of the details, was neces- sary, not improbably exceeded even his powers of endurance. " His attack of typhus fever was not such as to cause ap- prehension, but at the end of about three weeks the disease suddenly assumed an alarming form, and during the last week, his mind had but one brief lucid interval. Early in the morning of the 23d October, 1852, he died. On the 25th, devout men carried him to his burial ; his remains were first borne to the ancient sanctuary, where a sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Bacon, and from thence to the grave. He has left with his surviving companion a son, eight years of age." Mr. Wright's thoughts were first directed to the Christian OF DEERFIELD. 157 Ministry as the employment in which he might be the most useful, by reading "Dr. Hawes' Lectm-es to Yomig Men." His ordination sermon was preached by Dr. Hawes. A lengthy obituary notice of Mr. Wright was published in the New York Evangelist, in November, 1852. From another similar article, published in the New York Independent about the same time, the following extracts are taken : " His conversion was not one of those cases which occasion the pastor much doubt and anxiety, but one of a decided and satisfactory character. He had been a moral youth ; but when awakened by the Spirit, a survey of his past life produced deep and painful feelings. * * * The character of this change, and of the active piety which resulted from it, can be better un- derstood from an interview which his pastor had with him a few weeks after it occurred, than from anything else that can be said. On meeting him, his pastor, addressing him by his christian name, said, ' Edward, how do you get along in religion now ?' ' Very well,' was his reply. ' But have you seen no dark times — no hours and days of doubt and anxiety about your christian character ?' ' No, sir ; I cannot say that I have.' ' Have you had enjoyment in religious things most of the time since your hopeful conversion ?' ' Yes, sir.' ' And how have you managed thus to enjoy religion so con- stantly ? Few converts are able to do this.' 'I have pursued one course, and I don't know any other. When I was converted, I gave myself, all I am, and all I have, to Christ. I felt that I belonged to him, and I promised to serve him daily and forever. This consecration and this promise I have renewed every morning when I awoke, and at night I have examined myself, to see whether I had kept it.' 'But have you never failed?' 'No, sir.' Here was the secret spring of his christian life, which continued to flow out till the day of his death. The facts brought out in this interview have since often been rehearsed, without naming the person, to hundreds of hopeful converts, in order to illustrate the nature of true piety, and to stimulate others 158 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS to the same course. * * * His dying testimony fully con- firmed the testimony of his life. The following are among his last rational utterances. They were part of the last in- telligent conversation, which he had with his wife two or three days before his death, when his nearest friends hardly regarded his disease as dangerous. Seemingly conscious that delirium was impending, he seized the opportunity to utter his last words : ' God must be glorified, but man humbled. I shall never rise from this bed. Will the interests of this institution be carried on ? My heart has been in it too deeply. But God has blessed it. The Holy Spirit has often de- scended upon it. This church ; oh, I have not been faithful as I ought, as a preacher ! I have not felt the worth of the soul. Oh, what untold agonies await the impenitent ! I shall soon be coffined for the grave. I shall never be carried from this hill alive. The Son of Man has come at an hour when I little expected him. I have been a great sinner. I have had many failings. But, 1 think, in looking over my life, my general purpose in all my plans has been, to glorify God.' And then, after a little time, when he seemed troubled concerning himself, he broke forth in the following triumphant language of faith : 'Oh, the precious Saviour ! He is able to present me faultless before my Father in heaven. Yes, faultless. Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor prin- cipalities, nor powers, shall be able to separate me from the love of God.' " Several persons, who became ministers and lived for short periods in Deerfield, are not included in the foregoing list. Rev. Dr. Amariah Chandler was born in Deerfield, but removed to Shelburne when about five years of age, and being a pastor in Greenfield, a notice of him may be found in the account of the Greenfield pastors. Mr. Rodolphus B. Hubbard, when four years of age, in 1807, removed to Deerfield and lived there a short time ; a notice of whom may be found in the account of the preachers who origin- ated from Sunderland. Rev. William M. Richards in 1808, OF DEERFIELD. 159 when about two and a half years old, removed to South Deerfield and lived there a year or two, and also lived there several years subsequently, to learn the trade of shoemaker ; a notice of whom may be found in the account of the South Deerfield pastors. Rev. Rufus P. Wells spent some part of his early life, after 1826, in South Deerfield; a notice of whom may be found in the account of the Whately pastors. Of the fifteen Congregational ministers reckoned as sons of Deerfield, thirteen were natives of the town ; fourteen were graduates ; thirteen have been ordained ; two were taken captives by the Indians ; and seven are now living. OTHER DENOMINATIONS. Baptists. The Baptist church in Deerfield was organ- ized in that part of the town called Wisdom, Feb. 26, 1787; and May 31, 1792, the church voted that this church shall be known in future by the title of the First Baptist Church of Christ in Deerfield and Shelburne. Aug. 24, 1832, this church met at Shelburne, and voted to divide the church into two bodies, according to residence of the mem- bers in the two towns. The members residing in Deerfield, at a meeting, March 25, 1833, took the name of the Baptist Church of Deerfield. In February, 1834, this Deerfield church voted, by a majority of one, to dissolve the church. During this unsettled state of things, two councils were called to act in relation to their organization. Since then, they are known as the Baptist church of Deerfield. Its number of members in 1853 was 55. Among the preachers who early supplied this church, were Revs. Messrs. Beck- with. Green, Cole, Hamilton, and Bennett. Rev. David Long of Shelburne was ordained pastor of this Union church, Sept. 21, 1792, and served them till his death. May 13, 1831, at the age of 79. Since then, the following Baptist preach- ers have supplied in Wisdom, viz.. Revs. Messrs. Tristram Aldrich, Austin, Orra Martin, Dalrymple, George B. Bills, Milo Frary, and W. A. Pease. They have not had much preaching regularly for some time past. 160 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS Episcopalians. Of this denomination, the following min- isters originated from Deerfield, viz., Rev. Rodolphns Dick- inson and Rev. John Williams, D. D. Methodists. The Methodist church in Deerfield was or- ganized in South Deerfield, in the spring of 1843. The following ministers have supplied it with preaching, viz., Kevs. F. A. Griswold, W. A. Braman, L. B. Clark, R. P. Buffington, C. A. Perry, John Smith, W. F. Lacount, and W. M. Hubbard in 1853. One Methodist minister. Rev. Chester Field, Jr., originated from Deerfield. Unitarians. The Unitarian church in Deerfield was orig- inally, and until the early part of the present century, an Orthodox Congregational church, and is supposed to have been formed not far from the time of the settlement of its first pastor, in 1686. The following Unitarian pastors have been settled over it, viz. : Rev. Samuel Willard, D. D., settled September, 1807, and dismissed Sept. 23, 1829 ; Rev. John Fessenden, settled May 19, 1830, and dismissed May 31, 1840 ; Rev. Daniel B. Parkhurst, settled July 21, 1841, and died Feb. 16, 1842 ; Rev. James Blodget, settled Jan. 17, 1844, and dismissed June 16, 1845 ; and Rev. John F. Moors, ordained Jan. 28, 1845, and is still the pastor. Summary of preachers who have originated from Deerfield. Orthodox Congregationalists, 15 ; Episcopalians, 2 ; Meth- odists, 1. Total, 18. FRYING. This place was an unincorporated tract of land and called Erving's Grant, until 1838. The place had not begun to be settled to any great extent till 1800 or 1801, when the turn- pike road was built through it. Col. Asaph White, from Heath, erected a log-house here in 1802, which was used as the public house till 1819. In 1820 a school-house was erected, which was the place for religious meetings, when- ever they were held, till 1842. It is not known that any OF ERVING. 161 religious organization existed in the place previous to 1832. Baptist preaching was supplied to some extent, from 1818 to 1830, by Elder David Goddard of Wendell, and Elder Shep- ardson of Warwick, and Elder Andrews of Hinsdale, N, H. In 1820 the Massachusetts Missionary Society began to furnish the people some aid ; and in 1830, under the direc- tion of the Society, Rev. Dr. Packard and Rev. T. Packard, Jr., of Shelburne, preached among them for a short time. The town was incorporated April 17, 1838. The popula- tion in 1850, was 449. One Congregational church, one Baptist church, and a Universalist society, have been formed in Erving. CONGREGATIONALISTS. Church. The Congregational church was organized Sept. 19, 1832, with fifteen members, by Revs. Bancroft Fowler of Northfield, Samuel Kingsbury of Warwick, and Job Cush- man. Their first and present Meeting-house was built in 1842. A series of religious meetings, during the week, was held in 1834, conducted chiefly by Rev. Bancroft Fowler, and Rev. Warren Allen then of Irvingsville ; and in 1835 about thirty persons were added to the church. This church, in connection with the one at Irvingsville, have received missionary aid, since 1820, to the amount of $2,032. The amount contributed to the cause of christian benevolence in 1844, was $12, which is the last contri- bution received from this people. The number in the Sab- bath School in 1852, was 30. The church, in 1853, num- bered 21. Previous to the settlement of a pastor over this church, it was supplied occasionally with preaching by the neighboring ministers ; and the Rev. Dyer Ball supplied them a short time, a little before his embarkation as a mis- sionary to China. The church has had but one pastor. In the twenty-one years this church has existed, it has been destitute of a settled ministry about nineteen years. Pastor. Rev. Josiah Tucker was installed pastor of this 21 162 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS church and of the Congregational church in Irvingsville, Nov. 16, 1842, and preached aUernately in the two places. Rev. Dr. Joseph S. Clark of Boston preached the sermon on the occasion, Mr. Tucker was dismissed from both these churches, Aug. 7, 1844. He was born in Milton, June 4, 1792 ; pursued classical studies at Phillips Academy, but never graduated at any college ; completed his course of the- ological study at Andover in 1825 ; was licensed by the Nor- folk Association in May, 1824 ; settled as a pastor in Madi- son, Me., May 10, 1825, and Rev. David Thurston of Winthrop, Me., preached the sermon on the occasion ; dis- missed from there, in 1836 ; installed as pastor in Bingham, Me., March 8, 1837, and Rev. Josiah Peet of Norridgewock, Me., preached the sermon; dismissed from there, in 1842; preached as stated supply three years in Mercer, Me. ; em- ployed as colporteur of the American Tract Society, two years in Somersett and Franklin Counties, Me., residing in Madison, Me., and two years in Norfolk, Plymouth, and Bristol Counties, Mass., residing in Milton ; for some time past, he has been a colporteur of the American and Foreign Christian Union among the Catholics, and resides in Taun- ton. His ministry in Erving and Irvingsville was not quite two years. After Mr. Tucker's dismission, this church was supplied by Professor William Tyler of Amherst College in 1845 ; by Rev. Charles Chamberlain in 1846 ; by Rev. A. B. Foster in 1848 and 1849; by Rev. John H. Stratton in 1849 and 1850, who died in Erving, April 26, 1851, aged 37; by Rev. George Trask in 1851 ; by Rev. Ochus G. Hubbard in 1852. In 1853 the house was occupied by Rev. Mr. Hayward, a Methodist minister, employed by the Congregational people. In 1854 the house was sold at public auction, for $500, on account of the embarrassment of the proprietors. OTHER DENOMINATIONS. Baptists, A branch of the South Orange Baptist Church OF GILL. 163 was formed in Erving in 1835, and became extinct in 1839. Rev. Lysander Fay supplied this church for the most part, so far as they had preaching. Rev. Artemas Piper, a Baptist minister, originated from this place. Universalists. a Universalist society was organized in this place in 1836, and became extinct in 1848. A series of meetings was held by the Millerites, among the people in Erving, in 1843. Summary of ministers originating from Erving : Baptists, 1. Total, 1. GILL. This town was formerly a part of Deerfield. " It received its name in honor of Lieutenant Governor Moses Gill." It was incorporated Sept. 28, 1793. Its population in 1850, was 754. Two churches have been organized in Gill ; one Congregational and one Methodist. CONGREGATIONALISTS. Church. The early records of this church being lost, the date of its organization cannot be ascertained with precision or certainty. In Willard's History of Greenfield, a portion of Rev. Dr. Roger Newton's Diary is inserted, from which the following is an extract, viz. : — "May 22, 1796. Voted, members of this church residing in Gill, might with others form themselves into a church by themselves in that place." From this extract it would appear, that the church in Gill was not formed previous to May 22, 1796. But others, and especially the present pastors of the Gill church, reckon the date of its formation to be 1793. " The probable number of members organized is twenty-nine." Meeting-houses: For some years, religious meetings were held in private houses and in barns. The first house of worship in Gill began to be occupied in 1798, but was not finished till 1805, and was dedicated Nov. 20, 1805. The house was remod- eled and fitted up anew in 1848. Revivals were enjoyed 164 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS ill Gill in 1810, in 1816, by which forty were added to the church, and in 1832. This church began to receive charita- ble aid for the support of the gospel in 1826, and has re- ceived $500, but does not now receive aid. The amount given by this church and people to the cause of christian benevolence in 1853, was $35. The number in the Sab- bath School in 1852, was 45. The church in 1853 con- sisted of 46 members. Previous to the settlement of the first pastor, Rev. Zephaniah Swift preached among this people, and received an invitation to settle as their pastor, but de- clined the call. After him, Rev. Jesse Edson of Halifax, Vt., and Rev. Joel Baker of West Granville, preached for short periods to this people. In the sixty years since this church was probably organized, it has had settled pastors about 43 years, and has been destitute of the same about 17 years. This church has had six pastors. Pastors. 1.* Rev. John Jackson was ordained as the first pastor of this church, Jan. 10, 1798, and Rev. Joel Fos- ter of New Salem preached the sermon on the occasion, which was published ; and was dismissed from his pastoral charge in Gill, Oct. 10, 1801, Mr. Jackson was born in Peters- ham in 1771 ; graduated at Dartmouth in 1792 ; and stud- ied theology with Rev. Joel Foster of New Salem, and Rev. Judah Nash of Montague. Oral tradition says, that he was dismissed from Gill for immoralities, by a council that de- posed him from the ministry. He lived in Gill several years after his dismission, and eventually removed to Canada, and died in Brome, East Canada. The following account of him was recently furnished to the author, by Rev. David Connelly, pastor of the Congregational Church in that place, and who was well acquainted with Mr. Jackson, and attended his funeral. ''His first settlement in Canada was in the township of Stukely, Canada East. His labors in this new field were strictly of a missionary character. The country was then (as it is even now) new and thinly settled. In the year 1815 he removed from Stukely to the township of OF GILL. 165 Brome, about twenty miles from the former. Brome was then almost an entire wilderness,' with a thinly scattered population. His labors in these circumstances were neces- sarily missionary. No church or meeting-house then existed in the place. Some humble dwelling, or small schoolhouse, was the best that could be obtained as a place of worship. In these circumstances he continued in the ministry of the word, preaching, as opportunity presented, for the period of five years, when, owing to such unfavorable circumstances and feeble health, the necessities of a young and rising fam- ily led him to engage in agricultural pursuits, and to retire from the office of the ministry. In his latter years, it was his chief desire to enjoy the ministry of the gospel for his own benefit, and the welfare of his family and neighbors ; and while friendly with ministers of different denominations, it was his highest gratification to meet with a minister of the Congregational order. In the year 1842, I visited the town of Brome, as a Congregational minister, and found Esquire Jackson, as he was then called, (having held the office of magistrate for about twelve years,) one of the most interested of a few christians to have a settled minister in the place. I was induced to settle in this destitute field, then without a church or minister of any denomination. About a year after my settlement, I had erected a comfortable meeting-house, and formed a church of fifteen members on Congregational prhiciples. Esquire Jackson, his wife, and one of his sons, (who is now one of the Deacons of the church,) with his wife and his wife's mother, were then received into the church, and united with a few others in christian fellowship. For a short period, I had much pleasure from the society and christian friendship of Mr. Jackson. He was a person of most pleasing and afi"able manners, and most sociably dis- posed. He had been permitted to see his prayers answered in an improved state of religious society ; but the Lord had designed that, this feeble cause once established, his work on earth should soon close. In the second week of March, 166 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS 1844, Mr. Jackson complained a little from the effects of a cold. He was confined a few days to his bed, without any- severe pain or suffering. On the day previous to that of his death, I saw him, and he thought he was doing well, and would soon be better. But it was otherwise determined by Him, who cannot err. On the morning after I had seen him, one of the family came to inform me, that their father seemed much worse. I hastened to see him, and when I stood by his bedside, I found he was speechless. The tide of life seemed fast ebbing, and with the family I engaged in prayer, and just as we rose from commending his spirit to God, his spirit had departed, and all was silent in death. He departed this life on the ISth of March, 1844. On the 20th, the solemn occasion was improved at the Congregational chapel in Brome, by a sermon from the Rev. Dr. Wilkes, pastor of the First Congregational church at Montreal, from the words : ' It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment ;' after which the congregation followed the silent remains of Mr. Jackson from the chapel at Brome, to the adjoining burying-ground, where his mortal remains have found a final resting place — 'a narrow house appointed for all living.' It so happened, that Dr. Wilkes was on a visit to me at that time, and I prevailed on him, as acquainted with Mr. Jackson, to improve the occasion. On the follow- ing Sabbath, I preached the funeral sermon to a large and at- tentive audience, from Proverbs iv. 18 : ' The path of the just is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day.' A neat white marble stone is erected in the graveyard adjoining the Congregational chapel, Brome, to mark the resting place of Mr. Jackson's mortal remains, with the following inscription : — ' John Jackson, Esq. De- parted this life at Brome, on the 18th March, 1844, aged 73 years.' " It has been reported that Mr. Jackson became an Episco- pal clergyman in Canada. The Rev. Mr. Connelly of Brome thus speaks of this point, and also respecting his family : OF GILL. 167 " I know of no foundation for the idea of Mr. Jackson's ever having connected himself with Episcopalians. This he did not do. At one time, I fear, he had been troubled in his mind with the doctrine of Universalism. Before I settled, such preachers and doctrine were very prevalent in Brome. Mr. Jackson never affirmed such doctrine to me, but we. for a time, conversed much on the subject. Whatever may have been his thoughts or feelings previous to my settlement, I am sure that soon after I settled, his doctrinal views were as firm and established against Universalism as my own. With Episcopacy he never was in any way identified." At his death he was in comfortable worldly circumstances, but had given up to his youngest son his possessions, on the understanding that himself and wife should be provided for during life. His aged widow still survives, very active for a person of her years, and is living with her son on the old homestead. The family he left at his death were his aged companion in life, four sons and one daughter. His daugh- ter has since followed him to the " narrow house appointed for all living." His son James has gone to California ; and his other three sons, John A., Horatio Nelson, and Addison, are settled with their families around the place of their fa- ther's late residence. Mr. Jackson's wife was Miss Rebecca Rogers of Petersham. Mr. Jackson's ministry in Gill lacked about three months of four years. 2.* Rev. Jabez Munsell was settled as pastor of this church. May 26, 1802, and Rev. John Taylor of Deerfield preached the sermon ; and he was dismissed May 28, 1805. Mr. Munsell is supposed to have originated from Franklin, Ct., and to have been born about 1772; he graduated at Dartmouth in 1794 ; studied theology with Rev. Dr. Backus of Somers, Ct. ; after his dismission from Gill he engaged chiefly in teaching, but preached occasionally, and first re- sided in New London, Ct., then in Newburg and Kingston, N. Y., afterwards in Newborn, N. C, also in Richmond, Ya., and his last place of residence was Norfolk, Va.. where he 168 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS died, Aug. 1, 1832. The following obituary notice of him appeared in the Norfold Herald, Aug. 3, 1832 : " Died, on Wednesday, of the prevailing cholera, after an illness of a few hours, the Rev. Jabez Munsell, of the Presbyterian church, aged 60 years. He had been residing among us for about two years, as the teacher of a female school, and in that capacity was eminently useful and highly respected. Though comparatively a stranger here, yet his conduct as a man and as a christian had secured the esteem of all his ac- quaintance, for he was an example of '' whatsoever is excel- lent and of good report." With a sound understanding and a good education, he combined excellencies of heart and a scriptural piety, which rendered his conversation and ex- ample pleasant and instructive. His death has produced more than ordinary sensation, and is deeply lamented ; and most tenderly does the whole community sympathize with his lovely family in his very sudden and unexpected depar- ture, by which a wife has been deprived of a most excellent and affectionate husband, and his children of a most kind and useful father. He retained his reason to the last, and found his religious principles sufficient to sustain him in the last struggles. He submitted to the will of God with chris- tian patience and resignation, and yielded his wife and children to Him who has promised to be the God of the widow and the father of the fatherless ones." His ministry in Gill was about three years. 3. Rev. Josiah W. Canning was ordained as the third pastor of this church, June 11, 1806, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. Packard of Shelburne, and was published. Mr. Canning was dismissed from Gill, June 11, 1827. He was born in New Braintree, Feb. 27, 1780 ; graduated at Williams in 1803 ; studied theology with Rev. Asahel Hooker of Goshen, Ct. ; was licensed, June 11, 1805, by the North Litchfield Association, Ct. ; in 1805, supplied in South Britain, Bridge water, Ct., and in Rowe ; after his dismission from Gill, he taught the academy in Williamstown from OF GILL. 169 1827 to 1831 ; and taught in Canajoharie, N. Y., one year ; returned to Gill in 1832, and preached there as a stated sup- ply till Sept. 24, 1839, when he was settled the second time as pastor of the church, and the sermon was by Rev. John Mitchell, then of Northampton ; he performed the duties of a pastor till disabled by a shock of palsy, Sept. G, 1846, and still retains the relation of pastor, and resides in Gill. Mr, Canning's surname was changed some years since by the Leg- islature from Cannon. Several of his sermons have been pub- lished at ditferent times. Both periods of his ministry in Gill amount to about thirty-five years. During Mr. Canning's absence from Gill, Rev. Francis L. Whiting and Rev. James Sandford supplied preaching a part of the time ; and after he relinquished preaching, in 1846, Rev. J. H. M. Leland supplied for a considerable time. 4. Rev. James Sandford was installed as pastor of the church, Dec. 25, 1829, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. Packard of Shelburne ; and he was dismissed from Gill, April 21, 1831. Mr. Sandford was born in Berkley, May 7, 1786 ; graduated at Brown University in 1812 ; studied theology with Rev. Jonathan Burr of Sandwich ; settled as pastor in Fabius, N. Y., in 1815, and Rev. Jabez Chadwick: preached on the occasion ; was dismissed from there in 1820 ; installed as pastor in Oxbow, Jefferson County, N. Y., in. 1820, and Rev. Mr. Snowden preached the sermon ; was dismissed from there about 1829. After leaving Gill, he: supplied, from 1831 to 1847, in Holland ; preached as a stated supply, from 1847 to 1851, in Oxbow, N. Y. ; and since: then has been engaged in agriculture, and is still living in: Oxbow, N. Y. Mr. Sandford has several brothers, who are ministers in Massachusetts. His ministry in Gill was a little- more than one year. 5. Rev. William Miller was settled as pastor of this; church, Feb. 21, 1849, and Rev. Samuel Harris, then of Conway, preached the sermon ; and he was dismissed from 22 170 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS Gill, June 4, 1850. Mr. Miller was born in New Braintree, Aug. 8, 1817 ; graduated at Amherst in 1842 ; studied the- ology at Andover ; was licensed by the Andover Association, April 8, 1845 ; ordained as pastor in Halifax, Vt., Oct. 1, 1845, and Rev. Dr. Chandler of Greenfield preached the sermon ; was dismissed from Halifax, Vt., July 14, 1847 ; after his dismission from Gill engaged in teaching, and preached occasionally ; resided in Demiysville, Me., in 1851 and 1852, and is now teaching in North Brookfield. He preached in Gill a considerable time previous to his set- tlement there. His pastorate there was a 'little more than one year. 6. Rev. Edward F. Brooks was installed as pastor of this church, June 25, 1851, and the sermon was by Rev. A. H, Clapp of Brattleboro', Yt. Mr. Brooks was born in Halifax, Vt., in 1812 ; graduated at Washington College, Pennsylva- nia, in 1839 ; finished his theological studies at Princeton, N. J., in 1842 ; was ordained as an Evangelist at Elizabeth- town, N. J., in October, 1842, by the Raritan Presbytery, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. Studdiford of Lambertville, N. J. ; labored as a missionary one year, from May, 1843, under the General Assembly's Board, at French Creek, Lewis County, Va., among a population, many of whom had re- moved from Ashfield, Buckland, Charlemont and Heath, Mass. ; during the year a revival was experienced, and thirty-three were added to the church ; afterwards supplied a year at Riverhead, on Long Island, N. Y., and four years at West Woodstock, Ct., and one year at Manchester, N. J. Mr. Brooks had one brother who was a minister. Rev. Asa Brooks, who died at Clarksburg, Va., Dec. 23, 1834. Mr. Brooks is still a pastor at Gill, in the third year of his pasto- rate there. Of the six pastors of this church, five were dismissed ; one was re-settled ; four are now living ; and the average length of their pastorates in Gill was about eight years. OF GILL. 171 CONGREGATIONAL MINISTERS WHO ORIGINATED FROM GILL. 1. Rev. William M. Richards was born in Hartford, Ct., but, at about four years of age, removed to Gill, where he lived about twelve years, and, having been a pastor in South Deerfield, a further notice of him may be found in the ac- count of the South Deerfield pastors. 2. Rev. Samuel H. Riddel was born in Bristol, Me., Jan. 2, 1800, and is the son of Rev. William Riddel, who is noticed in the account of the Coleraine ministers. In early life, having resided but a short time in any one place, and having lived in Gill from 1810 to 1815, Mr. Riddel is here reckoned in the list of Gill ministers. In Bernardston and in Hadley he spent a portion of his early years. Mr. Riddel graduated at Yale in 1823 ; finished the theological course at Andover in 1826 ; ordained as pastor in Glastonbury, Ct., June 27, 1827, and Rev. Samuel Greene, then of Boston, preached on the occasion ; dismissed from there in about ten years ; officiated as Secretary of the Connecticut Branch of the American Education Society two years ; was editor of the Congregationalist, in Hartford, Ct., two years ; was Sec- retary of the American Education Society from 1841 to 1850 ; assisted for several months in the office of the American Home Missionary Society, in New York, and is now an associate editor of the Puritan Recorder, Boston. 3. Rev. Jubilee Wellman was born in Gill, Feb. 20, 1793, (the town at that time not being incorporated it was in- cluded in Greenfield,) and removed in early life and resided in Charlestown and Acvvorth, N. H. ; never graduated at any college ; finished the theological course at Bangor in 1823 ; preached in Winthrop and Frankfort, Me. ; ordained as pastor in Frankfort, Me., Sept. 17, 1824, and Professor Bancroft Fowler, then of the Bangor Seminary, preached the sermon ; dismissed from there, Jan. 3, 1826 ; installed as pastor at Warner, N. H., Sept. 26, 1827, and Rev. Dr. Wood of Boscawen, N. H., preached on the occasion ; dis- 172 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS missed from there, Feb. 14, 1837 ; afterwards preached at Bristol, Hookset, and Meredith Bridge, N. H. ; installed as pastor in Westminster West, Vt., March 7, 1838, and Rev. Dr. Barstow of Keene, N. H., preached on the occasion ; dismissed from there, Jan. 5, 1842 ; supplied two years in Cavendish and Plymouth, Vt. ; from 1844 to 1849 preached in Cavendish, Vt. ; installed pastor in Lowell, Vt., Oct, 17, 1849, and Rev. Joseph Underwood of Hard wick, Vt., preached the sermon. Under his labors in Warner, N. H., there were seventy-live cases of hopeful conversion in 1828-9 ; one hundred in 1831 ; and, in 1832, fifty ; like- wise under his labors in Westminster West, Vt., in 1840, fifty were added to the church. Mr. Wellman is still pastor in Lowell, Vt. Of the three Congregational ministers here reckoned as originating from Gill, one was a native of the place ; two were graduates ; all have been pastors ; and all are now living. OTHER DENOMINATIONS. Methodists. The Methodist church in Gill was organ- ized in 1803. The following preachers have supplied the church, viz., Revs. John Nixon, Alexander Hulin, Elisha Andrews, John B. Husted, Frederic W. Sizer, James C. Bonticou, William Todd, Oliver E. Bosworth, Windsor Ward, Horace Moulton, Elias P. Stevens, Daniel Bannister, William Kimball, Charles Hayward, William Wilcutt, Lyman Wing, Asa Niles, Mr, Culver, Samuel Heath, Alanson Latham^ Philo Hawks, John Tate, William Gordon, David Todd, Ichabod Marcy, H. Clarke, John Ricketts, William A. Clapp, Charles Barnes, Moses Stoddard, Leonard Frost, D. L. Winslow, Homan Church, Jarvis Wilson, J. W. P, Jordan, and Solo- mon Cushman who died in Gill, Oct. 8, 1853, aged 46, and since then Horace Smith, Revs. Elijah Field and James O. Dean, Methodist ministers, originated from Gill, Unitarians. Revs. John Bascomb and F. A. Tenny, Unitarian ministers, originated from Gill, OF GREENFIELD. 173 Summary of preachers originating from Gill : Orthodox Congregationalists, 3 ; Methodists, 2 ; Unitarians, 2. Total, 7. GREENFIELD. This town was formerly a part of Deerfield, and was in- corporated Jmie 9, 1753. Its population in 1850 was 2580. Six churches have been organized in the town, viz., two Orthodox Congregational, one Baptist, one Episcopal, one Methodist, and one Unitarian. CONGREGATIONALISTS. First Church. The first Congregational church in Greenfield was organized at the time of the settlement of the first pastor, which was March 28, 1754. Eleven mem- bers were organized. Rev. Dr. Jonathan Edwards, senior, then of Stockbridge, was on the council to constitute the church. Meetmg-hoiises. The first house of worship in Greenfield was begun in 1760. but was not finished for many years ; it was for some time without pews or slips. It was located some two miles north of the village, and about two miles east of the present house of worship belonging to the first church and society, and was occupied for religious worship until it was demolished in 1831. The second house of wor- ship belonging to the first Congregational society was built in 1831, and was remodeled in 1852. In the early settle- ment of the town, the people were notified of meetings on the Sabbath and on other days, by the beating of a drum ; and for this service the sexton was paid one year four pounds and ten shillings. Revivals. In 1817 and 1818, there was some special re- ligious interest, and twenty-nine were added to the church ; in 1831 some cases of hopeful conversion occurred ; and in 1852 ten were added to the church. The early church 174 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS records being lost, it is difficult to ascertain the state of the church in the first part of its history. Previous to the settlement of the second pastor, about 1760, a call was given to Mr. Bulkley Orcutt to settle as a pastor, but he declined. The amount given by this church and people to the cause of christian benevolence in 1853 was f 143 89. The Sab- bath School in 1852 numbered 85. The number of church members in 1853 was 50. This church the present year is a century old. It has had a settled ministry about eighty- eight years and a half, and has been destitute of the same about eleven years. This church has had five pastors. Pastors. 1.* Rev. Edward Billings was installed the first pastor of this church, March 28, 1754. Instead of a sermon on such occasions at that period, the charge to the pastor often took its place. Rev. Dr. Jonathan Edwards, senior, then of Stockbridge, the moderator of the council, gave the charge. In August, 1753, a day was set apart for fasting and prayer in reference to the choice of a pastor, and several of the neighboring ministers were present. A committee was also appointed at another meeting, to take advice of various ministers with respect to inviting Mr. Billings to settle as their minister. The first council for the settlement of Mr. Billings was convened in 1753, and did not install him. On the controverted question of that day relative to qualifications for admission to christian ordinances, Rev. Mr. Ashley, of Deerfield, and Mr. Billings were on opposite sides. Mr. Ashley being invited on the first council took with him three delegates. The other churches sent but one for each church. The people of Greenfield, who called the council, were un- willing that the Deerfield church should have a larger repre- sentation in the council than the other churches. The council was then dissolved ; and another one from a distance was called, that installed Mr. Billings as stated above. The OF GREENFIELD. 175 doings of those councils were published in a pamphlet at the time, and are still extant. But little definite information relative to Mr. Billings' his- tory is now accessible. It is supposed, that he lived in early life in Sunderland, and perhaps was born there. He gradu- ated at Harvard in 1731 ; was settled as pastor at Cold Spring, (now Belchertown) probably about April, 1739, and was dismissed from there in 1752; preached for a time at a place called Nine Partners, N. Y. ; and died while a pastor in Greenfield, not far from 1760 ; but as there is no church record of that period extant, and as there is no stone to mark the spot where he is buried, the precise date of his death, and his age, cannot be ascertained. In Doolittle's Sketches of Belchertown his death is dated at 1757 : and in the Cata- logues of Harvard College it is dated at 1760. The settle- ment of his estate in the probate court was closed in August, 1760. He is said to have died suddenly, having preached on the preceding Sabbath. He married Miss Lucy Parsons, a sister of Rev. David Parsons, the first minister of Amherst, in 1741 ; and at a precinct meeting in Belchertown, October, 1741, it was voted, that money should be raised in the next rate to pay the cost of Mr. Billings' wedding. He left four children at his death, whose names were Edward, Ebenezer, Jonathan, and Ethan. His son Edward was once licensed as a preacher, of whom some notice is given in the account of preachers who originated from Greenfield. The " Genea- logical and Historical Register," vol. 2, p. 178, says, that Mr. Billings was '• dismissed from Belchertown, by reason of a difference in opinion between him and a majority of the church, as to the qualifications for church membership ; Mr. Billings having embraced the opinions of President Edwards, and the church the opinions of the Rev. Solomon Stoddard of Northampton, on this subject." Doolittle's Sketches of Belchertown say, " Traditionary history imputes to him un- usual energy of character, ardent zeal, and devotedness to the work in which he was engaged." Mr. Billings was the 176 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS minister who visited David Brainard the evening before his death, to whom reference is made in Brainard's Life, p. 344. Mr. Billings was on the councils convened in President Ed- wards' case at Northampton ; and his views coincided with the President's, and he was not in favor of his dismission. Mr. Billings wrote his name without an s, but that letter is now almost invariably added to the name. Some of his descendants are now living in Greenfield. Mr. Billings' re- mains were interred in the old burying ground in Greenfield, and, it is supposed, near the grave of Rev. Dr. Newton, his successor. Of the thirty-six Congregational pastors of churches in Franklin County, who have been buried in the county, the graves of only ttvo, Rev. Mr. McDowell, of Coleraine, and Rev. Mr. Billings, of Greenfield, are without any stone erected, or in progress of erection, to mark the spot. As the date of Mr. Billings' death is not known, the length of his ministry in Greenfield is not definitely known, but was probably about six years. 2.* Rev. Roger Newton, D. D., was constituted the second pastor of this church, Nov. IS, 1761. He was born in Durham, Ct., May 23, 1737 ; graduated at Yale in 1758 ; studied theology with Rev. Mr. Goodrich of Durham, Ct. ; was married to Miss Abigail Hall of Middletown, Ct., in August, 1762 ; was bereaved of his wife by death, Oct. 21, 1805 ; received his Doctorate from Dartmouth in 1805. Dr. Newton had eight children. His daughter Abigail married Rev. Nathaniel Lambert, and his eldest son, Roger, died while a tutor in Yale College, Aug. 10, 1789. Dr. Newton died Dec. 10, 1816, aged 79. Rev. Dr. Lyman of Hatfield preached his funeral sermon. The following is an extract from the obituary notice of Dr. Newton, which was pub- lished in the Greenfield " Franklin Herald," Dec. 24, 1816, and also in the "Panoplist," for April, 1817: '' This ven- erable minister of Christ consecrated himself to his Master's service from his youth. He willingly took the oversight of this people when they were feeble and few in number. OF GREENFIELD. 177 Under his ministry they have greatly increased, and become a numerous and respectable people. His care was to feed them with gospel truth, and to nourish their souls with the great saving doctrines of free sovereign grace in our Lord Jesus Christ. His public discourses were well studied, sound, compact, weighty, and full of useful and important instruc- tion. An attentive and willing hearer could not fail of being profited and made better by his labors. While he had reason to praise God for assisting and blessing him in his ministry, yet for wise purposes, God saw fit to afflict and prove him by some heavy domestic trials and bereavements, under which he was supported and comforted and sanctified to his christian and ministerial work. Like other good men under the chastisement of a Father's rod, ' he shone brightest in affliction's night.' ' Tribulation wrought in him pa- tience, experience, and a hope which maketh not ashamed.' It was the care of his life, to make the providences of God subservient to the improvement of his mind in those minis- terial gifts, which Avould render him of the greatest use to the people, and to the general interest of the church of Christ. He studied to make himself approved of God, ' a workman who needeth not to be ashamed ; rightly dividing the word of truth, and giving to every man his portion in due season.' A man of uncommon strength of mind, and of discriminating powers, and richly furnished by study and contemplation, he held an eminent rank and station among his brethren in the ministry. Much employed as a counsellor and guide in cases of difficulty and ecclesiastical discipline, his able and pacific labors of love will long be remembered with grati- tude and thanksgiving to God, not only by the people of his charge, but by the professors of Christ in the neighboring churches. A friend to peace, it was his desire and labor ' that brethren should dwell together in unity.' He was a burning and shining light, and blessed be God that we so long rejoiced in his light. Nor was our deceased father less distinguished by his amiable and useful talents in the walks 23 178 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS of private life. By his discreet and circumspect deportment, the urbanity of his manners, his affectionate and affable con- versation, he never failed of securing the love and esteem of his friends and acquaintances. His social intercourse was both pleasing and profitable, being seasoned with the salt of wisdom and benevolence. It was the fault of those who enjoyed his conversation, if they left him without improve- ment in knowledge and goodness. It was his object, by courtesy and kindness, by prudence and a virtuous example, to cultivate in others those graces, which adorn the social and christian life ; and to enforce on their minds the utility and importance of those practical and doctrinal truths, which be inculcated in his public ministrations. Great was the blessing which this people enjoyed, in having a minister who enforced the precepts and doctrines of Christ, by the living example which was daily set before them. But alas ! from these privileges, both of a public and private nature, a holy God hath now removed them. A bereaved church and con- gregation, and an extensive circle of affectionate friends, as- sociates and acquaintance, are now called to bemoan their loss, and to go to Jesus and tell him their grief, and to pray to him that he would be to them a repairer of this breach and restorer of paths to dwell in. The ministers of Jesus, his professhig children, and those who love the prosperity of Zion, will unite their voice and cry after him, ' My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof!' It hath pleased that holy and faithful God, who by his de- cree hath fixed to all men the bounds of their habitation, beyond which they cannot pass, to call off his servant from the trials and labors, the temptations and afflictions, of this empty and transitory life, and, as we hope, to bring him home to himself, to receive the rewards of a faithful servant, and to participate in the nobler employments and joys of a blessed immortality. Our venerable friend, our father and guide, after a few years of gradual decline, and after, to him, a painful period of suspense from his active public labors. OF GREENFIELD.' 179 fell asleep, and was gathered to his fathers, in the SOth year of his age, and the 56th year of his ministry." The following extracts relative to Dr. Newton are taken from " Willard's History of Greenfield : — "His religious char- acter was far from that of the bigot, partisan, or zealot. He possessed great mildness and equanimity of temper and man- ners ; always dignified, and appeared among his people like a kind father among his children. The single circumstance, that the town enjoyed peace and union for nearly the whole period of his ministry, fifty-six years, is of itself strong evi- dence of his virtue and prudence." " His moderation of manner, conciseness and perspicuity of style ; the sound sense of his sermons, and their particular brevity in cold weather, (meeting-houses had no stoves in those days,) as well as the dignified and venerable form of the good man, are still fresh m the memory of many. Consummate pru- dence, caution and shrewdness were distinguishing traits in his character. His prayers in public worship had much of sameness and formality, yet no one found fai^lt therewith ; they were seldom varied, except on particular occasions, yet he was always pertinent, and on many occasions remarkably so. In his latter days, he very frequently read, for the choir to sing, the Psalm of Watts, commencing, ' Now to the Lord, a noble song,' the reading of which always affected him to tears." Many interesting anecdotes are current in the community, illustrative of his prudence, caution, and sagacity. He fur- nished one of the sermons which compose the volume pub- lished by the "Northern Association of Hampshire County." Some of his descendants reside in Greenfield and vicinity. The following is the epitaph on his gravestone, viz. : — " His life was adorned with private and domestic virtues, and dis- tinguished by public and professional usefulness." He had eight children. He owned one slave, called Tenor, at whose funeral the Dr. preached a sermon commendatory of her ISO CHURCHES AND MINISTERS virtues. Dr. Newton's ministry in Greenfield was twenty- two days over fifty-six years. 3. Rev. Gamaliel S. Olds was settled as the third pastor of this church, Nov. 19, 1813, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Samuel Austin. He was colleague pastor with Dr. Newton about three years, and was dismissed just before the Doctor's death in 1816. The first council, that was called for the settlement of Mr. Olds in Greenfield, met with difficulties in their course, which prevented their proceeding to the settlement of the candidate. Rev. Dr. Willard, who had been settled a few years previously in Deerfield, by a Unitarian council, was invited and took his seat as a member of the council in Greenfield. A portion of the council ob- jected to sitting and acting with him under such circum- stances, on the ground, that they believed him to be funda- mentally heretical in religious sentiments, and that to unite with him in an Ecclesiastical council, Avould constitute an act of fellowship with him. The council was dissolved without ordaining Mr. Olds. Another council of Orthodox sentiments was soon convened, by whom he was ordained. Mr. Olds was born in Marlboro', Yt., in 1777 ; graduated at Williams in 1801 ; was a tutor in that college, from 1803 to 1805 ; was also a Professor of Mathematics and Natural Phi- losophy in the same college, from 1806 to 1808 ; was a pro- fessor of the same branches in the Vermont University at Burlington, from 1819 to 1821 ; was a professor of the same branches in Amherst College, from 1821 to 1825 ; afterwards resided several years at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., and was employed in teaching in several places in New York ; re- moved to Circleville, Ohio, about 1842, where he died. He was dismissed from Greenfield, Oct. 31, 1816, to accept a professorship in Middlebury College ; but some difficulty occurring between him and the President of the College, he did not enter upon the duties of the office. He wrote, and by the advice of Franklin Association, published a " State- ment of Facts" in the case. An account of the peculiar cir- OF GREENFIELD. 181 cumstances attending his settlement in Greenfield, was pub- lished soon afterwards, in connection with an account of the circumstances attending Rev. Dr. Willard's ordination in Deerfield, several years previously, in a series of pamphlets, written by different authors. Mr. Olds died at Circleville, Ohio, June 13, 1848, in the 71st year of his age. The following obituary of him was published in the New York Observer, which was written by Rev. Milton A. Sackett, who was then a pastor in Circleville and attended his funeral : — " The circumstances attending his death were peculiarly painful and afflictive. On Satur- day, the 3d of June, (1848) he left home for the purpose of supplying one or two vacant churches in the town of Bloom- field, about twelve miles distant from Circleville. There he passed the Sabbath, preaching in two different places, and with an uncommon degree of vigor and unction. On Mon- day morning, in the enjoyment of his usual strength and health, he started for home, and when about a quarter of a mile from the place where he had spent the night, his horse took fright, and starting to the side of the road, threw him from his carriage down a precipitous bank, a distance of ten or twelve feet. Two of his ribs were broken, and he expe- rienced other severe injuries. He was taken to an inn about two miles distant from the place where he was hurt, on the way towards home, and being unable to proceed further, was left there. His wife was sent for, and eminent phy- sicians were immediately called in, but the injury could not be repaired. He lingered in great pain until the 13th, when his peaceful, resigned, and happy spirit parted from his shat- tered tenement, and took its flight to the invisible world. " Professor Olds was one of the great men of the age in which he lived. From his early manhood up to the merid- ian of his days, he filled a brilliant sphere in the educational and literary history of New England. * * * In his theolog- ical studies he was a pupil of Dr. West of Stockbridge, Mass., but completed his course at Andover Seminary. He 182 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS was settled for a short period over the Congregational church in Greenfield, Mass. As a preacher, his manner was not attractive, yet his style was beautifully simple, pure, and lucid, and no one could listen to him without being struck with the strength and comprehensiveness of his mind, and the logical accuracy with which he dissected and developed his subject. He was eminently instructive both in preach- ing and conversation, and though his themes as a preacher, were sufficiently diversified, yet you could see shining through every discourse, like beacon lights, the great cardi- nal principles of the christian faith. These lay at the foun- dation of his own rich experience, and he justly appreciated their importance, as constituting the only true and inde- structible foundation of a happy and fruitful experience to the christian church. "While at Amherst College, his intense application and arduous labors induced disease, which in the end disquali- fied him for continuous and responsible toil. He retired from active life, and for many years has been known only to a comparatively small circle of friends. Yet he has continued to labor, as far as his health and strength would permit, in the cause of his Master, lightening the burdens that rested upon his brethren, by preaching in their stead, and often supply- ing destitute and feeble churches with the ministration of the word and ordinances of the gospel. This labor he has performed, for the most part, without compensation. His last work was of this character. It was that he might preach the gospel of God's grace to the poor and destitute, that he left his beloved companion, and that dear home to which he never returned. But the gospel, which he preached to others, was found to be an adequate solace and stay to his own soul in the trying hour. He felt himself to be the chief of sinners, yet he spake with the deepest interest of the atonement and righteousness of Christ, as being the only and sufficient ground of his hope. He desired no other refuge. Often in his last sickness did he advert to this great doctrine, OF GREENFIELD. 183 and derive from it the most abundant consolation. He was much in prayer, and was frequently heard to say, '' The will of the Lord be done." His last hours were serene and peace- ful, and he fell asleep in Christ, in the blessed expectation of having a part in the first resurrection. Thus has been ex- tinguished one of the most gifted and richly stored minds of the age. Its acquisitions were varied and vast, as there was scarcely any department of human knowledge with which it did not seem familiar. But his highest eulogy is this, that he was a humble follower and a faithful minister of the Lord Jesus. " His companion survives, a lonely, stricken widow. She has followed all her children to the grave, — three in infancy and one in the prime of manhood, — and now that her hus- band is taken, the world to her is turned into a dark and desolate wilderness. But this is her joy, that the Lord reigns, and she looks to have her weary pilgrimage terminate ere long in Heaven." The widow of Mr. Olds died in 1851. In 1815 he published a volume of eight sermons on " Epis- copacy and Presbyterian Parity." His ministry in Green- field was about three years. 4. Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge was settled as fourth pastor of the church, April 23, 1817, and He v. Dr. John Woodbridge of Hadley, his brother, preached the sermon ; and he was dismissed from there, April 17, 1823. Mr. Wood- bridge was born in Southampton, Nov. 9, 1790 ; graduated at Williams in 1813 ; studied theology at Andover ,• preached in Ashfield and received a call to settle there, but want of unanimity among the people prevented the council, which was convened Jan. 2, 1816, from proceeding to his ordina- tion. After leaving Greenfield he was installed as pastor in Greenville, N. Y., Feb. 16, 1825, and Rev. Dr. Porter of Catskill, N. Y., preached the sermon ; after his dismission from Greenville, about 1831, he labored for seven years as an agent of the American Tract Society ; then labored one year as an agent for the Auburn Theological Seminary ; then 184 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS supplied about six years a church in Westhampton, on Long Island, N. Y. ; served two years as an agent for Oakland College, in Mississippi, and was installed as pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in New Orleans, La., Dec. 18, 1852, where he still continues. The farewell sermon he preached at Ashfield, after the failure of the council to ordain him, was published. During his pastorate at Greenville, N. Y., he requested and obtained an ecclesiastical investigation of certain injurious reports respecting his conduct when on a visit at Greenfield ; and the Presbytery, in their result, say, that " the Presbytery were unanimously of the opinion that the aforesaid charges against Mr. Woodbridge have not been sustained." Mr. Woodbridge has four sons in the ministry, viz.. Rev. John Woodbridge, at Saratoga Springs, N.Y. ; Rev. Jahleel Wood- bridge, at Baton Rouge, La. ; Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge, Jr., at Benicia, California, and Rev. Samuel M. Woodbridge, at New Brunswick, N. J., who was born in Greenfield, and of whom some account is given in the sketch of ministers originating from Greenfield. One of his daughters is the wife of Rev. Charles Beach of Woodville, Miss., at which place the wife of Mr. Woodbridge died, Nov. 19, 1851, aged 63. Mr. Woodbridge's ministry in Greenfield was about six years. After the dismission of Mr. Woodbridge from Greenfield, in 1823, the church was destitute of a settled pastor till 1832 ; and during a considerable portion of this period the desk was supplied by Rev. Lincoln Ripley of Maine, Rev. Ebenezer Halping of Vermont, and the Revs. Messrs. Pack- ards of Shelburne. 5. Rev. Amariah Chandler, D. D., was installed as the fifth pastor of the church, Oct. 24, 1832, and Rev. Bancroft Fowler preached the sermon. Dr. Chandler was born in Deerfield, Oct. 27, 1782 ; at about five years of age removed to Shelburne, where he lived till manhood ; graduated at Burlington in 1807 j studied theology with Dr. Packard of OF GREENFIELD. 185 Shelbimie ; was ordained as pastor in Waitsfield, Vt., Feb. 7, 1810, and Rev. Elijah Lyman of Brookfield, Vt., preached the sermon ; and he was dismissed from there, Feb. 3, 1830, and then supplied in Hardwick, Vt., till his installation in Greenfield. He received his doctorate from the University of Vermont in 1846. He has published several occasional sermons and addresses. He was a delegate to the Massa- chusetts Convention for the revision of the State Constitu- tion in 1853. He still continues a pastor at Greenfield, in the twenty-second year of his ministry there. Of the jive pastors of this church, two were dismissed ; two are now living ; and the average length of their pastor- ates in Greenfield was about eighteen years and a half. Second Church. The second Congregational church in Greenfield was organized Jan. 15, 1817, with 45 members. Its first and present Meeting-house wvis built in 1819; was remodeled in 1843, and materially repaired in 1851. Pre- vious to the erection of their house of worship, this church and society held worship in the court-house, and were sup- plied some time by Rev. Dan Huntington, who was then considered an Orthodox minister. Invitations to settle over this church were given to Rev. Dr. J. A. Albro, Rev. Dr. George B. Cheever, and Rev. O. E. Daggett, who severally declined. The amount given by this church and people to» the cause of christian benevolence, in 1853, was ^453 22. The Sabbath School, in 1851, numbered 145. The number of church members in 1853 was 181. A council was called: by this church to settle difiiculties, in the spring of 1824. This church has been organized thirty-seven years, and has had a settled ministry about twenty-five years, and has been destitute of the same about twelve years. This church has had seven pastors. Pastors. 1.* Rev, Charles Jenkins was ordained as the first pastor of this church. May 19, 1820, and was dis- missed from there in July, 1824. Mr. Jenkins was born in Barre, Aug. 28, 1786; graduated at Williams in 1813; was 24 1S6 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS a tutor in the same college, from 1816 to 1819; after his dismission from Greenfield, was installed pastor in Portland, Me., Nov. 9, 1825, and the sermon was by Rev. S. E. Dwight. After his graduation, he taught the Academy in Westfield several years ; studied theology in Williamstown ; was licensed in 1819, by the Berkshire Association. In 1824, while a pastor in Greenfield, an Ecclesiastical Council was called to investigate charges brought against him by a part of the people of his parish, chiefly those who were shortly afterwards organized into a Unitarian society in that place ; and Mr. Jenkins was honorably acquitted ; and was soon dismissed according to a mutual agreement between himself and his people. The American (Quarterly Register, vol. 10, p. 270, says of him : " At the time of his death, he was one of the ablest ministers in New England. He possessed an original and extremely fertile mind. With a rich poetical imagination, he invested every subject in beauty and freshness. Some- times, perhaps, he failed in simplicity of style, and in adapt- ing his method of instruction sufliciently to the understand- mgs of minds less elevated than his own. He was a powerful extempore speaker, though he -chose generally to write out his sermons in full. He had great simplicity of aim and seriousness of manner, and the humility of a little child. He was uncommonly faithful as a preacher, and as a reprover of what he thought was wrong in his brethren. Some of his miscellaneous papers are inserted in the early volumes of the Christian Spectator. He published three sermons on the Sabbath, with Remarks on the Report in Congress on Sabbath Mails, 1830; also a sermon on- the el- evated nature of true Piety, in the National Preacher, De- cember, 1831. A small volume of his sermons has been published since his death. His first wife, who was Miss Ruth Benjamin of Williams- town, died while he was a pastor in Greenfield ; and his second wife was a daughter of Hon. Jonathan Leavitt of OF GREENFIELD. 187 Greenfield. Mr. Jenkins died while a pastor in Portland, Me., snddenly, of influenza, Dec. 29, 1831, aged 45. His grave is near that of Rev. Dr. Edward Payson's, whose funeral sermon he preached ; and his pyramidal monument very similar to that of Dr. Payson's, on which is this epitaph : " The memory of the just is blessed." The following is an extract from the obituary notice of Mr. Jenkins, published in the Christian Mirror, and copied into the Boston Recorder: — "We have been called to an- nounce no death since that of the beloved and venerated Payson, with so oppressive a sense of the loss which has been sustained by Congregational ministers and churches in Maine. It is not merely the importance of his location, which gave a wide scope to his influence, nor his agency in the prominent measures for enlightening and saving our pop- ulation and the world, which constitute the severity of the bereavement ; but the kind of influence which he exerted, and the distinguishing characteristics of his mind. In a promiscuous assembly, or a congregation to whom he was a stranger, he was, perhaps, less popular than hundreds of far inferior mental and moral worth; but with his intimate ac- quaintance, and his stated and constant hearers, he deserv- edly stood without any rival. " His mind was, preeminently, of an original cast. His thoughts were his own — were shaped by his own reflections — were associated in his mind by laws in some respects pe- culiar to himself, and were exhibited in language of great richness, strength, and beauty. His mind was amazingly fertile. He had no beaten track — no hackneyed topics — no worn out figures — no favorite forms of expression — no ste- reotyped phrases to be scattered through every performance, and by their perpetual recurrence to lull attention and anni- hilate interest. No one was further removed than he, from the too common habit of falling into the same train of thought, and the same method of illustration, whatever were the topic with which he set out. When he raised his voice ISS CHURCHES AND MINISTERS in supplication to the Father of spirits, no fellow-worshipper could anticipate the form or the matter of the next petition. When he named his text, no hearer could anticipate the mode of treatment which it was to receive ; and no one in . the issue had reason to be dissatisfied. The first sentence of the introduction arrested the attention, and put the minds of hearers into a posture of inquiry, from which they were soon relieved by the development of a truth or principle, then evidently involved in the text, but which, till then, not one in ten, probably, had ever recognized. The illustration of this principle was attended in the minds of kis auditory with the same process of attention, inquiry, conviction. There was a freshness, an unlocked for range of thought or mode of reasoning, in most of his discourses, which regaled the mind, at the same time that they commended the truth to every man's conscience, and imparted intenser ardor to all the holy affections. Still there was no straining after novelties, or unusual modes of expression. In him was no affectation, no extravagance — all was the spontaneous off- spring of his mental structure and intellectual habits. A rich poetical fancij, with which he was endued, contributed much to that 'infinite variety' of mental resources, which he had ever at command. But the vigor of his intellect was exceeded by no other quality. He seemed adequate to any mental achievement within the range of human possibility. He could seize a subject with a giant's grasp, and especially any appertaining to the philosophy of mind or to his profes- sion, and analyze it with the skill of a master, and point out its relations and uses with the clearness of light. Though he was a diligent student and composed his sermons with much care, he could yet answer any unexpected call, with- out special preparation. The most powerful efforts, those in which the most overwhelming effects were produced on his auditory, have been, in several instances, those when he spoke on a sudden emergency, when the circumstances of the case have precluded all premeditation. Here too he OF GREENFIELD. 189 used the same dignified style of utterance, the same ele- vated, bold, striking, select, and forcible language, which characterized his written compositions. "He had great simplicity of aim ; and seemed determined to know, and to make known, nothing save Jesus Christ and him crucified. This was the great business which absorbed his soul ; and with so rare a combination of qualities for ex- erting a moral power, no wonder that he was successful, especially as the Lord wrought with him. He was one of those men, who are raised up for the church universally — receiving little except from God, but imparting much in every circle with which he mingled, and particularly to his ministering brethren, by which the prosperity of the church is advanced. This wide reach of his influence was very justly recognized in a sermon by the pastor of a neighboring church, the last Sabbath, who, in allusion to Mr. Jenkins' death, observed: 'A servant of Christ is gone, at whose loss we have cause to exclaim. Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth. It is doing injustice to no one, to say, that no death could have given us reason to feel more deeply af- flicted. His industry shamed the slothfulness of his breth- ren ; his unbending integrity was a safeguard to all the measures of the church ; his wisdom kept us from extrava- gances. The gigantic stature of his mind and the singleness of his purpose to serve Christ, gave him irresistible control. An influence is lost, which readied to every interest of the church in this region, reached every professed follower of Christ and every sinner.' There is truth in this testimony, which will yet be felt more deeply. He was a man who could not fail to leave a deep impression on minds that came in contact with his own ; an impression sometimes painful, but always beneficial. "He possessed the humility of a little child. His noble and majestic form, erect walk, and commanding aspect might have marked him out to a stranger as one of nature's nobility, not to be approached by ordinary men ; but in all 190 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS who enjoyed personal intercourse with him, these feelings of awe and distance yielded to love and confidence. A con- descending benignity, a glowing, hearty benevolence soft- ened or annihilated the more forbidding traits, and exhibited him in the character of a brother, with a heart tremblingly alive to all the tender sympathies appertaining to this rela- tion. He was a man Ioav in his own eyes, 'less than the least of all saints.' Unequivocal evidences of this were con- tinually developing themselves. It is but a few weeks since, that, when sitting on a council for the organization of a church, the candidates having been examined and retired, the moderator inquired of each member of the council, whether he was satisfied with the evidences of experimental piety exhibited by the candidates. When the question came to Mr. Jenkins, he raised his head, which had been reclined in deep reflection, and replied with affecting solemnity, 'I think it more probable that they will go to heaven, than that I shall.' During the whole process he had evidently been applying to himself the questions and tests of christian char- acter, which were brought forward in the course of the ex- amination. The truth is, he had overwhelming views of human guilt, and of his own, as a member of the human family. Besides, his standard of christian character was un- usually elevated. "He was di faithful preacher. He not only declared the whole counsel of God, but he did it in a manner the most clear and discriminating. His sermons v/ere searching be- yond description. O, how did he unmask the hypocrite, 'disguise himself as he would;' how rend away the false refuges, beneath which sinners entrench themselves; how trace and expose the windings and deceits of the human heart; how show transgressors their ways! He brought the torch of truth as it were into the sinner's soul, that he might see his condition and character in the sight of God. Sinners trembled — they often complained, that the preacher was harsh and severe ; and finding that there was no peace to OF GREENFIELD. 101 the wicked in the presence of such a reprover, sometimes left his ministration, by which their consciences were so greatly disturbed, and probably are now in tlie condition of the man among the tombs, 'seeking rest and findhig none.' Christians, too, under his preaching were often brought into doubt of themselves, and led to examine anew the founda- tion of their hope ; but on the review they have reason to say, 'Faithful are the wounds of a friend.' * * * His stahil- ity and unrompj^omising integi-ity were as remarkable as any qualities which he exhibited ; and never perhaps has a day risen upon the church of Christ, when these traits in tiie character of his ambassadors were more desirable." Mr. Jen- kins' ministry in Greenfield was about four years. 2. Rev. William C. Fowler was settled as the second pastor of this church, Aug. 31, 1825, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Professor Fitch of Yale College ; and he was dismisood from there, Oct. 24, 1827. Mr. Fowler was born in Killingworth, Ct., in 1793, and passed his early life in Durham, Ct. ; graduated at Yale in 1816; studied theology at New Haven, Ct. ; was a tutor in Yale College, from 1819 to 1823 ; after leaving Greenfield, was a Professor of Chem- istry and Natural History in Middlebury College, from 1828 to 1838 ; was a Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory in Am- herst College, from 1838 to 1843 ; published a work entitled " The English Language in its Elements and Forms;" was a representative from Amherst to the State Legislature in 1851 ; visited Europe in 1852 ; married Mrs. Harriet Web- ster Cobb, daughter of Noah Webster, in 1826, who died in 1844. Mr. Fowler still resides at Amherst. His ministry in Greenfield was about two years. 3. Rev. Caleb S. Henry, D. D., was ordained as the third pastor of this church. Jan. 21, 1829, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. William B. Sprague ; and he was dismissed from there, Dec. 12, 1831. Dr. Henry was born in Rutland in 1804 ; pursued classical studies for some time at Amherst College, but graduated at Dartmouth in 1825 ; studied the- 192 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS ology both at Andover and New Haven ; after leaving Greenfield spent about two years at Cambridge ; installed colleague pastor with Rev. Dr. Nathan Perkins in West Hartford, Ct., May 12, 1833 ; dismissed from there in the Spring of 1835 ; in June 1835 was organized as a minister in the Episcopal Church ; from 1835 to 1837 was a professor of Moral and Intellectual Philosophy in Bristol College, Penn. ; from 1838 to 1852 was a professor of the same branches in the New York University, and during this time was for five years assistant minister in the St. John's Church, Brooklyn, N. Y., and for three years was rector of the St. Clement's Church, New York ; in 1851 from failure of health retired from public service, and now resides at Oakwood Hill, near Belleville, N. J. His doctorate was conferred upon him by Geneva College in 1838. He has edited several publica- tions, and published various works. His ministry in Green- field was nearly three years. 4. Rev. Thomas Bellows Avas ordained as the fourth pastor of this church, March 12, 1833, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. Noah Porter of Farmington, Ct. ; and he was dismissed from there, Sept. 2, 1834. Mr. Bellows was born in Walpole, N. H., Sept. 23, 1807; graduated at Dartmouth in 1827 ; studied theology at Andover and New Haven ; after leaving Greenfield preached a year and a half at Lunenburg ; and since then has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in Walpole, N. H., where he still resides. Mr. Bellows was never married. His ministry in Greenfield was about one year and a half. 5.* Rev. Samuel Washburn was settled as the fifth pastor of this church, Aug. 2, 1837, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. John Todd ; and he was dismissed from there, Nov. 23, 1841. Mr. Washburn was born in Minot, Me., Jan. 1, 1807 ; and lived for a short time in Connecticut, and New York city, but returned at six years of age to his former home. He pursued classical studies at the Academies in Hebron and Gorham, Me. He began his studies with reference chiefly OF GREENFIELD. 193 to the profession of the law. In 1826 he hopefully experi- enced religion, and turned his attention at once to the ministry. He never graduated at any college, but received an honorary A. M. from Amherst College in 1839. He pur- sued theological studies at Princeton and at Andover. He was licensed by the Andover Association, in April, 1832 ; preached for a time in Amesbury and Salisbury, and Essex Street Church, Boston. A haemorrhage of the lungs induced him to spend the winter of 1833-4 in the South and South- west. In 1834, he preached some in Philadelphia, New York, Norwich, and New Haven, and again bled at the lungs. In 1835, he labored in the service of the American Sunday School Union, and gathered a Congregational church in Philadelphia. On the 10th of July, 1835, he married Miss Hannah J. Marland of Andover, who died, March 23, 1845. While a pastor at Greenfield, returning ill health constrained him to seek a release from pastoral labor, and to try the effect of a voyage across the ocean. His dismission from Greenfield took place by the agency of an Ecclesiastical Council after he had entered upon this voyage. Mr. Washburn died in the city of New York, Sept. 15, 1853, in his 47th year. A discourse was preached on the occasion of his death, at Baltimore, Md., Oct. 9, 1853, by his friend and fellow-student. Rev. Dr. Edwin F. Hatfield of New York, which was published, and from which the following extract is taken, viz. : — " A visit to Europe having been advised for his restoration to health, he left his native land in October, 1841, and re- mained abroad until June, 1842. The results of his inqui- ries and observations were given to the public in a series of communications, published in the 'New-England Puritan.' On his return he entered into the service of the Foreign Evangelical Society, and became for a short season a resident of the city of New York. Another visit was made to Europe, in company with his wife, in April, 1843. They returned in the following August, with his own health much im- 25 194 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS proved. After his return, he preached at Nantucket for a few Sabbaths, and then accepted a call from the Central Congregational Church of Fall River, Mass., where he was installed April 26th, 1844. His venerable father died in October of the same year; and, on the 23d of March, 1845. it pleased God to sunder the happy bonds of matri- monial fellowship, by the removal, after a lingering and pain- ful illness, to a better world, of her whose love had shed so much light on his pathway through this present world. Thus bereaved and desolate, he struggled on through a ministry extending over a period of five years, honored and beloved by his people, exerting a wide and happy influence over the young especially, and highly respected beyond the bounds of his own congregation ; when he was constrained to seek a dismission from his pastoral charge. " For a period of about two years, he continued to preach without any particular charge, supplying the pulpits of his brethren in the cities of New York, Brooklyn, New Haven, and Norwich, and in several other places, principally in New England, wherever the hand of Providence conducted him, finding in the meantime a welcome home, in the intervals of service, at the house of his sister, Mrs. Jacob Bell, in the city of New York. "In June, 1851, having declined very urgent calls to at least two other churches in New York city, he accepted an invitation to become the associate of the Rev. James G. Hamner, D.D., in the pastoral charge of the Fifth Presby- terian Church of the city of Baltimore, Md., and was in- stalled by the Presbytery of the District of Columbia, Nov. 2, 1851. By the resignation of Dr. Hamner, Aug. 8, 1852, he remained the sole pastor of the church. Here — as you, beloved, so well know — he accomplished a great and ardu- ous work. He secured the confidence of the whole congre- gation ; drew around him a devoted band of admiring friends ; by a judicious, prudent, and persevering system of measures, in which he was generously sustained, procured a large re- OF GREENFIELD. 195 duction of the indebtedness of the society ; united the vari- ous shades of opinion in the congregation together, and suc- ceeded in the banishment of the spirit of contention and jealousy ; while by his pulpit ministrations he attracted many to the house of worship, and commended himself ' to every man's conscience in the sight of God,' winning some to the obedience of the truth, and commanding the respect of all. Already had he acquired a high reputation as a citizen, a christian, a scholar, a preacher, and a pastor, among all classes and denominations in the Monumental City. They had learned greatly to respect him, and highly to prize him as a distinguished ornament to their ministry. Seldom has a ministry of two short years accomplished so much, and so perfectly united a people in their pastor, " The deep and ardent affection of his congregation found a most painful expression, when it pleased God to visit him, on Thursday, the twelfth day of May last, with a suffusion of blood upon the brain, consequent upon an affection of the heart. During the three or four days of unconsciousness which ensued, the city seemed to be moved with apprehen- sion of an approaching disaster. Pastors and their people expressed their united sympathy in terms of genuine friend- ship, that aided much in his temporary restoration. But his disease was of a nature not to be trifled with. The entire suspension of his labors was imperiously demanded, and the absence for a considerable period of all mental ex- citement. He left his home in June, to return to it no more. A brief visit to New York, Boston, and Sharon Springs, ap- peared to be of at least temporary benefit to his health. He made his arrangements to return to Baltimore about the last of June for a short visit ; and was on his way, when he heard, in the city of New York, of the sudden and most afflictive decease at Boston of his brother's youthful wife, whom he had learned, on his recent visit there especially, greatly to admire and love. The shock was a severe trial to his health. He changed his course, and accompanied his sister to Boston 196 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS on the mournful errand of sympathy and affection. It was more than his system could bear. Again his brain reeled, and prostration ensued. He recovered sufficiently to return to the city of New York, and then to repeat his visit to Sharon Springs, where he arrived on the 5th of July. On the 12th he was again, and with still greater severity, struck down by the fatal disorder which had seized upon him. Friends hastened to him, and watched for weeks by his side, during the long and alarming paroxysms of the disease. '' He had so far recovered on the first week of August, as to be able to retrace his steps, with his sister, who had not left him for three weeks, and to reach, on the first of the month, the beautiful residence of Samuel E. Lyon, Esq., at White Plains, N. Y., where his city friends were spending the summer season. With the exception of a short visit to Long Branch, N. J., where he had a repetition of paralysis, he remained at White Plains until the morning of the 9th of September. On the 9th of August it was my mournful priv- ilege to spend a few hours with him in his quiet rural retreat, and to witness the change that had already taken place in his noble mind. I found him perfectly conscious of his con- dition, and deeply saddened by it. He spoke of his inca- pacity of mental action with deep emotion. He could scarcely endure the thought of being continued for months and years in a state of intellectual imbecility. He would speak of it at times as filling him with horror. The thought of death was pleasant. He had no fears of dying. He re- lied fully and hopefully on the Saviour. He rather wished and longed for death. ' If it please God,' he said to his sister a few days previous to his last attack, ' to subject me to another such visitation, I pray God that he would take me to himself.' " Feeble, however, as he was, and unable to take sufficient care of himself, it was remarkable that he could not shake off the care of his beloved church. Again and again did he consult with myself for their supply, when we met repeat- OF GREENFIELD. 197 edly at my own house at New York, in June. And when I saw him at White Plains, still all his thoughts appeared to run in that channel. We took counsel together in their be- half. ' If I could only see them well cared for, and provided with a suitable pastor, I should be satisfied,' he observed. It appeared to be almost his only care. A Sabbath or two be- fore his last attack, in conversation about his future prospects, after a short pause, he observed : ' If I only had some one to gather the lambs of the flock together, and keep the sheep from being scattered !' In the midst of the stupor of his last illness, when he seemed to be lying perfectly unconscious, the word ^Baltimore,'' casually pronounced, instantly aroused him. His last thoughts apparently were of you, his beloved people. "On the morning of Friday, the 9th of September, after the manifestation of unusual sprightliness on the previous day, in anticipation partly of his return to New York city, he was found to have been visited by a paralysis of the throat and other organs of speech, so as to be utterly in- capable of articulation and deglutition. He was brought to the city of New York by the first train of cars, and placed under the care of some of the most eminent medical prac- titioners of the city, but without avail. I saw and prayed with him on the morning of his last Sabbath on earth, when I found him sensible but speechless. He continued to sink under the pressure of his disease until Thursday, the 15th of September, when, at six o'clock in the morning, his wish and prayer were granted, his earthly labors and conflicts brought to an end, and his burdened spirit was received into rest. On the afternoon of the following day, after a solemn funeral service, at which several of his brethren and former companions in study were present, his remains were taken to Andover; the sad funeral train being increased at Fall River by the addition of several of the people of his former charge ; and his body was laid to rest in the rural graveyard where repose the remains of his deceased wife." 198 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS As illustrative of the fearlessness, independence, and de- cision of Mr. Washburn, the following incident is related. On one occasion, during his ministry in Greenfield, the choir of his congregation declined to sing after he had read the hymn. After waiting a short time he arose and remarked that sacred music was an important part of public worship, and, as that part was not to be performed, he should, at that time, dispense with performing the other parts, and then left the house, and the congregation followed. Mr. Washburn was the seventh generation from Mr. John AVasliburn, who settled in Duxbury as early as 1632. Mr. Washburn's min- istry in Greenfield was about four years. 6. Rev. Lorenzo L. Langstroth was installed as the sixth pastor of this church, Dec. 20, 1843, and Rev. Dr. Leonard Bacon preached the sermon ; and he was dismissed from there, Feb. 15, 1848. Mr. Langstroth was born in Philadelphia, Penn., Dec. 25, 1810; graduated at Yale in 1831 ; studied theology at New Haven ; was settled as pastor at Andover, May 11, 1836, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Samuel Jackson ; was dismissed from there in the spring of 1839 ; taught the Female High School in Greenfield from 1839 to 1843 ; after leaving Greenfield in 1848, taught a Young Ladies School in Philadelphia till 1852 ; and since then has resided chiefly in Greenfield, and preaches more or less in the vacant neighboring churches. Li 1853, he published an ingenious and valuable work on the honey bee. Mr. Langstroth's ministry in Greenfield was a little more than four years. 7. Rev. George C. Partridge was installed as the seventh pastor of this church. May 18, 1848, and the sermon on the occasion was preached by Rev. Amos Bullard, then of Barre. Mr. Partridge was born in Hatfield, Aug. 27, 1813 ; gradu- ated at Amherst in 1833 ; studied theology at Amherst and Andover ; was -a tutor in Amherst College from 1836 to 1838 ; was settled as pastor at Nantucket, Nov. 21, 1839, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. Silas Aiken, then of OF GREENFIELD. 199 Boston ; was dismissed from there, Aug. 10, 1841 ; was installed as pastor at Brimfield, Feb. 9, 1842, and the ser- mon was by Rev, Dr. John Nelson of Leicester ; was dis- missed from there, Feb. 24, 1847 ; in 1838-9 supplied a few months in Rochester, N. Y., and in the Seamen's Bethel, Portland, Me. Mr. Partridge is a grandson of the late Rev. Dr. Joseph Lyman of Hatfield. He is still a pastor in Green- field, in the sixth year of his ministry there. Of the seven pastors of this church, six were dismissed ; five are now living ; and the average length of their pas- torates in Greenfield is about three years and a half. CONGREGATIONAL PREACHERS WHO ORIGINATED FROM GREENFIELD. 1. Mr. Edioard Billings, Jr., son of Rev. Edward Bil- lings, first pastor of the first church in Greenfield, is supposed to have been born in Belchertown in 1750 ; removed to Greenfield at four years of age, where he lived till his death ; graduated at Cambridge in 1775 ; was licensed by the Hamp- shire Association in 1776, but was never ordained ; preached but a short time, and became a physician ; and died in Greenfield, May 8, 1806, aged 56. The following is the epitaph on his gravestone, viz. : " Some hearty friend shall drop a tear On our dry bones, and say, These once were strong, as mine appear, And mine must be as they." 2. Rev. Charles C. Corse was born in Greenfield, May 23, 1803 ; graduated at Amherst in 1830 ; finished the the- ological course at Princeton in 1834 ; began to preach in Kingston, Penn., in 1834, and preached in the Valley of Wyoming, Penn., till 1837 ; settled as pastor in Athens, Penn., Feb. 27, 1838, and the sermon was by Rev. Isaac W. Piatt ; dismissed from there in June, 1847 ; in 1847 removed to East Smithfield, Bradford County, Penn., where he has con- 200 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS tinned to preach as a stated supply till the present time. Mr. Corse was licensed by the Hampshire Association, Feb. 5. 1834, and was ordained as an Evangelist by the Presby- tery of Susquehanna, Penn., Aug. 27, 1836, and the sermon was by Rev. John Dorrance. Mr. Corse buried his wife, Aug. 7, 1851, and was left with five children. 3. Rev. John F. Grisioold was born in Greenfield, April 14, 1795; graduated at Yale in 1821; finished the theologi- cal course at Andover in 1824 ; was ordained as an Evan- gelist at Shelburne by the Franklin Association, Nov. 8, 1825, and the sermon was by Rev. Josiah W. Canning ; in- stalled pastor at South Hadley Falls, Dec. 3, 1828, and Rev. Dr. Edward Hitchcock preached the sermon ; dismissed from there in 1832 ; settled as pastor in Newfane, Vt., April 10, 1834, and the sermon was by Rev. Jonathan McGee ; dis- missed from there, July 31, 1839 ; settled as pastor at Hart- land, Vt., in 1839, and President Lord, of Dartmouth College, preached the sermon ; dismissed from there in 1844 ; from 1844 till the present time he has preached as a stated supply in Washington, N. H., where he still resides. Mr. Griswold buried his first wife in 1832, and his second wife about 1836, and married his third wife in 1838. In 1829 the name John was prefixed by Legislative authority to the other part of his name. 4. Rev. Charles P. Russell was born in Greenfield, April 3, 1801 ; pursued collegiate studies for a time at Amherst, but never graduated at any college ; was licensed by Frank- lin Association, Aug. 11, 1830 ; settled as pastor in Candia, N. H., Dec. 25, 1833. After a few years he relinquished preaching on account of ill health, and has since resided in Greenfield, Boston and Washington, D. C. He studied the- ology a short time at Andover ; was dismissed from Candia, N. H., in 1841. He is now employed in the Post Office Department in Washington, D. C. 5. Rev. Samuel M. Woodhridge was born in Greenfield, April, 5, 1819 j is the son of Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge, OF GREENFIELD. 201 formerly a pastor in Greenfield, and removed from that place in 1823 ; graduated at the New York University in 1839 ; studied theology at the Reformed Dutch Seminary, in New Brunswick, N. J. ; was licensed in July, 1842 ; was ordained as pastor of the South Dutch Church, in Brooklyn, N. Y., in December, 1842 ; dismissed from there in 1850 ; in April, 1850, he accepted a call from the Dutch church in Coxsackie Landing, N. Y. ; in November, 1852, was installed as pastor of the Second Reformed Dutch Church in New Brunswick, N. J., where he still remains as pastor. Mr. Woodbridge, his father, and his three brothers, are now preaching in five- different States of the Union. Of the five preachers here reckoned as sons of Greenfield,, four were natives of the town ; one is connected with the Reformed Dutch church ; four were graduates ; four were ordained ; two were the sons of ministers ; and four are now living. Several other Congregational ministers have spent some portion of their early life in Greenfield. Rev. Hiram P. Arms commenced learning a trade in the town, and lived here some two years. Rev. Jubilee Wellman was born in that part of Greenfield which was, about six months after his birth, incorporated as the town of Gill. Rev. Avery Williams taught school for a considerable period in the town in early life. OTHER DENOMINATIONS. Baptists. The Baptist church in Greenfield was formed February, 1852, with eighteen members. Mr. Joseph H. Seaver, a licentiate, preached a few months ; and Rev. William F. Nelson has since been their stated supply. The number of members in 1853 was 59. Episcopalians. The Episcopal church in Greenfield was organized Sept. 24, 1812, with five members. Rev. Titus Strong, D. D., was constituted Rector of the Parish in May, 1815, and still continues in this relation. Episcopal ministers 26 202 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS originating from Greenfield : Rev. George T. Chapman, D.D., and Rev. Allen C. Morgan. Methodists. The Methodist church in Greenfield was formed in 1835, with seventy-five members. The following preachers have supplied this church, viz. : Revs. Paul Towns- hend, R. Ransom, L. C. Collins, C. Barnes, I. B. Bigelow, I. Marcy, J. Mudge, R. Kellen, S. Marcy, J. Nickols, D. Ames, J. Paulson, and Linus Fish in 1S53. Methodist ministers who originated from Greenfield, viz. : Revs. W. R. Clark and C. W. Ainsworth who died in Milford in 1852. Unitarians. The Unitarian church in Greenfield was organized in August, 1825, with eight male members. Rev. Winthrop Bailey was installed pastor in October, 1825, and died March 16, 1835, aged 51. Rev. John Parkman, Jr., was installed pastor, Oct. 11, 1837, and was dismissed at his request in 1839 ; since which time several ministers have preached as stated supplies. One Unitarian minister, Rev. George Ripley, originated from Greenfield. The Roman Catholics have occasionally held meetings in Greenfield for a few years past. Summary of preachers originating from Greenfield : Or- thodox Congregationalists, 5 ; Episcopalians, 2 ; Method- ists, 2 ; Unitarians, 1. Total, 10. HAWLEY. This town is said to have been named after Joseph Haw- ley of Northampton. It was incorporated Feb. 7, 1792. Its population in 1850 was 881. Two churches have been organized in the town, both of which are of the Con- gregational order. congregationalists. First Church. The first church in Hawley was formed Sept. 16, 1778, with twenty members. Revs. Messrs. Por- ter of Ashfield, Leavitt of Charlemont, and Emerson of OF HAW LEY. 203 Conway, were on the council. This church and people built their first Meeting-house in 1794, and their second in 1824, and their third in 1847, which is located not far from a mile and a half south of the site of the first house of wor- ship. Frequent revivals were formerly enjoyed by this church ; one in 1794, and seventeen additions to the church ; in 1795, and fourteen added ; in 1797, and eighteen added ; in 1807, and thirty-three added ; in 1816, and one hundred and eighteen added ; in 1822, and eighteen added ; in 1825, and forty-four added ; in 1828, and fourteen added ; in 1831, and sixty-four added j in 1832, and thirty-one added. A mutual council for the settlement of difficulties was held, June 11, 1804 ; and an ex parte council for the same purpose, Sept. 24, 1812. The amount contributed to the cause of christian benevolence in 1853 was $81 78. The Sabbath School in 1852 numbered 125. The church in 1853 con- tained 97 members. Previous to the settlement of the first pastor in 1793, Rev. Jacob Sherv/in of Ashfield preached for this people more or less. In the seventy-five years since the organization of this church, it has had pastors about fifty-three years, and been destitute of the same about twenty-two years. Three pas- tors have been settled over this church. Pastors. 1.* Rev. Jonathan Grout was ordained as the fir^t pastor of this church, Oct. 23, 1793, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Joseph Lyman of Hatfield, which was published. Mr. Grout continued pastor of the church nearly forty-two years, and till his death, June 6, 1835. For a few years previous to his death he was unable fully to perform pastoral duties, and a colleague pastor was set- tled about one year before his decease. Mr. Grout was born in Westboro', in 1763 ; graduated at Cambridge in 1790 ; studied theology with Dr. Lyman of Hatfield ;. was licensed by the Northern Association of Hampshire County, Aug. 7, 1792 ; and spent his ministerial and pastoral life in Hawley, In 1802, according to a prevalent practice among many pas- 204 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS tors of that time, he performed a mission of sixteen weeks among the destitute settlements in Maine. He published several occasional sermons ; one preached at Northampton before the Hampshire Missionary Society, in 1820 ; one preached at Cummington, on Sacred Music ; and one preached at the installation of Mr. Smith in Rowe, in 1812. Four of his children have deceased, one of whom was drowned at the age of 15 ; and five of his children and his widow are now living. His aged widow annually receives a liberal share of the Congregational ministerial funds of the Convention and Charitable Society of Massachusetts. Mr. Grout's colleague preached his funeral sermon, and thus speaks of him : " He was a peacemaker, a man of ex- cellent spirit, sound in the faith, and, I believe, a good preacher, as well as a very successful one." A pastor, who was a neighbor and a cotemporary with Mr. Grout, writes as follows respecting him : " Mr. Grout was a diligent, labori- ous, and successful minister. He loved his people, and they loved him. He was truly a practical man. His sermons were not highly wrought, but contained important truth adapted to the circumstances of his people. He was em- phatically a social, hospitable, kind-hearted man. And the impression which he left behind him was such that his people generally appreciate the ministry and respect the minister. And no people, so far as I know, have recently made greater sacrifices to support christian institutions than the people in Hawley." " Rev. Mr. Grout," says a minis- terial friend of his in Maine, " was a bright, noble, generous, sociable and free-hearted man. He was not the highest Calvinist, but was a good man and a popular preacher. He had a loud and commanding voice, and was one of the most popular missionaries that went into the State of Maine." The following is the epitaph on his gravestone, viz. : ^' This stone was erected by the first parish in Hawley to the memory of the Rev. Jonathan Grout, who departed this OF II AW LEY. 205 life June 6, 1835, in the 73rd year of his age, and the 42iid of his ministry. He was the first minister in Hawley. Great unanimity among his people prevailed during the ministry of this devoted servant of Christ." He was sole pastor of the church about forty years, and retained the nom- inal relation about forty-two years. 2. Rev. Tyler Thacher was installed as the second pas- tor of this church, May 14, 1834, and the sermon was by Rev. Otis Thompson of Rehoboth. He was settled as a colleague with Rev. Jonathan Grout, and was dismissed from there, Jan. 31, 1843. The ministerial element in Mr. Thacher's ancestry deserves a brief notice. His paternal grandfather was Rev. Peter Thacher of East Attleboro', who was the son of Rev. Peter Thacher of Middleboro', who was the grandson of Rev. Peter Thacher of Milton, who was the great-grandson of Rev. Thomas Thacher of Bos- ton, who was the great-great-grandson of Rev. Peter Thacher of Salisbury, England ; and the last-named Peter Thacher's ancestors in England are said to have been ministers for nine or ten successive generations. Rev. T. Thacher has one brother who is a minister, viz., Rev. Moses Thacher. Rev. Tyler Thacher was born in Princeton, Sept. 11, 1801, and in 1803 removed to Harford, Penn. ; graduated at Brown University in 1824 ; studied theology with Rev. Otis Thompson ; was licensed by Mendon Association, April 26, 1825; ordained as an Evangelist, by Mendon Associa- tion, at North Wrentham, Dec. 4, 1827, and Rev. Otis Thompson preached on the occasion. Previous to his set- tlement in Hawley, he supplied in Hanover and Paris, N. Y. ; Carver and Franklin, Mass. ; Guildhall, Vt. ; in 1828, in Ohio ; from 1829 to 1833, in Staunton, Va. Subsequent to his dismission from Hawley, he preached as a stated supply in North Wrentham. On the 20th of Sept. 1851, after a voyage of ten and a half months, he, with his family, arrived at San Francisco, California, and has since then been employed in teaching in Marysville, California. On his sea- 206 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS voyage to California, he discovered a "new method of de- termining the longitude at sea without recourse to the chronometer." He has published four treatises, entitled " Taylorism Examined," "Arminianism Examined," "Per- fectionism Examined," and " Christianity and Infidelity." He married Miss Fidelia, a daughter of Rev. Otis Thomp- son, by whom he had three children, and who died in Haw- ley. His second and present wife was Miss Nancy Newton of Hawley. His eldest son, a pious, promising youth, prepar- ing for the ministry, was drowned in North Wrentham. Mr. Thacher's ministry in Hawley was eight years and eight months. He is still teaching, and occasionally preaching in Marysville, California. Between the pastorates of Mr. Thacher and his successor, this people were supplied four years by Rev. John Eastman, and by Rev. William A. Hawley two years. 3. Rev. Henry Seymour was installed as the third pastor, Oct. 3, 1849, and the sermon was preached by Rev. T. Packard, Jr. Mr. Seymour has been pastor of the church four years, and still preaches in Hawley. A more full notice of him is given in the account of the pastors of the Orthodox church in Deerfield. Mr. Seymour's first wife, who was Miss Arabelle Fisk of Shelburne, died in Hawley. Of the three pastors of this church, one was dismissed ; two are now living ; and the average length of their pasto- rates in Hawley is about eighteen years. Second Church. The second church in this town is sit- uated in what is called West Hawley. The great difficulty experienced by the people in the west part in attending public worship at the centre of the town, led to the organ- ization of the second church, Aug. 24, 1825. Forty-three members were organized. A revival was enjoyed in 1831, and twelve were added to the church ; also in 1843, and twelve were added. The first Meeting-house belonging to this people was built in 1825, and the second in 1847. In 1834, by request of this church, Franklin Association, OF H A W L E T. 207 by a committee, investigated a case of difliculty between said church and Rev. Anson Dyer, a licentiate and member of the Association, who had been supplying the church as a preacher. The committee held two lengthy sessions for this purpose in West Hawley ; and, upon hearing the report of this committee, the Association, April 29, 1834, deposed Mr. Dyer from the christian ministry, for unministerial conduct. This church called a council to advise them in relation to admitting Mr. Anson Dyer to their membership; and the council held one session, Nov. 22, 1843, and one, March 12, 1844. This church began to receive missionary aid in 1830, and has received $1,320. It is not now assisted. Among the preachers who supplied this people previous to the set- tlement of their first pastor, are Revs. Urbane Hitchcock, Dr. Packard, T. Packard, Jr., Anson Dyer, Mr. Bingham, and Joshua Crosby. The amount contributed by this people to the cause of christian benevolence, in 1853, was $12. The Sabbath School, in 1852, numbered 80. The number in the church, in 1853, was 59. In the twenty-eight years since the formation of this church, it has had pastors twelve years, and has been desti- tute of settled pastors sixteen years. This church has had two pastors. Pastors. 1. Rev. Moses Miller was installed as the first pastor of this church. May 20, 1840, and after a ministry of six years and five months, was dismissed, Oct. 20, 1846. A more full notice of him may be found in the account of the pastors of the Heath church. 2. Rev. John Eastman was installed as the second pastor of this church, Nov. 11, 1847 ; has been the pastor six years, and still continues in the same relation. Mr. Eastman was born in Amherst, July 19, 1803 ; never graduated at any college ; had the honorary degree of A. M. conferred upon him by Amherst College in 1851 ; studied theology with Rev. Dr. Packard ; was licensed by Franklin Association, Feb. 12, 1833 ; ordained as an Evangelist at 208 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS Charlemont, Aug. 13, 1834, and Rev. T. Packard, Jr., preached the sermon ; ordained as a pastor at Fulton, N, Y.. September, 1834, and the sermon was by Rev. William Lusk ; and he was dismissed from there, Oct. 10, 1837 ; settled as pastor in Mexico, N. Y., November, 1837, and the sermon was by Rev. William Benedict ; and was dismissed from there in January, 1840 ; settled as pastor at Evans' Mills, N. Y., January, 1841, and the sermon was by Rev. Mr. McGregore ; and was dismissed from there, July, 1843 ; then supplied in Whately, and four years in the first church in Hawley. Mr. Eastman has two brothers in the ministry, viz., Rev. Oman Eastman of New York, and Rev. David Eastman of Leverett. Of the two pastors of this church, one was dismissed ; both are living ; and the average length of their pastorates in West Hawley is about six years. CONGREGATIONAL PREACHERS ORIGINATING FROM HAWLEY. 1. Rev. On-amel W. Cooley was born in Hawley, Jan. 18, 1816; graduated at Williams, 1841; finished the the- ological course at Bangor in 1846 ; was licensed by Frank- lin Association, Nov. 12, 1845 ; ordained as pastor at Dover, May 4, 1848 ; dismissed from there in 1850. Rev. Sereno D. Clark preached his ordination sermon. For several years Mr. Cooley has been in Illinois ; and in May, 1853, was commissioned as a Home Missionary to labor in Granville, Illinois. 2.* Rev. Marshall L. Farnsivorth was born in Hawley about 1799, and removed to Madison County, N.Y., when about eighteen years of age ; graduated at Union in 1825 ; studied theology at Auburn ; was licensed and ordained as an Evangelist in Western New York, and preached there till failure of health constrained him to seek the warmer climate of South Carolina ; in 1829 preached in Danby, N. Y. ; was then pastor of the church in Elmira, N. Y., about three years ; then labored a year or two as an agent of OF H A W L E Y . 209 the American Sunday School Union in Connecticut ; then taught a select school in Norwich, Ct. ; and, in 1838, was constrained by declining health to relinquish active service, and he removed to the residence of his father-in-law, Mr. Jonathan B. Gosman, in Danby, N. Y., where he died, Nov. 27, 1838, in the 40th year of his age. Rev. William Clark, pastor of the church in that place, performed the funeral services. On his tombstone is the inscription, " I have kept the faith." His character is thus described by Mr. Gosman : " Mr. Farnsworth was a warm-hearted, fervent, practical preacher : well instructed in the kingdom of heaven himself, he sought to make his people not merely christians but intelligent christians. The religion which he recommended was that of the heart, but not to the exclusion of the mind. He was a doctrinal preacher. He loved to exhibit the doctrines of the gospel, but he preached them practically, not merely as theories which good men ought to understand, but as sub- stantial facts, upon which christians ought to live, and grow, and thrive. He was a conscientious preacher. The great ends of the christian ministry, the glory of God in the con- version of sinners and in the edification of saints, were ever before him. He was an earnest preacher. O how earnestly did he beseech sinners to be reconciled to God ! Everybody felt that he was in earnest. There was the power of his preaching. He was a dignified preacher. Commanding in; his appearance and demeanor, his preaching was fully cor- respondent. He had no taste for, nor any affectation of,, pulpit wit. Nothing calculated to excited a laugh was heard, from him. He was a direct preacher. Thon art the man., went to the heart of many a heai'er. He was a nscfid preach- er — useful in gathering the flock, and useful in feeding and guarding the flock. He did not serve his Lord on earth as long nor as much as he wished ; but his Lord knew best where to employ him, whether with those of the family on earth, or with those in heaven. ' His record is on high.' '^^ 27 210 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS The following notice of Mr. Farnswarth was published in the New York Evangelist, Dec. 22, 1838 : " He lived de- voted to the work to which he had consecrated his days, the spread of the everlasting gospel ; and he died in the full possession of those consolations which that gospel furnishes. In private life, his unblemished course, and the pious and affectionate and generous feelings of his heart, commended 'him to the best regards of his numerous friends. In his public walks, as an ambassador of Christ, his fervency and zeal in winning souls, his ability in stating, and his dignified earnestness in enforcing the truth, with his prudence and moderation in relation to the exciting circumstances of the church at this time, and yet more, the success with which his ministry was crowned, attested his value and fimiish cause of mourning for his loss to all who seek the peace and prosperity of Zion. He had been laid aside from the public service of the sanctuary by the slow progress of pulmonary consumption, but he ever manifested a warm heart for the church and for the spread of vital piety. ' Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth.' " His widow married Mr. James O. Towner of Albany, N. Y. 3. Rev. Pindar Field was born in Sunderland, May 1, 1794 ; at the age of one year removed with his parents to Hawley, where he lived till manhood ; studied three years at Williams College, but graduated at Amherst in 1822 ; studied theology two years at Andover ; was licensed in December, 1C24 ; labored as a teacher among the Indians in Oldtown, Me. ; in 1825, preached in Deanfield, Me., the first sermon ever preached there, and a great revival was enjoyed in the place, in which " nearly the whole population were hopefully converted ;" then preached in Madison, N. Y., and a revival was enjoyed in 1826, as the fruits of which about seventy made a profession of religion ; in 1827 and 1828 preached for Rev. Samuel Green of Boston, and in Palmer, and in Bridgewater ; from 1828 to 1831, preached in Hamilton, N. Y., and was installed as pastor there in August, 1830, and OF HAW LEY. 211 Rev. William R. Weeks preached the sermon ; he gathered a church in that place of eight members, and left it in three years consisting of one hundred and forty members ; preached in Apulia, (Fabius,) N.Y., from 1831 to 1834 ; was installed as pastor at Oriskany Palls, N. Y., Dec. 31, 1834, and was dismissed from there May 26, 1846 ; then preached at Mar- shall, N. Y., and was installed pastor there, Feb. 23, 1848, and was dismissed from there, Jan. 15, 1851 ; and, since 1851, has been supplying at North Pitcher, N.Y., and Linck- laen, N. Y. 4. Rev. Thomas A. Hall was born in Hawley, Sept. 2, 1813 J- graduated at Williams in 1838 ; studied theology with Rev. John H. Bisbee of Worthington ; was licensed by the Hampshire Association in November, 1840; was ordained as pastor in Dalton, June 16, 1841, and Rev. Mr. Bisbee preached on the occasion ; was dismissed from there, Sept. 29, 1847 ; and since then has had charge of the Academy in Lee, and, for some part of the time, has supplied vacant churches. Mr. Hall still lives in Lee. 5. Rev. Urbane Hitchcock was born in Hawley in 1782 ; graduated at Williams in 1806 ; studied theology with Rev. Dr. Packard of Shelburne ; was ordained as a pastor in Dover, Vt., Dec. 21, 1808, and was dismissed from there, Feb. 13, 1813 ; in 1815, labored as a missionary under the Mis- sionary Society in Vermont ; afterwards lived for many years in Charlemont, and followed agricultural pursuits ; then lived in Hawley, and in Palmer, and now resides in Ware, and has relinquished preaching. 6. Rev. Jonas King, D. D., was born in Hawley, July 29, 1792 ; under his father's direction read the Bible through before he was six years old, and every year afterwards, till he was fifteen years old ; graduated at Williams in 1816 ; studied theology at Andover ; was ordained as an Evangelist in Charleston, S. C, Dec. 17, 1819 ; labored for a few months in that city among the seamen and the colored people ; was chosen a Professor of Oriental Literature in Amherst Collea;e 212 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS in 1821, but never entered upon the duties of the office ; visited France and studied at Paris ; in 1823 went as a mis- sionary with Rev. Pliny Fisk to Jerusalem ; spent four years in the Turkish dominions ; returned to France ; in 1827, visited the United States ; travelled 3000 miles in the United States as an agent of the American Board ; by request of the Ladies' Greek Committee in New York, went out, in 1828, with provisions for the suffering Greeks, and acted as an agent for the distribution of the charitable bounty ; was soon commissioned by the American Board as a missionary, and has since then labored in that capacity in Greece. An ac- count of his labors, trials, and persecutions in Greece, is given in the pages of the Missionary Herald for the past ten years. Dr. King was married by Rev. Dr. Rufus Anderson, at Tenos, in Greece, July 22, 1829, to Miss Anna Aspasia Mengous, by whom he has seven children. He was a bene- ficiary of the American Education Society. He received his doctorate from Nassau Hall. The following interesting account of Dr. King, when a boy, is taken from Littell's Living Age for May 8, 1852 : — ''Juvenile Energy. — In December, 1807, W. H. May- nard, Esq., was teaching a school for a quarter in the town of Plainfield, Massachusetts. One cold, blustering morning, on entering his school-room, he observed a lad he had not seen before, sitting on one of the benches. The lad soon made known his errand to Mr. Maynard, He was fifteen years old ; his parents lived seven miles distant ; he wanted an education, and had come from home on foot that morn- ing, to see if Mr. Maynard could help him contrive how to obtain it. Mr. Maynard asked him if he was acquainted with any one in the place. 'No.' 'Do your parents know any one here ?' ' No.' ' Can your parents help you towards obtaining an education?' 'No.' 'Have you any friends that can give you assistance?' 'No.' ' Well, how do you expect to obtain an education ?' ' I don't know, but I thought I would come and see you.' Mr. Maynard told OF HAWLEY. 213 him to stay that day, and he would see what could be done. He discovered that the boy was possessed of good sense, but no uncommon brilliancy ; and he was particularly struck with the cool and resolute manner in which he undertook to conquer difficulties which would have intimidated common minds. In the course of the day, Mr. Maynard made pro- vision for having him boarded through the winter in the family with himself, the lad paying for his board by his ser- vices out of school. He gave himself diligently to study, in which he made good but not rapid proficiency, improving every opportunity of reading and conversation for acquiring knowledge ; and thus spent the winter. When Mr. May- nard left the place in the spring, he engaged a minister, who had resided about four miles from the boy's father, to hear his recitations ; and the boy accordingly boarded at home and pursued his studies. It is unnecessary to pursue the narrative further. Mr. Maynard never saw the lad after- wards. But this was the early history of the Rev. Jonas King, D. D., whose exertions in the cause of Oriental learn- ing, and in alleviating the miseries of Greece, have endeared him alike to the scholar and the philanthropist, and shed a bright ray of glory on his native country." It is an interesting coincidence, that the first three Amer- ican missionaries to Jerusalem were born within twenty-five miles of each other, and in what was then the same county, and within thirty-five days of the same time : — Rev. Pliny Fisk, born in Shelburne, June 24, 1792 ; Rev. Levi Parsons, born in Goshen, July 18, 1792 ; Rev. Jonas King, born in Hawley, July 29, 1792. 7. Rev. Foster LUley, Jr., was born in Hawley, June 6, 1812; at about four years of age, removed to Castle Creek, Broome County, N. Y. ; graduated at Williams in 1838 ; studied theology at Auburn ; was licensed, April 15, 1840, by the Presbytery of Tioga, N. Y. ; preached at Chenango Forks, N. Y. ; in 1842, preached at Gainsboro', Upper Can- ada; preached as a stated supply at Deposit, N. Y., from 214 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS 1842 till 1845 ; from 1845 to 1849, preached at Hornells- ville, N. Y. ; was ordained as an Evangelist at Spencer, N. Y.. Sept. 11, 1849, by the Presbytery of Tioga; from 1849 to 1852, preached at Kennedy ville, N. Y., Wheeler, N. Y., and Spencer, N. Y. Since 1852, he has been preaching as a Home Missionary in three villages in Hume, N. Y., where he now resides. Mr. Lilley has two brothers, who are min- isters, viz., Rev. Alvah Lilley of Pewaukie, Wisconsin, and Rev. Armiah H. Lilley of Craneville, N. J. 8.* Rev. Alfred Longley was born in Hawley, Nov. 10, 1809 ; never graduated at any college, but studied at various academies, and was at Oberlin Institution, from 1838 to 1840 ; was licensed by Franklin Association, July 26, 1843 ; then taught and preached in Farmington, Ohio ; was or- dained as an Evangelist at Lafayette, Medina County, Ohio, in 1845, and preached in the same place four years. He died with the consumption, at Chatham Centre, Ohio, March 16, 1851, aged 41. He was the son of Hon. Thomas Long- ley, and has one brother, who is a minister, viz.. Rev. Moses M. Longley of Chatham Centre, Ohio. The following notice of Mr. Longley was published in the New York Independent, April 10, 1851: — "He was a a man of true benevolence ; the poor he ever remembered ; and was not forgotten of his God when himself became poor and dependent upon the charity of others. The kindness of friends often affected him to tears. The goodness of God in giving his Son to die for sinners ; in hearing and answering his prayers, and sending the very thing he needed and at the time he needed it, were themes upon which he loved to dwell, and called forth devout thanksgiving and praise. When inviting christians to pray with him, he would some- times say, ' Be sure you spend much of the time in giving thanks.' The tracts, 'Poor Joseph,' and 'Christ is All,' or 'Choice Drop of Honey from the Rock Christ,' were precious morsels to him. But the Bible, when he became so weak that he could not read it much, he loved to have placed OF HAWLEY. 215 where he could lie and see it — feast his soul upon, and plead the precious promises it contained. Death, as it drew near, appeared very pleasant to him. 'It seems,' he said, 'like going to sleep. Christians should not be afraid to die. Let sinners sing * Hark, from the tombs a doleful sound ! ' but christians should not sing it.' During his sickness, he took great delight in singing ; and very early on Sabbath morning went to join in the new song above. He has left a wife, one son, and many friends, who mourn their loss, but rejoice in his gain." His marriage with Miss Julia M. Read of Norton, took place in 1842. One of his sisters is the wife of Rev. S. R. Riggs, a missionary among the In- dians at Lacquiparle, Minnesota. 9. Rev. Moses M. Longley was born in Hawley, June 14, 1815, and is a brother of the subject of the preceding sketch. He studied some at Amherst College, but graduated at Ober- lin Institution in 1842 ; finished his theological studies at Oberlin in 1845 ; was licensed by Lorain County Associa- tion, Ohio, Aug. 11, 1845; was ordained as an Evangelist at Guilford, Ohio, May 29, 1846 ; and preached in that place from 1845 to 1847 ; supplied some in Westfield, York, and Lodi, Ohio ; and for about six years has been supplying in Chatham Centre, Ohio, where he still lives. 10. Rev. Isaac Oakes was born in Hawley, June 10, 1795 ; graduated at Williams in 1820 ; studied theology at Andover ; was licensed by the Essex Middle Association, July 8, 1823 ; and was ordained as an Evangelist at Sa- lem, Sept. 25, 1823, with others, and Dr. Elias Cornelius preached on the occasion ; was installed as pastor at West- field, N. Y., Aug. 11, 1824, and the sermon was by Rev. William Page ; and he was dismissed from there, May 1, 1831 ; from 1831 to 1834, supplied in Warsaw and East Bethany, N. Y. ; installed as pastor in Lancaster, N. Y., June 24, 1834, and the sermon was by the late Rev. Dr. Norris 216 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS Bull ; continued pastor in that place about four years ; after- wards supplied four different places, for several years each, and among them Riga and Nunda, N. Y. ; and is now preach- ing in Oakland, Livingstone County, N. Y. Mr. Oakes has buried all his children, seven in number. 11. Rev. Alvah C. Page was born in Hawley, March 17. 1806; graduated at Amherst in 1829; studied theology with Rev. F. Freeman of Plymouth ; licensed by Pilgrim Associ- ation, Dec. 21, 1830 ; ordained as an Evangelist at Charle- mont, Nov. 8, 1831, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Packard of Shelburne ; preached in Warwick in 1831; then supplied the church in Montague ; in 1832, 1833, and 1834, preached in Rutland, N. Y., Pembroke, N. Y., and Bethany, N. Y. ; was settled as pastor in Norwich, January, 1835, and Rev. William A. Hawley preached the sermon ; dismissed from there, July 20, 1836 ; settled as pastor in Tyringham, April, 1837, and Rev. H. Goodwin preached the sermon ; dismissed from there, Jan. 25, 1843 ; settled as pastor in New Alstead, N. H., October, 1844, and Rev. Dr. Barstow of Keene, N. H., preached the sermon ; dismissed from there, May 19, 1847 ; settled as pastor in Pelham, Jan- uary, 1848, and the sermon was by Rev. R. Crossett ; dis- missed from there, May 9, 1850 ; settled as pastor in Hol- land, Dec. 3, 1851, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. Bates of Dudley. Mr. Page is still in Holland. 12. Rev. Jeremiah Taylor was born in Hawley, June 11, 1817 ; graduated at Amherst in 1843 ; finished his theolog- ical studies at Princeton, N. J., in 1847 ; was licensed, April 29, 1846, by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, N. J. ; and was settled as pastor in Wenham, Oct. 27, 1847, and the sermon was preached by his brother, the late Rev. Oliver A. Taylor, and was published. Mr. Taylor has two brothers, who are ministers, of whom notices are subjoined. Mr. Taylor is still in Wenham. He preached one year at New Brunswick, N. J., and was invited to settle there. 13.* Rev. Oliver A. Taylor, brother of Revs. Jeremiah, OF HAWLEY. 217 Rufus, and Timothy A. Taylor, was born at Yarmouth, Aug. 18, 1801 ; when about three months old, his parents removed with him to Ashfield, and when about two years old, re- moved with him to Hawley ; graduated at Union in 1825 ; finished the theological course at Andover in 1829 ; resided at Andover for some time as a resident licentiate and as an instructor in the seminary, and supplied different churches ; received calls to settle in several places, and among others, Topsfield, Braintree, and Hatfield ; ordained as an Evange- list at Newbury, Nov. 14, 1838; installed as pastor at Man- chester, Sept. 18, 1839 ; and died while pastor of the church there, Dec. 18, 1851, aged 50. Rev. Dr. Crowell of Essex preached his funeral sermon. Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Mary Cleaveland of Topsfield, Nov. 8, 1843. His brother. Rev. Timothy A. Taylor, has compiled an interest- ing memoir of him, which was published in 1853. The following obituary notice of Mr. Taylor was pub- lished in the Puritan Recorder for Jan. 12, 1852 : — "Died at Manchester, Dec. 18, 1851, Rev. Oliver Alden Taylor. He was the eldest son of Jeremiah and Martha Shaw Taylor. He was born at Yarmouth, Aug. 18, 1801. His mother was the youngest daughter of Rev. Timothy Al- den, pastor of the Congregational church in Yarmouth, and grand-daughter of Rev. Holyoke Weld, pastor of the church in Attleborough. His father in the early part of his life fol- lowed the sea, and for some time sailed as master of a vessel. " Not long after his marriage, and while Oliver was an in- fant, he returned from the sea and entered upon agricultural pursuits in the western part of the State. Owing to misfor- tunes in business, the father's means were limited, and to the mind of this son the prospect became dark for obtaining even a common education, so far was his home from the district school-house, and so new was the country around. Having no companions, he was led to spend those hours in reading and study at home, which are too generally wasted by youth in idle sports. This gave shape to his subsequent life. His 28 218 CHURCHES AND MINISTERS mother, devotedly pious, was faithful in instilling into his youthful heart religious instruction. She had indeed, like Hannah, lent him to the Lord before his birth. "At the age of fifteen he became deeply interested in the subject of religion, and, as he hoped, gave his heart to the Lord. In the spring of 1816, he, with fifty-three others, united with the church in Hawley, and ever after main- tained a consistent christian character. As his mother con- versed with him on the advantages of a public education, and acquainted him with the fact that her grandfather, father, and three brothers had been graduates at Harvard College, his soul was inflamed with desires for like advan- tages. He borrowed all the books within his reach, and committed many portions of them to memory. Longing for a public education, he was continually devising means for securing it. Friends were found who kindly offered to assist him. But being the eldest son, the father felt that his ser- vices at home could not be dispensed with. He was not, however, discouraged ; but improved diligently every mo- ment of time not spent in labor, in cultivating an acquaint- ance with books, even taking them into the field with him, ,that no opportunities for study might be lost. In this way he committed many portions of the Latin grammar ; reciting it to a friend who kindly aided him in the effort. At length the desire of his heart was gratified. He entered an academy in a neighboring town, a few weeks before his father's decease. "Here he prepared for college. His pecuniary means being exhausted, he borrowed ten dollars, and commenced a journey on foot of more than five hundred miles, to Alle- ghany College in Pennsylvania, where he entered at the age of twenty, under the patronage of his uncle, the Rev. Tim- othy Alden, President of the college. The following year he was transferred to Union College, N. Y., where he had grad- ^uated in 1825. His theological course of study he completed at Andover in 1829. In April, of the same year, he was li-