AT AMHERST 
 
 UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 Special Collections & Rare Books 
 
CENTENNIAL DISCOURSE, 
 
 DELIVERED SEPTEMBER 9, 1850, 
 
 THE FIRST CHURCH AND SOCIETY IN ATHOL, 
 
 CELEBRATION OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY 
 OF THE ORGANIZATION OF SAID CHURCH. 
 
 AN APPENDIX 
 
 By SAMUEL F. CLARKE, 
 
 MINISTER OF THE FIRST CHURCH IN ATHOL. 
 
 " Behold the pattern of the altar of the Lord which our fathers made.' 
 
 BOS TON: 
 
 WM. CROSBY & H. P. NICHOLS, 
 
 111 Washington Street. 
 
 1851. 
 
C A M B R I D G E : 
 
 METCALf AND COMPANY. 
 
 PRINTERS TO THE UNIVERSITY. 
 
To the Rev. S. F. Clarke. 
 
 Sir : — 
 
 At a meeting this day held, by numerous citizens of Athol, who were 
 deeply impressed with the historical value of the Discourse you delivered 
 on the hundredth anniversary from the organization of the First Church 
 in this town, the undersigned were appointed a committee to confer with 
 you and to request a copy for the press. 
 
 Henry W. Carter, 
 Theodore Jones, 
 Jonathan Stratton, ^Committee. 
 George Sprague, 
 John Kendall, 
 Athol, Sept. 15, 1850. 
 
 To Henry W. Carter, Theodore Jones, Esq., Jonathan Stratton, 
 George Sprague, and John Kendall. 
 
 Gentlemen : — 
 
 Your note, requesting a copy of my Centennial Discourse for publica- 
 tion, is before me. 
 
 I am happy, if the efforts which I have made to rescue the early his- 
 tory of this town, and especially the ecclesiastical history of the First 
 Parish, from oblivion, are esteemed of any service. My purpose was 
 simply to record the historical facts, and, after having read the same before 
 the anniversary meeting, to place the manuscript with the parish records 
 for future reference. But if it is the wish of those you represent to give 
 the record of these facts a more permanent form, and render them of freer 
 access to the public, I do not feel at liberty to refuse your request ; and 
 therefore I herewith transmit a copy of the Discourse, which is at your 
 disposal. 
 
 Very truly, &c, 
 
 Yours, 
 
 S. F. Clarke. 
 
 Athol. Nov. 5, 1850. 
 
DISCOURSE. 
 
 But little more than a century ago, this whole township of 
 land was one unbroken wilderness. No white man's axe had 
 felled a tree. Huge and lofty pines, with majestic oak and 
 sturdy chestnut, covered these hills and plains. Here stood 
 the primeval forest. Within its deep, solemn shade prowled 
 the wolf and the bear. The deer and the moose roamed quiet- 
 ly upon these meadows, or, startled by the approach of foes, 
 shook the morning dew from the slopes and heights around. 
 In the thick underbrush on the hill-sides, the turkey and the 
 partridge reared their numerous broods, while the duck swam 
 gracefully upon the secluded, lonely waters, all undisturbed, 
 save by the eagle's scream or the red man's arrow. No dam 
 but the beaver's impeded the progress of the streams along the 
 valleys in their whole course to the Connecticut. Trout and 
 pickerel, herring, shad, and salmon, moved quietly along the 
 silent eddies, or darted up the noisy rapids ; while over all these 
 ravines and hills and valleys and plains wild Nature wrapped 
 her verdant mantle, and breathed her solemn air. 
 
 The river that then, as now, wound round these wild hills, 
 and gave to the spot its chief attraction, the Indians called Pe- 
 quoiag. (A.) From this the territory here derived its name, 
 which, by a vote of the General Court of Massachusetts, that 
 passed both houses in July, 1732, was, in October and No- 
 vember of the same year, surveyed and laid out into a town- 
 ship six miles square, and designated by its Indian name. 
 
6 
 
 Within this township there were originally laid out sixty-three 
 house-lots, of which one was for the first settled minister, one 
 for the ministry, one for the school, and one for each of the 
 sixty settlers. (B.) 
 
 A plan of the township, now in the office of the Secretary of 
 State, Boston, upon which these house-lots are delineated, 
 was surveyed by William Chandler, and accepted by the Coun- 
 cil, June ISth, 1734. 
 
 Two days after, June 26th, the proprietors met at Concord, 
 and, in presence and by authority of a committee of the 
 " Great and General Court," of which Hon. William Dudley 
 was chairman, were admitted to draw their house-lots as set- 
 tlers in the township of Pequoiag on Miller's River. (C.) 
 
 The next year, on the 17th day of September, 1735, might 
 have been seen five of these proprietors, with their families, just 
 arrived through the wilderness from Hatfield, building their 
 fires and cooking their frugal meal within the solemn shade of 
 this unbroken forest. These were Richard Morton, Ephraim 
 Smith, Samuel Morton, John Smeed, and Joseph Lord. 
 (D.) 
 
 They had come to take up their abode on these unimproved 
 hills, and commence the first civilized settlement in the Indian 
 town of Pequoiag. Here they built their cabins and spent the 
 winter, being obliged to go to Hatfield for the greater part of 
 their provision, and to transport it to the settlement on their 
 shoulders, with only marked trees to guide their steps for a 
 greater part of the way. To add to their cares and comforts 
 during this first lonely winter, three of these pioneer men had 
 each a son born to him in the forest. (D.) 
 
 Soon after, probably the next spring, these families were 
 joined by a number of other settlers, but how many cannot now 
 be ascertained. Among these later settlers were Aaron Smith, 
 Samuel Dexter, Ephraim Smith, Noah Morton, Robert Young, 
 Nathaniel Graves, Eleazer Graves, Robert Marble, William 
 Oliver and his three brothers, John, James, and Robert, most, 
 if not all of whom, belonged to the original company of settlers 
 formed at Hatfield. The Olivers were direct from Ireland, 
 stout, hardy, resolute men. Robert Young was from the North 
 
of Scotland, whence he removed to Cork, in Ireland, and 
 subsequently to this country. He was a weaver by profes- 
 sion, and removed from Holliston, in the County of Middlesex, 
 to Pequoiag. (E.) 
 
 The settlement was commenced here by the five pioneer 
 spirits under discouraging circumstances. They were alone 
 with their families in an entire wilderness, which, on account of 
 the abundance offish and wild game that this locality afforded, 
 was a familiar haunt for the Indians. Of necessity the settlers 
 were destitute of most of the usual comforts of life and the 
 common implements of husbandry, obliged to journey on foot 
 more than thirty miles through the pathless woods for all the 
 means of sustenance which the gloomy wild of the forest did 
 not afford. But they were men of resolute spirits, and were 
 joined with helpmeets resolute as themselves, able and willing 
 to share their trials. The prospect of new and early paren- 
 tal responsibilities was before them, but did not deter them 
 from their enterprise. They had drawn their house-lots here, 
 and here they were resolved to fix their habitations and rear 
 their families. 
 
 It is probable that they located their dwellings and spent 
 the first winter together, about a mile south of the present site 
 of the middle of the town, on what is now called the Street. 
 Richard Morton, it is said, built the first log hut, on the place 
 subsequently occupied by his grandson, Joel Morton, near the 
 house in which Mr. Lynde Smith now lives. Doctor Joseph 
 Lord settled on the place now owned by Mr. J. Harvey Hum- 
 phrey, near the spot on which the " Old Humphrey House" 
 now stands. It is probable that, if other houses were built the 
 first winter, they were in the immediate vicinity. On that loca- 
 tion, without doubt, was commenced the first settlement of the 
 town. Near this place, after the arrival of other settlers, they 
 built their fort and their meeting-house. Previously, however, 
 to the erection of the meeting-house on the Street, a house for 
 public worship had been raised on a little rise of land just east 
 of the " Old Burying Ground," about sixty rods southeast of 
 the present railroad station, on the bank of Mill Brook, near 
 the saw-mill now owned by Ethan Lord and Samuel Newhall. 
 
This house was never finished, but was burned soon after it was 
 erected, either by accident, or, as some say, by the Indians. 
 
 Very soon after the first settlement, probably the next year, 
 clearings were commenced in different parts of the town. 
 Samuel Morton made his " pitch " on the place known as the 
 "Henry Lee Farm," now owned and occupied by Mr. John 
 Waite. Aaron Smith settled on the place where Richard 
 Moors now lives. Robert Young made his " pitch " on the 
 Street, near to Richard Morton, on the place now owned and 
 occupied by Mr. Woodcock. James Stratton settled on the 
 Street where Mr. Thomas Babbit's house now stands. Noah 
 Morton, who came a few years after the first settlers, located 
 on the farm now occupied by David Harwood. Chestnut Hill 
 and Lyon's Hill, so called, were among the localities first im- 
 proved by the settlers. 
 
 These early settlers were bound together by the strongest 
 ties of interest, friendship, and love. Their privations and tri- 
 als and dangers served to unite still more closely and firmly the 
 natural bonds of affection. " The friendship among these peo- 
 ple, one towards another, was without a parallel." * All lived 
 in fear, and each stood ready to succour the other in time of need. 
 
 To guard themselves from the attack of the Indians who fre- 
 quented these meadows, and who felt keenly the wrongs their 
 people had received from the whites, the settlers not only car- 
 ried their arms about them at their work, but also built several 
 forts, in which, at the close of day, or at the alarm of danger, 
 all the families in the vicinity convened for mutual safety and 
 protection. 
 
 The first and principal one of these garrisons was located on 
 the Street, then called " East Pequoiag Hill," about twenty 
 rods from where the meeting-house was subsequently built. 
 The well which was within this fort marks the spot where it 
 stood, from which water is now introduced through pipes into 
 the house of Mr. James Humphrey. Another fort was located 
 in the northwesterly part of the town, on what was then called 
 " West Hill," on the spot where Mr. Jonathan Harwood's 
 house now stands. The fort-well was formerly used by Mr. 
 
 * Mr. Humphrey's MS. 
 
Harwood. Another fort was built, subsequently it is probable, 
 on the spot upon which the Pequoiag House in the village is 
 now located. 
 
 In these forts the settlers slept and spent much of their time. 
 There are those still living in town who have heard their ances- 
 tors relate how, as night spread its mantle of darkness over the 
 forest, and around their infant settlement, all would gather to- 
 gether in the garrison and sit silently without lights, listening 
 with a cautious ear to every external sound, querying if each 
 uncommon noise might not be the signal of danger from the 
 hostile Indians. 
 
 At this remote day, situated as we are, surrounded by all the 
 comforts of civilized life, we can hardly conceive of the priva- 
 tions and anxiety which these early settlers were obliged to 
 endure. Still, the danger experienced here from the Indians 
 was less imminent than that to which some of the earlier settle- 
 ments in this vicinity were subjected. 
 
 The natives had, at this period, become reduced in numbers, 
 and somewhat discouraged. They had seen their rich meadow 
 lands along the fertile valleys of the Deerfield and the Con- 
 necticut encroached upon and somewhat thickly settled by the 
 whites. They had seen the white man plant the corn lands of 
 their fathers. They had heard his axe and watched his clear- 
 ing-fires on the hunting-grounds they had occupied for centu- 
 ries. Their fisheries had fallen into his hands. Their game 
 had fled before the approach of civilization. They had seen 
 their own wigwams demolished to make room for the dwellings 
 of their civilized foes. They had been compelled gradually, 
 settlement by settlement, to yield up the most dearly cherished 
 of their once wild and happy homes. They had seen from 
 their ambush the white man's plough tear open the graves of 
 their fathers. Many and bloody were the struggles they made 
 to redress their grievous wrongs, and regain their lost rights. 
 But in vain. They had lost the control of the Connecticut. 
 Its meadows waved with luxuriant crops, but they were in 
 the possession of the aggressors. Lancaster and Leominster 
 and Worcester were gone from them also. On the Nashua 
 and the Merrimack civilization had swept away the red man's 
 2 
 
10 
 
 villages. Frequently, we may suppose, the wronged Indian, 
 in his sorrow, climbed the lofty heights of the distant Monad- 
 noc, and surveyed in sadness and tears the extensive encroach- 
 ments which the English had made upon the domain over which 
 his race had held dominion for more than a thousand years. It 
 was worth his dying to regain these lost rights. But most of 
 his tribe had already fallen in the vain attempt. To obtain pos- 
 session of the valuable river lands was more than the sagacious 
 son of the forest could hope. What remained here was hardly 
 worth contending for, — a tract of broken, hilly, mountainous 
 land, nowise remarkable for its fertility. Through this, how- 
 ever, flowed the Pequoiag River. It abounded in excellent 
 fish. On its banks were some rich meadows fruitful with wild 
 grain. Game from the river towns had retreated into these 
 woods ; so that it was not without grief, that the aborigines 
 first beheld the smoke of our fathers' fires curling up from yon- 
 der hill. They had been driven from the Deerfield, the Con- 
 necticut, the Nashua, and the Merrimack, and now they must 
 leave the Pequoiag also. We cannot wonder if such reflec- 
 tions as these did at times stir the feeling of revenge in the 
 bosoms of these wronged and uncultivated natives. 
 
 Under these circumstances those who had taken up their 
 abode here had sufficient cause to fear attacks from these tribes ; 
 and though this settlement suffered little in comparison with 
 some others, still, considering the small number of its inhabit- 
 ants, this town endured its full share of Indian depredations. 
 
 The increased hostilities incident upon the war between 
 France and England, which commenced in the year 1744, kept 
 the settlement at Pequoiag for several years in a constant state 
 of fearful excitement, and seriously interrupted the agricultural 
 pursuits of the inhabitants. Those who planted their field, or 
 attempted to secure their crops, did so at the imminent risk of 
 their lives. The Indians were continually lurking about these 
 meadows and hills, seeking for scalps and prisoners and plun- 
 der. Their first victim was Mr. Ezekiel Wallingford, who cul- 
 tivated land on "West Hill," and resided at the time of the 
 calamity in the fort constructed for the protection of that loca- 
 tion, and situated, as before remarked, on the site where the 
 house of Mr. Jonathan Harwood now stands. 
 
11 
 
 Supposing that he heard bears in his cornfield one evening, 
 Mr. Wallingford wentfrout to watch. He was advised not to ^^ A 
 venture, lest there might he Indians in the vicinity. It proved 
 that the apprehensions of his friends were well founded ; for he 
 soon discovered that the Indians, having deceived him by imi- 
 tating the noise of bears in the corn, were surrounding him. 
 Turning immediately on perceiving his mistake, he endeavoured 
 to regain the fort, about a hundred rods distant ; but in passing 
 a fence he was stopped by a ball from the enemy, which frac- 
 tured his thigh. The tomahawk and scalping-knife put an in- 
 stant end to his life, August 17, 1746. 
 
 iVlarm guns were immediately fired from the fort, which 
 were answered by a similar discharge of fire-arms from the gar- 
 rison on the Street, to which the fort in Petersham quickly re- 
 sponded. The excitement was intense. There was no sleep 
 that night in Pequoiag ; and before the morning sun looked 
 over these hills, the soldiers of both towns assembled and joined 
 in an unsuccessful pursuit of the enemy. 
 
 The next spring, in April or May, Mr. Jason Badcock, while 
 looking for his cows on the meadow near the junction of Tully 
 Brook with Miller's River, was suddenly surprised and fired 
 upon by the Indians. Being slightly wounded, Mr. Badcock 
 was taken prisoner by his pursuers, and- was carried captive to 
 Canada. But in about four months, having been redeemed, 
 he returned to his former home in Pequoiag, where he resided 
 for many years near the pond which still bears his name, — a 
 beautiful sheet of water, secluded by woods and hills, which 
 render it an inviting rural retreat for the lovers of natural scenery 
 in the villages. Some apple-trees still mark the location of 
 Mr. Badcock's dwelling at the time he was taken captive. 
 Subsequently he removed to Waterford, Vt., where Mr. Jere- 
 miah Morton, our townsman, visited him, and received from 
 him the narrative of his captivity. 
 
 About the time of Mr. Wallingford's death, so alarming 
 were the dangers, and so great was the insecurity of the place, 
 that several families left the town and sought safety in "Fort 
 Massachusetts," or " Hoosac Fort," which " stood on the 
 bank of Hoosac River, in " the town of Hoosac, now " Adams, 
 
12 
 
 about three miles and a half east of Williamstown." * 
 Among these was the family of Mr. ]£1$bu Smeed. But even 
 / in this fort there was no more security than in the one at Pe- 
 quoiag. On the 20th of August of the same year, 1746, but 
 three days after Mr. Wallingford was killed, the fort was at- 
 tacked by an army of about nine hundred French and Indians, 
 under General De Vaudreuil. Colonel Hawks, who at that 
 time commanded the garrision, having with him but twenty-two 
 effective men, and but thirty-three persons in all, men, women, 
 and children, after a defence of twenty-eight hours, but not un- 
 til his ammunition was spent, surrendered the fort, which was 
 demolished, and the whole garrison, including Mr. Smeed and 
 wife, two sons, and his little daughter Mary, then six years old, 
 were taken prisoners. One of the prisoners, being sick, was 
 killed by the Indians. Little Mary Smeed fell into the hands 
 of a Frenchman, who was very pleasant and kind to her. 
 
 The first evening after her capture, looking out from the tent 
 in which she was to pass the night, she saw her two brothers, 
 whom she supposed she should never see again, as she feared 
 they would all be massacred the next day. Her master, having 
 nicely wrapped her in a blanket, laid himself down to rest, with 
 his little prize by his side, where, composing herself, she soon 
 fell asleep. But her slumbers were not undisturbed. Waking 
 in the night, she resolved she would see her brothers once more. 
 So this stout-hearted little Athol girl got up quietly from her 
 master's side and went out of the tent at dead of night into 
 the open air in the wild forest, it being dark and rainy, to seek 
 for her brothers among the sleepers on the wet ground. She 
 thought to recognize them by feeling of their hair. At length, 
 after considerable search, she felt two whom she concluded 
 must be her brothers. Accordingly, the affectionate little sis- 
 ter, delighted at her supposed discovery, pressed herself down 
 between them, and once more fell asleep. Her master, missing 
 her upon his waking, took a torch and went out to search for 
 his little captive among the sleepers. Aware, perhaps, of the 
 motives which induced the child to leave his tent, on finding 
 
 Mass. Hist. Col., Vol. VIII. p. 48. 
 
13 
 
 and waking her, he held his torch that she might see where she 
 had lain ; when to her utter astonishment and fright, instead of 
 her brothers, little Mary saw that she had been nestling between 
 two of the most grim and frightful Indians ! With a fluttering 
 heart and willing step she followed her master back to his tent. 
 
 This little girl was obliged to travel, with the other captives, 
 on foot through the wild wilderness to Quebec, exposed to all 
 the hardships and dangers and trials incident to Indian captivity. 
 In the course of a year her mother died. After a captivity of 
 about two years they were ransomed, and the remainder of the 
 family were transported in a ship to Boston, and from thence 
 to their former home at Pequoiag. 
 
 Shortly after their return to this town, Mr. Smeed, being 
 abroad on business, was shot by the Indians. The family was 
 broken up in consequence. Little Mary was placed in the 
 family of Rev. Timothy Woodbridge, of Hatfield, where she 
 remained till womanhood, when she married Mr. Aaron Wil- 
 lard, and removed with him to Charlestown, N. H., and subse- 
 quently to Hartland, Vt., where she died of cancer, January 3, 
 1829.* 
 
 Another of the first settlers, Mr. Josiah Holmes, lost his 
 life in consequence of sickness brought on by exposure and fa- 
 tigue, " experienced while guarding and defending the garrison 
 in which the little flock was obliged to resort for shelter and 
 safety."! (F.) 
 
 Under all these trials and discouragements, the fathers of our 
 present prosperity labored with persevering fortitude. They 
 cleared up their farms, built their log huts, planted their rocky 
 fields, and secured their scanty crops. They early availed 
 themselves of the water power, which, from that time to the 
 present, has been the principal means of growth which the 
 town affords. 
 
 At a meeting of the proprietors, held by adjournment on the 
 18th day of October, 1738, a grant of sixty acres of land was 
 
 * Mrs. Willard was born at Athol in the year 1710. To her only sur- 
 viving son, Mr. Aaron Willard, of Hartford, Vt. , I am indebted for this 
 account, communicated by his daughter, Mrs. Harriott Hamilton. 
 
 f Mr. Humphrey's MS. 
 
14 
 
 made " to Mr. Samuel Kendall (G.) for building a corn mill 
 and keeping it in Repair for y e space of ten years, so as to 
 Grind for y e Above said Proprietors." * (H.) 
 
 It is probable that the mill built by Mr. Kendall, or his son, 
 was the first erected in town, and was located near where Mr. 
 Stillman Knowlton's machine-shop now stands, at the point of 
 land where the stream which carries Mr. Knowlton's machinery 
 divides from Miller's River. Such is the tradition. (1.) 
 
 Gradual prosperity attended the settlement. All lived to- 
 gether for many years in harmony. 
 
 The principal man among the company of settlers, as it ap- 
 pears, both for education and influence, was Mr. Joseph Lord, 
 the first clerk of the proprietors, which office he continued to 
 hold up to October 18, 1749, when, at a legal meeting of the 
 proprietors, Mr. Abner Lee was elected in his place. (J.) 
 
 Mr. Lord was not only the first clerk of the propriety, but he 
 was also the first doctor, the first preacher, the first magistrate, 
 the first treasurer, the first tax-gatherer, the first surveyor, " in 
 fact," as my manuscript authority has it, he was " Boss and 
 all hands." f There can be no doubt that he was the leading 
 spirit in Pequoiag for many years. But, unfortunately, some 
 misunderstanding at length arose between him and the proprie- 
 tors, which was the occasion of much excitement, and prob- 
 ably hard feeling, between them. 
 
 Mr. Lord refused to give up the records of the propriety, to 
 obtain possession of which the proprietors made many fruitless 
 efforts. At length, after the expiration of nearly ten years, at 
 a legal meeting of the proprietors held October 11, 1758, it 
 was voted, " That it is the desire of the proprietors that the 
 committee" chosen for the purpose " do forthwith commence 
 any action or actions at law, if they judge it expedient, against 
 the said Joseph Lord, for the recovery of any books, records, 
 plans, or writings in any way appertaining to the proprietors, 
 or for the settling any accounts or concerns with the said Jo- 
 seph respecting the proprietors."! The result of the litigation 
 
 * Propiietors' Book, p. 10. -j- Mr. Spooner's MS. 
 
 J Proprietors' Book, pp. 140, 141. 
 
15 
 
 was judgment against Dr. Lord, rendered by the court, No- 
 vember, 1759, for one thousand pounds, to be recovered of 
 said Lord by the proprietors for his neglect to deliver up the 
 records, plans, &c, belonging to the propriety. (K.) 
 
 But before the court rendered judgment, Dr. Lord absconded 
 from the Province ; consequently his estates and effects were 
 taken on execution, and sold for the benefit of the proprietors. 
 What became of the books, records, plans, &c, is not known, 
 except that they were never recovered by the proprietors. 
 
 What was the particular cause of the misunderstanding be- 
 tween the proprietors and Dr. Lord, or what portion of blame 
 belonged to either party, it is impossible now satisfactorily to 
 determine.* (L.) 
 
 The loss of all the early records of the propriety was a seri- 
 ous evil, and one which renders it extremely difficult to make 
 out a full and accurate account of the early history of the town- 
 ship. Fortunately, however, the records of the important pro- 
 ceedings of the proprietors relative to, and in connection with, 
 this church are preserved entire. 
 
 * Dr. Lord was son of Joseph Lord of Charlestown, who was gradu- 
 ated at Harvard College in 1091, and was, subsequently, minister of 
 Charleston, S. C. (Farmer's Genealogical Register ; Dr. Pierce's inter- 
 leaved Triennial Catalogue.) He was graduated at Harvard College in 
 1726, and practised medicine for a time, it is probable, in Sunderland, 
 near Hatfield (Trien. Cat. interleaved with notes by Nicholas Gilman, 
 Grad. H. C. 1724), from whence he came with the first settlers to this 
 town in 1735. Dr. Lord went from Pequoiag to Putney, Vt., then New 
 Hampshire, " where he resided for about thirty years, when he removed 
 across the river to Westmoreland, N. H., where he died [" December 7, 
 1788, in the 85th year of his age" *]. While he lived in Putney, Dr. 
 Lord held for a few years a commission of justice of the peace. He was 
 also appointed a judge of the court for Cumberland, now Windham, Coun- 
 ty, which office he held till the American Revolution. Tradition says that 
 he was a man of considerable parts, and that he was respected by those 
 who knew him." 
 
 The above quotation is from a letter received from Rev. Amos Foster, 
 of Putney, and was dictated to him by Rev. Broughton White, of Putney, 
 who, in early life, was acquainted with Dr. Lord. 
 
 * From the inscription on his gravestone, copied for me by Rev. Stephen Rogers 
 of Westmoreland. 
 
16 
 
 The period intervening between the arrival of the first set- 
 tlers and the organization of the First Church comprises about 
 fifteen years. The fathers of thistown were not, however, the 
 men to remain destitute of public worship during so long a time, 
 situated though they were in the midst of the wilderness, desti- 
 tute of many of the comforts of life. One of their first public 
 acts was to build a meeting-house. (M.) This was burnt. Still 
 they were not discouraged. Another was erected on " East 
 Pequoiag Hill" or Street, as before remarked, on the east side 
 of the highway, near the fort. 
 
 There are those still living in town, who not only have a 
 sweet recollection of this ancient house where our fathers wor- 
 shipped, but also a remembrance of the old " Stocks"* along- 
 side of it, which those order-loving fathers thought indispensa- 
 ble for the proper punishment of those who were so forgetful of 
 decency as to violate the decorum which belongs to the Sab- 
 bath sanctuary. 
 
 In this house, from Sabbath to Sabbath, the few inhabitants 
 of the place were accustomed to meet for public worship, though 
 for several years without the services of a regular minister. 
 Dr. Lord, who was then in good repute with the proprie- 
 tors, being a somewhat " gifted " man, in addition to his many 
 other responsibilities, officiated in the capacity of preacher. At 
 length they secured the occasional services of a professed min- 
 ister, as appears from the record of votes passed by the pro- 
 prietors, — such, for instance, as the following: — "Oct. 18, 
 1749. Voted, that Mr. Brown be allowed for one Day's 
 Preaching, five Pounds, Old Tenor." This is the first record 
 extant of any provision made for preaching in the settlement ; 
 
 * These stocks were made of two large thick planks, set up edgewise 
 and rendered immovable, the lower one having spaces cut in the upper 
 edge for the reception of the culprits' ankles ; while the top one was hung 
 fast to it upon hinges, and so fitted as to swing and shut close down upon 
 the one beneath, thus rendering it impossible for the feet of the offender 
 to be withdrawn, when it was made fast with a lock, and the unfortunate 
 prisoner left lying upon his back on the ground, in no very enviable or 
 comfortable position. These instruments of order were the terror of noisy 
 boys and unruly men. 
 
17 
 
 but as the early records are lost, it is possible, perhaps proba- 
 ble, that they employed a regular preacher previous to this 
 date. That, from poverty or some other cause, they were 
 not always prompt in paying their ministers, is apparent from 
 the following vote, passed March 26, 1761, probably at least 
 eleven years after the money was due. 
 
 "Voted, 43dly, That the Prudential Committee be desired, 
 with all convenient speed, to know how much the Proprietors 
 are indebted to the Rev. Mr. Timothy Brown, and to the Rev. 
 John Mellen, and to pay them, — and to give them such an al- 
 lowance as they shall judge reasonable for their being kept out 
 of their money so long a time." 
 
 The last clause of the vote breathes a redeeming influence 
 over this long neglect of duty. 
 
 It is probable that the first considerable effort to settle a 
 minister was made in the year 1749, and that Mr. Brown and 
 Mr. Mellen preached here during that year.* 
 
 The next ecclesiastical record entered in the Proprietors' 
 Book is as follows: — 
 
 " At a legal Meeting of the Propriety, held on the third 
 Wednesday of May, 1750," — of which Samuel Kendall was 
 
 * Of Rev. Mr. Brown I can learn little, except that he probably was 
 graduated at Harvard University, A. D. 1729, and settled for a time at 
 Little Compton, R. I. (See Dr. Belknap's, Winthrop's, and Dr. Pierce's 
 interleaved Triennial Catalogues.) 
 
 Rev. Mr. Mellen, undoubtedly, was Rev. John Mellen, first pastor of 
 the Congregational Church in Sterling. Very likely he left his people for 
 a few Sabbaths, as preachers in those days not unfrequently did, to supply 
 a destitute parish, and to aid and encourage them in providing for the set- 
 tlement of a minister. 
 
 He " was born March 14, 1722; graduated at Harvard University 1741 ; 
 thirty-four years pastor of the church at Sterling ; twenty-one years at 
 Hanover; died, July 4, 1807." — " Mr. M., in his time, probably stood 
 at the head of the clergy of the county." {Worcester Magazine, Vol. 
 II. pp. 224, 217.) He was one of those pastors of his age who ventured to 
 oppose the more rigid theological doctrines of Calvin, — in which the laity 
 in these parts had been almost exclusively educated, — and taught, some- 
 what modified, the more liberal views of Arminius. History of Sterling, 
 in Worcestrr Magazine, which see for a full account of Mr. Mellen, and 
 his dismission from his parish. 
 
 3 
 
18 
 
 Moderator, — "Voted, that we choose an Orthodox minister 
 to settle in this Place. Voted, That Mr. James Humfries, our 
 present Preacher, be the Orthodox minister in this Place." 
 
 Mr. Humphrey had been supplying the pulpit at Pequoiag 
 for several months at the time these votes were passed, as ap- 
 pears from the record of a subsequent meeting, June 27, 1750, 
 whereat it was voted, " That Mr. James Humfries be allowed 
 Eighteen Pounds lawful money for Preaching in this Place from 
 the 10th of December, 1749, to the 16th of May, 1750, being 
 Eighteen Sabbaths." 
 
 Tradition says that Mr. Robert Marble was appointed a 
 committee to go to Dorchester and engage Mr. Humphrey to 
 come up here and preach as a candidate. Accordingly, having 
 provided himself with a horse, saddle, and saddle-bags, Mr. 
 Marble set out on his successful errand after the first minister 
 of this Church. About to return, — provisions and effects, and 
 wardrobe and sermons, being carefully stowed away in the 
 saddle-bags, — the minister having mounted, Mr. Marble, with 
 becoming respect, took his seat behind his future pastor, and thus 
 they turned their faces towards the promised land. At length, 
 the horse getting weary, Mr. Marble took upon himself the 
 duty of footman ; and so the journey was continued, the minis- 
 ter, with condescending kindness, occasionally dismounting, 
 while his faithful companion took the grateful seat in the saddle, 
 and relieved for an hour his weary limbs. But, notwith- 
 standing the compassion for the beast which allowed but one 
 to ride at a time, so long was the way, so bad were the roads, 
 and so steep the hills in this vicinity, that, some miles short of 
 their journey's end the horse became so jaded, it was found 
 necessary for both minister and attendant to avail themselves of 
 their pedestrial ability, and drive their sorry nag before them to 
 the little settlement at Pequoiag. 
 
 At the same meeting at which it was agreed to give Mr. 
 Humphrey a call, the terms of settlement to be offered him 
 were agreed upon, and it was " Voted, That we give Mr. 
 James Humfries, our present Preacher, the sum of Fifty 
 Pounds lawful money of this Province of the Massachusetts 
 Bay, per Annum, while he continues in the work of the Gospel 
 
19 
 
 Ministry in this Place, — and farther, add to that Right, or 
 whole share of Land, in the Township of Pequoiag laid out by 
 the General Court for the first Minister of sd Pequoiag, of which 
 the House Lott on East Pequoiag Hill on the west side of the 
 High Way Number Eight is Part, — the Sum of Sixty Six 
 Pounds thirteen Shillings and four Pence lawful money of the 
 Province of the Massachusetts Bay, to be paid, one half within 
 one Year after his Ordination, the other half within one Year after 
 the Payment of the first Half, if he accepts of the work of the 
 Gospel Ministry in this Place." * 
 
 " Voted, That Lieut. Richard Morton and Mr. Robert 
 Marble and Lieut. Nathaniel Graves be a Committee to see 
 whether Mr. Humfries will accept of his Call to the Gospel 
 Ministry in this Place." A committee was also appointed at 
 this meeting to " repair the Meeting House." 
 
 Mr. Humphrey seems to have been very deliberate in con- 
 sidering the duty of accepting the call extended to him ; for al- 
 though the proprietors held several meetings, apparently for the 
 sole purpose of receiving his answer, yet it appears that he did 
 not communicate it till, " at a legal meeting, after repeated ad- 
 journments from May 16, 1750, to August Sth ensuing," the 
 proprietors " Voted, That Nathaniel Graves wait upon Mr. 
 James Humfries for his answer to settle with them in the work 
 of the Gospel Ministry"; whereupon, "the said Nathaniel 
 Graves waited upon Mr. Humfries and brought his answer in 
 Writing under his Hand, which was read publicly in the Meet- 
 ing," and then ordered to be "entered upon the Proprietors' 
 Records." 
 
 "Mr. Humfries' Answer, viz.: — 
 
 " To the Proprietors of the New Township, called Pequoiag, 
 at their Meeting continued by Adjournment from May 16th to 
 August Sth ensuing. — 
 
 " Gentle 11 , 
 
 " I received by the Hand of Lieut. Richard Morton 
 a Copy of your Votes passed at your Meeting on the 16th 
 of May last respecting my settling among you in the Ca- 
 
 * Proprietors' Book, p. 126. 
 
20 
 
 pacity of a Gospel Minister. And in Answer thereto, — In 
 the first Place, I do heartily thank you for the good will you 
 have expressed to me in your Invitation. After mature De- 
 liberation upon the important affair, I now signify my accept- 
 ance of the Salary and Encouragement you have given me to 
 Settle in the Work of the Ministry among you in this Place, in 
 Case the Propriety will make me an Addition of Forty Shillings 
 lawful money to your former Encouragement for my Annual 
 Support, — and if it please God in his aldisposing Providence 
 regularly to introduce me into the Pastoral Office over you, I 
 hope by his grace and Spirit I shall be enabled in some good 
 measure to fulfil my Ministry. 
 
 " So I remain with hearty Regards your 
 " Servant in Christ Jesus, 
 
 " James Humfrey. 
 
 " Pequoiag, Aug st 8, 1750."* 
 
 After the above letter was read, it was " Voted, That Mr. 
 Humfrey has Forty Shillings lawful money of this Province 
 added to the former Encouragement we have given Him for 
 his Annual Support, or Salary." At the same meeting it was 
 voted, " That Lt. Morton, Lt. Graves and Robert Marble 
 are chosen a Committee to agree with Mr. Humfrey when the 
 Ordination shall be, — Also that they take Care to send to a 
 Neighbouring Minister or Ministers to assist them in a Fast and 
 in Gathering a Church in this Place." f 
 
 The work of organizing a church in the wilderness, and or- 
 daining a pastor over it, is now fully determined upon ; and 
 these few settlers have set about it in lively earnest. They are 
 duly sensible of the importance of this noble enterprise. 
 They have carried forward for a kxv years their infant settle- 
 ment. They have built a few log huts " eighteen feet square 
 and seven feet stud"; around each dwelling they have re- 
 deemed a few acres from the forest wild ; they have built their 
 meeting-house on the hill yonder, under the cover of their 
 strongest fort ; they have engaged in mutual worship there ; 
 they have had occasional preaching ; but they are not satisfied. 
 
 * Proprietors' Book, pp. 128, 129. f Ibid., p. 129. 
 
21 
 
 Their children are growing up unbaptized, and without the in- 
 fluence of a Christian pastor to mould their religious character. 
 Keenly they feel this deprivation ; and though in numbers few, 
 and in pecuniary ability weak, they resolve to remedy so great 
 an evil. 
 
 After this manner we may suppose those devout fathers, 
 as they sat together on a Sabbath evening, at set of sun, be- 
 neath the tall pines that cast their lengthening shadows across 
 their narrow clearings, would converse on this solemn duty: — 
 " This will not do. Our children must be nurtured in the 
 fear and admonition of the Lord. The lambs of the flock will 
 be lost without a shepherd to take care of them. No settlement 
 can flourish where God is not worshipped. If we expect to be 
 protected in the forest, we must be ready to do our Father's 
 will. The Sabbath day must be kept holy. The ordinances 
 of God must be observed. The Church of Christ must be es- 
 tablished here ; and we must bow ourselves in prayer, and 
 sacrifice our evil desires at the shrine of its holy altar." 
 
 Such were the sentiments that stirred the souls of these 
 primitive settlers, and moved them to action. A few doubting 
 or selfish spirits may have objected ; but if so, their objections 
 were little heeded. The committee chosen for the purpose 
 obeyed their instructions, and sent invitations to the neighbour- 
 ing ministers to come and assist them in forming the first Chris- 
 tian church in the new township of Pequoiag. 
 
 The 29th day of August, 1750, O. S., is a day never to be 
 forgotten in the annals of our Church history. Just one hun- 
 dred years ago to-day might have been seen three reverend 
 clergymen, dressed after the fashion of the times, in large pow- 
 dered wigs, surmounted by the three-cornered clerical hat, with 
 the ministerial coat, and small clothes which were met at the 
 knees by long, smooth silk or worsted stockings, the feet of 
 which were protected in soft calf or deer skin shoes, fastened 
 together with large, shining silver buckles. These were Rev. 
 Samuel Kendall, first minister of New Salem, Rev. Abraham 
 Hill, first minister of Shutesbury, and Rev. Aaron Whitney, 
 first minister of Petersham. 
 
 On that day, the one hundredth anniversary of which we now 
 
22 
 
 commemorate, these faithful ministers of Christ " met at Per- 
 quage, and after Solemn Prayer to God, they gathered the 
 Church and it was Imboded and each member signed the 
 Covenant." * 
 
 One hundred years ago ! How instinctively do our thoughts 
 turn back over the lapse of the century that has passed to the old 
 meeting-house on yonder hill, in which the few inhabitants of 
 the place are religiously observing a day of fasting and prayer ! 
 We see them now, those men of pious hearts, bending in 
 solemn prayer to God for guidance and direction in their sa- 
 cred enterprise. With rapt attention even now we listen to 
 the reading of the church covenant, which is offered for these 
 pious men to accept as their bond of faith and union. It is a 
 most interesting document. (N.) With solemn voice it is ut- 
 tered, sentence by sentence, to the deeply interested assembly ; 
 and then, after the pastor elect, Richard Morton, Nathaniel 
 Graves, Abraham Nutt, Robert Marble, Samuel Morton, 
 Nathan Wait, Eleazer Graves, Ephraim Smith, and Aaron 
 Smith walk up to the table, and affix their rude signatures to 
 this solemn covenant. 
 
 The church is now formed. The members are but ten in 
 number, including the pastor, but they are the men of influence 
 in the settlement. Their names are an earnest of success. 
 Once more they bow themselves together in prayer, and sup- 
 plicate the blessing of God upon the act they have now con- 
 summated ; and then in reverential order they withdraw from 
 the house of worship. 
 
 One hundred years have gone by ! Those venerable fathers 
 have passed away. In the old graveyard yonder in the woods, 
 on the bank of the murmuring brook, where they built their first 
 church, their bones lie buried. The mounds of their resting- 
 place are almost obliterated ; for, shameful to relate, the irrev- 
 erent and ungrateful ploughshare has torn open their graves ! 
 But the church they gathered still survives, and, in grateful re- 
 membrance, on this deeply interesting occasion, offers its ready 
 tribute of praise to those who formed it. 
 
 * Church Book, p. 2. 
 
23 
 
 The fast being over, and the church being duly organized, 
 active preparations were made for the coming ordination, — an 
 event of no ordinary moment in the early history of New Eng- 
 land. 
 
 At a legal meeting of the proprietors, September 5, 1750, 
 a committee of five was appointed "to Provide for Mr. Hum- 
 frey's Ordination." Lieutenant Graves, Lieutenant Morton, 
 Mr. Nutt, Mr. Samuel Morton, and Mr. Aaron Smith were 
 appointed " a Committee to make a Boat to cross Miller's 
 River so big as to carry two Horses at once." Lieutenant 
 Graves, Lieutenant Morton, and Mr. Robert Marble were 
 chosen " a Committee to sign the Letters to send to the several 
 Churches in order to ordain Mr. Humfrey." 
 
 The date of the ordination is authenticated by the following 
 record, entered in the Church Book in the handwriting of the 
 first minister : — 
 
 " Perquage, November the 7, 1750. An Ecclesiastical 
 Council convened in Perquage ; the Council consisted of the 
 Church of Christ in Dorchester, ye Chh. in Hatfield, ye Chh. 
 in New Salem, ye Chh. in Roadtown, * ye Chh. in Nitcha- 
 woag, f and ordained Mr. James Humfrey Pastor over the 
 Chh. and Congregation in said Place. 
 
 " Attested by Jonathan Bowman, Mod." 
 
 Of the proceedings of the ordaining council I can learn 
 nothing. Undoubtedly the churches above named were repre- 
 sented on the occasion by their respective ministers ; viz. the 
 church in Dorchester by Rev. Jonathan Bowman, the church 
 in Hatfield by Rev. Timothy Woodbridge, the church in 
 New Salem by Rev. Samuel Kendall, the church in Road 
 Town by Rev. Abraham Hill, and the church in Nichewaug 
 by Rev. Aaron Whitney. 
 
 Rev. James Humphrey was bom at Dorchester, Mass., 
 March 20, 1722, and was graduated at Harvard University in 
 the year 1744. Of his early education nothing is known, 
 except that he descended from most respectable and pious 
 ancestors. (O.) It is very probable that he pursued his pro- 
 
 * Now Shutesbury. f Now Petersham. 
 
24 
 
 fessional studies with Rev. Jonathan Bowman, the minister of 
 his native town at the time of his ordination. But of this there 
 is no positive evidence. 
 
 Mr. Humphrey commenced his duties as pastor of this town 
 under very trying and discouraging circumstances. His salary 
 was small, — a trifle over twenty shillings a week. His pa- 
 rishioners were few, — no more than he was able and accus- 
 tomed to call upon with ease between breakfast and dinner. 
 From the best information obtained, I cannot persuade myself 
 that there were more than twenty families in the place at the 
 time of his ordination. These were in constant danger from 
 the hostile Indians. Even while assembled in the meeting- 
 house, on the Sabbath, they felt obliged to keep their arms by 
 them, and to station some of their number at the " door-posts," 
 as sentinels, to guard against surprise from " their devouring 
 enemy, whilst others were worshipping God within." * " For 
 three successive years " f did the first minister of Pequoiag 
 carry his weapons of defence into his pulpit, and preach with 
 his gun by his side. Behold them now, those early settlers 
 of this present flourishing and populous town, in the time of 
 their trials, assembled, on a winter's day, in their small, rude 
 house of worship. The storm is beating without. There 
 is no fire within. The cold wind howls mournfully among the 
 surrounding trees. The light snow is sifting through the nu- 
 merous crevices. There are no pews there, save one. | Upon 
 some rough planks arranged on rude blocks are seated the fa- 
 thers of the church, dressed in stout woollen frocks, with then- 
 snow-shoes lying by them, and their bear-skin caps hanging 
 upon the muzzles of their faithful guns, which rest against their 
 shoulders. The pastor, too, has hung his three-cornered hat 
 upon his own trusty musket, which leans upon the pulpit's rough 
 side, and is now earnestly dispensing the solemn truths of the 
 Gospel to his few serious and attentive hearers. 
 
 The fathers, and mothers, and children, all are there. Fear 
 is no stranger to their hearts, though the sentinels are at the 
 
 * Mr. Humphrey's MS., before referred to. | Ibid. 
 
 J Dr. Lord's. 
 
25 
 
 door-posts. The preacher, too, is conscious of their danger, 
 but he bids them put their trust in God. Possibly he has 
 chosen these words of the Psalmist for his text: — " Wait on 
 the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine 
 heart." He alludes to their privations and numerous hardships 
 with true sympathy, and then cheers and comforts the despond- 
 ing of his flock with happy quotations from sacred writ. " The 
 Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." tw Cast thy burden 
 upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee." " The Lord is 
 great and greatly to be praised." " Blessed be the name of the 
 Lord, for the Lord God is righteous in all that he does." Such 
 preaching did them good. Under its influence they were hap- 
 py, notwithstanding their trials, and lived " in perfect friend- 
 ship one with another, and their minister." * 
 
 The next year after his settlement, Rev. Mr. Humphrey 
 was married to Miss Esther Wiswell, of Dorchester, a lady of 
 high respectability and much energy of character, and who dur- 
 ing a long and useful life was highly esteemed and much re- 
 spected by the people of this town. The record of his marriage 
 is thus entered upon the Church Book in his own handwriting : 
 — "Dorchester, October the 9th, 1751. James Humfrey 
 and Esther Wiswell was married, and the third day of Novem- 
 ber we got home to Perquage." 
 
 t The occasion of the return of their pastor with his young and 
 accomplished bride was one of lively and exciting interest to 
 the unpolished but affectionate parishioners of Pequoiag. Be- 
 fore the sun had dissipated the dew on the morning of the 3d 
 of November, a company of happy men and joyous youth, 
 mounted on horseback, each with his good wife or smiling 
 maiden seated on the pillion behind him, were riding over the 
 old street, now moving with cautious step along the obstructed 
 path, and now galloping in frolicsome glee across some open 
 plain, full of high anticipation, on their way to Barre to welcome 
 the arrival of their absent pastor, and escort him with his pol- 
 ished bride within the precincts of their own rude but happy 
 homes. That was a joyous day for the settlers on these hills. 
 
 * Mr. Humphrey's MS. 
 
 4 
 
26 
 
 The few who remained were busy making due preparation for 
 the reception of so important a personage as their pastor's wel- 
 come bride. 
 
 Margery Morton, the first white female born in this town, 
 then a girl of thirteen summers, was left at home to assist in 
 serving up the wedding supper. The oven of which she had 
 charge was located without the house, — a circumstance not 
 uncommon in those days. Within it were smoking the choicest 
 dishes the united parish could afford. The pies she had made 
 with her own hands, and she was anticipating with joyous 
 pride — we will not call it sinful in one so young — the praise 
 she might receive for her skill at pastry from the accomplished 
 bride of her reverend pastor. But while these and like thoughts 
 were engaging her attention, the warm savor from the oven's 
 rare contents had attracted the notice of some rude boys, who, 
 in common with the rest of the settlement, were enjoying a 
 holiday on the occasion of their pastor's wedding. Never be- 
 fore had their senses feasted upon viands so delicious and in- 
 viting. The temptation proved too strong for their unstable 
 principles to resist, and when the young cook bounded, with a 
 light step and joyous heart, to set the fruits of her extra labor 
 upon the waiting table, lo ! no pies were there ! Sad, sad, 
 indeed was her disappointment ; and even when in her extreme 
 old age she used to relate the story of her misfortune, it was 
 hard for good old " Aunt Margery " to suppress a little of the 
 same indignant spirit which, for a moment, got the better of 
 her wonted good-humor when first she discovered her loss. 
 
 For more than twenty years after his settlement, the pastor 
 and people of this town seem to have lived together in uninter- 
 rupted harmony. During this period record is made of but 
 three church meetings, — one of the surest evidences of the 
 tranquil and happy condition of the church. 
 
 During this long period of peace and prosperity, the discipline 
 exercised by the church was probably of a mild and judicious 
 character.* Vexed questions in theology, which about that time 
 
 * The first vote ever passed by this church was (December 7, 1750), 
 " That no person should be required to make a Relation when they were 
 admitted into the Church," — an expression of the good sense which di- 
 rected the church policy. 
 
27 
 
 agitated many New England churches, were, most likely, very 
 seldom, if ever, discussed by the pastor. Indeed, it is probable 
 that Mr. Humphrey was not much of a theologian. What 
 were his peculiar doctrinal tenets cannot now be determined, 
 except from a knowledge of the current theology of those days, 
 and from the church covenant which he subscribed. This is 
 somewhat Trinitarian and Calvinistic in its character. We 
 have, however, no reason to suppose it was in those times very 
 strictly construed, since it does not appear that any person was 
 required to sign the covenant upon joining the church for at 
 least twenty-five years from its formation, — not until after dis- 
 satisfaction with the pastor was manifested on the part of some 
 of the members. 
 
 The first circumstance that occurred to disturb the quiet of 
 the little church at Pequoiag was the same which interrupted 
 the harmony of very many churches in Massachusetts and vi- 
 cinity some seventy-five or eighty years ago, namely, the in- 
 novation which about that time was made in the old custom of 
 singing. Formerly the deacon read the hymns, two lines at a 
 time, which were immediately sung by the choir or congrega- 
 tion, when two more were "deaconed out," which also were 
 executed by the singers, and so on, till the entire hymn was 
 read and sung. Now, it was voted both by the church and 
 congregation to dispense with the deacon's service in the ex- 
 ercise of singing the hymns. This simple change, like all other 
 improvements in religious forms, was regarded by some as an 
 unhallowed desecration of religious worship. The vote was a 
 close one ; in the church eighteen yeas and eleven nays ; the 
 congregation voted thirty-three in favor of the change and 
 twenty-eight against it (June 10, 1773). Two months' time 
 was allowed by the church " for the people to Provide them- 
 selves with Psalm Books before they Sing without reading." 
 The completion of the new meeting-house on the common, 
 and the opening of the same for public worship just about this 
 time, may have had a tendency to hasten on this innovation. 
 
 But the old-fashioned way of singing was not to be given up 
 without another effort to sustain it. Accordingly, at the desire 
 of William Oliver, Seth Twitchel, John Oliver, Abraham Nutt, 
 
28 
 
 and William Bigelow, a meeting was called to see if the church 
 and congregation would reconsider their former vote ; but there 
 was still a majority of three or four in the church, and seven in 
 the congregation, in favor of abiding by the former decision to 
 dispense with the' deacon's reading. " Upon consideration," 
 however, ".to pacify and ease the mind of the aggrieved party, 
 the church consented to read with singing half the time for four 
 sabbaths upon the aggrieved party attending on the public wor- 
 ship." This vote shows how keenly the minority felt the inno- 
 vation. Nor did reading half the time for four Sabbaths entirely 
 quiet their disturbed minds. Church meetings are more fre- 
 quent now than formerly. Deacon David Twitchel resigns 
 his office in the church. Two years after, Mrs. Susannah 
 Haven, conscientiously anxious, no doubt, to let posterity 
 know how true she was to the better form of worship, expressed 
 her dissent from the change in the following protest, which was 
 entered upon the church records. 
 
 " Mrs. Susannah Haven's Public Declaration. 
 
 " To the Church of Christ in Jlthol and Congregation in said 
 Town. 
 " Whereas, in divine providence my Lott hath been ordained 
 in this Town, where I have enjoyed God's word and ordinance, 
 which I think are dear to me ; and should esteem it a great 
 Privilidge Still to enjoy them ; but as the Church and Congre- 
 gation hath altered their manner of Singing ; it hath been and is 
 much to my Dissatisfaction and grief, as I am not able to see 
 how the Continuing the Bass between the Lines of the Tenor, 
 is consistent with Singing with the Spirit and Understanding 
 also, as it appears to me that the Understanding must be use- 
 less in that unnasary part of the Sound ; but Considering this 
 as no Essential part of our holy Religion, and y l I am Sensible 
 y l I cant do any thing more than hath been done to reform 
 what I Esteem Wrong in the manner of Singing, I Esteem it my 
 Duty in this public manner to Let you know what those things 
 are y l are grevious to me, and y l I wholly disapprove of in your 
 Singing. So wishing grace mercy and peace may be multi- 
 plied to you, I desire your prayer for me y l I may be led into 
 
29 
 
 the Knowledge of my Duty in all things, and be enabled to 
 Square my Life by the rules of the Gospel. 
 
 "Sol remain your Sister in the faith, 
 
 " Susannah Haven. 
 " Athol, Feb. 22, 1775."* 
 
 This innocent change proved a bitter apple of discoid to 
 this hitherto remarkably peaceful church. Brother Seth 
 Twitchel absented himself from public worship and the " spe- 
 cial ordinances." A minister of the Baptist denomination (El- 
 der Whitman Jacobs) commenced preaching in town about 
 this time, and was gathering a few adherents about him. (P.) 
 Those disaffected on account of the singing seem to have at- 
 tended somewhat upon his preaching. Mr. John Ballard de- 
 sired to be dismissed to his society. But the church voted not 
 to dismiss him, and for several reasons, one of which was, that 
 the Baptists received two of " our members into their church " 
 before they were dismissed, or " took any proper measures to 
 obtain a dismission" from the First Church. Committees were 
 appointed to " converse with our Brother Seth Twitchel," 
 &c. Church meetings become still more frequent, a circum- 
 stance always ominous of evil. More stringent church regula- 
 tions are adopted. Members are now (1775), for the first 
 time, f required to make a " Relation publicly of their faith and 
 experiences before they are received into full communion." 
 The church adopt the Cambridge Platform for their " Rule of 
 Discipline, excepting the seventh and two last Chapters," and 
 that part of the sixth chapter which relates to " Ruling Elders 
 distinct from Teaching Elders " ; also the sixth section of the 
 twelfth chapter they would not adopt. | August 14, 1775, the 
 church voted, " That the Pastor should desire every person, 
 hereafter, to sign the Church Covenant upon their being taken 
 into the Church," — the first and only evidence we have on the 
 
 -* Many protests which are now made against innovations upon estab- 
 lished religious forms, or, more particularly, doctrines, will, we appre- 
 hend, a hundred years hence, be regarded as we now regard this honest 
 declaration of good Madam Haven. 
 
 •j- See note on page 26. 
 
 X Church Book, p. 19. 
 
30 
 
 church records that subscription to any articles of faith was 
 ever made a requisite to church-membership ; and it does not 
 appear from the records that this requisition was ever complied 
 with. The covenant is subscribed only with the names of the 
 ten persons who founded the church. Evidently, some por- 
 tion of the church are growing more rigid with regard to doc- 
 trinal opinions. The subject of the baptism of infants whose 
 parents were not in full communion was discussed. (1777.) 
 The church decided that such baptism is " warranted by 
 Scripture." Elements of discord appear more plainly upon 
 the church records for this year. One of the articles recorded 
 in a request for a church-meeting is " to see if the Church will 
 desire the Rev. Mr. James Humphrey to ask a Dismission 
 from his Pastoral Care of the Church of Christ in Athol." 
 Upon which, when they came together, the church voted 
 " that they were satisfied with their Pastor unanimously ; only 
 one person, Deacon Haven, voted against y e pastor, or, in 
 other words, desired him to ask a dismission." At this meet- 
 ing, " our Brother Seth Twitchel promised to try to conform 
 to the manner of singing that the Church had voted in, and at- 
 tend upon public worship and Special Ordinances." 
 
 But the grievous feeling seems to have been too deeply 
 seated for him to overcome ; for, two years after, reasons are 
 again offered why he absented himself from public worship, 
 &c. The church voted to " forgive him," " upon which" he 
 asked a dismission ; having, since the change in singing, him- 
 self experienced a change in his views relative to the subject 
 of baptism. The church, in a truly liberal spirit, granted his 
 request, "in manner and form as follows," viz.: — 
 
 " That as our Brother Seth Twitchel has, on account of an 
 alteration in his sentiments respecting some points of Christian 
 practice, upon which men of knowledge, wisdom, and piety 
 have differed in their sentiments, desired a dismission from his 
 particular relation to us, that be may join with a Christian So- 
 ciety whose practice, in such points, is more agreeable to his 
 present sentiments ; and as we are willing every one should 
 enjoy full liberty of conscience, [therefore it is voted that] he 
 be dismissed from this Church and recommended to any regular 
 
31 
 
 Christian Society that he may chuse to join to, as one in good 
 standing with us." 
 
 There can be little doubt, that the above preamble and vote, 
 so truly liberal and Christian in its character, is the composi- 
 tion, and breathes the spirit, of the pastor ; and also that it is 
 indicative of the kind of influence which he exerted on the 
 minds of his church and congregation, — an influence to 
 which, no doubt, this town is much indebted for the present 
 decidedly liberal religious views cherished by a large majority 
 of its inhabitants. 
 
 But the difficulty in the church is not healed. On Sabbath 
 day, May 27, 1779, after the services were closed, the fol- 
 lowing request, signed by Aaron Smith, Samuel Morton, 
 John Haven, Jesse Kendall, Wm. Bigelow, and Nehemiah 
 Ward, was read, viz.: — 
 
 " To the Rev. Mr. James Humphrey. Sir, — Please to 
 call a meeting of the Church to take the following things under 
 
 consideration 2ly. To see whether the Church will 
 
 take any measures to desire Mr. Humphrey to ask a dismission 
 from his Pastoral Care of the Church of Christ in Athol, and 
 what measures they will take for that purpose." 
 
 After which " it was put to vote to see whether the Church 
 would have a Church Meeting appointed, and it passed in the 
 negative, only five of the above signers voted for a Church 
 Meeting." 
 
 The church are not yet ready to be separated from the 
 pastor who has watched over them in the wilderness, shared 
 their trials with the Indians, joined them in marriage, baptized 
 their children, visited them in sickness, and breathed the heart- 
 felt prayer at the grave of their dearest friends. 
 
 But the disaffected are bent upon their purpose. Another 
 year of agitation passes, and they bring the subject before the 
 town, who vole (May 24, 17S0) to request Mr. Humphrey 
 to ask a dismission, and appoint a committee to see if the 
 church will concur. A church meeting is called accordingly, 
 on the 14th of June following, of which, by invitation of the 
 church, Rev. Mr. Lee of Royalston — who favored the dis- 
 mission of Mr. H. — acted as moderator. " The Request 
 
32 
 
 for the meeting, — signed by Samuel Morton, Deacon Aaron 
 Smith, Deacon John Haven, and Wra. Bigelovv, — to see if 
 the Church will desire the Rev. Mr. James Humphrey to ask 
 a dismission, and to enquire into the reason of uneasiness with 
 the Rev. Mr. Humphrey, -was read." Upon which the last 
 clause was, very properly, first considered, and the reasons for 
 the uneasiness of those who signed the request for a meeting 
 were read ; and, after some debate, the question was put, 
 " Whether it is the desire of the Brethren that Mr. Humphrey 
 ask a dismission, and it passed in the negative." " N. B. 
 There were but nine out of five or six and twenty who voted 
 to desire a dismission."* 
 
 The fact expressed in this vote evinces the attachment 
 which existed for the pastor, and discovers a unanimity in the 
 church hardly to be expected after three years of disaffecting 
 agitation, kept up by the most influential members, with the 
 countenance of a neighbouring minister. 
 
 Three times has the question of dismission been brought be- 
 fore the church, and three times it has promptly passed in the 
 negative. Despairing of affecting their object through this in- 
 strumentality, the disaffected, determined to pursue their pur- 
 pose, move the town to propose terms of resignation to Mr. 
 Humphrey, and appoint a committee to act upon the church 
 and solicit its concurrence.! 
 
 It is now proposed to the church to submit the difficulties 
 "between pastor and church to a mutual Council." Another 
 church meeting is called for this purpose (Oct. 18, 1780), 
 and also " to consider and act upon any other proposals that 
 may be offered, either by Pastor or Church." At this meeting, 
 of which Rev. Mr. Lee was moderator, the troubled pastor, 
 having become " worried out," — to use the expression of an 
 old gentleman who now lives and remembers the agitation, — 
 for the sake of peace, made the following proposals, viz. : — 
 That in case the arrears of his salary were paid up and made 
 good to him, if the church would agree to it, he would consent 
 to have a colleague settled with him, himself relinquishing his 
 
 * Church Book, p. 22. f Records of Town Meeting, July 4, 1780. 
 
33 
 
 salary, and "suspending the exercise of his ministry excepting 
 the administration of special ordinances, and preaching when 
 the pulpit was not otherwise supplied, being allowed a reason- 
 able compensation for preaching." 
 
 On receiving this proposition, the church adjourned three 
 weeks for consideration. Having met again on the 20th of 
 November, after a deliberate debate, the question was put, 
 " Whether the Church approve and accept of the proposals 
 made by the Rev. Pastor." But the majority of the church 
 appear still to be too much attached to their minister to be 
 thus separated, — " and it passed in the negative "/ 
 
 Thus did the church cling to their pastor in every attempt 
 of the dissatisfied to sunder their union. But Mr. Humphrey 
 foresaw that, so long as he continued in his pastoral office, 
 there must continue discord among the people of his charge. 
 Hence, actuated, as the reasonable inference is, by the earnest 
 desire to promote the Christian spirit of peace, harmony, and 
 love among his people, "the Rev. Pastor," with noble disin- 
 terestedness and singleness of purpose, arose, after the above 
 decision was made, and " renewedly urged the Church's ac- 
 ceptance of his proposals." Renewed debate ensued ; the 
 church reluctantly yield to the urgent request of their be- 
 loved pastor ; the former vote is reconsidered ; and upon the 
 question being put a second time, " Whether the Church do 
 approve and accept of the proposals made by the Rev. Pastor, 
 it passed in the affirmative " ; and a committee was appointed 
 to lay the proposals, with the action of the church, before the 
 town for their concurrence ; after which the meeting dissolved, 
 and many sad hearts went home to tell the unwelcome news to 
 their anxious families. 
 
 On the 11th of December, 17S0, at a meeting of the town, 
 the above proposals were accepted. After which it was voted 
 that the committee appointed to settle with the pastor " desire 
 the Rev. Mr. Humphrey to supply the pulpit as heretofore." 
 At a subsequent meeting, however, held on the 26th of Janu- 
 ary following, the town voted to '•'■disannul and make void " 
 the vote by which the proposals of Mr. Humphrey for a dis- 
 mission were accepted. 
 
 5 
 
34 
 
 Evidently the town are quite as much excited and quite as 
 much divided as the church on the question of dismission. No 
 less than nine town-meetings were called to consider and act 
 upon the proposals of Mr. Humphrey before the town could 
 agree to his dismission. 
 
 The motives which actuated the parish in their opposition 
 may have been various. Many were very strongly attached to 
 their minister. Others felt too poor to pay up his arrearages 
 and settle a new man with a larger salary. " Mr. Humphrey 
 was good to wait on them," says my aged informant. Some, 
 perhaps, did not like the idea of two ministers over one parish, 
 since, as it appears, they had neglected to pay even one his 
 just due. Possibly a few might be anxious enough to dismiss 
 him, but wished to continue the connection a little longer, in 
 the hope of closing the bargain in a manner more favorable to 
 the pecuniary interest of the town. 
 
 The following entry on the town records may shed light 
 upon the subject. October 1, 1781. In town meeting, " Voted 
 to choose a committee of three men to go to the Rev. Mr. 
 James Humphrey, and see if he will make some alterations in 
 his proposals," and "that the committee propose to Mr. 
 Humphrey to abate so much of his salary as his estate would 
 have paid towards the present war, had it been rated with 
 other estates ; and he to quit his right to the Desk as soon as 
 the town give him security upon what is due upon said settle- 
 ment." (Q.) 
 
 At the next meeting Mr. Humphrey was requested to be 
 present and make proposals. After which the town " Voted not 
 to accept of Mr. H.'s proposals as they now stand." By this 
 time the excitement and disaffection had become somewhat 
 alarming, as appears from the following article in the warrant 
 for a town meeting, January 24, 1782, viz. : — " To try the 
 minds of the town to see what number of the people are dis- 
 posed to use their endeavours to keep the town together sup- 
 posing that Rev. Mr. Humphrey can be settled with and dis- 
 missed from his pastoral office in this town upon such condi- 
 tions as they shall think reasonable." Upon this article, 
 " Voted to keep the town together." 
 
35 
 
 At this meeting a committee of the town, chosen for that 
 purpose, waited on Mr. Humphrey, and received from him 
 proposals as follows : — 
 
 " First. That if my person and estate in this town be ex- 
 empted from all taxation, in as full and ample a manner as has 
 been by law and custom used in respect of settled ministers of 
 the Gospel, during my natural life, and that I be exempted 
 from all military duty in as full a manner as that provided by 
 law now belongs to settled ministers of the Gospel. 
 
 " Secondly. And that the Pew Ground, that is, the pew in 
 which my family has always sat, be granted to me and my 
 heirs and assigns for my, or their, use for ever. 
 
 " Thirdly. And that what of my salary for years past that 
 is still due, be paid me in good merchantable rye at four shil- 
 lings per bushel, flax at eight pence per pound, &c, &c, or 
 in silver money equal thereto at the time of payment, and that 
 the town choose a committee of two or three men in their be- 
 half, and they give me security with simple interest until paid in 
 the following manner ; — one year's salary in three months, and 
 the remainder in twelve months ; — and the Church join with 
 me in calling of the Ecclesiastical Council, and the town be at 
 the cost and charge of the entertainment of the Council. Now 
 if the town see fit to comply with the above proposals, and 
 give me sufficient security of the same, I will ask a dismission 
 from my pastoral office as a minister in this Church and town, 
 when said Council is met for that purpose. 
 " This from your friend, 
 
 "James Humphrey. 
 
 " Athol, January 24, 1782. 
 
 " N. B. What is written is written." 
 
 These proposals were laid before the town, and were 
 accepted ; and a committee was appointed " to give Mr. 
 Humphrey security for past salary." The church concur 
 (Jan. 31), and consent that the pastor ask a dismission, on con- 
 dition that the town comply with and " do fulfil " Mr. 
 Humphrey's proposals ; and, on the same conditions, vote " to 
 join with the Pastor in calling an Ecclesiastical Council, to dis- 
 solve the pastoral relation between pastor and church." 
 
36 
 
 Agreeably to the arrangements thus mutually agreed to by 
 pastor, town, and church, the ecclesiastical council, composed 
 of representatives from the churches in Royalston, Petersham, 
 New Salem, and Warwick, met at Athol, February 13, 1782 ; 
 and, by their direction, the Rev. James Humphrey was, the 
 same day, dismissed from his pastoral relation to the church 
 and people in this town. At the same time, Rev. Joseph 
 Lee of Royalston, moderator of the council, was chosen to be 
 moderator of this church so long as it should remain destitute 
 of a pastor. 
 
 Would our limits permit, we might justly and profitably 
 pause here for reflection. The connection between the pastor 
 and the church and town over which, in their infancy and trials, 
 he had watched with devoted fidelity and affection, is now dis- 
 solved for ever. A stranger is to take his welcome place in 
 the pulpit, at the baptismal font, at the marriage altar, in the 
 chamber of sickness, and by the bedside in the solemn hour of 
 death, — a change of no small moment to those who had 
 grown up together in the wilderness, especially to him who 
 had so long and so happily discharged these pastoral duties. 
 But I must forbear. My duty is to relate facts, not to indulge 
 in reflections. 
 
 An indication of the feelings entertained by the pastor him- 
 self relative to his dismission may be discovered, perhaps, in 
 the portion of Scripture which, according to tradition, he 
 selected as the text for his Farewell Sermon, viz.: — " The 
 word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith 
 in them that heard it." 
 
 Probably this town never has experienced an excitement 
 more intense, more universally felt, or more threatening to the 
 interests of the town, than that which agitated its citizens dur- 
 ing the more than five years' controversy relative to the dismis- 
 sion of Rev. Mr. Humphrey. It came well ne'ar dismember- 
 ing the territory, so as to leave but a small part of the original 
 grant, and that " so weak and in such form that its inhabitants 
 would be no longer able to carry on as a Town."* In the 
 
 * Remonstrance against division of town. Town Records, 1783. 
 
37 
 
 warrant for the very town meeting at which the final arrange- 
 ments for the dismission of Mr. Humphrey were agreed to, 
 there was an article to see if the town would vote off all the 
 land, and inhabitants thereon, lying north and west of Miller's 
 River, with the exception of " Deacon Kendall's land," a 
 part " to be incorporated into a separate district or join with 
 any other town as they think fit after being set off" ; the other 
 part, namely, that west of Tully Brook, with the above excep- 
 tion, " to be erected into a town with part of Warwick, part 
 of Royalston, part of Eruensha " ; and although a majority of 
 the meeting voted against the design of this article, still, so 
 strong was the feeling in its favor, that a petition was soon 
 after sent to the General Court, praying that the territory above 
 described, or some portion of it, might be set off and incor- 
 porated into a separate town ; and notwithstanding that this 
 town remonstrated with the court against the act, nevertheless 
 the town of Orange, a part of which w r as set off from Athol, 
 was incorporated the next year. 
 
 There can be little doubt, judging from the letter and spirit 
 of the records, that this division of the territory of the town 
 was effected in consequence of the controversy relative to the 
 dismission of Rev. Mr. Humphrey. 
 
 For more than five years after the connection between the 
 first pastor and his people was dissolved, the town continued 
 in an unsettled condition. The old feeling, which for five 
 years previous to that event had agitated the people, was not 
 easily allayed. The excitement of the Revolutionary war, 
 and the heavy burdens growing out of it, must be taken into 
 consideration in connection with local affairs, in order properly 
 to understand the agitated and almost distracted state of the 
 town during that period. 
 
 The parish were poor. So was their former minister. They 
 had agreed to pay him the arrears of his salary, but neglected 
 to do so. Consequently, a suit at law was commenced (June, 
 1789) by Mr. Humphrey against the town for the recovery of 
 what they owed him, the result of which was, that the town 
 chose a committee to settle with Mr. Humphrey, and instructed 
 the selectmen to " give an obligation " for what the town owed 
 
38 
 
 him. The action was dismissed from the court, neither party 
 appearing.* 
 
 Thus, at length, all controversy between the town, and Mr. 
 Humphrey was finally settled ; but the feeling existing still was 
 such as to induce the former pastor to withdraw his remaining 
 connection with the church in Athol, and connect himself with 
 the church in Warwick. f He continued, however, to reside 
 in this town, — in the house now occupied by his grandson, 
 James Humphrey, — from the time of his dismission to that 
 of his death, which event occurred May 8th, 1796, in the thirty- 
 second year of his ordination, and in the seventy-fifth year of 
 his age. 
 
 Quite a number of old people now living in town remember 
 well the venerable pastor of their early years, and speak of him 
 in terms of respect and affection. None of them think he was 
 a " great preacher," but all with whom I have conversed speak 
 of him as a " good man," the noblest reputation any preacher 
 can leave behind him. Not a breath was ever breathed against 
 Mr. Humphrey's moral character. The only complaint re- 
 membered is, " He was not smart enough ," — a charge which 
 many a faithful minister has had to endure. 
 
 During the Rev. Mr. Humphrey's ministry there were add- 
 ed to the church, in all, 121 members ; of which 36 were 
 received by letter. Five hundred and ninety-three children 
 were christened by him and other ministers who officiated in 
 his desk. He made record of 194 deaths in town during his 
 ministry, and of 113 marriages. The first child baptized by 
 Mr. Humphrey was Jemima Oliver, daughter of John and 
 Mary Oliver (April 14, 1751). The first persons ever married 
 by him were James Stratton, Jr. and Abigail Morton (Dec. 
 26, 1751). 
 
 As has been before remarked, Mr. Humphrey, probably, 
 was not a theologian. He had not the means, situated as he 
 was for many years in the woods, of devoting himself much to 
 theological study. His intercourse with learned divines, and 
 even with books of theology, must have been very limited ; and 
 probably his ideas of his ministerial duty were too elevated to 
 
 * Court and Town Records. f Church Records. 
 
39 
 
 allow him to give his attention much to the discussion of mere 
 sectarian dogmas. Hence no distinct traces of his peculiar 
 doctrinal tenets now remain. 
 
 Most likely he was a Trinitarian, after the fashion of his 
 times, receiving the doctrine as he heard it, without any par- 
 ticular comment or thought upon it. We cannot suppose that 
 in his circumstances he arrived at a more correct appreciation 
 of Christian theology than his contemporaries, most of whom 
 were believers in the doctrine of the Trinity. He may have 
 been somewhat Calvinistic in his religious views ; but of this 
 we have no better evidence by which to judge than the testi- 
 mony afforded by the church records, and the liberal religious 
 spirit which has always been cherished by a majority of the in- 
 habitants of this town. Inviting the critic to these sources of 
 information, we leave him to draw his own conclusions. 
 
 As a pastor he is remembered with affection by those who 
 were not old enough to judge of his theology, but who could 
 appreciate a spirit of kindness. It was his custom to collect 
 the children of his parish twice in each year, for the special 
 purpose of catechizing them in the old Westminster Catechism, 
 after the manner of all contemporary New England pastors. 
 We are not aware that he ever published any kind of a dis- 
 course, or any other composition ; and we have sought in vain 
 for a single manuscript sermon from his pen. 
 
 His remains, with those of his respected wife, rest in the 
 family tomb, in what is now familiarly called the Old Burying 
 Ground, in distinction from the new cemetery near to it. It is 
 to be regretted that there is no inscription to attract the present 
 and the future antiquarian to the spot where is enshrined the 
 mouldering dust of the first minister of Pequoiag. 
 
 Rev. Joseph Lee of Royalston continued to officiate as 
 moderator of this church from the close of Mr. Humphrey's 
 ministry to the ordination of his successor, a period of nearly 
 six years. 
 
 The work of settling a new minister appears to have been 
 attended with about as much difficulty as that of dismissing the 
 former one. The town appoint and reject and reappoint com- 
 
40 
 
 mittees to act with the church committee " for procuring preach- 
 ing." They instruct them now to act discretionary, next to 
 endeavour to secure the services of a particular candidate, and 
 then not to hire such and such persons to preach. At length 
 the church vote to give Mr. John Bruce a call " to settle with 
 them in the work of the Gospel ministry " (Feb. 1784). In 
 the course of the same month the town concur ; but why Mr. 
 Bruce was not settled here, I have no means of determining. 
 Probably he did not receive a very unanimous vote in his favor, 
 since at the same town meeting " it was put to vote to set off 
 the north part of the town of Athol to Royalston, and it passed 
 in the negative." Evidently the harmony of the town is not 
 yet complete. 
 
 Another preacher must now be looked up, — no easy task, 
 perhaps, — such a one as will unite a divided parish. Joshua 
 Morton is sent on two "journeys after a minister," for which 
 he is allowed, for the one, two pounds nine shillings and nine- 
 pence, and for the second, one pound two shillings and six- 
 pence. July, 1785, the town direct their committee "to use 
 their endeavours to hire Mr. Akens." October 21st of the 
 same year, the church come together and vote " to proceed 
 now to the choice of a pastor." But the vote passed by so 
 small a majority that it was thought best to reconsider, and to 
 invite the gentleman " who has of late been preaching to them 
 to preach longer." He does not suit. It requires a man of 
 peculiar abilities to unite the parish that has been distracted by 
 conflicting opinions for ten years. There is but one man, as 
 it would almost seem, who is adequate to so noble and arduous 
 an undertaking in this place. Fortunately that man is now the 
 candidate. The church appreciate his worth, and vote " unan- 
 imously to invite Mr. Joseph Kstabrook to take the pastoral 
 care of them in the Lord, and to settle in this town in the work 
 of the Gospel Ministry" (July 25, 1787). On the 8th of 
 the following month the town concur with the church in extend- 
 ing the invitation to Mr. Estabrook, — an action which proved 
 most salutary for the interests of the parish. Under its in- 
 fluence the discordant elements are happily lulled to peace. 
 
 In those days it was customary to pay ministers a certain 
 
41 
 
 sum, independent of their annual salary, as an "encourage- 
 ment" or inducement to settle over a particular parish, — a 
 practice which had no small influence in giving permanency to 
 such settlement. The terms of Mr. Estabrook's settlement 
 were these, viz. : — The town voted to give him two hundred 
 pounds for his " encouragement " to settle with them, and also 
 the use of a pew in the meeting-house so long as he should re- 
 main the minister of the town. For his " support" or salary 
 they obligated themselves to give him "seventy-five pounds " 
 in cash, and twenty cords of good fire-wood, annually. 
 
 In answer to these proposals, Mr. Estabrook returned the 
 following rather characteristic letter. 
 
 " To the Church and Congregation of Athol. 
 
 " Honored Fathers and much esteemed Friends, — I have 
 for some time past had under consideration the invitation you 
 was pleased to give me to settle with you in the work of 
 the Gospel ministry, and that being an affair of the greatest 
 importance, I have taken it into serious and deliberate con- 
 sideration, and have been seeking direction and assistance of 
 God, the Father of Lights and the Fountain of Wisdom ; and 
 as God often makes use of instruments to communicate his 
 will, and in his word has told us, that in the multitude of coun- 
 sellors there is safety, I have taken the advice of my Rev. 
 Fathers in the ministry (and particularly of those in this neigh- 
 bourhood), and of my relatives, and many other gentlemen of 
 my acquaintance, — and considering the unanimity of your re- 
 quest, that I should tarry with you in the work of the Gospel 
 ministry, and the industry which I have observed among the 
 inhabitants of the town, I am now determined, and do accept 
 of your friendly invitation ; and, under a conviction of my weak- 
 ness and insufficiency for this great work, do entreat your ear- 
 nest prayers to Almighty God for me, that I may have grace 
 and wisdom given me faithfully to discharge the duties of this 
 arduous and important station ; and by deriving grace and wis- 
 dom from Him in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom 
 and knowledge, I may give to every one his portion in due 
 season ; and by the Divine blessing attending my labors, I may 
 6 
 
42 
 
 be made instrumental of bringing many sons and daughters into 
 the fold of Christ, the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls. 
 Confiding in your sincerity and affection for me, I am willing to 
 spend and be spent in the service of your souls and the cause 
 of my Redeemer. And though you may find many imperfec- 
 tions in me, and in my services, yet I hope you will never have 
 just reason to say or think but what your best and greatest in- 
 terest lies nearest to my heart. 
 
 " I conclude by wishing that you may be directed by wisdom 
 from above in all your future proceedings, and that the spirit of 
 love and peace may be with you, and that we may all be mu- 
 tual blessings to each other, and fellow-heirs to the heavenly in- 
 heritance. 
 
 " From your sincere friend and humble servant, 
 
 "Joseph Estabrook. 
 
 "P. S. — I shall expect to be indulged with three or four 
 Sabbaths yearly to visit my friends." 
 
 The town appoint Wednesday, the 21st of November, for the 
 ordination of Mr. Estabrook, and choose a committee to pro- 
 vide for the ordination at the expense of the town, " in the 
 best and cheapest way they can." The church voted " to 
 send to seven churches to assist " in the ordination. 
 
 Accordingly, in response to letters missive issued in behalf 
 of the church by Deacon John Haven, Mr. John Oliver, and 
 Mr. John Foster, the following-named pastors, with delegates 
 from their respective churches, met at the house of Rev. James 
 Humphrey, in Athol, on the evening of November 20, 1787 ; 
 viz. Rev. Jonas Clarke, Lexington ; Rev. Ebenezer Spar- 
 hawk, Templeton ; Rev. Joseph Brown, Winchendon ; Rev. 
 Joseph Lee, Royalston ; Rev. SolomOn Reed, Petersham ; 
 Rev. Samuel Reed, Warwick ; Rev. Samuel Kendall, Wes- 
 ton. The council was organized by choosing Rev. Mr. Clarke, 
 Moderator, and Rev. Joseph Lee, Scribe ; after which it was 
 voted unanimously that the council are so far satisfied with the 
 proceedings of the parties, and with the " moral character, 
 ministerial qualifications, and religious sentiments of the candi- 
 date, as to proceed to his ordination, agreeable to the request 
 of the Church." 
 
43 
 
 Agreeably to this vote, the next day the council proceeded 
 to the meeting-house on the common, and "publicly ordained 
 the said Mr. Estabrook a Christian Bishop, and committed to 
 his oversight the particular church and congregation of the Lord 
 in Athol" (November 21, 17S7). 
 
 Rev. Samuel Kendall made the introductory prayer, Rev. 
 Joseph Brown offered the ordaining prayer, Rev. Jonas Clarke 
 preached the sermon, Rev. Ebenezer Sparhawk gave the 
 charge, Rev. Joseph Lee gave the right hand of fellowship, and 
 Rev. Solomon Reed offered the concluding prayer. 
 
 The sermon by Mr. Clarke, the charge, and the right hand 
 of fellowship, were published at the time, and many copies of 
 them are still extant. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Estabrook entered upon his pastoral duties in this 
 town under adverse circumstances. The parish and church 
 had both been for many years in a state of exciting discord. 
 The former pastor had been compelled to yield to the dis- 
 affected, and retire from his pastoral office. For many years 
 the flock had been without a shepherd to guard them. But the 
 young and devoted pastor is equal to the arduous duties before 
 him. He gives himself up at once to the spiritual interests of 
 his people ; and, by that ready, quick perception of human 
 character, and that admirable tact as a " peace-maker," for 
 which through his long and happy ministry he was ever re- 
 markable, he soon succeeded in bringing harmony out of dis- 
 cord, and in winning the confidence, love, and respect of his 
 entire parish. 
 
 In less than a year after his settlement, Mr. Estabrook was 
 married (September 3, 1788) to Miss Lucy Cushing, daughter 
 of Mr. Nathaniel Cushing, of Pembroke, and on the 12th of 
 the same month he arrived with his wife at Athol, where her 
 kindness and attention soon won the attachment of his parish- 
 ioners, many of whom still live to hold her in cherished re- 
 membrance. 
 
 Rev. Joseph Estabrook was born at Lexington, March 4, 
 1759. His early education appears to have been directed by 
 respectable and judicious parents. Though but a boy, on the 
 
44 
 
 memorable morning of the Lexington fight, April 19, 1775, 
 upon receiving the alarm of the approach of the British regu- 
 lars, after having assisted his father before light in carrying his 
 mother, with a young infant, in an arm-chair about a mile back 
 from the scene of danger, seizing his musket, he joined those 
 citizens who braved the English troops at Lexington on that 
 eventful morning. The bloody bodies of several who fell on 
 that occasion in defence of provincial rights were carried life- 
 less to his father's house by the assistance of the boy who after- 
 wards was for so many years the devoted pastor of this people. 
 He was graduated at Harvard University, July, 1782, and 
 afterwards pursued his studies preparatory to his profession 
 with Rev. Jonas Clarke, the minister of his native town. 
 
 For nearly forty-three years, Rev. Mr. Estabrook continued, 
 in the midst of a united parish, the faithful minister of a happy 
 people, and finally closed his life, much lamented, on the 
 morning of Sunday, April 18, 1830. 
 
 Of the parish during his ministry there is little for history to 
 relate. Through the admirable management of its most prudent 
 and judicious pastor, it was saved from those unhappy and un- 
 profitable religious agitations which, at that age, distracted the 
 New England churches, impeded the progress of Christianity, 
 introduced bitterness of feeling between neighbours and friends, 
 and ruptured the most sacred ties of many a family circle. Al- 
 though he perceived the elements of such excitement and divis- 
 ion in his parish, and foretold with prophetic accuracy how soon 
 those elements would be kindled into a living flame after his 
 decease, nevertheless, the pastor's personal influence, and that 
 alone, kept them in subjection till he was called to yield up his 
 pastoral charge, and pass to the spirit world. 
 
 Though little can be said historically of the parish during 
 Mr. Estabrook's successful ministry, other than that it was al- 
 ways peaceful and happy, — and nothing more worthy can be 
 said of any parish, — yet much may be said of the pastor him- 
 self ; and it is a debt which history owes to the second pastor 
 of this church, faithfully to chronicle, at least, a brief sketch of 
 his ministerial life, character, religious opinions, and influence 
 among his people. 
 
45 
 
 The materials out of which to form this sketch are abundant, 
 and I have spared no pains to freely avail myself of the same. 
 Not only have I sought information from very many of his pa- 
 rishioners who still remember him with affection, and from his 
 own family, but also from his venerable surviving contempora- 
 ries in the ministry, a number of whom we are most happy to 
 welcome here to-day. To no less than five of these reverend 
 fathers* am I indebted for a separate account of Mr. Esta- 
 brook, each written without the knowledge of what was ex- 
 pressed by the others, and yet each harmonizing with the oth- 
 ers, and also with the general impressions gained by three years' 
 familiar intercourse with his living parishioners, and with the 
 particular statements of responsible members of his surviving 
 family. Time and space compel me reluctantly to condense 
 and blend together the information derived from these most au- 
 thentic sources, and record it in other language than I could 
 wish. 
 
 Mr. Estabrook was a man of large perceptive powers. He 
 possessed a rare knowledge of human nature, and seemed at a 
 glance to form an accurate estimate of individual character, — 
 an ability which enabled him to adapt himself to all classes of 
 men and opinions, so as, without compromising his own dig- 
 nity or sentiments, almost invariably to win confidence and re- 
 spect from those with whom he had intercourse, whether 
 parishioners, social friends, or his associates in the ministry, 
 among whom conflicting opinions were somewhat rife in his 
 day. In his manner he was affable, courteous, and conde- 
 scending to all. Hence, " he was every one's friend," f and 
 consequently shared largely in the affections of all who felt his 
 friendly influence. This trait in his character was marked, and 
 enabled him to exercise an extensive and most salutary influ- 
 ence in his parish. In consequence of the confidence it won, 
 " he was often let into many a family trial and difficulty which 
 were studiously kept from the world. Thus he was able, by 
 soothing words and mild advice, to plant the olive-branch at 
 
 * Rev. C. Wellington, Rev. A. Harding, Rev. L. Wilson, Rev. P. 
 Smith, and Rev. Dr. Thompson, 
 t Rev. P. Smith. 
 
46 
 
 the domestic fireside, which before was the scene of discord 
 and strife." * He seemed to have the happy faculty of always 
 saying in a few words just those things which would fall upon 
 agitated feeling like oil upon troubled water. Amusing inci- 
 dents are related both by his parishioners and his contempora- 
 ries in the ministry, indicative of his manner of quieting the little 
 disturbances that sometimes arose in his parish, and also among 
 the members of his church. We venture to give a single 
 instance of this kind, which we take to be a very apt illus- 
 tration of his common practice in healing the germs of bit- 
 terness that occasionally were taking root in the bosom of the 
 church. 
 
 In those old-fashioned times, when to take with a friend 
 something even stronger than tea or coffee was not considered 
 out of character even for the minister, it was whispered round 
 the parish, that one of the most respectable members of the 
 church had indulged a little more freely than was becoming the 
 important position he sustained. The whisper gradually be- 
 came louder, till it was deemed expedient, on account of the 
 reputation of the church, to bring the affair to the notice of the 
 pastor ; which was accordingly done, in the presence of the of- 
 fending party and some of his complaining brethren. The 
 pastor, not being able, probably, to decide who of the accusers 
 had the right, according to the Christian rule, to cast the first 
 stone, with characteristic shrewdness commenced the conversa- 
 tion with his wonted cheerfulness, and continued it till it gradu- 
 ally ran into a lively flow of wit, which soon put the whole 
 company in a very good-natured sort of humor ; when, with 
 consummate tact, taking advantage of the kindly feeling he had 
 awakened, he incidentally alluded to the charge brought against 
 the worthy brother, and rather jocosely inquired if the fact was 
 as had been reported. To which the brother replied, that, be- 
 ing in company with a number of friends, he did drink a little, 
 and afterwards smoked a good deal, which affected him unpleas- 
 antly and made him rather dizzy. The explanation was in per- 
 fect unison with the humorous condition of the party, which the 
 pastor's keen eye perceiving, turning to the other brethren 
 
 * Rev. P. Smith. 
 
47 
 
 present, Mr. Estabrook good-naturedly replied, half humor- 
 ously and half seriously, and yet in a meaning tone, — "I guess, 
 brethren, we '11 call it all smoking and let it go ; attribute it all 
 to the smoking, and say no more about it "; and then, turning to 
 the other party, he added, with a no less significant expression, 
 " Be very careful, brother, and not smoke so much again." 
 
 All understood the decision of the pastor thus wittily given, 
 and were put in too humorous a mood by it to care to dissent, 
 especially as he, with adroit skill, immediately turned the sub- 
 ject of thought, and entertained them with anecdotes and pleas- 
 antry, till each went away, resolved to "call it all smoking and 
 let it go " ; nor am I aware that the penitent brother ever gave 
 occasion for the repetition of the pastor's very timely caution. 
 This witty expression of the pastor has passed into a proverb 
 in this town and vicinity. 
 
 Mr. Estabrook's mind was most happily blended, ever fur- 
 nishing an abundant supply of wisdom, wit, and kindness. He 
 could chat freely with the most illiterate of his parish, much to 
 their edification, and would impart much grave and serious in- 
 struction in the course of a half-hour's pleasant conversation ; a 
 very rare, but very desirable, talent for a minister to possess. 
 " Though not a great student, nor carefully read in his pro- 
 fession, yet he was a very acceptable preacher."* His ser- 
 mons were characterized by an earnest Christian spirit, mingled 
 with a large share of common sense, and were always listened 
 to with attention and interest. His discourses were practical, 
 rather than doctrinal. He carefully avoided in his public and 
 private teaching those disputed points in theology which were 
 the occasion of much unprofitable religious controversy in this 
 country about a century ago, and which again induced discord 
 and separation in very many New England churches during his 
 own ministry. In these controversies he never would engage, 
 not even in private conversation with his parishioners, if he 
 could well avoid it. He was emphatically a "peace-maker," 
 and carefully avoided introducing or encouraging any conversa- 
 tion upon discordant topics in theology. Prudence was the 
 one virtue above all others by which he endeavoured to govern 
 
 * Rev. P. Smith. 
 
48 
 
 his ministerial conduct ; and he had abundant opportunity to 
 exemplify his favorite virtue in his intercourse with his parish- 
 ioners and ministerial associates at that time, when discordant 
 and unchristian spirits were laboring to sunder the bonds of re- 
 ligious union and church-fellowship. Some have thought and 
 said that he carried his love of prudence to an excess ; but 
 others have thought him a model for imitation in this respect. 
 Prudence ceases to be a virtue, whenever, through fear of per- 
 sonal disadvantage, or other causes, it induces to the compro- 
 mise of duty or the surrender of true principles. 
 
 Mr. Estabrook would not himself preach upon doctrines 
 which were then warmly contested, nor did he wish others to 
 do so in his pulpit, although they might advocate no other 
 views than those which accorded with his own. By such man- 
 agement he actually kept the mass of his people ignorant of the 
 numerous strifes and contentions which were distracting so 
 many of the parishes in this Commonwealth. 
 
 In his theological views he sympathized more with the lib- 
 eral portion of the clergy, with Channing, Buckminster, Ban- 
 croft, &c. ; yet it was his desire to cultivate friendly ministe- 
 rial intercourse with all his brethren, without regard to their 
 peculiar doctrinal tenets or denominational names. He dis- 
 liked sectarian names and distinctions. He never would con- 
 descend to discuss the doctrine of the Trinity. He never wrote 
 but one sermon on this subject in his life. This he preached 
 immediately after his ordination, and repeated it word for word 
 during the excitement relative to this doctrine which prevailed 
 in the latter part of his ministry. He looked with no favor 
 upon this excitement. He regretted it, and thought its ten- 
 dency was to break up religious societies, and do much evil to 
 the Christian cause. He used all the influence in his power to 
 dissuade those of his brother ministers, who would make belief 
 in the doctrine of the Trinity a requisite for church-fellowship, 
 from agitating the question, and from their attempts to effect a 
 division in the New England churches. He loved peace, and 
 was desirous to breathe a purer and more Christian atmosphere 
 than he thought they were generating. He used repeatedly to 
 say, " I am neither a Trinitarian nor a Unitarian, but I am a 
 
49 
 
 Bibletar'ian " ; and there can be no do that he was liberal, 
 catholic, and devoted in his religious sentiments. 
 
 Perhaps a correct idea of what Mr. Estabrook deemed es- 
 sential to recommend one to Christian sympathy or church-fel- 
 lowship may be derived from the title of the discourse which 
 he preached at the funeral of Rev. Mr. Lee, of Royalston, 
 and which was published at the time, — namely, " A Good 
 Life the Best Evidence of a Pious Heart.'''' 
 
 He was distinctly opposed to the old doctrine of Total De- 
 pravity, and to the rigid Calvinistic doctrine of the Atonement. 
 He much admired the Christian spirit of Baxter, and preferred, 
 if he must be called by any other name than Christian, to be 
 called a " Baxterian," after the favorite author whose works he 
 held in his hands when he sat for his portrait. " Calvin was 
 no favorite of his. His sermons never savored of the ' Five 
 Points.'"* Indeed, he could endure nothing rigid or ex- 
 clusive. His heart was too liberal and warm for that. He 
 wished to keep free of human creeds ; and he advised his 
 brethren in the ministry to do the same. In his charge to the 
 Rev. Luther Wilson, of Petersham, on the occasion of his in- 
 stallation, ten years before his death, Mr. E. used the following 
 characteristic language : — "Let your preaching be plain and 
 practical. Meddle not with dark and mysterious questions, 
 which neither you nor your people can understand. Be not 
 wise above what is written. Take the word of God for your 
 guide, and not the commandments of men. Human creeds are 
 not to be preferred to the Holy Scriptures. They have been 
 the cause of much difficulty in the world." 
 
 Mr. Estabrook could never endure the spirit of proscription 
 which, in his day, was nurtured in the hearts of so many minis- 
 ters, much to the detriment, as it seemed to him, of their Mas- 
 ter's spirit. " His sympathies," writes one of his contempora- 
 ries, Rev. Mr. Harding, " were always with the proscribed. 
 When Rev. Mr. Baily, then of Pelham, — one of the excel- 
 lent of the earth, — was persecuted for heresy, having re- 
 nounced the Trinity, and was expelled from the Hampshire 
 
 * Rev. Mr. Smith. 
 
50 
 
 Association, Father Estabrook sought an exchange with him, 
 and, in his old age, rode on horseback more than twenty miles 
 to express his disapprobation of intolerance, and his sympathy 
 for the proscribed. On his return from the exchange, he called 
 and spent the night with me, told me where he had been, and 
 why, saying he would go as far again to exchange with any 
 man who was proscribed for an expression of his honest opin- 
 ions, ichatcver those opinions were, and however they might 
 differ from his own, as he would to exchange with the pro- 
 scribe^ though his doctrinal views might correspond with his 
 own." " This," adds my informant, who knew him well, " is 
 illustrative of his character." It is indicative also of the desire 
 for universal Christian fellowship which he cultivated among 
 his people, and which was so emphatically manifested in' the 
 action of the majority relative to the settlement of his successor, 
 and which, there can be no doubt, is now cherished by a large 
 majority of the inhabitants of this town. 
 
 Mr. E. "seemed always to dread, and would avoid, if possi- 
 ble, being placed in positions in which his prudence and love of 
 peace would be severely tried and tested, and he must decide 
 and act, and yet, when he was placed and found in cir- 
 cumstances that could not be escaped, in positions that required 
 decision and action, difficult, unpleasant, and painful though they 
 were, he would have the heart of a lion, and decide and act 
 promptly, firmly, boldly. Of such promptitude in decision, 
 such boldness in action, more than once," adds the reverend 
 and venerable Mr. Wellington, " was I among others made a 
 witness." 
 
 The following incident, communicated by Rev. Mr. Wilson, 
 of Petersham, who was witness to what he narrates, illustrates 
 Mr. Estabrook's decision, firmness, and liberality. 
 
 "At an ordination which occurred within the limits of the 
 Association in the year 1827, Mr. Estabrook was chosen 
 Moderator of the Ordaining Council. After the Council was 
 organized, some clergymen entered upon an examination of the 
 candidate as to his doctrinal views of Christianity, and finding 
 him deficient, as they thought, in regard to native and total de- 
 pravity, and the Trinity, refused to assist in his ordination. 
 
51 
 
 Mr. E., seeing their determination to embarrass the proceed- 
 ings of the Council, in regard to the purpose for which they 
 were called, with great promptness and decision summoned the 
 attention of the Council to the business for which they were 
 convened. He remonstrated against hesitation and delay by 
 perplexing the candidate and the people of the town with ques- 
 tions upon doctrines which had been subjects of controversy 
 for centuries. For his part, he said, he should go forward, 
 and he hoped the members would be prompt in accomplishing 
 the business for which they were called. He declared with 
 emphasis that they were able to ordain the candidate without 
 the aid of those who seemed disposed to withhold their concur- 
 rence and approbation." 
 
 The Council were moved by the decision of the moderator, 
 the one party to withdraw, the other to proceed and ordain the 
 candidate. 
 
 To the close of his long ministry, Mr. Estabrook retained 
 fellowship with all the neighbouring clergy, — with theCalvinistic 
 as well as the more liberal members of the fraternity. All re- 
 spected him, and none could refuse him the courtesies of minis- 
 terial intercourse, notwithstanding that, "when questions, either 
 before the association to which he belonged, or in ecclesiastical 
 councils of which he was a member, were to be decided by ihe 
 votes of all, both Calvinists and Unitarians, at that period com- 
 posing such bodies, he invariably voted with the latter, the 
 liberal party." " I do not recollect," adds Mr. Wellington, 
 who knew him intimately for twenty-three years, " that in any 
 one instance his vote was recorded against them." 
 
 When asked if Mr. E. was a Unitarian, our reverend 
 father in the liberal faith, just quoted, answers, " Sufficiently 
 so for me." Perhaps he entertained more liberal views with 
 regard to ministerial exchanges than all Unitarian clergymen 
 would approve. 
 
 But we have no desire to fix upon him the peculiar name of 
 any sect. No such name belongs to him. He discarded sec- 
 tarian names when living, and we have no doubt that he now 
 regards them with still greater aversion. In seeking religious 
 intercourse, he was accustomed to be influenced, not by names, 
 
52 
 
 but by principles. In this respect, as in many others, he was 
 a pattern worthy of imitation. 
 
 As with him, so with the church over which he was minis- 
 ter, — it has never taken upon itself the distinctive name of any 
 sect. It is now, as it ever has been, known as the " First 
 Congregational Church." May it ever cultivate the truly liberal 
 Christian spirit of its former pastor, and never refuse its fellow- 
 ship to any disciple of Christ who is earnestly and prayerfully 
 seeking for Divine truth. 
 
 We have lengthened out our remarks upon this truly excel- 
 lent man farther than was our intention. But we have found 
 pleasure in recalling his memory, studying his character, and 
 breathing his spirit. "It is the happy lot of few to leave 
 a fairer name, as a Christian minister, than the Rev. Jo- 
 seph Estabrook, of Athol."* Blessed be his memory! 
 May the influence of his noble virtues and Christian excel- 
 lence long be felt by the successive generations of the town 
 over which he was for so many years the faithful and devoted 
 pastor ! 
 
 Near together, in separate and decaying tombs, sleep the re- 
 mains of the only pastors of this church which the lapse of 
 a century has gathered to their fathers. How fitting would it 
 be, could their ashes, enshrined in separate urns, be deposited 
 in the earth, and a suitable monument erected to mark the 
 spot, and tell the congregation that assembles on the next 
 hundredth anniversary where the dust of these faithful shep- 
 herds mingles with the common dust of their slumbering 
 flocks ! 
 
 The settlement of a successor to Mr. Estabrook proved an 
 event of no small moment to this parish and town. The truly 
 liberal and Christian intercourse of the late pastor with all de- 
 nominations had always been approved by a large majority of 
 his parishioners ; and when the occasion for settling a new pas- 
 tor occurred, the general feeling was strongly in favor of secur- 
 ing a minister who would continue the practice of Mr. Esta- 
 
 * Christian Register, May, 1830. 
 
53 
 
 brook, and freely fellowship with all the neighbouring Congrega- 
 tional ministers. Indeed, the majority thought of nothing else, 
 and probably were not expecting any serious opposition to this 
 Christian practice. Although Mr. Estabrook used repeatedly 
 to say to his brethren of the clergy, that there were in town 
 elements for Jive societies, each having a different creed, yet 
 so carefully had he guarded his flock from the controversies of 
 the age, that most of his hearers had not only escaped the ex- 
 clusive spirit of the times, but were almost wholly ignorant of 
 its existence. Hence, in the first meeting called for taking 
 measures for procuring a candidate (May 3, 1S30), all acted in 
 harmony, and apparently in good faith. At that meeting a 
 committee of five was appointed to procure a candidate for 
 settlement, all but one of whom, as the sequel proved, were of 
 the exclusive party ; though the sentiments of some of them 
 were misapprehended at the time of their election. 
 
 A Mr. Tillotson, from the school at New Haven, was en- 
 gaged, with whose preaching no one was disposed to find any 
 serious fault. He seemed to follow the example of the late 
 pastor, inasmuch as he said nothing of the parties, polemics, or 
 divisions of the day. He even gave tacit intimation, by preach- 
 ing for Rev. Mr. Wilson, of Petersham, that he would be 
 Christian in his ministerial intercourse. Presently the question 
 as to the expediency of settling him over the church and parish 
 began to be discussed among the inhabitants. All were not 
 quite satisfied with the aspect of affairs. In consequence of 
 these apprehensions, which, as subsequently appeared, were not 
 unfounded, letters were addressed to fourteen of the neighbour- 
 ing clergymen, seven of whom were of the rigid and seven of 
 the liberal party, making inquiries whether they would exchange 
 with the pastor who should be settled over the parish, to which- 
 ever party he might belong. Answers were received from all 
 save one of these ministers. Those of the Calvinistic persua- 
 sion were pleased to declare, almost unanimously, that they 
 would have no intercourse with the liberal clergymen, — one 
 of them affirming that Unitarians were not Christians, and 
 should not be acknowledged as such. No one of the liberal 
 ministers objected to a free interchange of ministerial labors 
 
54 
 
 with the person settled, to whichever party he might prefer to 
 attach himself.* This information, very timely acquired, in- 
 duced the inhabitants to think it necessary to proceed with cau- 
 tion in the selection of a candidate, lest one should be settled 
 whose ministerial intercourse might be the opposite of what 
 they had enjoyed during the life of their late beloved pastor. 
 Accordingly, the committee were requested to ascertain of the 
 candidate what would be his practice in respect to exchanges, 
 if settled ; but they absolutely declined making any inquiries of 
 that nature. But the inhabitants were not disposed to settle a 
 minister till these inquiries should be made and answered ; and 
 therefore, when a motion was made in town meeting, by the 
 chairman of this committee, to hire the Rev. Mr. Tillotson 
 " after the term for which he is engaged shall expire," the 
 town voted in the negative. The truth is, a liberal feeling per- 
 vaded the whole town. The people of Athol always disliked 
 party lines and sectarian names. They believed such barriers 
 to free religious intercourse unchristian in their influence, and 
 detrimental to the progress of Divine truth ; and they wished 
 for a minister whose soul was noble enough to rise above them. 
 Any other they could not, and would not, endure. They were 
 by no means strenuous about the candidate's peculiar theologi- 
 cal tenets, whether he adhered strictly to the " Five Points" of 
 Calvinism, or was imbued with the more rational, evangelical, 
 and spiritual faith of the Liberal Christians ; but they were 
 anxious that he should possess a liberal Christian spirit, and 
 manifest the same in his ministerial exchanges. Accordingly, 
 the town by a large majority passed the following vote : — 
 
 " That the town will settle no man in the ministry in the 
 Congregational Society unless he will obligate himself, that, so 
 long as he shall be the minister in said society, he will ex- 
 
 * These letters were addressed, and the responses to them were re- 
 ceived, by Clough R. Miles, Esq., of Millbury, who was then an attorney at 
 law in this town, and who rendered most timely and essential service to this 
 society during the unhappy controversy. In the year 1843, Mr. Miles's 
 office was destroyed by fire, and these letters were burnt with it, — a cir- 
 cumstance much to be regretted, as they would be most deeply interesting 
 documents a hundred years hence. 
 
55 
 
 change ministerial labors with all the Congregational ministers 
 in the neighbourhood, who are in regular standing, and who 
 will exchange with him ; and that the committee chosen for 
 the purpose of procuring a candidate ascertain this fact of a 
 candidate before they engage him as such." 
 
 After passing this vote, the town reconsidered their former 
 vote, not to hire Mr. Tillotson, thereby leaving it with the 
 committee to engage him, if it could be done in accordance 
 with the instructions they had received. An addition of five 
 members having been made to the committee, and two more 
 having been chosen to fill the places of two who had re- 
 quested to be excused from further service, the committee 
 waited upon Mr. Tillotson, and communicated to him their 
 instructions ; but he declined making further engagements, and 
 expressed his opinion that no other person would assent to 
 such terms. At this stage of the controversy, tlie excitement 
 seems to have become general and earnest. The minority, 
 actuated, we will not say by what motives, — many, no doubt, 
 by a conscientious sense of duty, — seemed determined to in- 
 troduce into this town the same intolerant and exclusive spirit 
 which had already created division and enmity in so many of 
 the neighbouring parishes ; while the majority were no less 
 anxious to continue the same united, harmonious, happy 
 Christian intercourse, and unrestricted ministerial exchanges, 
 which they had enjoyed with one another and the neighbouring 
 clergy for nearly half a century. They were willing to enter 
 into almost any arrangement by which so desirable a blessing 
 could be secured. They would willingly settle .a Calvinistic 
 minister, even, provided he would exchange with Liberal 
 Christians. But the minority would not assent ; and a town 
 meeting was called, September 13, 1S30, to see if the town 
 would reconsider their vote relative to liberal exchanges. But 
 when the question to reconsider was brought before the meet- 
 ing, the town voted by an increased majority, 10S to 42, to 
 require compliance with their former instructions. 
 
 So strong an expression of the prevailing liberal spirit of the 
 inhabitants having thwarted the attempt of the rigid party to 
 gain the control of the church and parish, the minority resolved 
 
56 
 
 to effect the same unhappy division in this town, that so many 
 other towns in the Commonwealth had already experienced ; 
 and accordingly they withdrew from this church and parish, 
 and engaged the Rev. Mr. Tillotson to preach to them, which 
 he did for the space of three months, during which time means 
 were used and influences exerted which consummated the 
 work. The division came, and such was the lamentable feel- 
 ing excited by it, that neighbours and friends, who had from 
 childhood walked together to the same place of worship, and 
 lived united and happy in one communion for fifty years, would 
 now scarce exchange friendly recognitions as they passed each 
 other in the street ! Even the children of the two societies 
 caught the same spirit, and consequently were deterred, in 
 many instances, from mingling together in their childish sports. 
 O, there was a sad want of the Christian spirit somewhere ! 
 All were not born of God, or there would have been no such 
 bitterness in their hearts ! We charge the blame not upon one 
 party or the other. This is not the duty we are called upon 
 to perform this day ; and we escape it gladly. But it is our 
 duty to record facts. History can yield to no delicacy of feel- 
 ing, or personal courtesy. It must faithfully chronicle the 
 events that are passed, and leave it to the impartial multitude 
 that shall celebrate our next centennial anniversary, and to the 
 Great Judge of all, to decide which party acted most iu accord- 
 ance with the spirit of their Master. 
 
 We will not on this occasion utter one word to revive that 
 unchristian spirit which we believe has most happily subsided. 
 We rejoice to believe that it has passed away, and that the 
 feeling now existing between the two societies is of the most 
 friendly nature. May it ever so continue ; and may the First 
 Church and Society ever be ready, as they always have been, 
 to extend Christian fellowship to Christians of every name, 
 until the narrow spirit of exclusion, which has so long barred 
 the progress of truth, shall yield to the beautiful spirit of 
 Jesus ! 
 
 At a legal town meeting, held October 29, 1830, after hav- 
 ing heard the candidate for seven Sabbaths, the town voted 
 
57 
 
 unanimously to give Rev. Josiah Moore a call to settle as a 
 minister over the First Congregational Church and Society in 
 Athol. One of the conditions of settlement was, that "he 
 shall exchange ministerial labors with all the Congregational 
 clergymen in the neighbourhood, who are of regular standing, 
 and who will exchange with him." 
 
 The ordination of Mr. Moore took place December 8, 1830. 
 The sermon on the occasion was preached by Rev. Alonzo 
 Hill of Worcester. Rev. Dr. Thompson of Barre gave the 
 charge. Rev. Luther Wilson of Petersham made the address 
 to the society. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Moore was, at his own request, dismissed from 
 his pastoral relations to this church, August, 1833. 
 
 He was succeeded by Rev. Linus H. Shaw, who was or- 
 dained November 12, 1834. After a ministry of less than 
 two years, Mr. Shaw, agreeably to his request, was dismissed, 
 August 29, 1836. 
 
 Although the society continued to have preaching the most 
 considerable part of the time, yet it had no settled minister 
 from the time of Mr. Shaw's dismission to the ordination of 
 the present pastor, April 19, 1848. (R.) 
 
 Of the history of the church since the separation, it is not 
 my purpose to speak at length. In general, it is well known. 
 Both of its deacons and a majority of its members left it and 
 joined the new society, which was organized November 23, 
 1830. The first communion that was observed under the 
 pastoral care of Mr. Moore was on the 19th of December fol- 
 lowing his ordination. The following are the names of the 
 persons who then appeared at the service as members of 
 the First Church, viz. Joseph Rich, Ebenezer Stratton, 
 Joseph Stratton, Mrs. James Young, Mrs. David Young, 
 Mrs. Ebenezer Stratton, Mrs. Joseph Stratton, and Mrs. 
 Steven Harwood. 
 
 The intense religious excitement which agitated almost the 
 whole country, to a greater or less degree, some sixteen or 
 seventeen years since, reached this town, and seriously affected 
 this society. Since that time it has passed through some dis- 
 couraging circumstances ; but we are happy to believe that it 
 8 
 
58 
 
 has seen the dawn of a brighter era in its history. The re- 
 ligious truths and principles for which it struggled and endured 
 have gained favor with reflecting minds, and are now every day 
 more and more pervading the entire community. Their noble, 
 elevating, purifying influence is fast winning the love of the most 
 devoted Christians. God grant that they may have a sanctify- 
 ing influence upon all hearts ! And may this society ever re- 
 member, that nothing but a deep, earnest, elevated practical 
 piety can ever give it usefulness or desirable permanency. 
 
 The records of the church, it is believed, are preserved en- 
 tire. Some leaves have been cut out of the book, but there is 
 no evidence that there was any writing on them when taken out. 
 The connection is complete without them. The writing is be- 
 coming somewhat illegible. It is advisable that the proceedings 
 of this meeting, and of the church henceforth, be recorded in a 
 new book. 
 
 From the original gathering of the church up to the present 
 time, it has received into its communion 384 members. Of 
 these, 301 became members previous to the division, and 83 
 since that event. The annual increase of the church previous 
 to the division was a fraction less than four members. Since 
 the division, the increase has been a fraction over four members 
 annually. Hence it appears that the church has flourished quite 
 as well, so far as regards its increase of members, since the 
 division as previous to it. 
 
 The growth of this church has always been without excite- 
 ment. The town has passed through several unnatural religious 
 excitements, and though this society has been once or twice 
 affected by them, it never took part in, or approved of, them. 
 We say this, not by way of reproach to any other, or in com- 
 mendation of this, parish ; but simply, that the facts may be 
 handed down to those who shall judge of our deeds a hundred 
 years hence. 
 
 The two most remarkable excitements experienced in town 
 were those which were felt more or less over a large portion of 
 our country, and which were very similar in their nature, — the 
 one known here, in popular phrase, as the " Foote," the other 
 as the " Miller" excitement. Upon either of these we forbear 
 
59 
 
 comment, or even an attempt at description. We would be 
 charitable in our judgment, especially of the latter. 
 
 The first deacons of this church were Deacon David Twitchel 
 and Deacon Aaron Smith, who were chosen April 25, 1754. 
 Deacon Twitchel continued in this office more than twenty- 
 years, until November 10, 1774, when, at his own " earnest 
 desire," he was dismissed, with a hearty expression of gratitude 
 on the part of the church " for his faithfulness, his unwearied 
 pains and labor, while in the office." 
 
 There is no doubt that Deacon Twitchel was a very worthy 
 Christian. The aged people with whom I have conversed 
 speak of him as a "good, honest man,"* — the noblest name a 
 Christian can leave behind him, the richest legacy he can be- 
 queathe to his posterity. Deacon Twitchel was once surprised 
 by the Indians, and came near being taken prisoner by them in 
 the vicinity of what is called " High Knob." He succeeded, 
 however, in reaching the fort in safety. 
 
 Deacon Smith is also said to have been " a well-meaning 
 man." That he was a man of considerable intelligence is evi- 
 dent from the prominent part which, as the records show, he took 
 in town affairs. iVs there is no record that he was dismissed 
 from it, it is probable that he held the office of deacon in the 
 church until his death, March 9, 1798, — forty-four years. 
 
 Mr. Jesse Kendall, son of Lieutenant Samuel Kendall of 
 Woburn, and Mr. John Haven, were chosen deacons, Novem- 
 ber 10, 1774. About twenty years later, July 20, 1795, 
 "brothers" William Bigelow and Paul Church were chosen 
 deacons. 
 
 Deacon Haven and Deacon Bigelow were prominent men 
 in this town. Both were chosen delegates at different times to 
 
 * Deacon Twitchel, near the close of his life, wrote his dying advice 
 to his wife and family, which he left as a legacy, with a request that it 
 should be read at his funeral, and a copy transmitted to each branch of his 
 family. The manuscript was printed, — a copy of which is now before 
 me. The advice is eminently Christian in its character. In it occurs the 
 following : — "I charge one and all of you, not to take any thing from, 
 nor offer any thing to, any person, but what you think you can safely die 
 by." 
 
60 
 
 represent this town in the Provincial Congress held at Cam- 
 bridge and Watertown, at different intervals, just previous to 
 the Revolutionary war. Both Deacon Haven and Deacon 
 Bigelovv were, it is said, pretty rigid in their religious tenets, 
 and were both active in effecting the dismissal of Rev. Mr. 
 Humphrey. 
 
 Deacon Church is said to have been a " good and influen- 
 tial man." 
 
 Deacon Haven probably continued in the office of deacon 
 until his death, July 12, 1807, at the age of 81 years. 
 
 November 24, 1807, Mr. Elijah Goddard was chosen 
 deacon. September 7, 1818, Mr. Elijah Ballard was chosen 
 to the same office. Deacon Goddard and Deacon Ballard 
 continued their connection as deacons of this church up to the 
 time when the present Calvinistic Society seceded from this, 
 and formed a new church. Both joined the new society. 
 Since that time there have been but two deacons of the First 
 Church, Deacon Theodore Jones and Deacon Jonathan Strat- 
 ton, who were chosen at a meeting of the church, May 25, 
 1835. In all, there have been ten deacons of this church 
 during the hundred years which have elapsed since its forma- 
 tion. 
 
 Few churches have sustained a purer moral character than 
 justly belongs to this. Both its first ministers were distin- 
 guished for moral worth. All its deacons have been of the 
 first respectability among the citizens of the town. From 'its 
 formation up to the present time, not a single member has ever 
 been expelled from its communion, — a fact, it is believed, 
 which can be said of very few sister churches of a hundred 
 years standing. From the records, it appears that but a single 
 person has ever been suspended from communion ; and he was 
 suspended only till " the church have further satisfaction as to 
 his past carriage." We find record of but a single instance 
 during the whole ecclesiastical century, in which the pastor or 
 any other person was appointed a committee to converse with 
 " disorderly members." It is believed that few church records 
 will exhibit a fairer moral aspect than our own. 
 
 Four meeting-houses have been erected in this town by the 
 
61 
 
 First Parish. The first was near the Old Burying Ground on 
 " Mill Brook," as before stated. The time when it was 
 erected or destroyed cannot now be ascertained. (M.) The 
 second was located, as before remarked, on the Street. In it 
 there was but one pew. This originally belonged to Dr. Lord, 
 the first proprietors' clerk. It was the only house for public 
 worship ever occupied by the parish until the year 1773. 
 This house was finally sold at public vendue to Mr. John 
 Humphrey. 
 
 The third meeting-house was erected on the common, near 
 the present large oak-tree. It was opened for public worship 
 on the Sabbath, the first Sunday in July, 1773. By a vote of 
 the town, June 15th, the selectmen were directed to invite 
 Rev. Mr. Humphrey to preach a lecture in the new meeting- 
 house before the first Sunday in July. At first, there were no 
 pews in this house. Each man was required to draw his " pew 
 ground," " according to his pay to the meeting-house on his 
 real and personal estate," and to " build his own pew." For 
 many years after this house was built, it stood alone, surrounded 
 by woods, apart from any dwelling. Its lonely location, and 
 its no very tidy appearance, made it the object of frequent jests 
 from passing strangers ; while its shattered windows told of 
 many a rude urchin's skill at stone-throwing. Occasionally, 
 the sober people of the town would feel a little incensed on 
 learning that some wag had " Found " their meeting-house, 
 and advertised the same in the newspaper. 
 
 The house was burned, probably by an incendiary, on the 
 night of July 2, 1827. 
 
 The house in which we are now assembled was built in the 
 year 1828, at the expense of upwards of five thousand dollars, 
 on land given for the purpose by Mr. Samuel Sweetser. 
 Originally, the singers' seats were located above and back of 
 the pulpit, at the same end of the house. Subsequently, they 
 were arranged in the galleries opposite the pulpit. The gal- 
 leries were large, and accommodated with pews, so as, above 
 and below, to convene the whole town, as all, or nearly all, in 
 those days, attended upon this place of worship. In the fall 
 of 1S47, the house was remodelled and repaired, and fitted up 
 
62 
 
 in its present form ; the upper part being finished into a com- 
 modious hall, and disposed of to the town for a Town Hall. 
 The house of worship below was re-dedicated December 8, 
 1847. 
 
 There are four principal localities where the people of Athol 
 have buried their dead. Of these, the most ancient, most in- 
 teresting, and most neglected is that on " Mill Brook," below 
 Mr. Hapgood's match-box factory, near the spot where the 
 first meeting-house was erected. There lie buried the bones of 
 those who, amid the privations of the wilderness and the 
 threatening danger from the Indians, toiled to lay the founda- 
 tion of our present prosperity. There have mingled with the 
 common dust the sinews of those strong arms that first broke 
 the forest on these hills. There have mouldered to ashes the 
 lips that first breathed the Christian's prayer to heaven in these 
 uncultivated wilds. There lie Richard Morton and Robert 
 Oliver, and other kindred friends. Neglected, forgotten, and 
 almost unknown by their posterity, is the spot where rest the 
 early settlers of Pequoiag. Over their graves which the wan- 
 ton ploughshare has spared, a thick wood has grown up, and 
 almost obscured the sinking mounds. The beasts of the pas- 
 ture tread over this hallowed ground ! Citizens of Athol ! 
 shall no fence inclose and no monument mark the sacred spot 
 where sleep the venerable fathers of this town, and the rever- 
 end founders of this church ? 
 
 The graveyard in what was formerly called " West Pe- 
 quoiag," on the west side of Miller's River, near the covered 
 bridge, ranks next for its antiquity and sacred reminiscences. In 
 this sleep the remains of the unfortunate Wallingford, who fell 
 a victim to the tomahawk and scalping-knife. Hence it is evi- 
 dent that this must have been a place of interment as early as 
 August, 1746. The land contained in this yard was given for 
 a burying ground by Samuel Morton, one of the first five set- 
 tlers, and one of the founders of this church. 
 
 Many hallowed associations and sacred remembrances will 
 long cluster around the old burying ground, in the middle 
 of the town. Here rest the earthly remains of the venerable 
 pastors of this church, and around moulder their slumbering 
 
63 
 
 flocks. The stone which marks the grave of Calvin Hum- 
 phrey, a son of the first minister, who died November 29, 1773, 
 bears the earliest date which I find engraven in this yard. 
 
 The first interments in the new cemetery were made May 
 25, 1843. Five bodies were then removed from a tomb in 
 the old yard, in which they had been temporarily deposited, 
 and were committed to their final resting-place in the new 
 ground. This cemetery is overshadowed with a beautiful 
 growth of native pines, and adorned with many flowers. It is 
 a lovely spot, well calculated to dissipate the unspiritual gloom 
 that has been suffered to enshroud the graves of departed 
 friends. 
 
 Had I time, gladly would I rehearse what tradition has pre- 
 served relative to the remnant of the Indian tribe that lingered 
 latest on the banks of the Pequoiag. Here lived a portion of the 
 Nipnets.* Konkeput was their chief. They built their coun- 
 cil-fires on these plains. They gathered the wild grain on 
 these meadows. They hunted the deer on these hills. Here 
 they gave their sons and daughters in marriage, and here they 
 buried the bones of their fathers. Relics of these noble men 
 yet remain, — their pestles and arrows, and other rude imple- 
 ments of husbandry and war. Traces of their wigwams are 
 yet visible to the searching eye. But that once happy tribe 
 is gone, — faded away like the lingering shades of night be- 
 fore the brighter beams of the coming day. If any one has a 
 love for their memory, and would seek the fittest spot to cherish 
 it, let him, at the close of day, when the setting sun, as now, 
 is lengthening the hill shadows over the village meadows, follow 
 along the banks of Tully Brook, till, about a mile, or less, from 
 its mouth, he shall pause by a small green plat of ground en- 
 compassed by the divided stream. This is " Huncus's Isl- 
 and." Here lived, here died Huncus, the last of the Nipnets. 
 
 Again our minds revert to the early settlers of Pequoiag. 
 Since those men first kindled their fires, ate their evening meal, 
 and laid themselves down to rest beneath the silent shade of the 
 
 * Such is the tradition. 
 
64 
 
 tall pines that then covered these hills and vales, how great the 
 change ! They woke to action. The strokes of their axe 
 are heard breaking the stillness of these ancient wilds. Trees 
 fall beneath those strong-nerved arms. The crash echoes 
 from hill to hill, and dies away in the forest. The smoke of 
 their clearing-fires rolls up from numerous openings. The 
 red man retires from his hunting-grounds on these meadows. 
 His wigwam gives place to the abodes of civilization. By the 
 falls where he speared the salmon and the shad rumbles the 
 corn-mill of the settlers. Domestic flocks now graze where 
 lately the wild deer browsed. The Indian's path becomes a 
 highway for our fathers. The church and the school nurture 
 intelligence and virtue. Agriculture and the mechanic arts are 
 fast multiplying the comforts of life. The turnpike opens, and 
 new energy, activity, and enterprise flow into our town. The 
 stage-coach rolls along the new-made road ; and then the dash- 
 ing car comes screaming by, winding round our hills and dart- 
 ing over our plains. 'T is really so. All this is no dream. 
 'T is but the tale a hundred years has told. 
 
 The century has closed. A hundred years of our religious 
 history have gone by. On this, too, we can look back and note 
 progress. The brightening light of truth has shone constantly 
 in upon prayerful souls. Superstition is gradually following 
 the departed gloom of the forest. The nobler influence of 
 reason is dissipating the dwarfing prejudices of the mind. 
 Creeds are crumbling into sand, and freed spirits are rising to- 
 wards heaven. During the hundred years since this church 
 was formed, a change has come over the theological world; 
 The old doctrines of Infant Damnation, a literal Hell, and 
 Total Depravity, — where are they ? Gone from enlightened 
 minds, where many doctrines, no less absurd, now deemed es- 
 sential to Christian fellowship by some, will have gone ere 
 another century shall have passed away. Gone to be numbered 
 with the superstitious dogmas that have sadly retarded the 
 progress of Christian truth. Nobler views of God and Chris- 
 tianity and human duty are gladdening the hearts of mankind, 
 and gradually permeating all religious sects. A more rational 
 
65 
 
 faith, and a more earnest, vital piety, are exalting the human 
 soul nearer to the Divine. The religious community has made 
 progress, and yet its progress is onward. The day is only 
 dawning. The broad sunlight of truth has not yet shone in 
 upon any church. But the star of promise is brightening. 
 The Antichristian spirit of intolerance, that worst emanation 
 from the Roman Church, is fast losing its influence in the land 
 of the Pilgrims. Men of God have long felt its unholy 
 blight, and mourned over it. Angels have shed tears over the 
 divisions it has caused in churches and families. We rejoice 
 to believe that this spirit has had its reign. Long, long will it 
 be deplored. But as those designing minds who were instru- 
 mental in giving it dominion for a season, in our churches, over 
 the love of God and the spirit of Christ, have mostly gone to 
 their reward, no word of ours shall add a pang to the gnawings 
 of that undying remorse which must for ever prey upon their 
 awakened consciences. Their punishment, as they look up 
 into the sweet, benignant countenance of Jesus, and feel that 
 they were the opposers of his love on the earth, must be 
 greater than they can bear. Over their failings we would cast 
 the mantle of charity, remembering that we, too, are human. 
 May the Father of mercies deal gently with them ; and may 
 the Saviour once more raise to heaven his last prayer on the 
 earth, — " Father, forgive them, for they knew not what they 
 did ! " We thank God that every year is freeing us more and 
 more from their unholy influence. 
 
 We pause. Another century of our history has com- 
 menced. Before it shall close what unlooked for events will 
 have come and gone ! what changes will have taken place ! 
 what deeds have been accomplished ! what new truths revealed! 
 Then, as now, indeed, the rapid Pequoiag will roll its noisy 
 tide on to the Connecticut ; these hills shall cast their shadows 
 over the valleys beneath ; the sun shall rise and set, and the 
 clouds give down their refreshing rains. All else how 
 changed ! You and I will have passed away. Not one of 
 this dense congregation shall be spared to tell of our meeting. 
 Ere then our mouldering dust shall nurture the growth of the 
 9 
 
66 
 
 tall pines in yonder cemetery. Like our fathers, many, many 
 of us will be forgotten by the busy throng that shall then move 
 where are now our happy homes. 
 
 But so let us live, ever submitting our minds and hearts to 
 the divine influences with which Heaven is surrounding us, that, 
 when we shall be numbered with the congregation of the de- 
 parted, we may leave a sacred inheritance of intelligence, vir- 
 tue, faith, and truth, to bless our children and our children's 
 children to the latest generation that shall come after us. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 A. (Page 5.) 
 
 In writing the Indian name of this river and town, I have, in the 
 Discourse, followed the orthography adopted by Rev. Abraham 
 Hill, proprietors 1 clerk, in the Proprietors' Book of Records ; not 
 because I consider this the most in accordance with the probable 
 Indian pronunciation of the word, but rather because it is most in 
 harmony with the pronunciation which has gained currency in 
 town. I have noticed very many different modes of spelling the 
 word. The first proprietors' clerk, Dr. Joseph Lord, in an agree- 
 ment dated May, 1737, and in several other documents of later 
 date, now before me, wrote the name of this town Poquoiag. The 
 first minister, Rev. Mr. Humphrey, on the Church Book, invariably 
 wrote it Perquage. In the original grant it is written Paquoag. 
 The original plan of the town has it Poquioug. Whitney gives 
 Payquage and Pequiog ; Barber, Hist. Col., Peyquage. Savage, 
 in 2d Vol. Winthrop's Journal, spells it Poquaig. Note to Topo- 
 graphical View of Templeton, Worcester Magazine, Vol. I. p. 
 117, gives as the proper authority Payquaog. Mrs. Rowlandson, 
 who crossed the river more than once in company with the Indians, 
 and who, without doubt, spelled the name from their pronunciation 
 of it, as correctly as she was able, writes it Bayquage. Probably 
 there is no positive rule for spelling Indian names. 
 
 B. (Page 6.) 
 
 Whitney, in his History of Worcester County, says, " When the 
 grant of this township was made by the General Court, cannot 
 
70 
 
 now be ascertained " ; and in no published account of Athol, which 
 I have seen, are the conditions or the date of the grant established. 
 But, by the kindness of the Secretary of State, Hon. W. B. Cal- 
 houn, 1 have been furnished with the following copy from the 
 State Records : — 
 
 " In Council, Friday, April 20, 1733. 
 " The following vote passed both Houses in July last, viz. : — 
 " In answer to that part of His Excellency's Speech which re- 
 lates to the ungranted Lands of the Province. — Upon consideration 
 y e Power is given the General Assembly to grant Lands especially 
 for the Planting or Settling of the province and that by the Great 
 Increase of His Majesty's good subjects, many that are inclined to 
 Industry have not been able to obtain Lands for the employm 1 of 
 themselves and families and ereat numbers have removed to neish- 
 bouring Colonies for their accommodation. — Voted, that there be 
 four towns opened of the Contents of six miles square Each, viz. 
 One at Paquoag on Miller's River, Two on Ashuoelot River above 
 Northfield — the other in the Eastern Country at the Head of Ber- 
 wick, all to be surveyed in October or November next at furthest 
 by the Direction of Comm lees to be appointed by the General Court 
 and their several Surveys to be reported at the Fall Session and 
 the Charge of the Comm lee and Survey to be paid out of the Public 
 Treasury y l Comm tees be appointed to admit Settlers and to layout 
 the House Lots so that y e Settlem 13 may be made in a Defensible 
 manner and to direct in the drawing thereof, but not to lay out any 
 other Divisions without further Directions from this Court. Each 
 Home Lot to consist of so many acres as the Court shall Or- 
 der. After Report is made of the Quality and other Circum- 
 stances of the Land, the Comm tees to be paid as the Court shall or- 
 der, that there be Sixty three House Lots laid out in Each Town- 
 ship, One for the first settled Minister, One for the ministry, one for 
 the School and one for each of the Sixty Settlers who shall settle 
 thereon in his own person or by one of his Children. The rest of 
 the land to be allotted or divided equally into Sixty three parts; 
 That one Year be allowed from the Survey for the Admission of 
 Settlers, and that the Comm lea be directed to demand and receive 
 from Each Settler at his admission Five pounds part of which shall 
 be employed for reimbursing the Province the money to be ad- 
 vanced for paying the Committee and the charge of the Survey, 
 
71 
 
 the remaining part to be employed for building Houses for Publick 
 Worship or otherwise as the General Court shall Order. That 
 Each Settler actually live 'on his land within three years from 
 his admission, build an House on his land of Eighteen feet square 
 and seven feet stud at the least and within the same time do suf- 
 ficiently fence in and till or fit for mowing Eight acres of land, 
 Each Settler to have his Land on Condition that he perform the 
 foregoing injunctions and in case any Settler fail of performance in 
 the whole or in part, his Right to be forfeited and such Land shall 
 revert to the province and the Comm tee to be appointed to admit 
 Settlers are directed at the time of admission to take a Bond of 
 Twenty Pounds of each Settler to be paid to them or their suc- 
 cessors for the use and benefit of the Settlers, in case he fail of 
 performing the Several conditions and Injunctions before mentioned 
 and that the Settlers in each Town to be obliged to build a suitable 
 meeting house and to settle a learned Orthodox minister in such 
 town within the space of five years from the admission of the 
 Settlers. 
 
 " Consented to J. Belcher." 
 
 C. (Page 6.) 
 
 " The following is a List of the Names of the men admitted by 
 the Hon ble William Dudley, Chairman of the Com ce and others, 
 the Great and General Court's Committee, to draw House Lotts in 
 the Township of Pequoiag on Miller's River, on the 26 of June 
 1734 at Concord, as Settlers of said Pequoiag : — 
 
 Names of Men. 
 
 East, 
 
 Edward Goddard, 
 Daniel Epps Jun., 
 Daniel Epps Son., 
 Ebenezer Goddard, " 
 Zechariah Field, " 
 Nehemiah Wright, West, 
 Richard Wheeler, 
 Richard Morton, 
 Samuel Morton, 
 Ephraim Smith, 
 Nathan Waite, 
 
 East, 
 West, 
 
 East, 
 
 4* 
 
 O 3) 
 
 East, 
 
 13 
 
 West 
 
 11 
 
 East, 
 
 9 
 
 West, 
 
 4 
 
 u 
 
 18 
 
 u 
 
 7 
 
 u 
 
 12 
 
 " 
 
 9 
 
 II 
 
 1 
 
 u 
 
 3 
 
 " 
 
 15 
 
 Names of Men. 
 
 East, 
 West, 
 
 John Wood, 
 
 Benj. Townsend, 
 
 Jonathan Morton, 
 
 Joseph Smith, 
 
 William Oliver, 
 
 Moses Dickinson, 
 
 Joshua Dickinson, 
 
 James Kellogg, 
 
 Richard Crouch, 
 
 Ezekiel Wallingford, West, 
 
 James Jones, " 
 
 East, 
 
 II 
 
 West, 
 (i 
 
 West, 
 
 East. 
 
 East, 1 
 
 " 10 
 
 2 
 
 G 
 
 10 
 
 9 
 
 13 
 
 West, 
 East, 
 
 West, 
 
 u 
 
 East, 
 
72 
 
 Names of Men. 
 
 ■5 . 
 
 "o S 
 
 .§3 
 
 ■5% 
 ■c.SP 
 
 
 Names of Men. 
 
 
 ■g.£P 
 
 go 
 
 
 w 
 
 v. JC 
 
 "Z," 
 
 
 w 
 
 KEC 
 
 !5 " 
 
 Charles Duharthy, 
 
 West, 
 
 West, 
 
 13 
 
 John Grout, 
 
 West, 
 
 East, 
 
 12 
 
 Gad Waite, 
 
 (t 
 
 East, 
 
 3 
 
 Daniel Adams, 
 
 (< 
 
 West 
 
 , 5 
 
 Joseph Lord, 
 Benoni Twichel, 
 
 East, 
 
 " 
 
 3 
 
 John Cutting, 
 
 East, 
 
 u 
 
 17 
 
 " 
 
 West, 
 
 10 
 
 Samuel Kendall, 
 
 West, 
 
 East, 
 
 6 
 
 John Wallis, 
 
 « 
 
 East, 
 
 7 
 
 u u 
 
 East, 
 
 ii 
 
 2 
 
 Samuel Willard, 
 
 u 
 
 West, 
 
 7 
 
 Jonathan Page, 
 
 " 
 
 West 
 
 14 
 
 John Smeed, 
 
 West, 
 
 East, 
 
 5 
 
 John Longley, 
 
 (i 
 
 East, 
 
 4 
 
 William Chandler, 
 
 East, 
 
 West, 
 
 6 
 
 Joseph Brown, 
 
 ti 
 
 West 
 
 5 
 
 Jonathan Marble, 
 
 West, 
 
 u 
 
 11 
 
 John Child, 
 
 (I 
 
 East, 
 
 11 
 
 William Higgens, 
 
 East, 
 
 East, 
 
 8 
 
 Nathaniel Graves, 
 
 (« 
 
 u 
 
 12 
 
 James Kenney, 
 
 West, 
 
 West, 
 
 9 
 
 George Danforth, 
 
 West, 
 
 u 
 
 14 
 
 Abner Lee, 
 
 East, 
 
 West, 
 
 1 
 
 James Fay, 
 
 u 
 
 West, 
 
 8 
 
 Abraham Nutt, 
 
 West, 
 
 East, 
 
 2 
 
 Capt. Jos. Bowman, " 
 
 Cl 
 
 4 
 
 John Headly, 
 
 East, 
 
 West, 
 
 2 
 
 Francis Bowman, 
 
 East, 
 
 <( 
 
 13 
 
 Isaac Fisk, 
 
 « 
 
 East, 
 
 5 
 
 Stephen Fay, 
 
 West, 
 
 East, 
 
 16 
 
 Daniel Fisk, 
 
 West, 
 
 " 
 
 1 
 
 Israel Hamond, 
 
 " 
 
 M 
 
 15 
 
 Thomas Hapgood, 
 
 East, 
 
 West, 
 
 16 
 
 Benjamin Bancroft, " 
 
 West, 
 
 14 
 
 Richard Ward, 
 
 West, 
 
 it 
 
 6 
 
 Joseph Harrington 
 
 , East, 
 
 ii 
 
 3 
 
 Samuel Tenney, 
 
 « 
 
 East, 
 
 8 
 
 James Holden, 
 
 West, 
 
 East, 
 
 11 
 
 " N. B. I transcribed the above from a List under the Hand of 
 Joseph Lord, who made oath to the Truth of it, and adds the fol- 
 lowing. 
 
 " N. B. viz. This above mentioned List is what the Clerk of 
 Pequoiag has always made use of for want of an attested Copy ; and 
 also entered in their Book of Records without attest. 
 
 " The above entered p r A. Hill, Prop 13 Clerk, Aug 81 24, 1761." 
 
 (See Proprietors' Book of Records, p. 2.) 
 
 The Pequoiag received the name of Miller's River, according to 
 tradition and Whitney's History of Worcester County, from the 
 circumstance, that a man by the name of Miller was drowned in it 
 near a hundred and fifty years ago in attempting to cross it on his 
 way to Northfield. 
 
 Tully Brook, so called, derived its name, tradition says, from an 
 Indian's dog, which, in following a deer, drove the animal over the 
 meadows into this stream, where the flying stag, turning, made a 
 bold stand ; upon which the faithful dog made an attempt to seize 
 his prey, but the deer, striking him with his foot, dashed him under 
 water, and there held poor Tully till he was drowned. Hence the 
 name of the stream. 
 
73 
 
 D. (Page 6.) 
 
 My authority for the precise date of the arrival of the first in- 
 habitants of this town is a manuscript " Memorandum of the First 
 
 Settlers, taken from the best authority that can be obtained from 
 
 the oldest inhabitants," by James Humphrey, Esq., son of the first 
 minister of the town, which manuscript, in the handwriting of Mr. 
 Humphrey, by the kindness of his son, the present Mr. James Hum- 
 phrey of this town, by whom it is preserved, is now before me. To 
 the same source I am also indebted for the names of the first five 
 settlers, the place from which they came, and the fact that they 
 were obliged to resort there for provision, as stated in the Discourse. 
 Mr. Humphrey may be considered sufficient authority for these 
 facts, since, as stated in the manuscript, he was personally and 
 familiarly acquainted with some of these early settlers, and derived 
 his information from them. The date of the settlement of the 
 town, as noted by Mr. Humphrey, is corroborated by other dates in 
 the same manuscript, and by other reliable authority. There is a 
 tradition in the Morton and Lord families, that at least three sons 
 were born here during the first winter after the arrival of the first 
 settlers, viz. Abraham Morton, son of Richard Morton, Abner Mor- 
 ton, son of Samuel Morton, and Thomas Lord, son of Joseph Lord. 
 
 In Mr. Humphrey's MS. it is noted that Abner Morton was 
 born January 8, 1736, and died April, 1823, in the 88th year of 
 his age ; which statistics corroborate the date of settlement. In 
 a manuscript memorandum of the first settlement of the town, 
 noted by Mr. Alden Spooner, as dictated by Asa Lord (October 1, 
 1845), who was born at Pequoiag, October 1, 1761, and was son 
 of Thomas Lord, it is stated that Thomas Lord, the father of Mr. 
 Spooner's informant, " was born in January the next year after the 
 arrival of his parents at Pequoiag," and that he "died, November, 
 1810, aged seventy-five years, minus one month and fourteen days." 
 The Church Book has the following record : — " Athol, December 
 3, 1810. Died Thomas Lord, aged 75 years." There is a slight 
 discrepancy between the two records, but the one agrees with the 
 other so far as is necessary to corroborate the date of the arrival 
 of the first settlers in town, as given by Mr. Humphrey in the man- 
 uscript before me, viz. September 17, 1735. 
 10 
 
74 
 
 E. (Page 7.) 
 
 My authorities for the names of these later settlers, and the other 
 facts stated in the paragraph from which reference is made to this 
 note, are Mr. Spooner's manuscript before referred to, Proprietors' 
 Book, Church Records, and traditionary accounts received from 
 some of the oldest native citizens now living in town. Besides 
 thes*e is a Letter of Attorney, now before me, given to Robert 
 Young by one William Hagan, of Holliston, dated May 4, 1736, 
 authorizing said "Robert Young of Holliston aforesaid, weaver," to 
 take entire charge of house-lots and other lands belonging to said 
 Hagan, and lying " in the new Township called or known by the 
 name of Pequaiog." The date of this instrument, considering the 
 purpose for which it was given, renders it very probable that Mr. 
 Young settled here in the spring or summer of the year 1736. 
 
 F. (Page 13.) 
 
 Besides those mentioned in the Discourse, several others belong- 
 ing to this town suffered in consequence of the Indian troubles. 
 
 Mr. Samuel Graves, son of Eleazer Graves, during the French 
 and Indian war, enlisted into the army and died in the service at 
 Crown Point, November 20, 1759. 
 
 Mr. Adonijah Ball, son of Isaac and Rachel Ball, also a soldier at 
 Crown Point, died at Saratoga, on his way home from the army, in 
 the year 1760. (Church Records.) 
 
 Abraham Morton, son of Richard Morton, and the first white 
 child born in this town, enlisted into the service, under Colonel 
 Rogers, and engaged with him in the expedition against Canada. 
 He never returned. Tradition says, that, after Rogers's defeat, the 
 party to which Morton belonged, on their return home, being out 
 of provision, came near starving, and that the strong probability is, 
 the party drew lots to determine who of their number should yield 
 his body to save the rest from famishing. It is supposed that the 
 lot fell upon Mr. Morton, and that he suffered death in conse- 
 quence. 
 
75 
 
 I have set this tradition down as I have it from Mr. Jeremiah 
 Morton, who received it many years ago from an old gentleman who 
 was one of Rogers's men, and who with others separated from 
 Morton's party after the agreement was made by that party to 
 draw lots. The report of a gun soon after, together with the fact 
 that Morton has never since been heard of, is the evidence on 
 which rests the supposition of his unhappy fate. 
 
 G. (Page 14.) 
 
 This Mr. Samuel Kendall was from Woburn, where he was born, 
 October 29, 1682, son of Thomas and Ruth Kendall. He was a 
 man of great activity and enterprise, well known as Lieutenant 
 Kendall, having received a lieutenant's commission from Governor 
 Belcher, October 5, 1732. He was an extensive land-owner in his 
 native town, and was also an original proprietor of North Town, 
 or Townsend. He was likewise an original proprietor of Pequoiag, 
 and one of the principal men among the early settlers of this town. 
 Here he and several of his sons suffered from flood and from dep- 
 redations of the Indians in the French war between the years 1744 
 and 1760. He was a carpenter by trade, and was a man who did 
 good service in the early settlement of this town. He died at Wo- 
 burn, December 13, 1764. (MS. Genealogy of Kendall Family.) 
 Probably he never was a resident of this town for any considerable 
 length of time, if at all. 
 
 H. (Page 14.) 
 
 An agreement to build a saio-m\\\ had previously been made by 
 the proprietors with a son of Mr. Kendall, as appears from the fol- 
 lowing declaration, in the handwriting of the first proprietors' clerk, 
 which I found in a bag of old papers now in the possession of 
 Mr. Lyman Kendall of this town. The signatures appear to be the 
 genuine autographs of the subscribers. 
 
76 
 
 " Poquoiag, May 24, 1737. 
 " We the Subscribers John Smeed and Joshua Dickinson being 
 chosen a Committee for y e Proprietors of Poquoiag for agreeing 
 with some men for building of Mills and we having agreed with 
 Samuel Kendall junr. of Woburn for building a Saw mill and cove- 
 nanted with him to take 50 acres of Land as part of pay or En- 
 couragement the said Samuel Kendall has at his own choice taken 
 up said land of 50 acres upon the North side of the Mill brook 
 down stream, by bounding it with 2 corners begining at a Pine 
 tree marked S. K. on y e Northwardly side being on brow or side of 
 a little Pine hill a little westward of the Pond, from thence running 
 westwardly over said Mill brook down toward the great river to a 
 little pond hole, then turning Northwardly near the hopfield, then 
 turning Eastwardly, pr running till it Encompass all fifty acres by 
 closing with the pine tree first mentioned where it began. 
 [Signed] John Smeed. 
 
 Joshua Dickinson. 
 " A true Copy. Attest, Pr. Joseph Lord, Propr. Clerk." 
 There is no record bearing so early a date as this upon the 
 present Proprietors 1 Book. 
 
 I. (Page 14.) 
 
 It is a matter of doubt where the saw or grist mill was first 
 erected. Very early in the settlement of the town there was a 
 grist-mill and saw-mill on the spot where Mr. Knovvlton's shop is 
 now located. It is even perhaps quite doubtful whether the first 
 mill was located on Miller's River; for according to the agreement 
 adduced in Note H, " Mill Brook" was so called as early as 1737, 
 when said agreement was made. Whether it was so called from 
 the circumstance that a mill had been previously built on it, or be- 
 cause it afforded numerous seats for mills, or from some other 
 cause, I have been unable to determine. January 3, 1759, the 
 proprietors voted not to build the grist-mill on " Mill Brook, so 
 called," but "at the 'Old Mill Place,' so called" (Proprietors' 
 Book, p. 144), from which it may be inferred that the oldest mill 
 place was not on Mill Brook. 
 
77 
 
 J. (Page 14.) 
 
 But although Mr. Lee was nominally clerk, Mr. Lord, it seems, 
 was virtually so, and continued to act in that capacity up to the year 
 1758, retaining in his possession all the books, papers, &c. (See 
 Prop. Book, p. 135 ; also, Petition to Gen. Court, Note L.) 
 
 It appears that there was no other man in the settlement who 
 was capable of properly discharging the duties of proprietors' clerk ; 
 and when Dr. Lord proved himself not trustworthy, the proprietors 
 seem to have been obliged to seek a clerk in some other place. 
 
 K. (Page 15.) 
 
 By the records of the Court of Common Pleas for this county, 
 November term, 1759, it appears that the action in favor of " the 
 Proprietors of y e common and undivided Lands in said new town- 
 ship called Poquioge " against " Joseph Lord of the new township 
 called Poquioge in sd. county, Physician," was referred to " the 
 Honb le John Chandler, Esq 1 ' John Worthington, Esq 1 " and Mr. 
 Benja. Kent," who made a report on which judgment was rendered 
 by the Court as follows : — 
 
 " It is therefore considered by the Court that the said report be 
 accepted, and that the said Joseph Lord shall within six days from 
 this time deliver up to sd. Proprietors the Books, Records fyc sued 
 for together with all Records Papers Plans and Writings which the 
 said Joseph hath in his hands as Clerk of sd Proprietors to the Com- 
 miitee of sd. Proprietors appointed to receive the same and pay cost 
 of Reference and cost of suit, and upon the Failure thereof that the 
 said Proprietors recover against the said Joseph Lord one Thousand 
 Pounds Lawful money Damage and cost of suit and cost of Ref- 
 erence Taxed at in y e whole y e sum of £ 23 : 8. 1 — and that 
 Ex'on. Issue out accordingly in four days after the sd Joseph Lord 
 has had notice of this Judgment and the Clerk certified thereof. 
 " Exon. Issued 16. Nov. 1759. for £ 1000. 0. Da. 
 
 23 : 8. 1 cost, D. D. 
 Caldwell." 
 
 The above record has been kindly furnished me by the present 
 Clerk of the Courts for this county, Charles W. Hartshorn, Esq. 
 
78 
 
 L. (Page 15.) 
 
 Rev. Abraham Hill, of Shutesbury, then Road Town, succeeded 
 Mr. Lord as clerk of the proprietors. He was a man well qualified 
 for the office, as the present Proprietors' Book of Records made out 
 by him will bear ample testimony. He held the office of clerk 
 four years, during which time he continued to reside at Road 
 Town. Subsequently, when the troubles preliminary to the Revo- 
 lution assumed a serious aspect, Mr. Hill proved unfriendly " to 
 the American cause." (Barber's Hist. Col.) 
 
 In consequence of the loss of the records, the proprietors ap- 
 pointed Mr. Hill chairman of a committee to draft and present the 
 following petition to the General Court.* 
 
 " To the honble Thomas Hutchinson, Esq" lieutenant Governor and 
 Commander in chief in and over the province of the Massachu- 
 setts Bay the honble his majesty's council and the honble house of 
 Representatives in General Court assembled, June 1760. 
 
 " The Proprietors of the common and undivided lands in Pe- 
 quoiag so called in the County of Worcester — humbly show. 
 
 " That the said place called Pequoiag hath been settled upwards 
 of twenty years hath at this time near fifty families and hath had a 
 minister settled about ten years. 
 
 " That from the beginning of the Settlement till about two years 
 ago Joseph Lord Esq u acted as Proprietors' Clerk and kept all the 
 records and proceedings of said propriety all the grants surveys and 
 laying out of land within the same he was also treasurer the greater 
 part of the time, and received all the monies collected by taxes or 
 for sales of delinquent proprietors land and is probably supposed to 
 be largely arrear to them on that account. 
 
 " That in June 1758 a new treasurer and a new clerk were 
 chosen and the s fl Joseph Lord refusing to deliver up the books 
 and papers of the propriety an action was commenced against him 
 therefor and at the inferiour Court held at Worcester in November 
 last the proprietors recovered judgment for the said books and 
 
 * For this petition I am obliged to the Secretary of State, by whose 
 kindness it has been copied for me from the original in the Secretary's 
 Office at Bos on. 
 
79 
 
 papers to be delivered to them or in default thereof execution to 
 issue for the sum of one thousand pounds, lawful money. 
 
 "But before the said judgement was rendered the said Joseph 
 Lord absconded and hath ever since been out of this province hath 
 never delivered up the s d books and papers but keeps the same nor 
 hath left estate to a quarter part of the damage recovered. 
 
 " Thus the petitioners are deprived of their records and those 
 who hold their several possessions as original proprietors or have 
 purchased the lands of delinquent proprietors left without their 
 proper and needful proofs and we are in the utmost danger of run- 
 ning into total confusion. 
 
 " The petitioners therefore humbly apply to this honble Court for 
 direction and relief in a case so singularly circumstanced and 
 wherein they are without remedy in the common course of law, and 
 pray your honours consideration of their premises and that you will 
 grant such direction and relief therein as to your wisdom shall seem 
 meet. 
 
 " And as in duty bound shall ever pray &c. 
 
 " Abraham Hill ) Comtt ee of s d proprietors 
 John Caldwell ) and by their order." 
 
 " In the House of Rep tves June 11, 1760. 
 " Read and Ordered that the Prayer of the Pet rs be so far 
 granted as that the Pet 1 " 3 be allowed to bring in a Bill for the pur- 
 poses mentioned. 
 
 " Sent up for concurrence. 
 
 " James Otis, Speaker. 
 
 " In Council, June 11, 1760 : Read and Concurred. 
 
 " A. Oliver, Sec l y- " 
 
 " In Council, Wednesday June 18th 1760. 
 " Read and Reconsidered and Nonconcurred, and Resolved that 
 the present clerk of the said Proprietors, the Rev d Mr. Abraham Hill 
 be, and hereby is directed to make a new Book of the Records 
 of said Proprietors, during the time that the said Joseph Lord was 
 Proprietor's Clerk, from the minits that may appear of Transac- 
 tions in that time, and from the Remembrance of the Proprietors, 
 and after he hath finished the same that he lay it before the said 
 Proprietors, at some Proper meeting for that purpose warned and 
 then that he do lay the same before this Court. To the end this 
 
80 
 
 Court may then determine whether it shall be established as the 
 Records of the said Propriety. 
 
 " In the House of Representatives : Read and concurred 
 " Consented to by the Lieutenant Governor." 
 
 M. (Pages 16, 61.) 
 
 In what year this house was built, in consequence of the loss of 
 the records, cannot now be ascertained. That it was not previous 
 to the year 1741 is inferred from an original plan and description 
 of " fifty-eight acres of land " lying on both sides of " Mill Brook " 
 (which document was found, since the delivery of the Discourse, in 
 the bag of old papers referred to in Note H), surveyed and laid 
 out by Abner Lee, agreeably to a vote of the proprietors, " Sep- 
 tember y e 2d. 1741," "and to y e election and choice of L l Sam- 
 uel Kindle," " on the original Right of Jonathan Marble, No. 30, 
 y e eight acres to Lyee in common for a Buring Place and Meeting 
 house place, if y e Proprietors shall think proper to put them too." 
 
 At this meeting of the proprietors, held September 2, 1741, it 
 was voted (as certified by Mr. Lee in a statement preliminary to the 
 description of the plan alluded to above) that they would lay out 
 fifty acres of land to each right. In this lot were included fifty- 
 eight acres ; " y e Eight " to lie common for a " Meeting house 
 Place," &c.,thus leaving to Mr. Kendall the same number of acres 
 in his lot which were laid to the other rights. Hence, since the 
 eight acres were to lie in common on the condition that the pro- 
 prietors should think proper to occupy the lot for a " meeting house 
 place," &c, it is probable that the land was not then so occupied. 
 
 N. (Page 22.) 
 
 CHURCH COVENANT. 
 
 " We do first of all Confess ourselves Unworthy of such a favor 
 as to be called into the Church State of the Gospel, and admire the 
 free and Rich grace of God which Calls Us. 
 
81 
 
 " We confess our Original Guilt and Pollution and the Sins of our 
 Lives and Profess A hearty Repentance of all our Sins, Wherein 
 we have offended the holy God. 
 
 " We do humbly and thankfully Lay hold of the Covenant of grace 
 and Promise of Pardon and Peace therein, and this we Do Under A 
 Due Sense of our own Insufficiency and Inability to that which is 
 good and acceptable to God, on account of our Sinfulness and 
 Proneness to offend the most high and holy God in heart and life 
 through the Prevalency of sin in Us, and manifold Temptations 
 without Us. 
 
 " We do now Solemnly Enter into Covenant With God and one 
 another in God, With a humble and Entire Dependence on the 
 Promised Grace of the Covenant Unto the faithful. 
 
 " We Profess and Declare our Serious and hearty Belief of the 
 Christian Religion as it is Contained in the holy Scriptures of the 
 Old and New Testament. We acknowledge the Sacred Oricles 
 Do Comprise the Whole revealed Will of God respecting what we 
 are to Believe and what we are to Do, in order to obtain accept- 
 ance with God and Complete Liberty in him and we resolve by his 
 grace to conform our hearts and lives Unto this Divine Revelation 
 as the Only rule and Perfect Platform of our holy Religion. 
 
 " We give up ourselves unto the Lord Jehovah, the Father, the 
 Son and the Holy Ghost, ye one only Living and true God, and 
 avouch him this Day to be our God and our Portion forever. 
 
 " We give up ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ who is God- 
 Man and only Mediator of the Covenant. We acknowlidge him in 
 his Sacred offices of Prophet, Priest and King, and head of his 
 People in the Covenant, and We promise by his Grace to adhere 
 unto him as such by faith and Gospel Obedience as it Becomes his 
 Covenant-People. 
 
 " We give up ourselves to the holy Spirit, as our Sanctifier, Com- 
 fortor and Guide In and by the Blessed Word of God Written by 
 his Inspiration. s 
 
 " We acknowledge our Indispensable Oligation to Glorify our God 
 in all ye Duties of a Good, Sober and Righteous Life and Particu- 
 larly in the Duties of a Church State as a body of People associated 
 for Obedience to him In all the Ordinances of ye Gospel. 
 
 " We engage, (With Dependance on his Promised grace) to Walk 
 together as a Church of the Lord Jesus Christ In the faith and order 
 11 
 
82 
 
 of the Gospel — To keep the Lord's Day holy to him, and attend 
 the Publick Worship of God thereon, Praying to him, Singing Praise 
 and giving reverend attention to his Word read and Preached, ac- 
 cording to his Justification — To hold Communion With Each other 
 In the administration of the Seal of the Covenant, Baptism and«ye 
 Lord's Supper — To Submit to the holy Discipline appointed by 
 Christ in his Church, Obeying them yt are over us in the Lord. 
 
 " To Walk in Love one With another Endeavoring our Mutual 
 Edification and Comfort, Carefully Minding the Rules of Christ and 
 his apostles in Church Matters, and Watchfully avoiding Sinful 
 Stumbling Blocks and Contentions, or giving occasion of offence to 
 our Brethren. 
 
 " Furthermore We Do give up our Children, with ourselves, to the 
 Lord, and Promise by the Grace of God to Walk In our houses in 
 the fear of God ; Maintaining his Worship, and reading the holy 
 Scriptures and Training up all ym of our Charge in the Faith of 
 holiness and virtue. 
 
 " And all this we Profess and Promise and Do, flying to the Blood 
 of the Covenant for the Pardon of our Sins and Praying that the 
 glorious Lord Jesus the Great Shepard and head of Influences 
 would, by his Spirit Prepare and Strengthen Us for Every Good 
 Word to Do his Will working in us that which is Well Pleasing in 
 his sight. To whom be Glory for Ever — Amen." 
 
 This covenant was used by the church, without any alteration, 
 after Mr. Humphrey's dismission, till the close of Mr. Estabrook's 
 ministry. Of course it was not very strictly construed. It was a 
 kind of bond of union for the church, and probably was regarded 
 as such rather than as a test of doctrinal belief. So we would have 
 all church covenants regarded ; for, indeed, according to our idea 
 of a church, doctrines which are matters of dispute among Christians 
 should have no place in the covenant. A Christian church should 
 be kept entirely free from all controverted topics in theology. It 
 should be neutral ground, where all devoted Christians who are de- 
 sirous to cultivate more of their Master's Divine spirit in their own 
 bosoms can meet and hold religious communion with each other, 
 each one undisturbed in his own peculiar theological belief. The 
 church should never be circumscribed with a creed, and its privi- 
 leges for spiritual culture barred to all who differ a shade in their 
 
83 
 
 belief from him who happened to write the covenant. To so per- 
 vert the church from its heavenly purpose is to limit and vastly 
 contract its sphere of spiritual influence. We rejoice that the 
 fathers of this church did not so limit the bond of their ecclesiastical 
 union. 
 
 O. (Page 23.) 
 
 By the kindness of Deacon Henry Humphreys, of Dorchester, 
 who has in his possession a manuscript genealogy of the Hum- 
 phreys, I am enabled to give the ancestral lineage of the first minis- 
 ter of Pequoiag, viz. : — " Rev. James Humphrey was son of Jonas, 
 who was the son of Hopestill, who was the son of Elder James, 
 who came with his father Jonas from England in the year 1634." 
 Hence it appears that Rev. James Humphrey was great-grandson 
 to Elder James H., upon whose monument in the ancient grave- 
 yard in Dorchester is the following inscription : — 
 
 "Elder James Humphreys, who died May 12, 1686, aged 78. 
 
 " Inclosed within this shrine is sacred dust, 
 And only waits for the rising of the just. 
 Most useful while he lived ; adorned his station, 
 Even to old age he serv'd his generation : 
 Since his death thought of with great veneration. 
 
 , " How great a blessing this Ruling Elder he 
 
 Unto the Church and Town and Pastors three. 
 Mather he first did by him help receive ; 
 Flint he did next of burdens much relieve ; 
 Renowned Danforth he did help with skill. 
 Esteemed high by all ; — bear fruit until 
 Yielding to death his glorious seat did fill." 
 
 (Barber's Hist. Col., p. 467.) 
 
 P. (Page 29.) 
 
 There were a few people in this town who, in connection with 
 persons belonging to Royalston, formed a Baptist Society, which 
 
84 
 
 met " for religious worship on the Lord's Day in Royalston and 
 Athol " as early as 1774, as appears from certificates of member- 
 ship recorded on the Town Book. In the following year they ap- 
 pear to have met regularly in Athol. The names of only fourteen 
 persons appear, at this date, as members. 
 
 The present Baptist Church was organized April 13, 1813- A 
 branch to the Baptist Church in Templeton was organized in this 
 town June 4, 1810. (Town Records, p. 91. Bap. Ch. Rec- 
 ords.) 
 
 Q. (Page 34.) 
 
 The bantering tone of this vote will be better understood when it 
 is known that the town had previously (1780, March 6th and 20th) 
 by two distinct votes refused to " make Mr. Humphrey any con- 
 sideration " on account of the depreciation of the currency, or to 
 pay " one half " of what was due him of his salary " in the old 
 way, viz. in grain, wool, flax, cheese, &c. &c." 
 
 How much the currency had depreciated, and likewise how 
 much Mr. Humphrey's stipulated salary had diminished in conse- 
 quence, will appear from the fact, that the town, this same year, in 
 making provision for purchasing clothing for the Continental army, 
 agreed to " give sixty pounds for a blanket, thirty-six pounds for a 
 pair of shoes, thirty pounds for a shirt, and tioenty pounds for a 
 pair of stockings." Mr. Humphrey's salary was a trifle over fifty- 
 tivo pounds per annum. 
 
 It must, however, be remembered that the town, as well as their 
 minister, suffered from the depreciation, though probably not so 
 severely. 
 
 R. (Page 57.) 
 
 After the dismission of Rev. Mr. Shaw, August, 1836, the pulpit 
 of the First Society was supplied by different clergymen in the 
 
85 
 
 vicinity, who could be engaged for a few Sabbaths at a time, till 
 November, 1838, when Rev. Stephen A. Barnard was engaged, and 
 continued to preach to the society until May, 1840. From this 
 date the society was destitute of a minister, and the pulpit supplied 
 by different preachers, until May 1, 1842, when Rev. Crawford 
 Nightingale was engaged, and continued to preach here about two 
 years. After Mr. Nightingale left, the society was again supplied 
 with preaching by different ministers in the vicinity until May 18, 
 1845, when Rev. E. J. Gerry was engaged for one year. 
 
 From the expiration of Mr. Gerry's engagement the pulpit was, 
 part of the time, supplied by neighbouring preachers as they could 
 be obtained, and money raised to pay them, and part of the time 
 the society was destitute of preaching, till July, 1847, when the 
 present pastor was engaged to preach alternately half of the time 
 to this society and half of the time to the society in Warwick, 
 which he did for nine months. At the expiration of which time he 
 was invited to become the pastor of this church and society, and 
 was ordained April 19, 1848. 
 
 Since he commenced the duties of minister to this parish, the 
 people of the society have manifested an earnest desire to sustain 
 constant religious teaching on the Sabbath. His efforts have been 
 seconded by their hearty cooperation. Success has been the re- 
 sult. The house of worship has been remodelled, and neatly fur- 
 nished ; and by the kindness of a benevolent lady of the parish, 
 Mrs. Lydia Noyes, an excellent organ has been placed in it. The 
 congregation has very much increased in numbers, and it continues 
 to give evidence of an increasing interest in vital Christianity. 
 Our Sabbath school does, and promises, well. Large additions 
 have been made to its libraries within a few years, which now 
 number between five and six hundred volumes. The kind feeling 
 which has been manifested by the people of the parish towards 
 their minister has rendered his most difficult labors pleasant, and 
 cheered him on in the discharge of his duties. Let the same in- 
 terest and effort continue to increase, and increasing prosperity and 
 usefulness will continue to smile upon this society. 
 
86 
 
 NOTE I. 
 
 This town took an active part in resisting the oppressive policy 
 of Great Britain, and in carrying on the Revolutionary war. 
 There appear to have been very few of its inhabitants who were 
 opposed to the " American cause." 
 
 The " coming event " seems to have " cast its shadow be- 
 fore " unto this place as early as May, 1770, when the inhabitants 
 appropriated " six pounds to provide a stock of ammunition for the 
 town." 
 
 On receiving intelligence of the order for closing the port of 
 Boston, a town meeting was called, of which Deacon Aaron Smith 
 was moderator (July 7, 1774), at which it was " unanimously 
 agreed to enter into a solemn league or covenant," making it oblig- 
 atory upon themselves " to renounce the use and consumption of 
 all goods that shall arrive in America from Great Britain from and 
 after the last day of August next," until the repeal of the Harbour 
 Bill, or some other redress of grievances should be effected. 
 
 At the same meeting a committee of correspondence was ap- 
 pointed, and it was voted to transmit an attested copy of the trans- 
 actions of the meeting to the committee of correspondence at 
 Boston. 
 
 On the 25th of August ensuing, " at a meeting of the freeholders 
 and other inhabitants of the town duly assembled and convened, 
 the following resolves were unanimously passsed, viz. : — 
 
 " 1st. Resolved, That it is the incumbent duty of every inhabitant 
 of these British colonies, and more especially of this distressed 
 province, to unite together in one firm bond of union, and to exert 
 themselves to the uttermost of their power in all lawful and prudent 
 measures to maintain, defend, and secure to ourselves and posterity 
 all those rights and privileges which we are justly entitled to as 
 men and Christians, and as subjects of a free government. 
 
 " 2dly. Resolved, That we acknowledge ourselves loyal and duti- 
 ful subjects to King George the Third, whose Crown and Dignity 
 we ever stand ready to maintain and defend so long as he shall rule 
 and govern agreeable to the English constitution and our chartered 
 rights. But, that the authority of late claimed by the British Par- 
 liament, to make laws binding on the colonies in all cases whatever, 
 
87 
 
 is unconstitutional and subversive of our natural and chartered 
 rights, oppressive to America, and in no way beneficial to the 
 mother country. 
 
 " 3dly. Resolved, That the late Act of the British Parliament, for 
 blocking up the port or harbor of Boston, by which the town is sur- 
 rounded by fleets and armies, exposed to the abuses and insults of 
 a lawless soldiery, and by which the means of their subsistence is 
 almost entirely wrenched out of their hands, is very unjust and 
 cruel, contrary to all equity and reason, and injurious and oppres- 
 sive to this Province. 
 
 " 4thly. Resolved, That the two late Bills of the British Parliament, 
 by which our charter Rights are entirely taken away, and the free 
 constitution of this government utterly annihilated and destroyed, 
 and by which, (if submitted to,) we shall soon be reduced to the 
 most abject slavery and bondage, are a violation of the sacred com- 
 pact between Great Britain and this Province ; and such a breach 
 of the natural rights and privileges of mankind, and so repugnant 
 to the mutual obligations we are all by the law of nature under to- 
 wards one another, that no person (unless they are lost to all the 
 tender feelings of humanity) but must reject with abhorrence the 
 thought of thus tyrannizing over their fellow creatures. 
 
 " 5thly. Resolved, That we stand ready to join our feeble efforts 
 in conjunction with the rest of our brethren in these colonies, or of 
 this Province, to prevent the above-mentioned acts from taking 
 place, and also to assist, to the utmost of our power, in the most 
 prudent and likely measures that may be adopted, to recover and 
 secure our lost liberties and privileges ; and if it be not too much 
 boldness and presumption for so small a town to mention any par- 
 ticular plan, we are humbly of opinion that it would have a happy 
 tendency to work our deliverance, if the Province should reassume 
 the first charter that was given them, and, at the same time, let the 
 mother country know that we not only remain willing, but even de- 
 sirous, to continue loyal and dutiful subjects to King George, con- 
 sistent with the liberties and privileges granted in said charter. 
 
 " 6thly. Resolved, That, as committees from the several towns in 
 this county have lately had a meeting at Worcester, which stands 
 adjourned to the last Tuesday in this month, for the purpose of con- 
 sulting together and agreeing on some measures for this county to 
 take to prevent our courts from being held on, or modelled accord- 
 
88 
 
 ing to the new Establishment, we hereby signify our approbation of 
 the same, and that we stand ready to join in such measures as shall 
 be thought most likely to effect the above purpose ; and as the 
 committee of correspondence for this town have sent one of their 
 members to attend the above mentioned meeting, we fully concur 
 with, and approve of, their conduct in so doing, and that William 
 Bigelow and Daniel Lamson be and are hereby appointed to at- 
 tend the adjournment of said meeting. 
 
 " 7thly. Resolved, That if any person shall accept any commission 
 or post of office to serve under the new Establishment, he ought to 
 be looked upon and treated as an enemy to his country ; as he, 
 thereby, is joining with, and lending a helping hand to those who 
 are endeavouring to enslave us. 
 
 " The foregoing Resolves being distinctly read paragraph by 
 paragraph in an open town meeting convened in Athol, August 25, 
 A. D. 1774, were unanimously accepted and ordered to be re- 
 corded. 
 
 " Pr. Wm. Bigelow, Town Clerk. Aaron Smith, Moderator." 
 
 At a legal meeting of the town on the 29th of September fol- 
 lowing, it was voted " to enlist thirty men exclusive of officers to 
 send in case of alarm," and also " to have two companies of militia 
 in town," one on each side of the river. 
 
 At this meeting William Bigelow was chosen a delegate to attend 
 and represent the town " in the Provincial Congress to be holden 
 at Concord on the second Tuesday of October," ensuing. Also at 
 the same meeting Mr. Bigelow was chosen a delegate to attend at 
 Cambridge and "join with the Provintial Congress at their first 
 sessions after the Continental Congress breaks up and the members 
 that went from this province return home." 
 
 January 11, 1775, the town voted "that we do approve of and 
 will adopt the non importation agreement recommended by the 
 Continental Congress." At this meeting the town chose a " Com- 
 mittee of Inspection to see that the resolves of the Continental and 
 Provintial Congresses are faithfully observed." 
 
 These meetings, as all previous meetings of the town had been, 
 were warned in " His Majesty's name." The last meeting that 
 was so warned was held March 6, 1775. After this date the town 
 does not appear to have acknowledged the authority of the king. 
 
89 
 
 June 15,<1775, the town met and voted to raise a " Minute Com- 
 pany," to consist of twenty-five men, including officers. July 24, 
 1776, voted " to grant six pounds to each man who should enlist 
 into the colony service to go to Canada." March 10, 1777, " voted 
 to raise thirty pounds to provide a town stock of ammunition." 
 April 29, voted to pay twenty-four pounds to each man who 
 " shall enlist himself into the Continental army for three years or 
 during the war." The selectmen were directed to borrow the 
 money. June 6, six pounds were granted in addition to the above to 
 each man so enlisting. December 16, " voted to raise 1,128 pounds 
 16 shillings, to pay the extraordinary charges of the war." January 
 22, 1778, " Voted to accept and approve of the Articles of Confed- 
 eration and perpetual Union between the several States of America, 
 as drawn up by the Congress." April 9, voted not to accept of " the 
 plan or form of government for this State, as agreed upon by the 
 Convention of said State, Feb. 28, 1778." Voted " to supply the 
 families of those that are gone into the army with the necessaries 
 of life." June 16, voted " to raise 125 pounds, 11 shillings, to pay 
 for the continental clothing and for transporting the same to the 
 army." July 15, voted " to raise 1583 pounds three shillings and 
 eight pence to pay those men that have done services in the war 
 for the town of Athol." June 28, 1779, voted " to give 500 pounds 
 for each man that will engage in the nine months continental ser- 
 vice." Voted " to allow 170 pounds for any man that will engage in 
 the six months service to Providence Plantation." October 27, 1780, 
 voted to allow 7,650 pounds to Oliver Holman, for beef procured 
 by him, as agent of the town, for the army. May 14, 1781, voted 
 " to raise 112 hard dollars to provide the town stock of amunition." 
 
 Many other votes of minor importance relative to the war were 
 passed by the town.* 
 
 * Two young men from this town, one by the name of Morse and the 
 other by the name of Goddard, were simultaneously killed by the enemy 
 at the battle of White Plains. " Mr. Earl Cutting, their Townsman and 
 Messmate, was between them when they fell." (Mr. Humphrey's MS., 
 before referred to.) 
 
 12 
 
90 
 
 NOTE II. 
 
 This town retained its Indian name until March 6th, 1762, when 
 it was incorporated * and called Athol, out of respect to some per- 
 son or persons, it is said, who removed from Athol in Scotland to 
 this State. 
 
 The first order to warn a town meeting under the act of incor- 
 poration was issued to George Cutting, of Athol, " one of the prin- 
 cipal inhabitants," by John Murry, of Rutland, a justice of the 
 peace, who was empowered to issue such order by an " Act of the 
 Great and General Court." The order was dated at Rutland, 
 " 15th of March 1762, in the second year of his present Majesty's 
 Reign." The first meeting of the town was held agreeably to 
 this order on Monday, the 29th of March, 1762, at which John 
 Murry, Esq. was chosen Moderator, and William Oliver, Aaron 
 Smith, and John Haven, Selectmen. 
 
 Originally the town was six miles square. Subsequently a por- 
 tion was set off to Gerry, now Phillipston, afterwards another por- 
 tion to Orange, and still another to Royalston. Within a few years 
 a portion of the town of New Salem, called Podunk (the Indian 
 name of the locality), has been annexed to Athol. 
 
 On the Church Book is the following minute : — " The number 
 of souls [in this town] according to the census taken by the Mar- 
 shal in September, 1790, was 862, of which were females 442, males 
 420, and six negros." 
 
 The whole number of inhabitants in the year 1840 was 1,566. 
 The number of inhabitants on the first of June, 1850, was, males 
 1,046, females 987. Total, 2,033. 
 
 NOTE III. 
 
 The first public provision made for schools in town was at a 
 town meeting, March 7, 1763, when it was voted to raise thirteen 
 pounds six shillings eight pence, " to provide a school," and " to 
 
 * For Act of Incorporation, see Acts and Laws of His Mafs.Prov. of 
 the Mass. Bay in N. E. Boston, M D CC LIX. Folio ed. p. 425 . 
 
91 
 
 divide the school money by the River and those that live on the 
 south side to have what they pay towards the sum raised ; and 
 those that live on the north side to have what they pay toward the 
 s d sum." 
 
 The first school-house was built (according to the remembrance 
 of an intelligent lady, now ninety-four years old, who was born 
 in town, daughter of Wm. Bigelow) on the Street " south of the 
 fort." According to the records, the town voted, March 3, 1761, 
 " to build two school houses, one on the West Hill between Deacon 
 Aaron Smith's and Ichabod Dexter's, the other on the East Hill 
 [or Street] at the head of Capt. Field's Lane, so called ; and the 
 above houses are to be built sixteen feet wide and eighteen feet 
 long and six feet and a half stud." Probably these were the first 
 school-houses in town. 
 
 The first schoolmasters, according to the recollection of the 
 aged lady before named, were Mr. Merrick, Mr. Stone, and Mr. 
 Sampson. 
 
 May 15, 1770, the town voted "to have a school kept at the 
 south end of Meeting-house Hill, and one at the north end ; one on 
 the east part of the town ; one at the southwest part ; one on West 
 Hill ; and one on Chestnut Hill ; and each part to enjoy the bene- 
 fit of the money they pay for schooling." 
 
 The first division of the town into school districts, or " squad- 
 arns," as they were termed, was made May 18, 1774 ; when it 
 was voted, " that the West Hill and all west of Tully east branch 
 be a squadarn for a school ; that Chestnut Hill, so called, and all 
 east of the east branch of Tully, north of the River, be a squadarn 
 for a school ; and that four squadarns for schools be made on the 
 south side of the River." 
 
 NOTE IV. 
 
 Two or three negro slaves were formerly held in this town. Of 
 these, one, " Old Violet," is well remembered. For many years 
 she was the slave of the first minister. At length she was sold by 
 Mr. Humphrey to Mr. Thomas Stratton, and finally, after the 
 death of Mr. Stratton and the manumission of slaves in this Com- 
 
92 
 
 monwealth, she was supported by the town until she died, in the 
 poor-house, at a very advanced age, about twenty years since. 
 
 Another, a negro boy named Titus, was given to Rev. Mr. 
 Humphrey by Rev. Aaron Whitney of Petersham. He died in 
 Mr. Humphrey's family, Nov. 7, 1773, aged only three years and 
 six months. (Church Records.) At his funeral Rev. Mr. Hum- 
 phrey preached a sermon from this text. " The small and the great 
 are there, and the servant is free from his master." — Job iii. 19. 
 
 Mr. H, it is said, had another slave, named Moody. He died 
 young. There is no satisfactory evidence that any other person 
 in town kept slaves. 
 
 NOTE V. 
 
 At a meeting of the members of the First Church and Society 
 in Athol, August 22, 1850, after making choice of Deacon Jonathan 
 Stratton for chairman, it was unanimously voted to celebrate the 
 one hundredth anniversary of the organization of said church. 
 
 Deacon Jonathan Stratton, John Harvey Humphrey, S. F. 
 Cheney, George Sprague, John Kendall, Laban Morse, Lyman W. 
 Hapgood, H. W. Carter, and Theodore Jones, Esq. were chosen a 
 committee of arrangements to make suitable preparations for the 
 proper celebration of this interesting anniversary. 
 
 At a meeting of the above committee of arrangements, it was 
 voted to insert a notice of the celebration in the White Flag, pub- 
 lished in town, and in the Christian Register. 
 
 H. W. Carter and L. W. Hapgood were appointed a sub-com- 
 mittee to invite the members of the other religious societies in town 
 to be present at the celebration. H. W. Carter was appointed a 
 committee of correspondence to invite the surviving contemporaries 
 of Rev. Mr. Estabrook in the ministry, and other guests, to be 
 present. 
 
 The exercises of the celebration commenced at two o'clock 
 P. M., and were as follows, viz. : — 
 
 I. A voluntary by the choir. 
 IT. Hymn 751 of the Cheshire Collection. 
 
93 
 
 III. Prayer by Rev. Dr. Willard of Deerfield. 
 
 IV. Selections from Scripture read by Rev. Preserved Smith 
 
 of Deerfield. 
 V. Hymn 745 of Cheshire Collection. 
 
 VI. Discourse. 
 
 VII. Prayer by Rev. Alpheus Harding of New Salem. 
 
 VIII. Hymn, written for the occasion, by Mrs. M. E. Clarke. 
 
 God of our fathers, at thy shrine 
 
 We raise our souls in humble prayer ; 
 With grateful hearts we own thy love, 
 
 And, waiting, bow, thy suppliants there. 
 
 Where first those fathers trembling stood 
 
 In doubt and fear to worship thee, 
 Their filial offspring now can stand, 
 
 From all those doubts and terrors free. 
 
 We thank thee for that noble zeal 
 
 Which bade our sires those trials brave ; 
 
 We thank thee for that vital faith 
 Which thou to every bosom gave. 
 
 O Father, may that holy shrine 
 
 Those pious spirits planted here 
 Be ever our abiding church, — 
 • Be ever to our hearts most dear. 
 
 O, may that peace be ne'er disturbed 
 
 Which in our happy union reigns ; 
 And may that love which warms our souls 
 
 For ever be a living flame. 
 
 When those who round this altar bend 
 
 Shall mingle with their fathers' dust, 
 O God, to hearts no less sincere 
 
 Do thou this ancient church intrust. 
 
 IX. Benediction by Rev. Dr. Willard. 
 
 The congregation then united in singing " From all that dwell 
 
94 
 
 below the skies," to the tune of Old Hundred ; after which the 
 whole crowded assembly repaired to the hall above the church, and 
 partook of a bountiful collation prepared with great taste by the 
 ladies of the First Parish. 
 
 The repast being over, the meeting was addressed by the Chair- 
 man, Rev. Preserved Smith ; after which the following original 
 hymn, written for the occasion, by Mr. Alden Spooner, was sung 
 by the choir : — 
 
 Within a lone, sequestered glen, 
 
 All desolate and wild, 
 The haunt of beasts and savage men, 
 
 Here roamed the forest child. 
 
 Beneath the tall, primeval wood 
 
 And mossy mural crag, 
 There rolled a deep impetuous flood, 
 
 The rapid, dark Pequoiag. 
 
 Here in this wilderness-abode 
 
 Our pious fathers rear 
 A consecrated shrine to God, 
 
 In humble praise and prayer. 
 
 Here their devoted songs of praise 
 
 In accents sweetly flow, 
 And here the suppliant's voice was raised 
 
 One hundred years ago. 
 
 Where once the Indian's wigwam rose, 
 
 Amid the tangled vine, 
 Now bloom the sweet and fragrant rose 
 
 And garden eglantine. 
 
 A thousand cattle on the hills 
 
 In verdant pastures roam ; 
 The whitened fields along the vales 
 
 Proclaim the " Harvest Home." 
 
95 
 
 The artisan, with cunning skill, 
 
 Compels the idle flood 
 To bow obsequious to his will, 
 
 And labor for his good. 
 
 When, hark ! is heard in distance far, 
 
 Now screeching o'er the plain 
 The clarion of the coming car, 
 
 With its rich-freighted train. 
 
 To God let unborn millions raise, 
 
 Where once the Indian roamed, 
 United paeans to his praise 
 
 Hundreds of years to come. 
 
 Addresses were then made by Rev. Luther Wilson of Peters- 
 ham, Rev. Crawford Nightingale of Chicopee, Rev. Dr. Wil- 
 lard, George Hoyt, M. D., of Athol, and Rev. H. F. Bond of 
 Bar re. 
 
 The exercises of the evening closed with a select piece by the 
 choir ; and the crowded, happy gathering adjourned the meeting 
 one hundred years. 
 
 05 s " The letters received relative to the historical facts embraced in 
 the foregoing Discourse and Appendix, together with such historical 
 papers as I have collected, or may collect, will be placed with the Church 
 Records for future reference. 
 
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