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SERMON, 
 
 DELIVERED AT WESTON, 
 JAJsrUARY 12, 1813, 
 
 ON THE 
 
 TERMINATION OF A CENTURY 
 
 SINCE THE 
 
 INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN. 
 
 BY SAMUEL KENDAL, D.D. 
 
 Minister of said town. 
 
 PUBLISHED At THE JiEQUEST OF THE HEARERS. 
 
 "^ CAMBRIDGE: 
 
 PRINTED BY MILLIARD AND METCALF; 
 
 1813. 
 
 n U. S. A. 
 
f1' 
 
 
CENTURY SERMON, 
 
 PSALM Ixxvii. 5. 
 
 I HAVK CONSIDERED THE DAYS OF OLD, THE TEARS OF 
 ANCIENT TIMES. 
 
 Xo examine tlie records of antiquity is not an idle 
 curiosity, nor useless labour. They not only gratify 
 a.n inquisitive mind, but impart profitable instruction 
 to every succeeding generation. They exhibit virtues 
 worthy of imitation, or rear beacons to admonish those 
 Avho live in subsequent times of the dangers to which 
 they are exposed. If reviewed with attention, and 
 applied with care, by such as come upon the stage at 
 later periods, many evils might be avoided, or advan- 
 tages secured, which are felt, or not enjoyed, because 
 men do not permit days to speak, and the multitude of 
 years to teach wisdom. 
 
 We can contemplate transactions and events of a 
 remote date without that excitement and interest, 
 which those of a similar nature, passing in our own 
 time, often produce in our feelings ; and we can always 
 judge best what is right when passion and interest have 
 the least influence on our decision. By the judgment 
 we pass upon men and things of tormer days we fix 
 a kind of standard for our own conduct, placing in 
 
view the virtues to be imitated, and the errours to be 
 avoided. It is therefore a dictate of sound wisdom, and 
 of common prudence, to coiisider the days of old, the 
 I/ears of ancient times. In this way we become conver- 
 sant with our fathers, who long since have slept in the 
 dust, and receive instruction from them, and from what 
 passed in their day. Though dead, they yet speak to 
 their offspring in the records of their deeds, or in the 
 historick page. 
 
 When we look back to their time, we trace, and 
 are constrained to acknowledge, the hand of a merci- 
 ful providence protecting and directing them, sustain- 
 ing them in their trials, crowning their enterprises 
 with success, and giving them a permanent establish- 
 ment in this land. 
 
 What God did for our fathers had a distant rela- 
 tion to us their descendants, and continues to have an 
 effect on our condition. Contemplating the ways of 
 providence in past ages, and considering the events 
 which had a remote bearing upon the destinies of the 
 present generation, we discover motives to gratitude 
 and obedience, and find encouragement to cherish 
 humble confidence in the wisdom and goodness of the 
 divine government. 
 
 Convinced of its general utility and happy moral 
 tendency, Moses, a little before his death, gave to Israel 
 this command : " Remember die days of old, consider 
 the years of many generations ; ask thy father, and he 
 will shew thee ; thy elders, and they will tell thee," 
 The psalmist recognises this precept, and teaches its 
 y$e gnd design. " Give ear, O my people, to my law ; 
 
incline your car to the words of my mouth. I will 
 open my mouth in a parable ; I will utter dark sayings 
 of old ; which we have heard and known, and our 
 fathers have told us. We will not hide them from 
 their children, shewing to the generation to come, the 
 praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonder- 
 ful works that he hath done. For he established a tes- 
 timony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel ; which 
 he commanded our fathers, that they should make 
 them known to their children ; that the generation to 
 come might know them, even the children which 
 should be born ; who should arise and declare them 
 to their children ; that they might set their hope in 
 Godf and not forget the works of God ; hut keep his 
 commandmentsJ*'* By this law each preceding was re- 
 quired to instruct the succeeding generation in those 
 things which belonged to the early history of that peo- 
 ple> and to rehearse to the young the events of former 
 days. The object of this law in Israel was, that the 
 children might see and avoid the sins and provocations 
 of their fathers, perceive the hand of God in all that 
 happened to them, place their own hope in him, and 
 keep his commandments. The same valuable pur- 
 poses may still be answered by recurring to antiquity, 
 and, as it were, bringing our fathers again upon the 
 stage of action, and taking counsel from them. It 
 may be as useful to us, as it was designed to be to 
 Israel, to cojisider the days of old ^ the years of ancient 
 times^ and notice both the virtues and errours of those 
 that have gone before us, and mark the footsteps of 
 divine providence in respect to the setdement of New 
 England. 
 
The present is a period which invites us to review 
 ancient times. On this day we complete a century 
 since the incorporation of the town. In the publick 
 register, taken from the state records, as I find by com- 
 paring them, the act of incorporation is dated Jan. 1 , 
 1712, without the double dating, 1712-13, usual ai 
 that period. This circumstance, which is not, I be* 
 lieve, peculiar to Weston, is calculated to lead into 
 errour with respect to the true date of events. Had 
 January been then reckoned the first month of the 
 year, the date of the act of incorporation would have 
 stood, Jan. 1, 1713, which, allowing the difference of 
 eleven days between Old and New Style, brings the 
 elose of the century to Jan. 12, 1813. 
 
 In proof of the correctness of this statement, I 
 shall adduce what I think will be deemed conclusive 
 evidence. Mr. Williams, then the minister of this 
 place, made an entry in the book of church records in 
 these words, " A brief and true record of the ecclesi- 
 astical affairs of the church, in the west part of Water- 
 town, commonly called JFatertown Farms — made a 
 distinct town Jan. 1, 1712-13, and called Weston,'''' 
 With this agree the records of the precinct, and of the 
 first town meeting, called by a warrant from a justice 
 of the peace, to be holden, March 2, 1712-13. But, 
 what is decisive upon the point, Watertown records 
 state that the petition of the Farmers to be dismissed, 
 in order to their being a township, was laid before the 
 town. May 12, 1712, and that the prayer of it was 
 granted, under certain stipulations, Dec. 2, 1712. 
 These dates are subsequent to that which some have 
 
supposed the true date of the incorporation of tiic 
 town. The separate records now adduced, which 
 were made by different persons at the same time, and 
 in different books, are sufficient to correct the errour, 
 and to shew that we have fixed the close of the century 
 in the proper year. I have been thus particular on 
 this subject, because I apprehend that, for want of at- 
 tention to it, frequent mistakes are committed as to 
 the true dates of events. 
 
 Without confining myself to the centurj^ now 
 closed, or to things that relate to this town only, I shall 
 occupy the time allotted on this occasion with some 
 general observations, historical sketches, and reflec- 
 tions. As Cowper has elegantly said — 
 
 *'GoJ moves in a mysterious way. 
 
 His counsels (o perform! 
 He marks his footsteps on the sea. 
 
 And rides upon the storm!" 
 
 This sentiment applies to the state of our fathers 
 in their native country, to their crossing the mighty 
 deep, and to their gaining possession of this good land. 
 As, when Israel was about to be delivered from their 
 Egyptian bondage, so when our ancestors were to be 
 freed from oppression, and transported to a land of 
 freedom, there were preparatory events. In both 
 cases tyranny hastened the accomplishment of the 
 grand designs of providence. 
 
 Before our fathers left England the principles of 
 the reformation had taken deep root in that island, 
 and the protestant religion become the establish- 
 ed religion of the country. Many, however, were 
 
for carrying the reformation to what they conceived 
 a greater degree of perfection than they found in the 
 national establishment. A purer church, a more 
 simple mode of worship, and stricter discipline were 
 principal objects with the most zealous reformers 
 of early times. Hence, if not from any extraordinary 
 sanctity of their life and conversation, they acquired 
 the appellation of Puritans. They received this name 
 about the middle of the sixteenth century. Acces- 
 sions were made to their numbers of distinguished 
 characters among the clergy and laity. The dominant 
 party, who were friends to the national church, or dig- 
 nitaries in it, attempted, under the authority of gov- 
 ernment, to enforce uniformity in the mode of worship. 
 This, like all other attempts to overrule the conscience 
 by mere authority, only strengthened the resolution of 
 the Puritans, and induced others to examine and es- 
 pouse their cause. The consequence was a fixed de- 
 termination in no inconsiderable portion of the best 
 men in the nation not to conform to the established 
 mode of worship. Hence the name oi Nojiconfonnists. 
 This resistance wounded prelatical pride and ambition, 
 and called the spirit of persecution into activity. The 
 rod of power fell upoa the Puritans^ ov Nonconformists ^ 
 with various degrees of seventy. Ministers were si- 
 lenced, or punished with rigour for attempting to per- 
 form their sacred functions.* Among these many 
 were emiricnt for learning a. id piety. 
 
 * As late as 1662, after the restoration of Charfes II, a 
 severe edict was passed, reqiurins; unifarniity in worshjp, and 
 by virtue of it two lliousaud ministers are saiJ to have been 
 ejected from their office and livings. 
 
After these things had been long endured in Eng- 
 land, and were still experienced by the Puritans^ with 
 various aggravations, America offered an asylum to 
 the oppressed. With humble confidence in God, and 
 an invincible fortitude of mind, they determined to 
 seek a retreat in a wilderness, where they hoped to 
 enjoy civil and religious liberty. With astonishing 
 efforts, patience, and perseverance, they pursued and 
 obtained the object. The American desert, and its 
 savage inhabitants received these outcasts, or volunta- 
 ry exiles, from their native land. 
 
 A regard to truth requires it to be distinctly stated, 
 that the Puritans did not differ from tlie established 
 church of England in articles of faith, or points of doc- 
 trine ; but in modes of worship, and in ecclesiastical 
 government. Our fathers disclaimed the idea of sep- 
 arating from that church on account of its doctrines ; 
 but they could not be reconciled to the hierarchy, nor 
 adopt its rituals. They however viewed it as a true 
 church, engaged in defence of the protestant cause. 
 
 In proof of the correctness of these observations, 
 we adduce the following evidence : Mr. Francis Hig- 
 ginson, a sufferer for his nonconformity in that country, 
 and afterward a minister of the first church planted in 
 Massachusetts, when the vessel, in which he had em- 
 barked for New England, came to the land's end, call- 
 ed his children and other passengers together, and 
 thus addressed them : " We will not say as the sepa- 
 ratists were wont to say at their leaving of England, 
 Farewell Babylon ! Farewell Rome ! But we will say. 
 Farewell dear England ! Farewell the church of God 
 
in England, and all christian friends there ! We do 
 not go to New England as separatists from the church 
 of England, though we cannot but separate from the 
 corruptions in it, but we go to practise the positive 
 part of church reformation, and to propagate the gos- 
 pel in America.""* 
 
 The synod that met at Cambridge, 1648, compos- 
 ed of elders and messengers from the churches of Mas- 
 sachusetts, in their preface to the Platform drawn up 
 by them, express themselves thus : " Our churches 
 here, as (by the grace of Christ) we believe and pro- 
 fess the same doctrine of the truth of the gospel, which 
 generally is received in all the reformed churches of 
 Christ in Europe, so especially we desire not to vary 
 from the doctrine cf faith and truth held forth by the 
 churces of our native country. For though it be not 
 one native country that can breed us all to one mind ; 
 nor ought we to have the glorious faith of our Lord Je- 
 sus with respect to persons, yet as Paul, who was him- 
 self a Jew, professed to hold forth the doctrine of jus- 
 tification by faith, and of the resurrection of the dead, 
 according as he knew his godly country-men did, who 
 were Jews by nature, (Gal. ii, 15. Acts xxvi, 6, 7.) 
 so we, who ai'e by nature English-men, do desire to 
 hold forth the same doctrine of religion (especially in 
 fundamentals) which we see and know to be held by 
 the churches of England^ according to the truth of the 
 gospel." 
 
 It appears that, in the estimation of the first di- 
 vines and churches of Massachusetts, the English 
 * Eliot's Bios;. Diet. p. 252. 
 
11 
 
 church had embraced the true protestant faith, and 
 that circumstantials ojily were the ground of difference 
 between that church and the Puritans ^ or Noncon- 
 formists. On this ground, however, our fathers ex- 
 perienced great privation, vexation, and suffering. If 
 it be said, on the one hand, that they were too ardent, 
 and that they were actuated by a spirit of enthusiasm ; 
 it must be allowed, on the other, that they were cru- 
 elly oppressed, and that, in general, they preserved a 
 fair character. But, strange as it may seem, when 
 they were fixed in this country, they discovered but 
 little less zeal to preserve uniformity in faith and wor- 
 ship, than those had done, from whose persecuting 
 measures they fled into the American wilderness. 
 They were too deeply tinctured with the spirit of the 
 times. But, after every deduction candour will ad- 
 mit, or even malice suggest, their characters were tru» 
 ly venerable, and ought to be held in admiration by 
 their descendants. 
 
 The energies of man, some of the strongest fea- 
 tures in the human character, are called into exercise, 
 or displayed, in times of peculiar trial. Borne 
 down with oppression, but entertaining a high sense 
 of civil and religious freedom, our fathers conceived 
 the plan of resigning all the comforts and convenien- 
 ces of dieir native soil, crossing an ocean three thou- 
 sand miles in breaddi, and planting themselves in an 
 unexplored wilderness. This was a hazardous under- 
 taking, a bold design, which their more effeminate 
 sons would hardly conceive and execute without a suc- 
 <:essful example to encourage their hope. 
 
12 
 
 Religious motives had a predominant influence 
 with the first emigrants to this country. Hope in God 
 was their support, and his providence their protection. 
 
 In 1620 a company of 101 persons arrived on this 
 coast, late in the season, landed at Plymouth, and laid 
 the foundation of that colony. 
 
 Within the five succeeding years Massachusetts 
 Bay was explored, and a settlement attempted at Cape 
 Ann ; but Naumkeak, afterwards called Salem, was 
 chosen as a more convenient place for a plantation. 
 Progress was made in the three following years in pre- 
 paration to settle a colony in Massachusetts. A pro- 
 ject was formed, in particular, by the Rev. Mr. White 
 of Dorchester, England, for providing an asylum in 
 this colony for silenced nonconformist ministers. The 
 grantees favoured the design. In 1628 Mr. John En- 
 dicot with others came over, and commenced a per- 
 manent settlement at Salem, the first town that was 
 planted in Massachusetts. In 1629 an accession was 
 made to their ftumber. The Rev. Samuel Skelton, 
 Rev. Francis Higginson, and about two hundred oth- 
 ers arrived this year. One of their first objects, after 
 their arrival, was to form themselves into a church 
 state, and provide for the regular administration of the 
 divine word and ordinances. *' Mr. Skelton being as- 
 sociated with Mr. Higginson, in the work of the min- 
 istry, a day of religious preparation was observed."* 
 The church at Plymouth was invited to attend the 
 proposed solemnity of gathering a church, and or(Jain^ 
 ing its officers.! 
 
 * Dr. Eliot's Biog. Die. p. 252. 
 
 t Dr. Holmes' American Annals, i. 350. 
 
13 
 
 But so extremely cautious were these first planters 
 of Massachusetts of admitting any thing that might in- 
 fringe on the entire christian Hberty of the churches, 
 that they entered into an agreement, " that the church 
 of Salem would not acknowledge any ecclesiastical ju- 
 risdiction in the church at Plymouth. And that the 
 authority of ordination should not exist in the cler- 
 gy, as in the protestant churches, but, as the unquali- 
 fied sense of the reformed churches, should entirely 
 depend upon the free election of the members o£ the 
 church, and that there should be a representative of 
 this power continually in the church."* The right 
 of a particular church to induct to office as well, as to 
 choose its own officers, Mhen occasion requires, is re- 
 cognised and maintained in the Cambridge Platform, 
 chap. 9th. 
 
 They who laid the foundation of the church at Sa- 
 lem entered into a solemn covenant, a copy of which 
 was presented to each member. Extracts from this 
 covenant will shew how little respect they paid to the 
 authority of human creeds, and how determined they 
 were to adhere to the scriptures, as the rule of their 
 faith and practice. They say, " We covenant with the 
 Lord and with one another, and do bind ourselves, in 
 the presence of God, to walk together in all his ways, 
 according as he is pleased to reveal himself unto us in 
 his blessed word of truth."! • • • • Mark, they did not 
 engage to adopt any human formulary, as the guide of 
 their faith and duty ; but to learn the will of the Lord 
 from his word. 
 
 * Eliot's Biog. Die. p. 1.73. + Coll. His. Soc vi. 283. 
 
14 
 
 The Shorter Catechism had not then made its ap- 
 pearance. Its birth was of a later date. Had it been 
 framed and pubhshed, at that early period, we cannot 
 say how much deference the pious founders of the 
 church at Salem might have paid to this particular 
 invention, or interpretation, of men; but, from 
 the second article in their covenant, we should not 
 suspect that they would have adopted it, as the basis of 
 their communion^ or taken it, instead of the scriptures, 
 as the rule of their faith. In the second article of 
 their covenant they express themselves thus : " We 
 promise to give ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 and to the word of his grace, for the teaching, ruling, 
 and sanctifying of us, in matters of worship and con- 
 versation ; resolving to cleave to him alone for life 
 and glory, and to oppose all contrary waysy canons, and 
 constitutions of men in his worship.^''* 
 
 If the example of these Puritans, who suffered so 
 much for their nonconformity to human systems, had 
 been followed to the present time, the holy scriptures, 
 which heaven has given as the rule of our faith, would 
 not so often have been dishonoured, or obscured, by 
 creeds of human structure. Nor is it likely, it is hum- 
 bly conceived, that there would have been, at this day, 
 so great a diversity of sentiment among christians, as 
 is supposed to exist. A common standard, and that 
 confessedly given from heaven, must be the best mea- 
 sure of faith and duty. But it must be applied accord- 
 ing to every person's own judgment so far as it relates 
 to himself. 
 
 * Coll. His. Soc. vi. 28.?. 
 
15 
 
 In conformity to their avowed principles " this 
 ancient church" (the first church at Salem) " was or- 
 ganized, August 6, 1629."* " They ordained their 
 ministers, by the imposition of the hands of some of 
 the brethren appointed by the church. Governor 
 Bradford and others, messengers from the church of 
 Plymouth, gave them the right hand of fellowship,"! 
 thus testifying their approbation of the adopted regula- 
 tions of that church, and expressing for it their chris- 
 tian affection, charity, and fellowship. 
 
 If the clergy of this country should assume the 
 sole power of ordination, or refuse fellowship with 
 such churches, or their ministers, as choose to pre- 
 serve the right and freedom of election, and to have 
 men of their own choice set over them in the Lord, 
 they would trespass against the rule and example of 
 our forefathers, if not against the laws of christian char- 
 ity. 
 
 This year, 1629, a number removed from Salem, 
 and laid the foundation of Charlestown. 
 
 There being no relaxation of the severity practised 
 in England upon the nonconformists, the number of 
 emigrants to New England greatly increased in 1630. 
 A spirit of enterprise doubtless gave activity to other 
 causes that operated in producing the effect, and in an- 
 imating the courage and religious zeal of the sufferers 
 in their native land. Fourteen ships (some say more) 
 with about fifteen hundred passengers, arrived in the 
 summer of this year. " In this fleet came passengers 
 
 * Eliot's Biog. Die. p. 253. 
 t Holmes' Amer. Ann. i. 2i30. 
 
16 
 
 governour Wiiitlirop, deputy go vernour Dudley, with 
 several other gentlemen of wealth and quality."* 
 
 The Rev. John Warham, the first ancestor of my 
 wives and children that ever trod New England ground, 
 mostly in the female line,t with the Rev. John Maverick, 
 
 * Amer. Ann. i. 254). 
 
 t Mr. Warham, after spending about five years as teacher 
 at Dorchester, removed, with most ol* the church, and some 
 people from Watertown and Newtown, to what is now called 
 "Windsor, in Connecticut. Here he was pastor until his death, 
 April 1, 1670. Mr. Richard Mather, the ancestor of all the 
 great men of the name in this country, having been twice silenc- 
 ed in England for his nonconformity, arrived in New Eng- 
 land, in 1635, and was ordained at Dorchester, August 23, 
 1636. In 1661 his son Eleazer was ordained the first pastor 
 at Northampton, and married a daughter of the Rev. John 
 Warham of Windsor, by whom he had an only daughter, nam- 
 ed Eunice. Mr. John Williams, son of Mr. Samuel Williams 
 of Roxbury, born Dec. 10, 1664^, was ordained first pastor of 
 the church at Deerfield, in May 1686, and married the only 
 daughter of Mr. Mather of Northampton, and grand daughter 
 of Mr. Warham. Mr. Warham Williams, who was minister 
 at Waltham (originally part of Watertown) was son of Rev. 
 John Williams of Deerfield, and the youngest child that escap- 
 ed death, on the fatal night of 29th of Feb. 1704, when the 
 Indians destroyed that town, and killed, or carried into captiv- 
 ity, most of its inhabitants. Mr. Warham Williams of Wal- 
 tham was the father of the late Mrs. Abigail Woodward, the 
 only wife of my immediate predecessor. Rev. Samuel Wood- 
 ward. Abigail and Miranda, the two oldest daughters of Rev. 
 Samuel Woodward, and Abigail his wife, have been succes- 
 sively the wives of the writer, and mothers of his children, who 
 are descended, in a direct ministerial line, without interrup- 
 tion, from the Rev. John Warham, and Rev Richard Mather, 
 both ministers of Dorchester. 
 
17 
 
 Mr. Rossiter, Mr. Ludlow, and some others, arriving 
 earlier than most of the company, were put on shore 
 at Nantasket. Thence they proceeded to Charles- 
 town in a boat. Here they found " a few English peo- 
 ple, and one house with an old planter, who could 
 speak the Indian language." Taking him into their 
 company, consisting of not more than ten, " they as- 
 cended Charles river, until it became narrow and 
 shallow, and landed their goods at a well watered place ; 
 whence, in a few days after, they removed to Matapan 
 (some say by order) and here beg:m to build a town." 
 This comnanv having: landed on the bank of Charles ri- 
 ver, at night they had notice of 300 Indians " hard 
 by ;" but the old planter (who had accompanied the 
 adventurers from Charlestown) going, and requesting 
 them not to come near the English, they complied with 
 his request. The next morning some of the natives 
 appeared at a distance ; and one of them at length 
 holding out a bass, a man was sent with a biscuit, 
 which the Indian received in exchange for it. After 
 this introduction, the natives were very friendly, and 
 furnished the English with fish ; " giving a bass for 
 
 The Rev. John Williams relumed from his long and dis- 
 tressing captivity, and, after an absence of about three years, 
 resumed his ministerial office at Deerfield, in which he con- 
 tinued until June 13, 1729, w hen he suddenly died of an apo- 
 plexy, having just entered upon the 44th year of his ministry, 
 and being in the 65th year of his age ; not in the 48th year of 
 his ministry and 66th of his age, as the Rev. John Taylor, 
 late minister of Deerfield, has stated in his appendix to the 
 Redeemed Captive, sixth edition, p. 212.* 
 * Redeemed Captive, and Eliot's Biog. Die. 
 
 3 
 
18 
 
 a biscuit."* There is a place in Watertown, known 
 by the name of Dorchester Fields, which tradition says 
 is the spot upon which tliese Enghshmen first landed. 
 Soon after their removal to Matapan, Sir Richard Sal- 
 tonstal, Rev. George Phillips, and others began a per- 
 manent settlement at Watertown. 
 
 " At the second court of assistants held at Charles- 
 town, September 7, 1G30, it was ordered," among 
 other things, " that Trimountain be called Boston ; 
 Matapan Dorchester ; and the town upon Charles riv- 
 er Watertown."t I know of no other act of incor- 
 poration. Situated in an unexplored wilderness, the 
 boundaries of Watertown were indefinite. The next 
 year a settlement was begun at Newtown, afterwards 
 Cambridge. In 1634 the bounds between these two 
 towns were settled ;J according to which Watertown 
 bordered north, east, and south on Newtown. The 
 south-westerly and westerly limits were undefined un^ 
 til the incorporation of Concord, Dedham, and Sud- 
 bury, upon which it then bounded. From Newtown, 
 or Cambridge, on the north, east, and south, extend- 
 ing westwardly, Watertown included what is now Wa- 
 tertown, Waltham, Weston, and a part of Lincoln. 
 
 The exact period when what is now called Wes- 
 ton began to be settled is not known ; but it must have 
 been pretty early ; for there are still standing houses, 
 or parts of houses, which were erected about one hun- 
 dred and forty years ago. In ecclesiastical affairs, 
 however, this town was connected with Watertown 
 
 * Ainer. Ann. in a note, i. 255. 
 
 f Prince's Chron. p. 2iS, 349. \ State Records. 
 
19 
 
 about sixty eight, and in civil concerns about eighty 
 three years. The tradition is, that the inhabitants of 
 the remote westerly part of this town went to worship 
 at the remote easterly part of Watertown, at a house 
 not i'ar from the old burying place. In this they man- 
 ifested a zeal for the house and worship of God, not 
 often found among their descendants. 
 
 As the fathers of this town were so long interested 
 in them, it will not be irrelevant to my purpose to give 
 a sketch of the ecclesiastical history of Watertown 
 from its first settlement, at least to the time of our sep- 
 aration from it. 
 
 The first church in Massachusetts was planted at 
 Salem ; the second at Charlcstown, including Boston ; 
 the third at Dorchester ; the fourth at Roxbury ; the 
 fifth at Lynn, and the sixth at Watertown.* Of the 
 
 * In placing the churches in tliis order I have followed 
 Dr. Hol'-nes' Amer. Ann. i. 262; tiiough he has placed the 
 date of their formation one year too late, as the author of 
 Wonderworking Providence had done before him. This last 
 author, Mather's Magnal. and Coil. His. Soc. call the church 
 at Watertown the sereuf/i, numbering that at Boston the fourth. 
 This must be an errour ;t for Wintlirop's Journal, p. 45,. 
 Prince's Chron. p. 2.'50, and Emerson's Hist, of First Church, 
 probably taken from the records of that church, the best evi- 
 dence to be had, place the division of the original church, 
 composed of members in Charlcstown and Boston, Oct. 14, 
 1632 5 which was certainly after tlie other six churches had 
 been formed. 
 
 By more attentively examining and comparing authorities, 
 since the delivery of the discourse, I find reason to doubt the 
 correctness of the order in which Watertown church is plac- 
 ed. Without deciding positively on the qnestion, I shall ad- 
 
 t [It is corrected in Hist. Coll. x. 314. A. H.'] 
 
20 
 
 last the Rev. George Phillips, the ancestor of the late 
 and present Lieut. Gov. Phillips, and other respecta- 
 
 duce a number of authorities, and leave the subject for the in- 
 vestigation of those who have more leisure, and think it of 
 sufficient importance to engage their attention. According to 
 Prince's Chron. 2i>2, 343, Gov. Winthrop proposed that July 
 80, 1630, should be observed as a day of fasting and prayer, 
 on account of the prevailing sickness, and with a view to seek 
 the divine direction in their ecclesiastical affairs. The people 
 at Salem and Plymouth were invited to keep the same day. 
 The day was observed at Charle^town, " when Gov. Win- 
 throp, Dep. Gov. Dudley, Mr. Johnson, and the Rev. Mr. 
 Wilson, first enter into church covenant, and lay the founda- 
 tion of the churches, both of Charlestown and afterwards of 
 Boston." 
 
 Of Watertown Mather, Magnal. B. Ill, chap. 4. pp. 83, 
 S3, says, " Upon a day set apart for solemn fasting and prp*y- 
 er, the very next month after they came ashore, they entered 
 into this Holy Covenant, July 30, 1630." The covenant fol- 
 lows. Mather considered this transaction as the formation of 
 a church. He says, " About forty men, whereof the first was 
 that excellent Knight Sir Richard Saltonstal, then subscribed 
 this instrument, in order to their coalescence into a church 
 state ; which I have the more particularly recited, because it 
 was one of the first ecclesiastical transactions of this nature 
 managed in the colony." Allen's Anier. Biog. and His. Die. 
 476, assigns the same period to the church at Watertown. 
 According to these authorities, when compared, it appears to 
 have been co-eval with that at Charlestown. But from other 
 testimonies it seems to have had a prior existence, and to have 
 been second only to the church at Salem. Under date August 
 37, 1630, Gov. Winthrop says. Journal SO, " We of the con- 
 gregation kept a fast, and chose Mr. Wilson our teacher," &e j 
 and he informs us, that other officers were that day chosen, 
 and that all were ordained by the imposition of hands. Prince, 
 
21 
 
 ble characters of the name, was the first minister, and 
 continued in the office until July 1, 1644, the day of 
 his death. 
 
 In 1634 the Rev. John Sherman, who " received 
 his first impressions of religion under the ministry of 
 the femous John Rogers," came to this country, and 
 preached his first sermon at Watertown, where he con- 
 tinued some time an assistant to Mr. Phillips ; but af- 
 ter a while removed to Newhaven, preached occasion- 
 
 247, places Mr. Wilson's ordination on this day ; and says, it 
 is " the first ordination of an elder in Massachusetts Bay." 
 He here makes a distinction between elder and pastor and 
 teacher ; ibr the two latter officers had been ordained at Sa- 
 lem the preceding year. Amer. Ann. i. 256, place the founda- 
 tion of Charlestown church, including Boston, at this period. 
 Emerson's History of First Church, i>. 11, informs us, that" a 
 covenant was formed and subscribed, August 27, 16iiO." To 
 reconcile these authorities, may we not suppose that, July 30, 
 1630, Gov. Winthrop, Dep. Gov. Dudley, Mr. Joliuson, and 
 Rev. Mr. Wilson agreed upon a form of covenant, and took 
 preparatory steps to the gathering of a church, which was ef- 
 fected the 27 of the following month ? Wonderworking Prov- 
 idence, speaking of Salem, does not allow that a cliurch can 
 be constituted by a less number than seven men. Four only 
 are mentioned in Prince's Cliron. as having covenanted at 
 Charlestown, July 30, 1630. These might not consider them- 
 selves to be a church, but design to prepare the way to erect 
 one in due form. On the same day, July 30, 1630, at Water- 
 town forty men subscribed a church covenant, and from that 
 time seem to have been considered a distinct church. If there 
 be no mistake in the historical facts now adduced, it would 
 seem that Watertown church had a prior existence to the one 
 at Charlestown, and was second only to that at Salem in the 
 Massachusetts Bav. 
 
22 
 
 ally in the vicinity, and at length was appointed a mag- 
 istrate in that colony. 
 
 In 1639 the Rev. John KnoUes came to New Eng. 
 land, and was teacher with Mr. Phillips at Water- 
 town until 1642, when, in consequence of letters from 
 Virginia, soliciting ministerial assistance, he and Mr. 
 Thompson of Braintree went to that colony. But on 
 his arrival there he found both the form and spirit of 
 the English church, and was not permitted to preach 
 publickly on account of his non-conformity. He return- 
 ed, and, I find by Watertown records, was associated 
 with Mr. Sherman* in the ministry in 1648. He went 
 back to England about 1650, and, alter suffering 
 much persecution, died in old age. 
 
 After the death of Mr. Piiiilips, the people of Wa- 
 tertown applied to Mr. Sherman to settle wiih them in 
 the ministry. He accepted their invitation, though 
 requested, at the same time, to settle in a church at 
 Boston, and invited by letter to return to London, and 
 there enter into the ministry. Mr. Sherman was one 
 of the most distinguished scholars of the age, and a 
 great blessing to the College. " He was chosen fel- 
 low of the corporation, and for thirty years delivered 
 lectures which most of the students attended once a 
 fortnight," walking from Cambridge to Watertown to 
 enjoy the privilege. 
 
 * For an account of Mr. Phillips, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. 
 Knolles, or Knowles, see Mather's Magnal. book 3, chap. 3, 
 p. 216, book 3, 2d part, chap. 4, p. 82, chap. 29, p. 162. El- 
 iot's Biog. Die. 37r, 378, 427, 428. Allen's Amer. Biog. and 
 His. Die. 476, i512. Holmes' Amer. Ann. i. 321. Palmer's 
 non-eonformist ii. £49. &c. 
 
23 
 
 The exact period of Mr. Sherman's settlement at 
 Watertovvn I have not been able to ascertain. He 
 was in of&ce there in 1648,* and continued in it until 
 his death, August 8, 1685. He was taken sick at 
 Sudbury, where he preached his last sermon, f 
 
 The Rev. John Bailey was the immediate succes- 
 sor of Mr. Sherman. His brother Thomas Bailey 
 was for a short time his assistant. These brethren 
 were ejected ministers in England, and came to New 
 England in 1683, or 1684. It appears from the rec- 
 ords of Water town that they botli resided in Boston. 
 I find no intimation that either of them resided at 
 Watertown previous to Mr. Sherman's death. June 
 15, 1685, a committee was chosen to apply to Mr. Bai- 
 ley (christian name not mentioned in the record) to come 
 and dwell among the people at Watertown, and be an 
 assistant to Mr. Sherman. August 24, 1685, about 
 a fortnight after the decease of Mr. Sherman, the town 
 applied to Mr. Bailey the eldest, which was Mr. John 
 Bailey, to come and dwell among them, and labour in 
 the ministrj'-. At a subsequent meeting the town vot- 
 ed to be at the expense of transporting ^Ir. Bailey 
 from and back to Boston, until they could provide a 
 
 * The records of Watertown for several years previous to 
 this date I have not found. The fact here stated is confirm- 
 ed by the following extract : " At a general town meeting 
 the 16 (7) IGiS, the town granted to pastor Knowles and pas- 
 tor Sherman, 120 pounds for the year following, to be equally 
 divided between them." 
 
 t Mr. Sherman married twice, and \ia.dtwenty sia' children; 
 six by his first, and twenty by his second wife, who lived hi* 
 widow some years. 
 
24 
 
 house for him and his family. He continued to labour 
 amoi'g them, and early in 1686 manifested his accep- 
 tance of their invitation to settle with them in the min- 
 istry. He was ordained, Oct, 6, 1686. His brother 
 Thomas Bailey was invited to be his assistant ; and 
 for this purpose he was moved up to Watertown, Nov. 
 2, 1687. He died, Jan. 21, 1688. Perhaps it should 
 stand, if we begin the year with January, 1689. In the 
 first case he was not minister three months at Water- 
 town ; on the other supposition, not fifteen months. 
 It does not appear from the records that he was any 
 more than assistant to his elder brother at Watertown.^ 
 
 * Dr. Eliot, in his Biog. Die. p. 40, niust have fallen in- 
 to a mistake in respect to these two men. John, and not 
 Thomas, was the minister who statedly, not occasionally, sup- 
 plied at Watertown. The records of the town prove this fact. 
 The first church records now to be found were kept by Mr, 
 John Bailey, beginning in 1686, which was 56 years after the 
 formation of the church, and ending, by him, in 1692. In this 
 book of records, the only one known in Watertown, he insert- 
 ed an Epitaph engraven on the tombstone of his brother Thom- 
 as, and the one engraven on the tombstone of his wife, made 
 by Mr. Moody ; I suppose Mr. Joshua Moody, who, after be- 
 ing persecuted at Portsmouth by Cranfield, preached at Bos- 
 ton for a considerable time. 
 
 Extracts from Judge Sewall's manuscript journal. *' July 
 23, 1686, Mr. John Bayley preaches his farewell sermon, and 
 goes the 28th to Watertown. Oct. 6, Mr. Bayley ordained at 
 Watertown. Mr. Bayley not ordained as congregational men 
 are." 
 
 On examining Watertown records, and comparing them 
 with other authorities, it appears that Mr. John Bailey was 
 the minister at Watertown about six years, and that his bro- 
 ther Thomas was his assistant a few months. Both had resid- 
 ed, and occasionally, if not statedly, preached, at Boston. 
 
25 
 
 Mr. John Bailey removed to Boston in 1692, and 
 in 1693 became assistant to Mr. Allen, minister of 
 the first church, and continued in the office until Dec. 
 16, 1697, the day of his death. He died in the 54th 
 year of his age. 
 
 In 1690 application was made by the town of Wa- 
 tertown to Mr. Henry Gibbs to be assistant minister 
 with Mr. Bailey. He accepted the invitation, ^nd 
 was induced by renewed calls, often repeated, to con- 
 tinue his labours with them several years after Mr. 
 Bailey's removal to Boston. 
 
 An attempt was made by the town in 1692, to fix 
 upon a place for a new meeting house, " most con- 
 venient for the bulk of the inhabitants." The town 
 did not agree upon a spot. The selectmen then ap- 
 plied to the Governour and Council to appoint a com- 
 mittee to examine and report on the subject. Dec. 
 27, 1692, the town voted to submit their difference 
 ** relating to settling a minister, and the placing of a 
 meeting house," to a committee to be appointed by 
 the Governour and Council. William Stoughton, 
 John Phillips, Ja. Russell, Samuel Sewall, and Joseph 
 Lynde, men distinguished in the annals of New F^ng- 
 land, were appointed to this service. They attended 
 upon it, and dated their report at Boston, May 18, 
 1693. It does not, however, appear to have been com- 
 municated to the town until April 17, 1694. The 
 committee say in their report : 
 
 " We do advise and determine, that forasmuch as 
 
 you have once and again called the Rev. Mr. Henry 
 
 Gibbs to labour in the Lord's vineyard at Watertown ; 
 4 
 
which he has so far accepted, as to spend some years 
 with you ; in which time yourselves and others have 
 had plentiful experience of his ability and real worth, 
 that therefore you do your endeavour that he may be 
 speedily fixed among you, in the work and office of 
 the ministry." 
 
 " And whereas there has been of a long time, even 
 ever since the days of your blessed pastor Phillips, an 
 earnest contending about the place of meeting for the 
 publick worship of God, having heard and duly weigh- 
 ed the allegations of both parties, in your public meet- 
 ing, and considering the remoteness of the most of 
 your inhabitants from the place where the meeting 
 house now stands, our advice and determination in the 
 matter is, that within the space of four years next com- 
 ing there be a meeting house erected in your town on 
 a knowl of ground lying between the house of the wi- 
 dow Sterns and Whitney's hill, to be the place of 
 meeting to worship God, for the whole town." 
 
 This report did not meet the wishes of both par- 
 ties. A protest against the place for the meeting 
 house, containing a plea in behalf of the farmers^ was 
 signed by 118 persons. Mr. Gibbs was still employ- 
 ed. The proposed meeting house was erected and 
 accepted by the town, Feb. 4, 1696, as the place of 
 publick worship, according to the advice of the com- 
 mittee. On this day, Mr. Gibbs, who had been near- 
 ly six years with them, and was still the object of their 
 affection and choice, refused to accede to the propos- 
 als of the town to officiate in the new meeting house, 
 on account, as he stated, of the dissatisfaction respect- 
 
27 
 
 ing it. The town urged him to comply with their 
 request ; but he persisted in his refusal. Whether 
 induced to reject their overtures by the state of irrita- 
 tion in the parties, or, in some measure, by his own 
 predilection for the old house, and the favour he had 
 for those who adhered to it, we cannot, at this dis- 
 tance of time, positively determine. Subsequent 
 events render it probable, that the last motive had 
 some influence. 
 
 Previously to this time the following vote passed, 
 Oct. 2, 1694, "OurneighlMDurs thefarmersbturg upon 
 endeavours to have a meeting house among themselves, 
 the town consents that they may come as far as Bea- 
 ver Brook* upon the country road leading to Sudbu- 
 
 * This brook still retains the name. It passes the great 
 road at the lower part of Waltham plains. The origin of the 
 name will be seen in the following extract from Gov. Win- 
 throp's Journal, page 32. " Jan. 27, 1632. The Governour 
 and some company with him went up by Charles River, about 
 eight miles above Watertown, and named the first brook, on 
 the north side of the river (being a fair stream and coming 
 from a pond a mile from the river) Beaver Brook, because the 
 beavers had shorn down divers great trees there and made di- 
 vers dams across the brook. Thence they went to a great 
 rock upon which stood a Ingh stone cleft asunder, that four 
 men might go through, which they called Adam's chair, be- 
 cause the youngest of their company was Adam Winthrop. 
 Thence they came to another brook, greater than the former, 
 which they called Masters' Brook, because the eldest of their 
 company was one John Masters. Thence they came to an- 
 other high pointed rock, having a fair ascent on the west side, 
 w hich they called Mount Feake, from one Robert li'eake, w ho 
 had married the Governours daughter in law. On the west 
 
28 
 
 ry, and so run north and south upon a line, to the end 
 there may be peace and settlement amongst us." I find 
 
 side of Mount Feake they went by a very high rock, from 
 whence they might see all over Whipcutt, and a very high 
 hill due west about 40 miles off, and to the N. W. the high 
 hills by Merrimack above 60 miles off." 
 
 Our veneration for Gov. Winthrop and his companions 
 leads the imagination into the pleasing idea, that every brook 
 they named flows with purer water than other streams ; that 
 every mountain they ascended exhibits the bush burning, but 
 not consumed ; that every hill upon which they trod is a kind 
 of holy ground, hallowed by the presence of those pious pil- 
 grims? that every rock at which they halted is a kind of al- 
 tar, reared by the hand of nature to nature's God. AVith these 
 feelings we are eager to trace their steps, and to plant our 
 feet where theirs were once placed. But to ascertain the pre- 
 cise spots mentioned in the Journal would require attention, 
 and perhaps be attended with some difficulty. The descrip- 
 tion of Beaver Brook does not fully agree with present ap- 
 pearances. Though one branch of it proceeds from a pond ; 
 yet this pond is double the distance from the river stated in 
 the Journal. The probability is, that the meadow west of 
 Waltham meeting house was so flowed by the beavers, as to 
 have the appearance, in the winter season, of a natural pond. 
 Adam's Chair, according to the Journal, was found between 
 the two brooks. I find no person able to point it out to me. 
 Perhaps in the lapse of nearly two centuries the position of the 
 cloven parts of the high stone may be so changed, as not to 
 excite notice as a curiosity. Masters' Brook is now known by 
 the name of Stony Brook. Mount Feake has lost its name ; 
 nor is it certainly known where it stands ; some conjecture in 
 the southeast part of Weston. The very high rock on the 
 west side of Mount Feake may be ascertained, with a consid- 
 erable degree of certainty, by the compass, and by the pros- 
 pect it gives J especially if it were known where to look for 
 
29 
 
 110 evidence that this offer met the wishes of the farm- 
 ers, or tliat any measures had then been taken to erect 
 the farms into a distinct precinct. June 26, 1696, the 
 town agreed to keep a day of humihation, to be fixed 
 upon by the Rev. Samuel Willard and Rev. Cotton 
 Mather, who were requested to aid in the rehgious so- 
 lemnity. August 28, 1696, the church called the 
 Rev. Samuel Angier, who had been settled at Reho- 
 both, to be their minister, to officiate in the new meet- 
 ing house. 
 
 Sept. 21, 1696, the town met to have a friendly de- 
 bate on their affairs. After some discussion they chose 
 a com1»ittee of conference, and adjourned to the 28 
 of the same month. The dispute was now between 
 the east end and middle part of Watcrtown. Being 
 met according to adjournment, and finding that their 
 committee had not agreed upon the matters in dispute, 
 the town concurred with the church in the call of Mr. 
 Angier. 
 
 Feb. 1, 1^97, the farmers, that is, the inhabitants 
 of what is now Weston, were by vote exempted from 
 ministerial rates in the town. 
 
 Mr. Angier accepted tlie call, and manifested a rea- 
 diness to be inducted to office. Upon this the church 
 chose the Rev. Mr. Estabrook of Concord to " give 
 the pastoral charge to the Rev. Mr. Angier, and to be 
 the mouth and moderator of the church in the publick 
 management of the whole affair of perfecting Mr. An- 
 gler's settlement." 
 
 Whipcutt. The very high liill due west from this rock, about 
 40 miles distance, is unquestionably Waehusett, a well known 
 hill in the north part of Princeton. 
 
30 
 
 May 17, 1697, the church voted to proceed to a 
 liill settlement of Mr. Samuel Angier as their pastor, 
 he taking the charge over them according to the rules 
 of the gospel, without reordination by imposition of 
 hands. 
 
 Here is an ancient example of considering a first 
 ordination valid, after dismission from a particular 
 charge. The right and authority to administer spe- 
 cial ordinances remain after such dismission, if by it 
 the ordination be not nullified, 
 
 TItc church agreed to invite ministers to their as- 
 sistance in the settlement of Mr. Angier ; but, if they 
 could not be obtained, that they would proceed to the 
 settlement of Mr. Angier, with his concurrence.* 
 What gave rise to this precautionary measure does 
 not appear from the records. But the right of a church 
 to induct into office ministers of their own choice, 
 other ministers and churches refusing to assist in the 
 solemnity, is here assumed in conformity to the Cam- 
 bridge Platform. If ministers and churches would 
 admit this principle of our fore-fathers, we should not 
 often see ecclesiastical councils attempting to over- 
 rule the choice of christian societies. 
 
 Mr. Angier was inducted into his office at Water- 
 town, May 25, 1697, and so far as appears, without 
 any other ministerial aid than that of Mr. Estabrook. 
 He was minister for the whole church and town at 
 this time. 
 
 *' At a meeting of the two precincts July 2, 1697," 
 
 * Waltham church records, committed to Rev. Warham 
 Williams by Rev. John Angier of Bridgewater. 
 
31 
 
 (this is the first instance that two precincts occur in 
 Watertown records,) the town renewed their efforts to 
 settle Mr. Gibbs in connexion with Mr. Angier.* 
 Mr. Angier approved of the measure ; but I find no 
 answer to the call. 
 
 Judge Sewall in his MSS. says, " Oct. 6, 1697, 
 a church was gathered at Watertown east end, and 
 Mr. Henry Gibbs was ordained. The ceremony was 
 abroad, because the western party got possession of 
 the meeting house." We infer that the Farmers, 
 being previously exempted from ministerial rates in 
 the town, took no part in this opposition and disor- 
 der. 
 
 We have now come down to the period when the 
 Farmers were virtually, though not in legal form, a 
 distinct precinct. But, iDcfore we enter upon the lo- 
 cal history of this section, we will pursue a little far- 
 ther that of the other parts of the town. 
 
 Mr. Angier and Mr. Gibbs were now ministers at 
 Watertown, the former at the new, the latter at the old 
 meeting house. Orders passed in the General Court 
 to regulate the support of the ministry in Watertown, 
 and to determine where their meeting houses should 
 be placed. According to the records of the town 
 these orders passed in 1700, 1712, and 1720. It ap- 
 pears that both ministers were supported from the 
 common treasury,, and that the eastern and middle 
 
 * Watertown records, " Voted, that we do renew our call 
 once more to the Rev. Mr. Henry Gibbs, that he be assistant 
 to the Rev. Mr. Samuel Angier in the work of the ministry 
 in the new meetinghouse for the town." 
 
32 
 
 parts of the town were not, in any legal form, divided 
 into distinct precincts. Attempts were still made to 
 unite both parties in one house of worship. The 
 town continued in much the same state for several 
 years, expressing a desire to maintain the worship of 
 God according to the rules prescribed by the General 
 Court. The east congregation manifested a ready 
 submission to these rules. 
 
 May 13, 1715, the town voted to " build a meet- 
 ing house for the accommodation of the inhabitants of 
 the most westerly part of the town." This was after 
 the incorporation of Weston ; and therefore had res- 
 pect to what is now Waltham. Nothing, however, 
 was effected for seven years. Sep. 6, 1715, the east- 
 ern congregation petition to be a separate town. It 
 does not appear that the prayer of the petition was 
 granted. Motions were made to fix a dividing line 
 between the two congregations, as to the expense of 
 repairing their respective meeting houses, and parson- 
 age houses ; but not in respect to the annual support 
 of their ministers. The line was proposed by a com- 
 mittee from the General Court ; but does not appear 
 to have been accepted at that time by the town. 
 
 Jan. 21, (some say June 21) 1719, Mr. Angier 
 died, aged 65, and was buried in Waltham grave 
 yard. 
 
 Nov. 19, 1720, the General Court appointed a 
 committee to determine the dividing line between the 
 two precincts, to consider the expediency of removing 
 one or both meeting houses, and to fix upon the places 
 most proper for them. The committee reported, Dec. 
 
353 
 
 3, 1720, that they had agreed on a divisional line, and 
 determined that within two years the new or west 
 meeting house should be removed to a rising ground 
 within twenty rods of Nathaniel Livermore's dwelling 
 liouse, or a new one erected on that spot within the 
 term ; and that the old or east meeting house should, 
 within ten years, be removed to school house hill, or a 
 new one built on that spot. This report was read 
 and accepted by the General Court, Dec. 7, 1720 ; at 
 the same time the Court ordered the west precinct to 
 pay their proportion to the removing or rebuilding the 
 east house, when it should be done, as shall be paid 
 for removing or rebuilding their house. The town 
 voted compliance with this report of committee and 
 order of the General Court, granted money to effect 
 the removal of the meeting houses, or to build new 
 ones, and appropriated the town's proportion of the 
 /50,000 of bills of credit, issued by the government, 
 to the same object. The next precinct applied for the 
 new meeting house, in order to remove it to the select- 
 ed place, which was near the ground now occupied by 
 Waltham meeting house ; but they did not obtain it. 
 They then purchased of Newton their old meeting 
 house, removed and newly erected it on the ground 
 designated in the order of the General Court. 
 
 Having accomphshed this object they called Mr. 
 William Welstead to be their minister, August 14, 
 1722. He returned a negative answer the 7th of the 
 ibllowing September. Mv, Welstead was afterwards 
 icttled in Boston. 
 
 'Dec, 18, 1722, in concurrence with the church 
 
34 
 
 the precinct called Mr. Warliaiu Williams, one of the 
 captive sons of the Rev. John Williams of Deerficld, to 
 be their minister. He returned a conditional affirma- 
 tive answer, April 17, 1723. The precinct complied 
 with his proposals, April 30, 1723. His ordination 
 was June 11, 1723. 
 
 Sept. 7, 1731, the church records, preserved by the 
 Rev. Samuel Angier, were committed to the custody 
 of Mr. Williams by the Rev. John Angier, ministei- 
 at Bridge water, and son of the former, as being the 
 property of his church. Hence tlie inference, that, 
 though Mr. Samuel Angier was minister of the town 
 of W^atertown, the majority of his church and congre- 
 gation, upon the division, were included within the 
 west precinct, and consisted of what afterwards be- 
 came Waltham. 
 
 The east precinct, or rather the town of Watertown, 
 took measures, at a much earlier period than the com- 
 mittee of the General Court had ordered, to have a 
 meeting house erected on school house hill. They 
 attempted to purchase the west, or what was then call- 
 ed the middle meeting house ; but did not succeed 
 in their overtures. They therefore agreed, Jan. 14, 
 1723, to build a new meeting house on school house 
 hill, pursuant to the order of the General Court, to 
 the advice of a council of churches, and to a former 
 vote of the town ; and to have it built in twelve 
 months. 
 
 Oct. 21, 1723, Mr. Gibbs died, setat : 56, and jusi 
 entered upon the 27th year of his ministry. The 
 Rev. Seth Storer succeeded Mr. Gibbs, and was or- 
 
35 
 
 daintd, July 22, 1724. He died Nov. 27, 1774, aetat : 
 73, ill the 51st year of liis ministry. The Rev. Daniel 
 Adams was his successor, ordained April 29, 1778, 
 and died the 16th of the following September, cctat ; 
 32. The Rev. Richard Roswell Eliot is the living 
 successor of Mr. Adams. He was ordained June 21, 
 1780. 
 
 After the incorporation of Weston, which had 
 been called the westerly, more westerly, and most wes- 
 terly precinct in Waterto\vn, the middle part of the 
 town acquired the name of the west precinct, or Wa- 
 tertown west, and was incorporated as a town, by the 
 name of Waltham, Jan. 4, 1737. Perhaps it should 
 be, beginning the year with January, 1738. 
 
 The Rev. Warham Williams died, June 22, 1751,* 
 aetat : 52, and 29th of his ministry. After the decease 
 of Mr. Williams Mr. Eli Forbes had an invitation to 
 settle in the ministry at Waltham ; but he did not ac- 
 cept the call. He was afterwards settled in the north 
 parish of Brookfield, and again at Cape- Ann, in the 
 town of Gloucester. 
 
 The late venerable Dr. Jacob Gushing was the 
 successor of Mr. Williams ; ordained Nov. 22, 1752, 
 and died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 1809, in the 79th year 
 of his age, and 57th of his ministry. He preached at 
 Weston the sabbath preceding his death, and, as ma- 
 
 * In a note on a sermon preached by the flev. Dr. Nathan 
 Strong, at the funeral of Mrs. Sarah Williams, wife of the 
 Hev. Ur. Eliphalet Williams of East Hartford, and daughter 
 of Rev. "N^'arham Williams, his death is placed in June 1752. 
 This is a mistake. It happeued the day, montJi, and vear 
 above related. 
 
36 
 
 ny observed, with the vigour of a young' man. Mr. 
 Woodward, minister of Weston, a classmate with Dr» 
 Gushing, and a brother by marriage, preached his last 
 sermon at Waltham. The Rev. Samuel Ripley suc- 
 ceeded Dr. Gushing, and was ordained, Nov. 22, 
 1809. 
 
 During the ministry of Mr. Angier and Mr. Gibbs 
 in Watertown, this westerly part was first made a pre- 
 cinct, and afterwards a separate town by the name 
 which it still retains. In speaking of the transactions 
 of the people of this place I shall give the dates as they 
 would stand if January had then been reckoned the 
 first month in the year. 
 
 The inhabitants of this section of Watertown met, 
 Jan. 9, 1695, and agreed to build a meeting house 
 thirty feet square, and to place it on land of Nathaniel 
 Cooledge senior, by the side of the road, at the head 
 of Parkhurst's meadow. This spot was a little in 
 front of the present house, the road then passing more 
 south than at present. In 1696 agents were chosen to 
 contract with workmen to build the house, which was 
 called The Farmers' Meeting House^ a very appropri- 
 ate, significant, and honourable appellation. 
 
 *' Sometime in August 1695" money was con- 
 tributed by sundry persons for the purpose of prefer- 
 ring a petition to the General Court, praying for leave, 
 as it is expressed in the records, " to set up the pub- 
 lick worship of God amongst the inhabitants of the 
 west end of said town," meaning Watertown. It 
 does not appear when the petition was preferred to the 
 General Court ; but the prayer of it was granted ^ 
 
37 
 
 the May session, 1698. Some doubts arising about 
 the eastern boundary of the precinct, the General 
 Court, at their May session, 1699, passed an explana- 
 tory order in these words, " The bounds of said pre- 
 cinct shall extend from Charles river to Stony Brook 
 Bridge, and from said bridge up the brook northerly 
 to Robert Harrington's farm, the brook to be the 
 boundary, including the said farm, and comprehend- 
 ing all the farms, and farm lands to the line of Cam- 
 bridge and Concord ; and from thence all Watertown 
 lands tothcirutmost southward and westward bounds." 
 The same bounds, in the same words, are defined in 
 the act of incorporation of the town. 
 
 Meetings of the precinct were holden, Nov. 8, 
 and Nov. 15, 1698, officers chosen, and further provi- 
 sion made to complete the meeting house. August 
 25, Sept. 15, and Nov. 16, 1699, measures were tak- 
 en to finish the meeting house, and to procure a minis- 
 ter. Feb. 14, 1700, the precinct voted to have a min- 
 ister to preach in the meeting house, to begin the second 
 sabbath of the ensuing March, and thence forward to 
 continue to preach in said house. Thus it ap|x?ars 
 that the small house, begun in 1695, was not so far 
 completed, as to be occupied till March 1700. It was 
 begun by subscription, and afterwards carried on at the 
 expense of the precinct. 
 
 March 5, 1700, money was granted to support 
 prcdching. Grants continued to be made, at succes- 
 sive periods, for the same purpose. A committee was 
 chosen, Sept. 13, 1700, to apply for advice, as to the 
 ichoice of a minister, to the Rev. President Mather, 
 
Hev. Mr. Angier, Rev. Mr. Brattle, and Rev. Mr. 
 Gibbs, and to make report. A meeting was held, Oct. 
 8, 1700, for the choice of a minister to preach in order 
 for settlement. Mr. Thomas Symmes was chosen. 
 We find nothing more about Mr. Symmes in the pre- 
 cinct records. He was afterwards settled at Boxford, 
 and from that place removed to Bradford, where his 
 father had been minister.* 
 
 March 10, 1701, the committee of the precinct 
 was directed to provide a man to preach with them. 
 Sept. 12, 1701, a similar order passed. Dec. 19, 
 
 1701, voted that Mr. Mors should continue in order 
 for a settlement. July 6, 1702, the precinct gave Mr. 
 Joseph Mors a call to settle with them in the ministry, 
 thirty for and twelve against him. August 28, 1702, 
 agreed to keep a day of fasting and prayer. Sept. 28, 
 
 1702, they renewed the call of Mr. Mors, granted an 
 annual salary, and engaged, as an encouragement to 
 settle, to build him a house 'forty by twenty feet. 
 
 * The acknowledgments of the writer are due to William 
 Winthrop Esquire of Cambridge, a descendant from Gov. Win- 
 throp, for information respecting Mr. Symmes, and most of 
 the ether ministers mentioned in this discourse, and for other 
 aid in collecting facts. By laborious research Mr. AVinthrop 
 has added to the catalogue of Harvard College, in manuscript, 
 a biographical or historical account of most of her sons ; the 
 publication of which with the Catalogue would afford gratifi- 
 cation to the curious, and aid the collection of a general his- 
 tory of the university. He will be pleased to accept the 
 thanks of the writer for his labours, and for the friendly com- 
 munication of the result of his inquiries into subjects, which 
 would soon have been carried beyond the knowledge of man 
 by the ever-flowing current of time. 
 
39 
 
 Nov. 25, 1702, Mr. Mors gave an affirmative answer 
 to the call, with some conditioixs annexed. Jan. 8, 
 1703, the precinct accepted his answer, and voted to 
 begin the house they had promised to build for him. 
 Sept. 22, 1703, voted to raise the house on the 4th of 
 the following October. This house is now occupied 
 by deacon Samuel Fiske. The next year after it was 
 raised the house was put into Mr. Mors's possession, 
 and a grant of money made to him to enable him to fin- 
 ish it. But this year, 1704, difficulties arose respect- 
 ing Mr. Mors's settlement in the ministry in this 
 place. On what ground the uneasiness rested I have 
 not been able to ascertain ; but it continued without 
 any prospect of accommodation. In the two succeed- 
 ing years advice was asked of what were then called 
 the upper and lower associ-itions of ministers, of indi- 
 vidual clergymen, and of one or more councils of 
 churches. After much delay, and not less perplexi- 
 ty, it was determined that the precinct should purchase 
 Mr. Mors's " housing and lands," and indemnify him 
 against pecuniary loss, and that he should leave them 
 in the spring of 1706. A committee was appointed 
 to treat with him on the subject, and to purchase his 
 house and land for the use of the ministry, or minister. 
 An agreement was not soon effected. But the next 
 year, Dec. 31, 1707, Mr. Mors conveyed the premis- 
 es to the precinct's committee. Mr. Mors stjles 
 himself in the deed,* " Heretofore preacher of the gos- 
 
 * Entered at the registry of deeds, book 14, page 646, &,e. 
 The committee, to whom the conveyance was made, consisted 
 of Mr. Thomas Willson, Capt. Josiah Jones, Capt. Francis 
 
40 
 
 pel In the west precinct of Watertown.*' He Was al- 
 terwards settled at Stoughton, now Canton. 
 
 In the controversy between the precinct and Mr. 
 Mors, whatever might be the grounds of it, there was, 
 no doubt, considerable irritation. He and his oppos- 
 ers were thought by council to be in fault. This sel- 
 dom fails to be the case among contending parties. 
 Mr. Mors liad stedfast friends, who were zealous for 
 his settlement ; but they agreed to relinquish this ob- 
 ject, and unite in the choice of another man, if the pre- 
 cinct would join in calling in mediators to attempt a 
 reconciliation between Mr. Mors and his opponents. 
 This was done without effect. 
 
 In 1706 the precinct was presented at the court of 
 sessions on account of their not having a settled minis- 
 ter. A committee was appointed to answer to the 
 presentment, at Charlestown, Sept. 25, 1706. 
 
 Feb. 11, 1707, the precinct chose Mr. Nathaniel 
 Gookin to be their minister. He negatived their call, 
 and was afterwards settled at Hampton, New Hamp- 
 shire. 
 
 The presentment still lay before the court of ses» 
 sions, A committee was again chosen to make re- 
 turn to the court at Charlestown, to be holden, April 
 23, 1707. May 9, 1707, the precinct met to hear the 
 order of the court ; and again, June 9, 1707, to agree 
 upon a return to the court at Concord. A petition 
 was prepared, to be presented to the court, assigning 
 
 FuUam, and Lieut. John Brewer. The premises were assign- 
 ed to the Rev. William Williams, April 28, 1714. recorded 
 \n book 22,. page 2X1, 
 
41 
 
 reasons for not having a minister settled. The petition- 
 ers say, " Once more we humbly pray, that the Hon- 
 ourable Court would not put Mr. Joseph Mors into 
 the work of the ministry in our precinct," &c. From 
 this it appears, that the people in this place were ap- 
 prehensive that Mr. Mors might be fixed here by or- 
 der of court, and not by their own election. 
 
 July 16, 1707, they chose Mr. Tiiomas Tufts to 
 be their minister. He negatived the call, Sep. 4, 
 1 707, and, falling into an ill state of health, was never 
 settled in the ministry. 
 
 As late as Sep. 1707, the difficulty with Mr. 
 Mors, in respect to his interest in the parish, was not 
 adjusted. If we might be allowed to draw an infer- 
 ence, it would be, that he was not very ready to ac- 
 commodate himself to the views either of this people, 
 or of their advisers. Faults there were, undoubtedly, 
 on both sides ; but as much condescension appears 
 on the part of the precinct, as is to be found in almost 
 any similar case. I cannot but venerate the fathers of 
 this town when I trace the records of their proceed- 
 ings. 
 
 Jan. 14, 1708, they agreed to keep a day of fasting 
 and prayer, and choose a committee to state the rea- 
 sons aad grounds for the observance of a day for this 
 purpose to those ministers who should be invited to 
 assist in the solemnity. 
 
 Feb. 4, 1708, the people gave Mr. William Wil- 
 liams* a call to settle in the ministry in this place. 
 
 * Mr. Williams was sob of the Rev. William Williams of 
 Hatfield, grand son of Mr. Isaao Williams of Roxburv, and 
 6 
 
42 
 
 Some time being taken for consideration, and to adjust 
 certain preliminaries, Mr. Williams manifested his 
 acceptance of the call, August 23, 1709. A church 
 was gathered in this place, and Mr. Williams ordain- 
 ed, Nov. 2, 1709, about eleven years and an half after 
 the Farms had become a distinct precinct. The 
 church consisted, at first, of eighteen male members, 
 nine from other churches, and nine who had not been 
 communicants.* Jan. 4, 1710, two deacons were 
 chosen, who accepted the trust. 
 
 March 50, 1710, money was granted to finish the 
 meeting house. By this we learn that the small meet- 
 ing house, only 30 feet scjuare, begun in 1695, was 
 not finished in fifteen years. This was truly a day of 
 small things. 
 
 March 1718, a motion was JDrought forward in 
 town meeting to build a new meeting house. The 
 subject was deferred. Oct. 23, 1721, the town voted 
 to build a new meeting house, and to appropriate their 
 proportion of the bills of credit issued by the General 
 Court to this object. Thus it appears that the build- 
 great grand son of Mr. Robert Williams, who came to tins 
 country from Norwich, in England. Mr. Williams of Hat- 
 field and Mr. Williams of Deerlield were cousins, classmates, 
 and neighbouring ministers in the frontier settlements. 
 
 * Nathaniel Cooledge and Thomas Flegg from Mr. Gibbs's 
 church; Joseph Lovell and John Parkhurst from Mr. x\n- 
 gier's; John Livermore, Francis Fiillam, Abel Allen, Ebene- 
 zer Allen, and Francis Pierce, from the church in Sudbury. 
 The otlier nine were Josiah Jones, Thomas Weight, Joseph 
 Allen, Josiali Jones jun. Joseph Livermore, Joseph Allen jun. 
 Samuel Seaverns, Joseph Woolson, and George Robinson. 
 
43 
 
 mg of three meeting houses, within the limits of the 
 original town of Watertown, was aided by the pub- 
 lick bills of credit, issued, I suppose, on the principles 
 of what was called the land bank. 
 
 Weston progressed in the work, and in the sum- 
 mer of 1722 raised the house in which we are now as- 
 sembled, making it ninety years old the last season. 
 It underwent thorough repairs in 1800, when the stee- 
 ple and two porches were erected, and the bell pro- 
 cured. 
 
 Mr. Williams continued in the ministry until Oct. 
 24, 1750, being forty one }cars wanting nine days, 
 and was then dismissed by a mutual council. He 
 w^as esteemed a scholar, and good preacher. After his 
 dismission, contrary to the too frequent practice of 
 clergymen that are removed from office, he was a 
 peaceable parishioner, and treated his successor with 
 kindness and respect. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel Woodward succeeded Mr. Wil- 
 liams in the ministry, and was ordained, Sept. 25, 
 1751, eleven months and one day after the dismission 
 of his predecessor. jNlr. W^oodward died, Oct. 5, 
 1782. tetat: 56. Allowing eleven days for the altera- 
 tion of the style between his ordination and death, 
 one day was wanting to complete the thirty first year 
 of his ministry. He died greatly beloved and lament- 
 ed by the people of his charge, by his brethren in office, 
 and by an extensive circle of acquaintance. His 
 memory is yet dear to many of this society. He was 
 a serious, sensible, practical preacher, rarely entering 
 upon controversial points, but always striving to mend 
 
the heart and Hfe. Extremes he carefully avoided, 
 while he preached Christ, and him crucified, and adopt- 
 ed the evangelical style in his discourses. He was 
 cheerful and facetious without lessening his dignity as 
 a minister, or christian. He had uncommon social 
 talents. No man could more happily blend the cheer- 
 ful with the grave in conversation, and yet preserve 
 their exact bounds. His company was sought and ad- 
 mired by all classes j old and } oung, the serious and 
 gay ; and he discovered a disposition to please and 
 improve all ; and with a peculiar air of pleasantry, he 
 could give perfect ease and satisfaction to the most 
 mixed circles ; while at the same time, with a no less 
 singular air of gravity he could set bounds to any pro- 
 pensity to overleap the rules of decorum, or of chris- 
 tian sobriety. He delighted to see all happy, and, so 
 far as it depended on him, to make them so : but, in 
 his most pleasant and free intercourse with his people 
 and friends, he took care not to lose sight of the great 
 object of his ministry, the moral improvement of men, 
 their ultimate happiness, and the glory of his and their 
 God. Mr. Woodward was a descendant of an ancient 
 and respectable family in Newton.* 
 
 The speaker was the immediate successor of Mr. 
 Woodward, and was ordained, Nov. 5, 1783, just 
 thirteen months after the decease of his predecessor. f 
 
 * He was son of Mr. Ebenezer Woodward, and grandson 
 of Mr. John Woodward, an early settler in Newton. The in- 
 heritance is in possession of Mr. Elijah Woodward, one of the 
 fifth generation inclusive. 
 
 t The author of the discourse takes the liberty to add a 
 
45 
 
 Having obtained help of God, he yet continues. 
 Though he has experienced some indisposition, he has 
 not been kept from the house of worship but one sab- 
 bath, either by sickness or inclemency of weather, for 
 thirty years : Nor has he left the pulpit without a sup- 
 ply, on his own private business, but two sabbaths 
 within the term. 
 
 On comparing dates it will be perceived, that this 
 town has been without a settled minister only two years 
 and one day for one hundred and three years the thir- 
 
 short account of his own ancestors. Mr. Francis Kendal, who 
 settled in WoUurn, was the first in this country, and, so far as 
 he has been able to ascertain, the ancestor of all that bear the 
 name of Kendal in New England. The time of his arrival in 
 this country is not known. He married in Woburn in 1644. 
 His grandson Thomas, whose father's name was Thomas, mar- 
 ried Sarah, the eldest daughter of the Rev. Thomas Checver, 
 of Chelsea, and grand daughter of Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, ¥vho 
 kept a grammar school more than 70 years, by whom he had 
 fourteen children. The writer, born at Sherburne July 11, 
 1753, is son of Elisha, their twelfth child, now living, Feb. 24, 
 1813, in the 89th of his age. 
 
 Dr. Eliot, in his Biog. Die. 137, 138, has noticed the lon- 
 gevity of Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, and of some of his descendants. 
 The venerable school-master died setat: 94, his son Samuel, 
 minister at Marblchead, 85, his son Thomas, minister at Chel- 
 sea, 93, his daughter, who married Mr. Benjamin Burt, 88. 
 To this account we add, his daughter, who married Mr. Thom- 
 as Kendal, died getat: 78. Her husband lived to 94|. Their 
 daughter Sarah to 93, their son Benjamin to 96 wanting four 
 days. Their son Elisha, as above stated, is in the 89th year 
 of his age. 
 
 The inheritance of Francis Kendal is yet, in part at least, 
 possessed by his descendants that bear the name. 
 
46 
 
 tcenth of last November. The three ministers ordain- 
 ed in this place have filled the office more than a cen- 
 tury. 
 
 Including the first eighteen, 694 have been admit- 
 ted to church fellowship ; 425 under Mr. Williams's 
 ministry ; 163 under Mr. Woodward's ; 106 under 
 mine. 
 
 There have been 2569 baptisms ; 1082 in Mr. 
 Williams's nunistry, 18 between his dismission and 
 Mr. Woodward's ordination, 922 in Mr. Woodward's 
 ministry, 15 between his decease and my induction to 
 office, and 532 since. 
 
 Twelve deacons have been chosen, and have offi- 
 ciated in this church ; of whom the four last chosen 
 still live and sustain the office.* 
 
 There is no correct source from which I can ascer- 
 tain the number of births and deaths within the past 
 century. The population of the town has varied but 
 little since my acquaintance with it. According to 
 the census, taken at three diffi^rent periods, it stands 
 at a little more than a thousand. 
 
 * Capt. Josiah Jones and John Parkhurst, chosen Jan. i, 
 1710. Benjamin Brown, April 20, 1715. Ensign John AVar- 
 ren in 1733. Of the choice of tlie next two, viz. Nathaniel 
 Allen and Abijah Upham, I can find no record ; but they 
 both officiated within the memory of a number of the present 
 inhabitants. Sept. 14, 1767, Thomas Upham and Thomas 
 Russell were chosen. Dec. 18,1780, Samuel Fiskeand Isaae 
 Hobbs were elected. Jan. 7, 1808, Nathan Warren and Thom- 
 as Biglow were appointed. 
 
 Since my ordination we have buried but one deacon, viz- 
 deacon Thomas Russell, who sustained the office almost twen- 
 ty five years. 
 
47 
 
 Since my ordination I have solemnized 214 mar- 
 riages, l)esides a few in neighbouring towns which have 
 been destitute of a minister. 
 
 The bill of mortality I shall exhibit is for thirty 
 years, beginning Jan. 1, 1783, and ending Jan. 1, 1813. 
 I have no document to enable me to extend it farther 
 back. There stand on my records 416 deaths; from 
 which number deduct 20 that do not properly come 
 into the account, being only visitors, or such as had 
 come into the town in the last stages of disease, hop- 
 ing to find relief from the salubrity of the air. After 
 this deduction the number is 396, making the annual 
 average number thirteen and one fifth, or sixty six in 
 five years. Of the 396, ninety arrived at the 70th year 
 of their age, and upwards, making more than one in 
 four and an half that arrived to what is called the com- 
 mon age of man. Out of the ninety, who lived to 
 this age, fifty two attained to their eightieth year, and 
 upwards, giving more than one in eight that arrived to 
 four score years. Of the fifty two that arrived to this 
 age, twenty seven lived to eighty five, and upwards, 
 giving one in fourteen and two thirds that attained to 
 these advanced years. Twelve lived to ninety, and up- 
 ^vards, making one in thirty three of this very great 
 age. Three lived to ninety five and upwards, giving 
 one in one hundred and thirty two that continued to this 
 advanced period ; and one lived to be one hundred and 
 two years old, wanting about six weeks.* 
 
 * This was Mrs. Mercy Hastings, relict of Mr. John Has- 
 tings, who died at the age of 88. She was a native of New- 
 ton. Her maiden name was Merey Ward. She retained her 
 
48 
 
 The bill of mortality now given, which includes a 
 period of thirty years, shews Weston to be as healthy 
 a spot, as almost any in the known world. A greater 
 proportion have attained to 70 years, than we meet 
 with in other accounts. Perhaps no place in New En- 
 gland could present fairer proof of the salubrity of its 
 air and situation. 
 
 But the fathers^ where are they ? and the prophets y 
 do they live forever ? The hand of time has removed 
 all who were on the stage at the commencement of the 
 century, whose close we this day witness ; and it is 
 not probable that any now born will see the end of the 
 one on which w e are entering. 
 
 According to the ratio for the last thirty years, al- 
 lowing the number of inhabitants to have been the 
 same, which, however, is not the fact, the number of 
 deaths would amount to 1320, nearly a third more than 
 the whole population. With but very few exceptions, 
 a century of years carries with it all the inhabitants it 
 found on the earth at its commencement, thus evincing 
 the mortality of man ! But, as one generation passeth 
 away another cometh ; and, in rapid succession, the 
 sons take the place of their fathers. 
 
 The period we have been reviewing, and of which 
 we have given only a few historical sketches, has been 
 
 faculties till she was about one hundred years old. A little 
 before she was 99 years old the writer met her from home, at 
 the wedding of a grand daughter, where she spent the evening 
 and gratified, at least a part of the company, by correct an- 
 swers to inquiries relating to the days of old. She was a plea^* 
 sant guest ; not loquacious, but intelligent, 
 
49 
 
 fruitful in great events, and brought upon the stage 
 many ilhistrious characters. Distressing calamities, 
 and might}' revolutions have fallen within its compass. 
 America has risen to the rank of an independent na- 
 tion, and at a former period enjoyed unexampled pros- 
 perity. But we have not time to trace events, in which 
 our own country has had a deep interest, or borne a 
 conspicuous part. In a retrospect \vc see that the 
 Lord has done great things for us, whereof we have 
 reason to be glad. Ke has protected our fathers, and 
 blessed their offspring. 
 
 Since our ancestors landed on these shores, the wil- 
 derness has blossomed as the rose, and the desert be- 
 come a fruitful field. The haunts of wild beasts, or of 
 savage tribes, have become populous cities, villages, 
 or towns. Where nothing met the eye but nature in 
 her rudest dress, where nothing saluted the ear but the 
 yell of savages, and the howlings of beasts of prey ; 
 there spacious temples are erected to the living God, 
 united vows offered to him, and the blessings of civiliz- 
 ed life enjoyed. 
 
 The religious institutions of our fathers, and their 
 conscientious observance of them, have been New En- 
 gland's glory. I am well aware, that those institutions 
 have been represented, perhaps really thought, to be 
 unfavourable to the enlarged views, and to the inde- 
 pendent feelings, which are desirable in a race of free- 
 men. But nothing can be more incorrect than this 
 idea. Our religious and school institutions have from 
 the beginning had an intimate connexion ; and their 
 
 joint influence has given an elevation of character to 
 
 7 
 
50 
 
 the several classes of our citizens, whicii no other sec- 
 tion in the union can justly claim. In other portions 
 of our country the rich bestow upon their children a 
 good education ; but the poor have not, as we have, 
 the means of instruction ; and they that have advanta- 
 ges, are nurtured in such notions of their superiority, 
 that they can scarcely enter into the feelings of medioc- 
 rity, and allow to their more destitute neighbours 
 equal privileges ; much less can they be persuaded to 
 restrain the lash from those of a more sable complex- 
 ion. 
 
 Although there has not always been sufficient care, 
 in years past, to provide able instructors ; yet our 
 schools in general have been so well taught, that the 
 youth in this place have been as fully prepared for ac- 
 tive service and usefulness, as in almost any town of 
 equal ability in the commonwealth. With high satis- 
 faction we make this remark, while we express an 
 earnest desire that there may be an increasing atten- 
 tion to the education of the rising generation. They 
 are the hope of our country. May the means of 
 knowledge be multiplied. The culture of young 
 minds, especially in religious and virtuous sentiments 
 and habits, is of vast importance, not only to individ- 
 uals, but to the community. 
 
 Twenty young men who were natives of this town, 
 or whose parents lived in the town at the time of their 
 receiving collegiate honours, have had a publick edu- 
 cation ; nineteen at Cambridge, and one at Provi- 
 dence.* 
 
 * Their names, and the years in which they took their 
 
51 
 
 In considering the days of old, the years of ancient 
 times, we ought to notice the errours of our fathers, 
 not with a view to reproach their characters, but to 
 avoid their mistakes and faihngs ; and we should mark 
 their virtues and pious examples with a determination 
 to imitate their praise worthy deeds. They were a 
 generation of men who, after every reasonable allow- 
 ance for the influence the spirit of the age had upon 
 their minds, merit our veneration, and from whom 
 we may receive instruction at this distant period. It 
 will be our fault if we do not learn wisdom from 
 them. 
 
 When they attempted to procure a minister of the 
 gospel, they sought direction from heaven by fasting 
 and prayer, and applied for advice to the most judi- 
 cious clergymen of their day. These measures indi- 
 cate prudence and discretion as well, as a spirit of pi- 
 ety ; they were fit and proper, and will merit the at- 
 tention of the religious society in this place at a future 
 and not very far distant period. 
 
 The time is fast approaching, when the lips of the 
 present speaker will be closed, when his tongue will 
 be silenced forever. Should he live to the common 
 
 first degree are as follows, viz. William Williams, 1739, JV'a- 
 tlmn Fiske, 1754; Daniel Joiics, Phineas fVhitney, and Daniel 
 Stinipson, 1759, Ephraim Woolson, 1760, Samuel Savage, 
 1766, Isaac Biglovv, 1769, Stephen Jones, 1775, Samuel 
 Woodward, 1776, Abraham Biglow, 1782, Ebenezer Starr, 
 1789, Silas Warren, 1795, Isaac Allen and Isaac Fiske, 1798, 
 Charles Train, IS05, Benjamin Rand, 1808, Alpheus Biglow, 
 1810, Abraham Harrington, 1812. These at Cambridge. 
 Isaac Fiske at Providence, 1812. 
 
52 
 
 age of man, the event is not far distant. Should hfe 
 even exceed tliose bounds, comparing the future with 
 the past, there is but a step between him and the 
 grave. He does not expect to attain to the days of 
 the years of his fathers, to whom long life has been 
 granted. Permit him to offer the friendly counsel 
 which he may never have a more favourable opportu- 
 nity to give. 
 
 As now, so when he shall have rested from his la- 
 bours. Be at peace amongst yourselves^ and mark them 
 that cause divisions. Nothing ought to be more dread- 
 ed than a spirit of contention. When you shall be- 
 come destitute of a minister, take early care to fill the 
 vacancy. In this attempt seek first the blessing and 
 direction of heaven, not in a mere formal, but in a 
 sincere and devout manner. In connexion with this 
 apply to the most serious and judicious ministers in 
 the vicinity for advice. But receive with caution ad- 
 vice that may be offered by men devoted to a party, 
 or who are zealous to support opinions that have no 
 necessary connexion with evangelical truth, or who 
 have not charity for such as differ from them in points 
 that have long divided the christian world. With 
 pure and upright intentions such men will be apt to 
 consider a conformity to their own mode of thinking 
 on subjects of speculation an essential qualification for 
 the ministerial office, and to overlook a deficiency in 
 other very requisite qualifications. Under impres- 
 sions of this kind, good men may excite unreasonable 
 fears and prejudices among a people who are seeking 
 a good minister* 
 
53 
 
 Tlie fathers of this town, under circumstances 
 now in contemplation, applied to the President of the 
 College for advice. In general he, and the other of- 
 ficers of the institution have the most correct knowl- 
 edge of the talents, learning, and character of the stu- 
 dents in divinity, or candidates for the ministry ; and 
 it may be expected they will be as little influenced by 
 personal considerations, or party feelings, as any men 
 in the community. 
 
 A minister that loves the people of his charge, or 
 regards the honour of the institutions of religion, can 
 have no wish nearer his heart, than that there may al- 
 ways be a succession of serious evangelical preachers, 
 who will not amuse, nor perplex, their hearers with 
 empty speculations, but feed them with knowledge, 
 the knowledge of Christ, and of the uncorrupted doc- 
 trines of his gospel. 
 
 It has long been the settled opinion of the speak- 
 er, that a destitute society ought with good advice to 
 fix their minds upon a candidate, and then let him 
 have no rival in their hearts ; but prove him to their 
 satisfaction, and as they judge, so act. This should 
 be the course till they obtain their object. The idea 
 of having several candidates in view, at the same time, 
 in order to a choice, is not favourable to union and 
 harmony, nor to the wisest election. The caution is 
 to be taken in the preparatory steps, and not by open- 
 ing the way for invidious comparison. The first that 
 unites the hearts of a people should be called to the 
 office, without gratifying a curiosity to hear others. 
 This rarelv fails to create a division in sentiment. As 
 
54 
 
 men have different tastes, so they will be pleased with 
 different objects. Multiply the objects, and union in 
 the choice of any one of them can hardly be expected. 
 
 One word of counsel more. Let me entreat you, 
 my brethren, to guard your christian liberty, to study 
 the principles of the reformation, to look at the exam- 
 ples of our forefathers, and to exercise and defend 
 your rights as a church of Christ, amenable only to 
 your Lord and Master for your faith and worship. Be 
 not entangled with any yoke of bondage. As St. 
 Paul said to the Philipians, " Beware of the conci- 
 sion ;" so I say unto you, brethren. Beware of conso- 
 ciation. Never suffer this engine to enter within the 
 walls of this church. The contents of its dark cav- 
 ern would prove as destructive of congregational prin- 
 ciples, and of the liberty our fathers asserted, as those 
 in the fabled Grecian horse were to ancient Troy. Re- 
 member, brethren, I have told you beforehand, and 
 warned and exhorted you as a father. Be persuaded 
 always to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ 
 bath made you free, and thus prove yourselves the 
 genuine and worthy offspring of the fathers, whose 
 deeds we this day commemorate. 
 
 Innovations are, in general, hazardous experi- 
 ments. Though they may remedy some evils, they 
 frequently open a door for otliers of a more serious na- 
 ture. If attempted and efi'ected by secret combina- 
 tions, they rarely fail to produce a strong excitement 
 and jealousy in the publick mind. To give encour- 
 agement, or facility, to a few restless members of a 
 community to disturb the peace, and disappoint the 
 
55 
 
 hopes of a religious society would be an evil, for which 
 we should not readily find a counterbalance in any 
 good produced. 
 
 The idea, which some entertain, that, in order to 
 the union and prosperity of our churches, a tribunal 
 must be erected, which shall be as decisive in all eccle- 
 siastical affairs, as our civil tribunals are in matters 
 that come before them, is not very consistent with con- 
 gregational principles, nor with the liberty of individu- 
 al churches. It is devoutly to be desired, that the con- 
 gregational churches in Massachusetts may have too 
 high a respect for the examples of their fathers to yield 
 their liberty to any such tribunal, under whatever name 
 it may be known. The union and prosperity of the 
 churches may be promoted in a way more congenial 
 with the spirit of the gospel ; that is, by putting on 
 that charity which is the bond of perfectness ; not by 
 claiming dominion over each other's faith, but by be- 
 ing helpers of each other's joy. May this charity 
 reign in your hearts, this benevolence appear in your 
 lives ; and may the God of peace dwell among you, 
 and endue you with the richest blessings of his grace. 
 
APPENBIX. 
 
 Weston lies about thirteen miles west of Boston. The post 
 road froai Boston to New York passes through tlie centre of 
 the town. Twenty years ago it was thought that there was 
 more travel on this road than on any other of equal distance 
 from any capital city in tlie union. Some diversion of the 
 travel has been made, of late years, by turnpikes, and by other 
 improvements of publick roads; but still it is a post road which 
 retains a large portion of the travel. There is a post office in 
 the town. A very considerable road, leading to Lancaster, 
 passes through the north part of the town ; another of less tra- 
 vel, leading to Framingham, through the south part of the 
 town. 
 
 The town is bounded, north, on Lincoln ; east, on Wal- 
 tham, stony brook being in part the line ; southeast, on Charles 
 river, which divides it from Newton ; south, on Needham, 
 which was originally a part of Dedham ; southwest, on Natick ; 
 west, on East-Sudbury. It is in general an uneven, and in 
 some parts, a broken tract of land. High clefts, or ledges, of 
 rocks are found within its limits. Probably Mount Feake, 
 and the other very high rock, mentioned in Gov. Winthrop's 
 Journal, lie within its boundary. A considerable proportion 
 of the town is elevated above the common level of the adjacent 
 country, and gives an extensive view of otlier parts. A hill of 
 excellent land on the southwesterly part of the town presents 
 a very extensive, and, in the month of May, a very romantick 
 prospect. The soil in the elevated and rocky parts of the 
 town is, in general, a deep red strong loam, very favourable to 
 the growth of fruit trees. There are several tracts of plain 
 land ; but Ihese are of no considerable extent. The hills are 
 
57 
 
 mostly spriuijy, and very little subject either to frost or drought. 
 A number uf brooks aud rivulets accommodate the iuliabitants, 
 and pay tlieir tribute to the bordering streams. The greatest 
 part of these brooks rise within the town, and are fed by springs. 
 A part of None-such-Pond, so called, falls withiu the south- 
 western limits of the town. There are few or no stagnant 
 waters ; but several tracts of meadow that abound with excel- 
 lent peat. There are no very noticeable natural curiosities, ex- 
 cept a horizontal cave which is found on the westerly side of 
 Snake-rock, so called, near Stony-Brook bridge. This cave 
 is not large at its entrance, nor in any of its known dimensions. 
 Tradition says that it has formerly been the depository of stol- 
 en goods. 
 
 The inhabitants of the town are mostly industrious farmers, 
 a class of men, which, in a country like ours, merits the high 
 consideration and esteem of every other class. 
 
 There is a congregational, baptist, and mcthodist meeting- 
 house within the territory. The town is divided Into six school- 
 districts, each having a school-house, and its proportion of 
 schooling. 
 
 On the whole, the town, notwithstanding its rocky and rug- 
 ged appearance in some parts of it, is pleasant, and contains a 
 considerable portion of good land. The character of its inhab- 
 itants would not suffer by a comparison with those of almost 
 any other town in the Commonwealth of no greater advantages. 
 They have merited the confidence and esteem of the writer 
 for thirty years ; and will accept his acknowledgments for the 
 candour, with which they have, in general, treated him, and 
 accepted his services among them. 
 
58 
 
 JsrOTE {on Dr. KendaVs J^ote, p. 19. J by Jl. H. 
 
 The Author of the Sermon, in a letter to the writer of this 
 Note, observes : « The Note relating to (he order in which 
 " Watertown church is placed, was inserted to invite inquiry. 
 " Truth should be the only object. As you have been so 
 " obliging, as to inspect the proof sheets, and, observing that 
 " note, to make further inquiry into the subject; by placing 
 " the result of your investigation iinmediately after my short 
 ^' Appendix, you m ill increase the obligations of 
 
 <• Your friend and brother, 
 
 «' S. K." 
 
 The argument for arranging the ehurclies in a different order, from 
 that generallj' observed in our histories, is founded on the single fact. 
 That the Watertown settlers entered into Covenant July SO, 1630. The 
 question is. Was a church formed at the signing of tiiis' Covenant I Or, 
 Was this a preparatory solemnity ? The supposition in your Note is, 
 That the church was thetiforined ; the following considerations may fur- 
 nish presumptive evidence. That it was hut a preparatory exercise. 
 
 1. The Fast, observed that day, was not for the purpose of gathering 
 churches. At the instance of governor Winthrop, the 30th day of July, 
 1630, was observed as a day of solemn fasting and prayer, by all the peo- 
 ple in Massachusetts, and by the people of Plymouth. (Prince, p. 243. 
 Morton's N. Eng. Memorial, A. D. 1630.) The first cause of this solem- 
 nity Avas, nothing of an ecclesiastical nature, but the prevatent sickness at 
 Charlestown. A secondary design of it was, " to seek tlie Lord in his 
 " ordinances, that then such godly pei-aons among them as know each 
 " other, may publickly at the end of their exercise make known their de- 
 " sire and practise tlie same by solemnly entering into covenant with him 
 " to walk in his \v.iys." (Prince, 243. Morton.) At the close of the 
 ])ublic solemnity of the day, governor Winthrop, deputy governor Dud- 
 ley, Mr. Johnson, and Rev. My. Wilson, of the Charlestown settlers, and 
 Sir R. Saltonstal and others of the Watertown settlers, subscribed res- 
 pectively a covenant. Had the formation of a church been intended, in 
 either of these instances, would not the design have been more distinctly 
 declared beforehand, and the public solemnity itself expressly directed 
 to this great object, agreeably to the usage of the New England chmxh- 
 es from the beginning ? 
 
 2. Though a covenant was signed at Charlestown 50 July, 1630, yet 
 "the church is not dated from that day. A supposition is made in your 
 Note, that the four, who signed the covenant at Charlestown, "agi-eed 
 " upon a form of covenant, and took preparatory steps to the gathering of 
 ♦• a church, which was effected the 27th of the following montli.'* These 
 four, not being a competent number, " might not consider themselves to 
 ** be a church, but design to prepare the w^y to erect one in due form." 
 Had not such preparation been judged expedient, it would seem sti-ange, 
 that the Charlestown church was not organi-^ed in due form on the same 
 day. The want of a sufficient number of candidates for membership can 
 hardly be supposed, when it is considered, that all the fleet had now ar^ 
 
59 
 
 rived from England ; that seven ships had come into Charlestbwn dtu-ing- 
 the month of July ; and that when the church was Ibrmed, 27 August 
 following, ahoiit 90 were admitted members. [See Emerson's Hist, of 
 First Chc.rch.] If, then, the Fathers of the colony thought it proper to 
 have a covenant subscribed, preparatory to the organiziition of a cluirch, 
 why might not the Watertown people entertain the same opinion, and ob- 
 serve the same preliminary ? 
 
 3. The Form of the C >venant, subscribed by the Watertown settlers, 
 bears marks of a more general design than that of organization : " Be- 
 " ing safely arrived here, and thus far onwards peaceably preserved by 
 " his special Providence, that we may bring forth our intentions into ac- 
 " tions and perfect our resolutions, in the beginnings of some just and 
 " meet executions, we have separated the day — and dedicated it whol- 
 " ly to the Lord — tliat we might know what w-as good in liis sigljt."— 
 " And the Lord was intreated for us. For in the end of that day after 
 " the finishing of oiu- publick duties, we do all, before wc depart, solemn- 
 " ly and with all our lieaits, personally, man by man, for ourselves and 
 " our's promise, "&c. Morton's manner of relating the public solemnity of 
 July 30 is not unlike the above, and seems to denote an incipient and prepar- 
 atory exercise, not the complete formation of a churcli : *' And the Lord 
 " was entreated not only to asswage tlie sickness, but also encouraged 
 " their hearts to a beginning, and in some shoit time after to a funlier 
 " progress in the great work of erecting a way ot worshipping of Christ 
 " in church fellowship, according to tlie primitive institution." Memorial. 
 Dr. Mather's manner of narrating this iransaction, in the Magnalia, de* 
 serves notice : '* About 40 men subscribed this instrument, in order to 
 " their coa'eaceiicc into a Church Estate. But in after lime, they that join- 
 " ed unto the Church, subscribed a Form of the Covenant aomGwhit alter- 
 *• ed, with a Coiifvssion of Faith annexed unto it." 
 
 4. It was the early practice oi'the Nev/ England churches to observe a day 
 of Fasting and Prayer, previously to tiie organization of a churcIi, and to 
 sign a covenant personally by themselves on that day. For this fact we 
 have Dr. C. Mather's own authority. " I'he persons who are engaging 
 ♦' and combining for the weighty undertaking of gathering a Chuich, set 
 " apart a day to be spent by them together in Prayer witli Fasting, that they 
 " may prepare for what is before them, and confess their dependence on 
 " Heaven for favours which they own themselves unworthy otj and obtain 
 " the blessing of God (on which day they privately together sign their 
 *' covenant). Sometimes more than one such day ; sometimes in a pub- 
 " lie assembly, where the neighbouring pastors come to instruct and as- 
 *• sist them. They think it proper to make a very great prejjaration for 
 " an undertaking the most holy, and awful, and lieavenly, that can be on 
 " this side of Heaven engaged in. — In time convenient the good men of 
 " this intention, (who from first to last, privately wait upon pastors in tlie 
 " neighbourhood for their direction) send letters unto the pastors and 
 ** churches of the neighbouring towns" — The Council, thus invited, con- 
 venes, " and chus'.ng their moderator, the candidates of the new church 
 " appear before them, and present unto them a Confession of their Faith, 
 " and therewithal the Covenant or Engagement, in which they recognize 
 " their obfigations, &c. They produce also the testimonials of the allow. 
 ♦•- ance whirh the churches whereto they formerly belonged, have given 
 *• them to transfer their more immediate relation imto the society nuvi to 
 •• be gathered.^' Ratio Disciplinse Fratrum Nov-Anglorum, p. 3, 4. 
 An example of this usage is recorded by Df. Trumbull. The New iia^ 
 
60 
 
 ven settlers arrived at Quinipiack in April, 1638. Soon after, on a day of 
 fasting- and prayer, " the first day of extraordinary humiliation they had 
 *' after they came together," they entered into a solemn covenant, *' That 
 " as in matters that concern the gathering and ordering of a church, so 
 " likewise in all public offices vvliich concern civil order, Stc. they 
 ** would all of them be ordered l)y the rules, which the scripture held 
 '* forth to them. This covenant was called a plantation covenant, to dis- 
 " tinguishit from a church covenant, a church not being then gathered, 
 " but was deferred till a church might be gathered, according to God." 
 See Fundamental articles of the colony of New Haven in Trumbull's 
 Hist, of Connecticut, i. p. 534. On this subject Dr. Trumbull remarks : 
 " This was adopted as a general agreement, until there should be time 
 " for the people to become more intimately acquainted with each other's 
 " religious views, sentiments, and moral conduct ; whicli was supposed 
 " to be necessary to prepare the way for their covenanting together, as 
 " Christians, in church state." Ibid. p. 91. Tlie church of New Haven 
 (as appeal's from the same History, p. 298 ) was not gathered until the 
 22 August, 1639. The chu'ch of Salem, in 1629, appears to have been 
 formed in the same manner, after " a day of religious preparation " See 
 
 Prince, 190, and Bentley's Hist. Salem in Hist. Coll. vi. 242. Although 
 
 therefore, when cursorily treating of the Watertown settlers, in a Bio- 
 graphical sketch of their minister (Rev. Mr. Phillips), Dr. Mather seems 
 to represent them as formed into a church state 30 July, 1630 ; yet there 
 is room to doubt, whether he considered the covenant, signed on that day, 
 as the formation of a chiuxh. 
 
 5. That he did not so consider it, we should naturally infer from his 
 own arrangement of the order of chuixhes, when professedly giving a 
 Historical account of " The Progress of the New Colony." Magnalia, 
 Book I. chap. v. " First, there was a church thus gathered at Charles- 
 " TOWN, on the north side of Charles River ; where keeping a solemn 
 *' Fast on August 27, 1630, to implore the conduct and blessing of heaven 
 " on their Ecclesiastical Proceedings they chose Mr. Wilson to be their 
 " teacher— —After the gathering of the church at Charlestown there 
 " quickly followed another at the town of Dorchester. And after Dor- 
 " Chester there followed another at the town of Boston, which issued 
 
 "out of Charlestown To Boston soon succeeded a church at Roxbu- 
 
 " RY ; to Roxbiirv, one at Lyn ; to Lyn, one at Watertown." 
 
 ERRATA. 
 Page 10, line 16 from top, for * churces,' read churches. 
 Page 19, line 10 from top, for 'history,' read affairs. 
 Page 33, line 13 from bottom, for • next precinct,* read west precinct. 
 Page 45, in the note, last line of first paragraph, after ' 89th,* insert year. 
 

 
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