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Diary of John Comer.

EDITED WITH NOTES BY
C. EDWIN BARROWS, D. D,,
Late Pastor of First Baptist Church, Nenuport, R. I.
WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND A FEW ADDITIONAL NOTES BY
JAMES W. WILLMARTH, D. D., LL.D.,
Pastor of Roxborough Baptist Church, Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA :
AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY,
1420 Chestnut Street.

DEDICATION.

THE EDITOR
IS PERMITTED TO INSCRIBE THIS VOLUME
TO ONE
WHOSE PRESENCE, DURING HER LIFE, WAS A CONSTANT INSPIRATION
AND THE MEMORY OF WHOM, NOW THAT SHE HAS
DEPARTED, SHALL BE A PERPETUAL
INCENTIVE TO HIGHER
SERVICE.

PREFATORY NOTE.

This -u-ork, believed to be of historical interest and value to the
general public, to the citizens of Rhode Island, and to the Baptist
Denomination, is published by the American Baptist Publication
Society in conjunction with the Rhode Island Historical Society, for
which it was originally edited and annotated. A portion of the first
edition bears the imprint of the latter Society.
The stereotype plates are provided by the generosity of Hon.
Horatio Gates Jones, of Philadelphia, and Mr. Samuel A. Crozer, of
Upland, Penna.
The autograph of John Comer is given on page 15, and was fur
nished by the kindness of Hon. H. G. Jones.
For a statement explanatory of the Dedication of this volume, see
Introduction, page 12. ^
It will be understood, of course, that responsibility for opinions
expressed in the Notes and Introduction belongs entirely to the writers.
J. W. W.
ROXBOKOTTGH, PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 15, 1892.

INTRODUCTION.

TOHN COMER was bom in Boston, Mass., August 1, 1704. He pur-
^ sued his perparatory studies at Cambridge, with a view of entering
Harvard CoUege, where he became a member of a Congregational
church ; but entered Yale College instead of Harvard in September,
1722. After a time, embracing Baptist sentiments, he was baptized
January 31, 1725, becoming a member of the First Baptist Church,
in Boston. He did not complete his course at Yale, but after
his baptism began to preach. He spent a short time in Swanzey,
Mass., teaching school and preaching, and in November, 1725, entered
on his ministry in Newport, R. I., at the early age of twenty-one.
Here he spent about six years, first as co- pastor of the First Baptist
Church with Elder Wm. Peckham, and afterward, as what would
probably now be called "stated supply" (in part, for there was
another minister,) of the Second Baptist Church. His work at New
port was faithfully done, and was productive of great good ; but erelong
he found himself beset by many embarrassments. His doctrinal senti
ments were Calvinistic, and he soon came to be a firm believer in the
practice of " laying on of hands " upon newly baptized believers. The
First Church was Calvinistic, but it resisted his attempt to introduce
the strict observance of the " laying on of hands." It ought to be re
membered that Mr. Comer's opinion was not an idiosyncrasy. Great
numbers of Baptists in the seventeenth century, probably the large
majority of them, believed this usage to be scriptural and obligatory.
The same view was widely held in the eighteenth century. Mr.
Comer's resignation resulted from this controversy. With the Second
Church he was in harmony on this point ; but they were Aiminians in
doctrine, and did not relish the preaching of the " doctrines of grace."
All these difficulties, during which Mr. Comer seems to bave exhibited
a firm regard for what he believed to be the truth, tempered by a kind
and Christian spirit, are set forth in his Diary. Isaac Backus describes
him as "an excellent preacher of the gospel," and says that he was
' an eminent instrument of reviving doctrinal and practical religion 7

INTRODUCTION.

in Newport." In 1731 he removed to Rehoboth, Mass. A Baptist
church was formed there which was in accord with his views of truth
and order, and in less than two years it increased to a membership of
ninety-five. While in Newport he had occasionally done missionary
work ; now he labored not only at home but in Sutton, Leicester, Mid-
dleborough, and other places. A bright future seemed to be before him.
His ability, piety, and wisdom marked him out for high usefulness and
leadership among the New England Baptists, who were then a " feeble
folk," struggling with opposition and persecution. But in his zeal he
taxed his physical powers too severely, contracted consumption, and
" died joyfully " at Rehoboth, May 23, 1734, when not yet quite thirty
years of age.
His Diary, covering the greater part of his life, is of an antique
pattern. He often jots down occurrences in the fewest possible words.
He deals little with the pictorial and picturesque elements. He reveals
himself as a man of thought, of decision, and of piety ; but his expres
sions often appear to us quaint ; his reflections, always pervaded by a
devout spirit, seem occasionally childlike, especially in the religious
awe awakened by every unusual phenomenon or striking event. It
was the way of the times to regard every calamity as a judgment, and
to look upon many natural phenomena with fear, as portents of wrath,
rather than with scientific inquiry and with admiration of God's won
derful displays of his power. This was no doubt an error. Yet who
shall say that John Comer was not right in his unquestioning belief
in God's providential control of the world, and that his mental
attitude was not far nearer the right than the less believing and more
flippant temper of this generation ? Surely, we may learn something of
wisdom and reverence from men like him, even if their quaintness and
simplicity sometimes create a smile. When too, we consider the youth
of the writer, I think we shall be impressed with the feeling that he
was a man of strong intellect and noble powers, and that only his early
death prevented him from becoming a commanding figure in the his
tory of his people and in the literature of his day.
As we read this old-fashioned Diary we are carried back to days
that, in some respects, seem to belong to remote antiquity For, two
hundred years ago there was not a railroad or steamboat or telegraph
or telephone in the world. Men traveled and communicated with
each other in the most primitive ways. This country was new, sparsely
settled, undeveloped, and bound by ties of political and commercial
dependence to the mother country beyond the sea, to cross which was
a far more formidable undertaking than it is now to circumnavigate

INTRODUCTION.

the globe. Life flowed on in a moderate current, with a slowness which
to us would perhaps be intolerable. Questions of public policy, of in
ternational relations, of theological thought were all widely difierent
in form, if not in substance, from those that agitate our minds. Many
truths and facts, especially of science, now familiar as the alphabet,
were then wholly unknown ; and many old beliefs and superstitions,
now vanished, held full sway or lingered in many minds. Projects
now successfully accomplished or hopefully entertained, would then
have seemed the wildest vagaries; and some matters then of grave
concern, would now have no interest. Was this life, therefore, radically
difierent from ours ? Do its simple and quaint annals possess no charm
for us and convey no lessons for our instruction ? Whoever attentively
reads this Diary will experience, first, an impression of freshness and
strangeness, as if he had had a glimpse of a world almost unknown.
But, presently, he will see the unchangeable elements and principles of
human nature and of God's grace at work in that simple state of so
ciety. He will perceive that piety, bravery, truth, and honor have all
times as their own ; and he will not refuse to receive some precious
lessons from the Diary of honest John Comer.
Certainly, historically considered, this Diary, which is often quoted
by Backus and others, is valuable. The church historian, desirous of
understanding the doctrines and practices of that early day, and of
rescuing from oblivion a multitude of interesting and instructive facts,
will find in it much material. The secular historian, especially in the
line of local history, will also find here memoranda of events, accounts
of curious circumstances, details concerning men and things, which
will aid him in his researches, and throw a good deal of light upon the
conditions of life and of thought almost two hundred years ago. Every
citizen of Rhode Island interested in the early history of his State, every
scholar of antiquarian tastes, every Baptist reverencing his ecclesiastical
forefathers and wishing to know more of their beliefs, practices, and
lives, every Christian, of whatever denomination, to whom American
church history seems as important as the church history of former
ages — all these, I am sure, will read with great pleasure and profit the
"Diary of John Comer," will be glad to find it elucidated by the
scholarly and helpful notes which accompany the text, and will be
grateful for the publication of the work.
The task of editing and annotating the " Diary of John Comer " was
wisely committed, some years ago, by the Rhode Island Historical
Society to the Rev. Dr. Barrows, then Pastor of the First Baptist
Church, of Newport. He had already made a profound study of the
ecclesiastical history of Rhode Island. He had resided for many years

10 INTRODUCTION.

at Newport, was familiar with its localities, its history, and its traditions,
and was pastor of the ancient church to which John Comer ministered.
He brought to his work ample ability, habits of diligent and pains
taking research, and a remarkably well-balanced and trained power of
historical judgment. He had advanced far toward its completion when
his labors were terminated by his unexpected and lamented death.
The manuscript notes and memoranda which he left were placed
in my hands to prepare the work for the press. I found the great body
of the notes in a state of admirable readiness. It was necessary only
tp look them over with a view to the correction of clerical errors, and
these were very few indeed. Two or three notes I have been able to
furnish from the author's memoranda in pencil. In quite a number of
cases he had indicated his purpose to make other notes, of which no
trace could be found. He had undoubtedly passed them, intending
later to supply the deficiency — probably, after farther research. These
I have not been able to prepare, being without access to the requisite
authorities. My own additions are indicated by my initials.
It is a matter of great regret that the editor was prevented by death"
from finishing his work, especially because in the flnal form, which it
would have received at his hands, it would, I think, have furnished
additional light on some interesting subjects. For example : it is well
known that a friendly rivalry exists between the First Baptist Church
of Providence and the First Baptist Church at Newport, for the honor
of being acknowledged as the oldest existing Baptist church in America.
Dr. Barrows, in a very gracious and historical spirit, was an advocate of
the claim of the First Church at Newport, having a firm conviction of its
validity, and being well aquainted with the facts and authorities on
which that claim is based. A noteindicated but not written might (I
conjecture) have thrown some light upon this question. I am sure that
the friends of both churches, and all who are interested in historical
researches, will regret that Dr. Barrows was prevented from saying
whatever he may have desired to say upon this matter of historical
fact. Again, I am almost sure that some fuller notice of the life,
work, and character of that great and good man, John Clarke, would
have been found in these notes if the author had been permitted to pre
pare them for the press. It is known that he had under advisement
the project of preparing a Hfe of John Clarke ; a work which would
have been of great value, and for which he had every qualification.
Also, it is natural to suppose, that the editor would not have failed to
give fuller details of the last days and labors of John Comer than I
have been able to supply, and that he would have given some account
of his posterity. A son, named also John Comer, was — according to

INTRODUCTION. 11

Morgan Edwards and Backus — a member of the Baptist church in
Warren, R. I. This and much more would, I presume, have been
traced out and recorded. But God has willed otherwise, and we bow
with submission to his will, thankful that the careful and scholarly
method of Dr. Barrows enables us to rescue from loss and give to the
public such a large and valuable portion of what he had intended to
contribute to history. It only remains to give a brief notice of his life
and character, and to pay a brief tribute to hia memory.
COMFORT EDWIN BARROWS was bom in Attleboro, Mass., De
cember 11, 1831 ; was baptized at Providence, R. I., by S. W. Field, d.d.,
May 25, 1850, becoming a member of the Central Baptist Church
(Old " Pine Street ") ; was graduated from Brown University in 1858,
and from the Theological Institution at Newton in 1861. He was almost
immediately settled aa pastor of the Baptist church at South Danvers
(now Peabody), Mass., where he was ordained December 25, 1861. He
removed to Newport, R. I., in 1865, settling as pastor with the First
Baptist Church, and remaining in that relation almost nineteen years
and until his death, which occurred, after a brief illness, December 26,
1883. He gave his whole heart to his work. He was a faithful pastor, an
instructive and thoroughly biblical preacher, a wise administrator, and
a diligent student. He made large acquirements in biblical and theo
logical learning. He had a special fondness for the study of philosophy.
Christian doctrine, and church history. His personal character was
marked by spotless integrity and purity, deep and spiritual piety, and
manly firmness, and was adorned by courtesy, sympathy, and gen
tleness. Such a man's work could not be circumscribed by " parish limits."
He was known in Newport not only as a chief factor in the religious life
of the town, but also as a respected and influential citizen, interested in
all benevolent and literary projects. He rose to a high position in his de
nomination. He not only wrote an able and valuable historical sketch
of " The Development of Baptist Principles in Rhode Island " ' — as well
as other small works — but in many ways he helped to make history.
He had positive convictions concerning Christian doctrine and church
order, based upon his study of the Bible — the one authority which he
reverently accepted as flnal and infallible. These convictions made
him a regular Baptist of the American type, and circumstances made
him a special champion of certain essential features of Baptist doctrine
1 One of the publications of the American Baptist Publication Society.

12 INTRODUCTION.

and practice. By no m^ans disposed to contention, or even to contro
versy, with a mind of judicial temper, he never shrank from the path
of duty. He knew how to promote and defend what he believed to be the
cause of truth and of Christ himself, with patient persistence and with
vigilance, flrmness, and wisdom. He knew also how to act this import
ant part without rashness or bitterness in a broad and moderate spirit,
without compromise and yet with abounding charity to all, " speaking
the truth in love." He was, therefore, by the grace of God, equal to
every emergency, and his influence continually grew. The fruits of his
labors and of his leadership remain his noblest monument.
He was frequently called to positions of honor and trust. He was
twice chosen President of the Rhode Island Baptist State Convention ;
was elected trustee of Brown University in 1878, and was, for one term
at least, on the Board of Managers of the American Baptist Missionary
Union. He received the honorary degree of Doctor in Divinity from
Colby University, in 1881.
It will surprise no one who reads his notes in this volume, to know
that in the necrology of his alma mater it is said of him that " he had a
true historic spirit, which became stronger and more active by investi
gations and writings, which were characterized by thoroughness and
accuracy, by candor and a singleness of devotion to the pursuit and
attainment of truth.''
The worth of Dr. Barrows was fully known, however, only in the
daily walks of pastoral duty and in the sacred enclosure of his home.
He was married January 1, 1862. His wife was Harriet Willmarth, the
eldest daughter of the Rev. Erastus Willard, for more than twenty years
Baptist missionary in France. Mrs. Barrows was a woman of high men
tal and social endowments, and " the heart of her husband safely trusted
in her." Her death, March 13, 1883, was a crushing blow to him, and at first
it seemed that he would never rally from it. At length, however, he
had risen above the first stunning shock of his great affliction, and had
girded himself to return to "life and to duty with undismayed heart.''
The touching dedication of this volume to the memory of the departed
wife, shows at once the depth of his undying afiection and his brave
resolve, inspired by her memory, to devote himself to " higher service "
for God and for mankind. This dedication I regard as a precious sou
venir of them both. I found it, in pencil, among the notes and memo
randa, and it is given verbatim as its author left it. Its last words seem
almost prophetic. The providence of God has removed him from all
earthly endeavor, and his aspiration for " higher service " in this life
must remain unfulfilled ; but all who knew him and loved him will take

INTRODUCTION. 13

comfort in the assurance that he has only been called to a higher
service, indeed, Ln a more perfect life.
The Comer of the olden time, with his simple feith and quaint ways,
the Barrows of the later time, with his riper culture and wider knowl
edge, bnt with equal faith in God and in his Holy Word — both fiiitiilul
workmen in the same vineyard ; both true servants of the same Master ;
both worthy successors of John Clarke ; both having hearts loyal to
Giod and sturdy in obedience to him and the defense of his truth ; both
loving and lovable in the daily walks of life ; both called to " higher ser
vice " in the midst of their usefulness and promise — ^in this volume
clasp hands across the generations, and being dead, yet speak.
James W. Willmabth.
BoxBOBOUGH, Phtladelphia, Oct. 15, 1892.

Remember the former things of old, for I am God and there is
none eke. — Isa. 46 : 9.
And thou shalt remember all the way which Jehovah thy God
has led thee. — Deut. 8 : 2.

So, on and on, through many an opening door.
That gladly opens to the key I bring.
From brightening court to court of Christ, my Bang,
Hope-fed, love-fed, I journey evermore.
At last I trust these changing scenes will cease ;
There is a court I hear where he abides ;
No door beyond that further glory hides :
My host at home, all change is changed to peace.
William C. Wilkinson.

14

THE DIARY OF

4/eU(g

oy/yy o^^m,^

I begin this book in ye first place with an account
Aug. 1, 1704. ^j j^y j,jj.^jj ^iiici^ ^ag on ye first day of August in
ye year, on Tuesday, 1704.
The place of my nativity was Boston in N. England. I was
the eldest son of my parents, viz. Mr. John and Mrs. Mary
Comer. I desire to eye ye singular Providence of God in granting my
birth in a land of gospel light where I was favoured with a
religious education, having each of my grandmothers, viz. Mrs.
Elinor Comer and Mrs. Mary Pittom, noted among ye godly for
eminent and exemplary piety.
My dear and honoured father, Mr. John Comer,
July 2, 1706. gjjgagg^ jq 2. voyage to England, but touching first
at South Carolina was soon taken sick with ye prevailing sick
ness of yt country, and in a few days exchanged as I trust Earth
for Heaven, on ye 12th of July 1706, in ye 32d year of his age, I
then lacking about 3 weeks of two years of age.
'Tis notable y* the very night he died he appeared to my
mother, being then in Boston, with a bloody handkerchief in
his hand. Note, he bled much in his sickness.
This spring I was put to school to Mrs. Gibson, and
"°°' continued Vf^ her some years, till I came to remem
ber some things myself. I bless God for ye care taken of me
when I was so young y' I might learn to read ye holy Scriptures.
This day my mother was married to Mr. John
Jnly 1. Phillips, of Boston, by whom she had two children,
a son and a daughter. This day I was five years old. This year I first
Aug.i,i7os. remembered things; the first thing was my dear
grandmother Mrs. Mary Pittom taking me into her chamber 15

16 - THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMER.
every evening before I went to bed, and she kneeling down
by ye bedside caused me to do so too and used to dedicate
me to ye Lord. I to this day (and hope ever shall) remember
that one sentence in her prayer, viz. Lord remember this child
and make it thine in ye day when thou makest up thy jewels for
Christ's sake.
My mother has told me yt this year I read my Bible hahf out.
This year my father's mother died ; this grandmother was a
very eminent woman for exemplary piety.
The holy do they live here forever?
March 1711 "^^^^ month my mother's mother died suddenly.
She got up well in ye morning and died about noon.
Blessed are ye dead yt die in ye Lord. She was taken speech
less at ye first stroke.
This year I was put to school to Mr. Ames Angier,' in Boston.
October "'" ^^^^^ *^^^ month was ye great fire in Boston in a
"to «¦•¦ yery dreadful manner,' about 100 houses burnt,
together with ye old meeting house and town house. A drunken
woman living near ye meeting house carelessly set some oacom
[oakum] on fire, and so fir'd her house, etc.
Blessed be ye Lord for his remembering mercy at y* time. My
mofher was yn burnt out and had like to have lost her life. I
was sick at yt time at my aunt's.
1 Ames Angier (or Anger, as the name is sometimes spelled) was born in Rehoboth, Jan
uary 29, 1681. His father was the Rev. Samuel Angier, minister in Rehoboth, and his
mother was the only child of the Rev. Urian Oakes, fourth president of Harvard CoUege.
His name, Ames, came from his paternal grandmother, who was the daughter of the famous
William Ames. He was graduated from Harvard College in 1701, and in 1708 was married
to Margaret McCarty. Tbe winter before his graduation he taught school in Charlestown,
the contract bearing date November 21, 1700, receiving as compensation £30 in money, and
a small quantity of wood. He became the first master of tbe school established about
1717 at the corner of West and Common (now Tremont) Sts , Boston. Early in the year
1720, he "was chospn schoolmaster for a writing school at the south part of the town at 100
pounds per annum." He died in the latter part of the year 1720.
For these items, as well as for other facts embodied in the following notes, the editor ia
indebted to the kindness of John L. Sibley, M. A., Librarian Emeritus of Harvard College,
whose two ample volumes o f 1175 pages on " Harvard Graduates " are a noble contribution
to the history of his Alma Mater. The second volume reaches down only to 1677.
2 *' The fire of 1711, the most sweeping and disastrous that had yet occurred, burned
down all the houses, some of them very capacious buildings, on hoth sides of Comhill
from School Street to Dock Square, besides the First Church, the Town House, all the
upper part of King's Street, and the greater part of Pudding Lane. In all, nearly one
hundred houses were destroyed, of which the rubbish taken from the ruins was used to
fill up Long wharf ' Thus the town of Boston,' says the Rev. Cotton Mather, in his sermon
on the event,' just going to get beyond fourscore years of age, and conflicting with much
labor and sorrow, is, a very vital and valuable part of it, soon out off and flown away.' " 
Memorial Mist. Bett., II., 604.

THE DIARY OF JOHK COMER. 17
In this year (I think) as I was playing a childish
Aug., 1 13. pj^y ^^ ^ tilter [a teeter] with one Power Merit, one
of my schoolmates, near a cellar, I fell, by reason of a sudden
jerk, off into it, among some stones, and cut my head and tongue
so yt it hung out of my mouth unless kept in by a mufiier, and
none thought I should ever be able to speak plain again ; for hj ye
fall I was entirely senseless. But in about 4 months by a constant
supply of honey in my [mouth] it was healed ; and yt God who
is a God working wonders gave me ye free use of yt member
again, beyond all expectation.
This summer my mother with my father-in-law
[stepfather] went over to South Carolina to live. One
principal reason was because he had got two hundred pounds in
money from my mother yt my own father left for my education,
and upon my grandfather's hearing of it he pursued him to get
it ; but he went away thither privately. So I was abused. But
God has promised to avenge ye wrongs of ye fatherless. He lived
there about two years and at ye expiration of y™, he having been
out on his horse came home in a dark evening and going into the
house came out to look after his horse with a long pipe in his
mouth, it being very dark fell over a log, ye pipe stem ran down
his throat and broke and all means yt could be used could not get
it out. It being Saturday, he continued till Monday without
speaking and died. Thus ye Lord found out a way in his Prov
idence (tho awful) to meet with him. I always thought it a
judgment. This year took some notice of God's goodness to
^^'^' me, and began to see so much as excited me to look
to God in a way of prayer, being I hope in some measure made
sensible of my sinfulness and unworthiness and of the need I had
of Divine preservation. To the best of my remembrance th«
Providence yt first stir'd me up was the surprising death of a
little lad about my age, his name was William Thomas, who was
playing marvils [marbles] near the Old North Meeting House,
Boston, and a cart laden passing by, a marvil rolling under the
cart he slept to get it, the horse starting run ye wheel over his
head and brake it so yt his brains came out and he died on ye
. . . HewascarriedintoMr.Sunderlain'shouse, wherel sawhim
together with multitudes of others ; he look'd awfully. O how
my soul seemed at yt time when mine eye affected my heart won
derfully. I thought, were it my case to lie so bruised and broken,
and to have my soul fly into the world of spirits, how would it

18 THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER.
be? I was lost in myself. But this I knew, I was strong [ly]
affected wti^ it. The next Lord's Day, Dr. Cotton Mather,' I
remember well, preached from these suitable words: In ye
morning it flourisheth and groweth up, but in ye evening 'tis cut
down and withereth. This first awakened me.
This day I was twelve years old. I remember 'tis
Aug. 1, 1716. remarked of my dear Redeemer yt at this age he
was found disputing in ye midst of ye Doctors both hearing and
asking y™ questions. Luk. 2 : 42, 46. O may I conform to Christ
in all things possible ; may I be willing to hear and ask about
good things.
'Tis remark'd yt Saint Ignatius wasof this age at Christ's cruci
fixion, and yt he was the child yt he took up in his arms to teach
his disciples humility. O may I be humble ; I am sure a sense
of my sinfulness is enough to make me so. May I be so in deed
and in truth. I having been disappointed by my father-in-law
March, 1718. [gtepfathcr] , by his taking my money from- me, of a
liberal education, ye time being near yt I must be put out to learn
a trade, and this month there was great concern about one, my
grandfather inclined to a tailor's trade, but my [mind] was bent
upon'studying. Only at length 'twas concluded yt I should learn a
glover's trade, and Mr. Benjamin Harris was pitch't upon. After
many intreaties I was prevailed upon to comply, and, since it
must be so, I chose him because my own cousin Thomas Dolbear
was just gone to the same place being of my age.
This month I went to learn ye glover's trade of Mr.
^^^' Benjamin Harris, of Boston.
This day I am fourteen years of age. This day I
^'^^' ^' was bound ^ by my Grandfather, Mr. Jno. Comer, for
3 Cotton Mather, son of the Rev. Increase Mather and Maria, daughter of tbe Rev. John
Cotton, was bom in Boston, February 12, 1662-63. He entered Harvard College at the ago
of twelve, and was graduated in the year 1678, and May 13, 1685, was ordained colleague
with his father, over the North Church [Congregational] in Boston, which position he held
till his death, February 13, 1728. In 1710, he received from the University of Glasgow the
honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity, being the first American thus honored by a British
university. " His learning was probably more varied and extensive than that of any other
person in America." — Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulp-it.
* The laws relating to the trades were early transferred from the Old to the New World,
so far as the nature of the case would permit. In tbe several Colonies, the statutes relating
to the service of minors were borrowed from English legislation. Early in the reign of
Elizabeth, " it was enacted that no person should exercise a trade or mystery without
having served a seven years' apprenticeship." " This period was thought no more than
sufficient ^to instruct the learner In his profession, craft, or mystery, under a properly

THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER. 19
7 years, to Mr. Beiyamin Harris. Eph. 6 : 5, 6, 7 ; 1 Cor.
7:22. This day I am fifteen years old.
Aug. 1, 1719. J continued in my apprenticeship. I had oppor
tunity to read and did improve it ; for Mr. Harris gave himself
to drinking and company-keeping to excess, and minded nothing
of his business. Myself and my cousin fared very hardly, and on
all accounts things went ill as to us in the family ; tho I hope
God blessed the time to me.
This year I composed a set discourse {w^ was ye first) from yt
word, Ecc. 12 : 1 : Remember now . . . May 1 do so.
I find elevated thought in myself a sin yt those of my age I
plainly see are addicted to. Young company entices to merriment.
Lord help me to watch against all appearance of evil, and help me
to perform all things that are good.
O unhappy family yt I am cast into. No show of good ; neither
power nor form of godliness. Only lifeless prayer on the evening
of the Sabbath ; and drink with gaming all ye week.
This month my mother took me from Mr. Harris'
June, 1720. gervice because of the extremity of the circumstances
of his family. Tho he made many words, he saw he could do
nothing, because my Indenture was not authentick — ^made with
out my Mother's knowledge or consent, only by my Grandfather.
I liv'd with him 2 years and one month. Yet 'twas thought
advisable yt I should follow ye same trade (which I always
abhor'd). This month I was put by my Grandfather to Mr.
^'^^' Zechariah Fitch, of Boston, of y® same trade. He
observing me to read much, frequently said to me and to others,
I see you won't do for me, for you read too much. At this time
I applied myself to my Grandfather to go on in studying, but he re
fused. I prevailed upgn ye Revd. Dr. Increase Mather ^ to go and
ask him, which being done he consented to it.
qualified master, teacher, or doctor — for these terras were synonymous — and to reimburse
the latter by service for the training received." The origin of the custom of apprenticeship
is involved in some obscurity. " So far as can be seen it arose in the Middle Ages." " Tbe
formation of guilds and corporations of tradesmen in England dates probably from the
twelfth century, and it is almost certain that the institution of apprenticeships cannot be of
much later date." — Bncy. Brittan. Not till within the present century did compulsory give
place to voluntary apprenticeship. Reforms of abuses incident to the system were among
the noble achievements of Adam Smith.
5 Increase Mather, son of Richard Mather and Catharine Hoult, was horn at Dorchester,
June 2], 1639. At the age of twelve, he entered Harvard College, and was graduated in
the cUss of 16.56. In July of the following year he sailed for England in response to an

20 THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMER.
This month I began my grammar with my old
December, ggijoolmaster, Mr. Ames Angier, being 16 years and
four months old. Thus I set out upon my studies.
The latter end of this month the small pox ' was
April, 1721. brought into Boston, which was exceeding surprising
to me. The first man who brought it in died.
The distemper prevailing in town, some of ye youth of my ac
quaintance were taken away by death, which by God's blessing
tended to blow up ye coal of conviction in my soul and to keep it
alive. I thought much about ye angel slaying in ye camp of ye
Assyrians, as ye sickness prevailed. This put me on ye duty of
self-examination and crying to ye Lord for ye magnifying his
grace towards me.
Being this day seventeen years old, I set it apart
¦^"^' ^' as a day of solemn fasting and supplication in my
chamber, to humble my soul before the Lord ; to bewail the sins
of my youth and of my nature which is ye wofiil spring of all
actual transgressions. I bemoaned myself before the Lord in
secret, and between each prayer I spent ye time in close examina
tion and in reading Mr. Vincent's' book, entitled Christ's certain
invitation from his brother Samuel, who was then a minister in Dublin, Ireland. He enrolled
himself as a student in Trinity College, and when but nineteen years of age received the
Master's degree. Returning home, he married, March 6, 1662, Maria, daughter ofthe cele
brated Rev. John Cotton, and. May 27, 1664, became pastor ofthe North Church in Boston,
and continued in that oifice till his death, meanwhile serving as President of Harvard
College from 1684 till 1701. The corporation and overseers of the College presented him in
16.)2 with a diploma of Doctor of Divinity, this being " the first instance in which such a
degree was conferred in British America," He died August 23, 1723, aged 84 years.—
Sprague's Annals.
» The fear expressed by Mr. Comer in his diary, was characteristic of the age. The small
pox was at that time, doubtless, the most dreaded of all the scourges that aflfllct mankind.
" Having been twenty years in abeyance, it renewed its dreaded visitation in 1721. Nearly
six thousand persons took it in Boston, of whom nearly one thousand died in the year."—
Memor. Hisl. Bost., IL, 62. During the timeof its prevalence.it received the earnest atten
tion of medical men, who sought to compel it to yield to their treatment. And the studies
thus bestowed were crowned with a good degree of success. A wonderful discovery was
made, and the practice of inoculation was introduced.
We have a curious glimpse of the prevalence of the small pox. and of the dread with which
it was regarded; in a letter written by the Rev. Joseph Bellamy, January 23, 1764. Called
from his juiral parish in Connecticut, to become paster of the Presbyterian church in New
York city, he laid the «ase, alter having informally declined once and again, before the
Convocation of Litchfield County for final- decision, earnestly hoping they would
counsel him not to go, citing to them among other reason^ for not going this, "I may die
with the small pox, and leave a. widow and fatherless children in a helpless condition."
7 This was Thomaa Vincent, a man of considerable influence in his day ; was educated at
Oxford ; became minister of St. Mary Magdalene Cburch in London ; was one of the minis
ters ejected in 1662 for Nonconformity; subsequently, preached at Noxton until his death
in 1678, During the plague in London, in 1665, he was distinguished for his constant and

THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER. 21
and sudden appearance to judgment; which I hope was made of
some use to me. In ye close of ye day I resolved by the help of
Christ, that if the Lord saw meet to visit me with the small pox
(which I no way expected to escape) and would raise me up again,
I would study the advancement of his glory ; and walk in the ob
servation of all gospel duties, even to the commemoration of his
dying love at his holy table. After ye going down of ye sun I
visited my Grandfather, who was then sick and laboured under
ye infirmities of old age ; whom it pleased God to call hence as I
trust into ye joy of his Lord, on Monday, Augt ye 7th, 1721.
He committed me to the care and inspection of ye Revd. Mr.
Jno Weeb [Webb] ^ and by will bequeathed to me £500. I would
eye this favor and esteem it as coming from God. This sum was
to bring me up and introduce me comfortably, in ye world, which
it did. Tho there is one would have had it otherwise, but God's
holy Providence provided, and diverted all contrary advices. I
may comfortably take up that word Hos. 14 : 3; Jer. 49 : 11.
Finding wt comfortable provision God had made for me, I
acquainted Mr. Weeb [Webb] of my extreme fear of ye small pox,
upon which he advised me to go to school out of town. There
upon, on ye 15th of Augt, I left my former master Mr. Angier
and went and boarded at Mr. Ephraim Ezbone's [Osborn's], about
a mile and i from Cambridge, and was recommended to Mr.
Sami Danforth," schoolmaster of Cambridge. After I was ad-
disinterested activity in behalf of the sufferers. He was the author of several works, most
of them passing through many ediilons. A catalogue ofthem is given in Wood's Aiken.
Oxon. HI., 1171. He had at one time a controversy with William Penn. Edmund Callamy
says in his Ejected Ministers, II., 32, that he " was a worthy, humble, and eminently pious
man, of sober principles, and great zeal and diligence."
The above work on Chrises Certain and Sadden Appearance to Judgment was first published
in 1667 as an 8vo ; was pubUshed again in 1669 as a 12mo ; the sixth edition appeared in
1683; the tenth edition in Glasgow in 1723. It has been once republished in this country,
at Greenfield, Mass., in 1816, a copy of which is in the library of Harvard College.^
Allibone's Vict, of Authors.
8 " John Webb was born at Braintree, Mass., was graduated at Harvard College in 1708 ;
was ordained first pastor ofthe New North Church, Boston, October 20, 1714; received the
Rev, Peter Thatcher as colleague in 1720 ; after Mr. Thatcher's death in 173S was sole
pastor until 1742, when the Rev. Andrew Eliot was ordained as his colleague; and died
April 16, 17.50." — Sprague's Annals.
^ Samuel Danforth, son of the Rev, John Danforth (H. C, 1677), of Dorchester, Mass,, and
a grandson of the Rev, Samuel Danforth (H. C. 1643), of Roxbury, Mass., was graduated
from Harvard College in 1715 ; was schoolmaster in Cambridge in 1724, and had been for
some time previously ; married, August 14, 1726, Elizabeth Symroes ; died October 27, 1777,
aged about eighty-one years. He early left the vocation of schoolmaster ; held several civil
and judicial offices; was Judge of Probate and also of Common Pleas. During the Revo
lution he was a royalisL^Lucius R. Paige, Hist, of Cambridge, Mass.

22 THE DIARY OF JOHN COMEE.
mitted into ye school, and settled in a religious family, I thought
myself exceeding happy and hoped I should not be visited wtt ye
prevailing distemper yt was raging in Boston, which I so
much feared. My hopes upon y t account were soon disappointed
and cut off; for ye Lord by a strange and undiscovered way and
means sent it into ye very family and no other iny ^ neighborhood ; ye
beginning, Mr. Ozbon's [Osborn's] youngest daughter
October, ^^ visited with it,.and in 10 days she died. Tis
beyond expression to relate wt trouble I was then filled withal at
yt amazing instant. But upon its breaking out here I betook
myself to the house of Mr. Jonathan Steadman, in ye middle of
ye town of Cambridge, so yt notwithstanding my extreme trouble,
I kept to school. Nevertheless scruples arose mightily in me at
yt time whether my remove from Boston was not sinful, all things
considered, and highly displeasing to God; for I going from
Boston to escape it, and yt coming only into ye family I was in,
I thought it look't like Jonah's flying from the presence of the
Lord ; w^^ word was a very great aggravation of my trouble. On
or about having taken a solitary walk as far as ye Royal
Oct. 30, Q^j^^ which is about a mile out of town towards
Charlestown, being in a praying posture with my hat in my hand,
near the 3 mile stone, I used such uncommon expressions as these,
being in deep distress of soul : Lord, If it be thy holy will yt I
should be visited wtii ye small pox, I pray thee yt if I am for life
and there is still any work for me to do for the people yt I may
have my fears continued concerning my death till ye instant yt I
know ye small pox is broke out upon me ; and then as a token yt
• 1 shall live to show forth thy praises let my mind be composed
under the visitation ; let this be a token to me of my life for thy
goodness' sake, O Lord. After this I was exceedingly grieved
fearing it was an unlawful petition and yt ye glorious God would
be offended at it rather y answer it.
About this time ye practice of Innoculation " was set up and
10 Inoculation as a preventative of small pox did not become generally known in England
till after the year 1717, when Lady Montague wrote her celebrated letter from Adrianople,
And not till more than a quarter of a century after its introduction did it become firmly
established. It encountered bitter opposition from the learned, and especially from the
medical profession. Moore, in his History of Small-pox, written in 1815, states that at the
beginning ofthe eighteenth century about one-fourteenth of the population died of small
pox, while at the close of the century the number had increased to one-tenth. The
friends of the new practice in England received, however, instruction and encouragement
from across the water. In 1722, Mr. Neal gave to the public " A Narrative of the method

THE DIARY OP JOHN COMER. 23
much esteemed of. Doctor Zabdial Boylstone " was ye chief actor
in it. The College and School broke up. Mr. Nicholas Cever
[Sever] ^^ one of ye fellows and Mr. Sami Danforth ye schoolmaster
passed under ye operation. Upon this I joined ^Y^^ the lawfulness
of ye practice of Innoculation (tho some wrote and printed against
it), and concluded to pass under it. Accordingly, I repaired
home to Boston on
Being Saturday and rainy weather I thought to omit
^^^' "*¦ it till Monday ; and on ye Lord's Day ye
I went to meeting at New North meeting and being
^' there, a young man just recovered who smelt exceed
ingly strong gave it me, or I catch't it of him ; it overpowered me
so yt I was disordered all sermon time. Beturning home I in
formed of yt affair, and expected it working in a fortnight. So
I was prevented from Innoculation. As to ye soul amazing
terror I was in about this time concerning Eternity, 'tis inex
pressible.and success of inoculating the small pox in New England, by Mr. Benjamin Colman ; wilh
a reply to the objections made against it from principles of conscience, in a letter from a
minister at Boston. To which is now prefixed an historical introduction."
11 Zabdial Boylston, justly distinguished for his persistent and successful efforts to intro
duce inoculation into this country, was bom in Brookline, Mass., 1680; Savage, in his
Greneal. Diet., says March 9, 1679. During the prevalence of the small pox in Boston in
1721, which was carrying death into hundreds of homes and casting a deep gloom over the
entire community, he became deeply interested in studying a method of mitigating the
violence of the fatal disease. The method proposed was by inoculation. In his progress
he was obliged to meet and overcome both ignorance and superstition. He was opposed
¦with warmth and even bitterness on the ground both of science and of religion. Learned
physicians spoke and wrote against him. Apneal was made to the conscience to witness
against him and his new method. He was even made the object of persecution by the civil
authorities. It is reported that his life was threatened. Undismayed by his opponents
Dr. Boylston tried the experiment upon his own son, thirteen years of age, and upon two
servants io his family, in each case with entire success. During the years 1721-22, he
inoculated two hundred and forty-seven persons, and thirty-nine were treated by other
physicians ; and " of these two hundred and eighty-six cases only six died." By invitation
he visited London, where in 1726 he published a book which he dedicated to the Princess
Caroline, and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society, " the first American, we believe,
ever admitted to that honor." He died March 1, 1766, and was buried in Brookline. —
Thacher's Amer. Med. Biog.
12 Nicolas Sever, a fellow and tutor in Harvard College from 1716 to 1728, was bom in
Roxbury, April 15, 1680, and graduated from Harvard in 1701, one of his classmates being
Timothy Cutler, third Rector of Yale College. He preached for a time in Haverhill, and
April 11, 1711, was ordained minister in Dover, N. H. He left after a four years* service to
become tutor in his Alma Maier. He was one of the leaders in a long and bitter contro
versy in the government of the college, growing out of the liberal spirit shown by Mr.
Hollis in connection with his munificent gifts. It was a controversy that became so serious
as to threaten "the dissolution of the college." Mr. Sever died April 7, 1764.— Quincey,
Hist. Harv. Univ. Pierce, Ibid.

24 THE DIAEY OP JOHN COMER.
Nothing but ye gashly [ghastly] countenance of death unpre
pared for was before me, and no light of a reconciled God, nor a
sense of the application of ye sin-cleansing blood of Christ to my
distressed soul. I remained in extreme terror until the
of Noyr. All ye interval of time I spent in looking
over ye affairs of my soul and on yt day I was taken
sick. As soonas 'twas told me ytyedistemper appeared, all my fears
entirely vanished away and a beam of comfort darted into my
soul and with it a satisfaction from yt word thou shalt not die but
live and declare the works of the Lord. Yea, so great was my sat
isfaction yt I immediately replied to my Aunt who informed me.
Then I know y* I shall not die now ; but gave no reason why I
said so. Then the prayer-hearing God was graciously pleased to
answer my requests while at Cambridge. So yt under ye situation
when I was in my senses (for I was deprived 4 days) I was sup
ported by yt good word Ps. 50 : 15. The visitation tho heavy was
made light and easy (I was not totally blind) because God's rod
and staff comforted me. I lay under it from Nov. 22, to
on which day I was so far released as to walk
Decemr. 10, . .
abroad. Being restored to my former health and strength
again, after so awful and remarkable a visitation, in
which there were jjetween eight and nine hundred snatch'd away
by the stroke of death, I resolved to study God's glory as my
chief end ; and also to follow my studies with my former school
master, Mr. Sam' Danforth, of Cambridge, because I delighted in
yt place.
Accordingly I returned to Cambridge in the month of
March ^* which time ye small pox was spreading there.
Among those who died of it (which were about
9), Mr. Sami Steadman, a young gentleman, a physician, was one
to whose funeral I was invited and chosen to be a bearer, with
•w^ I complied. He was a near friend of mine and much in my
affection. O cruel death, and yet kind.
Jul ^^ y^ Commencement Day, one  Lamb, a stu-
^' dent at ye College in an airy fit got out of ye window
to go to another chamber, it being ye 3d story, fell down and re
ceived his death wound ; so yt he expired in a few days. May I
take warning.
At this school I passed thro many of the Latin authors. Here
I took the sweetest satisfaction. Everything about me wag
pleasant and desirable.

THE DIARY OF JOHN COMEE, 25
This month in Boston the authorities made parchment money,"
i, e,, a penny, two pence, and 3 pence.
This day I am eighteen years old. I find myself
¦^"^" ^' ensnared with youthful vanities ; O how pleasant are
they to nature. Lord, grant yt I may not be drawn from thee.
My companions were at this time very near and dear to me, more
especially Thomas Prentice, Thomas Graves, John Hovey, and
Will™ Hobby. Like David and Jonathan to me.
Having ever since my recovery of ye small pox
anuary, 1 33. jqq]j)j. ypgn myself Obliged to serve God in a more
eminent manner yn heretofore, and looking on myself as having
ye vows of God lying on me to serve him in ye ways of his Holy
Institutions and more especially in ye commemoration of his
dying love at his table.
Accordingly I earnestly entreated the Lord yt I might have all
ye antecedent qualifications and all actual preparation for it. That
word was made useful to me, 1 Cor. 11 : 24, This do in remem
brance of me.
Hereupon I resolved to go and present myself to ye Pastor of ye
church of Cambridge, Mr. Nathi Appleton," who was willing to
encourage my motion to good.
IS Paper currency was first introduced into New England iu 1690, and was made necessary
by an unsuccessful expedition against Canada under Sir William Phipps. The govern
ment had made no provision for paying the soldiers, relying for the purpose upon the
booty that should be taken from the enemy. Since there was no money in the treasury,
and no time to raise money by a levy upon the country, "resort was madeto Paper Money,
then called Bills of Credit." Holders of these Bills eventuaUy lost much by their depre
ciation. " It is perhaps not generally known," says Mr. Drake, in Old Landmarks of Boston, " that
a paper currency of small denomination was issued in the Colony (Massachusetts) as early
as 1722. They were printed on parchment. No other instance is remembered of the
emission of such small sums in paper until we come down to the period ofthe Revolution.
The whole amount authorized was only five hundred pounds, and specimens are very rare."
Fac sir^iles are given in the work referred to above. Besides the above-mentioned book, see
Drake's Hist. Bost., and Felt's Hist. Amer. Currency; also Arnold's Hist. R. L, Vol. II., 39.
The latter says that to meet extraordinary expenses incurred in 1710, " Rhode Island
adopted the plan pursued by her neighbors. An act for issuing bills of credit was passed.
Five thousand pounds in denominations from five pound to two shilling bills were issued,
signed the sixteenth of August."
w Nathaniel Appleton, for sixty-six years pastor of the church in Cambridge, was a son,
of the Hon. John Appleton, one of the king's council, and Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev.
John Rogers, fifth President of Harvard College, and was born in Ipswich, December 9,
1693, and graduated from Harvard in 1712, " when he was a little less than nineteen." He
was invited, upon the death of the Rev. William Brattle, to become pastor of the Cambridge
Church, and received ordination October 9, 1717, Increase Mather preaching the sermon.
The same year, 1717, he was elected a Fellow of tbe college, continuing an honored and
useful member of its government till 1779. " In 1771, he received from his Alma Mater the
C

26 THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE,

Feb. 17.
ItOFd's D., 24.

This day I was received into full communion with
ye church in Cambridge.
This day was sacrament day ; I enjoyed great com
fort and satisfaction in attending y* Sacred Institu
tion of my dear Lord.
On the 24th of Feb. was ye most remarkable tide yt ever was
known in N. England, ye sea rose several feet higher y^ usual.
Sunday meetings in Boston broke up on y* account by people
being called to secure things from ye wash of ye sea.
About this time my near companion Mr. Ephraim Craft,^^ who
was a member of Mr. Webb's Communion, in Boston, embraced
the principle of Believer's Baptism, in opposition to Infant
Baptism, and was baptized by Mr. E. Callender,^^ in Boston.
In some Uttle time after I met him and manifested my
concern about y* affair (at this time I never in ye least degree
doubted ye validity of Infant Baptism) ; and after some con
trary discourse, he earnestly desired me to read Mr. Jos. Sten-
nett's" treatise on Baptism, which I consented to, after much
degree of Doctor of Divinity, an honor which had heen previously conferred by tbat col
lege upon only one individual, namely, Increase Mather, about eighty years before." He
died February 9, 1784. — "Elliot, Biog. Diet.; Sprague's Annals.
[This " church in Cambridge " was, of course, Congregational. Congregational churches
of "the standing order," i. e., established by law in Massachusetts and Connecticut, were
the leading churches of those colonies ; the Baptists then were a small, despised, and per
secuted people. In Comer's Diary and the Notes, Congregational churches are often men
tioned as " the First," " the North," etc., without denominational designation, as was the
current custom in John Comer's time, for the obvious reason just stated. A little atten
tion will show the reader what church is meant in each such case, as distinguished from
the Baptist churches'often spoken of. We note, in passing, that John Comer, at first a Con-
gregationalist, though a sturdy Baptist, without thought of compromise, and unflinchingly
true to his convictions, cultivated friendships wilh good men of other denominations, in
cluding those of the communion he had left. For example, he evidently esteemed Eev,
Mr, Clap, Congregational pastor at Newport, and often visited him.— J. W. W.]
15 Ephraim Craft was baptized into the First Baptist Church in Boston, January 12, 1723.
^8 Elisha Callender, for twenty years (1718-1738) pastor of the First Baptist Church in
Boston, was a son ofthe Eev. Ellis Callender, born in Boston in 1680 and graduated from
Harvard College in 1710, He was the first Baptist minister in the country who received
his collegiate education in the New World. He was baptized August 10, 1713, and five years
later, May 21, 1718, was ordained pastor of the church to which his father had long min
istered. At this ordination service, when Dr. Increase Mather preached the sermon, there
were at least two persons present who remembered tbe nailing up of the meeting house
doorsbyorderof government, namely. Rev. Ellis Callender and Deacon Benjamin Sweetzer.
Mr. Callender was a cultivated man. A correspondence which he maintained with friends
in London was productive of rich pecuniary blessing to his Alma Maier. Mr. Thomas
Hollis became a munificent benefactor of Harvard College. Mr. Callender's death occurred
very suddenly, in the midst of his usefulness, M^rch 31, 1738.-— Cathcart, Bap. JEncy.;
Sprague's Ann.
w Joseph Stennett, son of Edward Stennett, a minister of some distinction during the

THE DIARY OP JOHN COMER. 27
persuasion ; he lent it to me (I did not do it with ye view to gain
light but only to make objection, hoping to find many flaws in it)
and I resolved to turn to every Scripture quoted, and not to take
any one without, and in my so doing I found I had never duly
considered ye 8 of ye Acts, ye 3 of Matt, and ye Qti^ of Romans, and
such like places.
Hereupon 1 got (tho privately) books on ye other side ye con-
troversie and found y^ if weighed in ye balance wanting.
After serious and mature deliberation and earnest prayer to ye
Lord, I found ye churches not so fully in order in ye point of Bap
tism as they should be, tho I valued y™ as ye Spouse of Christ and
would willingly maintain my communion with y".
But to take up such a cross in my early days, when I had not
one relative in ye world of yt mind, was exceeding difficult, so y*
I feared to let my mind in this case be known to any one soul,
and being newly admitted into full communion with ye church
in Cambridge, I feared it would be hurtful to ye churches and
displeasing to God.
So tHo I was satisfied y* my Baptism was defective, I still kept
in the communion of ye church (being Congregational and in yt
right as well as in ye essentials of religion) ; I deviated in my
mind in no one point save yt, viz. ye mode and subject of Baptism.
I communed with several churchas in ye same order as I had op
portunity in ye course of Divine Providence. The Old North in
Boston,^* Mr. Cotton Mather, Pastor; the New North in Bos-
Parliamentary war, was born in Berks County, England, in 1663, and ordained March 4,
1690, pastor of the Sabbatarian church, meeting in Pinner's Hall, London, in which office
he remained till his death, which occurred July 11, 1713. On Sundays he ministered to
other Baptist churches He was a fine Hebrew scholar, and "composed many beautiful
hymns which are still used in the church." In 1702, he published "an admirable de
fense of baptism," in reply to Mr. David Russen's book, entitled " Fundamentals with
out a Foundation." This " Defense " is doubtless the treatise to which Mr. Comer refers.
— Irving, Hist. Eng. Baptists, II., 481-502 ; Cathcart, Bap. Ency.
18 There were in Boston previous to 1730, seven Congregational churches ; First Churcb
(1630), known as the Old Church ; Second Church (1650), known as the North Church, then
as the Old North ; Third Church (1669), known as the South Church, then as the Old South ;
Brattle Street Church (1699) ; New North Church (1714) ; New South Church (1719), and
Federal Street Church (1727).
Besides these there were a few of other names. Mr. Daniel Neal, writing in 1720, says,
" There are ten churches or places of public worship in Boston : six of Establishment, namely,
the Old Church, so called, because 'tis the mother of all the rest, whereof the Kev. Mr. Wads-
worth, and Mr. Thomas Foxcroft are pastors; the North Church, whereof the Doctors In
crease and Cotton Mather are pastors ; the South Church, whereof the Rev. Mr. Joseph
Sewell and Mr Thomas Prince are pastors ; the cl^urch in Brattle Street, whereof the Rev. Mr.
Benjamin Coleman and Mr. William Cooper are pastors. The other two churches are lately
built, and are called the New North, and the New South ; Mr. John Webb being pastor of

28 THE DIARY OF JOHN COMEE.
ton/^Mr, John Webb, Pastor; the New Brick in Boston, 2'' Mr.
"WiUm Waldron,^^ Pastor; the church at Andover,^^ Mr. John
the one, and Mr Samuel Chickley of the other. But besides the forementioned churches,
which are properly the Establishment of the Country, there is one Episcopal church, one
French, one Anabaptist, and one Congregation of Quakers. The Quakers are but few in
number, though they are treated at present with as much candour and goodness as they can
reasonably desire; the Anabaptists are likewise but few, but serious, modest, humble
Christians. Mr. Elisha Callender is their present pastor." — Neal, Hist. N. Eng., IL, 227.
The Old North, or Second Cburch in Boston, was formed in 1650. For twenty years one
meeting house had accommodated the whole population of the town. In the year 1648,
however, the number of inhabitants had so increased that another was deemed absolutely
necessary for their accommodation. It was therefore agreed that one should be built at
the North End, the foundation being laid the following y^r. To distinguish it from the
other, this Second Church was called the North, and in time tbe Old North. It was some
times designated the " Church of the Mathers," because it was for so many years presided
over by different members of this eminent family. Samuel Mather preached here for a
short time when it was first formed, though he is not reckoned among its pastors. As*
given by the Rev. Chandler Robbins, the early pastors of the church were, John Mayo
(1655-1672), Increase Mather (1664-1723), Cotton Mather (1685-1728). During the Revolution
this cburch lost its meeting house, when it was united with the New Brick Church, the
consolidated body retaining the name and records of the Second Church.— Chandler Rob-
bins, Hist. North Ch. ; Mem. Hist. Bost.
19 The New North Church was organized in 1714, "seventeen substantial mechanics forming
the nucleus" of the body. John Webb was ordained the first pastor. In accordance with
the custom of the times the church desired, jn 1720, to call an assistant pastor. The
choice, which fell on Peter Thatcher, was not unanimous ; indeed he had a bare majority
of one vote, and that was cast by the pastor, Mr. Webb. A division was created, and a
number of members withdrew. Nevertheless, Mr. Thatcher continued to serve the church
as assistant pastor until his death. The meeting house was built on the corner of Clark
and Hanover, then called North Street. — Kphraim Elliot, Hist. New North Ch.
20 The New Brick Church had its origin in the division io the New North Church occa
sioned by the calling of the Rev. Peter Thatcher. The organization was effected in 1722.
William Waldron was ordained the first pastor. The meeting house, fronting on Hanover
Street, was built of brick, the first in the town, and was elegant for the times ; it was dedi
cated May 10, 1721. This house became subsequently the home of the Second Church, by
which the New Brick Church was absorbed. — Chandler Robbins, Hist. New Brick Ch.
21 William Waldron, son of Captain Richard Waldron pnd Elinor Vaughan, was born in
Portsmouth, N. H., November 4, 1697, and graduated from Harvard College in 1717. When
the New Brick Church in Boston was formed, he was chosen pastor and was ordained May
22, 1722, Cotion Mather preaching the sermon Somi after his ordination, he married Eliza
Allen, by whom he had two children, one of them subsequently becoming the wife of
Josiah Quincey, of Braintree, Mass. After having preaclied but six short years he was talien
suddenly sick while on a visit to a friend, the Rev. William Cooper, minister of the Brattle
Street Church, and died November 11, 1727.— Sprague's Annals.
22 "The church of Andoverwas organized October 24, 1645. The first meeting house
was built near the old burying ground in North Andover, and stood till 1711. The larger
portion of the inhabitants, for several years after settlement, lived in that part of the
town. When, however, in 1707, it was thought necessary to build a new meeting house,
the votes of the town show that the bulk of the population was in the southerly part.
For, 'September 9, 1707, voted to set the meeting house on th- spot of ground near the
wood call'd Holt's Wood, where the cross paths meet at the southwest corner of George
Abbot's ground.* This was objected to on the ground that it would greatly incommode
the Rev. Mr. Barnard, who lived near the old meeting house. A division took place intn

THE DIARY OF JOHN COME P.. 29
Barnard,"' Pastor ; the church at Newport,'* Mr. Nath' Clap,"^ Pas
tor; the church at New Haven,'^ Mr. Joseph Noice," Pastor.
North and South Parishes, John Barnard remaining with the North. Pastors of South
Church, Andover, Samuel Phillips, 1711-1771 ; Jonathan French, 1772-1809." [Historical
Manual of the South Church, Andover, by George Mo'iar, 1859.]
Pastors of First Andover Church, John VVoodbridge, 16j4; Francis Dane, 1649-1697;
Thomas Barnard, 1682-1718; John Barnard, 1710-1757. Church was divided under
Thomas Barnard about location of a meeting house. [See Abbot's History of Andover.']
2s John Barnard, son of the Kev. Thomas (H. C, 1679), was born in Andover, Mass.,
February 26, 1690, and graduated from Harvard College in 1709. After a few years spent
In teaching, he became his father's successor aa minister of the North Parish of Andover,
being ordained, April 8, 1719. He died while still in office, June 14, 1757. " The people for
seventy years," during the ministry of father and son, were greatly prospered. — Sprague's
Annals. ^•i Though the Eev. Mr. Clap had with great fidelity continued to preach in Newport
from 1695, no Congregational church was formed unt.l 1720. Only eight years after thia
result had been achieved, a second church was formed on account of some differences
that had arisen in the body.- The Kev. John Adams, who had been chosen to assist Mr.
Clap, became pastor of the new church.
The pastors of these churches were : Ofthe First Church, Nath!»niel Clap (1720-1745)
William Vinal (1746-1768), Samuel Hopkins (1770-1803), Caleb J. Tenney (1804-1815), Cal
vin Hitchcock (1815-1820), Samuel Austin (i821-1826), WiP.iam H. Beecher (1830-1833). Of
the Second Church, John Adams (1728-1730), James Searing (1731-1755), Ezra Stiles
(1765-1786), William Patten (1786-1833). During the spring of 1833, the two churches
came together and formed the United Congregational Church, choosing for pastor, A. H.
Dumont.— T. W. Wood, MS. Hist, of Ch.
25 Nathaniel Clap, son of Nathaniel Clap, was bom January, 1668, and graduated from
Harvard College, 1690. He began his ministry In Newport, 1693, and after many dis
couragements succeeded in forming a Congregational church in 1720. Of this church he
was ordained pastor on the third of November, and continued in that office until his
death, October 30, 1745. His pastorate thus covered a period of twenty-five years, and his
entire ministry in Newport a half century. He was never married. He was a man of
singular gravity of demeanor. Dean Berkeley, who visited Newport in 17-'8, said of him :
" Before I saw leather Clap, I thought the Bishop of Eome had the gravest aspect of any
man I ever saw ; but really the minister of Newport has the most venerable appearance."
Aud George Whitefleld, who landed in Newport in 1740, remarked : " He looked like a
good old Puritan, and gave me an idea of what stamp those men were who first settled
New England ... I could but think that I was sitting with one of the patriarchs."— Eoss,
Hist. DesG., 143 ; Bioff Cyclop,, R. I.
26 (Wanting.)
2' Joseph Noyes, son of the Eev. James Noyes (Harv. 1659), was born in Stonington, Conn.,
in 1688, and graduated from Yale College in 1'09, and from 1710-1715 served as tutor. Presi
dent Stiles speaks in very laudatory terms of the great services he rendered the college
during his tutorship. He with Mr. Fisk, " were the pillar tutors and the glory of the col
lege " At the death of the Eev. James Pierpont, his father-in .law, Mr. Noyes was invited
to the pulpit of the First Church in New Haven, and received ordination July 4, 1716.
He was greatly recommended by the celebrity of his father, who was pastor at Stonington,
and of his grandfather, who was the first teacher of the church in Newbury, Mass. A
few months after his ordination the college was removed from Saybrook to New Haven,
Daring his pastorate a long controversy was waged as to which of two parties into which
the church was divided—the two parties maintaining separate meetings — was the First
Church; the controversy involved also doctrinal differences. Mr. Noyes died June 14,
1761.— Bacon, Hist. Disc, 239.

30 THE DIAKY OF JOHN COMEE.
These with ye church in Cambridge,'* Mr. Nath' Appleton, Pas
tor, were 7 in number.
'Twas concluded by Mr. Webb y* I should be forwarded if I
would go and studie with a private minister in ye country which
I consented to; accordingly Mr. Barnard, of Andover, was
pitch't upon, to whom I went in
and while I was a student at his house I communed
^^^' yfth his church, but laboured under inexpressible
difficulties in my mind on ye point of Baptism.
This month one Cornelius Bennett '' and I finding
^^^'' we should not y* year be presented to Cambridge
CoUedge for admittance we resolved to go to New Haven Col-
ledge and offer [ourselves] for admittance there, and accordingly
was admitted by ye Bevd Mr. Samuel Andrew, ™ Pastor of ye
church in Milford*' and Mr. James Pairpoint [Pierpont], '^ tutor
of ye college.
2s The First Congregational Church of Cambridge, Mass., was organized February 1,
1636 (0. S.). The pastors were; Thomas Sheppard, ordaiped 1636, died 1649; Jonathan
Mitchell, ordained 1650, died 1667; Urian Oakes, ordained 1671, died 1681 ; Nathaniel Goo-
kin, ordained 1682, died 1692 ; William Brattle, ordained 1696, died 1717 ; Nathaniel Apple-
ton, ordained 1717, died 1784. [Eight Lectures on the History of the First Church in Cam
bridge, by Alexander Mackenzie, 1873.]
2B (Wanting.)
so Samuel Andrew, second rector of Yale College, was the eldest son of Samuel Andrew,
of Cambridge, and was born January 29, 1656 ; was graduated from Harvard College in 1675.
He was ordained minister at Milford, Conn., November 18, 1685. He married Abigail,
daughter of Gov. Eobert Treat " He was one of the original projectors, founders, and
trustees of Yale College ; and after the death of Mr. Pierson, the first rector of the college,
he was appointed temporary rector," in 1707, and continued to officiate until 1719,
occasionally repairing to the college at Saybrook and New Haven, but resided at Milford.
" He was one of the ministers who afisembled at Saybrook in 1708, hy order of the General
Court, for the purpose of adopting and recommending tp the churches a manual of church
discipline, called the 'Saybrook Platform.'" He died January 24, 1738. A daughter
married the Eev. Timothy Cutler, who succeeded him in the rectorship of Yale College.—
Sprague's Annals.
31 (Wanting.)
32 James Pierpont, who was born in New Haven, Conn., May 21, 1699, was the eldest son
of the Eev. James Pierpont (Harv. 1681), the minister of New Haven, and Mary, daughter
of the Eev. Samuel Hooker (Harv. 1653), of Farmington, Conn., and was graduated from
Yale College in 1718. In 1722, he was elected tutor in the college, and was the first college
officer to subscribe to the new tests of orthodoxy required by the trustees. Being senior
tutor, he had more than the usual responsibility since there was no rector during his term
of office. He resigned in 1724. A half sister of his married the Rev. Joseph Noyes (Yale,
1709), who succeeded his father as pastor in New Haven, and was one of the bulwarks of
the " Old Lights." An own sister married the Eev. Jonathan Edwards (Yale, 1720), who
became even more distinguished as a champion of the " New Lights." In the controversies
of the period. Tutor Pierpont espoused the cause of the latter. He died in 1776. For the
substance of this note, and for other facts, the editor acknowledges his indebtedness to
Franklin B. Dexter, Professor of American History in Yale College. Professor Dexter

THE D.XARY OF JOHN COMEE. 31

Mr. Andrew acted in ye capacity of a Rector by
^°*^' reason of ye vacancy y made by Mr. Timothy Cut
ler, '' Rector, who had declared himself an Episcopalian ye com
mencement before, together with ye tutor Mr. Brown ^' and
sundry ordained ministers thereabouts.
Mr. James Pairpoint [Pierpont] and Mr. Willm Smith '^ were
tutors. The colledge then consisted of about fifty students. It
was erected at New Haven, in the year 1718 ; but first founded at
Killingsworth, in the year 1702. °^
At this colledge I tarried y* winter and had a chamber in ye
colledge and chambered w*'' Gideon Southard [South worth] ''
my classmate, and was under the tuition of Mr. James Pairpoint
— ^who was a better preacher j^ scholar.
This month I pay's a visit to Boston from colledge
April, 1724. ^^^ ^^ allowed to studie that summer with ye
Rev<i Mr. Barnard, as heretofore.
generously placed in the hands of the editor, to be freely used, manuscripts prepared by
him witb great care, and after long and painstaking research, from which was derived
much valuable information embodied in subsequent notes.
33 Timothy Cutler was born in Charlestown, Mass. ; graduated from Harvard College in
1701; ordained at Stratford, Conn., in 1709; married a daughter of the Rev. Samuel
Andrew, and in 1719 succeeded the latter as rector of Yale College. Owing to a change of
his religious views his official connection with the college was severed in 1722, after a brief
three yeard of service. He immediately sailed for England, and received ordination at
the hands of the bishop of Norwich, and also received from both Oxford and Cambridge
the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. Eeturniug to America, he became rector of
Christ's Church, in Boston. He died in 1765, aged eighty-two.
34 Daniel Browne was graduated from Yale College in 1714, and made tutor in 1718. His
office was declared vacant in 1722, when, sharing in Eector Cutler's change of religious
sentiments, he accompanied him to England for induction into holy orders, where he sud
denly died of small pox.
35 William Smith, one of the most eminent of the earlier graduates of Yale College, son
of Thomas and Susanna (Odell) Smith, was born October 8, 1697, in Newport, Buckingham
shire, England. He was graduated in 1719, and in 1722, at a critical period in the history
of the struggling institution, was elected junior tutor, continuing in office till 1724, when
he resigned. On leaving New Haven, he repaired to New York, and is said to have been
the only non-clerical graduate of any college residing in that city. He was at once, May
20, 1721, admitted to- the bar, where he attained high distinction. " He was one of the early
judges of the Supreme Court of New York, mayor of New York city, and prominent for
many years in the conduct of the public affairs of the Colony." He died November 22,
1769. Prof. F. B. Dexter, Manuscript Hist , Hist. Yale College, I, 395.
se (Wanting.)
37 Gideon Southworth is probably the person meant, Mr. Comer spelling the name
according to its pronunciation. He was the son of Captain William Southworth, hy his
second wife Martha, and was born in Little Compton, then of Massachusetts, now of
Ehode Island, March 21, 1706-7. He was graduated from Yale College with the class of
1727, and was afterwards settled in his native town, where he was married in January.
1727-8 to Priscilla, daughter of William and Judith Peabody. Upon her early death, ho
was again married, September 25, 1728, to Mary Wilbor, by whom he had several child/en

82 THE DIARY OP JOHN COMER.
I have cause to mention ye name of that servant of ye Lord
with the greatest honour and respect immaginable.
This summer a war broke out with ye Indians '* while I was at
Mr. Barnard's, which was a frontier town, and his house was
garison'd, tho there was continual fear and a town watch or
military watch rather, yet no hurt was done by ye Indians.
This month, in the beginning, I went to N. Haven
^*^'' to be there on the commencement and to tarry there
till ye next spring, having spent the summer in private studie,
which I esteem ye best.
A few days after ye commencement was over I was taken sick
with a fevour which left me low, with a fevour and ague ; upon
which it was thought proper y' if I could go to Boston it would
be better for me ; soon after a sloop presented.
On ye back side of Cape Codd we were overtaken
° ° *' ¦ with an extreme storm of wind and rain attended
with thunder and lightning in ye night w^ did some hurt to our
vessel, so yt none of us ever expected to see the light of another
day ; but through God's wonderful goodness ye next
°° " ¦ morning we were safely arrived in Plimouth Harbor.
We arrived safe at Boston.
Thlra.. 9. This day Mrs. Rebecca Burnol exchanged this
pryd., 10. .^orld for a better as I trust, and I was chosen a pall
bearer and accepted. She was one whom I first fixed my affections
on, and was truly a well accomplished woman, and noted for so
briety and virtue ; but in her death the will of the Lord is done.
This sickness and trouble were motives to stir up my desires to
obey Christ ; but I seemed afraid, for I had told none my mind.
Upon which y* word was made of a quickening nature to me
He that is ashamed of me and my ways, of him and his ways
will I be ashamed before my Father and the Holy Angels; upon
which I broke my mind to Mr. Callender in order to proceed in
the month of December. This day I was Baptized by the Eev<J. Mr. Elisha
Lord^s'Day.^si. Callender and was admitted into full communion
with the Baptist church in Boston, "' having before
38 (Wanting.)
3» The First Baptist Church in Boston was, according to the record, organized " on the
28th of the 3d month, 1665." The 28th of May, O. S., becomes 7th June, N. S. Among the
early pastors were the following; Thomas Gould, Isaac Hull, John Eussell, Thomas Skin
ner, John Emblen, Ellis Callender (1708-1718), Elisha Callender (1718-1738) Jeremiah
Condy (1739-1764), Samuel Stillman (1765-1807), Joseph Clay (1807-1809). This list, wilh
the exception of a single name, is taken from Benedict, who claims to have followed the

THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMER. 33
waited upon the Bev^. Mr. Appleton, of Cambridge, and dis
coursed with him on y® point of Baptism, together with my reso
lution. Upon which he signified yt I might notwithstanding
maintain my communion in his church, by which I discovered ye
candor and catholick temper of his spirit. He behaved himself
ye most like a Christian of any of my friends at that time upon
this account.
So I tarried in Boston yt winter and resolved to go no more to
coUedge, but to follow my studies privately and to keep for a
time a school in y® country if any presented.
, Accordingly a school presented at Shewamet, ^° or
^^^^^' y® lower end of Swanzey, and considering there was a
Baptist church there, about 8 miles distant, I accepted ye motion.
This day I set out from Boston to Swanzey to visit
¦Thirsd-^Maye. ^^ e^urch *^ and to keep school, if nothing hindered.
Church Manual of 1843. We have, however, ventured, to insert the nanie of Thomas Skin
ner, on the authority of Mr. Comer, who says, iu recording the ordination of Richard
Dingley, which took place in 1689, as pastor of the First Church in Newport, " The ordina
tion was by Mr. Thomas Skinuer, pastor of the church in Boston, and Mr. James Barker, a.
ministering brother belonging to this church." There is a letter on record, sent from the
church in Boston to the church in Newport, bearing date " y« 25th day of yo 11th month,
1679," which was signed by " Isaac Hull, John Russell, and Thomas Skinner, in y name
of the rest."
This church in Boston during all its earlier history maintained correspondence with the
First Church in Newport and the First Church in Swanzey, Wheri' a disputation had been
arranged by order ofthe governor and council between the Boston Baptists and their op
ponents, the First Church in Newport "heai'ingof this appointment, sent to the assistance
of their brethren" a deputation, " who arrived in Boston three days before the dispute."
— Backus, Htsiorif, I., 301. The minute in the Records of the First Church in Newport reads
as follows: "The Church at Boston Baptized upon profession of faith, being called by y
Magistrates to render an account of their faith together with their Pastor, Mr. Thomas
Gold, on y" 14th and loth of April, 1668, . . . this church not knowing but y* they might
meet with some difficulties, and so might want their help and assistance macfe choice of
and sent down three messengers to them, viz. Joseph Tory [Torrey], William Hiscox, and
Samuel Hubbard, who got there ou ye 11th of April." When Mr. Bradstreet was chosen
governor in place of Mr. Leverett, and their liberties were somewhat abridged, the church
wrote to their brethren at Newport, 25th January, 1679, '¦ that several of their brethren
and sisters had been called to court, censured, fined twenty shillings apiece and to pay
court charges," but the officers having the order to execute were not forward in the per
formance of their duty.
40 The original tract of land which was granted to John Miles and his associates, and
to which, in honor ofthe old home in Wales, they gave the name of Swanzey, "included,"
says Backus, "what is now Warren and Barrington, and the district of Shawomet, as well
as the present town of Swanzey." — Hist., I., 235 ; Baylies, iJfemoir^ of Plymouth, II., 235.
41 This church in Swanzey " is the oldest Baptist church in Massachusetts." Its founder,
Rev. John Miles, " came with a colony from Swansea, in Wales, and settled iu a section of
what was then Rehoboth but subsequently was set off, and received the name of Swanzey."
The Swansea church in Wales, which was organized in 1649, brought with it to this country
in 1663 the old church records. There was a renewal of church relations in the new

34 THE DIARY OP JOHN COMEE.
^^ ^ This day about noon I got safe to Swanzey and
'^ " ¦ went first as directed to tlie house of Deacon Richard
Hardin— kindly entertained. At night I was conducted to Mr.
Jonathan Kingsley's to keep as they had concluded. Sent back
nay horse by ye Post.
saturd 8 '^^^^ ^^^ ^ visited the minister Mr. Ephraim
a ur ., . ^jjg^^Qjj^ 42 g^jjjj ^^ invited by him to preach ye
next Lord's Day, which I accepted. Having been earnest with
the Lord for ye bestowment of suitable gifts and graces for so
sacred a service. This day I began my public ministry in the town
Lord's D., o. ^j Swanzey, in the congregation and by the request
of Mr. Ephraim Wheaton, Pastor of ye church of Swanzey, from
those words, 1 Pet. 1 : 16, Be ye holy for I am holy, P. M. A
large auditory. Thus I hope in the sincerity and uprightness of
my soul, with a hearty and sincere aim to God's glory and ye ad
vantage of precious souls, and under deep humility considering
my own unworthiness I entered into ye work of the sacred min
istry. Who is sufilcient for these things. My grace is sufllcient.
I continued to preach one part of ye Lord's Day by the request
of ye minister. This month I was invited by the town to keep the
June- Public school, which I accepted, and for that service
to have 44 pounds a year, tho I engaged only for one quarter.
This day I went to Boston to visit my friends and
July 30. receive my portion.
Aug. 1. This day I was twenty-one years old.
This day I received my portion of my Uncle, Capt.
Mond., 2. James Watson, and gave him suitable receipts ; tho
SwaDzey in the year of arrival. John Miles was pastor from 1663 till his death in 1683.
Samuel Luther was ordained pastor in 1685, and continued his ministry till his death in
1717. Ephraim Wheaton, having been associate pastor from 1704, succeeded Mr. Luther in
1717. and continued in office till his death in 1734. This church maintained a. corres
pondence with the First Church in Newport, and the First Church in Boston, and with the
Particular Baptists of London. — Backus, History, JI., 275, 433 ; Cathcart, Bap. Ency,
42 Ephraim Wheaton was born in 1656. He served the Swanzey Church for thirty years,
first as associate pastor with Mr. Luther from 1704 till the death of the latter in 1717, then
as sole pastor till his own death, April 26, 1734. His meeting house, though in Swanzey,
"stood near the borders of Rehoboth, and he and many of his people who lived therein
were taxed to [support] Psedobaptist ministers of that town." — Backus, History, I., 500,509.
He occasionally corresponded with friends in London. Mr, Backus has preserved letters
which passed between him and the munificent London merchant, Thomas Hollis. Letters
of his are recorded in tbe books of the First Church in Newport. [" Elder " Wheaton
appears to have been a valued friend of Johu Comer ; they died within a month of each
other, and were buried side by side. — J. W. W.]

THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE. 35
in some things he dealt very disingenuously with me, yet I hope
I can say I forgive him. Far be it from me to do otherwise.
This day I returned to Swanzey. At ye church
Fryd.. a. meeting the 5th of this month, the church chose five
brethren to treat with me, to tarry and preach one year with y ™. I
only preached before upon ye request of ye minister. The brethren
appointed by ye church were : Richard Hardin, deacon ; Joseph
Butterworth ; Jonathan Kingsley ; John West ; Hugh Cole ; who
accordingly waited on me, but I refused because by some private
action yt I discovered I found some opposition to my settlement.
So I did not promise any time, tho I concluded in myself to tarry
a quarter with y™. But finding a head like to be made and a
positive vote in ye church absolutely denied in a wicked manner
by two or 3 persons who appeared free and easie to my face.
Having been invited to Newport by Elder Will°i Peckcom's'"
congregation, ** tho very small and low, I thought it advisable to
go there, things having an ill countenance from yt time to [this.]
48 " Elder William Packcom [or Peckham, the name is variously spelled] was ordained
to y^ Pastoral Office by the imposition of y« hands of Mr. Samuel Luther, Pastor of the
church in Swanzey, aod Mr, Samuel Bullock, Deacon of yo above s* church, about y« middle
of November, in y« year 1711."
A letter was sent, under date September 7, 1727, " From a church of Christ in Swanzey
to a chureh of Christ at Newport under the care of Elder William Packcom and Elder
Jno. Comer," " Signed by us yo subscribers in behalf of y« church,
Heney Sweetikg, Elder,
Ephraim Wheaton, Pastor,
Jonathan Kingsley, Deacon.
Hugh Cole, '
Joseph Buttbkwoeth."
"June 21, 1732, the church met at Elder Packcom's according to agreement. Brother
Wm. Clagget began the meeting with prayer, yi followed a discourse suited to ye occasion,
after which y Elders of y church imposed ye hands on Brother Wm. Packcom followed
by a prayer, y° according to y« desire of Elder Packcom we proceeded to Break bread, after
which yo antient Elder gave his good advice and Blessing to y church, and y« meeting
ended." Thus was set apart in a most solemn manner a brother to serve the church as
deacon. — First Church in Newport Hecords.
Elder William Peckham married for his first wife a niece of Dr. John Clarke. He died
August 2, 1784,
44 The First Church in Newport, to wbich Mr, Comer now came, was at the time being
sorely rent, and was consequently much weakened. Daniel White, who had come from
England, and was engaged to assist the pastor, divided the church, and set up a separate
meeting. The organization ofthe First Church was effected probably early in 1633, the year ofthe
settlement of the colony. Mr. Clarke began his ministry as soon as the colonists arrived.
John Wintbrop, the governor of Massachusetts, assures us of this fact in a written
statenientmade that very year; in 1638 he affirmed that Mr. Clarke was "preacher to those
of the Island." Thomas Lechford, "of Clements Inne," a cultivated gentleman
who had traveled through the New England colonies, testifies in 1640, that " on tbe Island

36 . THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE.
This day I went to Newport in oMer to live there
Mond , Nov. 1, .^ tjjjugs could be made comfortable, having the day
before preached my farewell sermon from Matt. 6": 2.
In my going to N. port I followed ye advice of Mr. Elisha Cal
lender, Pastor of ye Baptist church in Boston, bearing date Sept.
13th, 1725. These are some of the principal heads :
The first thing you have to do is to consider which congregation doth
most of all want help, i, e., Swanzey or N. port, and then where you may
have y= fairest prospect of doing good. These two things I think would de
termine me to go to Newport; and y" hesides some other considerations
fall in which ought to have their force and they are these: Tour own com
fort in y^ henefit of conversation of w"^ to he sure there is greater choice at
N. port. And y" again as to your suhsistence w** as far as I can learn is as
like to he as comfortahle at Newport as elsewhere ; w' other considerations
you may have I know not; hut upon y'= whole I pray God to direct you.
Butif you incline to go to Newport, I must advise you to these things:
1. To studie well all your puhlic discourses and look upon it your husiness
to compose sermons in a handsome style and good method ; 2. Carefully
avoid all controversies in y"= pulpit ; 3. Be sure y' you never enter into y=
contention *^ y' has been at Newport, E. Callender.
This day I was called to Pastoral Office in ye
Mond., 13, (,jj^j.gj^ ^y ^ unanimous vote.
This day two men and a lad were drowned
Thirsd., J e harbour between the fort and ye town, ye
Deoembrie. •' r,. i. XT. • i • \^
connue [canoe] in which they were sinking under
them ; ye Lord's Day following I improved y t word, Boast not
thyself of tomorrow.
there is a church where one Master Clarke is pas'tor." Winthrop and Hubbard, in their
histories, give concurrent evidence; when describing the rise of certain new religious
opinions on the Island iu 1639-40, they speak of Mr. Clarke as the accredited minister of
a portion, at least, of the people on tbe Island ; when the people became divided into two
parties, these earliest historians say that from the new opinions broached, " their minister
Mr. Clarke, , . . dissented, and publicly opposed " them. The early pastors of the church
were: John CTarke (1638-1676), Obadiah Holmes (1651-1682), Eichard Dingley 16SS-1694),
William Peckham (1711-1734), John Comer (172S-1729), John Callender (1731-1748), Edward
Upbam (1748-1771), Erasmus Kielley (1771-1784), Benjamin Foster (1785-1788), Michael Eddy
(1789-1835), At the time Mr. Comer became pastor of the church, its meeting house doubtless stood
on Tanner Street (now West Broadway), opposite tbe small enclosed cemetery where Mr.
Clarke.lies buried. A meeting house was built on this site " in y« year 1708 upon y lot of
land which was given by Mr. John Clarke for ye useof y« church." The formermeeting house
was sold the year before, in 1707, which stood at " Green End." — Ross, Hist. Disc. ; Hist, of
Ch.; Cathcart, Bap. Ency.; Newport Hist. Magazine, IV,, 71,
^ Referring to the division created by Daniel White, who was at this time preaching to
a party that bad drawn off from tbe church.

THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE. 37
This day I begin a new year. Since I have begun
^^•lie^^' ^ ^^'^ service I desire to go on in ye strength of the
Lord my God and to persevere unto my life's end.
This day I changed my condition and entered into
Thirad., 20. ^ married state with Mrs. Sarah Rogers *" of Newport.
I was married by Major John Coddington, " Justice of ye Peace.
This day I gave my answer to the call of the church
FebruM °6. ill til® affirmative, to accept of ye work of the sacred
ministry among them.
Here follows an exact coppie of ye answer delivered publicly in
the face of ye congregation. Newport, Feb. y' 6th, 1726.
Brethren and Beloved in our Lord Jesus Christ :
Tou have sometime since solemnly called upon the Lord of y= harvest by
humble and earnest prayer y' he would send forth a labourer into this part
of his harvest, such a one as might break y" bread of life to you and dispense
y° living oracles of y'^ holy one of Israel in this place.
Hereupon you were directed to make choice of the unworthy instrument
who now reminds you hereof.
I trust Beloved you have deeply.considered the awfulness of y" call of a
labourer to be improved in God's harvest; with y« diflficulties, discourage
ments, and temptations, such are exposed to. I have also seriously weighed,
and humbly spread the case before the Lord, earnestly beseeching him to
guide and direct me in so important and momentous an affair in being an
ambassador for Christ to beseech sinners in his name and stead to be recon
ciled unto God. Hereupon I have considered
I. What the Lord Jesus Christ expects [from such] as preach the GuspeL
II. What men expect from them.
I. What the Lord X [Christ] expects.
1. Christ expects they should be faithful in it. 1 Tim. 1 : 11, 12.
2. Christ expects they should keep close to, and not very far from, his
commission to them. 1 Thess. 2 : 2, 3, 4, 6.
3. They are accountable for all the acts of their office. Heb. 13 : 17.
4, All such as are called are under obligation lo preach y^ Gospel, 1 Cor.
9: 16.
5, Christ expects his word should not be corrupted to please men, 2 Cor.
2 : 17. They should keep close to and not very far from his instructions in
both y" matter, manner, and end, of their ministry y' so they may say as
Christ did when sent, Jno. 7 : 16: JMy doctrine isn't mine, but his y' sent
me ; so St. Paul could say of what he delivered. 1 Cor. 11 ; 22, 23. So
Timothy must keep what was committed to him, 2 Tim, 1 : 14.
* [It ia evident that this lady was not a widow, John Comer was her first husband.
" Mrs." [" Mistress "] is used here and elsewhere, according to former custom, in speaking
of single women of position in society. E. g. No doubt so of " Mrs," Rebecca BurnoU,
See page 32, J. W. W.
" (.Wanting.) D

38 THE DIAEY OP JOHX COMEE.
II. What men expect.
And here : Men expect y' such should be examples to others in Doctrine,
in Conversation, in Faith, in Purity.
I have also considered my own inability to perform these ministerial acts
which are incumbent on those who are thereunto called, — of being the
mouth of God's people to Him, and His mouth unto them, — of admitting
into, and ejecting out of, his visible kingdom, — and of administering the
Seals of the Covenant to his people.
But while I was musing and ruminating hereupon, y' precious promise
took deep impression on me, 2 Cor, 12 : 9, My grace is sufficient for you ;
and y'. Matt, 28 : 20, Lo, I am with you alway.
When I considered my small standing in y= School of Christ, the tender
ness of my years, the smallness of my experience, the various temptations I
am exposed to, and the greatness of y" work I am to engage in, I was almost
discouraged. But considering the necessity of this flock of Christ,
Therefore Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ, I now by the grace of God
assisting me resolve to improve my utmost strength that God may afford
me in this place by a compliance with your call to the work of y= ministry
among you. This I do in y= name ofthe great God and the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the presence of y" elect angels and this assembly, promising by y' help of
y= Holy Ghost to perform y= ininistry you have called me to, agreeable to
God's word and your expectation, viz.,
To declare y= whole counsel of God and to keep nothing y' I either do or
shall know to be agreeable to God's will from .you; and to administer the
ordinances ofthe Gospel — Baptism and the Lord's Supper — as God has pre
scribed in his holy Word, without human alteration and unwarrantable
tradition. So Brethren and beloved in the Lord X [Christ], I humbly beg
your prayers to God for me to help and assist me in a work of so great im
portance which I should have laid before me, but the service of this after
noon hath made it sufficiently manifest to you.* So devoting myself to y"
service of your souls, and y= souls of yours, in y« Gospel of Christ, whom I
intreat through y= blood ofthe Everlasting Covenant to make you all per
fect, stablish, strengthen and settle you, working in each of you y' which,
is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory in all y'
churches world without end. Amen.
* Note.— I preached from 2 Cor. 2 : 16, Who is sufficient for these
things, — JoHir Comer. This day I had my Letter of Dismission and Eec-
ommendation from the church in Boston to the
church in N. port. Signed in behalf of the church by
Ellis Callbndee, ^
Elisha Callendeb, Pastor,
JosiAS Byles, Deacon,
Epheaim Ceaet.
* ElUs Callender, father of Elisha Callender and his predecessor in the pastoral office
was pastor of the First Baptist Church in Boston from 1708 to 1718. In 1714, Dr. Cotton

THE DIAEY OF JOHK COMEE, 39
This day I was solemnly ordained by fasting, prayer, and the
imposition of hands of ye eldership, viz.,
Me. William Peckcom, Pastor,
Me. Samuel Maxwell, *° Deacon.
I preached myself that day from Matt. 28 : 20, Lo, I am with
you alway. Mr. William Packcom gave me the charge, [which
concluded with these words] : And in testimony of your reception
to an equal part in ye work of ye sacred ministry, I give you my
right hand.
The members of the church when I was chosen to y® Pastoral
Office were 18 In number, 10 men and 8 women.
There were at ye same time in ye town 7 places of public wor-
ship.^o Mather, pastor of the Third Congregational Church, addressed him a kind letter, breathi ng
a very fraternal spirit, indicative of a changed attitude on the part of tbe " standing
order " toward dissenting bodies. This letter is recorded by Backus in his History, I., 420,
« Samuel Maxwell became a member of the First Church in Newport, and jssas subse
quently made a deacon of the church. His ordination to this ofGice is thus recorded :
" October 20, 1724, Peter Taylor and Samuel Maxwell were ordained by Imposition of y
hands of Mr. Will™ Peckh^n aod Mr, Ephraim Wheaton, pastor of y church of Swanzey,
to y work and office of Deacons," — CJmrch Records, Mr, Maxwell was dismissed to the
Boston Church September 11, 1727, then returned and reunited with the church in Newport
October 24, 1728, and was again dismissed. May 25, 1732, to the church in Swanzey. April
18, 1733, he was ordained colleague with the Eev. Ephraim Wheaton ; "but be was un
steady in his sentiments, tnd in 1738 he embraced the opinion of keeping the seventh day
of the week as the Sabbath, which caused his dismission from the church, April 15, 1739,"
Backus, History, 11., 434, In 1745, having retracted his opinions concerning the Sabbath,
he took charge of a Baptist church in Rehoboth, but continued with them less than four
years. A letter of his to Elisha Callender indicated other doctrinal defections. He
" lived to a great age, and was esteemed a pious man ; but be was so unsteady in his prin
ciples and conduct as to cause much iinhappiness in the churches." — Ibid, 275,
50 Callender says, in his Historical Discourse, " that there are at this time, seven worship
ing Assemblies, Churches, or Societies, in this town [Newport], besides a large one of
the people called Quakers, at Portsmouth, tbe other part of the Island." Page 120.
In aletler sent from Newport to a gentleman in Dublin, Ireland, Dean Berkeley says,
under date April 24, 1729, " Here are four sorts of Anabaptists, besides Presbyterians, Qua
kers, Independents, and many of no profession at all. Notwithstanding so many diifer-
ences, here are fewer quarrels about religion than elsewhere, the people living peaceably
with their neighbors of whatsoever persuasion." Quoted by Elton iu his edition of Callen
der's Historical Discourse, p. 31. Tbe Anabaptists, or the " Baptized Churches," as they
called themselves, were divided into three distinct denominations. Besides the Begular
Baptists, there were the Sabbatarians and the Six-Principle Baptists. Tbe two former were
Calvinistic in doctrine, the latter generally Arminian. The Free Will Baptists did not
appear until very much later.
Doctrinal views were at this early period held with great tenacity. With the Six-
Principle Baptists the imposition of hands upon all believers was a divine ordinance and
binding on the conscience, and, equally with baptism, was a necessary pre-requisite to the
communion.

40 THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER.
Baptist churches. One under hands, ^^ Mr. James Clarke ^^ and
Mr. Daniel Wightman, ^^ Pastors. My flock, I being ordained a
colleague with Mr. William Peckcom, Pastor. One 7*^ day
church, ^* Mr. Joseph Crandall, ^^ Pastor.
51 "One under hands" designates what was afterward known as the Second Baptist
Church, sometimes called the North Baptist Church. This was an^oflFshoot of the First
Church. " In 1652," says Callender, " during Mr. Ciarke's absence in England, some of the
brethren [of the First Church] embraced the opinion of laying on of hands, as necessary to
all baptized persons, and in the year 1654 or 1656, the opinion [that] it was necessary to church
communion and fellowship, together with their opinions of the doctrines of grace and free
will, occasioned some of them to separate, and form a chureh by themselves, under the lead
ing of Mr. Wm. Vaughan." — Hi.st. Disc., Elton's ed., 118. " These seceders," says Benedict,
" objected against the old body : 1. Her use of psalmody ; 2. Under restraint upon the lib
erty of prophesying, as they termed it; S. Particular redemption; 4. Her holding the lay
ing on of hands aa a matter of Indifference. The last article is supposed to be the principal
cause of the separation." — History (1848), p. 467.
The early pastors of this churcli were, William Vaughan [1656-1677), Thomas Baker,
John Harden, James Clarke, Daniel Wightman, Nicholas Eyres, Gardner Thurston
(1759-1802). This church became subsequently at one time very large, and numbered among its mem-
' bers many of the leading men of the town.
The first meeting house ofthe church was built on lands bouglit at two different times,
the first part in 1697, the second part in 1703-4. It is the land on which the meeting house
of this church at present stands. See notes 178^^^ and 187.
52 James Clarke was nephew of Dr. John Clarke, and " ordained pastor of this flock
[Second Church iu Newport] in 1701, by the assistance of Key. Messrs. Dexter, Tillinghast,
and Brown, of Providence, and continued in good esteem until he died, December 1, 1736,
aged 87." — Benedict, History, I., SOI.
53 "Daniel Wightman was his [James Clarke's] colleague and successor. He was born in
Narragansett, January 2, 1668, was ordained in 1704, at which time he took the joint care
of the church with Mr. Clarke. He continued in office until he died in 1750, aged 82." —
Benedict, History, I., 501.
64 This was "the first Sabbatarian church in America." In 1671 several members of the
First Church, " entertaining conscientious scruples in regard to keeping the first day of the
week as the Christian Sabbath, withdrew from the fellowship of that church, and organized
themselves into a church." In the Eecords of the First Church there is " A brief and faith
ful relation ofthe Difference between those of this church and those who withdrew their
communion from it with y* Causes and Reasons of the same. The brethren and sisters
were: William Hiscox, Roger Baxter, Samuel Hnbbard, Tacey Hubbard, Rachel Lang-
worthy. Each of whom left yo church on y 7th Day of December, 1671." This "Brief
Relation " occupies nine closely written folio pages. The first pastor of the church was
William Hiscox, who died May 24, 1704, aged 65. He was succeeded by William
Gibson, who died March 12, 1717, aged 79. The next pastor was Joseph Crandall, who died
in 1737.— Benedict, ^w(,, IL, 418 ; Ross, Sw/.2)mc., 134. The original covenantof the church
is given in Backus, Editor's Note, I., 325, The MS. of Comer containing it, and from
which the editor of Mr. Backus* history obtained it is in the library of the Backus His
torical Society. This MS. gives also the following item : " There was a Petition presented
to ye Assembly of Rhode Island Colony by several of y« members of y" 7th Day Com
munion yt yo Market whieh was kept on y^ 7th Day night be altered to y» 6th Day of y"
week, which was granted May 2d, 1677."
55 Joseph Crandall began his ministry in 1715 as colleague with Mr. Gibson, and at the
latter's death succeeded him in the pastoral office, and continued In the same till his death,
September 13, 1737.

THE DIARY OF JOHN COJMER, 41
One congregation under y© care of Mr. Daniel White. ^^
One Congregational church, Mr. Nathi Clap, Pastor, Mr, Bass
yt assisted him.
One Episcopal church, " Mr. James Honeyman, ^^ Pastor.
One Assembly of Quakers, ^'-^ very large,
56 Daniel White came from the Rev. Edward Wallin's church in London, and with his
family was received into the First Newport Charch. " Mr. Daniel White, EUzabeth White,
and Mary White were received by a letter from a church iu Old England, May the 18th,
niS."— Church Records. He was soon invited to become an assistant to the pastor, the Rev.
William Peckham, and succeeded in rending the church. The Eecords say, "Notwith
standing all ye advice given to heal y" unhappie division, the flock was divided; part held
with their Ancient Pastor, and part with Mr. Daniel White, who was called to ye Pastoral
Office on ye 7th of September, 1718, while ye whole were united, and by virtue of ye call
without Imposition of hands, he Administered all ye Special Ordinances ot ye Gospel."
The rest of Mr. White's story is told in the following paragraph from the Church Records :
" Mr. White held up a meeting in y* town in ye Meeting House w^ was built for him in
the year 1724, until ye 21st of July, 1728, which House he and Mr. Boyle sold to Mr. James
Blackstock on ye 25th of June ; and he took a farewell of ye place on y^ 7th of August, 1728.
Thus the meeting upheld by him finished — and ye only surviving member y* he left
behind him was a woman," a Mrs. Mary Hamblin. Mr. Blackstock afterward gave the
building to the Congregational Church for a schooihouse.
57 " In 1700, after Quakerism, and other heiesies had in their turn, ruled and tinged all
the inhabitants for the space of forty-six years, the Church of England, that had heen lost
here through the neglect ofthe crown, entered, as it were, unobserved and unseen, and yet
not without success. A little church was built at Newport, the metropolis of the Colony
[in 1702], and that in which I officiate in Narragansett, in 1707."— McSparran, America
Dissected. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, incorporated
in 1702, sent two years later, in 1704, James Honyman as its missionary to labor in con
nection with this new church in Newport, The original founder of the church is said to
have been Sir Francis Nicholson, under whose auspices Mr. Dockyer, an Episcopal cler
gyman, gathered the church early in 1699. Besides receiving stated remittances from the
mother country for the support of preaching, this church was frequently made the recipient
of costly gifts from munificent friends. A meeting house having been built in 1702, " fin
ished all ou the outside, and the inside pewed well, but not beautiful," a bell for the same
wa.-i received in 1709 from Queen Anne In 1733, Dean Berkeley gave the church an organ,
and the same year .Fahleel Brenton a clock for the steeple. The early rectors of the church
were : Mr. Lockyer (1698-1704^, James Honeyman (1704^1750), Jeremiah Learning (1750-1760),
Thomas Pollen (1754-1760), Marmaduke Browne (1760-1770), George Bisset (1771-1779).
During the Revolutionary War the church was for several years without a minister.— Bull,
Hist. Trinity Ch.; Arnold, Hist. Ji. I., I., 559 ; Newport Hist. Magasine, IV., 7.
63 James Honeyman was born in England about the year 167^, and was sent to this
country as a missionary by tbe Society for the Pronagation ofthe Gospel in Foreign Parts,
commencing his work in Newport in 1704. He made to the Society an annual report of his
Itbors. These reports, continued till his death, contain a full history of his life. He died
.Tuly 2, 1750, after nearly a half century of service in the same parish.
59 " The rise of the religious Society of Friends appears from the most authentic data to
have taken place in 1644," when " some piously disposed persons first associated themselves
in religious profession with George Fox." — James Bowden, Hi^t. of FHends in America.
In noticing the progress of the Society, Fox states in his Journal : " The truth sprang up
first to us, so as to be a people to the Lord, in Leicestershire in 1644, in Warwickshire iu
1645, in Nottinghamshire in 1646, in Derbyshire in 1647, and in the adjacent counties in
1648, 1649, and 1650, in Yorkshire in 1651." Staples, io his Annals of Providence,^). 420, says:

42 THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMER.
This month a hardened young man being com-
¦*'"^' mitted to prison for theft, attempted to kill himself
by stabbing an awl into his bowels, and to choke himself by tying
his stockings straight about his neck, but was prevented. I being
sent for about 9 of ye clock at night to pray for him, he appeared
ye most awful spectacle y* I ever beheld, for I plainly discovered
ye sad symptoms of a hard and obdurate heart. The next Lord's
day I improved publicly that word, Job 41 : 24.
About ye middle of this month one Hannah
septemr. gujjericij^ a disconsolate young woman, as is sup
posed, drowned herself about 11 of ye clock at night. The town
was alarmed by ye beat of ye drum (the ground why isn't certainly
known). And in ye afternoon of ye next day one Catharine
Cook attempted ye like action, but was discovered after she had
fallen down in ye water ; but upon examination before Edward
Thirston [Thurston], Assistant, and Job Lawton, Justice of ye
Peace, she seemed to be under ye power of Satan in a very awful
manner. On ye evening of ye Lord's Day between 8 and 9 of ye clock,
towards the close of this month, appeared a very remarkable
rainbow in the North west.
This day, being Lord's Day, one Ruth Dennis a
Novr. 27. young woman about 17 years old, being at home in
ye afternoon, was delivered of a bastard child, privately, and
kill'd it and threw it into ye little house, by her own acknowl
edgement to me and ye rest of ye ministers of ye town.
Monday. This day I preached at New London,
Mr. Stephen Gorton's*" Ordination sermon, from 2 Cor.
" The first appearance of Friends in New England was in 1656. In July of that year two
females of this denomination of Christians, arrived at Boston, from Barbadoes."
But the religious movements which led to Quakerism seem to have been earlier in tbis
country than in England. This was one of the fruits of the Autinomian controversy
which waxed warm in Boston in 1637, and drove a colony to tbe shores of the Narragansett.
Soon after its arrival the controversy was renewed within its bosom. " There were those
in Rhode Island who, as early as 1640, pushing still further the principle of the * Antino-
mians,' went beyond the written word, and claimed to be in possession of an inner light,
of a revelation from the Spirit supplementary to that of the Bible." — Barrows' Development
of Baptist Ft^nciples in Rhode Island, page 40. Arnold, in his History of Rhode Island, I.,
151, makes a similar affirmation. In consequence of this controversy of 1640 and 1641, some
became " seekers," " who were afterward chiefly merged in the Society of Friends, and by
their opponents styled Quakers." "When 'William Leddra and Marmaduke Stevenson
came to Newport, in the year 1658 or 9, they found their brethren here." — Ross, Hist. Disc,
page 181. This Society subsequently became, iu Rhode Island, very large and for more
than a half century perhaps the most influential in the Colony. — Callender, Hist. Disc, 120.
00 This Stephen Gorton, who was ordained at New London, was a man of considerable

THE DIARY OF JOHN COMEE. 43
2 : 16, and assisted in conjunction with Mr. Jno. Moss and Mr.
Valentine Wightman. *^ There was a large auditory [audience].
As to ye blessing on my ministry this year I re-
eoemr. pgiyg^ ^q ^^q table of the Lord, 24 persons ; out of
which I Baptized 19 myself from May 26th to Decemr ye 23d. Ye
other five by other administrators.
This year one drowned, wilfully to appearance. One wilfully
murthered her child.
What I had for support from my people this year, both from
the church and congregation, amounted to £85 14s.' 6d.
In the latter end of this month, on ye Lord's Day
anuary, . ^^ ^^ several men went into a boat to attend a vessel
bound to sea, and coming from ye vessel near her side ye boat
overset and 3 men were drowned, (one of whom was a man which
a little before was remarkably preserved 18 days in a long boat at
sea with Capt. Moot). The other 3 were taken up alive by ye
ferry boat. One of y™ taken up alive was William Pinnegar.
One of y™ drowned was Thomas Weeden.
This day I preached in prison to Ruth Dennis upon
Fryd., 21. , j. .c -n r ii. o hr
her request from Matt. 8 : 7.
This day Mr. Hull, a stranger lately from London,
™ ¦ ¦ came to visit me, having heard me ye day before
from Ezek. 33 : 11. He much faulted my sermon. He was a
very strange-principled man, and upon discourse I found him a
sad and dreadful Antinomian. *^ He soon went to Boston.
gifts, and served in the ministry many years, " but he fell into some scandalous conduct,
and his church was finally dissolved." — Backus, Histcy, II., 517.
61 Valentine Wightman, descendant of Edward Wightman, who was condemned for his
religious opinions at Litchfield, England, December 14, 1611, and burned April 11, 1612, was
bom in North Kingstown, R. I., in 1681. February 10, 1703, he was married to Susanna
Holmes. Having been ordained in Rhode Island, he removed to Groton, Conn., about
seven miles north of New London, in 1705, where he planted a church of the "Six
Principle " order. Although this denomination of Christians was opposed to singing in
their public worship, Mr. Wightman introduced it into his church, and defended the inno
vation with much ability in a pamphlet which was published. " Mr. Wightman's writings
show that he was a student of the Scriptures and of the patristic writings, with a well bal
anced mind, of calm but decided spirit, of sound judgment, clear convictions, warm heart,
plain and transparent speech, a wise man in laying foundations." — Cathcart, Bap. Ency.
He continued his ministry at Groton for more than forty years, and died June 9, 1747, aged
sixty-six years. He was Succeeded in his pastoral otfice by his son, Timothy Wightman,
who also filled the same for a period of more than forty years.
62 It is certainly " dreadful " when one imagines that the law of God does not concern the
Christian, that it is not to be preached even as a rule of life ; and " that the evidence of
justification is to be looked for, not in purity of heart and life, but in a direct divine reve
lation." The reaction against Rome, which lay an undue stress upon works, upon mere
rites, upon actions in their naked externality, drove some of the Reformers of Germany

44 THE DIARY OP JOHN COMEE.
This night about 12 of ye clock my first son was
Pebry'2'. bora, whom I named John.
This day I preached in Boston, A. m. for Mr. Elisha
March 19.' CaUender from Numbers 23 : 19. This is ye first time
in Boston.
This evening a train of combustible matter was laid
April 3. under the floor of ye Old Church porch, and set on
fire, but was timely discovered so y' little hurt was done by it.
It was a very evil act.
This day Ruth Dennis was cleared by ye Court
°' upon pleading not guilty, for want of evidence ye law
required. She was guilty in the sight of God who sees. She was
guilty in her own conscience by her frequent acknowledgments
to me during her imprisonment, and I never (till she did) thought
she would plead not guilty, all circumstances were so plain ; but
was not guilty in ye law. The judge of all the earth will do right,
he won't clear ye guilty, not one guilty sinner shall escape his
deserts. This month the New English church^ was first
''"^¦. met in.
This day I preached at Swanzey from Phil. 1 : 1,2,
^j^y 23! ' being the first time after the trouble which arose
about my invitation there to settle. Elder Ephraim
Wheaton made an exchange with me and preached at Newport.
Follow peace with all men ; as much as lieth in you, live
peaceably with aU men.
into an equally erroneous position in the opposite direction, Antinomian tendencies ap
peared also among the Puritans of England under Cromwell. The controversy, earnest and
intense, carried on in the New World in 1637, between two parties called respectively the
" Legalists " and the " Antinomians," furnishes one of the early chapters of the history of
the Massachusetts Colony, and was the immediate occasion of the settlement of the Colony
of Rhode Island. It is well for us to remember, however, that neither the Legalists on
the one hand, nor the Antinomians on the other, would admit all that their opponents re
spectively charged upon them.
63 Thia is supposed to have been the Congregational church, of which Mr. Clap was
pastor. This church had had a meeting house for many years. " In 1696, the first meeting
bouse was built. It stood on a lot of land situated on the northerly side of Tanner Street
(now West Broadway), between Edward Street and Green Lane. Here services were con
tinued until 1720, with varied results."— T. W. Wood, MS. Hist, of the Church.
Neal, in commenting on the affairs of Rhode Island, in bis History of New England, Vol.
II., page 233, exhibits not only some prejudice, but not a little ignorance. Speaking of the
first settlement of Rhode Island and its subsequent history, down to the period in which
he wrote (1720), he says : " It was first inhabited by the Sectaries, who were banished from
Boston in the year 1639, and hasbeen the Asylum of such Persons ever since; but the In
habitants now begin to be more civilized since there have been two Churches in the Island,
one according to the New English Model, the other according to the Church of England."

THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER. 45

Saturd. 7.

This day was exceeding uncommon heat felt here
^^' and continued until Augt ye 7th, many died with yo
extremity in, some places.
This day Mr. John Adams" came to town to
Thirsd.,Augt5. prg^ij jjg an assistant to Mr. Clap.
This day my wife's father, Mr. John Rogers, ^* as
I trust exchanged earth for heaven, suddenly. He
was a serious and devout Christian.
This day our rightful sovereign. King George the
^'*' 2d was proclaimed here; before which on ye same
day ye funeral ceremony of King George the first was solemnized.
He died June 15th before. All things on this occasion was per
formed with ye greatest accuracy the circumstances would admit.
On the Lord's Day following
I preached from those words, 1 Kings 1 : 34, God,
Lord's D., 29. g^^g -g-j^g Solomon.
This day happened the strongest hurricane that
septlmr i'e. ^ath been known it [here ?]. It blew up trees by ye
roots in abundance ; blew down several chimneys,
and blew off ye roof of a house, and blew sundry vessels on shore.
This day being invited (by a number of Baptists at
ootob^elie. Springfield «« to pay y^ a visit, Mr. Elisha Callender,
of Boston, having been there and on ye 23 of July
fr* John Adams, son of Hon. John Adams of Nova Scotia, was graduated from Harvard
College in 1721, went to Newport to assist Mr. Clap, and was the occasion of dividing the
latter's flock. He was ordained pastor of a seceding body by a council which met on the
3d of April, 1728, the ordination taking place eight days afterward, on the 11th of the
month. Thia pastoral relation was severed February 25, 1729-30, when Mr. Adams returned
to Cambridge, where he died in January, 1740, aged 36. " He was distinguished for his
genius, learning, and piety." — Sprague, Annals Amer. Pulpit.
65 John Rogers, a member ofthe First Church in Newport, and also a deacon, was one of
the signers of the deed, dated 3d day of March, 1707-8, conveying by sale the meeting house
of the First Church, situated at " Green End," to John Vaughn. The names of those who
signed " y« deed on y« behalf of the whole church " were, William Peckam, Thomas
Rogers, William Way, Thomas Pecham, James Franklin, Joseph Rogers, Edward Smith,
John Rogers. A letter sent by the First Church in Newport to the First Church in
Swanzey, " April ye 26, 1719," bears his signature with that of six others. At the time of
the division of the church, caused by Daniel White, John Rogers went into the new organ
ization ; but at its dissolution returned to the church, of which he remained a member till
his death.
B« The letter of invitation " to y« Charch of Christ In Newport," was dated " Springfield,
Sept. y« 6th, 1727." " At a chureh meeting, October y« 15th, 1727, information creadlWy
was given [the letter Itself from Springfield to the church was for some reason delayed,
and did not reach its destination till later] y' a Number of Baptized Believers in Spring
field had sent to the church for advice and assistance, that y minister might come up
among them," etc., it was voted to accept the invitation and that the minister go thither
to give counsel and help.— Cf. Backus, Hist,, I., 575.

46 THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER.
before Baptized 11 persons) I set out on a journey for Springfield
in company with Mr. Richard Hardin, " of Swanzey, [and] Mr.
Thomas BusseU, of Boston.
In Plainfield my horse broke ye bridge and threw
weduBBd., IS. ^g ^jgp. j^^^ ^jjj,^ God's goodness without any
hurt to either. This day I arrived safe at ye house of Mr. Jno
¦' ¦ Devotion, at Southfleld, being part of , four days
on ye journey. Went over to Springfield and find all things agree-
Fryd., 20. ^^iq^ j .^rote a journal of this journey distinct, y* I
carried with me. Preached at Springfield fifom Acts 16 : 9, A. m., and
Lord's d., 22. j^^ ^,^ . g^ p_ j^_ ,^Q auditors.
This day Mr. Ebenezer Devotion ^^ ye minister of
Tusd., 2 . gQy^jiflgi(j came to see me and seemed much troubled
about ye affair I came upon.
This evening two ministers came to see me, viz.
" " ¦' ¦ Mr. Devotion and Mr. Hopkins, and while they were
with me, as it happened, the glorious God, who is a God doing
wonders, as well as glorious in holiness, shook ye earth terribly.
'Tis ye most remarkable Earthquake ever known in N. England.
It came on about 10 of ye clock in a calm night; it was universal
through the whole continent. It awake many yt were asleep.
This night Oct. 29, 1727, is a night to be remembered and ye
circumstances of it to be transmitted to posterity.
This day set out for Newport, and lodg'd this night
Moond., so. ^^ -j^j.^ Clap's, "' who is ye minister of Wendom
[Windham].
^"^ It is uncertain whether or not this "Mr. Richard Hardin, of Swanzey," can be identi
fied with the " Richard Hardin " mentioned by Backus in his History, II , 24, who in 1718
" became both a deacon and the clerk of the First Church in Swanzey." The rascality of
Hardin was not discovered until 17;iO, three years after tbis journey was made by Comer
to Springfield. This reference may be doing great injustice to Comer's companion on this
occasion. ^ This Mr. Devotion, minister at Soutbfield, or SutSeld, son bf John Devotion, was a
native of Brookline, Mass.; was graduated from Harvard College in 1707; ordained at
Suffield, June 28, 1710, and died April 11, 1741. A letter of his in connection with this
movement at Springfield is given in Backus' i7i,?/ory, I., 513-516. He married Naomi,
daughter of the Rev. Edward Taylor (H. C, 1617), of Westfield.— Sprague's Annals.
69 " Mr. Clap of Wendom," is probably the Rev. Thomas Clap of Windham, who was born
at Scituate, June 26, 1703, graduated from Harvard College in 1722, at the age of nineteen, or
dained as Pastor at Windham, Conn., August 3, 1726, where he continued until 1739. when,
at the resignation ofthe Rev. Elisha Williams, he was elected, against the earnest protest
ot his devoted church. Rector of Yale College, and was inducted into olSce April 2, 1740.

Tiisday, 31.

THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE. 47
This day we were lost in ye woods and benighted
at Warwick, very cold ; but after some hours got to
Mr. Jno Green's, lodg'd there this night. Snow fell a consid
erable depth. This day in ye evening got safe home thro God's
N^vembet'i. gooduess and found my family well. I bless ye Lord
for what experience of his goodness and presence I
have enjoyed in my journey. The Lord prosper ye intent. Mr.
Jno Callender ™ preached in my congregation in my absence.
This day I publicly improved on ye account of the
°^ ^ ¦¦ ¦ earthquake that word Acts 16 : 26, Suddenly there
was a great earthquake. This day a. m. a boat was set over at Point Juda
[Judith] with 4 persons on board. There being
another boat in company, but could not help them, but got soon
to town and inform'd, and with utmost speed a sloop went out,
and about 8 of ye clock in ye evening found them lying on ye side
of ye boat with ye sea washing over y™, having lain 7 or eight
hours, and notwithstanding ye coldness of ye season and ye ex
treme diflBculties they were exposed to, thro God's goodness all
were brought safe to town.
This morning about break of day, a stranger newly
" ^° ¦' ' from England who kept at Mr. Thomas Eichardson's
(who had been observed to labour melancholy) got out of bed and
went down in his shirt and threw himself into the well, and was
there found drowned. This month one  King, a workman at ye Port,
eoem er. g^jjjg thither from ye Point in a connue [canoe] which
overset, and he was soon taken up dead.
This year proved troublesome to the state of this Colony, which
was in a distressing condition. There never was so many sup
porters of ye State taken away in one year as in this remarkable
year. It looks like a sad token of God's displeasure. Major
Holden, ass*, first of all about ye month of December. The Hon-
During his presidency, which was highly advantageous to the college, and while the Rev.
James Noyes was P.astor ofthe First Church (.See Note 27), the college became involved in
a long controversy which ceased only with the retirement of the President in 1766, The
privacy into which Mr. Clap entered was of short duration, for he died in New Haven
Jauuary 7, 1767. — Sprague's Annals.
70 John Callender, who was to become the successor of Mr. Comer as pastor of the First
Church in Newport, was now twenty-one years old, and had been out of college four years.
He was a nephew of the Rev, Elisha Callender, was born in Boston in 1706, and graduated
from Harvard College in 1723, having been educated on the Hollis Foundation.

48 THE DIAEY OF JOHX COMER.
orable Sami Cranstone, " Governour, Ap. 26th. Edward Thirstone
[Thurston] Ass', in ye same month.
At the Election in May the Honourable Joseph Jenks, " Deputy
Governour, was chosen Gov in Chief.
Mr. Jonathan Nichols, Ass* was chosen Deputy Governour;
he was called from his ofice by death in July following.
King George the first, July ye 15th, left his temporal [crown]
and exchanged [it], I trust, for an eternal crown of glory.
This year is the most wonderful yt ever I knew ; this remark
able year 1727, in ye memory of man there never was such a one
known here. In July, heat ; in August, lightning ; in September,
wind; in October, earthquake; each of these in a very admirable
manner. Four were drowned, accidentally, as some termd it.
One wilfully.
This year my ministry was crowned with some success, through
the divine blessing upon it. I received to the Lord's table 7 per
sons, 4 of whom I Baptized, and 3 were Baptized by other ad
ministrators. What I had for support from my people, from the
church and congregation, amounts to £93 12s. 4d.
wednesd • "^^^^ uight Mary Dye went and drowned herself as
January 17, the Jcwry [Jury] gave it; but most concluded she
i'728. y^QQ murthered by her husband. One of her arms
was broke and on yt arm appeared 10 black and blue stripes. She
was not found until [Sentence inoomnlete.']
^ Governor Cranston died at the age of ^8 years, having held the office of Governor
of the Colony during the unprecedented period of twenty-nine consecutive years, being
first elected in 1698. Arnold, in his Histmy of Rhode Island, says, " He held his position,
probably, longer than any other man who has ever been subjected to the test of an annual
popular election."— I., 640. " In the strength of his intellect, the courage and firmness of
his administration, and the skill with whieh he conducted public affairs in every crisis, he
resembled tbe early race of Rhode Islanders. Thirty limes successively chosen to the
highest otfice, be preserved his popularity amidst political convulsions that had swept away
every other ofBcial in the colony. He was the connecting link between two centuries of its
history, and seemed, as it were, the bridge over which it passed in safety, from the long
struggle for existence with the royal governors of Massachusetts to the peaceful possession
of its chartered rights under the House of Hanover." — Ibid., II., 83.
~*- Joseph Jenks, as Comer spells the name in the text, and as he himself spelled it, or
Jencks as given by Backus, or Jeockes as most subsequent writers have been accustomed
to write it, was Deputy Governor ofthe Colony from 1715 until 1721, and again from 1722
u ntil 1727, when at the death of Governor Cranston he was chosen as his successor, and held
the office of Governor for the next five years, residing, at the request of the General Assem
bly, for most of the time in Newport. He died June 15, 1740, in his 84th year. He married
Martha, daughter of John Brown, and granddaughter on her father's side of the Rev. Chad
Brown, of Providence, and on her mother's side of the Rev. Obadiah Holmes, of Newport.
A letter is preserved by Backus, in his History, II., 23, addressed by Governor Jenks while
residing in Newport, to his pastor and broiher-in-law. Rev. James Brown, pertaining to
ecclesiastical affairs in Providence.

THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE. 49
If she drowned herself tis concluded her husband's
Fryd., 19. .^ carriage was the cause.
This day a separation was made in Mr. Clap's con-
Lord's D., 21. gj.ggatiQQ QQ ye account of his refusing y* Mr. Jno
Adams should settle with him, and so Mr. Adams preached in ye
school house " belonging to that society.
This morning just about break of day a small speck
Lord's D.. 28. Q^ ^^ earthquake was felt here.
This day I prayed with Elder Henry Sweating '*
M^h aa being near the point of death,— at Rehoboth.
This day I preached at Swanzey for Elder Ephraim
TMrad., 21. wheaton, it being ye day of public fasting throughout
ye Province. This day I -prayed with Mary Bullock, at Re-
Pryd., 22. ,,,,,. f , '' '
hoboth, being sick.
This day a number of Presbyterian Ministers'^
^A^ru 2^' came to town to regulate ye affairs of Mr. Clap's con
gregation. Note. They set out from their respective
homes ye day before upon which one yt was for Mr. Clap said he
remembered they set out to engage in ye work they effected the
first of April.

73 « Probably standing where the City Hotel now stands." Thomas W. Wood, MS. Hist.
of Ch. In a private liote to the editor, Mr. Wood says, " ' The City Hotel ' was the same
hotel as is now called ' Park House.' "
7* Henry Sweeting was an elder of the Swanzey Church. The officers of the early Bap
tist churches in this country seem to have been : 1. Pastor, 2. Elders, 3. Deacons. The
Swanzey church having sent delegates to sit in the Council at Newport to examine into
the alleged malfeasance of an " assign " of the John Clarke estates who returned without
action was highly displeased on account of it, as the church's letter to Newport "dated
June 4, 1719, witnesses ; signed in y» Name and behalf of the Church,
By Ephraim Wheaton, Pastor,
Henry Sweeting, Ruling Elder,
RicHABD Hardin,
John Devotion." Newport Church Eecord.s.
See also note 43.
76 The early churches of Massachusetts were essentially Congregational in their order,
with, however, a strong flavoring of Presbyterianism. While every congregation con
tained within itself the power of self-government, every congregation or church had a
hoard of elders or presbyters to which its discipline and government were practically com
mitted. "A Government merely Popular or Democraticall ... is farre from the practice
of these churches, and we believe farre from the minde of Christ." (Richard Mather.)
The power of church government we give " neither all to the people excluding the Pres
bytery nor all to the Presbytery excluding the people." Tbis system found formal ex
presslon in what is known as the Cambridge Platform. [It may be questioned whether
there is not here something worth thinking about. — J. W. W.]
E

50 THE DIARY OF JOHN COMEE.
This day Mr. Eals ™ preached in Mr. Clap's pulpit
Thirea., .. ^^^ Q^^ 32 . 2(5^ 29.
This evening a schooner from ye Bay under ye
Lord s D., 7. pQjjjujand of Capt. James Emmit in a mighty storm
of wind accompanied with rain was cast on shore, on a sand beach
at Westport, in this Colony, and all got on shore, being 6 in number
(save one Indian girl who was drowned Jn ye vessel) ; there were
4 Englishmen and one Indian. The 4 were so far spent with ye dif
ficulties of ye storm, after they had travelled some distance from
ye wreck [that they] dropt down dead a little space from each
other. Ye Indian travelled a great part of ye night till he found
a hay stack, under which he sheltered till day, and y° gave in
formation so yt they were all taken up and decently buried.
Taken from Major Stanton's own mouth, of Westerly, who was
the 2d person yt came to y™.
This day also Mr. Clap preached from Jer. 15 : 19, A. m. ; Isa. 14 :
32, p. M., and did not invite of ye ministers to preach. These texts
were wonderfully adapted to ye circumstances, and delivered in
ye audience of ye council and messengers. Note, this was ye last
sermon he ever preached in ye meeting house. " About half an
hour after by ye toll of ye bell, Mr. Foxcroft " preached'in ye meet
ing house from Jno 17 : 11. I attended this meeting.
This day ye meeting house door was broke open,
™ ¦' ' 'tis said Mr. Jno Coddington had ye chief hand in it,
'8 Nathaniel Eals, or Eells, son of the Rev. Nathaniel Eells," was graduated' at Harvard
College in 1699; was ordained at Scituate June 14, 1704; and died August 25, 1750." —
Sprague's Annals.
^ "Father Clap" preferred to surrender his meeting house rather than his convictions
of duty in this matter. Thomas W. Wood, iu his MS. Hist, of ihe United Cong. Ch., says :
"On theevening of April 24, 1728, ' was another meeting of y« Church (Second), wherein I
proposed to them relinquishing the meeting house for Mr. Clap to return to it again, but
was refused ; ' so wrote Mr. Adams. The First Church immediately commenced their
second [third?] meetinghouse, which was finished in 1729, and "stood on land deeded by
Edward Pelham and son for the purpose on the south side of Mill street. This house was
originally paid for partly by the First Church and congregation, and partly by monies
raised by Boston ministers for the Second Church — the latter taking the old house on
Tanner street [now West Broadway] and old sacramental furniture, and releasing the
monies and parsonage to tbe former."
78 Thomas Foxcroft was born in Cambridge in 1696, and graduated at Harvard College
in 1714, and on the 20th of November, 1717, was ordained Pasror of the First Church in
Boston as colleague with the Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth. When the latter was elected
President of Harvard College in 1725, Mr. Foxcroft became sole pastor of the church, but
two years later, in 1727, he received Mr. Charles Chauncey as his colleague in the ministry.
Mr. Foxcroft was a warm friend of Mr. Whitefield, and ably defended him against the
attacks of his enemies. He died June 18, 1769, "when he had lived nearly seventy-three
years, fifty-two of which he had spent in the ministry." — Sprague's Annals,

THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER. 51
ye key being purposely laid out of y® way. Mr. Baxter preached
from Gen, 13 : 8. After sermon ye result of ye council in opposi
tion to Mr. Clap was read publicly.
Mr. Jno Adams was ordained over half Mr. Clap's
Thirsd.. 11. church, "J. e., y® Brethren, viz., Richard Clark, John
Reynolds, Nathan Townsend, Randall Nichols, James Carey,
Job Bissel, Ebenezer Davenport. The ministers who assisted
were : Mr. Joseph Baxter, "^^ Mr. James Brown, ^^ Mr. John Webb,
Mr. Thomas Foxcroft, About 'two hours after two of ye min
isters went out of town. There were two of ye council y* did not
tarry till ye ordination, i» e., Mr. Eals, Mr. Billings. ^^
'9 " Joseph Baxter was born at Braintree, June 4, 1676 ; was graduated at Harvard Col
lie in 1693 ; was ordained at Medfield, April 21, 1697, and died May 2, 1745, aged sixty-
nine. He published the Massachusetts Election Sermon, 1727." Sprague's Annals. He
was Moderator of this Council.
80 By a slip of the pen, we must think Comer wrote James for Richard. The record of
this council, preserved in the books of the First Cpngregational Church, gives the name of
Mr. Brown as Richard, and not James. " Richard Brown was horn in Newbury, September
12, 1675 ; was graduated at Harvard College in 1697 ; was settled in the ministry at Reading,
June 25, 1702 ; and died October 20, 3732, aged fifty-eight." — Sprague's Annals.
81 The Records of the Second Congregational Church in Newport contain the Result of
THIS Council, in the handwriting of the Rev. Ezra Stiles, which he transcribed while
pastor of the chureh. The record is as follows : —
" A Council of seven Churches met by their Elders and Delegates in Newport in Rhode
Island, April the 3d, Ann, Dom., 1728, at the desire of a considerable number of aggrieved
Brethren of the Church and Congregation under the Pastoral care of the Rev* Mr. NatW
Clapp. "After solemn supplication made to God for his gracious presence and Direction, and
after a calm and strict Enquiry and the best Information we could possibly obtain hoth
from the aggrieved Brethren of the Cburch and Congregation and others concerned, we
come to the following Result unanimously agreed in Council upon mature deliberation :
" Altho' we could Thankfully commemorate and acknowledge the kind providence of our
Glorious Lord in bringing the Reverend Mr. Clap to this place, making him the happy In
strument of Founding a Church hereaccording totheorderof the Gospell, and manifesting
a gracious Presence ofthe Holy Spirit with him in the success of his labours ; and there
fore would honour him highly for his work's sake: Yet withal (after an impartial and
thorow examination ofthe several articles of Grievance, which a number of his brethren
have Exhibited to us in writing, a copy whereof we have given him, to which he refuses to
give us any answer, tho often urged thereunto) We cannot but say we find sorrowful occa
sion to remark upon his want of a due ("Conduct in several late Instances which is matter of
great grief tous, and we think Justly offensive to this [these] Brethren, and to the Churches
of Christ — as
" Particularly, his refusing to Administer the Lord's Supper for the term of 4 years
Together (notwithstanding the urgent desire of his Church and repeated Exhortation
from his neighboring Brethren in the ministry) without giving anysatisfactory reason, we
judge to be very disorderly; a Reproach to our holy religion, and a breach of Solemn
Church Covenant : For tho he hath sometimes pleaded bodily indisposition as the occasion
of this neglect; Yet we think even in that case we may without any breach of Christian
Charity say there was a want of due regard to the Institution of Christ, In that he did not
Invite in the Pastors of some of the neighboring Churches who might easily have been ob-

52 THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER.
These things I make a remark on that so I may take notice of
ye working of Divine Providence in such a proceeding.
tained to Administer the ordinance in such a case of necessity ; Especially 'when the
brethren ofthe Church so earnestly Desired to Enjoy the precious institution.
"Again, tho we find he has lately administered the ordinance and would rejoice in
his heing able to attend his Duty in that matter; Yet we think that even then he was
faulty, and acted contrary to the rules of Christian Charity and prudence in administering
it to a small part of the Brethren of the Church without giving at the first time . . . [fooi
of P^9^ foi^ offi pO'fi of two Unes] calling in an Ecclesiastical Council to consider and
advise upon the difficulties and differences in the Church.
" Again, his manner of admitting persons into the Church we find Exceptional in several
Instances — Particularlv, his taking in a woman very lately without proposing her publicly
to the Church for their consent, is judged to be a violation of Gospell order, an unwarranted
iavasion upon the Liberty ofthe Brotherhood, and just matter of grievance to them.
"Further, as to his administration of the holy ordinance of Baptism, we find several
things exceptional and very irregular objected against him. Particularly in the case of Mr.
Randall Nicholls' child, and adult persons not being seasonably propounded.
" And then, as to his conduct with relation to the affair of Mr. Adams' Settlem' as a col
league with him in the ministry, we Judge itin all regards to he very strange, and his re
fusing to Consent to the Vote of his Church and Congregation in that matte-, without
giving any kindof reason, carries wilh it the taceof a reproachable self will'dness, and ap
pears very plainly to be the unhappy means of that sorrowful Contention whereby religion
suffers and order in the Church so much obstructed as at this day.
" We find that Mr. Adams hath received a Valid Call to settle in this ministry in con
junction with Mr. Clap hy Virtue of the aforesaid Vote, tho not so regular in all its Cir
cumstances : We cannot find hy the strictest Enquiry made that any Just Exceptions are
or can be offered against Mr. Adams' preaching or conversation : nor can we learn from the
Brethren who have retracted their Votes (for Mr. Adams' settlem*) that they are inflijenced
by any other principle hut a tenderness to Mr. Clap, and lothness to contradict and grieve
him ; And therefore the opposition which hath arisen, and is now carrying on to the Ordi
nation of Mr. Adams (in pursuance of the call given him) is judged altogether unwarrant
able, and without any sufficient grounds to support it.
"We find about % of the Church and Congregation are still very closely united in
their affections to Mr. Adams, the Pastor Elect, and that his removal from Newport under
the Circumstances of the present day is not at all likely to make for peace, nor will it have
a Tendency to serve the Interest of religion in this place.
" Further, we think ourselves oblig'd to add, it appears to us that the notion of the
aggrieved Breth's desire and design to drive away Mr. Clap is altogether groundless and
untrue; they having unanimously expressed themselves, in presence of the Council,
heartily willing to sit under Mr, Clap's ininistry, if it may be with peaceable Enjoyment of
Mr. Adams's ministry in conjunction therewith; and that they desire nothing more than
. . . {hottom of page torn off", part of two lines] such measures in Church Government as are
Generally practised in the Churches of New England, most agreeable to Gospel rule.
" We now in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ Earnestly Intreat and exhort Mr. Clap
and the Brethren who oppose Mr. Adams' Settlem' to consider these things in the fear of
God, and Endeavor respectively a better regulation of their Temper and Conduct for the re
storing lost peace and repairing the injured honour of Gospell order and religion. In par
ticular, as uprightly Judging it the best and most prop' Expedient for the end ; We advise
and beseech Mr. Clap and the Brethren to give their consent to the ordination of Mr.
Adams, as a colleague with him in the ministry, or give us forthwith some satisfactory
reason (if any such they have in reserve) why they refuse it; or if they continue to refuse
their consent, without rend'rlng any sufficient reason for tbeir conduct, and because we
apprehend the ordaining Mr. Adams a colleague with Mr. Clap In the Pastoral Charge of
one aud the same flock, under the present circumstances against Mr. Clap's comfort, and

THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMER.

53

This is ye second Congregational church in this Colony.^" The
the inclination of so great a part of the people, is not desirable : Therefore we advise the
aggrieved members to appeal to the Church for a release from their special bonds and
relation to them, and We desire the Pastor and brethren with him to give them a speedy
and loving dismission In order to their Embodying into a Distinct Chureh by themselves :
Which being done, we advise, that the New-formed Church, together with their associates
renew their call to Mr. Adams and invite him to take the pastoral care of them and if they
desire a speedy ordination, we cannot but Advise Mr. Adams to consent unto it.
" Further, it appearing to us, that the aggrieved brethren and their associates have in
their hands at least au equ&l interest and propriety iu the meeting house with the others
concern'd, we therefore are of opinion, aud our advice in this case is, that both churches
meet peaceably in the present house for Publick Worship ; the Eev. Mr. Clap on one part
of the day, and Mr. Adams on the other, until another meeting house be provided by one
or other party, and a separation Into two Distinct assemblies be amicably agreed upon.
*' Moreover, in case Mr. Clap's adherents unreasonably reject the counsell given them, we
advise the other brethren notwithstanding to proceeed (with the help of some neighboring
ministers, whom we entreat to assist them if there be occasion) to Embody into a Chureh
State by themselves, and go on in prosecution of the advises above given, and we resolve to
afford them our best assistance as we have opportunity, for which end ye agree and design
not to dissolve at present, but (by God's leave) to continue in being for some time.
" Finally, we commend the people of God with their Pastor and the other persons for
and with whom we are this day convened to the Influence of Sovereign divine grace . . .
{lin^ gone from bottom of page). And humbly beseech the God of all grace, to pour down
an healing spirit, for the restoring and Establishing brotherly love and serving the great
Interests of Christianity and Gospell order in this place.
" Thro' Jesus Christ our dear Eedeemer to whom be glory and praise in the Charch,
World without end, Amen." Joseph Baxtee,
ElCHAED BUNN,
Nathaniel Balls,
John Webb (Scribe),
Thomas Foxceopt,
John Coshing,
Samuel Basset,
Jonathan Williams,
Thomas Church,
George Barber,
Thomas Nicholls,
Daniel Henchman,

¦ Pastors.

¦ Delegates.

The Seven Churches, Ac.
The first Ch in Boston, Eevi Thorn' Foxcroft. '
Messenger, Mr. Jon* Williams.
The Old S" Ch in B«, Mr. Daniel Henchman.
The New N" Ch in B", Eev. John Webb, Mr. Samuel Basset.
The Ch in Eeading, Eev. Eichard Brown, Mr. Thomas Nicholls.
The first Ch in Medford, Eev. Jos. Baxter, Moderator, Deacon Barber.
The first Ch in Scituate, Eev. Nath' Ealls, Mr. Jn" Cushing.
The Ch in Little Compton,.Eev. Eichard Billings, Mr. Tho" Church.
" Mr. Billings approved this Eesult, but rode home and did not assist in ordination out
of tenderness for Mr. Clap. The Eesnlt was probably read without his name. I have two
copies among the Church papers certified by the Council ; [one] as this ; in the other the
ministers' names are in their respective handwriting, and Eichard Billings signed with hia
own hand among the rest. Ezra Stiles, Pastor.
May 26, 1770."
82 Callender, in lila Historical Discourse, in enumerating the churches in the Colony of

54 THE DIAEY OP JOHN COMEE.
gatherers were some yt gathered ye first when Mr. Clap was or
dained, which was Nov. 3, 1720, after he had preached here from
ye year 1695. This day Mr. Clap began to preach in his own
Lord's D., 14. jjQygg^ss jjg^ ^ considcrable auditory.
This day my little son fell headforemost out of
May 23' ^ back window in the lower room, about one p. M,,
about 5 feet high from the ground, and through God's
goodness by ye administration of suitable means he was cured of
ye wounds he received in his head in a little time. At first he
was taken up for dead. O what cause of thankfulness I have for
this favour. About 3 p. M., one Deborah Grinman [Greenman]
Fryd., 31. ^^ kill'd with thunder, at Narraganset. There
were some things remarkable in her death. Two nights before
she dreamed yt a woman lay dead in ye same spot she was struck
down in. She told her sister of it under great surprise, and yt
she was kill'd wtii thunder. In ye morning of ye day in which
she was kill'd 'twas very clear, but she apprehended it would be
a fatal day. And when ye cloud arose she said there is 3/t which
mil do ye business. Accordingly she was kill'd in ye same spot.
She was burnt on ye side of her face, and her instep was broke.
At yt time she had a child in her arms, which was stunned, but
soon recovered. .
This day my house was raised, and no hurt done
jme^fa. by any of ye timber.
This day Mr. James Blackstock bought ye meeting
^°' house of Mr. Daniel White and Mr. Thomas Boyls.
It was a very ill act, both in ye buyer and sellers.
Pryd., This day Governor William Burnet ** arrived here
July 12. .^ j^.g passage to his government of ye Massachusetts.
Ehode Island, gives the Congregational as follows : Besides these two in Newport, " there
are three Presbyterian or Congregational churches — at Providence, South Kingston and
Westerly ; each of them [being] supplied at present with a pastor, viz., the Eev. Mr. Josiah
Cotton, at Providence ; the Eev. Mr. Joseph Torrey, at South Kingston, and the Eev. Mr.
Joseph Park, at Westerly."
83 That is, in his own dwelling house, the parsonage.
8* William Burnet, son of Bishop Gilbert Burnet (of Sarum), was bom at the Hague, March,
3687, and named William in honor of the illustrious Prince of Orange. He came to this
country in 1720, arriving at New York 19th September; was made Governor of New York
and New Jersey j was subsequently transferred by George II. to Massachusetts. " As he wag
to pass through Ehode Island on the way to his new government, the Assembly voted him
a public reception." On the 12th of July, 1728, " a ship of war from England brought Bur
net, the new Governor of Massachusetts to Newport. Salutes were exchanged at the fbrt,

THE DIARY OF JOHX COMER. 55

This evening about 8 of ye clock there appeared in
July 16.

Tuead., yg North Several streams reaching towards ye zenith

— continued about 3 qr. of an hour.
Through ye favour of Mr. Jno Coddington, this day I obtained
ye report of the council concerning Mr. Clap.
This day Mr. D. White left off preaching in ye
^"'si. ° ' meeting house. Here I would note that the trouble
commenced between him and the church under my
care in the year 1719, and a separation made ; and in ye year
1724, his meeting house was raised ; it was first preached in April,
1725, in which month I was invited by Mr. White to preach
there. His congregation broke to pieces in ye year 1727 ; and in
ye year 1728, he sold it.
This day Mr. White left ye town and went to
August 7. pijiiadelphia.
Lord's D. Tiijg jjay I preached in Boston, for Mr. Callender,
"¦ from Jno 17 : 3.
23. This day a child was drowned at Connanicut.*^
This day Capt. Clark and Capt. Elliot went by
septomb^er "4. Order of authority after a private schooner, who had
done mischief, and committed robbery on Gardner^s
Island, but did no exploits.
This day I removed into my house. The total for
"^ " ¦ building cost £302 3s. 6d. The church gave me
towards it £43 lis. Od.
This evening about 7 appeared in ye North a very
October 2. woudcrful light in ye horizon for a considerable time.
This morning about an hour before day, being in
"' ' bed and awake, observing a very uncommon light I
got up and finding it in ye North, upon steady viewing at bottom
of the horizon there appeared a thick vapour, and above it a red
ness like unto fire, and in ye middle a hundred or more spears
pointing upwards, extending towards the zenith. The whole
body of ye appearance had a slow motion towards ye east, ye
whole face of ye south was lighted as by ye moon, which y" had
been set about 3 hours. The redness of ye spears was not at all
times of ye same brightness, but constantly made a very awful
a public reception was given him, and the next day he proceeded to Boston." — Arnold,
Hist. R. I., II., 94, 96. Gov. Burnet died September 7, 1729.
86 The name of this island, which lies in the Narragansett Bay opposite Newport, has
been variously spelled : as Quononigutt, Quonanicut, Quinimicutt, Canonicut, Conanicut.
It was early bought of the natives by the settlers of Aquidneck, along with Goat and
Coaster's Harbor Islands.

56 THE DIARY OF JOHN COMEE.
show, the sky being in other places of a clear blue, and stars
shining very bright. A sloop commanded by Mr. W°i Gardner with
Mond., 14. .^jjQjQ were Stephen and David Mumford, Peter
Arault [Ayrault], and two Negroes, was lost as is supposed by a
sudden storm of snow yt arose. They went to receive prohibit-
ted goods brought from Holland, but did not do it.*^ It was
ye first this year tho a very considerable one.
This day I preached by request at Justice
" ' Thomas Church's house, at Little Compton, from
Jno 17 : 3. Mr. Billings, the Presbyterian minister was present,
and a large auditory. This day a Presbyterian church was gathered at
e ea ., . pj-Qvidence, *' Mr. Josias Cotton '* ordained Pastor.
About this time in ye month Mr. Joseph O'Hara, an Episcopal
minister, came to Providence from England. After he had
preached two or three days, on ye 3d he published himself to
Mrs. Alice Whipple, of Providence. But before he was out,
published news came yt he was married, and in about 3 weeks
his wife came. But he denied her to be so, by which he was
defeated of his new intended match.
'Tis observed that ye last Lord's Day he preached
Nov?3. ' il y® church, he was by an extraordinary gust of
wind forced out of ye church in ye time of service.
It blew in a large window at ye west end, and very much shook
w (Note wanting.)
^ As was the case in Newport, so was it in Providence, Congregational preaching was
maintained for some years before a church was gathered. From Judge Staples, Annals of
Prov., we learn tbat " a Congregational Pedobaptist society was formed about 1720 " ; and
that " in 1723 the society erected a house for worship at the corner of College and Benefit
Streets." " They h^d no settled minister until 1728," when Mr. Cotton came to them. On
the day of his ordination a church was organized consisting of nine persons. In 1770,
*' the Benevolent Congregational Society " was incorporatid. The Society sold its meeting
[house] in 1794, and built another " at the corner of Benevolent and Benefit Streets," which
"was destroyed by fire on the morning of the 14th of June, 1814." Tbe following year
another house was erected upon the same site. The successive ministers have been as fol
lows: Josiah Cotton (1728-1747), John Bass (1752-1758), David S. Eowland (1762-1774),
Enos Hitchcock (1783-1803), Henry Edes (1805-1832). This became " the first Unitarian
church in Ehode Island." — Arnold, Hist. R. I., II., 77.
88 Josiah Cotton, son of the Eev. Eoland Cotton, of Sandwich, and great-grandson of
the famous Eev. John Cotton, of Boston, was graduated at Harvard College in 1722, and
ordained at Providence, October 23, 1728, *' eighteen churches heing present by their dele
gates to assist at the ordination " ; the sermon on the occasion was preached by the Eev,
Nathaniel Appleton ; having been dismissed he was installed at Woburn, July 15, 1747 *
being a second time dismissed was Installed at Sardown, November 28, 1759 ; and died May
27, 1780. — Sprague's Annuls.

THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER. 57
the whole house. The next Lord's day his people refused his
preaching. This day a man at Narraganset, digging a weU,
°° ^^ ¦ after he had dug 20 feet deep, it cav'd in upon him
and kill'd. He was taken out next day.
One Benjamin Douglass, in this town, being in
°°<*- n- drink^ going into a little house fell down from ye
seat and broke his neck — as the Jury gave it.
This day I preached from 1 Tim. 4 : 6, and insisted
°' ^ " ¦ on ye subject of Imposition of Hands on Baptized
believers as such,*'' which people took occasion to be much
offended at — but I refer the whole of this affair [to God].
A negro woman belonging '" to Thomas Wickcom,
DeoembiJ 8 ^^'^ fouud dead iri Dyre's swamp. She ran away ye
day before.
This day Mr. Joseph Carpenter, Mr. Linzie, an
^^ ¦ Indian and a Negro, were drowned in their passage
from Hog Island to Bristol. The connue [canoe] in which they
were, sunli under ym.
This year has been a year of great exercise to me. I have been
as it were in ye furnace of afiliction. The difficulty in my flock
has been heart wounding, and almost sometimes confounding,
but I see God's grace is sufficient for me.
This year there were 6 lost, there were 6 drowned, accidentally,
as some term it, one kill'd with thunder, one kill'd in a well, one
found dead with his neck broke.
This year I received to the table of the Lord 3 persons, two of
whom I Baptized, and one was Baptized by another administra
tor. What I had for support from my church and congregation
amounts to £38 Os. Od.
^ This sermon was the beginning of all the sorrows which Mr, Comer had with his
church, to which he so frequently refers, and which were evidently deep and abiding.
His heart wa3 sorely wounded. The church in opposing what it conceived to be his
erroneous notions, may not have exhibited the sweetest Christian spirit, Mr. Comer had
embraced the opinion, held by the Six Principle Baptists, that the hands of the Eldership
should be laid upon every believer when he enters the church of Christ.
*> Negro slavery, and especially the slave trade, furnishes a dark chapter io the history
of Ehode Island. " Barbadoes was the source whence Ehode Island received most of her
slaves." In 171.5, " Newport, ' as.the metropolitan town in this colony,' received a grant of
funds derived from duties upon imported slaves, for the purpose of paving the street lead
ing up to the colony house." In the winter of 1728, the very season when the above entry
was dade in tbe Diary, the General Assembly "prohibited the manumission of any
slaves, without sufficient bonds first given to the town for their maintenance by the owner,
in case of their becoming disabled."— Arnold, Hist. R. I., II., 96.

58 THE DIARY OP JOHN COMER.
About this time I found my people so uncomfortable yt we
must divide from each other, which was exceeding grievous to
me. The reason why I received no more from y™ this year was
because they withheld wickedly what I was to have had justly
by their own offer and former fulfilment because I preached up
Imposition of Hands on Baptized believers as such (tho I made
no bar upon y' account), this, and this only was ye reason why
they began ye quarrel with me.'' So y* all which I had from
them for ye service of 3 years and two months, i. e., from the 1st
of Novr 1725, to the 1st of January 1729, amounts by the most

exact account to

£217

6s

10(

That is, in the year

1726, £85 14s 6d

To building, 43

11

0

1727, 93 12 4

SmaU gifts, 26

14

0

1728, 38 0 0

£217 6 10 Total, £287 11 liO
Note that there are 35 persons more in the church yn was when
I came to the Island; 4 yt I Baptized joined to Swanzey church
who lived there. So that all yt ever I Baptized are 29 persons ;
and 9 I received to special church communion who were before
Baptized. The whole church when I came consisted of but 17
members, 10 males and 7 females.'^ There was no public singing
tiU I came, and by ye blessing of heaven introduced it.*^ In ye
time of my administration there was one excommunicated, Sept.
11, 1727 ; two set apart, one for drunkenness, one for disordered
brain, Feb. 22d, 1728. Three were as I trust thro grace translated
to glory thro the gate of death.
Here I think proper to note the line on my father's side, and
would on my mother's, but I don't know certainly.
My grandfather Mr. John Comer was born Apr. ye 26, 1644.
My grandmother Mrs. Elinor Comer was born July ye 20, 1644.
01 Mr. Comer's language is very explicit, " this and this only was y« reason why they
began y« quarrel with me." Some later writers have assigned other reasons for this sepa
ration of pastor and people. The church was certainly very reprehensible for attempting
to withhold from its pastor the salary due him. No action on his part could warrant it in
treating him with injustice, or even with discourtesy. Two members influential in the
body were largely responsible for leading it into this wrong course.
®2 The Church Eecords say that *' at y time of y« Division in y church [occasioned by
Mr, White] there were in full communion 29 persons, 12 males and 17 females." Of these,
ten "joyned in full with Mr, White in ye time of y« division."
^ " Singing, which seems to have fallen into disuse, was re-introduced into the public
worship." Hist, of the Church, p. 30. The church used " psalmody " in public worship as
early as 1652, and without any doubt from the beginning.
THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE. 59
My father Mr. John Comer was born August ye 12, 1674,
My mother Mrs. Mary Comer was born May ye 26, 1680.
John Comer, Jr., was born August ye 1st, 1704.
Sarah Comer was born June ye 14, 1706.
Here I record the births of my children,
John the son of Jn" and Sarah Comer was born Feby ye 2^,
1726 or 1727.
Sarah the daughter of Jn" and Sarah Comer was born Jany ye
8th, 1728 or 1729.
Mary the daughter of Jn" and Sarah Comer was born June ye
14tii, 1731.
By reason of building and my people beginning to be uneasie
with me, I can safely and truly say. Only on ye account of my faith
in, and public preaching of, ye doctrine of Imposition of Hands on
Baptized believers as such, I was exposed to inconceivable diffi
culties ; for wt I expected to receive of y™ as I used to do, was
in a very sinful maimer withheld from me, so yt I was forced to
improve ye money I took up upon use to defray ye charge of
building for ye support of my family, for I had but 38 pounds of
ym for ye last year, 1728.
Here I shall note the bonds I have given that so all things may
appear clear, if I should not live to clear y™.
Sept. the Stt, 1728, I gave Capt. Wil™ Peckcom a mortgage
bond for 50 pounds yt I took for me of ye Colony's money, for
which I am obliged to pay annually 60 shillings ; and the whole
as ye Colony calls it in.
October the 14th, 1728, 1 gave sister Elizth Barker a bond for 40
pounds, to pay annually, £3 4s. Od.
December the 31st, 1728, 1 gave Mr. John Odlin a bond for 50
pounds, to pay annually, £3 Os. Od.
These bonds I entered into in the year 1728 ; so that all the use
[interest] I paid this year was £8 14s. Od.
This day I and my people met at Elder Peckcom's
j^° 8° 1720. house and I had a dismission by a vote from y™ to go
to any church I thought proper.'*
At about 12 of ye clock this night, my second child Sarah was
born. M Changed to 185%. (J, W. W,)

60 THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMBE.
This day I passed under hands by Mr. Daniel
., . ¦^Y'ightman, and ofiered for transient communion
until Spring, or tiU I saw how God in his Holy Providence might
dispose of me. I preached in Mr. Wightman's congregation P. M.
a D., 12. jjQjjjj jjjo 20 . 17^ ]^j._ Sami Maxwell supplying my
pulpit. This day Dean George Berkeley '^ arrived here
with his spouse and a young ladie in companie, in
order to find a suitable place in America to settle a colledge; he
was 4 nionths and 16 days to Virginia, where he made but a short
stay ; so to Newport he was 5 months. He is reputed a man of
moderation. Being on Saturday evening a violent storm of snow
attended with sharp lightning and hard thunder,
which struck ye west of ye English Church broke 9 quaries
[squares] of glass, melted ye lead in sundry places, and in several
parts of ye windows it burnt ye frame to a coal.
j,^ This day was found a number of persons in ye act
of counterfeiting ye publiQ bills of credit of this
Colony.*^ Here follows an exact coppie of ye Articles drawn up by ye
money makers, who were discovered by Mr. Brown (who en
graved ye plate) Feb. 17, taken from ye original by me thro ye
favour of ye King's Attorney, Mr. Daniel Updike,
^°- Feb. ye 19th.
Whereas we, Nicholas Oatis, Samuel Hallet and David Rich
ards, have unanimously joined in a firm League and Contract to
use our best endeavors in our respective places to make and put off
without discovery a quantity of paper money. In consideration
^ Considering his brief stay in Newport, Dean George Berkeley made a profound im
pression upon the town. In pursuance of his purpose to found at Burmuda, or at some
other more suitable place in America, a college for the benefit of Indian youth, he arrived
at Newport in 1729, where he intended to make hia headquarters, and collect material for
his contemnlated institution. About two miles out of town he purchased a farm and built
a house, which he called Whitehall, " Not far from his house, among what are known as
the Hanging Eocks, is a natural alcove, which, opening to the south and roofed with stone,
commands an extensive view of the ocean. Here tradition says that Berkeley wrote his
* Alciphron, or Minute Philosopher,' which was printed in Newport by James Franklin."
The Dean was attended by a corps of literary men and artists, among them Smibert, who
gave an impetus to American art. Soon after his arrival a philosophical society was
formed, which somewhat later, in 1747, gave birth to the Eedwood Library. Disappointed
jn his original purpose, he gave his farm to Yale College, and in 1731 returned to England.
—Arnold, Hist. R. L, II„ 99 ; Biog. Cyclop, of R. I.
»« To counterfeit these bills of credit had been declared felony by an act of the General
Assembly.

THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE. 61
thereof for a further proof and confirmation of our fidelity with
respect to each other's safety, we have taken a solemn oath to
observe and fulfill ye following Articles of Agreement made this
7th day of January, in ye 2'i year of ye reign of George the Second,
King of Great Britain &c Anno Domini 1728 or 1729. (1) That
damnation shall be the portion of him or y™ (let whatsoever
punishment be inflicted upon them) who by speaking, writing, en
graving, or any other way or means whatsoever, makes known or
discovers anything of these our proceedings. (2) There shall none
other be taken in as partner without ye consent and approbation
of all concerned. (3) No one shall lay any claims to the plate and
other materials thereunto belonging, but each of us shall have an
equal share or part therein. Neither shall they be disposed of.
(4) We Nicholas Oatis and Samuel Hallet oblige and bind our
selves jointly and severally to print and put off all ye bills we
make yt the Companie shall judge passable. (5) I David Richards
oblige myself to use my utmost skill to sign all that is made. (6)
On demand ye Companie shall produce and give in an exact, true
and faithful account of ye proceedings, and render to each one s,
third of ye produce or money received without reserving or keep
ing one penny to him or y^selves undiscovered to all concerned
herein. None shall put off or cause to be put off above 20s. per week
without asking leave and getting a toleration granted by consent
of aU concerned. Any one shall at any time call ye rest to pro
duce their money which shall forthwith be done ; and in case
there is found diminished of any one's due proportion above ye
limited sum of 20s. per week without consent, he or they shall
forfeit to him or y™ yt stands clear of this agreement 50 pounds
current bills of credit out of his or their own stock.
If anyone is betrayed or is imprisoned or meets with any other
expense or trouble on this account ye Companie shall out of thefr
particular stock, bear their proportion of ye loss in defraying of
the charge and use all requisite means for his relief. God save
ye King, prosper our progress herein, and keep us from all traitors.
Then each and every one of us taking ye Bible in our hands
swore by ye contents thereof, to observe these Articles of Agree
ment and fulfil ye same, as witness our hands ye day and date
before mentioned.
Samuel Hallet.
Nicholas OatIs.
David Eichaeds.
E

62 THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE.
P. S. — Whereas we, Hannah Hallet and Joanna Oatis, have
been knowing to and concerned in ye foregoing Articles and our
assistance (as heretofore) will be required to act in our husbands'
absence in their stead and place, w^ we promise faithfully to per
form to ye best of our understanding, for ye interest, preservation
and safety of ye Companie, and as there is none made privie to
ye sd Articles of Agreement, we by ye above written solemn oath
bind ourselves to secrecy not to declare on any account wtever
anything contained therein, as also to observe and fulfil ye afores^
Articles in every particular, as witness our hands ye 23^ day of
January, 1728 or 1729.
Joanna Oatis.
Hannah Hallet,
A number of Baptists, Churchmen, and Quakers,
MMifh 3. ill ^11 30 persons, belonging to ye township of Reho
both, were committed to Bristol jail, by reason of their
refusing to pay ye ministers' rate."' The measles brought into
town, and spread.
Mond lo ¦'¦ "^^iit *o visit ye prisoners at Bristol with Mr.
Stephen Gorton. IJpon ye request of ye prisoners I
Tuesday, 11. pleached this day in ye old prison at Bristol, from
Psalm 86 : 11. Sundry of ye town attended ye meeting. After
meeting I returned home. Blessed be God.
I think to insert this account. The ministers of ye Episcopal
church have some of y™ received ye Primitive and Apostolical
order of Baptism by a total Immersion in water. Mr. Usher '^ of
Bristol in ye month of January 1724 or 1725 Baptized Mr. Car
penter of yt town. Mr. Piggot "' of Providence in ye month of
July 1726, Baptized Mr. NatW Brown of Rehoboth his two
" Two others were added afterwards to the number of prisoners. A list of their names
is given by Backus in his History, L, 518. " For refusing to pay that year's tax to John
Greenwood and David Turner, ministers of that town, twenty-eight Baptists, two Quakers.
and two Episcopalians, were seized and imprisoned at Bristol, by Jonathan Bisworth and
Jacob Ormshee, constables of Behobotb ; the main of them on March 3, 1729." " As no other
way appeared of deliverance from a nauseous place which had injured their health, but
paying said taxes and costs, this was soon after done by their friends." — Ibid,
^ This was the Eev. Johu Usher, the second rector of the Episcopal Church in Bristol
(then under the jurisdiction of Mas.sachusetts), succeeding Mr, Orem about 1728.
™ The Eev. George Piggot was sent by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in
Foreign Parts as a' missionary into New England; he first went to Stratford, Conn., in
1722 ; the following year to Providence, where he was settled over the newly formed Epis
copal church, the first in Providence, and the third in the Colony. Gathered during the
reign of the First George, it was in his honor called King's Church ; in 1794, it received the
name of St. John's Church. — Staple's Annuls of Prov.

THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE, 63
daughters and two men more together, Mr, Mack-Sparrow ""
[McSparran] of Narrowgansit [Narragansett] Baptized Mr,
Chase of N, port on Rhode Island, in ye month of November,
1728. A man was found drowned at Capt, Mallbone's
Mond., 17. |-]y[aibone's] wharf. 'Tis he was drowned ye Decem
ber before : for a man was yn misst from a vessel.
This day Mr. Maxwell began to keep school. It
°° ' ¦ won't last long, I believe.
This day I obtained this remarkable relation from
*"^^^' Capt. Robert Gardner's own mouth, viz., A sloop
bound from Newport on Rhode Island under ye command of
Robert Gardner to ye Island of Antequa, who sailed thence on the
25th of September 1728, being in ye latitude of 23°- The night
before ye wonderful salvation was wrought, w^ is ye subject matter
of this relation, ye course being set South and by West, but they
who stood at [the] helm varied a point and steered South South
west, and tho they were faulted for this variation, yet God so
ordered it in his Holy Providence yt they stood ye point, not
withstanding, wh had they stood according to order they could
not have discovered ye wreck, which God seemed to direct ym to.
And not only so but ye night before ye discovery ye Capt was
waked out of sleep 5 or 6 times by an uncommon dream of seeing
strong men yt were so broken yt he could scarce understand y™
&c., which so affected him yt he got upon deck under great concern
of mind not knowing wh it should mean. In ye morning about
7 of ye clock, he resolved to inform ye mate and going forward to
do so, he espied about a league distant something floating on ye
water. Upon wh he ordered one to go to ye mast head ; upon
[this] he discovered men to be on board holding up a sail to y™.
This being on Wednesday, October ye 16th. Upon ye discovery
whereof they made up to ye wreck and in about half an hour
came up with her, and finding men on board, speedily got out ye
boat and feteh't ye distress't persons, being 6 in number ; upon
which they related their sad condition unto y™ and by this in
formation they found the wreck to be a sloop belonging to New
100 Tbe Eev, James McSparran, graduated at the University of Glasgow in 1709 ; came to
this country iu 1721 under the auspices ofthe .Society for tbe Propagation of the Gospel in
Foreign Parts, had for his field of labor the Narragansett Country, which embraced avery
wide territory. He resided at South Kingstown, and ministered especially to St. Paul's
Church, known sometimes as Tower Hill Church, In 1752, he wrote his tractate entitled
America Dissected. He died December 1, 1757, "having been minister of St. Paul's (Tower
Hill), in Narragansett, thirty-seven years." — Updike's Hist. Nnrr. Ch.

64 THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER.
Haven in Connecticut, named by Mr. Samuel Miles of yt place,
who in September set out from thence bound to Antequa. Who
upon ye morning of ye Lord's Day, Sept. 29th, just before ye day
broke, being in ye same latitude in which they were found (for ye
vessel lay like a log on ye water) ye wind being then at East South
East and East N. E. blowing excessive hard, and ye sails furl'd,
scudding before it ; ye vessel ship't a sea which carried all upon
deck over. We being 14 persons in all, 11 Whites and 8 Negroes,
viz., Mr. Westbury, a passenger, his wife and two children, a son
and a daughter, myself, 6 hands and 3 Negroes. At ye time of ye
great seas breaking in there were 8 men upon deck wh were
washed away. It broke ye mast midway and ye waist of ye vessel,
and carried away ye quarter deck, and broke in ye bulk head of
ye cabin. Mr. Miles, Mr. Westbury, his wife and two children
and a Negro were in ye cabin, 6 in number, upon which we got
[y°i] upon deck as soon as possible (save ye Negro) who was sup
posed to be there drowned, and immediately a 2<i sea came and
carried away Mr. Westbury's wife, but ye other hold were pre
served (tho we were 4 in number) ; as soon as 'twas possible to
recover sense after this sea, ye Master hearing a noise in ye water
of some struggling (being just about day dawning), and finding
'twas two men who held by ye main sheet, all possible help
was got for y"» and got ym on ye hull of ye vessel wth ym (there yn
being 6 in number) and finding ye vessel's stern sinking, with
great difficulty by ye help of ye boom tackle fall (?) they all got to
ye head of ye vessel. Ye middle y° being 8 feet under water and
ye head only remaining about a foot out of water there they lay
wth ye sea washing over y™. , And God who is a God working
wonders found out away for their preservation. Six sheep which
were washt overboard swam to ym and were a means to support
ym about one week.
Note, ye storm after it had continued about 24 hours abated and
the weather as God ordered it was calm till ye night after they
were taken up ; which had yt been so great as y to an eye of
reason they had all perished. But with God all things are pos
sible. With Prise (?) they got two hogsheads of water and
some come out of a hogshead, and by ye water being over ye
middle part of ye vessel a dolphin swimming in and lodged in ye
sail wh they had preserved, one of ye men catched it in his arms
wh help't ym. And thus in this sad condition they remained
often laying ymselves down being wholly without expectation of
ever seeing land again or having any longer time or opportunity

THE DIAEY OF JOH.N COMEE. 65
of showing forth God's praises. But unexpected deliverance came
after they had lain 17 days in ye deepest distress by a remarkable
overruling Providence. On Monday, October ye 21, 1728, and
thro God's goodness they anchored safe in Antequa, and Mr.
Sami Miles and one more ye same day had an opportunity to [go]
to N. York, and arrived there safe and had an opportunity to
return to his house and show how great things ye Lord had done
for him.
This relation I received from Capt. Gardner this 3d of Ap.
1729. . This day came up ye case of ye money makers to
¦*' trial (save Sami Hallet who was at sea and D.
Richards whose indictment had a flaw in it so yt it was referred
to ye next Sept court). Hannah Hallet was cleared. N. Oatis
and his wife found guilty ; he to pay 150 pounds and his wife 50,
or be dipt.
This day also a vagrant person was whipt at ye cart's tail thro
ye town for stealing. This evening about 10 of ye clock in ye Northern
Lord's D., 20. ^^g^j.^ [sky] appeared an awful light much like yt,
Oct. 3d, 1728 ; one half towards ye West was very red and many
flaming spears in it ; and yt part towards ye East was very pale
and light, it had a slow motion towards ye East and continued
some considerable time,
Nicholas Oatis stood in ye pillory,'" and had his ears
Mond.. 28. ^j.p^ ^^j. jjjg^ijjjjg, money. His wife's relations paid
her fine. This is ye 2d instance of this nature in ye Colony.
(Mr. White first met in his new meeting house
'^^^^^ in April 1725.) This day Mr. Maxwell left off
keeping school. This day 3 years I was ordained to ye work of ye
Mond., 16. gacred ministry, the Lord grant me his grace to be
faithful to souls, and help me to watch for souls as one y' must
give an account, Heb. 13 : 17. Chrysostom says, I remember, yt
that Scripture caused an earthquake within him and produced
holy trembling in his soul. O yt I may fear my remissness in ye
™ An old law requires each town to furnish itself with a pair of stocks wherein to secure
offenders. While the fathers of the Colony provided for the citizen the largest liberty con
sistent with the puhlic safety, they at the same time held that offenders against the public
weal forfeited their liberty, and they did not hesitate to deal with tbem in a severe and
summary manner. The modes of punishment— the whipping post, the stocks,' the pillory,
the clipping — adopted in several Colonies, were those then in vogue in England,

66 THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE,
care of precious souls and may be excited to greater watchfulness.
Yet Lord I hope I can say, if I know my own heart, I desire to do
good to souls. And now since my circumstances are altered upon
ye commotion in my flock, and since I stand at this day in no
pastoral relation to any particular flock of Christ, ye Lord fit and
dispose me for an installment over any fiock where in his holy
Providence he may cast me, either here or elsewhere, and grant
me ye conduct of his Spirit yt my ministry may be blessed for ye
eternal benefit and salvation of many souls.
This day Mr. Samuel Maxwell left my flock and
Lord s D., 25. .^gj^^ ^^ Church [Episcopal]. Strange doings.
The first week of this month Mr. James Updike,
jtme. ^^ Narraganset, going in a small boat alone a fishing,
being gone two days, ye boat was y^ found on ye backside of Con-
nanicut and he in it dead. 'Tis supposed he fainted and so died,
suddenly ; for he had rolled up his line, and everything on board
seemed as tho he had done and was returning home.
This day came on ye Yearly Association here,'"' it
^'' is supposed to be ye largest Convention yt ever hath
been. There were present of ministers :
Mr, James Clarke (in ye 80th year of his ^
-^r ^®^'- 1 w u^ [of Newport.
Mr. Daniel Wightman,
Mr. John Comer, >
Mr. James Brown,^"' of Providence.'"*
102 This was tbe Yearly Meeting of the Six Principle Baptists, with whom Mr. Comer
had identified hirrself. This Association must have held its annual meetings for several
years ; Mr Comer speaks of it as something well known. Knight, in his History of the Six
Principle Baptists, p, 322, states that these Yearly Meetings began " about the close of the
sixteenth century," he evidently means seventeenth century. The churches were repre
sented in tbe Association by their elders and messengers,
103 James Brown, son of John and Mary (Holmes) Brown, and grandson of the Rev, Chad
Brown and of th e Rev, Obadiah Holmes, was born in 1666, and married Mary Harris, grand
daughter of William Harris, one of the five original settlers of Providence, The time of
his ordination to the gospel ministry has not been recorded, nor the extent of his term of
pastoral service. His sister, Martha, married Joseph Jenks, Governor of the Colony from
1727 until 1732.
'01 At the General Assembly held Tuesday, February 17, 1730-31, it was ordered, " for
asmuch as the outlands ofthe town of Providence are large and replenished with inhab
itants sufficient to make and erect three townships besides the town of Providence, and
the land lies convenient," that such division be made. — R. I. Col. Rec, IV., 443. The three
towns thus created out of the " outlands " were Smithfield, Scituate, and Gloucester. The
four churches in Providence mentioned in the text fell by the partition into different
townships; one church being in Providence, whose minister was James Brown; two in
Smithfield, the minister of the one Jonathan Sprague, and of the other Peter Place ; the

THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE. 67
Mr. Jonathan Sprague '"* (in ye 82 year of his age), of Provi
dence. Mr. Nicholas Eyres,"^ of New York."'
 J  .
fourth church in Scituate, under tbe ministry of Samuel Fiak. Judge Staples, Annals of
Piot'., 419, has fallen into a slight inaccuracy, in speaking of " one [church] in that part [of
Providence] subsequently called Smithfield," inasmuch as tliere were two.
1** Jonathan Sprague, son of William Sprague, of Hingham, was born in 1648.— Savage,
Geneal. Diet, He lived in Weymouth, and fell under the censure of the General Court of
Massachusetts, the sentenceof court being passed against him in Boston, April 28, 1674 ; he
then removed to Providence. — Ibid. If, as is probable, he can be identified with the Jonathan
Sprague mentioned in the Rhode Island Colonial Records, he bee. me somewhat prominent
in the town of his adoption. He was admitted a freeman of the Colony of Rhode Island,
May 3, 1681 ; served on a committee to adjust taxes in 1692; was deputy for Providence in
1699, 1700, 1703, 170&-1710, 1714; was in 1703 Speaker of the House, and member of the
auditing committee.
Mr. Sprague was also a Baptist minister, and served as pastor ofa church in Providence.
He was a man of vigorous intellect, and wielded a trenchant pen. That he did not forget
the treatment he had received in Massachusetts is made evident by a letter of his, dated
February 23, 1722. This letter is given in full by Staples, Annals of Prov., p. 434. Three Con
gregational ministers wrote to the authorities of Providence asking " whether the preach
ing of our ministers in Providence might not be acceptable " ; and suggested '' that a small
meeting house should be built in your town to entertain such as are willing to hear our
ministers." To thia letter Mr. Sprague, in behalf of " the inhabitants of the town of Prov
idence," made reply. An anonymous answer was printed at Boston, under date September
7, 1722, containing the action ofthe Court against Sprague. Mr. Sprague made rejoinder,
January 24, 1723, stating that one of the witnesses against him " in that case at iBoston,
was afterward brought to repentance and joined the Baptist Church he belonged to in
Providence."— Backus, Hist., II., 9, 10. Mr, Sprague died in Smithfield in January, 1741,
aged ninety-three years.
106 Nicholas Eyres was born in Wiltshire, England, August 22, 1691 ; cameto this country
and settled in New York about 1711 ; the following year invited the Rev. Valentine
Wightman to visit hira and preach in his house ; as a result of the preaching Mr.
Eyres and a number of others were converted and baptized, and formed " a Gen
eral or Arminian Church," and in 1728 built a house of worship ou Golden Hill (Gold
Street). In October, 1731, Mr. Eyres removed to Newport and became co-pastor with the
Rev. Daniel Wightman, ofthe Second Church. After tbe death of the latter, he became
chief pastor with Rev. Gardner Thurston as assistant, by whom, at his death, February
13, 1759, he was succeeded in the pastorship. Morgan Edwards says, Mr. Eyres " left
behind him heaps of manuscripts, some polemical, some doctrinal, some political, for
which he was every way qualified."
I'JT A brief notice of this " Arminian Baptist Church " is given by Morgan Edwards ; also
by William Parkinson, in his Jubilee Discourse. When Mr. Eyres left the church it had
already become " much broken " ; *' some of them," said Mr. Eyres, in speaking of the
church, *' deserted under a pretence of love to the principles of absolute election and pre
destination." — Backus, II., 29. The church soon after dissolved. The way was being pre
pared for another organization. Ahout the year 1745, some who had been members of this
church, together with others, formed themselves into a Calvinistic Baptist Church, since
known as the First Baptist Church in New York City.
Long before these labors of Mr. Eyres, the place had been visited by two stalwart Baptists
from Newport, Obadiah Holmes and Samuel Hubbard, possibly on a missionary tour.
Hubbard says, " Brother Obadiah Holmes and I went to the Dutch and Gravesend, and to
Jamaica, and to Flushing, and to Hamsted, and to Cowbay, Ist October ; came home 15th
November, 1657."

68 THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMER.
Mr. Valentine Wightman, of Groton.***^
Mr. Philip Tabor/*^ of Dartmouth.^^''
Mr. Stephen Gorton, of New London,"^
Mr. Daniel Everett/^^ of South Kingston.i^^
Met this morning at Mr, "Wightman's house, 32
^"^ " ^* persons in all, viz, 8 ministers, 3 deacons, 21 brethren.
There are of churches in communion 13 distinct bodies. In
Providence, besides those above mentioned there are two under
ye care of Mr. Peter Place ^^* [and] Mr. Samuel Fisk."^ In ye
^08 This was the first church of this order in Connecticut, gathered about 1705. The two
Wightmans, father and son, filled the pulpit of this church for a period of more than
eighty years. Tbis church gave name to the Association known as The Groton Confer
ence, formed at a much later date. — Backus, Hist., II., 414, 510, 516.
iM Elder Philip Tabor was with others imprisoned May 25, 1723, " in the common jail at
New Bristol," where he remained for thirteen months, for refusing to pay the tax assessed
by the town for the support of the minister of the " standing order." A petition in behalf
of the prisoners, drawn possibly by Mr. Tabor, was presented to King George, and an order
was granted for their release. — Backus, Hist., I., 500. Mr. Tabor died November, 1752.
110 The genesis of the Dartmouth Church was as follows : *' John Cooke, whoso name we
meet with on the first and on nearly every page of tbe early records of the town, as a deputy
and a selectman, filling various offices of trust and honor, was a Baptist minister for many
years." — Old Dartmouth Centennial, p. 86. Mr. Cooke had been connected with the church
in Plymouth, but embracing Baptist views had become a member of the First Church in
Newport, He labored as a preacher " in Dartmouth many years, from which labors," says
Backus, Abridgement, p. 135, " sprung the Baptist Church, in the east borders of Tiverton."
Of this church in Tiverton, Benedict says. Hist., J., 503, that it " was formed in the adjoining
town of Dartmouth about 1685; the members at first lived in Dartmouth, Tiverton, and
Little Compton." Mr. Tabor was the third pastor of the church. Having removed its " seat
from Dartmouth to Tiverton," says Benedict, "it continues to the present day," and has
since been known, says the editor of Backus, " as the First Baptist Church in Tiverton,
R. I."
1" This church at New London, the second of its order in Connecticut, was formed
November 28, 1726 ; but after a few years It was " dissolved."
112 Elder Daniel Everett continued to serve the cburch until his death " soon after 1750."
113 This church existed " as early as the year 1725." S. F. Hancock, in a Historical Sketch
of the First Baptist Church of South Kingstown ( WaTcefield), says : " Knight, in a statement of
doubtful accuracy, places its origin in 16S0 (Knight's Hist., pp. 278, 319). Benedict follows
Knight. Other indications point to a date later than 1710." About the year 1750, " Elder
David Sprague, from North Kingstown, who had changed from 'general redemption' to
' particular,' disseminated the latter views in the church. Divisions ensued, and the church
finally became extinct. Isaac Backus, writing in 1784, says that it had then * long been dis
solved.' " — Ibid. See also Centenary of the First Baptist Church in South Kingstown (1881), a
pamphlet of 91 pp.
11* Peter Place, of Providence, perhaps son of Peter, of Boston, swore allegiance to Charles
II. in May, 1682.— Savage, Geneal. Diet. Knight is certainly in error when, having!spoken
ofthe death of Jonathan Sprague, he says: "Elder Peter Place succeeded him, and perhaps
was his colleague." — Hist., p. 267. He evidently confounds two distinct churches, both in
Providence, and at the time of the division, both were set off with that part called
Smithfield. 11& Knight, Hist., p. 270, says, Mr. Fiske was ordained in August,^1727, and died about 1744.
This church, at the time of the division of Providence, fell into the new town called
Scituate.

THE DTAEY OF JOHN COMEE. 69
town of Swanzey one under ye care of Mr. Joseph Mason. "^ In
ye town of Warwick one under ye caxe of Mr. Manassah
Martin."' In North Kingston one under ye care of Mr. Eicliard
Sweet."^ 'Tis supposed there were 250 communicants and 1000
auditors. Each of these held ye Doctrine of Geni Redemption."'
There are 3 other churches y* hold ye Doctrine of Free Grace. ^^^
One at Newport under ye care of Mr. William Peckcom, formerly
ray flock. One at Swanzey under ye care of Mr. Ephraim Whea
ton. One at Boston under ye care of Mr. Elisha CaUender.
There are two churches in ye observation of ye 7th day.'^' ¦ One
^6 This church " was formed upon different principles from the first, and they held the
laying on of hands upon every member as a term of communion, and did not sing in their
public worship,'* says Backus, naming some of the distinguishing characteristics of the Six
Principle Baptist churches.— jBwt, 11., 434. Preaching commenced in 1680, was continued
until a church was formed. " Thomas Barnes was ordained their pastor in 1693," and the
relation was continued until his death, June 8, 1706. His successor, Joseph Mason, brother
of Samson Mason, a soldier in Cromwell's army, was ordained pastor " in July, 1709, and
continued so tUl he died, May 19, 1748," at the age of almost ninety years.— iiid.
"' This church was formed " and Mr. Manasseh Martin was their minister before 1730."
—Backus, Hist., XI., 511. It was probably formed not long before this Yearly Meeting.
John Hammett was an assistant pastor from 1744 until his death in 1752. — Knight, Hist.,
274. Mr. Martin died March 20, 1754.— Ibid, 276. The earliest records of this church that
have been preserved commence in 1741.
lis The earliest records of this church reach back to 1710. The church was, however,
doubtless gathered at a much earlier date, as " Elder Thomas Baker, one of the first pastors
of the Six Principle Baptist Church in Newport, soon after his ordination removed to
North Kingston, and raised up a church in that order."— Knight, Hist., 265 ; Backus, Hist.,
II., 505. Knight says : " In 1710, Eichard Sweet was ordained their pastor, and continued
to serve them with zeal and^usefulness for many years, and deceased about 1740." Mr. David
Sprague was ordained a colleague with him about 1739.
"'This term, "general redemption," is liable to be misunderstood; it does not mean
" universal salvation," but " unlimited atonement " ; it was sometimes employed to represent
that system of doctrine known as " Arminianism." This was the doctrinal status of the
churches in New England known as " Six Principle Baptists." Whether this Arminianism
was of the so-called New England type which Dr. Park (Associate Creed of Andover Theol.
Sem., by Edwards A. Pork) considers Pelagian or Semi-Pelagian, or of that type commonly
considered as within the limit ofthe term "evangelical," like that of the Wesleyans later,
does not come within the scope of our present investigations. It Is more to our purpose to
say that these churches about the time Comer was making the above entries in his Diary
were multiplying rapidly and becoming quite numerous, especially in Ehode Island. But
a decade later, when there appeared " the great awakenings in other parts of the country,"
these churches were strongly affected.- Backus, Hist., II., 505 Many of them were dissolved
and others became Calvinistic in doctrine, and renounced the "laying on of hands," at
least as a necessary prerequisite to the communion.
120 These churches were Calvinistic, emphasized the doctrine of Election, and made
prominent the sovereignty of God in the work of salvation. At a later period, under the
labors of Whitefield, the number of these churches was greatly multiplied.
121 " In the beginning of 1665, Mr. Stephen Mumford, a Seventh Day Baptist, arrived from
London at Newport, and Mr. [William] Hiscox, Mr. [Samuel] Hubbard, and other members
of Mr. Clarke's church, soon embraced the keeping of that day."— Backus, Hist., L, 324.
See also note 54. The Sabbatarian churches were Ca'vinistic in doctrine.

7U THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE.
at Westerly under ye care of Mr. Joseph Maxson."^ One at New
port under ye care of Mr. Joseph Crandal."^
In all of Baptist churches in New England, there are 18 in
number. '^'>^
122 Westerly was first settled by colonists from Newport, some of whom were members of
the First Church. " Hopkinton was once the north part of Westerly, where some of Mr.
Clarke's church lived, before the separation on account of the Sabbath took place in 1671.
Mr. John Crandall was one of them, who was imprisoned with Clarke and Holmes al
Boston, in 1651." — Backus, Hist., II., 506. At the time of the division in the church, the
brethren at Westerly embraced the views of the Sabbatarians. In 1708, these brethren
formed themselves into a church there. Frederic Denison, in his Westerly and its Wit
nesses, p. 60, says : " The organization was formed when the town numbered but 580 inhab
itants, in 1708, under Eev. John Maxon, Sen., as pastor, and is still existing as the First
Hopkinton Seventh Day Baptist Church. Their first meeting house is believed to have
been built ' about the year 1680,' and was located on a lot given for that purpose by Peter
Crandall." The first pastor was succeeded by his son, John Maxon, Jr. ; the latter was
succeeded by Joseph Maxon, " son of the first and brother of the second pastor." He was
born in 1672, ordained in 1732 ; on the death of his brother in 1742 he succeeded to the pas
toral ofiice, " though seventy-five years old " ; he died in September, 1750.
123 This church, which was formed in 1671, had for its first pastor William Hiscox, until
he died, May 24, 1704, aged ninety-six, when he was succeeded by William Gibson, from
London, who was pastor until he died, March 12, 1717, aged seventy-nine. Joseph Cran
dall, who had been his colleague for two years, was chosen his successor, and remained in
ofi&ce until his death, September 13, 1737. Backus, Hist., II., 502. Benedict confounds this
Joseph Crandall with John Crandall who was fined in Lynn in 1651. — History, II., 419.
123M [In examining Dr. Barrows' papers! found the following extracts copied from the
Eecords ot the Second Church, Newport, which may be a matter of interest as embracing
historical facts concerning that church and also concerning an Association which I suppose
was composed of " Six Principle Churches " — which churches appear to have had " general
meetings " at an early date. See Note 102.— J. W. W.]
I. Extract concerning the Second Church, Newport,
" Ch meetings first held Dec. 31, 1726, for attending to business of the ch. An ace' of the
time when members were admitted into the ch for y« year 1716 taken from brother Timothy
Peckhom's note book by reason of there being then no stated record kept by y. voice of the
ch, transcribed this 8"' day of March, 1729— here is an acc« of ye receipt of members 10
years before y« ch app* a Eecord."
171C, Dec. 10. William Clagget.
Jan. 4. Elizabeth" Barker.
She removed ab' a year later to the other Baptist ch. [Comer's writing.]
" The land on which y° meeting house now standeth made over to y church by Mr.
James Clarke, pastor, who obtained y" deed thereof in his own name October y 23^, 1697,
in which year the first meeting house was built." [Jno. Comer.]
" To all Christian people to whom this present instrument may come I James Clarke of
Newport on Ehode Island in y« Colony of Ehode Island and Providence Plantations &c,
sendeth greeting.
" Know y« y« whereas I s* James Clarke did buy or purchase a certain piece of land
lying and being in y« town of Newport afores'i containing 30 foot Srom North to South and
from East to West and is bounded Easterly on a highway Northerly and Westerly, on
Nathi Coddington's land, Southerly by a piece of land left out for a highway, all which lot
or land was bought by me s* Clarke of Major Nathi Coddington together with all ye rights
and privileges thereunto belonging as is set forth more at large and will more fully appear
by ye deed thereof bearing date October 23, 1697.
"Also another piece of land containing 30 foot in length and 40 foot in width and part of

THE r>IARY OF JOHN COMER. 71
This day Mr. John Adams and I waited on Dean
July 14. George Berkeley at his house. Kindly treated.
s^ purchase is a certain gore containing 8 foot in breadth and is butted and bounded
Northerly on s* Coddington's land, Easterly on highway and land already in possession
of sd Clarke and Westerly on land of b<^ Clarke's and Southerly on a way, as may more
fully appear by a deed dated Mar. ye 23, 170a or 1704.
" Know yo y' I James Clarke do hereby declare and publish y* yo money y* did purchase
both pieces of land was contribution money given by certain brethren hereafter named to
build a meeting house on, for the worship and service of God, and for the accommodation of
y» same. (Jeremiah Clarke, Dan* Wightman, John Odlin, John Greeuman, James Brown,
John Hammet, Jeremiah Weeden, Joseph Card, James Barker, WilUam Ehoos, Stephen
Hodley, Timothy Peckhom, Peleg Peckhom, Dan^ Sabear, Joseph Weeden, William Green-
man, Henry Clarke, Johu Ehodes.)
"In witness I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 23'* day of Jan'y 1706 or 1707.
Jam£s Clabke.
C John Osband,
" Witnesses : J Elizabeth Williams.
"Personally appeared before me this 6^ day of February 1706 or 1707 James Clarke y«
subscriber hereof and did own and acknowledge y° above writtten instrument to be his
act and deed. Attested, John Kogkrs, Justice of peace."
II. Concerning the General Meetings and Association.
" We the Elders and Messengers of several Baptist Churches met at Providence on the 22*
23* and 24'^ days of June 1764 have agreed to drop the General Meetings at Providence and
Swanzey, and to set up an annual association of the Baptist Churches in Ehode Island
Providence Plantation and the adjacent parts in manner following:
" 1. The Association to be held annually on thc 3** Thursday in May at the town of Provi
dence. " 2. Every church to depute three brethren to represent them at the association under the
names of messengers whereof one shall be an elder, these messengers to be chosen by the
church, or tbe major part thereof at a meeting properly convened for that purpose.
" 3. Each church shall prepare a letter addressed to the association wherein the names of
the messengers shall be mentioned, the state of the church shown with reference to the
number of members at the time, the number added tbat year, the number dead, and the
number excluded, and if the church should labour under any dif&culty, so as to want the
advice, opinion, or help of sister churches, that the difficulty or ease be fairly stated in
their letter; Provided always y* no matter be referred to the association which maybe
settled by the church itself.
'*4. The association to be formed and conducted in the following manner; (1) To begin
with public service at two o'clock on tbe day above said, the person to preach the associa-
tional sermon (and in case of his failure another) to be nominated at each association, so
that he or they may have notice a year beforehand. (2) A moderator and clerk to be
chosen before any business to be entered upon. The office of the moderator will be to
direct and maintain decorum. The office of clerk to enter the names of the messengers,
make minutes of the transactions of the association, and keep the association book. (3)
The association shall draw up a letter directed to the several churches whom they repre
sent, and a copy thereof shall be sent to each church, wherein everything shall be specified
which concerns the churches to know in a way of information or advice,
" Signed in the name and behalf of the general meeting at Providence, June 24% 1764, by
r Job Mason.
The Elders: } Gahbner Thueston.
j CHAEr.ES HOLDKN.
(_ Reuben Hopkins.
" At the association held at Providence May 16, 1765, ordered that the association for the
future be holden on the first Thursday in June."

72 THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER.
This day Mr. Joseph 0'Hara,'^'« ye Church
priest, at Providence, was conveyed to jail here for
his breaking open ye door of ye church, w^^ his people had fastened
up after they had hauled him out of his pulpit on ye 9th instant
for his irregularities. This day a meeting house was raised for Mr. Clap's
°" " ¦ congregation.'^* Also this day I gave Madam I.
Cranston a note for twenty pounds I had of her.
I went to Providence ; accompanied my mother as
Tuesd., 22. faj. ag Rehoboth. Lodged at Justice P. Tillinghast's.
Twrsd., 24. I went up into ye woods to see Mr. Jonathan
F d 25 Sprague, 15 miles; preached in ye woods at Mr.
Sprague's meeting house,''' from 1 Tim. 1 : 14. A
considerable auditory.
Saturd., 26. Returned to town.
This morning Mr. Cotton sent a note to invite me
Lord a D., 27. ^ preach for him in ye forenoon; but I could not
gratifie him. Preached at Providence in Elder Brown's congre
gation. This morning I received a letter from Mr. O'Hara and
his commission signed by Edward Gibson (formerly Bishop of
Chichester, translated thence to ye See of London, now in ye 7'ii
year of his translation), dated at Whitehall July ye 1st, 1728.
The land to build ye church on was given by Mr. Nathi Brown
of Rehoboth, ye deed bears date, Sept. 18, 1722 ; ye church was
built 1724.i»
The Baptist, Presbyterian, and Quakers there, about ye same
time built. This evening was an awful and total eclipse of ye
Mond., 23. moon. I returned from Providence, got home y* night
Tuesd., 29. ^^Yl, Blessed be ye Lord. This day a young man
was drowned near Castle Hill."'
This day I am arrived to ye 25tii year of my age.
Augusfi. O yt I may have understanding to improve my time
to God's glory. I this day heard Mr. Adams from
Ps. 26 : 6. Make y* my resolution.
'^a This unworthy man is called Charro by both Staples and Updike. They both
mention that he was disinissed from his charge for highly improper conduct.
12* This house was built on Mill St. See Note 77.
126 "W'hat Mr. Comer here calls " the woods," the General Assembly in dividing Provi
dence describes as " the outlands of the town.'* See Note 105. Knight says this meeting
house stood " about one mile north of the Smithfield Academy."
IM (Wanting.) ^ (Wanting.)

THE DIARY OP JOHN COMER. 73
This day Elder Peckcom administered ye sacrament
Lord's D., s. ^^ yg Lord's Supper to my former flock, ye first time
since last October. This day Mr. O'Hara visited me and gave me a
pryday, 8. ^^ppje gf ye result of a Justice's Court concerning
him. Here follows ye Coppie : At a Court of Justices held at Provi
dence for his Majesty this 2'i day of August, 1729, present, Richard
Waterman, Assistant, Ezekiel Warner, James Dexter, Justices
of ye Peace ; to make some inquiry into a complaint yt was laid
before us by the Rev* Mr. Joseph O'Hara concerning the abuse
that was done him in the church, in sd Providence, on ye 9tii day
of July last past, and how the church doors are fastened against
him ; and he producing before us a Commission from under ye
hand and seal of ye Honorable ye Bishop of London to execute
ye office of a minister in Providence during his pleasure. Where
upon our opinion is yt if his complaint be proved by evidence as
he hath laid it before us, it was barbarous usage ; and the church
doors being fastened against him is illegal and contrary to his
Majestie's interest. Whereupon this matter is referred to ye
Court's next sitting for a further inquiry and hearing.
Heard Mr. Hiscox from Ecc. 12 : 1. He instanced
Saturd., s. yj yg ^jj^^ ^^ youth was ye best time — (1) For good
impressions ; (2) for strongest resolutions ; (3) for fixed aflfections ;
(4) for closest applications; (5) for diligent observations. He
added further yt not to remember God in youth was — (1) To slight
his invitations ; (2) disregard his legislations ; (3) disiielieve his
imprecations; (4) to reject his opperations. He finely run thro ye
chapter tho very briefly to my great satisfaction.
Preached all day, Mr. Wightman [being] at Nar-
Lord's D., 10. pggg^jjget. Mr. Hix's son's funeral bid to. Blessed
be ye name of ye Lord for strength afforded.
Mond., Hi Visited sundry of my hearers.
Tuesd., 12. Began to transcribe Mr. Pardon Tillinghast's ^^^
128 Pardon Tillinghast was born in England in 1622; came to this country in 1645,
settling it is said in Connecticut ; but the following year he took up his residence
in Providence, for his name appears among purchasers of land in 1646. Annuls of
Prov., 61. He married Lydia, probably a daughter of Philip Tabor, of Tiverton, Savage,
Geneal. Did., and was mentioned in 1672 as " a leading man among the people called
Baptists, at Providence." — Geo. Fox, Pub. Narr. Club, V. 320. At what time he became
pastor in Providence is not known, but " it was daring his ministry, and after the church
had lived without one for more than sixty years, that we first hear of a meeting house
which was built at his expense, and given by hira to the church in a deed dated in 1711."
— Caldwell, History of First Baptist Church., 9. In the deed. " he describes the faith and
order of the church to be the same as that now held by the Six Principle Baptists,"

74 THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER.
judgment in ye Revelation. He was pastor of ye Baptist church
in Providence ; "' I had it of Elder Brown.
Having been moved heretofore to speak in publick of these
things which are mysterious, which none but they to whom it is
given can understand wt ye Spirit saith unto ye churches : .
1. The opening of ye first seal, showeth by ye going forth of ye
white horse ye powerful conquest made by ye glorious gospel of
Christ in ye days of X [Christ] and his apostles, ye weapons of
their warfare not being carnal, but mighty thro God to ye pulling
down of strongholds to ye obedience of Christ, this victory and
ye effects of it were famous for 2 or 300 years after X [Christ].
2. Ye 2ii seal by ye coming forth of ye red horse, showeth ye
bloody wars that arose in ye earth and chiefly at Jerusalem, ye
next generation following and ye dreadful persecution of ye saints
foretold by X [Christ] Matt. 24, and also to his faithful church of
Smyrna in chap. 2, ye shall have tribulation 10 days, meaning ,
10 reigns of cruelty.
3. Ye 3^ showeth by ye black horse and his rider wth ye balance
in his hand, ye coming forth of grievous wolves foretold of, yt
would make merchandize of ye word, seeking their gain from
their [every] quarter and greedy of filthy [lucre], contrary to X
[Christ] and his apostles' commands and examples, then beg\in
and still continued by pretended ministers even to this day and
darkness of these times.
4. Ye opening of ye fourth seal under ye pale horse and his
rider, w^" was death and hell following, showing the dead and
woful condition ye professors of ye gospel were^now come into, as
ye word mentioned chapt. 16, the 2<i angel poured out his veyal
[vial] on ye sea, and it became as ye blood of a dead man, and
every living soul died in ye sea, the bottomless pit now being
begun to be opened and ye smoke darkening ye sun and air.
— Annals of Prov., 414. Although Mr. Tillinghast received no pecuniary compensation for
his services as pastor of the church, he maintained his right to receive such compensation.
Governor Joseph Jenks, writing from Newport, under date March 19, 1730, says : " I
believe there are several of my brethren who can remember that Elder Tillinghast (in
his lifetime), who was a man exemplary for his doctrine, as well as of an unblemished
character, did several times in his teaching declare that it was the duty of a church to
contribute towards the maintenance of their elders, who labored in the word and doctrine
of Christ; and although for his own part he would take nothing, yet it remained the
church's duty to be performed to such as might succeed him." — Backus, Hist., IT., 23. Mr.
Tillinghast died January 29, 1718, at the age of ninety-six years. See letter of Moses
Brown, on " The Descendants of Pardon Tillinghast," In Newport Hist. Mag., Vol. III., pp.
156-162. 129 (Wanting.)

THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER.

5. Ye 5ti» seal showeth ye bloody work of ye scarlet coloured
beast and of the whore of Babylon yt was drunken wtii ye blood
of ye saints and martyrs of X [Christ], whose blood cryeth for
vengeance agt their abomination of desolation.
6. Ye eth seal showeth ye ruin and desolation of ye churches'
enemies after their iniquity is come to ye full, their sun, in w^
they so gloried, should be black like sackcloth of hair, and their
moon, stars, and all ye host of their heaven, their greater and
lesser lights, shall flee as a scroll, by reason of ye earthquakes and
shaking yt shall fall upon yt wicked state, and aU ye supporters
thereof: when ye Lord shall arise to shake terribly ye earth, Isa. 2,
and this concurs wti» ye pouring out ye vials of wrath. Chapt. 16.
7. The opening of ye 7th seal, showeth ye saints ye rest promised
after their long and great sufiferings of tribulation, according to
yt [word] of St. Paul to ye Thessalonians, [tribulation] to y™ yt
trouble you, and to you who are troubled rest with us ; when ye
Lord shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flam
ing flre. There is silence in heaven. Rest and quietness after so
many exercises. Then is ye Lamb's book of life opened. Rev. 6.
Transcribed out of Mr. Clarke's Narrative."" Mr.
Twrad., 14. j^^^ ciarke,!^^ Mr. Obadiah Holmes,'^^ and Mr. John
130 Of this work, printed in London, " by Henry Hills, living in Fleet Yard, next door
to the Kose and Crown, in the year 1652," only one or two copies are extant. It has been
once republished, and may be found among the collections of the Massachusetts Historical
Society, with this prefatory note : "The manuscript from, which the following reprint is
made was transcribed from a copy of this rare tract in the esceedingly valuable collection
of works on America, belonging to Johu Carter Brown, Esq., of Providence, R. I. ; which
copy was kindly loaned to the Society by the owner for the purpose for which it is now
used.''— 4 Mass. Hist. Coll., H., 2.
131 John Clarke was born in Suffolk, England, October 8, 1609 ; was educated at one of the
English universities ; emigrated to this country in 1637 ; was the leader of the colonists that
settled Ehode Island; was imprisoned and fined in Massachusetts, in 1651. It is to this
visit that reference is made in the text. Mr. Palfrey, in his " History of New England,"
finds a political motive in the visit. Dr. H. M. Dexter, in his monograph, " As to Roger
Williams," follows suit. For reply, see pamphlet, of 49 pagra, entitled, " Early Baptists
Defended," by H. M. King, D, D. ; also an article in Baptist Quarterly, Vol. X., pp. 353 seq.,
reviewing Dr. Dexter's book. Besides being almost constantly employed in the public ser
vice to guide- the infant commonwealth in the midst of its manifold difficulties, Mr.
Clarke w,as a preacher of the gospel, and was so engaged from the very first year of the
settlement of the colony even until his death, during this long period serving the First
Church as its faithful and devoted pastor. See further, Note 152.
132 Obadiah Holmes was born in Preston, Lancashire, England, about 1606 ; came to this
country about 1639, settling in Salem, Mass. ; six years afterward he removed to Rehoboth ;
thence in 1650 or 1651 to Newport, R. I. ; was imprisoned, fined, and whipped in Massa
chusetts, in 1651 ; he was pastor of the First Church from 1652 until he died, October 15,
1682 ; was buried upon his own farm in Middletown, the spot being marked by a simple
slab.— Cathcart, Bap. Ency. ; Sprague's Annals.

THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER.

Crandal,'*^ were taken up by ye Justice of Lin [Lynn], Mr. Robert
Bridges, there on ye Lord's day, July 20, 1651, and committed to
Boston jail for being Baptists, and on ye 31 of July had the sen
tence of Court passed on y™, ye 1st to pay £20 or be whipt, ye 2<i
£30 or be whipt, ye 3<i £5 or be whipt. None sufltered but Mr.
Holmes, and yt in a terrible manner to ye extent of ye law. Mr.
John Wilson,"' a Presbyterian minister, struck Mr. Holmes
when he went from ye bar and said, The curse of God go witn
thee. He died Oct. 15th, 1682.
The first free school in N. England was in Charlestown, founded
in 1635."^
133 John Crandall, the third of the trio, who went to Lynn in 1651, and suffered imprison
ment, T^as an elder in the First Church, and died about 1676. He was spoken of by
Samuel Hubbard, in a letter to the Rev. Edward Stennett, in England, as " my dear
brother John Crandal."
134 John Wilson was born at "Winsor, England, in the year 1588 ; came to this country
in 1630, in company with John Winthrop, and became "teaching elder" of what was afte'r
wards known as the First Church in Boston ; in 1632, he was chosen pastor, and the Rev.
John Cotton the following year became his colleague as teacher, this relationship continu
ing until the death of the latter in 1652, when in 1656 the Rev. John Norton became
teacher. Mr. Wilson was again left alone "by the death of Mr. Norton, in 1663, and so con
tinued until his own death, August 7, 1667. He was the leader among the opponents ol
the Antinomians in 1637; his colleague Mr. Cotton inclined to the other side of the
question then disturbing the good people of Boston. — Sprague's Annals.
135 The honor of having established the first free school in New England has been
claimed for Newport. On the 20Lh of August, 1640, the town of Newport voted to call Mr.
Lenthall "to keep a public school for the learning of youth, and for his encouragement
there was granted to him and his heirs one hundred acres of land, and four more for a
house lot " ; it was also voted " that one hundred acres should be laid forth, and appropri
ated for a school, for encouragement of the poorer sort, to train up their youth in learning,
and Mr. Robert Lenthall, while he continues to teach school, is to have the benefit thereof."
—Callender, Hist. Disc, 116. " This," says the Hon. William P. Sheffield, in the Providence
Journal, 1877, " was the first public school, and Robert Lenthall was the first master of a
public school in America." "Although Harvard College was founded in 1638, to provide
a learned ministry for the churches, public schools, controlled and maintained by the
government for the public good, were not attempted hythe Massachusetts Colony until
1647, Mass. Col. Rec, II., 203, nor by the Plymouth Colony until 1672, Ply. Col. Rec, "V.,
107. See also Baylies' Memoirs of Ply. Col., pt. II, 93. Yet Governor Bradford early con
ceived the idea of giving instruction to the young of his Colony, but encountered insuper
able difficulties." — Hist. Ply. Plantation ; 4 Mass. Hist. Coll., III., 161 ; cf. Bacon's Genesis of
tke N. E. Chh., p. 397 ; Barrows' Detvel. Bap. Princ in R. I., p. ; 89 cf. Arnold, Hist., I., 145.
Schools earlier than 1647 had existed in Massachusetts ; but they were either connected
with the church as parochial schools or maintained by private subscriptions, whose
advantages however were offered to the public probably gratuitously, and in this sense
only " free "—3fem. Hist. Bost., I., 123 ; Mass, Col. Rec, II , 6, 9. Thomas Leverett, elder of
the First Church, Boston, wrote April 13, 1635 : '¦ Likewise it was then generally agreed
upon that our brother Philemon Pormost shall be entreated to become schoolmaster for the
teaching and nourtering of children with us." — Mem. Hist. Bost., I., 123. Mr. Charles K.
Dillaway adds : " This being the only public school for about half a century, it is reason
able to infer that the elementary as well as the higher branches were taught. Its princi
pal object, however, from its establishment to the present time has been to prepare young

THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER. 77
This day was rainy, I preached, Mr. Wightman [being] absent.
Visited Mrs. Tillinghast being as 'twas conceived
Fryd., 15. ^^^ ^^ polut of dcath, but God raised her, and dis
played his glorious power. This night, Mr. Joseph Park, my
ancient acquaintance lodged at my house.
Preached in my course, Mrs. Shrief propounded
Lord's D.. 17. ^Qj, Baptism. Mrs. Hunt sent for me being sick.
Prayed with her.
Mond., IB. Prayed with Mr. James Grinman [Greenman].
Thirsd., 21. Mrs. Eliztii Shrief Baptized. Exceeding windy
weather. The Quakers' addition to their meeting house "°
Fryd., 22. j.g^jgg^_ My family ill.
Mr. Shrief propounded for Baptism. Mr. Clag-
Lord'sD.,24. gp^^,g pij^^jg funeral bid to..
Prayed with Benjamin Hambey. Very sick. Note
Tuesd., 26. ^^^^ yg ^jj.g ^j j^^ Thomas Hooker. He used to say
that ye promises of God were as boats to carry perishing sinners
over to ye Lord Jesus Christ.
Heard Mr. Maxwell intended not to preach any
sr°6m' 1 "lore. This day Mary Ailsworth died. She was
sprinkled 4 or 5 days before. W* Mr. Maxwell said
to her encouraged her in it, for she was otherwise inclined.
The fort ™ here began to be rebuilt in ye year 1724, and was
finished in ye year 1J729.
This day at evening I prayed wti» sister Hannah
Tuesd., 2. WTjigon, whose-husband, Mr. Jonathan Wilson, died
about 4 of ye clock.  '
men for college." Ibid, IV., 237. It is perhaps needless further to add that Mr. Dillaway
refers in his words to the justly famous Boston Latin School.
136 (Wanting.)
13T King's Fort was inadequate to defend the harbor. Qaeere Ann's Fort was built 1702 on
Goat Island, on the site of Fort Woolcot, (Arnold, II., 5.) Tax laid 1706 to finish Fort
Ann, war having begun. Peace came in 1714 and its garrison was discharged. 1721
Fort Ann was repaired, a loan was made for that purpose. {Ibid, II., 25, 54, 69.) In
1727, an address to King George stated " that a regular and beautiful fortiiication of stone,
with a battery had been built at Newport." {Ibid, 93.) In 1733, Fort George was armed.
{Ibid, passim.) Callender, in his Historical Discourse, says: "The necessary defense of
the inhabitants was never neglected in time of war, and since the peace, the colony,
tho' so small as it is, hath rebuilt an handsome fort on an island that commands
the harbor of Newport, and in 1733 furnished it with a number of fine guns at
their own expense." In 1775, Fort George was abandoned — a signal established at Tower
Hill ; a signal for Tonomy Hill, 1776. In 1776, a new fort was built at the Point in New
port, another on Brenton's Point, and Fort George reconstructed. In 1784, the fort on
Goat Island, after bearing successive names of the English sovereigns— Ann and George-
was called Washington. (Arnold, 511.)

78 THE DIARY OP JOHN COMER.
_ This day I prayed with James Grinman, near ye
' ¦ point of expiration. This day also Mr. Bosom's
eldest daughter died. This evening I prayed with sister H.
Wilson. At ye sessions in June past ye Assembly past an act for ye
Colony to be divided into Counties, viz., Newport County, Prov
idence County, and Kings County, 3 in number.""
Note. By a letter to me from Boston, dated Aug. 5i\ 1729,
I have this information, yt every night by order from ye Govr, a
company in a night, watches ; and he intimates yt he intends
it shall be so thro ye winter. The reason of such a watch is be
cause in ye last week in July a mob rose to prevent ye landing of
Irish, and to hinder the merchants from sending away ye corn
as they attempted.
This day Mr. Bryant's wife died. My aunt Mason came.
Fryd., 6. This day Mr. Charles Bardine died.
This morning I went over to ye Yearly Meeting '^'
* ' ' at North Kingstown, ye wind exceeding high, but
blessed be God I got safe over. This day Mr. Everitt began with
prayer ; 1 began in preaching from yt word Luk. 24 : 32 ; [Mr.] Her-
indine [Herenden] concluded wtii prayer. After sermon Mrs. Elizti
Moot, of Canterbury, in Connecticut, proposed herself for Bap
tism. She gave good satisfaction concerning ye work of God
upon her soul. 'Twas concluded she should be now baptized, and
I was chosen to Baptize her, which was done accordingly ; and
Mr. Valentine Wightman imposed hands. Lodged at Deacon
Pardon Tillinghast's."" This day Mr. Samuel Maxwell left off preaching.
s D-. ¦ rpjjjg ^^y 'twas concluded upon, yt Mr. John Wal
ton '" should pray and begin in preaching, w^ he did from Eev.
isSvSee E. I. Col, Rec, IV., 427. Arnold Hist., II , 12, 97. As early as 1704, the colony
was divided into two counties, the one embracing the islands and called Rhode Island,
the other the mainland, and called Providence Plantations, Newport and Providence
being the shire towns respectively. At this second division mentioned by Comer, the
first county remained as before, receiving only a new name ; the other county was divided
into two equal parts, the northern portion being called Providence, the southern, embrac
ing King's Province, receiving the name of Kings County.
1^ This seems to have been a " Quarterly " meeting of the Association of Six Principle
Baptists. !*> Probably the one mentioned by Savage, as a son of the Eev. Pardon Tillinghast, who
was born in Providence and removed to East Greenwich.— Gcmh;. Diet.
M John Walton was a man of " liberal education," " a practicing physician," who in 1730
was invited to preach in Providence, " where a like reformation might be hoped for," as
was then in progi'ess in Newport. Of his views respecting the imposition of hands upon

THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER. 79
3 : 20 ; yt Valentine Wightman should second, w^ he did from
Psalms 37 : 27 ; and yt I should close in preaching, wi^ I did from
Rom. 5:6; and yt Elder Sam' Fisk should finish ye meeting wf»
prayer, which he did. Elder Eichard Sweet administered ye
sacrament. Mrs. E. Moot communed with ye church.
After ye administration a desire yt a petition from ye whole
body of ye Association might be presented to ye Geni Assembly
of Connecticut yt ye Baptists under y* Government might be
cleared from paying taxes to any ministry but their own,"'' which
was put to vote, and by a hand vote it was voted in ye affirma
tive and yt day signed by a number in ye name and by order of
ye whole Association. A comfortable meeting.
This day about noon I returned home. Got safely
Mond., s. home. I praise God. This morning Brother James
Grinman [Greenman] died. This day I prayed with Mrs. Char
ity Carpenter, being sick.
This day news came to town of Gov' Burnet's
uea ., 9. (jeath, who died on Lord's Day ye 7th instant.
Brother Grinman buried. Brother John Walton preached at
ye funeral, from Matt. 25 : 10. This day I prayed with Widow
James. She is a woman of extraordinary experience.
Here foUows an exact coppie of ye petition sent to ye Honour
able Geni Assembly of Connecticut, as voted in and by the Asso
ciation of ye Baptist churches at North Kingston.
To the Honourable Gen' Assembly of y'' Colony of Connecticut, to be
convened at New Haven on y" second Thursday of October next. The
humble Memorial of y= Gen' Association of y' Baptist churches, con
vened at North Kingston, on y= 6* day of September, A. D. 1729, humbly
showeth. That y' Honours' Petitioners having sundry Brethren of their
Communion dwelling up and down in your Colony, they therefore do
hereby humbly crave y* an Act of Assembly may be passed to free them
from paying any taxes to any ministry except their own, and from building
any meeting houses except for their own use, humbly hoping your Hon
ours will consider they are utterly unable to maintain their own way of
all believers we learn from a letter addressed by Gov. Jenks to the Rev. James Brown, in
which he says : " As to what Mr. Walton holds with respect to laying on of hands upon
believers as such, I do not understand by him that he opposes it any other ways, than
if it be performed for the obtaining the extraordinary gifts pf the Holy Ghost ; but he
thinks it ought not to be any bar to communion with those who have been rightly bap
tized."— Backus, Hist., II., 22.
'^ The laws of Connecticut, as well as of Massachusetts, during the early history of New
England, were very stringent against all dissenters from the " established " religion.
They fell with especial severity upon Baptists and Quakers, who constituted a large propor
tion of these dissenters.

80 THE DIARY OF JOHIf COMEE.
worship and to pay taxes also to y= Presbyterians, and y' the gracious act of
indulgence together with y" reasonableness of our request will be motive
sufficient to move y' Honours to grant y^ request of y"^ Honours' humble
Memorialists. Signed in ye name and by y'= order of the s<* Association,
this 8'" day of September, A. D. 1729, by
BiCHAKD Sweet, "j Joseph Holmes,
VALKNTiirB Wightman {t,,^ Ebbuezbe Cook,
Samitkl Fisk, r Elders. Gboeqe Gardner,
John Comee, I Thomas Dueke,
Paedou Tillinghast, Ebenezer Gbavbs,
John Wightman, James Bates,
Jambs King. John Tillinghast,
Benjamin Hkeeni>een, [Herenden.] Joseph Sanford,
Timothy Peckham, Samuel "Weight.
Here follows what was thought convenient to be added.
To the Honorable Gen' Assembly of y= Colony of Connecticut to be con
vened at New Haven on y|= 2* Thursday of October next, these lines may
signifle y' we y° subscribers do heartily concur with y= Memorial of our
Brethren on y= other side and humbly request y= same may be granted,
which we think will much tend to Christian unity and be serviceable to
true religion, and will very much rejoice your Honours' friends and very
humble servants. Joseph Jenks, Governour,
James Clarke, ) xnj
T. -vTT r Elders,
Daniel Wightman, J
John Odlin,
Ezekiel Burroughs.
Dated at Newport, September y" 10"", 1729.
There was drawn from ye Treasury of ye Church at Newport,
46s. towards defraying ye Charges in preferring ye Petition.
wednesd 10 '^^^^ ^^^ ^^ Iccturc was obscrved instead of Thurs-
6 nes ., . ^^y. ypQjj yg account of Mr. Walton's being in town
to preach. He preached from Matt. 16 : 26, what is a man profited
if he gain ye whole world, <fec.
This day I went to Bristol, with my Aunt Mason,
who was bound to Boston. Returned well. I praise
ye name of ye Lord. This day Sami Hallet and David Richards
were cleared by ye jury, who went out twice on ye case.
Fr d 12 Here I think to note ye letter from ye Association
'^ " ' of ye Baptist churches, met at Newport, June 21,
1729, to the brethren belonging to ye meeting house at South
Kingstown.

Thirsd., 11.

THE DIAKY OF JOHN COMEE. 81
The Association of y"= Baptist Churches of our Lord Jesus Christ, sitting
at Newport on Bhode Island this 23'' day of June 1729, '** consisting of the
Pastors, Deacons, and Brethren of y' respective churches,
Sendeth Greeting: To the Brethren belonging to y= meeting house in
South Kingstown, wishing grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father
and y= Lord Jesus Christ.
We y= above Convention finding ourselves under y'' strongest obligation
to wish well to y= parts of y= mystical body of Christ in gen', and to y= sev
eral churches to which we stand more immediately related in particular, and
are willing to contribute everything y* lies in our power to y' end, and
having been informed of certain difficulties to which you have been ex
posed and are still ; do therefore take y= liberty to write this Christian letter
to you, wherein we can't but desire, request, and even exhort you to strive
to put yourselves with all convenient speed into y° most exact order y' y=
purity of y= gospel requires, and in order thereunto to proceed to choose
and set apart some person whom you shall think suitably qualified for y=
work of y'' ministry, and who upon probation may be solemnly ordained to
y° sacred office according to y^ tenour of God' s word ; and upon this occasion,
we can't but recommend to you (if you think well of it) our beloved Brother,
Daniel Everit, whom God in his Providence hath sent among you, and
whose endeavours we hope he hath already blessed for y' good of many
souls. And we can't see y', because his wife is not at this time in com
munion w"" you, itis a sufficient bar to obstruct the choice of him.
And we pray y' no self interest may divert you from encouraging him.
Upon y' whole, dear Brethren, we commit you to God and to y= word of
his grace, humbly praying the God of all grace to make all grace to abound
towards you. "Wishing you all y'= blessings we can wish for our own souls,
so committing and commending to y<= conduct of Heaven and to y' blessing
of y' God who is able to endow you w"" all good, to whom be glory in all
y= churches world without end. Amen.
Newport .on Bhode Island, signed in y= name and behalf of y' Associ
ation by
Daniel "Wightman, "i
Valentine "Wightman, I
Nicholas Eyres, [ Elders.
Stephen Gorton, J
John Odlin,
James Beown.
An exact coppie, Newport, June 23'', 1729.
This day Mr. Peleg Carr's wife died. Heard Mr.
saturd., 13. Qjandal from Rev. 19 : 8. Clear gospel sermon.
A child's funeral bid to. Mr. [Mrs.?] Carr buried
°^ ^ ¦• from ye meeting house. Mr. Maxwell carried on
meeting again by reading 4 chapters and praying.
143 xhis was the meeting mentioned on page 66, Seq.

82 THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE.
This day I transcribe from my notes Lord's Day
Mond., 15. August ye 13th, 1727 what I delivered in a funeral
sermon from Ecc. 9 : 5 upon ye death of my wife's father, Mr.
John Rogers, being ye sum of his just character, who died sud
denly ye Friday morning.
"Hath not ye sudden and surprising death of an exemplary
Christian something worthy of some notice and remark ? Mod
esty almost obliged me to pass such a death by, and not to men
tion it in a Publick Auditory. But duty and gratitude to ye
deceased, whose memory is blessed, and benefit to you, strongly
and irresistibly engaged me to take notice of a few of ye many
Christian virtues which shone w*i» a very peculiar lustre, thro ye
series of almost 59 years. His studiousness and diligence, his
watchfulness and integrity in all his undertakings, if we should
consider him in all relations, we should find ye spirit of a Christian
acting of [in] him. His earnest zeal in ye promotion of Religion,
his constant attendance on ye publick ministry of ye word, and
his wonderful deportment at ye Table of ye Lord, his seriousness,
gravity, and solemnity, are highly worthy of our remark and ob
servation, together with ye many hours of secret communion be
tween God and his own soul, and ye savoury discourses of a work
of grace in w^ he took a great delight, give abundant proof yt he
converst in Heaven, while he tabernacled here upon earth.
"Among ye various entertainment's ofa soul sensibly over
come wth divine love, he took peculiar pleasure and satisfaction
in ye doctrines of grace, and in ye illustration of ye excellencies
of Christ and ye wonderful Redemption wrought out alone by
him, and was willing to ascribe all unto ye riches of Sovereign
grace without any merit of his own. He adored Christ as his
Lord and trusted in his righteousness as ye great Mediator. He
was zealous to maintain ye doctrine of free grace against all oppo
sition whatever.
" His practice and conversation were agreeable to his Christian
principles, for he knew y* ye grace yt brings salvation teaches a
denial of all ungodliness and worldly lust. He was regulated by
[the] standing rule of God's word (wi^ he took for his guide) thro
ye help of ye Holy Spirit at all times. And tho much of his piety
was undiscovered from ye mean conception he had of himself,
yet so much was apparently made manifest as demonstrated him
a real Christian,
" "When it pleased God in ye all wise course of his holy provi
dence to invite him into ye glory of his Lord, and to bid a final

THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE. 83
farewell to all things here below and to take up his abode w^ the
spirits of just men made perfect.
" The messenger of death in all probable conjecture alarmed all
his powers at ye first stroke, which from ye want of natural heat
and ye stagnation of ye whole mass of blood, all allowable means
were rendered ineffectual. Tho it pleased God to continue to him
the use of his senses till tbe last expiring hours of his life, yet for
ends best known to himself by the depriving him almost of his
speech and strength he was hindered from handing forth those
serious and dying advices he might probably have given. Ap
prehending in himself ye shortness of his time here, he requested
your unworthy minister to recommend him into the hands of
God by prayer, and at yt time he expressed his entire and alone
dependence for acceptance wtii God to be from the undertakings
and merits of the Lord Jesus Christ, and desired a will bowed
more and more into ye will of God. Tho he acknowledged him
self something straightened, yet with hands and eyes lifted to
heaven he said. The Lord is able to enlarge me. After a short
discourse of ye crown of righteousness which ye Lord ye Right
eous Judge will give to [them] yt love him, being asked whether
he expected yt crown, he replied. Yes, thro grace ; yes, thro grace,
which was ye last entire sentence he uttered for ye consolation of
survivors. And in about ye revolution of 24 hours from ye first
extreme stroke he fell asleep in ye arms of Jesus, as though he was
taking his natural repose, and so [like] holy Simeon he had Christ
in his arms — and departed in peace (no doubt) to see the salvation
of God. Blessed are ye dead yt die in ye Lord. Rev. 14 : 13."
This night died Mr. Tuck, a man who came a little
' ¦ before from Boston. He fell off his horse about two
miles out of town ye Tuesday before and broke his skull, and re
ceived his death wound. 'Tis said he was y^ in drink. He died
senseless. This day I was at Dartmouth at Mr. Philip Tabor's.
Thirsd., 18. pjgg^gjjg^j there from Jno 12 : 21. About 60 auditors.
Got home yt night well. J. W. married. Pound all well. I
praise God.
Fryd., 19. "Visitcd my people.
Heard Mr. Crandall from 1 Pet, 1 : 5. Well
Sat., 20. J
opened.
Lord's D., 21. Prcachcd in course.
„ .. ^„ "Visited Brother Jno Proctor and Thomas Butcher
whom ye day before came from ye Jersies. At night

84 THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER.
B. Proctor came to visit me. This evening I received a letter
from Mr. Thomas Symmons,'" pastor of ye Baptist church in
South Carolina. This day Mr. "Wightman and I went down to ye
" ¦ beach to see ye sein drawn ; and did so. I obtained
a coppie of a divorce of Sarah Brown, of Providence, from her
husband, Jonathan Brown, signed by Mr. Richard "Ward,
Recorder. Wednesd., 24. "Visitcd.' This day I being sent for to ye Almshouse by Mrs.
rursd., 25. gj;ga(jm^Q being y^ sick ; went and prayed with her.
She seemed in great terror about her soul. She expressed great
fear of death. O, said she with great anguish, I am afraid to die,
I am afraid. O may I have my work well done.
This day I went to prison to visit Mr. O'Harra, ye
Pryd., 26 dmrch minister of Providence, being under close
confinement 8 days, and a prisoner 21 days, but he was at large
and so made his escape, and for yt reason was closely confined.
A doleful place. Lord, I pray thee grant me thy grace and leave
me not to commit any ill, so as to expose me to ye difficulties of
a prison. A prison is a house of care,
A grave for men alive,
A tombstone for to try a friend.
No place for men to thrive.
This day I received a letter from ye Baptist
Saturd., 27. ^JJJ^ygJJ jjj North Carolina,"* settled about two
1** " Of the early settlers of South Carolina, a considerable proportion were Baptists.
They came in separate colonies, about the year 1683, partly from the west of England, and
partly from Piscataway in the District of Maine." — Benedict, Hist., II , 120. A church was
formed at Charleston, with William Screven as pastor. " In 1699 they erected a brick
meeting house," and parsonage house. — Ibid. It was of this church that Thomas Sim
mons was pastor, succeeding the Rev. William Peart. During Mr, Simmon's pastorate,
" the church passed through a series of trials, occasioned by the schisqi and encroachments
of the General Baptists." He was the author of a work entitled " Some Queries concern
ing the Operations of the Holy Spirit Answered," and died January 31, 1747, being suc
ceeded in the pastorate by the Rev. Oliver Hart. [The removal of Baptists from Kittery,
Maine, to South Carolina, in 1682 or 1683, according to Dr. Basil Manly, "seems only to
have been a transfer of the seat of worship of the persecuted flock (or a majority of it)
which had been gathered on the Piscataqua." The church was located first at Somerton,
S. C, and removed to Charleston about 1693.— J. W . W.]
145 "Moore, in his History of North Carolina, says, ' Sir William Berkeley, Governor of
Virginia, drove out of that Colony, in 1653, the Baptists and Quakers, who found a refuge
in the Albemarle region of Carolina.' " " The first church, however, of which we read,
was not organized till 1727, in the county of Camden." — Bap. Ency. According to Comer,
Diary, p. 73, it was in the county of Chowan.

THB DIARY OP JOHN COMER. 85
years (in ye year 1727) since, by Mr. Paul Palmer,^" signed
John Paekbr, Thomas Dabkbe,
John Jordan, James Copland,
; Benjamin Evans, John "Welch,
John Parker, Joseph Parks,
John Brinklby, William Copland,
Michael Brinklby, Joseph Parker. i
This church consists of 32 members, it meets at Chowan.
I received a letter on Monday last from [the] South Carolina
church. There has been a difficulty in that church with ye minis
ter, Mr. Palmer, but 'tis niade up. (As to ye difficulty, it appears
by a letter sent to Boston Church, dated April 13, 1728.)
Lord's D., 28. Prcached in stated course.
Mr. "Wightman and I went up to visit Mr. Joseph
Mond., 29. ^^^^ yg ^^^^ jjg reproved me exceedingly about
my wig. I don't know yt I pride myself in it.
This day [I] transcribed ye first Covenant of this
Tuesd., 30, (;;QiQ^y g^^jj j^g original, which I had obtained out of
ye Records of ye Colony thro ye favour of ye Secretary, Mr. Rich
ard Ward."'
The Island Aquetneck was purchased of 3 Indian Sachems,
viz.,^*° Canonicus, Miantinomi, Wanamitonoment, by Mr. Wil-
146 Paul Palmer was a native of Welsh Tract, Del., where he was baptized by the Rev.
Owens Thomas, pastor of the church at that place ; removed to North Carolina, where lie
organized a church, " with which he continued, not, however, without some difficulties,
until his death." — Benedict, Hist, II., 97.
147 Richard Ward was born in Newport April 15, 1689 ; his father Thomas, and grand
father John, were both members of Cromwell's army, the latter as an officer in the cavalry ;
both emigrated to this country and settled in Newport, the son about 1660, and the father
somewhat later. Richard Ward was Secretary of the Colony for nineteen years, 1714-33;
in 1740, was elected Deputy Governor, and upon the death of Governor Wanton, in 1641,
became Chief Magistrate ; was elected Governor the two following years, 1741^3 ; and died
August 21, 1763. He married Mary, daughter of John Tillinghast, by whom he had four
teen children ; one of whom was Samuel, famous for his connection with the " Ward and
Hopkins controversy " ; another son , Henry, was Secretary of State for thirty-seven years,
1760-97.— E.E. Potter, Early Hist. Narr., 310 ; Biog. Cyclop. R. I.
148 "WestofPokanoket Country, embracing the islands in and around Narragansett bay,
the eastern end of Long Island, with nearly the whole mainland as far as Pawcatuck river,
was the powerful tribe of Narragansetts, including several subordinate tribes, all owning
the sway of the sagacious and venerable Canonicus, with his brave and generous nephew,
Miantonomo, as their chief Sachems."— Arnold, 2r&/., I., 23. The deed of the Indians con
veying lands to the new settlers opens on this wise : " The 24tf' of y» 1"' month called March,
In y« yeare (soe commonly called) 1637: Memorandum, That we Cannonicus and Mian-
tnnnomn y<two chief Sachims of the Nanhiqqausetta, by virtue of oar generall command
H

86 THE DIAEY OP JOHN COMER.
I  ¦ —
liam Coddington and his united friends, for 40 fathoms of white
beads, March 24th, 1637-8.
They incorporated into a Body Politick March ye 7^, 1638.
This was ye form of ye incorporation : ^**
Bhode Island, March y« 1% 1638.
We whose names are underwritten do sware solemnly in y^ presence of
Jehovah to incorporate ourselves into a Body Politick ; and [as] he shall
help us will submit our persons, lives, and estates, unto our Lord Jesus
Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, and to all those most perfect and
absolute laws of his given us in his holy Word of truth, to be guided and
judged thereby.^^ William Coddington, ^^^ John Clarke,i52
William Hutchinson, ^^s John Coggeshall,^^*
William Aspinwall,i^ Samuel Wilbor, ^^^
John Porter/^' John Sanford,^^
Edward Hutchinson, ^^ Thomas Savagb,^^^
William Dtre,!^^ William Freeborn, ^^
Philip Sherman, ^^ John Walker,i64
Richard Carder, ^^ William Bolstine,i^
Henry Bull,^^' Randol Holden. ^^
of the Bay, as also the particular subjectinge of the dead Sachims of Acquidnecke
and Kitackamuckqutt," etc. — R. I. Chi. Rec, I., 45. The third sachem mentioned
seems to have been subordinate, and resident Sachem of 'Aquidneck. " This witnesseth
that I, Wanamatrannemit [as the name is spelled in the instrument] y« at present Sachem,
inhabitant of ye Island," etc.— J"6td., 47.
1*9 The language of this instrument as given by Comer, above, is slightly inaccurate;
instead of "do swear ... to incorporate," it should read, "do here , . . incorporate";
also, instead of "most perfect and absolute laws," it should read, "perfect and most abso
lute laws."
The Scripture passages given in the original, Comer has omitted ; these are Exod. 24 : 3 ;
2 Chron. 11 : 3, 4 ; 2 Kings 11 : 17 ; in regard to which see Bap. Quart.., X., 190.
Arnold, Hist., I., 124, assumes that this civil compact was signed at Providence, Prof.
J. C. C. Clarke, Bap. Qua^i., X., 190, claims that it was signed in Boston, adding: "The
common assertion that this act was performed in Providence is indefensible."
The signers themselves of this document. Savage, in his Geneal. Diet., describes as " among
the best men of Boston."
The authorship of thjs compact — " the real first charter of Ehode Island "-^-with the two
accompanying "engagements," is unknown. Prof. Clarke thinks " The probabilities of Mr.
Clarke's authorship ofthe documents are conspicuous."
150 The intensely religious spirit pervading the compact of incorporation has led to a
misunaerstanding of its purpose. While separating Church from State, the colonists rec
ognized God as the author of both, and in each as the supreme source of authority. " In
order to disarm as far as possible all adverse criticism by rival and hostile colonies, and to
assure themselves and all future comers, that the State, though denied jurisdiction iu the
spiritual realm, was neverthless clothed with divine sanctions, they declared that God was
the source of civil authority, and his revealed will, so far as it pertains to the conduct of
man with man, should be the fundamental law to govern in civil relations. Thus, while
denying to it ecclesiastical rule, they claimed for the State authority delegated
by God and recognized hy his word." — [Barrows], Devel(yp. Bap, Principles in R. I.,

THK DIARY OF JOHN COMER. 87
Remark. This day my little daughter was burnt by a coal fly
ing near her eye, but thro God's goodness not in it. O holy
p. 23. Mr. Arnold, Hist., I., 125, 126, who correctly regards this instrument as a " civil
compact," and not as " a chureh covenant," or " a church covenant which also embodied
a civil compact," ishlmsdf io error when he represents the Aquidneck settlers as lim
iting their principles of toleration to men professing Christianity, and not making room
for those of every faith. — Bap. Quart., Vi., 488 ; X., 191 note ; Cf. Newp. Hist. Magazine, I.,
119-121. For further discussion of the aims and purposes of these men who settled Rhode Island,
see OHgin of the Institutions of RJtode Island, by the Kev. Samuel Adlam (1871), also Settlers
of Aquidneck and Idberiy of Conscience, by Henry E. Turner, M. D. (1880).
161 William Coddington was born in 1600; came from Lincolnshire, England, to this
country in company with John Winthrop, arriving at Salem, June 12, 1630; was imme
diately promoted to offices of trust in the Massachusetts Colony ; built the first brick house
in Boston; in the controversy of 1636-37 he sympathized with the Antinomian party, as
did Sir Henry Vane and the Rev. John Cotton ; having as a magistrate vainly opposed the
violent measures of the government against himself and fellow-adherents of these views,
he broke up his extensive mercantile business, and was one of the refugees who found an
asylum in Rhode Island. He was prominent in the movement begun in the closing
months of 1637, to send out a new colony composed of men who had for their religious
opinions fallen under the censures of the Massachusetts authorities. Being a man of
wealth and social influence, and having held high office at the Bay, he was made the chief
executive in the organization of the infant Commonwealth. Becoming dissatisfied with
the complexion of prbiic affairs under the alliance of 1647, he went to England, and suc
ceeded in detaching Rhode Island fromthe Mainland, and in being commissioned Governor
of the former for life. This commission was revoked in 1652. Mr. Coddington subsequently
regained in large measure the public confidence ; three different times he held the office of
President of the Colony. Having embraced the religious views of the Quakers, he was
much disturbed by the rough treatment accorded his fellow religionists in Massachusetts
and, August 12, 1672, wrote to Governor Bellingham a letter of admonition. Mr. Cod
dington died November 1, 1678, and was buried  . To his grandson, William, John
Callender dedicated his "invaluable Century Sermon. "—Savage, Grneal. Diet
152 See note 131. John Clarke reached Boston in November, 1637, when the town was in
a fever ot excitement, the Antinomian controversy having reached its culmination. He had
had no share in the troubles that had divided the people ; but he was not slow in making
his election between the two parties, the oppressed and the oppressors, and he was with
.more thau seventy others almost immediately disarmed. He became the counsellor aud
leader of the men who were being distressed for their consciences. He proposed to them a
solution of the difficulties. In his narrative he says : " I was no sooner on shore but
there appeared to me differences among them touching the Covenants, and in point of ev
idencing a man's good estate ; some prest hard for the Covenant of works, and for sanctifi
cation to be the first and chief evidence; others prest as bard for the Covenant of grace
that was established upon better promises, and for the evidence of tbe Spirit . . . Where
upon I moved the latter, forasmuch as the laud was before us and wide enough . . . and
for peace sake, to turn aside to the right hand or to the left. The motion was readily ac
cepted, and I was requested, with some others, to seek out a place." — 4 Mass. Hist. Coll., II.,
23, 24. In studying the records of those early times we are impressed with the fact that,
while not holding so prominent offices as some others, he was "the power behind the
throne " ; that his, more truly than any other, was the guiding mind in the infant common
wealth. From the outset until his death he was busy with public affairs. In 1651, he was
sent by a large constituency to England to secure the revocation of Coddington's commis
sion ; this task successfully accomplished, he remained in London to watch over the im
perilled interests of the colony, and, notwithstanding the opposition of powerful rivals,

THE DIARY OP JOHN CO]yi£R.

Providence. Prayed with Mrs. Charity Carpenter, being very
sick.obtained a charter guaranteeing " privileges unparalleled in the history ofthe world " ; that
declared " that no person within the said colony, anytime hereafter, shall be anywise mo
lested, punished, disquieted, or called in question for any differences of opinion on matters
of religion," Returning home in 1664, Mr. Clarke's counsels and services were in constant
requisition. His last public act was performed only a few days before his death, in making
good the defenses of his colony against the savage attacks of the Indians. He died very
suddenly, April 20, 1676, while the war of ''King Philip" was in progress, menacing the
peace and safety of the community. He was buried upon his own land, upon what was
afterwards known as Tanner Street (now West Broadway).— Savage, Gen. Diet.; Cathcart,
Bap. Ency.
[John Clarke was a broad-minded, level-headed, strong man; a man of God. In his
doctrinal and practical views he was remarkably in accord with Regular Baptists of the
present time in this country. He was free from the eccentricities which appeared in the
life ofthe celebrated Roger Williams. More than any other man he is entitled to be called
the Founder of the Baptist Denomination in America. His large participation in the
public aad political affairs of the infant colony was rendered necessary by imperative cir
cumstances, and can be abundantly justified without regarding it as a precedent for polit
ical activity on the part of ministers in an old and settled community. His fame has not
equaled his merits, but it is to be hoped that future historians will do him fuller justice.
I know that in this estimate of John Clarke I voice the opinion of the author of these
Notes.— J. W. W.]
153 William Hutchinson was born in Lincolnshire, England, about  reached
Boston, September 18, 1634, where he became a member of the First Church on the
16'*» of October, and a freeman the following 4tii of March. He is described as a mer
chant, and as being possessed of " a good estate." It was his wife, Anne, who became so
conspicuous in Boston iu connection with thc Antinomian controversy, and upon whom
the severity of Masssachusetts law fell so heavily. Banished from Massachusetts, the wife
was not deserted by her husband ; he took his family to Rhode Island. He held the office
of treasurer of the Colony, and when the division took place, and most of the public
officers removed to the south and settled Newport, he was made chief executive of those
remaining at Portsmouth, the original settlement. He died 1642. The year after bis
death, his wife removed to the Dutch Province, and before she was fairly established was
murdered by the Indians. Mrs. Hutchinson was in many respects a remarkable woman,
and must have been richly endowed ; but It is a mistate to make her a prominent figure in
the early history of the new colony; to represent her as in any sense a leader in the
movement to settle Rhode Island ; indeed, it does not appear that she had any share even
in the counsels that led to that result. Their daughter Faith married Thomas Savage.
1&4 John Coggeshall came from Essex, England, arriving at  September 16, 1632 ;
admitted a freeman the &^ of November following; removed to Boston ; was a represen
tative in the General Court for several years ; sympathizing with the Antinomians he
was expelled from his seat, disarmed, and banished; went to Rhode Island, chosen As
sistant, then President of the Colony. After filling other honorable positions, he died,
probably in November, 16li9. His son, John, married Elizabeth, youngest daughter of
William Baulston.
155 William Aspinwall came to this country in 1630, probably in the fleet bringing John
Winthrop ; was one of the earliest members of the church in Charlestown, and chosen
one of the two deacons ; soon removed to Boston, became a freeman April 3, 1632 and in
1637 a representative in the General Court ; sympathizing with the Antinomian party in
1637, he was " dismissed, disarmed, disfranchised, and banished " ; entered " with so many
other of his fellow-=aints " the movement to found a new Colony in Rhode Island in 1638
and at its organization he became the secretary. But his connection with the Colony was

THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER. 89
wednead., Thls day I received a letter from ye prison from
October 1. -^^^ 0*Hara.
not of long duration, for he went to New Haven in 16-il, where he lived a couple of years,
and thence returned to Boston.— Savage, Geneal. Diet.
150 Samuel Wilbor catue to Boston before 1633, where he resided in 1637, and " fell into
sympathy with tbe major part of his fellow-worshippers under the dangerous doctrines of
Cotton and Wheelwright, so that the body of the people at other places in the Colony
deemed it necessary to disarm them in November, 1637 " ; with eightien others, " among
the best men of Boston," be assisted to purchase and settle Aquidneck, or Rhode Island ;
was held in high esteem, so that after his removal to Taunton his name was retained on
the list of freemen in 1652. Savage says he had wisdom enough to hold on to his estates at
Portsmouth, at Taunton, aud at Boston, returning to the latter place before making his
will, April 30, 1656. He died on the 29th of the September followiug. His eldest son, Sam
uel, married a daughter of John Porter, and was named in tbe royal charter as one of the
patentees. Ibid. Sheffield differs from some of these statements.
167 John Porter became a freeman at Roxbury, November 5, 1633, whence he removed to
Boston, becoming an adherent of the Antinomian views in 1637, w as one of the company
removing to Rhode Island in 1638, was an Assistant in the new Colony in 1641, removed to
Wickford [or Warwick, as Sheffield states], where he was living in 1674.
1&8 John Sanford was In Boston in 1631, and member of the church there, admitted free
man April 3, 1632, and same year made cannoneer at the fort; as an Antinomian was in
1637 disarmed; came to Rhode Island with first settlers, where he held many offices
of trust, being successively Constable, Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant, and President of the
Colony in May, 1653. The time is not known. His eldest son, Johu, married April 17,
1663, Mary, daughter of Samuel Gorton, and widow of Peter Greene.
16B Edward Hutchinson, eldest son of William, (note 153), called, Jr. to distinguish him
from his uncle of the same name, to whose name was appended Sen., came a single man to
Boston before his parents, and became a member of the cburch, and freeman September 3,
lii34 ; was among the first settlers of Rhode Island, but in a few years returned to Boston,
where he opposed the cruel measures of the government toward the Quakers. He died
August 19, 1675, aged 62 years.
160 Thomas Savage, son of William, of Somersetshire, England, came to Boston in 1635, at
the age of 27, became a member of the Boston Church, and a freeman May 25, 1635;
entered upon the business of a merchant ; was disarmed in November, 1637, and removed
with eighteen others to Rhode Island, where he remained however but a short time, for
becoming reconciled with the Boston authorities he returned to dwell [there]. Remarried
Faith, daughter of William and Anne Hutchinson.
161 WilUam Dyre came from London to Boston in 1635, became a member of the Boston
Church, a freeman March 3, 1636, was disarmed and disfranchised in 1637 forhisAnti-
nomianism ; was of the company removing to Rhode Island in 1638, where he was held in
high esteem ; he was clerk of the General Court, Secretary of the Colony, and Attorney-
General when the office was created in 1650. His wife, Mary, a religious enthusiast, was
hanged in Boston, in 1660. One of their^sons was named Mahershalalhashbaz ; their other
children had ordinary names.
162 William Freeborn, who came from Boston to Ehode Island, in 1637, died at Ports
mouth, June 3, 1670, aged 80 years.
1(53 Philip Sherman arrived at Roxbury, in 1633, a single man ; became a freeman May
14, 1634; married Sarah Odding, daughter of tbe wife of .John Porter, by a former
husband; was a member of the Boston Church, but led away in 1637 to "familism"
(Savage), by Porter, as is supposed, and disarmed ; removed to Rhode Island with the first
colonists, where he was at one time Secretary of the Colony ; he died in 1676.
iw John Walker arrived at Roxbury, and became a member of the church, and admitted
freeman May 14, 1634; removed to Boston "to find perhaps wider sympathy for his
heresy," was disarmed in 1637 "with the major part of bis fellow-worshippers " ; removed

90 THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER,
This day I attended ye funeral of Mr. Joseph Bor-
Fryd., 3. ^^^ ffom hls houso to ye Quakers' meeting house ;
John Wanton/®^ Depy Gov^ preached. He died suddenly on
to Rhode Island with the first settlers in 1638 ; in the division of the Colony in 1639,
he went with the larger number to the south to settle Newport ; his name appears on the
roll of freemen at Newport, March 16, 1641, for the last time.
1® Richard Carder first appears at Roxbury, whence he early removed to Boston, became
freeman May 25, 1636 ; " as a supporter of the pestilent beresy " of the Antinomians, was
disarmed and disfranchised in 1637 ; removed to Rhode Island with other colonists in
1638; in 1643 was engaged with Samuel Gorton, Randall Holden, Richard Waterman, and
others in the purchase of Warwick ; was, in defending his rights, imprisoned at Roxbury,
and placed in irons and threatened with death ; was however released, and he lived in
peace at Warwick until the breaking out of King Philip's war, when he fl.ed to Newpoit
for protection, where he died in 1676, His family afterward returned to Warwick.
Susanna Carder, supposed to be a daughter of Richard, married Nathaniel, sou of Richard
Waterman. 1^ William Baulston, or Balstone, was admitted a freeman at Boston, October 19, 1630,
and was in steady employment for the town until 1637, having been " trusted among the
worthiest" ; was chosen selectman in 1637, but was in the autumn of that year ditsarmed
" with a majority of his fellow-worshippers for Antinomianism " ; after bis removal to
Rhode Island was assistant in 3639, 41, 66 ; he died March 14, 1679, aged 78.— Savage, Gen.
Did. 167 Henry Bull was born in 1610, arrived at Roxbury in 1635, became a freeman May 17,
1637, removed to Boston, and became infected with the new views gaining such wide cur
rency; the Roxbury Church records say, "being weak and affectionate, was taken and
transported with the opinion of familism, etc., as may be seen in that story," referring to
the book sent forth by Mr. Welde, tbe Roxbury pastor, in wbich he characterizes Anne
Hutchinson as a " Jezebel" ; falling with others under the displeasure of the government,
he removed in 1638 to Rhode Island, where he became the Colony's first Sergeant in 1685,
and 1689 was Governor of the Colony ; he died January 22, 1693-4, and was buried in the
Coddington burying ground, on Farewell street. His first wife was Elizabeth, who died
October 1, 1665; his second wife was Anne Clayton, widow of Nicholas Easton, who died
June 3, 1707. He built the stone house on Spring street, which is still standing, the only
building erected by " the first comers " now remaining.
168 Randall Holden came from Wiltshire, England ; his name does not appear in any
record of the New World until found as one of the witnesses to the deed of the Indian
Sachems conveying Aquidneck to the first settlers. His name in tbis list cf signers ofthe
compact of incorporation has occasioned scholars some little difficulty. Comer in the
above list omits the name of Edward Hutchinson, sen., and gives Randall Holden, making
the number eighteen. Callender, Hist. Disc, p. 84, gives Edward Hutchinson, sen,, and
omits Randall Holden, making the number eighteen, as does Comer. Backus gives the
number of signers as nineteen, including both the above names. The R. I. Col. Rec, also
give the number of names as nineteen. Arnold, Hist., I., 124, says, " Holden's is separated
from the others by a line." " There were eighteen original proprietors and nineteen
signers of the compact." Holden could not have been one of the purchasers, as his name
appears as one of the witnesses to the deed.
169 John Wanton, son of Edward and Elizabeth Wanton, was born in 1672 ; " was deputy
governor from 1721 to 1722, and from 1729 to 1734, when, upon the death of his brother
William, he was elected Governor seven times successively;" thus for twelve consecutive
years, "tbe first five as deputy governor and the last seven as chief magistrate, hehad
held the highest offices of the State," when he died while still in office, July 5, 1740, and
was buried in the Clifton burying ground on Golden Hill street, in Newport. He was for
many years an approved minister of tbe Society of Friends, and is said to bave been very
eloquent.— Arnold, Hist., II., 126 ; Biog, Cyclop. R. I.

THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMER. 91
Wednesday evening before 9 of ye clock. He was abroad on his
horse about sunset.
The voice of suddea death is yt — Be you also ready. O may I
be so. From ye Monthly Mercury for June 1729 in London, were
christened 1279 and buried 1805 ; there decreased 716.
Sat., 4. Attended church meeting.
This morning I was sent for to pray with Mr.
""^ ° " ¦ Daniel Shrief who was exceeding low — Did so — and
again at evening.
Mond., 6. Prayed w'l' Mr. Daniel Shrief.
Visited Mr. Barker and Capt. Peckcom in ye
7uesd § A. V
" ¦ woods."" I have not been there before [in] 9 months.
This 7tii of Octr I paid Capt. Peckcom ye use money for ye flfty
pounds he took up for me of ye Colony, w^ was £2 10s. Od. So
yt there is one bond taken up.
Exceedingly beyond measure almost bowed down
°° " ¦ and depress' in my spirits about living in ye O [world?]
—circumstances lov/, and my spirits low even to an extreme, about
ye affairs of my former flock. The ark of God is taken — ^the can
dlestick is shaking. O yt ye church, if worthy, may be supplied
by Thee, O Lord God. Find and send by him whom Thou wilt
send. I am also so low in spirit y* I can't see the end why ye
holy God is contending with me. O Lord show me ; lead me in
ye way everlasting. I am in much fear about my soul ; my
precious soul I want to see it precious to God. Lord, I fear I
have no oyl [oU]. O, let me know I have oyl [oil] by my lamp
burning brighter. This morning Mr. Crandall and I visited Mr.
" ¦ Shripf. I prayed wt^i him upon request.
Heard Mr. Crandall and Mr. Hiscox from yt word,
" ¦ He yt is ashamed of me and of my ways in this sin
ful- Mr. Hiscox preached in our congregation from 1 •
Lord's D 12 o o
¦' * Peter 4 : 18, Well opened. Mr. Henry Loveall
preached in ye evening by candle light in ye meeting house.
170 Previous to the Revolution, the island of Rhode Island seems to have been well
wooded. The outskirts of the town of Newport were designated " the woods." Thus we
read that about 1710 and later, school teachers were elected for the " woods part of the
town," while in 1714 one was " chosen school master for the town part of this township " ;
and that in 1723, an order was passed appropriating from the Public Treasury money for
building " the school house in the woods." — Early School History of Newport, by Benj. B.
Howland, in the Newport Mercury, December 4th and 18th, 1875, January I5th and 29th,
1876; Afi. .fiep. Sch. Com. of Newport, 1876 or 1877, pp. 53-.56.

92 THE DIARY OF JOHN COMEE.
Mr. Henry Loveall signifled his desire to visit ye
Mond., 13. (.];jyj.(,]jgg Ju tlie Jersies and earnestly requested a line
from ye ministers here. I was desired to draw a few lines. An
exact coppie.
These lines may signifie to the Baptized churches of our Lord Jesus
Christ in the Jersies and places adjacent, That our Brother, Henry Loveall,
the bearer, having had a desire to make a visit into your parts, we do
by these signifie to you y' we know nothing but y' his conversation is
agreeable to y= gospel of Jesus Christ. We would further notifie to you y'
he has been sometimes exercised in y= ministration of y= word. These
therefore are to recommend him unto the communion and fellowship of y=
churches among you where God in his holy providence may cast him.
So committing both you and him to y' conduct and protection of heaven,
earnestly wishing you all y= blessing of y= everlasting covenant, we sub
scribe ourselves your affectionate Brethren iny= bonds of y<= gospel of Jesus
Christ our Lord. Jambs Clarke,
Daniel Wightman.
John Combk.
Newport on Ehode Island, Oct' y= 13, 1729.
Here follows w* I gave him privately :
Brother Loveall : I earnestly wish y= Lord to be with you in your in
tended journey and desire you would gratifie me in y= following particulars.
(1) In each place you go to strive to know in w' year y^ ch was first con
stituted. (2) W' number of members they respectively consist of at this
time. (3) W' is their constitution in principles, whether gen' or particular.
(4) W are their terms of communion. (5) W year y= agreement was
made in to hold communion at y"= table of the Lord w* such as were not
under imposition of hands. (6) How many churches there are in com
munion. (7) Be sure to present my hearty respects to each church. (8)
Endeavor to do all possible good among them y' you can. These things
from your loving B', John Comer.
N. Ehode Island, OoP y= 13, 1729.
He had gathered here towards it, £4 15s. Od.[?]
This evening, in Mr. Thurston's tan vats,"' a child of Mr.
Will™ Claggett's '" was drowned.
171 Wanting.
1T2 William Claggett was a clock-maker in Newport, and of considerable celebrity in his day.
Several of bis tall clocks of elegant workmanship may still be found in tbe homes of New
port, keeping good time, and serving as ornamental pieces of furniture. He was a man of
marked ingenuity, and was possessed of an inquiring mind. The subject of electricity
wbicb was tben just beginning to attract tbe attention of scholars, was made by him a pro
found study. He is said to have anticipated Franklin in some oi his experiments. He
constructed for his use an electrical machine of large dimensions, which Franklin saw on
a visit to Newport. Although the latter " bad made some electrical experiments by the
friction of glass jars, yet tbis was tbe first machine of the kind he bad ever seen," This
machine is in the possession of the heirs of tbe late Doctor David King. Mr. Claggett pub-

THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMER. 93
This day I received a letter from Mr. James Brown,
Tu6sd 1.4
" ¦ minister at Providence. Here follows w* he wrote
concerning what I wrote to him for to be sent to [the] South
Carolina church. An exact coppie.
Providence in y= Colony of Ehode Island in New England, Oct' 2, 1727.
Jonathan Brown "^>< did confess Christ and was Baptized in his name; for
instance David Eldrege was Baptized at y" same time and Jonathan Brown
as far as we know walked orderly for some time, but y" grew cold in his
religion — Difference arising between him and his wife — and it was reported
that he used strong drink to excess ; but this not being proved as matter of
fact, we did only advise him to better watchfulness and warn him of y"
danger to come, which was done several times, but he left his place in y«
church, and so left the town. The woman y« was his wife is yet alive ; she
was divorced by an act of Court which she obtained after long suit for it.
James BEOwif, Pastor,
Timothy Shbldon,
John Dbxtbb,
John Stone.
Also this day thrre were 3 funerals in the town, and two per
sons besides lay dead. The funerals were, Mary Weeden, WiU™
Claggett's child, and Jonathan Clarke's child. Those who lay
dead were Joseph Card aged 81 years, and Mr. Jackson.
This day I completed ye gathering yt I made in
Wednesd., 15. qj^j^j. ^q gg^j ^ England to get a set of Mr. Joseph
Stennett's works. £ s. d
John Odlin  0 5 0
James Green  0 10 0
Reuben Packcom — „  0 5 0
Joseph Sanford  0 10 0
Mary Herod  1 0 0
Abigal Dyre  0 10 0
Dinah Packcom  0 5 0
Elizth Portine  1 0 0
Eliztt Tillinghast  0 10 0
Total  4 15 0
lished a tract entitled, A LooHng Glass, etc., wbich is very rare, and for a copy of wbich
twenty-five dollars has been refused. He was born in 1696, it is said, in Wales ; came to
Boston, where he learned tbe trade of clock-making, probably of Benjamin Bagnall, wbo
was in business in Boston, in 1718; married Mary, daughter of Matthew and Margaret
Armstrong, of Boston, who owned an estate in Middle Street, now Hanover Street ; was
admitted a freeman at Newport May 3, 1726 ; was a Notary Public in August, 1746 ; had a
second wife, Eehecca, who survived him, and was mentioned in his will ; he died in New
port, October 18, 1749, and was buried in tbe common burying ground.
n^yi See page 84.

94 THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE.
Preached at ye place of Baptizing. Joseph Card
TUrsd., 16. , . J
buried. This day I read over ye affairs of the trouble in ye
Saturd., 18. pjj^j.(>j^ ^Q Elder Ephraim Wheaton, who came down
to visit my former people. I don't find by him any repentance
in y™ for ill management, neither do I learn any good desires
in y™. Preached in course. Elder Wheaton administered
Lord's D., 19. ^j^^ Sacrament of ye Lord's Supper to my people.
This is ye 2^ time this year.
Visited my people, and Mr. Clap ; he said if people
Mond., 2o. -^^Q^i^ ]3u^ weigh ye affair of divine grace in ye scale
of right reason expressed to faUen man and not to fallen angels
'twould serve to convince them of ye greatness and sovereignty
of it. Divine grace is free to all, but more free to some.
Prayed with Daniel Shrief, continuing low. This
Wednesd., 22. ^^y (jamo ucws of ye Small pox being In Bo.stou. It
came in about ye middle of ye month, brought in an Irish vessel,
who (as I hear) threw over 19 in their passage.
This day instead of a lecture, a funeral sermon was
Thirsd., 23. pj.gjy,jjg(j ^jy ]yjj,_ Wightmau in ye meeting house,
over ye corpse of Mr. Peleg Carr's little daughter.
Visited Mr. Clap ; in discourse he said that holy
°^ ¦' ¦ things were too good and wicked things too bad, for
banter and laughter. True words. Mr. Jno Adams visited me.
My antient acquaintance Mr. John Hobbs visited
Wednesd., 29. 
me. Exceeding rainy ; preached from Luk. 10 : 42, but
Thirsd., 30. i o i j. i j.
12 people at lecture.
Attended Mr. Crandall's meeting. Mrs. Lydia
Fryd., 31. 5,y(jgj. Baptized by him. A small auditory.
Attended Mr. Crandall's meeting, Mrs. Lydia
Novemr'i. Ryder passcd under hands. This day 4 years I came
to live on Rhode Island.
Preached in course. At even Mr. Constant Devo-
Lord's D., 2. , . • -J. 1
tion Visited me.
Here I would observe the admirable providence of
Tuesd., 4. ^y. gQQ^ qq^ towards me in his divine preservation
shown to me and mine. 'Tis this. On Thursday, May the 15'ii
my mother being in the forenoon about 10 of ye clock in ye
chamber bedroom, laid down her pipe in a chair near ye bed and
not so well observing whether there were any fire or no, soon

Thirsd.

¦ 6.

rryd..

•7.

Tuesd.,

,11.

Wednesd.

,12.

THE DTAEY OP JOHN COMEE. 95
went down stairs. A little time after, my wife going up smelt
something burn, and going into ye room found it full of smoke
and a cap in ye chair ready to blaze, and by yt means it was ex
tinguished. O wt a cause have I to bless ye Lord for his protection
and goodness. This I penned in a small note which occasioned
its being misplaced. This day I wrote a letter to Mr. Thomas Sym-
wednead., 6. jj^Q^^jg^ pastor of the Baptist Church in South Caro
lina. This evening, about seven of ye clock, in the North
appeared and continued for several hours a bright light of a large
extent like ye breaking of the day. It had a slow motion
towards the East, as all ye appearances of y* like nature have
had, tho there were no spears in it as I discovered.
Preached. Mr. Wightman at Narragansett.
Wrote a letter to ye church at Chowan, in North
Carolina. This day died Sami Clarke, a youth.
This day I set out on a journey to Swanzey, on
foot ; got there about four of ye clock to Mr. Callender's chamber.
Lodged yt night at Deacon Kingsley's ; much tired. (This day
died at N. port Mr. James Noice [Noyes], a young gentleman,
educated at Yale Colledge in Connecticut.) The schooihouse
raised. This being public Thanksgiving through the
¦' ¦ Province, I preached at Swanzey, in Elder
Mason's congregation. Small auditory. Dined with Mr. Cal
lender. Comfortable day. Lodged yt night with Mr. Jn" Cal
lender. (This day died at N. port Major Nathi Shefiaeld."^)
This day I went over to Providence. Borrowed
Fryd., 14. -|^_ willm Turner's horse. Got there about 3 P. M.
Visited Capt. Will™ Potter, who was supposed near his end.
He knew me but wasn't in a capacity to discourse.
This morning about break of day Capt. Potter
^ "' ¦' ¦ died, a worthy member of ye Baptist Church in
Providence, much lamented. I was requested the next day to
1^8 Nathaniel Sheffield was the son of Ichabod (of Joseph) and of Mary Parker (daughter
of George), and was born April 8, 1667 ; married Mary  , wbo died in 1707, aged 35 ;
married again Katharine Gould, widow of James, and daughter of Walter Clarke, who
died January 25, 1752, aged 83, having survived her husband many years. Mr. Sheffield
was in public service ; was deputy from Newport almost continuously from 1699 to 1713 ;
General Treasurer of the Colony from 1705 to 1707 ; in 1711 was appointed major of tbe
forces on the Islands ; he died November 13, 1729, aged 63.— From MS. of W. P. Sheffield,
Esq.

96 THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMER.
preach ye funeral sermon. This day a snow feU deep — the first.
Lodged at Col. N. Powers.
This day I preached at ye funeral of Capt. Potter,
Lord's D., 16. ^^ yg meeting house in Providence, from these
words, Ps. 116 : 15, Precious in the sight of ye Lord is the death
of his saints. A vast auditory of all sorts of people. After
prayer, Joseph Smith, a Quaker, said a few words moderately.
Lodged at Col. N. Powers'.
This day twelve months ago the sermon which
Mond., 17. Q^gQ^g^ jjjy people was preached. 1 adore divine
goodness expressed towards me in carrying me through yt sink
ing trouble I met wti» from ym. Remained at Provi lence.
Lodged at Justice Tillinghast's.
This day visited Elder Brown and Deacon Win-
Tuesd., 18. gQj,_nt -^j horse sent to Swanzey. This evening I
was entertained with a rare water-melon at Col. Powers' yt grew
in his garden. Lodged at Justice Tillinghasji's.
This day about sunset Mr. Dodge's sloop set sail
Wednesd., 10. ^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ .^^ whlch I Obtained a passage. We
arrived at N. port about ten of ye clock y* night. A very com
fortable passage. Got safe home. Blessed be ye Lord.
Thirsd., 20. Prcachod at ye lecture in my wonted course.
The letter my people sent to Swanzey for help I
saw in ye church book, dated at N. port Sept. 15th.

Fryd., 21.
Signed by

Lord's D., 23.

WiLLM Peckcom, Elder,
Sam'l Maxwell, Deacon,
George Hall,
James Peckcom.
This evening after ye service of ye day was over
Mr. Hiscox preached in our meet'g house an evening
lecture, the 2'i in yt place.
Visited. This day I record ye comfortable account
Mond., 24. ^jjjgj^ J received, that on Thursday the 6tii of this
month ye Baptist church in Swanzey and ye brethren belonging
to Palmer's River, joined together again, after they had. stood
off near four years, and ye Lord's day following communed to
gether. I desire to praise God for it.
This day I wrot« a letter to Deacon Prime of New
Tuesd., 26. m^f^j.^ ijj Connecticut. 1" (Wanting.)

Fryd., 5. .^^^ ^^ Now York.

THE DIARY OP JOHN COMEE. 97
This day I received a letter from Mr. Callender of
Tbirsd 2*7 Boston and from Deacon Job Shepherd of Cohansey.
Preached in stated course.
This day also was found a man drowned at Mr. Goldin's wharf,
a sailor, supposed to be drowned ye day before.
This day attended Mr. Jno Adams' lecture; he
Fryd., 28. pj.gagljg(J f^.^^^ J^j^t^^ £2 : 12.
This day I wrote to Mr. Stephen Gorton, of New
" ^' London. Mr. Job Sanford visited me, being just go
ing to sea.
Preached in course. Prayed with Mr. Benjamin
¦' ' Burroughs between meetings, and at night.
This day wrote a letter to Mr. Palmer, minister at
Deoem'ri. N. Carolina, by Mr. Pierce.
This day I received ye account of ye apparition to
Wednesd., S. -.,„'' ,, •' J ff
Joseph Goodhue.
This day I wrote a letter to Nicholas Eyres, min-
ter at New York.
Wrote a letter to Br. E. Callender in Boston. This
" ¦ day the news of Capt. Russell's death came to town.
Mr. Jn" Callender came to visit.
Visited Mrs. Russell on ye death of her husband.
¦' ¦ Preached in course. Between meetings Mr.
Stephen Gorton and I went over to my old meeting
" ° " ¦ house to hear Mr. Callender. 'Tis eleven months
since I was in it. This evening I received a letter from Mr.
Paul Palmer, minister at N. Carolina. He sent me a small
token of love. This evening Mr. Gorton preached at R. Gardner's
Mond., 15. ,
house. This day Mr. Joshua Clark's funeral was bid to.
Thirsd., 18. jjg ^^^ yg night before. Mr. Sami Maxwell at lec
ture ye 1st time. Attended Mr. Clark's funeral. Visited sundry
Fryd., 19. ]3j.g^}jren in ye woods. This day James Clark, a
young man, son of Lawrence Clark, died.
Lord's D., 21. Preached in course.
Wednesd., 24. Brother John Proctor paid me a visit.
Mr. Sami Maxwell attended lecture. 0 y* broth-
Thirsd., 25. erly love if it be God's will may be renewed and
established. I am sure I delight in it.
Attended Mrs. Matthews' funeral who died ye day before.
I

98 THE DIAEY OP JOHN COMEK.
This evening just after nine an alarm was beat to find a little boy
yt was missing who lived w"^ Henry Saben.
This morning Gideon Wanton's "" child's funeral
Fryd., 26. ^^^ ^^
Preached in course. This day the council met
Lord's D., 28. ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^
As to the affairs of the past year, I have met with
Wednesd., 31. j^^^y tilings lioi'd and exceedingly uncomfortable,
especially about my church in their ill carriage to me; but 1
have found ye Lord wonderfully supporting of me under it,
praised be his holy name.
It has I think been the most trying year to me on many accounts.
There have been this year two drowned ; one found dead in
his boat, Mr. Updike ; one stood in the pillory and [was] dipt.
There have been seventeen received into the church to whom I
preach. This year I Baptized one as a minister at large, i. e.,
under no obligation as pastor to any particular flock, at Narra
gansett Yearly Association — Elizabeth Moot.
A Presbyterian meeting house built.
What I had this year for support from the church and congre
gation amounts to £129 Os. Od.
An exact account of what I owe in the world this first day of
January, 1730, John Comer. £ s. d.
To the Colony  60 0 0
" Mr. Jno Odlin  60 0 0
" Sister Elizth Barker  40 0 0
" Mother Rogers  40 0 0
" Mr. Arnold Collins  40 0 0
" Mr. Will"' Swan  16 0 0
" Mr. John Clarke  5 0 0
" Mr. Jonathan Kingsley  12 0 0
" Madam Judith Cranstone  20 0 0
" Sundries in small debts  18 0 0
Total  291 0 0
176 Gideon Wanton, son of Joseph and Sarah (Freeborn) Wanton, was born In Tiverton,
October 20, 1693 ; married February 6, 1718, Mrs. Mary Codman, who died September 8,
1780 ; for two years, 1746-47, held the office of Governor. While lu office, responded to the
call for troops to assist in carrying on the war agaiust Franco. Tlie people nobly supported
bim, but " no man took a deeper interest in it than the QuakerGovernorof Rhode Island."
Mr. Bartlett says: "That although a Quaker, be was a belligerent one, and fully equal to
tbe emergency, and had he been Governor and Captain-General of Rhode Island in 1861,
would have been among the first to send a regiment of Rhode Island volunteers to Wash
ington." He died September 12, im.—Biog. Cyclop., R. I.

THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE. 99
My house in which I now live which was built by me and first
inhabited Sept. the 23<i, 1728, cost according to my most exact
computation for the bare materials and building together with
the land on w^ it stands £302 3s. 6d. I was lately offered if I
would sell it £340, under which if I did sell I could not do it, be--
cause I was favored by several in ye price of sundry materials,
which, were I now to build, and ye money being so much fallen
in its currency, it would cost me so [much] if not more. What I
have in the house if priced as to utensils amounts to about £150.
£ s d
House  302 3 6
Household utensils  150 0 0
Amounts to  452 3 6
Debts  291 0 0
Remains by subtracting my clear estate .161 3 6
So that I find I have a suflftciency to pay all to whom I owe
anything in the world if I should be speedily taken away. I
commit my soul unto ye hands of God who gave it me, and my
body to be decently interred at ye discretion of my surviving
friends, hoping through the merits of Jesus Christ to obtain ye
free remission of all my sins and an inheritance among y™ y* are
sanctified ; and [I] bequeath after my just debts are paid ye re
mainder, £161 3s 6d, unto my dear wife and tender babes, to whom
it justly and principally doth belong. So committing them to the
Lord who is able fully to supply them, desiring the God of peace
that brought again from ye dead ye Lord Jesus Christ, the great
Shepherd of ye sheep, might thro' ye blood of the everlasting
covenant make them perfect to do his will ; working in ym yt w^ is
well pleasing in his sight thro Jesus Christ, to whom be glory,
honour, and praise, world without end. Amen.
John Combb.
Newport in Ehode Island,
January the 1st, 1730.
This day I begin a new year. Oh that all things
jbm»"* 1 °73o ™^y become new within me ! Oh that I may purge
out ye old leaven y t so I may be a new lump unto the
Lord ! 1 Cor. 5 : 7.
Fryd., 2. This day Mr. Davis died.
Saturd., 3. Attended Church meeting.

100 THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE.
Lord's D., 4. Preached in course.
Mrs. Arault's funeral bid to. Mr. John Hobbs
Tuesd., 6. ... ,
Visited me.
My brother James Phillips came to this Island in
" ¦ order to sail hence to ye West Indies and London.
Fr d 23 ^^^® *^^y ''" "^^o*® ^ letter to ye Baptists at Spring-
'^ " ' field, directed to Doctor John Leonard.
This day being sent for I prayed with Mrs. Eady
^"'''"°'^°- being sick.
This day Mr. Wightman went to ye almshouse to
Fryd., 30. ^j^^^ Haunali Weston. Upon request I prayed with
her.
Lord's D., This [day] preached in course.
February 1. This momiug a woman named Becks, at ye Point,
Mond.. 2. was found dead in her bed. 'Twas supposed she died
in her sleep being alone.
Tuesd., 3. This day I preached at ye funeral of Mr. R. Gard
ner's child.
This night between nine and ten of ye clock in ye
e nes ., . -[^qj.^jj appeared the aurora borealis, having many
bright streamers extending towards the zenith.
This day Col. William Coddington ™. and Jahleel
Fryd., 6. grgntgn "', two of the Committee for signing ye bills
of public credit, went to Boston to attend the court, at which were
to be tried ye next week Paul Eunice, who was found in uttering
(and suspected for counterfeiting) sundry bills of this Colony, in
NovT past. Praved with ye widow Thurston's child, being very
Mond.,0. 1 ¦
low. This day Mr. Maxwell stopt ye church and proposed
Lord's D., 15. ^^j, ^jj,^ John Walton to be sent for to supply my
place in ye church wi^ was under my care, which was concluded
in ye affirmative. I learn yt Mr. Will™ Claggett is a principal in
strument in yt affair. I am informed yt Philip Smith is some
thing delirious ; yt ye same wicked spirit still rules in Edward
Smith and Capt Will™ Peckcom as in ye height of ye difference,
who were ye principal wicked instruments in it, tho they were
willing to lay all upon me, wi" is utterly false. But I am sup
ported by God's infinite grace and this day by yt word. Psalm
87 : 1, 7, 8, 9. Fret not thyself because of evil doers.
178 ai 177 (Wanting).

THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE. iOl
This evening Mr. Jno Callender was married at Swanzey to
Mrs. Elizabeth Hardin.
This day Mr. Jno Callender preached his farewell sermon at
Swanzey from Ps. 133 : 1; and proposed to lay down ye ministry
altogether. The interest of Christ in ye Baptist churches looks very dark at
this time ; the h&rvest is great, but ye labourers are few. Oh yt ye
Lord of ye harvest would flirnish and send forth into his harvest !
I mourn over ye churches. Lord show w' is ye ground of thy
controversie. The trouble at Swanzey was on ye account of Mr. Callender, in
that some were wUling to divert my settling there in ye year
1725, because ye way might be open for him, which was two
years before he was a professor. He was baptized in Boston in
June 1727, in w'' month he began his public ministry in Boston,
and about ye month of August, 1728, he began to preach at Swan
zey and continued to do so till JFeb. ye 15, 1730. On ye day ye
church met to choose him to office he signified his design to de
sist ye service, to the great trouble and surprise of the church.
This day died Mrs. Eliztii Coddington widow of
TMrsd., 19. ^^ Edward Coddington.
This day Mr. Adams' church met to give him a dis-
°' " ¦ mission from his charge, which was accordingly done,
but no letter of recommendation. He came to this Island Au
gust 5, 1727. Mr. Adams preached in the schooihouse January
ye 21, 1728 ; was ordained April ye 11, 1728 ; was dismisst, Feb
ruary ye 25, 1730 ; removed out of town March ye 2, 1730 ; his
people had contended with him about a year. Though there be
troubles yet God's fouadation is sure.
Thirsd., 26. This day prayed with Mrs. Bingham, being sick.
Fryd., 2'7. Thls day prayed with her again.
This day I went to visit Mr. Jno Adams, being just
March 2. golng out of towu. I recolved a letter from Mr.
Symmonds, minister at South Carolina.
This day I went to visit Elder Peckcom, who dis-
" ¦ coursed to my satisfaction about ye trouble and ye
things of God.
This day Edward Thurston's child was buried
^ " ' from ye meeting house ; ye meeting carried on with
prayer.
J, ^ g This day Mr. Jno Walton came to town by request
from my former congregation to preach to y™, and to

102 THE DIAEY OP JOHX COMEE.
settle among y™, if it might be comfortable. Lord if it be thy
holy will give y™ new hearts and sincere aims to thy glory in this
undertaking, and remove away ye bitter spirit of envy y* is still
I fear too much reigning in three or four of y™ against me, and
forgive y™ and me also for Christ's sake.
This day Mr. Jno Walton preached to my former
Lord's D., a. congregation. This night he lodged at my house.
This day Mr. Jno Walton preached a lecture in ye
Tuesd., 10. jjjggting house. I am sure I desire y® Lord might
direct him what to do. Things respecting his settlement with
ym appear strange to me at this time.
Thirsd., 12. Preached ; Mr. Wightman absent.
Mr. Walton preached again to my former congre-
Lord'sD.,15. gj^tiojj^ That Wilis of God will stand; but if it be
not of God, in his own time it will be brought to naught. Lord
I pray thee to enable me to stand still and see the working of thy
holy Providence. Fortifie me wt^" all suitable grace and thy name
shall be glorified. This night Mr. Jno Callender lodged at my house
and had suitable opportunity for conference.
This day I preached at Mr. Thomas Stevens's
Lord's D., 22. , ./ r-
house.
Mond., 23. This day I began to keep school.
This day I had a number of verses printed for
Mond., so. children, 400. Cost 26s.
I wrote a letter to Mr. Nathi Jenkins,"* minister
Thirsd April 2.' at Cohansey. This day being a day of prayer in ye
Massachusetts, I heard Mr. Clap preach in his house
from Ps. 79 : 8, 9 verses, excellently well.
Attended church meeting. Prayed with Dr. Ar-
satard..4. Qold's Uttle daughter.
This day ye 7th Day Congregation met in my old
Saturd., 18. . . 1
meeting house.
About this time I received a letter from Mr. Paul Palmer,
minister in North Carolina together w^^ a manuscript for ye
press, entitled Christ the Predestinated and Elected.
The form of the Agreement of the Baptist church on Rhode
Island when they built a meeting house (owning ye Doctrine of
178 Nathaniel Jenkins was born in Wales in 1678 ; emigrated to this country, and settled
at Cape May, New Jersey, in 1712 ; in 1730 became pastor at Cohansey, where he died in
1754.

THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE. 103
Q«ni Redemption, under the pastoral care of Mr, James Clarke
and Daniel Wightman) :
Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God to put it. into our hearts, viz.,
James Clarke, Dani&l "Wightman, Jeremiah Clarke, "'><, John Odlin, and
the rest mentioned in the instrument above written, bearing date January
y= 2.S, 1706-7 to purchase the land in the said instrument for y= use and ser
vice of God and have good and lawful right thereunto and full power in
ourselves to order and perpetuate the same to future generations forever.
In pursuance thereof we the above s"* purchasers are mutually and unani
mously agreed and resolved on y' settlement of s* lands to ourselves and
successors forever in manner and form following : First, we deem, as it is to
be understood, these only our successors who are in the same faith and prac
tice aa we are now in as may be seen in y= 2^ Article ofthe Agreement.
1. That James Clarke and Jn° Ehodes above named were chosen by s*
purchasers to build a meeting house on s* lands, who have accomplished y"
same, defraying y= charge thereof with money gathered amongst y= pur
chasers of y land whereon it now stands. "^>^
I'sji Jeremiah Clarke, second son, I suppose, of Jeremiah Clarke, one of the signers of
the original compact, and brother of Walter Clarke, so long prominent in the public aflfairs
of tbe colony; " was deputy from Newport from 1696 to 1705 inclusive, and otherwise is
not prominent in the public records. His progeny is exceedingly numerous, and includes
among others the family of the late Audley Clarke, Esq., with Gardners, Fowlers, etc.,
from Newport; and of Providence, soveral of the oldest and best known families." — Dr.
Henry E. Turner, wbo has given an extended notice of " Jeremy Clarke's family," in the
Newport Hist. Magazine, Vol. I., pp. 75-96, 129-155.
^^^ii Mr. Comer says this was tbe filrst meeting house tbe church had, and he thinks it
was built at the time tbe first purchase of land was made, namely, in 1697. He says;
" The land ou wbich the meeting house now standeth [1729] was made over to j" church
by Mr. James Clarke, Pastor ; who obtained y" deed thereof in his own uame, October tbe
23d, 1697. In whicb year tbe first meeting house was built." He then gives the following :
" To all Christian people to whom the present Instrument may eome. I'james Clarke of
Newport on Rhode Island in y Colony of Ehode Island and Providence Plantations &c.,
Coopper, [i. e., cooper, by trade,] sendeth greetings. Know y» y' whereas I said James Clarke
did buy or purchase a certain piece of land lying and being in yo town of Newport afores'i
containing 30 foot from North to South and from East to West and is bounded Easterly on a
highway. Northerly and Westerly on Nathi Coddington's land. Southerly by a piece of land
left out for a highway, all which lot or land was bought by me s'' Clarke of Major Nathi Cod
dington, together with all y" rights and privileges thereunto belonging as is set forth more
at large and will more fully appear by y» deed thereof bearing date October y« 23*, 1697,
reference thereunto being had. ... as also another piece of land containing 30 feet in
length and 40 feet iu widtli, and part of s^i purchase is a certain gore containing 8 feet In
breadth, and is butted and bounded Northerly on s* Coddington's land. Easterly on a
highway and land already in possession of s^ Clarke, and Westerly on land of s'S Clarke's,
and Southerly on a way, aa may more fully appear by a deed for ye same bearing date
March y« 23'', 1703-4, reference thereto being had. Know y« y« I James Clarke do hereby
declare and publish tbat y money y* did purchase both pieces of land was contribution
money given by certain brethren (hereafter named) to build a meeting hmise on for the
worship and service of God, and for y accommodation of the same ; And do declare y*
I James Clarke have but an equal right or privilege with y rest of ray brethren hereafter
named, and for yo weakening, cutting off, and nulifying, any right, titles or just claim y»

104 THE DIAEY OP JOHN COMEE.
2. By faith and practice with us, we mean and intend those that are
dipped into Water with a verbal demonstration of their faith and repent
ance, yielding obedience to all y= rest of the ordinances of our Lord Jesus
Christ, as laying on of hands with a real faith in y" Kesurrection of y= dead,
and y' Eternal Judgment ; as also keeping their lioly union and fellowship
in Breaking of Bread and Prayer ; as will be better seen and is set forth
more at large in a printed sheet or declaration of faith and practice of y' ,
Baptized churches, falsely called Anabaptist, in London and in other places |
in England; w"" sheet is signed by certain Elders and Brethren of s''
churches to y= number of 73, and printed in y'^ year 1691.
3. We signifle by these presents y' we are mutually agreed y' if ourselves
y« purchasers of y'= land mentioned for holy use in y= instrument above
written bearing date January ye 23, 1706-7, and likewise mentioned in y=
present discourse, — we say if we ourselves or our successors shall by y= bap
tized ch [urch] or churches in faith and practice above s'^ be censured and
judged erroneous or corrupt in principle or practice, in life and conversa
tion, and so by sentence of s"* church be cut off from society and fellowship
of y= same, that any and every person or persons so offending shall forever
lose his or their claim to any part of y' said land or house.
4. We do hereby oblige ourselves and successors forever, to make and
maintain all y^ fence y' y' above named James Clarke was obliged to make
and maintain about s<^ meeting house lands as may appear by y'= two deeds
thereof from Major Nath' Coddington to y"= above s'^ James Clarke. In wit
ness whereof and for ratiiication of each and every of the said mentioned

myself or heirs may at anytime pretend to by virtue of y two deeds above mentioned
I the s*! James Clarke do hereby in consideration of yo above s^ contribution-money ; give,
grant in fee, and confirm both yo above s^ deeds of land, together witb all yo rights and
privileges thereunto belonging, unto my brethren, Jeremiah Clarke, Daniel Wightman,
John Odlin, John Greenman, James Brown, John Hammet, Jeremiah Weeden, Joseph
Card, James Barker, William Rhodes, Stephen Weeden, William Grinman, Henry Clarke,
John Rhodes, and their successors forever, to bave and to bold said lands as they are butted
and bounded with all yo rights and privileges thereunto belonging ) to yo proper use and
behoof of all yo above named brethren, for yo use above s* from him s<i Clarke, his heirs, ex
ecutors, administrators, or assigns, forever, being freely and clearly acquitted and dis
charged from all manner of gifts, grants, thirds, jointers, or any incumbrance whatsoever
by bim s^ Clarke done or made, or suffered to be made at any time before tbe insealing and
delivery hereof and y* yo s^ Clarke hath good right and lawful power in himself to n;ake
sale and good title as above s^. In witness whereof I bave hereunto set my hand and seal
this 23d day of January 1706-7. James Clarke.

' Witnesses,

f John Osband,
1 Elizabeth Williams.

" Personally appeared before me this 6th of Feb., 1706-7, James Clarke yo subscribei
hereof and did own and acknowledge ye above written instrument to be his act and deed.
Attested : John Roqees, Justice of Peace."
John Corner, in Records of Second Baptist Church, Newport.

THE DIAEY OP JOHN COMEE. 105
particulars, each and every purchaser and proper owner of s* lands have
set to their hands and fixed their seals this 23rd day of January, 1706-7.
James Clarke, Pbleg Peckcom,
Jeremiah Clarke, Henry Clarke,
Daniel Wightmann, Joseph Weeden,
John Odlin, Timothy Peckcom,
Jambs Barker, John Rhodes,
Jeremiah "Weeden, James Brown,
Joseph Card, John Hammett,
John Greenman, William Rhodes.
Stephen Hoockey,
Before us witnesses
William Dyre,
Job Bennett.

Saturd., This day I wrote Christian Musto's will.
May Q.
Tuesd., 5.

May 2. rpj^jg ^^y j yigitgjj j^y fricuds at Swanzey.

This day Sarah Andross was Baptized by Mr,
TMrad., T. Ephraim Wheaton; I attended ye meeting at
Swanzey.
Saturd., o. Returned home well. I and my wife were sworn
at ye Ferry by G. Thomas, y* we had not been to
Boston in seven days. Note, he is set there by ye authority on ye
account of ye small pox.
This day preached in course. Mr. Staples sent a
" ° ¦¦ ' note to Mr. Wightman, as underwritten ; ye reason
was because ye young man laid his death to his charge for he had
beat and abused him sadly.
3Ir. Wiohtman,
Sir : It is my desire you will appear at y' opening of y' body of Jona
than Lock, this day deceased, and there to put up your prayers to Al
mighty God to give y= jurors a true sight of y= case, and y' they may be
directed by y' Divine Spirit to make a true report of y^ cause of his death.
So prays your petitioner, Thomas Staples.
The j urors are warned at one of ye clock. The j ury upon search
cleared Mr. Staples and brought in yt he died a natural death.
This day I wrote a letter to Mr. Andrew Gifford,"'
Tuead. 19. g^p|;jg|; minister in Bristol in Old England, by Mr.
Caleb Blenman ; ye first [second ?] of Croscombe in Somersetshire.
™ Andrew Gifford was born in Bristol England, August 17, 1700 ; educated at the Bris
tol Academy At about tbe age of twenty-four became assistant pastor in Nottingham ;
afterwards for two years held the same relation to the Eev. Bernard Foskett, of Bristol.

106 THE DIAKY OF JOHN COMER.
This day the town was mightily alarmed by ye
Pryd,, 22. ^jgg^^jj q£ ^ stranger at ye house of Mays Nichols, tav
ern-keeper, who had been drooping several days ; but it appeared
to those yt inspected the body to be ye small pox of w^ he died.
By order of authority he was wti* utmost despatch buried. It
isn't known who he is, or certainly whence he came. His com
panion is fled out of town to avoid examination, as is probable.
The man came last Friday. Lord fit ye town for ye visitation of
ye small pox.
A few epitaphs which I took off of some graves in the common
burying place at Newport on Rhode Island.
On Mr. Simeon Parrett, who died May 23, 1718, aged 84 years.
Here doth Simeon Parrett lye.
Whose wrongs did for vengeance cry.
But none could have ;
And now y= grave
Keeps him from injury.
On Mrs. Abigail Wanton, who died May 12, 1726, aged 28
years. If tears alas could speak a husband's wo,
My verse would straight in plentiful numbers flow ;
Or if so great a loss deplored in vain
Could solace so my throbing heart from pain
Then could I O sad consolation chuse
To soothe my careless grief a private muse ;
But since thy well known piety demands
A public monument at thy George's hands,
O Abigail, I dedicate this tomb to thee.
Thou dearest half of poor forsaken me.
On Mr. WiU™ Sanford, A. M., who died Apr. 24, 1721, aged 31
years. Here lyeth dust that as we trust
United Is to Christ,
Who will it raise, the Lord to praise
Joined to a soul now blest ;
February 5, 1729, be became pastor of the church in Little Wild street, London ; became
celebrated for bis exact and extensive knowledge of ancient manuscripts; in 1757 ap
pointed assistant librarian of the British Museum, though still continuing to discharge the
duties of his pastorship; he died June 19, 1784. Dr. Gilford's "collection of rare coins was
the most valuable in Great Britain ; it attracted the attention of George II., who purchased
it for his own cabinet." — Cathcart, Bap. Ency.

THE DIARY OF JOHN COMEE. 107
With holy ones, placed on bright thrones.
Crowned with eternal joys.
In heaven to sing, to God our King,
Their thankful songs always.
On Mr. John Rogers, who died August ye 11th, 1727, ag. 59,
wanting 15 d. In his Redeemer's arms he fell asleep,
Having committed all for him to keep.
Until y"= resurrection morn be come.
When all y= saints shall fully be brought home
With saints and angels to eternity
On Mr. Sami Cranston, Esq, Grov of ye Colony, who died Apr.
ye 26, 1727, aged 68.
Rest happie now brave Patriot without end,
Thy Country's father, and thy Country's friend.
Jno Solomon died May, 1676.
Mr. Willm Hiscox, May 24, 1704, ag. 66.
Mr. WiUm Gibson, March 12, 1717. The two last ministers of
ye 7*ii Day church, in Newport.
This day news came over from Block Island of [a]
^^'^^' ^" most unaccountable piece of wickedness, almost un-
paralelled, viz : A negro man belonging to Capt. Simon Ray of
Block Island being in Newport, in ye heart of ye town, a man
being an utter stranger to ye s* negro gave him a letter and
charged him to give it to his master himself, which accordingly
he did ; and upon his opening it it was a blank, with sundry
scabs (as is supposed,) taken from some person sick of y® small
pox. In surprise he threw it on ye floor immediately, and ye
maid of ye house took it up and burnt it. O w* wickedness is
lodged in ye heart of man. Strict inquiry has been made to find
him out, but to no purpose. 'Twas within a week yt ye letter
was sent. This day preached in course. Mr. Valentine
Lord s D., 2 . -^jgjj^jjjan preached P. M. I wrote a letter to Mr.
George Ecclesfleld, Baptist minister at Middletown.
This evening Ephraim Broderick having been out
Wednesd., 2s. ^^^j 9 of ye clock, came in, feU into a fit, and feU
out of his chair, and in about two hours died so.

108 THE DIAKY OP JOHN COMEE.
This day Mrs. Nichols was removed to Coaster's
^^e'. Harbor, for ye small pox broke out on her.
This day Mr. Sami Maxwell stopt ye church and
Lord's D., 7. j.g^^ ^ paper to y^ in -w^ he signifled his intent to lay
aside preaching wholly, and y* he was much in scruple about In
fant Baptism. Lord keep those whom I baptized sound in ye
faith. This day died Mrs. Nichols' Indian woman, at
Wednesd., 10. QQag^j.)g Harbor, who was carried there on Lord's
Day morning with ye small pox. It did not come out well. So
ye two first y' had it died. Lord make it awakening to ye inhab
itants. This day visited Mr. Clap. He informed me of a
Thirsd., 11. ^^^ jyj-j.^ Adams' people had yt day week, and y*
they had sent to some ordained ministers to come and help in ye
work of ye day ; but they refused because they were not clear in
ye management of Mr. Adams' dismission, and to some young
ministers, who declined because they had heard they intended to
try six or eight before a choice, and So declined to stand on ye
stool of approbation at Newport ; nevertheless two young minis
ters from ye Massachusetts, and one from Long Island came and
carried on the day of fasting by prayer and preaching. Their
names were Mr. Cleaverly, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Searing.
So Mr. Clap upon ye refusal of ye ordained ministers, and ye
declining of ye young ones, remarked this witty remark on ye
people from ye names of ye young ministers. TTiat they were
Cleaverly Pecrc'd and Seared.
This day also I went to discourse w*^ Mr. MaxweU about Bap
tism and so in faithfulness to discharge myself.
This day Mr. Crandall preached to my people, be-
Lord's D., 14. .^^ destitute by reason of Mr. Maxwell's declaring ye
Sabbath before for Infant Baptism, or at least his scruples
about it. This day after public service was over in ye town,
°' ° " ¦ one Samuel Fenno a printer, lately from Boston, a
young man, gathered a number of loose people together at ye
house of Jno Pearce and attempted to [do] something by way of
preaching from Sol. Song 4 : 7, and sang ye 100 psalm and ye 108
psalm, ye auditory consisting of about a score. Ye principal persons
were Mr. Sami Pike, Mr. Brown, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Johnson,
Mr. Martendil &c. Set these aside and there aren't such a num
ber of yt sort in ye town. Oh profane act, and highly to be disap-

THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMER. 109
proved of by all yt wish well to ye interest of Religion. I have
done w' lay in my power to suppress it and have brought him to
promise to do so no more.
This day Mr. Crandall being sick Mr. N. Eyres of
Saturd., 27. ]yjg.^ York prcachcd in my old meeting house to his
congregation, and in ye P. M. I began ye meeting wfi prayer. I
have not been in y* pulpit this eighteen months before.
Oh, yt I may be more and more of a forgiving frame of spirit to
ym -^ho have grievously injured me. I am afraid I don't forgive
y™ as I should from my heart, because I can't bear to speak of
their actions without a commotion in my own breast.
Lord help me to forgive y™ as I expect God for Christ's sake
should forgive me.
I found going into ye house affected me and brought things into
my mind. I wish it were not so. I think I don't indulge such
things. Oh yt I may love y™ and forgive and pray more for them.
This evening died Preelove Carr, daughter of Capt.
Lord's D., 28. pg^gg Carr, about half after ten. She was an amazing
instance of sovereign grace and in ye time of her sickness God
seemed to ripen her for glory in a wonderful manner. She gave good
ground to survivors of her good estate, and with great earnestness
of soul she recited to me the twenty -seventh psalm fourth verse.
She was buried on Tuesday following from ye meet-
''^^' ing house. Mr. Eyres preached. The 7th day meet
ing house raised that day.
This day Mrs. Claggett was buried from ye meet-
Thirsd., 2. .^^ housc. I prcachod her funeral [sermon] from
Job 19 : 25 according to her own request of me.
This day cousin Sami Rogers visited me in deep
Pryd., 3. distress about his soul.
This day I was twice sent for to Uncle Rogers' to
Saturd., . ^^^ Sami. Extremely low about his soul, almost to
despair. Preached all day to ye 7tii day church upon request, Mr.
Crandall sick. This day preached aU day alone, Mr. Wightman
' " ¦' ' at Providence. Sent for after meeting to Uncle
Rogers'. Wateh ed there yt night. Lord grant to him under his
distress of soul some divine support, ye light of thy reconciled
countenance thro Jesus Christ.
This day Mr. J. C. was D. ^Meaning unknown.]
This day four persons were baptized by Mr. Wightman at Prov
idence. K

110 THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE.
This day ten persons were Baptized by Mr. Wight-
¦' ' man at Providence.
May the Lord influence each of them by his Holy Spirit, and
give j»n grace to persevere in his ways, and help y" to adorn the
doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
Thirsd., 9. This day preached ; Mr. W. absent.
Saturd., 11. This day preached to ye 7tii day congregation.
Mond., 13. Went over to an entertainment at Conanicut.
This day went to see Edward Smith being upon
ues .,1 . j^.g g.^j^ ^^^^ J ^j^ ^p^ ^^ conclude his death bed) ; I
had no discourse with him as I desired by reason of his being in
a kind of lethargy.
Will the Lord give me a truly forgiving frame of spirit as I
hope God for Christ's sake wiU forgive me. *
This day preached both parts for Mr. CrandaU, fhel
Saturd., 18. j.. . . , ) L J
continuing sick.
Lord's D., 19. Preached in course.
Pr d 24 ^^^^ evening an insurrection was made or a mob
'^ ' was raised in the town, occasioned by some young
men being put into gaol ye day before for siding and being en
gaged about a quarrel raised a few evenings before between Au
gustus Lucas and  Coggeshall ; ye one caUing himself of ye
gentleman's party and ye other being lookt upon not so. About
twilight the mob began to pull down ye prison fence, so yt [at]
candle light an alarm was beat and men in arms, together wti»
some of ye authority with drawn swords and other weapons,
watehed ye prison, for it was threatened to be pulled down yt
night. There was no hurt done in ye insurrection but to one
man, Mr. Bassee was knoekt down for dead by Richard Durfee
yfih ye back of a cutlass.
The next day ye men came under bond, and so came out of
prison. This day I wrote a letter to Mr. Nathi Jenkins, min-
wetooaiis. ^^^^^ of Cohansey, and Deacon Job Shepherd of ye
same place.
This day Jn — r Iname illegible"] upon acknowledg
ment was received to his place in ye church of

Thirsd., 6.
Swanzey. Lord's D., 80,

This day I preached at Freetown by request, a
large auditory. Returned home well, blessed be God.
Thiisd., This day [my] former people met at ye meeting
Sept. 17. house to consult about getting a minister, since Mr.

THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE. Ill
Jeremiah Condy did not eome at the time they expected, and
concluded to tarry one week longer.
This day Edward Smith died.'*" Lord help me as
Pryd., 18. J hope God for Christ's sake will forgive me.
This day Mr. Condy '" came to town to preach to
Sat., 10. j^y [former] people by request.
This day Mr. Smith was buried. I was there and
Lord's D., 20. y^^^gjj(jg(j aftemoon exercise in town. Mr. Condy
preached to my [former] people. Thisis the first time they have
met in ye meeting house since the 14th of June last. So that it is
three months and six days since there was any preaching on ye
I^ord's Day. This day died Mr. Edward Pelham'^'' sen'. A
Mond. 21. .^j^^y jjjj^jj j^jjjj g^ great scholar, but alas too light in
his conversation. This day I went over to North Kingstown, to see
o"°t° o! Mr. Paul Palmer, the minister of North Carolina,
wlio was come into ye country to visit ye churches
and was returning home by land without coming over to ye
ISO Edward Smith, with whom and Samuel Maxwell Mr. Comer's prolonged difficulties
seem to have arisen, was a man' of decided convictions, and wben in the wrong, uncom
fortable to get along with. It is by his care, however, that several important items of
history have been preserved tous.
181 Jeremiah Condy was born in 1609 j graduated from Harvard College in 1726 ; after
preaching awhile in different places he went to England, whence he was summoned to be
come pastor of the First Baptist Church in Boston, lo which oflice he was ordained Febru
ary 14, 1739 ; the ordination sermon was preached by bis friend, the Eev. John Callender,
ol Newport, whieh was afterward published at the request of tbe church. Mr. Condy
became an associate member of a society found in Newport to debate C|uestionB " in divin
ity, morality, philosophy, history," etc. Having served tbe churcb in Boston as pastor for
twenty-five years, he resigned the office in 1764, but continued to reside in tbat city till
his death, August 9, 1768. He was a man " of liberal views, and of an inquisitive and lit
erary taste." Backus speaks of him as "a gentleman of superior powers and learning."
Mr. Condy had a son Jeremiah, wbo was in the book business in Boston, and who pub
lished a volume of Dr. Maybew's sermons in 1755,
182 Edward Pelham was the son of Herbert, who came with his family from Lincolnshire,
England, about the year 1639 or 1640, and who became the first treasurer of Harvard Col
lege, holding tbe office from 1643 to 1650. He was a man of large wealth, holding landed
property in both the old and the new world. The son, Edward, was graduated from Har
vard in 1673, where he seems to bave been a somewhat insubordinate youth ; was living
in Boston in 1676, where he gave a power of attorney to Samuel Goffe, on (he 6tb of May
of that year; was admitted a freeman at Newport, May 6, 1684; deeded May 28, 1684,
twenty-two days after becoming a freeman of Rhode Island, one hundred and twenty
acres of land in Cambridge to his alma mater; was in 1690 a captain of a Newport military
company ; never engaged in any business, but lived on his inheritance, and died September
20, 1730. Married in 1693, Freelove, daughter of Benedict Arnold. He had had a wife before,
" God's Gift," who may have been another daughter of Arnold— as Arnold had another
daughter.

112 THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE.
Island by reason of an Act of Assembly prohibiting all from Bos
ton except they lay four days currenteen [quarantine] by reason
ofthe small pox being there. He is a man of parts and worthy.
Returned home well from Narragansett ; I praise
Wednesd., 7. ^j^^ j^^j^ ^^^^ ^^ q^^_
Thirsd., a. : Visited Mr. Condy [he] being sick.
This evening between six and seven of the clock
"^^ ¦' ¦ came on the most terrifying awful and amazing
Northern light as ever was beheld in New England as I can
learn. There was at the bottom of the horizon a very great
brightness and over it an amazing red bow extending from North
to East like a dreadful fire and many fiery spears, and the East
was wonderfully lighted and some part of the appearance con
tinued many hours and people were extremely terrified.
Words can't express ye awfulness of it. Wt God is about [to do]
is only known to himself.
This night between twelve and one of ye clock a fire
Novemb 4 broko out at Capt. Malbone's wharf in a cooper shop
and prevailed till it had destroyed five or six ware
houses and workhouses and one dwelling house and caught an
other ; but thro God's wonderful mercy there were no lives lost,
and beyond expectation it was prevented from spreading thro the
town. This day I preached at Freetown, a large auditory.
Lord's D., 8. T„r /~, i i, i j.,_ . j? xi , „ .
May God bless the journey for the good of precious
souls. About this time I heard of this sad and terrible story. One
 Barter, in Boston, (who in time past I knew well), who was
a member of ye New North [Congregational] Church in Boston,
under Mr. Thateher and Mr. Webb's care, who had lately fallen
into ye prevailing sin of druiikenness ; he was improved by ye
church to take care of ye meeting house and to ring ye bell, hav
ing once been suspended communion for said sin, but upon ac
knowledgment and repentance was restored to his place. About a
month ago ye deacons of said church having set ye sacramental
vessels on ye table in ye meeting house for communion, between
ye ringing of ye 1st and 2'i bell, before ye congregation came to
gether he went to ye vessels and drank so excessively yt he with
diificulty got into ye belfry, but was incapacitated upon ye opera
tion of ye drink to perform his office, and lay there dead drunk all
sermon and sacrament time. Ye church ye next day call'd a
meeting and suspended and admonished him and put him

THE DIAEY OP JOHN COMEE. 113

out of his office. Oh, terrible and almost unheard-of ^^•icked
action. '^« This day I wrote a letter to ISIr. Jenkins minister
°" " ¦ at Cohansey, Mr. Eyres minister at New York, and
:Mr. Davis minister at Trent-town [Trenton] in the Jersies, and
Mr. Symmonds minister at South Cai-olina.
Heard yt :Mr. Henry LoveaU'^ was ordained about a month
ago by ]Mr. Palmer minister of North Carolina and Mr. Drake
minister at Piscataqua in East New Jersey, colleague witli Mr.
Drake. The Lord furnish him w'li ministerial gifts and graces and
make him an able minister of ye New Testament.
Saturd. '^^^ *^'^^ '^^^' JPi^™i^l^ Condy came again to
' ¦ preach to my [former] people by request and to tarry
all winter ; it may be, if ye Lord will.
I want to see in myself more of a forgiving spirit to them thar
I am afraid I have now.
Lord help me to forgive them ; I long to forgive y^ heartily.
Oh w* a spirit have I, too irreconcilable.
,^ This day I received a bequeath of forty shillings
^ \ ' from ]Mr. Daniel Fortinue, which his wife Mrs. Eliztii
Decemb. 3. . '
Fortmue desired him to give me to remember her
by as a token of love. She died Nov. ye 2<i before.
From ye Gazette, number 572, Nov.r 30, 1730, there is thi'
admirable relation from London, Sept. 4tii, 1730. They write.
from Cambridge that Dr. Gieen, of Clare Hall in yt university,
and author of the Greeman[?] Philosophy, who lately died there,
has made ye Master with three Fellows of Clare Hall, Dr. Bentley
wth three other heads of colleges his Executors, and has bequeathecl
all his estate to the amount of £2,000 to Clare Hall on ye follow
ing conditions :
1. They are to publish all his posthumous works ;
2. They are to get his body anatomized and to hang his skele
ton at ye head of a class of books which he had presented to ye
Hall Library just before he died ; he has also ordered monument;
1S2H [Unquestionably the wine used at the communion in tbose days was genuine wine.
There was no thought of change suggested even by such an infamous abuse as that here
related by Comer; any more than there was, in tbe mind of Paul, in tbe case mentioned
in 1 Cor. 11 : 20-34. There was no substitution of something else, like tbat wbicb in our
day, in certain churches, has in the judgment of many, effected a mutilation of the ordi-
nnnce.— J. W. W.]
183 [Henry Loveall appears to have been an unworthy man — ^perhaps a ' wolf in sheep's
clothing."— &e Comer's Diary, pages IU 137, US.— J. W. W.]

114 THE DIAEY OP JOHN COMEE.
to be erected in five several places with long epitaphs he has left
inserted on each of y™. And in case those of Clare Hall do not
execute this his will, his effects are to go to St. Ju*" College ; and
if they refuse, to any other of the respective colleges yt will
undertake its full execution. By ye Journal we learn yt Clare
Hall refuses to do it.
This day received from my dear Brother the Rev*
"" ¦• ¦ Mr. Nathi Jenkins two letters to my great satisfaction.
This day I wrote a letter to Mr. Andrew Gifford,
Pryd., 25. gj^p^jg^ minister in Bristol in Old England, and Mr.
Joseph Stennett, Baptist minister in Exeter, Old England ; the 2*
to each. I informed y™ according to my best knowledge yt there
were 26 Baptist churches in America under their several divi
sions, and about 2,110 communicants, reckoning from North Caro
lina to Boston. I tremble with ye sad news this day I received
e nes ., . f^.^^^ ^j. Nicholas Eyres, of New York, dated Nov
ye 26, concerning Mr. Henry Loveall, alias Desolate Baker, i. e,
yt he served his time on Long Island when he came first from
England wth Daniel Sears, . . . yt he ran away from his master,
changed his name, and now lives with another man's wife in
adultery. This awful report was made known about a fortnight
after his ordination.
I can't say he can in my judgment be ever accepted as a minis
ter, especially when I call to mind 1 Timothy 3 : 7.
Glorious God I beseech thee give ^ivine direction to thy ser
vants in the ministry and to ye church among whom so woful a
difficulty hath happened, what to do in this affair so as thy holy
name may not be blasphemed and thy cause suffer. Direct by
thy spirit and grace, and give true and sound repentance unto
him who has so fallen by his ingenuity in ye days of his vanity.
Make him a true gospel penitent for Christ's sake.
Thus I end ye year 1730. It has been a year in which I have
eyed the divine goodness of my gracious God to me and mine, in
providing for me on all accounts, for which all possible praise be
rendered to his holy name.
I have been preserved from sickness this year. I have had a
competency of the good things of this life. I have been sensibly
supported by divine promises as to my inward man.
There have happened this year: One found dead in her bed.
The northern light h9,th appeared this year four times, but the
most awful October 22.

THE DIAEY OP JOHN COMEE. 115
An exact account of what I owe in the world this first day of
January, 1731. John Comee.
£ s. d.
To the Colony  50 0 0
ToMr. Odlin  50 0 0
To sister Elizth Barker  40 o 0
To mother Rogers  40 0 0
To Mrs. Sarah Collins  20 0 0
To Madam Cranston  20 0 0
To Arnold Collins  20 0 0
To sundry debts to ete  40 0 0
Total  280 0 0
So that I have gained this year  11 0 0
Fryd. This day I begin a new year. Lord grant me new
January 1, strength to work for thee.
This year if God grant opportunity I purpose to go
a journey into the Jersies. May God's name be glorified and
souls edified by it ; and will God protect and prosper me and re
turn me, and I'll glorifie his name. May God order in his holy
providence things comfortable for me and protect and preserve
my family in my absence. I commit all to God with my whole
heart now this moment yt I am penning it. Amen.
Mr. Jeremiah Condy was chosen to office by my
°° " ¦ former people, tho some were very much dissatisfied
in ye choice. Whether he will accept ye call I know not. I pray
God to direct him. 'Tis dark to me.
This day I went to Swanzey and saw Mr. Elisha
°" ¦' ¦ Callender^ of Boston, and discoursed to my satisfac
tion. Snowy weather. This day was church meeting at Swan
zey. In order to accommodate matters about Mr. Jno Callender,
in ye church by a m^or vote he was admitted to preach again.
Went over to Providence. Extremely cold. Tarried
Tueed., 26. ^^ Providence till Friday P. M. Returned y° to
Swanzey, and on Saturday evening got safe home. I bless ye
Lord for his protection and preservation of me. I had. comfort
in some dear friends' conversation. I praise ye Lord for every
comfort of yt nature.
Tuaad Taken from my Journal yt I kept while on my
Morohia journey to Philadelphia. This day set out by water
"" ¦ to New York with Mr. Richard Robinson. A snowy

116 THE DIAEY OP JOHN COMEE.
time, ye wind at N. E. in ye P. M. Becalmed. Lay to near
Wateh Point all night. A rolling sea.
About break of day hoisted sail, wind hard at.N.
wedneed.,!?. j^_ ^y_ q.^.^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ Wateh Poiut, llkc to have
been lost on ye rocks. Got into Stoningtown harbor about one
P. M. Lodged at Mr. Greenman's. Praised be ye name of ye
Lord. Went aboard in ye morning, hoisted anchor about
TMrsd., 18. Q j^ j^_^ ^jj^^ -[^^ y^ Q^^ ^^ -^^ London about 3
P. M.
Remained at New London, wind contrary. Went
Fryd., 19. ^^ ^j^j^ -^^ Gortou, got to towu at night, dark and
rainy. Called up about day dawn. Wind at N. N. W.
Saturd., 2o. pigg^^nt momiug. Set sail at 6 A. M. ; about 12
touched on Seabrook bar ; about 2 P. M. anchored at Southhold
harbour, by ye oyster ponds on Long Island. Went ashore and
tarried till 7, and about 11 at night hoisted anchor and set sail ;
wind extremely hard, but God preserved.
Becalmed till 1 P. M. At night dropt anchor in ye
Lord s D., . gQmj(j against Fairfield. A rolling sea.
This morning about 4 weighed anchor, wind at N.
' ' E., rainy, shifted about 9 to S. W., exceeding hard,
great sea. About one anchored at White Stone, ye tide not suit
ing to go thro Hell gate. This day we were in great danger by
many squalls. Lodged ashore at Mr. Lawrence's comfortably.
About day dawn went aboard. About 8 went thro
Tuead., 23. pjgj^ ^^^^ About 10 A. M. arrived safe at New
York. Thus God has preserved me and I now offer ye praise to
him. Waited on Rev* Nicholas Eyres. Saw Mr. Jno Campbell
my former acquaintance, kindly treated, took a view of ye city.
Went to see ye new Dutch church wi» is very beautiful, a stone
building. It is curiously wrought, being 100 feet in length, and
70 in breadth, having in it 150 pews, and no pillars to support ye
roof wii is finely arched, having two doors opposite to the pulpit ;
over each in a fine white stone of about a foot and a half square
are these two Scripture epithets at large, Ps. 28 : 8 ; Isa. 56 : 7.
The [steps?] up to ye belfry are 113, 16 windings. Lodged at
Mr. Eyres'. Cost me a double bitt.
Remained at York. Mr. Stephens went with me
" ¦ to see the Fort, which is a strong one. Saw ye
chapel, ye organs, the Governour's Library, the garden, where I

THE DIAEY OP JOHN COMEE. 117

saw peach trees in ye blossom and many delightful varieties.
Cost me two bitts.
Thirsd 26 '^^^^ evening about 9 the boat presented to go down
" " to Middleton, thirty miles. I went. Anchored at
Middleton about two in ye morning. Breakfasted at Mr. Wat-
' son's. Got a horse free to Deacon Mott's, 5 m. Got to his house about
nine, kindly treated. Lodged at Mr. Holmes' with ye Rev*. Mr.
George Ecclesfield, ye minister of ye town.'^'
Fr d 26 Preached at Middleton in East New Jersie, from
^ ' 1 Coi^. 2 : 2. About 100 auditors. Lodged at Mr.
Mott's.
Sat 27 Rainy. Deacon Moot [Mott] and Mr. CampbeU
^ ¦' ' went with me to Piscataqua. Very uncomfortable,
got there about dark to Deacon Still's. Lodged there. 22 m.
Preached at Piscataqua "* by Mr. Henry LoveaU's
° ° ¦' ' request (who is the minister) from Gal. 6 : 15, having
before meeting waited on Elder Drake and Elder Dunham.
Note. This church is in utmost confusion on ye account of some
evil actions of Mr. Loveall, done before his profession, but lately
heard of by y". A meeting appointed next Friday at 10 of ye
clock. Lord overrule all for thy own glory.
Had of Elder Jno Drake the following letter sent to ye church
by the Rev*. Mr. Nafi Jenkins minister at Cohansey.
Cohansey, Decemt' y= 26"", 1730.
To the Honoured Jn° Drake, Elder, to the Deacons and y" whole church
at Piscataqua owners [owning?] Believers' Baptism, Greeting.
Dearly beloved friends for whom I have great esteem and regard, I wish
you all grace and peace thro Jesus Christ our Lord.
Brethren, I am in a straight what or how to write to you. Tour presump
tuous precipitation in all your proceedings have given me ground to fear y'
you are fallen from y = grace of the gospel. Tou askt my advice and others.
We gave it and would have you. prove and try your man before you would
18* This town is in Monmouth county two of the patentees of which were Obadiah and
Jonathan Holmes, sons of the famous Obadiah Holmes, of Rhode Island. Tbe date
assigned to tbe church is 1688. We are told that " this is the oldest churcb in the State ''
of New Jersey. Ecclesfield, tbe name of the minister is sometimes spelled Eaglesfield. It
was, of course, a Baptist churcb.
185 A large tract of country east of the Karitan river was purchased of tbe Indians in
166,?, and at one part of it called Piscataway. A church was formed in 1689, " which is the
next to Middletown in point of seniority." In this church Henry Loveall was ordained to
assist the Rev. John Drake, but he " never administered ordinances ; for the vileness of his
character was soon discovered." — Benedict, Hist., I., 567.

118 THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER.
close with hiip as your minister; but you neither minded my advice nor y'
of our Association, but as persons infatuated you have rushed on without
rule or precedent to ordain a man for y" ministry y' is hardly fit to be a com
mon or private member. How is It you did not read their qualifications
1 Tim. 8. : 2, 3, 4, 6, 6, 7. Not a novice &c. And he must have a good re
port of y"" y' are without. Is it a good report y' he committed uncleanness ?
[Certain particulars omitted.} And is it a good report that now his last
spouse should be another man's wife? ICertain particulars omitted,}
Is it a good report y' he was and yet is an impudent liar ? And could
you be so childish as to be satisfied with a bare confession, and as soon
as he had confessed to jump into the pulpit to teach you y' were never
guilty of half his crimes? What is this but as if a criminal would confess
his villainy at the bar and as soon as te had done to jump to the bench to
give judgment. Oh monstrous I Howcouldyoujoin with such an one with
out more y° ordinary humiliation as a common brother 1 Could any of you
think of y' place 1 Tim. 5 : 22, 24, 25 lay hands suddenly on [no] man &c.
"What right had Paul Palmer to be employed by you in that work ? Were
there no ministers belonging to your own Association ? Only you were
afraid you should not be suffered to dance about your calf. But, my dear
Brethren, consider the dreadful day of the Lord is coming, and all the
churches shall know that he knows their hearts and thoughts. Consider y'
reproach you brought on your profession hereby. I am ashamed of it. I
could have told you — [The letter closes thus abruptly.]
This day I returned home from visiting the
^°' churches. Thanks and praise to God's holy name
for Divine preservation. This day my second daughter, Mary, was bom, on
June 14. Tuesday night about 11 of ye clock. Lord I give it
up to thee to thy guidance and government of thy blessed Spirit.
On Monday I and my former people met in the meet
ing house and accommodated our old difference. ^^^
' 185H This reconciliation between Mr. Comer and the church was two years after his dis
mission. The Church Records give an account of a meeting June 28, 1731, " gathered at the
request of Mr. Comer, and by consent of our Elder, WilUam Packcom." " After some dis
course with Mr. Comer concerning the diflFerence that bas been a long time between bim
and the church, Mr. Comer being sensible of his mistakes desired forgiveness, and in par
ticular his timing of that discourse concerning laying on of hands, and in a sermon which
he afterwards preached, which was very offensive to tbe church, charging them with such
crimes as tbey were no ways sensible they were ever guilty of, Wbich he desired might be
overlookt. And it was agreed that all papers that were written on both sides relating to
the difference, might be produced and burnt, which was accordingly done ; and the meet
ing finished in love and peace, with prayer by Mr. Comer." Herein Mr. Comer shows his
truly Christian spirit. He was about to leave Newport for another field of labor, and could
not depart until a reconciliation bad been effected ; and he evidently went as far as be
consistently could in making concessions to secure tbe end he sought, but sacrificing no
conviction or principle.

THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER. 119
This day I desired a dismission from ye church
July 8. where I had preached for more y two years, because
I was never settled there and found yt some could
not bear my preaching ye doctrines of grace, they being a Geni
church, — which I obtained.
This day by a letter from Rehoboth I was invited
^^' there to preach, which invitation I complied with.
This day I am 27 years of age. Lord grant me
^AvT^ 1° ' S""^® to serve thee this year also to the glory of thy
holy name.
This day I removed my family to Rehoboth in the
TWrad., 12. ]y[assachusetts Province. Got safe there, blessed be
God.
The last of this month the steeple of the church at N. port was
set on fire with lightning, and a quarter of the spire was forced
to be cut down to prevent the whole building from being con
sumed. And about ye same time, in Boston, one Capt. Sam, an Indian
sachem, was killed by his horse throwing him and breaking his
neck in ye street.
Tuesd., This evening about 7 appeared an awful Northern
Sept., 20. Light with some bright streamers in it.
This day Mr. Jn". Callender '^^ was ordained over
my former flock at Newport, on Ehode Island. Mr.
Elisha Callender, of Boston, and Mx. Sami Maxwell
performed the service.
This day I preached at N. port in ye 7th day con-
Baturd., 23. ..
gregation. This day I bought a house of Mr. Jonathan Norton
Wednesd., 27. .^ Rehoboth, and the deed was signed. I am to give
him 90 pounds within three years.
i8fl The pastoral service thus entered upon, which was to prove so important to the
church, was destined to continue until the death of Mr. Callender, which occurred Janu
ary 26, 1748. Mr. Callender took a deep interest in the public schools of Newport; was a
member of the philosophical society which was afterwards developed into tbe Eedwood
Library and Atbenteum ; preached several sermons that were published: one to young
men, one at the funeral of the Rev. Nathaniel Clap, one at the ordination of the Rev. Jere
miah Condy ; but the one most celebrated was a historical discourse delivered in 1738, the
centennial anniversary of the settlement of Rhode Island ; it was the first history of the
State overwritten, and to it subsequent writers have been greatly indebted. The Rhode
Island Historical Society republished the discourse in 1838, and prefixed to it a memoir of
the author prepared by the Rev. Romeo Elton, D. D. While residing in Swanzey, just be
fore his ordination at Newport,Mr. Callender, on the 15th of February, 1730, married Eliza
beth Hardin of the former place, by whom he bad six children. See also note 70.

Wednesd.. Oct. 13.

120 THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER,
Mond., This day a Baptist meeting house was raised in
''°'"''^- Rehoboth.
1732. This day I begin a new year in a new place, tho
laturday,
January 1

aturday, ^^^ .^ ^ ^^^ employment ; for my delight of soul is in

serving my dear Redeemer in the sacred service of
the ministry which I prefer and esteem above and beyond every
thing else (tho I acknowledge unfit, unworthy in myself). Lord
who is sufficient for these things ? Sufficiency is alone of God, on
him I rest and rely continually. Lord grant me this year new
supplies of thy Spirit ; and as I now [have] a new year I entreat
I may find my desires renewed to glorily and serve thee.
This day Mr. Jno Luther's house was burnt down
' °' ^ * * about 11 of ye clock A. M. in Swanzey.
This day a Baptist church was gathered in Reho-
'^ " °' both, and I was chosen to the pastoral office,^"
187 While thia church formed in Behohoth was in its order " Six Principle," it was in ita
doctrine " Calvinistic " ; it was modeled on the pattern of the churches in Philadelphia,
whence Mr. Comer had just returned from a visit, giving expression to his " great satisfac
tion in the sight beheld of the faith and order of those churches." [Namely, churches of
the Philadelphia Bantist Association. — J. W. W.] The change of sentiments which occa
sioned the severance of his first pastoral relations in Newport, embraced nothing more than
Ihe tenet " of imposition of hands." See the entry iu the Diary under date July 3, 1731.
[Here ends the work of annotation hy the late lamented Dr. Barrows. It may be proper
to add a few words to this, his last note. Mr. Comer appears to have severed his pastoral
relation with the First Church, Newport, because he believed in and advocated " the im
position of hands on the newly baptized," they and he alike being " Calvinists." And
later he severed his relations with the Second or " six principle" Church, because though he
and they alike believed in and practiced "the imposition of hands," they were generally
"Arminian" in sentiment, and he " Calvinistic." Heuee his satisfaction expressed with
the faith and order then existing in the Philadelphia Association— the oldest Association
in America— is easily understood. The churches of that body held the " Calvinistic doc
trine" with great tenacity, and also practiced "the imposition of hands." This ancient
custom bas gone out of use, in the course of time, among American Baptists, except in a
few churches. It has been superseded by the " right hand of fellowship," [or, " of wel
come "]. In a few churches the old practice is still retained. They do not make it a *' term
of communion," or a subject of contention with their brethren, but are unwilling to aban
don a rite which seems to tbem so scriptural and so significant of the gift of the Holy
Spirit promised to tbe believer. With some of these, the "hand of fellowship" follows.
Others consider this unnecessary, there being no scriptural authority for it, so far as
newly baptized converts are concerned ; while the " laying on of hands," accompanied by
solemn prayer, seems to them far superior in meaning and impressiveness. The " imposi
tion " or '• laying on of hands " is now practiced by the Second and the Roxborough Bap
tist churches of Philadelphia, and until recently also by the Lower Merion Baptist Church,
in the vicinity of Philadelphia. It is retained in the Second Baptis'. Church of Newport,
which has now nothing else iu common with the " Six Principle Baptists," but is In fellow
ship with the Regular Baptists of Rhode Island. Whether the practice is found now in
any other regular Baptist churches in tbe Philadelphia Association or elsewhere in
America, I cannol^say. But if we may judge from the Philadelphia Confession of Faith,
and from notices in this^diary and elsewhere, it was once a part of acknowledged order

THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE. 121
This day I was publicly installed pastor over ye
* °^ " ' Baptist church in Rehoboth, the Elders and Messen
gers of ye church of Swanzey assisted. Elder Ephraim Wheaton
preached from 1 Thess. 5 : 12, 19, and gave me the right [hand] of
fellowship. This day I preached at Newport for Mr. John Cal-
pebruMy 13. lender in my old congregation, it being ye first time
since we parted.
This night about 11 of ye clock Mr. Hugh Cole,
°° ' ¦ Jun., lost [by fire] his house and everything belong
ing to him in it save his family, who narrowly escaped (thro
God's distinguishing goodness), some in part, and others not at
all in clothes, in an extreme cold night in Swanzey.
This day for ye extremity of cold mav deserve to
Tuead., 16. , . . , ,
be chronicled.
This day about 1" P. M. my wife's mother Mrs.
°' ° '' ¦ Sarah Rogers departed this life and I have ground
to hope she died in ye Lord.
This day A. M. another house was burnt in Swan-
Lord's D.,
March 27. ^^^^ This day in the town of Rehoboth one Joshua
Abel cut his own throat with a razor about suhrise. He had
been ill in body some time.
This day a remarkable snow fell between two and
Wednesd., |-jjj,pg fgg^ deep, the deepest we had this year.
'"^ This day upon request I with three Brethren
Fryd . went on to visit some Baptized persons at Sutton and
June 16 Leicester. I baptized at Sutton four persons, three men and one
' °' woman, viz. Thomas Richardson, Daniel Dennee,
Elisha Nevers, Martha Green.
I being now weak in body ['"*] think it not amiss to
itoy 1, 1733. gg^ (jown an account of my worldly afiairs, how far I
among regular American Baptists generally, and was by no means peculiar to the " Six
Principle Baptists," whose sentiments were Arminian, and (as I suppose) are so still. I am
free to say that I wish tbe ancient custom could be restored in all our Baptist churches. —
J W W.I
"* [The date of tbis entry is about a year earlier than that of Mr. Comer's death. Tbe
weakness of which he complains was probably from, tbe effects of the disease which cut
short bis days " Rehoboth is a large town, extending from Taunton and Dighton to Prov
idence, about twelve m le" ; and in 1791, there were four thousand seven hundred aud ten
persons therein, and ten religious societies, which is more than we have in any other town
ol tb.eir numbers, in these parts. Cruel oppression on tbe one hand, and an abuse of
1,

122 THE DIAEY OF JOHN COMEE.
lately went in clearing my debts when I sold my house to Mr.
Isaac Peckcom in Newport, April ye 6ti», 1733, in which sale I
met with ye most heavy loss of all, selling for just 100 pounds less
than I was ofltered about three years before, ye times being dead and
money scarce. However I brought my affairs into a less compass,
viz. April ye 7% 1733 cleared ye 50 pound bond of Mr. Odlin.
Cleared ye 50 pound bond of Capt. Peckcom's to ye Colony.
Cleared ye 20 pound bond of Mrs. Sarah Collins.
Paid 18 pound[s] to Mr. Arnold CoUins.
Paid 10 pound[s] to Madam Cranston.
A record of nnarriages performed by John Comer, pastor of the
Baptist church in the town of Rehoboth, in the province of ye
Massachusetts Bay in N. England.
On Friday night, June ye SOtJ", 1732, Mr, John
^''^^' Davis of Haverhill was married to Mrs. Sarah
Barney of Rehoboth, certificates of their legal publication from
under ye clerk's hand being produced. lOs. John Eaton, clerk
of HaverhiU, Ezek. Read, clerk of Rehoboth.
On Thursday evening, September ye 14tii, 1732, Mr. Jeremiah
Ormsbee, Jr., and Mrs. Peirsee Millard, both of Rehoboth, pro
duced a certificate of their legal publication were married by me,
10s. Ezek. Read, clerk of Rehoboth.
The above sent and recorded in ye Town Record, Octr ye 12tii,*
1782. On October ye 19th, 1732, Caleb Salsbury and Prudence West
were married in Rehoboth by me, upon producing legal certifi
cates. 5s. Hezii Luther, clerk of Swanzey, Ezek. Read, clerk of
Rehoboth.liberty on the other, have been tbe cause of if. Many had joined with tbe Baptists of
Swanzey, from time to time, until Mr. John Comer came and assisted in farming a church
in Rehoboth. . . . He was an excellent preacher of the gospel, and an eminent instrument
of reviving doctrinal and practical religion in Newport, for six years beJore he removed
to Kebohoth, in August, 1731; and a Baptist church was formed there January 20,1732,
and he became their pastor, and it increased to ninety-five members in less than two
years. And in that time be went and labored in Sutton, Leicester, Middieborough, and
other places. But be exerted bis powers so much in this noble cause, tbat he fell into a
consumption, and died joytuUy, May 23, 1734, before he was thirty years old. His son is now
a member of the Baptist church in Warren [R. I.], and he lent me his father's diary and
other writings, which have been very serviceable in our history." — Backus History,
Weston's Edition, II., 436. Elsewhere Backus remarks of Comer's labors in Rehoboth
" But how much did he do in a little time ! " (II., 31.) Fitting words wherewith to close
wbat my beloved friend Dr. Barrows bas written to elucidate and illustrate the Diary
or John Comeb.— J. W. W.l

THE DIARY OF JOHN COMER, 123
On February ye 224, 1732-33, j;oseph Salsbury and
Eliztt Round were married by me in Rehoboth, upon
producing a legal certificate. 5s. Ezek. Read, clerk.
On April ye 19th, 1733, Elijah Horton and Mehitable
1733. Richman were married by me in Rehoboth, upon
producing legal certificates. 5s. Ezek. Read, clerk.
April ye 260>, 1733, Jabez Round and Renew Carpenter were
married by me in Rehoboth, upon producing legal certificates.
JOs. May ye 17ti>, 1733, William Saben and Phebe Eddy were mar
ried by me in Rehoboth, upon producing a legal certificate. IDs.
May ye 22^, 1733, Thomas JoUas and Mehitable Ormsbee were
married by me in Rehoboth, upon producing legal certificates.
10s. June y^e nth, 1733, Thomas Peck and Mary Kingsley were mar
ried by me in Rehoboth, upon producing legal certificates. 10s.
The above entered on ye Town Records.
Nov ye nth, 1733, Abijah Luther and Prudence Peck were
married by me in Rehoboth. 6s.
Decembr ye SOth, 1733, Benjn Hix and Ann Ormsbee were
married by me in Rehoboth.
1734 March ye 27*^, 1734, Stephens Jennings and Mary
Horton were married by me in Rehoboth.
An extract out of Swanzey church book, page 227 : Sept. 2d,
1725, Mr. John Comer was chosen to assist Elder Ephraim
Wheaton in the work of the gospel ministry.
The names of the committee chosen by the church to treat with
him:
John Eastekbeook,
Bbnj. Cole,
John -West,
Hugh Cole,
Ephraim Martin,
Jonathan Kingsley,
Richard Kardin.

124 the diary of john comee.
An account of such persons' that have been Baptized by Mr.
John Comer, in remote places from my habitation for the year
1732. Sutton, Thomas Richardson, Daaiel Dennee.
June 18, 1732. -g^j^^j^ Ncvcrs, Martha Green.
Leicester, Joshua Nlchols, Abiathar Vinton.
June 20. 1732. Bathshcba Nevers, Lydia Vinton.
MiddleborouEfh, July 17. Benjamin Booth.
Barrington, Lcvi Luthcr, Ellz'" Martin.
July20, 1732.
Nov. 30, 1732. Jonathan Cole, Ebenezer Cole.
ElizOi Cole, Obadiah Bowen.
The six last to join with ye church in Swanzey.

STJPPLEMENTAKT NOTE.

Since the preparation of this work for the press, there has come into my
hands a written sketch of Eev John. Comer, by Miss Annie E. Cole, dated
"Warren, K. I., May, 1888. From this I make the following extracts:
"During these years [the two years or more at Behoboth] Mr. Corner^
preached, wrote, and studied, but consumption, a hereditary disease, now
claimed him for its victim. He died May 23, 1734, in the thirtieth year of
his age, and was buried by the side of the Eev. Ephraim "Wheaton, in the
rural cemetery where Mr. "Wheaton was laid to rest one month before.
" Mr. Comer left a widow and three children, John, Sarah, and Mary.
John, the eldest, married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Sarah [Bos-
worth] Kinnicutt. He was a zealous Baptist and a constituent member of
the "Warren Church in 1761. He was also one of the three who, in behalf
of the new church, presented the ordination call to the Eev. James Man
ning to become the first pastor. He lived to be upward of ninety years of
age and died December 30, 1816, closing in peace a blameless and worthy
life. His descendants still own and occupy the homestead lands of their
venerable ancestor.
" The daughters of Eev. John Comer, Sarah and Mary, married into
Eehoboth families, Mendal and Cranston, and their paternal name was
soon lost.
" Mrs. Sarah [Eogers] Comer, [widow of our John Comer], married for
her second husband Samuel Millard or Miller, a prominent and wealthy
citizen of Swanzey and an early inhabitant of "Warren, when the final set
tlement of boundary lines in 1746 gave this new township to Ehode Island.
1 Miss -Cole says tbe name is now written and pronounced " Coomer."

the DIAEY OF JOHX COMER. 125
He was grandfather of Gen. Nathan Miller, a general in the Eevolution
and member of the Continental Congress in 1785. Samuel Millard died in
1748 and his widow survived him ten years, departing this life in 1758, in
her fifty-third year.
" The Eev. Dr. "Wm. Eogers, successor to the Eev. Morgan Edwards in
the pastorate of the Philadelphia church, who was also, and for a short
time, the only pupil in the Ehode Island College [now Brown University]
and said to be, at the time of his death in 1824, the last remaining chaplain
of the Eevolutionary army, was a member of the family to which Mrs.
Comer belonged, and during his collegiate course made his home with the
son, Mr. John Comer, at the family residence on Bristol Neck, now South
"Warren. " The Eev. John Comer ranked among the cultured men of his age and
his piety was deep, fervent, and active. He possessed decided literary
talents and designed writing a history of the Baptists in America ; he had
commenced gathering materials for that purpose, had visited Philadelphia,
and i>pened an extensive correspondence abroad, when his far-reaching
plans and proposed labors were closed by death.
"The local historians tell us that Mr. Comer was curious in noting all
the remarkable events that came within his knowledge, and the two manu
script volumes [of his diary] of the Ehode Island Historical Society are but
a small portion of his writings, for the centuries lay vandal hands upon
manuscripts and unbound memoranda. Nor can, or ought, his talents and
abilities to be judged by these fragmentary notes, never intended for the
public eye, far less for the criticism of future generations. Yet through the
intervening century and a half the Baptist church historians of New Eng
land have gathered strength and inspiration, as well as facts, from the
Diary of John Comer, though he died before his literary life was feirly
begun." The second volume of the two, above referred to, consists chiefly of memo
randa and records which the Ehode Island Historical Society's Committee
thought it unnecessary to print in full. The most important have been, I
think, incorporated in the Diary [Ms. Vol. I.] by Dr. Barrows at the
proper places. There is also a statement of the religious belief of John -
Comer, "delivered publicly" by him "on the day of [his] ordination,"
which it was also thought unnecessary to give. His views, it is well known,
were those of the Eegular or Calvinistic Baptists of his day, including the
tenet that the imposition of hands on the newly baptized is obligatory.
"What those views were are clearly set forth in the "Confession of Faith"
of the Philadelphia Baptist Association, 1742. This may be found in
Cathcart' s Baptist Encyclopedia, pp. 1811 fl.
Cathcart, in the Baptist Encyclopedia, p. 255, pays this tribute to John
Comer :
" Mr. Comer was the most remarkable young man in the Baptist history
of New England, and his early death was a calamity to the churches in
that section of that country, suffering at the time so severely from Puritan
persecutions and needing so much his unusual talents and acquirements."

126 the diary op john comer.
I am happy to be able to put on record the additional facts and the just
testimonies contained in this note. For the rest — all that has passed into
oblivion — we must wait till the day of the Lord's coming, when all his
faithful servants will receive full credit and full reward, through abound
ing and sovereign grace.— J. "W. W,

INDEX TO DIARY.
INCLUDING INTRODUCTION AND SUPPLEMENTARY
NOTE.

(Mgures refer lo pages of this volume.)

Accidents recorded, 17, 24, 36, 43,47, 50, 54,
55, 56, 67, 63, 66, 88, 87, 92, 97, 100, 112, 119,
120, 121.
Adams, Rev. John, 45, 49-54, 101, 108.
Appleton, Nathaniel, D. D., 33.
Association, Baptist: ("Six-Principle") 66-
70, 78, 81 1 Letter of, to South Kingston
Church, 81 ; Philadelphia, 125.
Aurora Borealis, 65, 65, 95, 100, 112, 114.
Baptism : infant, 26, 108 ; believers', 26.
Baptist Churches Mentioned : Boston, First,
82, 69; Cohansey, 102; Ilartraouth, 68;
Groton, 68; Middletown, 107, 117; New
London, 42, 67 ; Newport, First, 86, 40, 57
ff., 69, 118, 119 ; Newport, Second, 40, 69 ff.,
102 ff.; Newport, Seventh Day, 40, 70;
Newport, Mr. White's, 41 ; New York, 67 ;
North Kingston, 69; Philadelphia, First,
125: Piscataqua (Piscataway), 117; Reho
both, 120 ff.; Providence (several), 66-68,
95; South Carolina, 95; South Kingston,
68, 81 ; Swanzey (two), 34, 69 ff., 95, 96,
101 ; Trenton, 113 ; Warren, 124 ; Westerly
(Seventh Day), 70; Warwick, 69.
Baptist Principles, Polity and Practice, 9,
11; Arminianism, 7, 69; Associations, 66,
68, 78, 79-81, 125; baptism, 26, 27, 104, 108;
Cburch and State, 86; communion, 43, 79,
104;'discipline, 58,93 ; dismission of mem
bers, etc., 33, 92, 119 ; doctrines of grace, 7,
119, 125; helping others, 45; imposition of
hands, 7, 40, 57, 69, 104, 125; meeting
houses, 103-105, 120 ; minister, wicked, 114,
117, 118; ministry, the, 37, 38, 120, 121;
missionary work, 45, 46 ; ordination, 39,
42, 6.1, 113, 119 ; Philadelphia Association,
125 ; reception of members, 77, 78, 98 ; sing
ing, 58 ; support of pastors, 43, 58.
Baptists: "Calvinistic" charcbesof,in New
England, 69; church difficulties among, 7,

35, 55, 67, 68, 59, 94, 96, 98, 100-102, 109-111,
113, 113, 119; in North Carolina, letter from,
84; persecutions of (and others), 8, 62, 76,
76, 79, 80 ; in South Carolina, write, 85 ; sta
tistics of, in America, 68-70, 85, 114.
iarnard, Rev. John, 30-32.
Barrows, C. E., D. D., author of " Develop
ment of Baptist Principles in R. I.," 11 ;
editor of tbis work, 9-114^ pastor of John
Comer's church, 10 ; sketch of, 11-13.
Berkeley, Dean, George, 60, 71.
Boston: great fire iu, 16; night watch in,
78.
Brown, Jonathan, case of, 84, 93.
BurnoU, Rebecca, 32.
Burnett, Gov. William, 54, 79.
Callender, Rev. Elisha : letter to Comer, 36.
Callender, -Rev. John : mentioned, 101, 116;
ordained over First Newport Church, 119.
Cambridge: school at, 24; First Congrega
tional Church of, 26.
Carr, Freelove : happy death of, 109.
Clarke, Rev. John: spoken of, 10; perse
cuted in Boston, 75, 76.
Clap, Rev. Nathaniel : spoken of, 49-64; wise
words of, 94 ; pun by, 108.
Claggett, William, 100.
Cold, great, 121.
Comer, John, Rev.: acceptance of call to First
Newport, 37, 38; accounts (money mat
ters), 58, 59, 72, 91, 98, 99, 115, 121, 122; an
cestry, 15, 16, 58; apprenticeship, 18,19;
autograph of, 15; Backus' account of, 7,
8; baptism, exercised about, 26, 30; bap
tisms by, 43, 48, 57, 58, 77, 78, 98, 121, 124;
baptized, 7, 32 ; Barrows, C. E., D. D., edits
his diary, 9-11; bequest to, 113; birth, 7,
16; Boston,returns to, 32; builds a house,
54, 55 ; buried, 124; buys a bouse, 119; call
to Newport, First, 36 ; Cathcart's estimate
127

128

INDEX TO DTAEY,

of, 125; children of, 44, 54, 69, 118, 124;
Cole, Miss Annie E., ber sketch of Comer,
124, 125; Congregationalist, originally a,
7,25, 26; conviction and conversion of,
17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25 ; death o(, 8, 124 ; de
pressed in spirits, 91 ; descendants of,
124; dismissed from Boston cburch, 38,
from First Newport, 59 ; from Second New
port, 119; Diary his, character of, 8, 9;
value of, 9 ; second volume of, 126 ;
editor of, 9, 10 ; early friends of, 25 ;
education of, 15, 16, 19-21, 24, 30-32;
epitaphs copied hy, 106, 107 ; funeral ser
mon of John Rogers by, 82 ; grandfather of,
legacy from, 2] ; joins Newport First
Cburch, 38; Second Churcb, 60; journey
to Springfleld, 45-47 ; to Philadelphia, 115-
118; laborsatSpringfield,45,43;in general,
7, 124-126 ; leaves Second Newport Cburch,
119; last sickness of, 121, 124; manuscripts
of, unpublished, 125; marriages by, iu Reho
both, 122-124; pel sons baptized by, wbo
were to join Sw<anzeyChurch,124; marriage
of, 37; ministry at Swanzey, 33-35; at First
Newport, 36; at Second Newport, 60 ff. ; at
Rehoboth, 120-124; mother's pipe sets
house on fire, 94 ; New Jersey, his visit to,
117; note, supplementary, concerning,
124-126; ordained at Newport, 39; parents
of, 15-17; Philadelphia, journey to, 115-
118; Pbiladelpbia Association, his accord
with, 125; preaches on "Imposition of
Hands," 57 ; prepares for college at Cam
bridge, 7, 21-30 ; Providence, visits, 72, 95,
115 ; receives imposition of bands, 60 ; re
conciliation oljWith First Newport Church,
118,121; Rehoboth, at, 8; removes to, 119 ;
buys a house at, 119 ; cburch formed, 120 ;
becomes pastor at, 120; installed, 121 ; work
at, 124 ; salary of, 43, 48, 57, .'i8 ; singing, in
troduces, at Newport, 6.S ; brief fketch of,
7, 8 ; small pox, 23, 24 ; Swanzey, at, 33-35,
visits, 95; teaches at Swanzey, 33-35;
trouble of, at First Newport Church, 67, 58,
94, 100 ; bis views of doctrine, 7, 8, 125 ;
Wheaton, Rev. Ephraim, bis dear friend,
34, 94, 124 : wife of, 124, 125 ; wig, bis, 85 ;
wronged by stepfather, i7, 18 ; Yale Col
lege, enters, 7, 30 ; leaves 7, 33.
Condy, Rev. Jeremiah, 111, 113, 11.5.
Congregational churches- in R. I., 56.
Counterfeiters, 60-62, 65, lO'i.
Craft, Ephraim, 26.
Crandall, Rev. Joseph, 108.
¦Cranston, Gov. Samuel, 48. |

Crimes : recorded, 43, 44, 47, 48, 56, 61, 62, 66,
107, 110, 121.
Devotion, John, 46.
Difficulties, cburch : in First Cong'l Church,
Newport, 49-54 ; in Baptist churches, Swan
zey, 36 ; First Newport, 57, 58, 94, 100, 113,
118 ; Second Newport, 119.
Drake, Rev. John, 117.
Drunkenness : sexton at Boston guilty of, 112.
Eacclesfield [or, Eaglesfield], Rev. George,
107, 117.
Earthquake, 46.
Episcopalians, practising immersion, 62.
Epitaphs, at Newport, 106, 107.
Everett, Rev. Daniel, 81.
Eyres, Bev. Nicholas, 109, 116.
Fire : at Boston, 16.
Freetown, 110.
Funeral, John' Ko{,erB', 82.
Gardner, Capt. Robert, 63 ff.
George II. : proclaimed King, 45.
Gibson, Rev. William, 107.
Green, Dr., of Cambridge, Eng.; strange will
of, 113.
Grinman [Greenman] James, 79.
Heat, great, 45.
Hiscox, Rev. William : sermon by, 73 ; death
of, 107.
Holmes, Rev. Obadiah : whipped in Boston,
76.
Inoculation, 22, 23.
Indian War, 32.
Imposition of hands. 7, 8, 40, 57, 78, 92, 94, 125.
Installation, 121.
Jencks, Gov. Joseph, 48.
Jenkins, Rev. N. : letter of, about Henry
Loveall, 117.
Laying on of hands : See " Imposition of
bands."
Loveall, Henry, 92, 113 ; bad conduct of, 114
117, 118.
Mather, Dr. Increase, 19.
Maxwell, Samuel, 63, 66, 66, 77, 78, 108.
Millard, Samuel, 124, 125.
Miller, Gen. Nathan, 125.
Missionary Work, 45, 46.
Mockery : religious service receiving, 108.

INDEX TO DIAKY.

l'^9

Newport : First Baptist Church at, 7, 10, 39,
40, 57, 68, 59 ; Second Baptist Churcb of, 7,
40, 119 ; " Agreement about the meet
ing house " of, 102-105 ; Congregational
churches of, and their difficulties, 49-54 ;
new meeting house for Mr. Clap, 72.
New Jersey : inquiries concerning tbe Bap
tists of, 92.
New York: Dutch church in, 116 ; sights of,
116.
Note: supplementary, 124-126; concluding
words of, 126.
O'Hara, Joseph, 56, 72, 73, 84
Oldest Baptist Cburch in America, 10.
Ordination, improper, 117, 118.
Pahner, Rev. Paul, 102, 111, 118.
Peckham, Rev. William, 35.
Peckham, Capt. William, 100.
Pelham, Edward, 111.
Persecution ; in Bristol, 62 ; Baptist petition
agaiust, in Connecticut, 79, 80.
Piscataqua (I'isoataway), N. J. : Baptist
churcb in, 117.
Providence: Congregational church in, 66.
Potter, Capt. William, 96.
Quakers, 59.
Quarantine, 106, 112.
Rehoboth : Comer goes to, 119 ; meeting house
at, 120 ; Baptist church of, 120.
Revelation, The : Pardon Tillinghast on, 78-
75.
Rhode Island: Counties of, 78; Island of,
(Aquidneck), purchase of, 85; settlers
adopt constitution for, 86.
Rogers, John, 45 ; funeral of, 82.
Rogers, Samuel, distress of, 109.
Rogers, Sarah (Mrs. John Comer), 87, 124.
Rogers, Sarah, Mrs. (Mrs. John Comer's
mother), death of, 121.
Rogers, William, D. D., 126.

School : first free, in New England, 76.
Seventh Day Baptists, 69, 70.
Sheffield, Nathaniel, 96.
Shipwreck, remarkable, 63-65.
Six-Principle Baptists, 68, 69.
Small pox, 20, 98, 105, 106, 107, 108.
Smith, Edward, 100, 111.
Smith, Philip, 100.
Snow, deep, 121.
Sprague, Rev. Jonathan, 67.
Springfleld, Mass. : Baptists at, 45, 46 ; letter
from, 45.
Staples, Thomas, cleared of crime, 105.
Statistics of Baptists in America, 68-70, 83,
114.
Storms, 45, 50, 60.
Sutton, 121.
Swanzey : mentioned, 33 ; Baptist churches
in, 33, 69, 96.
Sweating, Bev. Henry, 49.
Tide, high, at Boston, 26.
Tillinghast, Rev. Pardon: work on The
Revelation, 73-75.
Voyage to Boston, 32.
Vincent on tbe Second Coming of Christ, 20,
21.
Walton, Rev. John, at First Newport Church,
101, 102.
Wheaton, Rev. Ephraim, 34, 44, 94; John
Comer's grave by the side of his, 124.
White, Rev. Daniel, 36, 64, 55, 65.
Wightman, Bev. Daniel, baptism by, 109,
110.
Willmarth, Dr. J. W., editorial work of, 10.
Wilson, Bev. John, infamous conduct of, 76.
Yale College : spoken of, 30, 31 ; Comer en
ters, 7, 30 ; leaves, 7, 33.
Year 1727, remarkable, 48.
Year 1730, 114.

INDEX TO FOOT-NOTES.

{Figures reefer to numbers of the Foot-notes.)

Adams, Rev. John, 64.
Andover ; Congregational churches in, 22.
Andrew, Bev. Samuel, 80.
Angier, Amos. 1.
Antinomians, 62.
Appleton, Nathaniel, D. D., 14.
Apprenticeship, laws of, 4.
Aquidneck; purchase and settlement of,
148, 149, 160.
Aspinwall, William, 165.
Association: Six-Principle Baptist, 102,123J^,
139.
Authority, of God in the State, 150.
Baker, Rev. Thomas, 118.
Baptist churches: "Calvinistic" in New
England, 119,120, 121.
Baptist churches mentioned : Boston, First,
16, 39, 48 ; Bristol, Eng., 179 ; Charleston, S.
C. (Somerton), 144; Dartmouth, 110; Eng
land, in, 17; Groton, 61, 108; London, Eng.
(several), 179 ; Middletown, 184; New Lon
don, 111; Newport (various), 5i); Newport,
First, 43^5,56, 65, 66, 91-93,132, 185}^, 186 ;
Newport, Second, 51, 53, 12% 178%; New
port, Seventh Day, 64, 66, 123 ; Newport,
Mr. White's, 66 ; New York (two), 106,
107 ; North Carolina, 145 ; North Kingston,
118 ; Nottingham, Eng., 179 ; Piscataqua
(Piscataway), 185 ; Providence (several),
104,106,114, 115, 128; Rehoboth, 49, 187,
188; South Kingston, 112, 113; Swanzey
(two), 41,43, 67, 74, 116 ; Warren, 188 ; War
wick, 117 ; Westerly. Seventh Day, 122.
Baptist Principles, Polity and Practice:
Arminianism, 106, 107, 119 ; Associations,
102, 123]4, 139, 187 ; Church and State, 149,
160, 152 ; Clarke, Rev. John, 131, 149, 152 ;
communion, 51, 182%; doctrines ot grace,
106, 107, 113, 116, 119, 120, 121, 187 ; elders,
43, 74 ; helping others, 66 ; imposition of
hands, 51, 91, 141,187; laying on of bands.
See "Imposition of Hands"; meeting
130

houses, 123%, 178%; missionary work,
66, 188 ; Philadelphia Associatiop, 187 ;
singing in worship, 93, 116; suggestion
concerning polity, 75 ; support of pastors,
128 ; wicked minister, case of, 183 ; wine
at communion, 182%.
Baptists: cburch difficulties- among, 89,91,
92, 146, 180, 185% ; North Carolina, 146 ;
South Carolina, 144; persecution^ of, 16,
39, 42. 97, 106, 109, 131-184, 142, 145, 161, 152,
. 153-169, 188.
Baker, Bev. Thomas, 118.
Barnard, Rev. John, 23.
Barnes, Bev. Thomas, 116.,
Barrows, C. E., D. D. : end of his notes, 187,
188 ; his views of John Clarke, 162.
Baulstone (or Balstone), William, 166.
Baxter, Bev. Josepb, 79.
Berkeley, Dean George, 95.
Boston: churches in, 18,19, 20; First Bap
tist Church of, 39 ; pastors of First Baptist
Cburch, 39 ; great fire in, 2.
Boylston, Zabdial, M. D., 11.
Bristol : persecution at, 97.
Brown, Bev. James, 103,
Brown, Rev. Richard, 80.
Browne, Tutor Daniel, 34.
Bull, Henry, 167.
Burnett, Gov. William, 84.
Callender, Rev. Elisba, 16.
Callender, Bev. Ellis, 48.
Callender, Bev. John, 70, 186.
Cambridge, First Congregational Church of,
28.
Canonicut, island of, 85.
. Carder, Eichard, 166.
Churches : manner of speaking of, 14.
Church and State, 149, 150, 152.
Church polity : Congregationalist, 75 ; Bap-
. tist. See " Baptist Principles, Polity and
I Practice."
I Claggett, William, 172.
I Clap, Bev. Nathaniel, 25, 77, 88.

INDEX TO FOOT-NOTES.

131

Clap, Eev. Thomas, 69.
Clarke, Bev. James, 52, 178%.
Clarke, Rev. John : spoken of, 44, 131, 162 ;
in accord with regular Baptists, 162;
character and work of, 131, 152 ; Dr. Bar
rows' views of, 152 ; " Narrative of," 130.
Clarke, Jeremiah, 178%.
Comer, John : accord of, with Philadelphia
Association, 187 ; death of, 188 ; descend
ants of, 188; difficulties of, with First
Church in Newport, 89, 91 ; labors of, at
Sutton and other towns, 188 ; last davs of,
188 ; his reconciliation with First Church
in Newport, 186% ; Eehoboth, his useful
ness at, 188 ; sermon on imposition of
hands, by, 89 ; his views of doctrine and
results, 187.
Coddington, William, 151.
Coggeshall, John, 164.
Communion wine, 182%.
Condy, Bev. Jeremiah, 181; his son Jere
miah, 181.
Congregational churches in Bhode Island,
82, 87.
Constitution adopted by settlers of Aquid
neck (island of R. L), 149, 150.
Cotton, Rev. Josiah, 88.
Council, Congregationalist, at Newport, 81.
Counterfeiting, 96.
Craft, Ephraim, 15.
Crandall, John, 133.
Crandall, Bev. Josepb, 65, 123,
Cranston, Gov. Samuel, 71.
Cutler, Rev. Timothy, 33.
Currency, paper, 13.
Danforth, Samuel, 9.
Dartmouth, church in, 110.
Devotion, Rev Ebenezer, 68.
Difficulties in First Newport Congregational
Church, 77, 80, 81, 83.
Drake, Rev. John, 185.
Dyre, William, 161.
Eaglesfield (or, Ecclesfleld), Eev. Mr., 184.
Eals (or. Eels), Rev. Nathaniel, 76.
Episcopal church: at Newport, .'57, 63; In
Providence, 99 ; at Tower Hill, 100.
Elders in Baptist churches, 48, 74.
Everett, Bev. Daniel, 112.
Eyres, Rev. Nicholas, 106.
Fighting Quaker, 176.
Fire at Boston, 2
Fiske, Rev. Samuel, 115.

Foxcroft, Pres. Thomas, 78.
Freeborn, William, 162.
Free School, first in New England, 135.
General Redemption, 119.
Gibson, Eev. William, 123.
Gifford, Bev. Andrew, 179.
Gorton, Eev. Stephen, 60.
Groton, churcb in, 108.
Groton Conference, 108.
Hammett, Eev. John, 117.
Hardin, Eichard, 67.
Hart, Eev. Oliver, 144.
Hiscox, Eev. William, 123.
Holden, Bandall, 168.
Holmes, Eev. Obadiah, 132.
Honeyman, Eev. James, 57, 68.
Hutchinson, William and Anne, 153.
Hutchinson, Edward, 159.
Imposition of hands : in time of Comer, 50,
51, 61, 89, 141, 187 ; at present time, 187 ; once
general among Baptists in America, 187.
Inoculation, 10, 11.
Jencks, Gov. Joseph, 72.
Jenkius, Eev. Nathaniel, 178.
Laying on of hands: See "Imposition of
hands."
Loveall, Henry, 183, 186.
Martin, Eev. Manasseh, 117.
Mason, Eev, Joseph, 116.
Mason, Samuel, 116.
Mather, Dr. Cotton, 3.
Mather, Dr. Increase, 5.
Maxon, Bevs. John, John, Jr., and Joseph,
122.
Maxwell, Bev. Samuel, 49, 180.
McSparran, Eev. James, 100.
Middletown, N. J., 184; oldest church in
N. J., 184.
Ministers and political affairs, 152.
Modes of punishment, 101.
" Mrs.", meaning of, 46.
New London : church at. 111.
Newport : churches, etc., in, 50, 68 ; First Bap
tist Cburch of, 44,^45, 92, 185%, 186 ; Second
Baptist Churcb of, 50, 61 ; deed of its
meeting bouse, 123%, 178%; Congrega
tional churches in, 24, 63, 73, 77, 80, 81 ;
Seventh Day Baptist Church at, 64,123;

132

INDEX TO FOOT-NOTES.

forts at, 137 ; Mr. Clap's meeting house in,
' 77,124; " woods " of, 170.
New York City : Baptist churches ih, 107.
North Carolina Baptists, 145.
North Kingston : church in, 1X8.
Noyes, Eev. Joseph, 27.
O'Hara, Joseph, 123%.
Ordination, 43, 49, 52.
Palmer, Eev. Paul, 146.
Peart, Eev. William, 144.
Peckham, Bev. William, 43.
Pelham, Edward, 182.
Persecutions of Baptists and others: See
" Baptists, Persecutions of"
Philadelphia Association: a pattern, 187;
doctrinal position of, 187.
Pierpont, Tutor James, 82.
Piggott, Eev. George, 99.
Piscataqua (Piscataway), N. .1., spoken of,
186 ; church in, 185.
Place, Eev. Peter, 114
Porter, John, 167.
Providence: Congregational churcb in, 87;
division of, and location of churches in,
104, 114, 115, 125. .
Quakers spoken of, 59 ; -warlike, 175.
Eeconciliation : between John Comer and
First Church, Newport, 185%.
Eecords of Second Churcb, Newport : ex
tracts from, 123%.
Eehoboth: Baptist Church at, 187; town
of, 188; churches in, 49, 188.
Bhode Island: divided into counties, 138;
Indians of, 148.
Eogers, John, 65.
Sanford, John, 158,
Savage, Thomas, 160.
School, ii'ee: first in New England, 135.
Screven, Eev. William, 144.
Seventh Day Baptists, 54, 121.
Sever, Eev. Nicholas, 12.
Sheffield, Nathaniel, 173.
Sherman, Philip, 163.
Simmons, Rev. Thomas, 144.
Six-Principle Baptists, 50, 61, 187.

Singing in cburch, 93.
Slavery and the slave trade, 90.
Small pox, 6.
Smith, Edward, 180.
Smith, Rev. William, 35.
South Carolina Baptists, 144.
South Kingston : church in, 113.
Southworth, Gideon, 37.
Sprague, Rev. Jonathan, 106.
Sprague, Rev. David, 118.
Springfield, Mass.: Baptists at, 66; letter
from, 66.
Stennett, R«v. Joseph, 17,
Stocks, the, 101.
Swanzey: town of, 40; Baptist church in,
41 ; Six-Principle Baptist Church in, 116.
Sweating, Bev. Henry, 74.
Sweet, Eev. Eichard, 118.
Tabor, Eev. Philip, 109.
Tillinghast, Eev. Pardon, 128.
TUlinghast, Dea. Pardon, UO.
Usher, Eev. John, 98.
Vincent, Eev. Thomas, 7.
AValdron, Rev. William, 21.
Walker, John, 164.
Walton, Rev. John, 141,
Wanton, Gov. Gideon, 175.
Wanton, John, 169.
Ward, Gov. Richard, 147.
Warwick, church in, 117.
Webb, Rev. John, 8.
Westerly and its churches, 122.
Wheaton, Rev. Ephraim : (Comer's special
friend), 41, 42.
White, Rev. Daniel, 45, 66.
Wightman, Rev. Daniel, 53.
Wightman, Bev. Valentine, 61.
Wilbor, Samuel, 156,
Willmarth, Dr. J. W. : Notes and parts of
notes by, 14, 42, 46, 75, 94, 123%, 144, 152,
182%, 183, 187, 188. (Supplementary Note,
pafiffts 124-126.)
Wilson, Rev. John, 134.
Wine, Communion, 182%.
Yale College, 30, 82.

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