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https://archive.org/details/historicalcollec14unse
JUSTIN ALLEN, M. D.
President of the Topsfield Historical Society from its organization in 1894 until his death in 1908, and a practicing physician in Topsfield for over fifty years.
THE
HISTORICAL
COLLECTIONS
OF THE
TOPSFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY
VOL. XIV
1909
TOPSFIELD, MASS. Published by the Society
1909
GEORGE FRANCIS DOW
Editor
THE MERRILL PRESS
MASS
CONTENTS.
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN TOPS-
FIELD, - - - - - - , - - I
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TOPSFIELD WARREN
BLUES, - - - 88
CERTIFICATE OF MILITARY SERVICE, 1 758, - - 9 1
SAMUEL GOULD’S REVOLUTIONARY SERVICE, - 9 1
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, ----- 92
JOHN HOOD OF LYNN, MASS., AND SOME OF HIS DE- SCENDANTS. BY MRS. JENNIE (HOOD) BOSSON, 93 THE FRENCH ACADIANS IN TOPSFIELD AND THEIR
LIFE IN EXILE. BY GEORGE FRANCIS DOW, 1 37
JUSTIN ALLEN, M. D., BY GEORGE FRANCIS DOW.
Portraity - - - - - - - 148
FAMILY RECORDS — GOULD, PERLEY, ETC., - - IS I
TOPSFIELD VITAL STATISTICS, 1908, - - - 153
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS, I908, - - - 1 56
BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED, 1908, - - - - 156
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
IN TOPSFIELD.
COPIED BY GEORGE FRANCIS DOW.
The records of the Congregational Church in Topsfield begin with the ordination of Rev. Joseph Capen in 1684. Undoubtedly his predecessors, Rev. Thomas Gilbert and Rev. Jeremiah Hobart, kept some record of the church proceed- ings during their pastorates, but it has not come down to us. The unpleasant feelings existing between pastor and people at the times of their dismissal probably resulted in the destruction of any memoranda that these two ministers may have kept. The following pages contain the church proceedings, the names of those admitted to the church, and those who owned the covenant. The baptisms, marriages, and deaths have not been included, as they were preserved in the Vital Records of Topsfield to the end of the year 1849, published in Topsfield Historical Collections, Vol. IX.
On the front cover of the volume of records kept by Rev. Joseph Capen is written the following:
“Records of those y* were admitted into full Communion of Baptisms, Marriages, &c. that were kept by y* Rev. M Joseph Capen Pastor of y® chh : of X in Topsfield.”
Then follow eleven lines in shorthand.
(5)
6
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
Upon the back cover of the volume is written :
“Joseph Capen His Book, Ex Dono Reverendissimi Magis- tri Josiah Flint,* 30 Aug: An Dorn. 1679.
“When Moses upon serious consideration with hims — when he had cast up ye account in his mind & found yt ye reward of his obed. & service of God would fare surmount all yt he should get by tarrying in Egypt; this motive made him take a Journey to visit his Brethren, &c.”
1684. A List of y® members in full communion at Tops- field when was first ordained.
MALES.
FEMALES.
Francis Peabody John Reddington Abraham Reddington Senr Joseph Bixby Senr John Gould Senr Thomas Baker Thomas Perkins Deacon
Deacon Perkins wife Lieftenant Goulds wife Tho Dormans wife Isaak Esties wife Jacob Towns wife Joseph Towns wife Widdow Mary Towne Ephraim Dormans wife John Wilds his wife James How Sen. wife Michael Dunnels wife John Nichols wife Daniell Bormans wife Isaak Cummins wife William Howletts wife Abraham Reddingtons wife Joseph Bixbys wife John Pabodys wife Samuell Simons his wife Robart Smiths wife William Smiths wife Widdow Andrews. Nehemiah Abbots wife Widdow Perley William Watson his wife John French his wife.
died May 7th 86 John Pabody Thomas Dorman Ephraim Dorman Samuel Howlett William Howlett Isaak Cumins John French Isaak Estie James How Senr Samuell Perley Nehemiah Abbot
»ot
John Cummins, Decern 7, 85 was dismissd to ye church at Dunstable.
Robert Stiles dead Thomas Perkins Junr Daniel Hovev.
drowned herself May
13, 1701.
John Cummins his wife.
♦Rev. Josiah Flint, pastor of the church in Dorchester, where Mr. Capen lived.
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
7
Since my ordination were admitted yt is of males.
Daniell Reddington.
Tobijah Perkins Jacob Foster Junr William Avery Junr William Pabody John How Ephraim Curtise Sergeant Jacob Towne,
Timothy Perkins
Daniell Wood
Daniell Clarke Senr (dead)
Samuel Simons Thomas Hassen,
John Stiles Mr William Perkins Samuell Stanley Abraham How Benjamin Foster (dead)
John Estie Thomas Reddington Phillip Knight Abraham Reddington John Gould Junr John Perley sen.
John Wiles sen.
John French Jun.
Zacheus Curtis Joseph Hail John Kenney Luke Hovey Isaac Estey
52 John Andrews
53 Joseph Andrews,
54 Jacob Smith,
55 John Cummins
56 Jonathan Bixby,
57 Isaac Burton,
58 Joseph Esty,
59 Daniell Clarke
60 Thomas Robinson,
61 Joseph Pebody, Jun.
62 Zacheus Gould,
63 Samuel Foster,
64 Amos Dorman,
Since my ordination were admitted of females.
27 Benjamin Bixbys Wife,
28 Tobijah Perkins his Wife,
29 My own Wife,
30 Tho. Andrews his Wife
31 The Wife of Matthew Stanley
senr
32 The Wife of J[ohn Curtis
33 Martha Reddington,
34 Sarah Bishup,
35 ye Wife of Daniell Wood, Sarah
Wood,
36 ye Wife of John Towne, Mary
Towne,
37 ye wife of Samuell Hewlett,
Sarah Hewlett.
37 Deliverance ye wife of John
Stiles,
38 ye wife of Jacob Foster,
39 Martha Foster. May 6, 94 dis-
missed to Concord
40 Joanna Stanley ye wife of Sam-
uel Stanley,
41 Sarah Bixby ye wife of Joseph
Bixby,
42 ye wife of John Gould, Jun.
43 ye wife of John Ramsdell,
44 Elizabeth Stiles,
45 Hannah Perkins ye wife of Tim-
othy Perkins,
46 Hannah Pebody ye wife of Will-
iam Pebody,
47 Margaret Knight, ^
48 Edna Perkins ye wife of Mr T. P.
49 Lucy Wood ye wife of Nathaniel
Wood,
50 Sarah Andrews ye wife of John
Andrews,
51 Grace Endicot ye wife of Zeruba-
bel Endicot,
52 Widdow Mary Hale by dismis-
sion from Newbury,
53 Martha French,
54 Judith Dorman,
55 Dorothee Robinson ye wife of
John Robinson,
56 Mary Perley, sen.
57 Sarah Foster ye wife of William
Foster, Jun.
58 Mary Haill ye wife of Joseph
Hail,
8
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
65 Joseph Towne,
66 Nehemiah Abbot
67 Abraham Foster,
68 John Robinson, sen.
69 John Hovey, sen.
70 Joseph Towne sen.
71 William Chapman,
72 Elisha Perkins
73 Timothy Perley
74 Benjamin Bixby, sen.
75 Thomas Gould,
76 Job How
77 Thomas Howlett
78 Thomas Perley
79 Thomas Dorman
80 Job Averil
81 John Curtis
82 John Nichols
83 John Hovey
84 Michaell Dunnell Jun.
85 Seth Dorman
86 Timothy Perkins
87 Samuell Smith
88 Samuell Stanley
89 Paul Averill
90 Joseph Borman
91 William Porter
92 Ivory Hovey,
93 Jesse Dorman,
94 Joseph Towne,
John Perkins,
John Perley,
Jacob Pebody John Howlet Joseph Gould John Curtis Sen.
Daniell Perkins,
Jacob Stanley,
Caleb Foster,
Tobijah Perkins Jun. Benjamin How,
Jacob Towne, senr Thomas Curtis Abraham How,
Isaac Cummins,
Lieut Tho. Baker, Thomas Potter Ensig. Thomas Perkins,
ye wife of John Kenney, ye wife of Zacheus Curtis, Su- sanna Hovey,
Abigail Esty, ye wife of Jacob Foster, Elizabeth Curtis wife of Ephr. Curtis,
Widdow Sarah Gill,
Susanna Cummins ye wife of John C.
Sarah Bixby ye wife of Jonathan
B.
Hanah Foster,
Ruth Simons,
Rebecka Simons,
Hannah Burton ye wife of J. B. Jane Esty, ye wife of J. E. Damaris Clark, ye wife of D. C. Hannah Robinson, ye wife of T. R.
Widdow Cooper,
Mary Pebody, wife of I. P. Jun. Elizabeth Gould, wife of Z. G. Elleanor Porter, ye wife of N. P. Mary Averill, ye wife of W. A. Constant Nichols, ye wife of J. N. Elizabeth F rench, ye wife of J. F. Dorothee Dorman, ye wife of A. D.
Elizabeth Nichols, ye wdfe of Corp. Joseph Towne, Ruham [a].
ye wife of Nehemiah Abbot, Re- mem [ber].
Jane Perley, ye wife of John Per- ley,
Phebe Towne, ye wife of Corp.
J-[ ]
Sarah Bradstreet, ye wife of Mr John Bradstreet,
Mary Wilds wife of Ephraim [ ] Elizabeth Chapman wife of W. C. Priscilla Capen,
Mary Capen,
Elizabeth Reddington wife of [ ] Katherine Perkins, wife of E. P. Deborah Perley, wife of T. P. Mercy Gould, wife of Tho. Gould,
Elizabeth Perkins Mr Baker,
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
9
Edmond Towne Samuel Potter, Daniel Reddington John Gould Jun. John Abbot, Richard Towne, Mark How,
98 Widdow Averil
99 Abigail Perley, wife of Thos. Per-
[ley]
100 Abigail Perkins, wife of Tim. Perkins
101 Sarah How, wife of John How Jun.
102 Rebecka Howlett, wife of Tho. H [owlett],
103 Susannah Averil, wife of Job A[verill],
104 Priscilla Curtis, wife of John Curt[is],
105 Mary Waters, wife of Daniel,
106 Sarah Pebody, wife of Isaac,
107 Deborah Dorman, wife of Tho.
108 Mary Hovey, wife of John,
109 Judith Perkins,
1 10 Hannah Esty,
1 1 1 Bathsheba Howlett, wife of John
1 12 Hannah Dunnell, wife of Mich [ael]
1 13 Mary 8««/, ye wife of Sam [uel]
1 14 Sarah Averill, ye wife of Paul,
1 15 Prudence Borman, wife of Jos Borm[an]
1 16 Phoebe Porter,
1 1 7 ye wife of Samuell Towne, E. T.
1 18 ye wife of William Hobbes,
1 19 Anne Hovey, wife of Ivory Hovey.
120 Priscilla Howlett,
121 Ruth Dorman, wife of Jesse
122 Abigail Towne, wife of Joseph
T.
123 Elizabeth . Perkins, wife of J. Perk[ins]
Rebecka Pebody,
Hepziba Curtis,
Priscilla Gould,
ye wife of Abraham Foster,
Mary Bixby
Widdow Abigail Towne,
Mary Hovey, Love How,
Margarett Reddington,
Mary Foster wife of Caleb,
Elizabeth Perkins wife of Tob. Jun. Joanna Hood wife of Nath. Hood, Alice How,
Mary Foster wife of Daniell Foster,
lO
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
Martha Killum wife of Tho. Killum, Joanna Potter,
Ruth Towne,
Phebe Curtis wife of Thos. Curtis,
Hephzibah How,
ye. wife of Nathanael Borman,
Lydia Knowlton,
Lydia French,
F rancis Cummins wife of Isaac Cum- mins,
Susanna Porter wife of Tho. Porter, Phebe Gould wife of J. Gould Jun. Abigail Abbot wife of John Abbot, Elizabeth Towne wife of Richard Towne,
Hannah Perley wife of Stephen Per- ley,
Elizabeth Bradstreet wife of Mr. Si- mon B.
Mary Abbot,
Sarah Abbot
Hephziba How wife of Mark How, Jemima Cummins,
Mary Bixby wife of Joshua Bixby.
Septemb*’ 3*^ 84. at a Church meeting Called in Tops- field upon Occasion of dissatisfaction in y® Church with respect to John [name erased] for his excessive drinking by reason whereof (untill he had made satisfaction) y® Church was not willing for y® baptizing of his children.
[name erased] did Then Confess y^ he had (for want of due care and watchfulness over himself) been several times overtaken with y® fault of excessive drinking & y* he did not allow but Condemn himself for y® same & y^ he was sorry for y® same & also y^ he would for time to Come endeavour Re- formation in y* respect, whereupon it being put to y® Vote y® Chh. was satisfyed & so willing y^ his children should be bap- tized on his own account. There were at y* time present with my self, James How Sen*", Francis Pabody, Nehemiah Abbot, Tho Dorman, Ephraim Dorman, Samuell Perley, Samuell Hewlett, William Hewlett, Isaak Estie Sen*' & Ser- geant John Reddington who were all satisfyed with what satisfaction was then given unless Tho Dorman. That meet- ing I began & ended with a word of prayer.
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELI).
I
Octob’’ 12. 84: That Sabbath da}^ was Admitted into y® Church of Topsfield, y® wife of Benjamin Bixby & y® wife of Tobijah Perkins, both of them with y® Consent of,y® Church were Admitted into full Communion, no objection was made by any either of y® Church or Town against either of their Relations or y® good Life & Conversation of either of them. Their Relations were also well approved of by y® two men which y® Church had chosen who together with my- self were in private to hear y® Relations of persons coming into y® Chh. The two men improved by y® Church for y‘ end at y* time were Deacon Thomas Perkins & Lieftenant Francis Pabody. That same day Daniell Reddington was propounded to Joyn to y® Church in full Communion.
December 7^^ 84. Daniell Reddington & M*" Tobijah Per- kins were admitted into full Communion with y® Church of Christ in Topsfield & there was no exception made against either of them by any.
Decern. 14, 84. by reason of a great storm of snow y* but few of y® Church Came together y® sacrament was defferred untill y® Sabbath day following.
Feb. I, 1684. Jacob Foster was Admitted into full Com- munion w*^ y® Church of Topsfield & John How, Ephraim Curtise & y® wife of Jonathan Luke which three stood pro- pounded at y® same time when Jacob Foster was were sus- pended for a time untill y® Church could have farther satis- faction from them in several things y‘ were alleged against them.
Feb. 3, 84. Neighbour Goodman Clarke & his son & daughter Perkins who had been for more than a years time at great difference were Reconciled upon my stirring of them up to seek peace of their father & mother & there was a mu- tual forgiveness of what ever had been offensive each to other & to avoide occasion of offense for the time to come was promised.
March 15*^ 1685. Jacob Towne Junior & his wife made a publick confession before y® whole Congregation, for their sin in knowing each other carnaly before they were married Legaly, this confession & acknowledgment of theirs was to y® satisfaction of y® whole Church which was the[n] y® most of them present only Abraham Reddington sen** seem^ to be
12
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
iinsatisfyd y® satisfaction of y® Church wa[s] tryed by a silential vote.
At y® same time y® Church being stayed to know their minds with reference to y® baptism of their childe which came several months before y® time y^ in honesty it should, y® Church was generaly so satisfyed y* they were free for it, only Abraham Reddington sen. & another or two which two Last were not so much agai[nst] y® baptism of y® Childe as y® time of it but were minded y‘ y® Church should have some farther tryal of them to see if their Lives would be answerable to their Confessions, &c.
Aprill 19, 85. There was a contribution by y® Church (y^ is Male=Members in full communion) for y® procuring of a New flagon for y® vse of y® Lords Table & a Table cloath & platters. There was given at y® time but 15 shil. or there- about several men being then absent, but 5 or 6 shil. more was given afterwards by som women in full Communion whose husbands were not & by others y‘ before were ab- sent.
May 17, 85, was Admitted into full Communion my own Wife & also y® Wife of Thomas Andrews.
May 24. 85, were Admitted to full Communion William Avery Jun. as also William Pabody.
July 19. 85, were Admitted to full Communion John How, Ephraim Curtise, goodwife Stanley sen^, y® Wife of John Curtise & Martha Reddington y® said How & Ephraim Cur- tise had both of them y® major part of y® Church for their Admission.
Decemb. 7^^ 85, y® Church Voted a dismission to John Cummins alth[o] without any Commendation, as Also a dis- mission to his Wife with Commendations, both of them vpon their desires were dismissed to y® Church then to be shortly gathered at Dunstable.
Decern. 20. 85. Sergeant Jacob Towne & Sarah Bishup of Salem=Village were admitted into full communion with this church. Lief. John Putnam wrote in her Commendation as also Robert Cre[ — ].
May 24. 86. At a Church meeting at my house were chosen two Deacons, Isaak Cumins & Nehemiah Abbot, my Landlord & Goodman Estie being also in Nomination.
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
3
Jun, 6. 86. IVP Timothy Perkins was Admitted into full communion with this Church without any objection, y® same day also at night Nehemiah Abbot gave his Answer to y® Church in which he did manifest his acceptance of y® office of a Deacon, &c. Sergeant Cummins did not give his full Answer then which [ ] till y® next Lords day.
Jun. 13. 86. Isaack Cummins who had been made choice of for a Deacon did manifest his acceptance of y® same.
Octo, 31. 86, were admitted to full Communion Daniell Wood & his Wife as also Mary Towne y® Wife of John Towne y® Last of which three though She had been vnder a scandal yet y® Church being stayed at Noon and her Relation read y® Church did manifest their willingness that she should be received at Night though she had been propounded but y® week i e y® Sabbath before, no man objected against but only Baker was against y* receiving her in so suddenly she hav- ing been propounded but a Week.
Feb. 27. 86, were Admitted to full Communion Daniell Clarke sen*" as also Sarah Howlett y® Wife of Samuel Hewlett. Samuel Simons should have been admitted at y‘ time also but y‘ M*" Baker & Thomas Dorman objected against him by reason whereof it was deferred for y^ time.
Jun, 26. 87, was admitted to full Communion Samuell Si- mons who delivered y® experience of y® work of Gods grace on his heart w* his own mouth.
Aug. 28. 87, was Admitted to full Communion Thomas Hassen.
Mar. II, 1^. William Averell Jun. y* had fallen under Scandall by irreverent carriage in Ipswich meeting house on a Lecture day in y® time of worship, so y* people thought he was drunk because he Vomited & strong Liquor came vp as also for reproaching M*^ Wise by a Letter y* he Laid at M*" Wise his door, y® said William Averell did then own y* he did sinfuly to give people such occasion to think so of him as if he had been drunk Although he did not own y® was drunk & also he did acknowledg his sin in speaking against M*" Wise without any just Cause. Wherevpon y® Chh. did Generaly manifest their satisfaction with him & he was again Restored to his won[ted] communion from which he had been suspended for above half a year.
14
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
Mar. 13, 8g. Joseph Towne & his Wife came to my house (there being a fast kept day by y® Church) & tendered an acknowledgment to y® church for y® sin of fornication, his Wife being delivered of a Child within Less than half a year after marriage which humble Confession was to general ac- ceptation with y® church & forgiveness as did appear by y* vsuall signe although y® acknowledgment was also to be read before y* whole congregation.
Mar. 18, 8g. John Stiles & his Wife were taken into full Communion with y® Church.
Jun. 24^^ 88, were admitted to full Communion M*" William Perkins & Samuell Stanley y® Last of which was also there- vpon baptized.
Octo. 28, 88, were Admitted to full Communion Abraham How & Benjamin Foster.
Decern. 30^^ 88, were Admitted to full communion y* Wife of Jacob Foster & her sister Martha ffoster.
Apr. 28, 89, was admitted to full Communion y® wife of Samuell Stanley who was therevpon baptized.
Jun. 2, 1689. M® Bradstreet owned y® covenant & there- upon her child Mercy was baptized.
July 7. 89, was Admitted to full Communion y® Wife of Joseph Bixby Jun^
Aug. 10, 89. Timothy Perkins & his wife made a publick acknowledgment for their sin of fornication, two or three of y® Chh. did then manifest their unwillingness to take vp w* their acknowledgment as full satisfaction vntill there should be a farther oppurtunity of tryall of them as to their good & orderly conversation.
Aug. 24, 89, was admitted to full communion y® wife of John Gould Jun^
Octo. 27. 89, was admitted to full Communion y* Wife of John Ramsdell.
Feb. 23, 89, was admitted to full communion Elizabeth Stiles.
March 30, 90. Daniell Clarke & Hannah Simons did then acknowledge their misdemeanour which by agreement was to be a finall issue to y® Long & Lasting difference y* had been between those two families. Daniell Clarke did then ac- knowledge his misdemeanour in speaking Reproachfully of
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
15
y* family of Samuel! Simons wherein he had accused Hannah Simons in respect of Vnchastity & vncleanness in y® highest degree & also Hannah Simons did then acknowledg y* she had been to blame both in word & deed as to vncivill be- haviour.
Jun. I. 90, was Admitted to full Communion Hannah Per- kins y® wife of Timothy Perkins.
Jun. 29. 90, were admitted to full communion John Estie & Hannah Peabody y® wife of William Peabody.
Aug. 31. 90, was Admitted to full Communion Thomas Reddington.
Aprill 26. 91, was admitted to full Communion Philip Knight & his Wife.
Octo. 25. 91, was- Admitted to full communion y* wife of M*' Timothy Perkins.
March 16. i6g\, was Admitted William Smith & his wife to full Communion.
Jun. 13. 1692. A Church meeting was at my house which was to see if They could put an end the difference y‘ had been between Lieft Gould & Capt. How & Jacob Towne Sen^ Capt How did then take some blame to himself with respect to an oath which he had taken against Lieft Gould about 16 or 17 years before about Lieft Gould h[is] not re- straining y® Indians y* were about his house. Capt. How did own y* altho y® substance y® oath was true yet being not so safely worded as might have been, was sorry y‘ he had been an occasion of so much trouble to Lieft Gould in Sir Edmonds time, as also that he had spoken publickly in y® court at Boston (anything y* might be taken to Reflect on y® Town of Topsfield, in saying because he was for Resignation he was so maligned y^ was afraid [to] go home, was afraid of his life, altho he Intended it not as to y® Town in general but 2 or 3 perticular persons. Ensign Towne y* was also complained of for signing false things [in] y® court against Lieft Gould being made Choice of for a Captain, Ensign Towne did own y‘ whereas he had said in y® writing y‘ there were but 27 votes for Left Gould & several of them boys & so not Legal voters, as also y* y* major part of y® Town would Attest to these things, in those 2 expressions he owned his error in subscribing to when he did not so Intend or vn-
i6
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
derstand & for y® future he would be more cautios to what he did set his hand. The Church did then vpon Captain How & Ensign Towne their owning these things y* which y® Chh. did apprehend y™ to be blame worthy y® Church did then by their votes perticularly declare their satisfaction with them. And at y* same time Lieft Gould being called to an account for his with=drawing from y* Sacrament so long, looking on these things which he objected against Capt. How as being no grounds to with=draw his communion from y® rest of y® Church, He did so far fall under it as to express sorrow for any offence in this matter which he had given y® Church wherevpon y* Church passed a vote for to express their willingness y‘ he should again partake with them at y® Lords table. Also at y® same time Lieft Gould & Capt. How in token of their mutuall forgiveness as to what- ever had been prievos between them, did take each other by y® hand promising better for y® future, also Ensign Towne & Lieft Gould did y® like.
Apr. 30. 93, was Admitted to full Communion Lucy Wood y® wife of Nathaniel Wood; also at y® same time she was baptized as also Sarah Waters.
May 21. 1693, were ordained Deacons Isaac Cummins sen' & Nehemiah Abbot sen'.
Aug. 27. 93, were admitted to full communion Sarah An- drews y® wife of John Andrews & Grace Endicot y* wife of M' Zerubbabel Endicot.
Oct. I. 93, y® Widdow Mary Hale was accepted into full Communion, vpon her dismission to y* church of Topsfield from y* Church of Newberry.
Decemb. 24. 1693. M' Zerubabell Endicot who had owned y® Covenant in this Church of Topsfield & thereupon had two children baptized was Excommunicated on y® ac- count of Adultery or adulteros carriage with goodwife Eames of Boxford which was proved against him to y* satisfaction of y® [*Chh.*] our Church also Salem Elders did expressly Concurr w* all in Censuring of him, having seeny® testimonys given in against him.
Decern. 3.93, were Admitted to full Communion Abraham Redington & Martha French.
Apr. 29.94, was admitted to full Communion Judith Dorman.
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
7
May 6. 94, Martha Wood (her maiden Name Mary foster) was vpon her desire dismissed from this Church to y® Church in Concord.
Jun. 24. 94, was Admitted to full Communion Dorothee Robinson y® wife of John Robinson.
Decembr. 30. 94, was Admitted John Gould Jun. to full communion.
3* 96, John How Jun. & his wife made their acknowl- edgment we being desired from Ipswich to take & y® Church did by a Vote signify their acceptance of it.
Septr. 6. 96. There was a Contribution for goodman Ken- ney y‘ lost his house & goods by fire. There was gathered 2-16-06.
May 23. 97, was Admitted to full communion John Perley sen. with his wife Mary Perley.
Jun. 27. 97, was Admitted to full communion Sarah P'oster y® Wife of William Foster Jun. of Boxford.
July 25. 97, was admitted to full Communion John Wiles Sen.
Nov. 28. 97, was admitted to full communion John French Jun.
Apr. 30. 99, was admitted to full communion Zacheus Cur- tis, also Joseph Haill & his wife.
Aug. 27. 99, were admitted to full communion Hannah How & Elizabeth Keney y® wife of John Keney who was also then baptized.
Octo. 22. 99. Elizabeth Dunnel y* had play‘d y® whore publickly appeared to acknowledg her sin & folly therein & go vpon her good behavior i. e. humble sober & chaste for time to come was to be still lookt on by y® Chh. as in y® Capacity y* her baptism had set her in.
Octo. 29. 99, were Admitted to full Communion John Ken- ney Sen. & y® wife of Zacheus Curtis.
July 27, 1700. Abigail Bixby y* had played y® whore ap- peared publickly to Acknowledg her sin & folly in y* respect & accordingly on her sober & modest behavior of her self for y® future was to be lookt on as in y* capacity as before if y® matter hd never been.
Aug. 10. 1701. Peter Shumway & his wife made their publick acknowledgment, etc.
i8
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
Aug. 31, 1701. Luke Hovey & his wife were admitted to full communion.
Sept. 21, 1701. At a orderly Church meeting after pub- lik exercise & giving notice of for y* end a fortnight before, Sargeant Thomas Dorman & Ensign Samuel Howlett were chose to be Deacons. Altho at y® first y* Church voted to have but one Deacon chosen but y® number of votes for each of them being equall y* Chh. past their vote to have both of them on, proposing it to them y‘ it might be so.
Octo. 26. 1701, were admitted to full communion Isaac Esty& wife & y® wife of Jacob Foster, also y® Martha Wood was then on her desire dismissed to y® Chh. in Framingham.
Apr. 26. 1702, were admitted to full communion John An- drews, Joseph Andrews, Jacob Smith, Elizabeth Curtis y® wife of Ephraim Curtis & y® widdow Sarah Gill.
Jun. 28. 1702, were Admitted to full communion John Cummins & his wife, Jonathan Bixby & his wife, Hannah Foster, Ruth Simons & Rebecka Simons.
Aug. 2. 1702. Nathaniel Porter & his wife publickly ac- k[nowledged] their offence to good satisfaction.
Aug. 23. 1702, were admitted to full communion Isaac Burto[n], Joseph Esty, Daniell Clark, Thomas Robinson, w* their wives Hannah Burton, Jane Esty, Damaris Clark, Han- nah Robinson, at w** time Isaac Burton w* his family were baptised, y® wife of William Towne also, w* her children were baptised, w‘ others in all — 1[7].
Aug. 30. 1702. Admitted to full communion Joseph Pe- body Jun & his wife Mary, Zacheus Gould & his wife Eliza- beth, Samuell Foster, y® aged Joanna Cooper.
Sept. 25. 1702. At a Church meeting at my house in or- der to send an Answer to Boxford i. e. those in full com- munion w* us among y“ about their dismission from us which they sent for. There were 17 of y® Chh. there present & did all vote it vnanimously y* at present till they had cleard vp their old arrears & y® bounds of y® Towns fully established they could not consent thereto but as soon as y^ should be done would be ready to gratify them in any thing y* in reason they should desire of them. It was signed by Capt Gould & Lieft Baker in y® Name of y* rest & sent by Joseph Andrews to Lieft John Peabody.
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
19
Octo. 4. 1702. Bray Wilkins & his wife Rebecka Ac- knowledged publickly their fault for having a child sooner y" honestly should have been. The same day were dismissed vpon their desire John Pebody, John Perley, Thomas Plazen, Joseph Hail, Jonathan Bixby, Tho. Reddington, Abraham Reddington, John Stiles, Samuell Foster, Daniell Wood, Luke Hovey, all of Boxford being desirous to gather a Church there.
Octo 25. 1702, were admitted Eleanor Porter y® wife of N. P. Mary Averill y® wife of W. A. Constant Nichols y* wife of J. N. & Elizabeth PTench y* wife of J. F.
Decern, i. 1702, at a Lawfull Church meeting at my house called to give som Answer to sundry persons y‘ had desired a dismission, viz. Samuell Symons, Zacheus Curtis, Ephraim Curtis, & Joseph Peabody Jun. y® Church did then refuse to grant it by reason of y® difference between y® 2 Towns as touching their Limits. 20 brethren present only three of which declared for their dismission viz. Tho. Baker, Lieft Perkins & William Smith, altho at y® same time I did declare myself to be for it also.
Jan. 17. 1702-3. Then were dismissed Mary Watson, Mary Per[ ], Sarah Wood, Widdow Pebody, Elizabeth Stilman, Mary Hale, Deliverence Stiles, Widdow Bixby, Sarah Bixby y® wife of Jonathan B. Elizabeth Buswell.
Feb. 28. 1702-3, were Admitted to full communion Amos Dorman & his Wife & Elizabeth Nichols.
Apr. 25. 1703, were admitted Joseph Towne & his wife. Nehemiah Abbot & his wife.
Jun. 27. was Admitted Jane Perley y® wife of John Perley.
Aug. 29. 1703, was Admitted Abraham Foster.
Feb. 1703-4, were admitted John Robinson Sena’S: Pheobe Towne y® wife of corporall Jacob Towne.
Apr. 30. 1704, was Admitted Sarah Bradstreet wife of Mr. John Bradstreet.
Jun. 4. 1704. Y® Church did unanimously choose y® 2 Deacons D. Tho. Dorman & D. Samuell Hewlett to sett in along w* such officers as y® civill Authority has appointed selectmen, grandjurors, Tythingmen to promote a more vig- orous execution of geffi laws against disorderly persons.
Jun. 25. John Hovey sen. was admitted to full communion.
20
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
Octo. 25. 1704. Sarah Perkins Daughter of Tho. Perkins publick[ly"| owned & acknowledged her fault in y® matter of whoredom ; & on her Humble & good behavior of herself thereupon it was signifyed to her y^ y® Chh. would look on her as in y® capacity y^ her baptism speaks her to be in.
Feb. 25. 1704-5, were Admitted to full communion Joseph Towne sen. William Chapman & his wife, y® wife of Ephraim Wilds, my own Priscilla & Mary.
Jun. 24. 1705, were Admitted to full communion Elisha Perkins & his wife, Timothy Perley & his wife & y® wife of Sergeant Reddington.
July I. 1705, was admitted to full communion Benjamin Bixby sen.
Oct. 28. 1705, was admitted Deborah Cl[e]ves.
Decern. 2. 1705. Ruth Elliot daughter of Sam Simons had on her desire a dismission to y* 3** Chh. in Boston.
Apr. 29. 1706, were dismissed Thomas Gould & his wife Mercy Gould, also Elizabeth Perkins.
Jun. 30. were admitted John How, Thomas Howlet, Thom- as Per[ ], Tho. Dorman, Job Averil, John Curtiss, M*" Baker, widow Averil, Abigail Perley, Abigail Perkins, Sarah How, Rebecka Howlet, Susanna Averil, Priscilla Curtis 8z Mary Waters.
Aug. 25. 1706, were admitted John Nichols, John Hovey, Michaell Dwanell Jun. Seth Dorman, Sarah Pebody wife of Isaac Pebody, y* wife of Thomas Dorman, Deborah Dorman, & Mercy Hovey wife of John Hovey.
Nov. 17. 1706. John Kenney and his wife were dismissed to y® Church at New=bery falls.
Feb. 23. 1706-7, admitted Timothy Perkins.
Feb. 29. 1707-8, Paul Averil & his wife were admitted.
Apr. 25. 1708, Joseph Borman & his wife were admitted.
Jun. 27. 1708. William Porter & his wife Phebe were ad- mitted.
Jun. 27. 1708. Elizabeth Towne & y* wife of William Hobbs were admitted.
Aug. 28. 1709. Ivory Hovey & his wife were admitted.
Octo. 29. 1709. Martha Howlett was admitted.
Decern. 31. 1710. Jesse Dorman & his wife were admit- ted.
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
21
Apr. 27. 1 71 1. Joseph Towne y* 3** & his wife were ad- mitted.
Apr. 27. 1712, were admitted to full Communion John Per- kins & his wife & John Perley.
May 25. 1712. Ann Chapman made a publicke acknowl- edgment for her sin of whoredom.
Apr. 25. 1714, were admitted to full communion Jacob Pebody, John Howlet, Rebecca Pebody wife of Jacob Pebody & Hephziba Curtis.
Jun. 20. 1714. Benjamin Towne & Katharine Towne pub- lickly acknowledged their offenc in being intimate w^ each other so as y* had a child sooner y" ought to have had or could had they not transgressed good order.
Jun. 27. 1714 were admitted to full Communion Joseph Gould & his wife Priscilla, y* wife of Abraham Foster & Mary Bixby.
Aug. 29. 1714 were admitted to full Communion John Cur- tis Sen, & widdow Abigail Towne.
Feb. 1715-16, Daniel Perkins was admitted to full commu- nion.
Apr. 15.1716. Lieft. Daniel Reddington was chosen Dea- con to serve as such in y® room of Deacon Dorman de- ceased.
Apr. 29. 1716, admitt to full communion Mary Hovey Daughter of John Hovey Jun. & soon After Jacob Stanley, Eliz- abeth Reddington, Love How, also Caleb Foster & his wife.
Octo. 28. 1716. Tho. Curtis & Phebe his wife were admit- ted to full Communion.
Mar. 17. 1717 was admitted Tobijah Perkins Jun. & his wife.
Mar. 31. was admitted Joanna Hood.
Apr. 28. 1717, was admitted Benjamin How & his wife
Aug. 1717 Sept. i. were admitted Jacob Towne Sen. y® wife of David Foster & Martha Killum wife of Tho. Killum.
Octo. 27. 1717, was admitted to full communion Joanna Porter.
Jun. 29. 1718 was admitted to full communion Hannah Potter wife of Samuell Potter & a litell before y" Jacob Foster & his wife & Daniell Foster & his wife had y’’ dismission grant- ed y“ to y® Chh. in Lebanon, as also Serj Samuell Stanley &
22
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
his wife & Jacob Stanley had their dismission to y® Church in Attleborough.
Aug. TO, 1718. Isaac Cummins Jun*" & his wife made a publick Acknowledgment of y*“ sin in having a Child before they were married.
Oct. 12. 1718. John French & his wife were dismissed to y® Church in Norwich on Removal thither.
Apr. 26. 1719 was Admitted to full Communion Ruth Towne.
Aug. 28. 1719, at a Lawfull Church meeting it was voted very vnanimously (i) y* y® Deacons, Deacon Howlett & Deacon Reddington should have 3 penc more in y® year of every person partaking of y* Lords supper so to continue y^ is 15 penc a person in y® year, as long as y® Church should see cause for it, it having been but 12 penc a person formerly in y® year, which 3^ addition is in consideration y^ wine & bread is dearer than formerly so y* y® vsual contribution would not procure it but y® Deacons were forced to lay out of their own money. (2) It was also voted very vnanimously y‘ al persons put their contribution in paper & write their Names thereon or els shall be liabl to loos it & to pay it over again.
Aug. 30. 1719, admitted to full communion Abraham How & his wife Hephzibah.
After y^ y® wife of Nathanaell Borman & y® widdow Knowl- ton.
Jun. 26. 1720. Lydia French was admitted.
Feb. 26. 1720-21. Jacob Reddington & his wife made a publick Acknowledgment for having a child sooner after mar- riage than should have been. Also Jacob Towne & his wife.
Apr. 30. 1721, were Admitted to full communion Isaac Cummins Sen. of Ipswich & his wife, Thomas Baker, Thomas Porter & his wife.
May 14. 1721. Lydia How, & Experience Towne made a publick acknowledgment for y® sin of whoredom.
Aug. 24. 1723, were Admitted to full communion John Ab- bot & his wife, Richard Towne & his wife, Hannah Perley wife of Stephen Perley & my Daughter Bradstreet.
Aug. 30. 1724, were Admitted Mary Abbot & Sarah Ab- bot.
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
23
Soon after y* before y® next sacrament were admitted Mark How & his wife.
Decern. 27. 1724, was admitted Jemima Cummins.
[ ] May 10, 1731*
A List of Males Now belonging to y® Church in Tops- field
xDaniel Redington Dea“ Dead.
Daniel Clark xZacheus Gould dead xNehemiah Abbot dead xAbraham ffester dead xElisha Perkins dead Thomas Gould John How, of Middleton John Curtis dead John Hovey Michael Dwinel xTimothy Perkins dead Samuel Smith. Ipswich.
Paul Averil, Middleton, xjoseph Bowman dead xWilliam Porter, Norton dead Dea“ Ivory Hovey Jesse Dorman,
Joseph Towne,
John Perkins, dismissed Middleton xjohn Howlet, Dea" dead Joseph Gould Caleb ffoster. Ipswich,
Tobijah Perkins, xBenja How, dismissed, xjacob Towne, dead,
Abraham How, Ipsh Isaac Commings, Ips.
Thos Potter, Ips.
Edmond Towne died,
Sami Porter, Ips.
Daniel Redington Junr John Gould, Boxford.
John Abbot, Ips.
Richard Towne,
Mark Howe, Ips. 1
xjoseph Commings, Ips. dismissed, xlvory Hovey Junr, dismissed. Matthew Peabody xNathan Bixby [died?]
Joseph Hovey Luke Averill, dismissed.^
xjacob Bixby, dismissed, William Redington]:
John Prichard Dea“ Jacob Peabody.
xDavid Nelson, dismissed to Lan- caster.
Rev. Mr. if there be any mist that were in y® Church before your com- ing it is Joseph Andrew and I cannot tell.
A List of Males &c.
Luke Averell xPhineas Reddington dismissed,
Eleazer Lake Wm Reddington,
John Wildes John Lampson Junr, Ips,
*This list of members is found on a loose sheet of paper preserved in Mr. Capen’s volume of records.
fThis line breaking the list of names, indicates the end of the Capen pastorate.
JName crossed out in ink.
24
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
Nathan Hood,
George Bixby Stephen Peabody, Box. \Vm Perkins.
Thomas Howlett. Joseph Peabody Jacob Robinson.
Jacob Peabody Juur Jacob Averell.*
John Andrews. Box Joseph Edwards,
John Symonds.
Ezekiel Robinson
Abraham Foster Junr Ips.
Samll Howlett Junr John Hood.
Amos Dwinell xDoctor Dexter Zacheus Gould Aaron Hovey Nehemiah Hovey, Ips.
Seabrew a Negro Servant man, Ips. David Balch John Perkins,
No 52 alive 1738.
Church Book Dec*' y* 30^^ 1728 Cost 18/.
The Rev: IVR Joseph Capen my worthy Predecessor was ordained Pastour of y® Church of CHRIST in Topsfield June y® I 1684 and continued in y^® sacred office there untill June y® 30*^ A. D. 1725 when he was removed by Death.
The Church remained unsettled afterwards untill y® 27^*^ Day of November 1728 : which was three years, four months and 26 Days.
The Church of CHRIST in Topsfield having made choice of I\P John Emerson to be their Pastor sent Letters to eight churches to come and afford their assistance by elders & messengers in ordaining of him to y® office of a Pastor over y“ in y® Lord.
Accordingly on y® 27^^ Day of Nov'^'' 1728 came y* Rev: APJohnS^ Nathan Rogers pastors of y® first church of CHRIST in Ipswich with their Delegates, the Rev*^ I\L John Rogers of Boxford, the Rev** ]\P Joseph Emerson of Malden, the Rev^ M*' Sam** Wigglesworth of Ipswich-Hamlett, the Rev** M*’ Peter Clark of Salem-Village and the Rev** M*" Rob- ert Ward of Wenham w**^ their Delegates:
The solemnity began w**" prayer, M*" Wigglesworth was y® Mouth of y® Congregation : M*" Emerson of Malden preached from Afaf. 4. 21 ^ 22. A7id going on from the^ice He saw other two Brethren^ James so7i ofZebedee^ & Johii his B^'other and He called a7id they im^nediately left j® ship & y^ Father a7id followed Hmi. M*" John Rogers Seffi pastor of y® first chh : of Ipswich gave y® charge ; M^ John Rogers of Boxford gave y® right Hand of Fellowship:
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
25
M*" Ward of Wenham prayed afterwards: a sutable psalm was y" sung, y® Blessing given, and y® solemnity concluded.
A Record of those who have been Admitted into full Com- munion y^ have been baptized* & y^ have owned y® covenant in Topsfield since my ordination there which was on Nov: 27, A. D. 1728.
Decern'^*' 22, 1728. William Kittery owned y® Covenant.
Decern***’ 23, at a church meeting in Topsfield it was agreed y* y* sacrament of y® Lords Supper should be administered once in two months, beginning on y® first sabbath of January next ensuing & so y® first sabbath of every other month throughout y® year as it was in M*" Capens [t]ime
Deacon Howlet was y" impowered by y* eld[e]rs in their name to receive four pounds of Deacon Reddington y* was willed to y® chh : by his aunt Howlet at her Death: he was to give Deacon Reddington (who was her executor) a dis- charge & to keep y® money for y® chh: till they should de- termine what use to put it to: There was then 17* contribu- ted by y® members y" present to buy a book for y® church & accordingly this Book was bought for that use by Daniel Clark he adding i® more to y* Sum.
Jan: 5, 1729. Joseph Perkins owned y* Covenant.
Jan*"^ 19. Admitted into full communion Dinah Town y* wife of Phillip Town.
Feb''^ 23, 1728-9 Admitted into full Communion Joseph Cummings Jun*’ and Sarah his Wife: Hannah Curtice y*
wife of Sam“ Curtice: and Mehetabell Dodge
Thomas Demcy & Mary his wife ; Simon Bradstreet Junh Zaccheus Perkins, Thomas Perkins and William Perkins owned y* Covenant.
March 2, 1729. Admitted into full Communion Dorothy Dod.
March 30. Jacob Averell owned y® Covenant.
April 7, at a church meetin[g] in Topsfield: it was voted I that all y® unpapered money put into y® contribution should be, reserved for a Church stock & so II it was voted thereup- on y* all those who neglecte[d] to paper their money &
^These baptisms were printed in Topsfield Historical Collections, Vol. I.
26
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
write their names thereupon should still be acco[unt]able. Ill ’Twas voted y* every communicant sho uld give three pence a sac[ra]ment. IIII ‘Twas also vot[ed] y^ there should be a Ra[te] gathered beforehand to [de]fray y® Char- ges of y® Eld[ers] for half a year.
April 20. David Cummins and Joseph Town Jun*" owned y® Covenant.
April 27. Admitted into full communion Matthew Pea- body and Mehetabell his wife, Joseph Hovey, Elisabeth Wildes y* wife of Jonathan Wildes, Mary Perkins y® wife of John Perkins, Martha Perley and Susannah Hovey. at y* same time also Abigail Cummings y® wife of Joseph Cum- mings.
May 4. Admitted into full Communion Jacob Bixby.
June I. Admitted into full Communion Mary Smith y® wife of Ephraim Smith.
June 8. Admitted into full Communion John Prichard.
July 19. Martha Prichard y® wife of John Prichard owned y® Covenant.
July 27. John Perkins Jun*" owned y® Covenant.
August 10. Jonathan Wildes owned y* Covenant.
September 7. Admitted into full Communion Ivory Hovey Jun** Jemima Town y® wife of Joseph Town Jun*^ and Dorcas Hovey.
September 19, at a church meeting in Topsfield, I It was vot- ed with great unanimity y‘ Jacob Peabody should succeed Dea- con Reddington in his office of a Deacon: he viz. De a con Reddington by reason of his age was rendered unable to of- ficiate: Jacob Peabody signified his acceptance of y® office he was chose into. II Deacon Reddington delivered y® money to y® church viz. 4 Pounds which was willed to it by y* widow Howlett deceased and was Lodged in his hands for y* End, he being an Executor to her will:‘Twas y" left in Dea- con Howletts hands untill y* church should see cause to call for it and dispose of it.
October 19. The church of Topsfield dismissed according to their Desires Job Averell, John Nicholls, Thomas Robin- son and Thomas Curtiss, in order to their being Embodied in a church Society at Middleton with Sundry other Members at s** town, y® wives of Job Averell, Thomas Robinson and
CHURCH IN TOPSFTELD.
27
Thomas Curtiss with y® widow Mary Hobs were then dis- missed also.
Nov“ 2. Admitted into full Communion Mercy Perkins y® wife of Joseph Perkins. Nathan Bixby being dismissed Recommended by y® church of Boxford was received intoy* church of Topsfield.
November 23. Michall Coffan and Lydia his wife owned y® Covenant.
The Church of Christ in Middleton, having sent to y* Church of Christ in Topsfield desiring their assistance by their Elder and Delegates in the ordination of the Rev: M*" Andrew Pe- ters whom they had chose to the pastoral office over them in y® Lord. The Church of Topsfield voted I. that they would send. II. The Deacons viz. Deacon Howlett and Deacon Peabody were Chosen the Delegates of y® Church to assist in that Affair.
December 7. Philip Town owned y® Covenant.
Jan’’-'' 4^**, 1729-30. Luke Averell and his wife being dis- missed from and recommended by y® church of Boxford were received into y® church of Topsfield.
Thomas Perley was dismissed from the Church of Christ in Topsfield and recommended to the Church of Christ in Boxford, 1730.
Feb. I. Admitted into full Communion David Nelson. Jo- siah Kenney owned y® Covenant.
Feb. 15. John Town Jun*' owned y® Covenant.
March 22. y® widow Ann Averell, owned y® Covenant.
May 3. Admitted into full Communion William Redding- ton, Abigail Cummings y® wife of Joseph Cummings Jun”^ & Elizabeth Reddington y® wife of Jacob Reddington.
June 28. Admitted into full Communion Martha How- lett y® wife of Sam “ Howlett and Mehetabell Abbot. Pru- dence Dwinell y® wife of Joseph Dwinell owned y® Cove- nant.
July 5. Margaret Perkins y® wife of Sam" Perkins owned y® Covenant.
July 19. Martha Prichard y® wife of John Prichard owned y® Covenant.
August 23, Israel Town and Gracie his wife owned y® Covenant.
28
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
October 4. Joseph Peabody owned y® Covenant.
October 25. Thomas Baker owned y® Covenant.
Twas put to vote in y® Churc[h] whether John Johnston upon y® Certificate he brought with Him from Ireland, should have his child baptized and passed in y® affirmative. The same Day also Thomas Perkins according to his Desire was dismissed by the Church of Topsfield, in order to be embod- ied with some others into a Church at Arundell.
November 22. Lydia Knoulton according to her Desire was dismissed and recommended by the Church of Christ in Topsfield to the [blank]
January 3, 1731. Admitted into full Communion Eliza- beth Lampson y® wife of John Lampson Juffi.
January 24. Nathan” Porter Juffi owned y® Covenant.
March 28. Israel Clark owned y® Covenant.
July 18. Jacob Clarke owned y® Covenant.
August 29. JabezTowne owned y® Covenant.
September 5. Hannah Bowery, owned y® Covenant.
September 12. Stephen Johnson owned y® Covenant.
January 23, 1732. Nathan Whood owned y® Covenant.
March 26. Nathan Whoods Wife, owned y® Covenant.
May 21. Jacob Bixby according to his Desire was dis- missed and recommended by y® Church of Christ in Tops- field to the Second Church of Christ in Killinglee.
June 4. Ephraim Wildes owned y® Covenant.
July 2. Admitted into full Communion Sarah Foster y® wife of Abraham Foster Jun^
July 23. Thomas Gould Jiiffi and Mary his Wife owned y® Covenant.
August 13. John Kneland and his Wife and Daniel Gould and his Wife owned y® Covenant.
October 8. Dan Clark owned y® Covenant.
December 17. Thomas Howlett owned y® Covenant.
June 3, 1733. Nathanael Curtice owned y® Covenant.
Nathan Bixby and Abigail his wife (according to their De- sire) were dismissed and recommended by the Church of Topsfield to the Second Church in Killinglee.
September 2. Admitted into full Communion Sarah Smith Priscilla Lampson and Mehetabel Wilkins.
November 4. Admitted into full Communion Elizabeth Peabody the wife of Joseph Peabody.
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
29
December 2. Jacob Robinson and Mary his wife owned y® Covenant.
December 9. Edmund Town and Elizabeth his wife owned y® Covenant.
December 30. The Case of M*” Stephen Peabody of Box- ford, with Respect to his Desire of Admission into the Church of Topsfield being laid before that Church the Church passed the following vote namely Inasmuch as M”" Stephen Peabody has desired Admission into the Church of Boxford and the Rev: Pastor there with some of the Brethren are so dissatisfied that he is denied Admittance there we cannot at present see our way clear to act any thing in order to his Admission with us unless the Difference between M*" Rogers and Peabody be laid before a Council and a Council after hearing both Parties, should advise us to receive Him into our Communion.
January 6, 1733-4. Admitted into full Communion Elie- zer Lake and Lydia his wife.
February 3. Daniel Gloyd owned y® Covenant.
February 24. Admitted into full Communion John Wildes and Phoebe his wife and Abigail Hovey.
April 28, 1734. Admitted into full Communion Phineas Reddington and Dorothy his wife.
June 16. Philip Kneland Jun*” and his wife owned y® Cov- enant.
June 30. Admitted into full Communion Hepzibah Wildes, y® wife of Ephraim Wildes.
October 27. John Perkins and his wife (according to their Desire) were dismiss[ed] and recommended by the Church of Christ in Topsfield to the Churc[h] of Christ in Middleton.
December i. Jonathan Foster owned y® Covenant.
January 26, 1734-5. Admitted into full Communion the widow Martha Robinson.
February 13. The Church in Topsfield met at y® meeting House, and after y® meeting was opened by humble prayer to God the Church passed the following votes viz. voted I that every Communicant should pay 2 shillings to defray the Charge of y® Elements for y® year ensuing. II that two new flaggons and two new Tankards be bought. Ill that the two
30
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
old Tankards and two old Flaggons be sold as far as they will go towards buying the new ones and that the Remainder be taken out of the Church Stock. IIII. that the Deacons be de- sired to buy the new Tankards and Flaggons.
April 20, 1735. Admitted into full Communion Jacob Averell.
June 15, the following vote was passed namely that if the two old Flaggons and Tankards with the churches Stock which is four pounds, be not enough to buy two new Tank- erds, and two new Flaggons according to what was voted by the Church the 13^^ of February last: that then the Deacons be desired to lay out s‘^ money with the old Pewter as far as they will answer in purchasing such vessells as are most need- ed for the Communion Table.
June 29. Admitted into full Communion John Lampson Jun^. Abraham Reddington and his wife owned y® Covenant.
August 10. Joseph Kneeland owned y® Covenant.
August 17. Daniel Clough and Ruth his wife owned y® Covenant.
September 7. Nathanel Wood owned y® Covenant.
October 6. Admitted into full Communion Phoebe Emery and Sarah Averell.
October 12. Amos Dorman and his wife, owned y® Cove- nant.
November 2. Admitted into full Communion Hannah Town y® wife of Gideon Town.
November 9. Thomas Dorman owned y® Covenant.
December 2. The Church of Topsfield met at y® meeting House in order to make Choice of a Sutable person to offi- ciate as a Deacon in y® chh : and after humble prayer to God for Direction and a short Discourse from Ac^s 6. 2, j. shewing y® official work and specifications of Deacons, y® Church brought in their votes, upon sorting and numbring of which it appeared that Liev* Ivory Hovey was chosen by a great majority: who also accepted y® Choice. The church also voted Eight shillings and Thr[ee] pence to y* widow Howlett for her Husbands Journey to Boston to buy some vessels for y® Communion Table.
December 28. Admitted into full Communion Abigail Hovey the wife of Joseph Hovey.
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
3
February i, 1736. Solomon Gould and Elizabeth his wife owned y* Covenant.
February 29. Admitted into full Communion Nathan Hood.
George Bixby and Mary his wife being dismissed from and recommended by y® Church of Christ in Salem village to y® Care, Communion and holy Fellowship of y® Church of Christ in Topsfield were accordingly received by Topsfield Church.
March 7. Deborah Rogers being dismissed from and re- commended by y® Church of Christ in Boxford, to y® Chris- tian Fellowship, holy Communion and watch of y® Church of Christ in Topsfield, was accordingly admitted into Topsfield Church.
March 14. John Averell owned y® Covenant.
March 21, 1736. Admitted into full Communion Thomas Cummings.
April II. The following Epistle was read to y® Church in Topsfield and voted to be sent to y® Church in Boxford. The Church of Christ in Topsfield to y® Church of Christ in Boxford sendeth Greeting. Rev*^ and Beloved. This comes to acquaint you y^ Cap^ Stephen Peabody is propounded to Communion with us at y® Lords Table, and altho he is a Child of this Church, yet inasmuch as he is an Inhabitant of your Town and also was som[e] years since propounded to you, and his Admission hath been denyed or neglected, we therefore desire to know in y® first place, whether you as a Church have any thing material to object against our pro- ceeding to admit Him into holy Communion and Fellowship with us, or whether there be any particular members of your Church y^ have any sufficient objection.
We are loth to do anything y* should so much as seem to give occasion of offense to a neighbour and Sister Church: we therefore thus send to you, desiring y* if you know of any Just Bar (yet remaining) to his admittance, we may be time- ly acquainted w^^^ it: we say, yet remaining, because (as we suppose) a principal one is removed, for we perceive by a paper read to us, signed by your Rev*^ Pastor & Cap‘ Pea- body, y^ they have mutually forgiven one another all past injuries which we rejoice at, and it would have afforded us
32
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
still further cause for rejoicing if there had been y* like mu- tual forgiveness between Him and others y* are offended, and so y® way cleared for his comfortable and charitable admis- sion with you.
We commend you together with ourselves to y® Grace & Direction of y® great Shepherd of y® Sheep, and desiring your prayers for us, we rest yours in y® faith and Fellow- ship of y® Gospel.
April 1 8. Nathanael Hood Jun*" and Abigail his wife owned y® Covenant.
May i6. Mary Dwinell y® wife of John Dwinell owned y* Covenant.
June 6. David Nelson (according to his Desires) was dis- missed and recommended by y® chh : of Topsfield, to y® Christian Fellowship, holy Communion and watch of y® Chh in Lancaster.
June 27. admitted into full Communion Stephen Pea- body. Will™ Perkins and Sarah Foster y® Daughter of Caleb Foster.
August 15. William Rogers, Aaron Hubbard and Mary his wife owned y® Covenant.
August 29. admitted into full Communion Thomas How- lett, Sarah Dorman, Kezia Town, and Abigail Gould.
October 24. Micall Dwinell JuiT owned y® covenant.
October 31. Admitted into full Communion Joseph Pea- body, Jacob Robinson, Jacob Peabody Junb Mary Robinson y® wife of Jacob Robinson, Phebee Gould, Rebeckah Pea- body, Mary Dorman and Kezia Gould.
November 28. Mary Averelly® wife of John Averell owned y® Covenant.
January 2, 1737. Sam^^ Smith JuiT and Priscilla his wife owned y® Covenant.
May I , admitted into full Communion Luce Dwinell y® wife of Micall Dwinell Junk
June 5. John Robinson and Rebeckah his wife owned y® Covenant.
June 26. Joanna Kneeland y® Daughter of Edward Knee- land.
October 2, the widow Mary Kenney owned y® Covenant.
November 6. admitted into full Communion Hannah Towne y® Wife of Richerd Towne.
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
33
November 13. The widow Mary Bixby (according to her Desire) was dismissed and recommended by y® Church of Christ in Topsfield to y® Christian fellowship watch & holy Communion of y® Second Church of Christ in Killinglee.
November 20. Susanna Scales y® wife of M*" James Scales (according to her Desire) was dismissed and recommended by y® Chh of Christ in Topsfield to y® Chh of Christ in Rum- ford y^ is to y® Christian care, watch and holy Fellowship of y* Church.
December 25. Joshua Conant owned y® Covenant.
February 12, 1738. Nathan^^ Moulton owned y® Cove- nant.
The following message was voted by y® Church of Tops- field to be sent to y® Rev** M*" Rogers Pastor of a Church in Boxford. Rev** S'" For as much as John Andros (who now desires admission into y® Chh : of Topsfield) belongs to your Town and has sought for admission into your Chh: and been propounded by yourself in order thereto, but not re- ceived (and we being loth to do any thing y* should so much as seem to give occasion of offence to your self or Chh : yea should be glad if he might have reasonable satisfaction and be received by you :) we have therefore desired Deacon Pea- body and Deacon Hovey to wait upon you to receive of you (if you see cause to give) y® reason why said Andros was not proceeded with at y® time expected, and whether there be now any objection lying in the way to prevent his xA.dmis- sion.
February 26, 1738. Admitted into full communion John Andrews and Mary Neland.
March 12. Jacob Esley owned y® Covenant.
April 2. Jonathan Stanley owned y® Covenant.
April 30. Admitted into full Communion Mary Neeland y® wife of Philip Neeland, the widow Ann Averell, and Su- sanna Neeland y® wife of John Neeland.
August 13. Rebeckah Smith owned y® Covenant.
September 24. Susannah Dwinell the wife of John Dwinell Jun^ owned y* Covenant.
October 22. Jemima Town y* wife of Joseph Town Jun”* (according to her Desire) was dismissed and recommended by y® Church of Christ in Topsfield to y® Christian Fellow-
34
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
ship watch and holy Communion of y® Second Church of Christ in Killinglee.
November 5. Benjamin How and Alice his wife (accord- ing to their desire) were dismissed and recommended by y® Church of Christ in Topsfield to y® Christian watch and holy Communion of the Church of Christ in Sutton.
February 4, 1739. Joseph Dorman and Elisha Towne Jun’’ owned y® Covenant.
February 25. Daniel Gould and Lydia his wife admitted into full Communion.
March 4. Priscilla Gould y* Daughter of Cap* Joseph Gould admitted into full Communion.
April 22. Isaac Towne owned y® Covenant.
August 12. Joseph Baker admitted into full Communion.
October 28. Israel Town and Grace his wife Admitted in- to full Communion.
November 25. Thomas Dwinell Jun*^ owned y® Cove- nant.
December 30. Lydia Stanley y® wife of Sam” Stanley.
January 6, 1740. Jonathan Treadwell owned y® Cove- nant.
February 24. Pheebe y® wife of Robert Edwards admitted into full Communion.
April 27. Solomon Gould, Sarah Baker y® wife of Thom- as Baker, Martha Prichett y® wife of John Prichett, Elisabeth Gould y® wife of Solomon Gould & Ruth Gould y® Daughter of Cap* Joseph Gould, admitted into full communion.
August 10. Joseph Curtis Jun*" and Katharine his wife owned y® Covenant.
August 24. Joseph Cummings Jun' owned y* Covenant.
August 31. John Gould Jun^ admitted into full Commu- nion.
September 14. Thomas Andres Jun’’ owned y* Cove- nant.
October 5. M*" Ivory Hovey Jun*" having an Invitation to
settle in y® work of y® ministry at Rochester was (according to his Desire) dismissed and recommended by y* Church of Christ in Topsfield to y® Christian watch and holy Commu- nion of y® Second Church of Christ in Rochester.
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
35
October 26. Kezia Fitts y® wife of Robert Fitts Jun*' of Sutton was (according to her Desire) dismissed and recom- mended by y® Church of Christ in Topsfield to y® Christian watch and holy Communion of y® Church of Christ in Sut- ton.
November 16. Jacob Dwinell owned y® Covenant.
December 7. Hannah Goodhall y® wife of Thomas Good- hall owned y® Covenant.
January 4, 1741. Eleaser Gould owned y® Covenant.
March i. Cornelius Balch owned y® Covenant.
April 26. Margaret Perkins y® wife of Sam^^ Perkins, Lydia Symonds and Patience Gould admitted into full Com- munion.
May 24. Joseph Baker and Mehetabel his wife were (ac- cording to their Desire) dismissed and recommended by y® Church of Christ in Topsfield to y® Christian watch and holy Communion of y® Church of Christ in Dudley.
June 21. Mary P'oster y® Daughter of Caleb Foster ad- mitted into full Communion. Stephen y® son of Caleb Fos- ter owned y® Covenant.
July 12. Simon Gould and John Balch owned y® Cove- nant.
August 9. Deborah a negro servant woman belonging to Joseph Herrick and Katharine a negro servant maid belong- ing to Joseph Porter owned y® Covenant.
September 13. Israel Town and Grace his wife (at their Desire) were dismissed from and recommended by y® Church of Christ in Topsfield in order to be embodied with certain others into a distinct chh. at Sou^^hegan west.
October 4. Sarah y® wife of Mical Holdgate owned y® Covenant.
October 25. Martha y® wife of Dan Clark, Sarah Bull, Martha the Daughter of Sam^^ Howlett, and Dorothy Aver- ell a child in her tenth year y® Daughter of Jacob Averell ad- mitted into full Communion.
January 24, 1742. David Towne and Mary his wife owned y® Covenant.
February 14. Simon Bradstreet Jun** and Anna his wife owned y® Covenant.
36
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
March 2i. Phinehas Reddington and Dorothy his wife (at their Desire) were dismissed from and recommended by y® Church of Christ in Topsfield to y® Christian watch & holy Communion of y® first Church of Christ in Lebanon in Con- necticut.
April 8. Elisabeth wife of Jacob Reddington (at her de- sire) was dismissed from and recommended by y® Church of Christ in Topsfield to y® Christian watch & holy Communion of y® fourth Church of Christ in Windsor.
May 2. Joseph Edwards admitted into full Communion.
May i6. Jeremiah Towne, Aaron Hovey and Sarah his wife owned y® Covenant.
May 23. Ruth Dodge owned y® Covenant.
June 20. Seabrew a Negro servant man belonging to Sam^^ Pearley.
June 27. Ezekiel Potter, John Symonds, Abraham Foster Jun**, Samuel Hewlett Jun*", John Hood, Sarah Town, Elisa- beth Hood ye wife of Nathan Hood, Esther y® wife of Aaron Estey, Martha y® wife of Joseph Cummings Jun*", Sarah y® wife of Abraham Hobbs, Mary y® wife of Ezekiel Potter, Jane Pearley, Katharina Wildes y® Daughter of Cap^ John Wildes, Mary y® Daughter ofWill“ Reddington, Sarah Mans- field, Eunice y® Daughter of Ephraim Kimball, Elisabeth y® Daughter of Abraham How & Elisabeth y® Daughter of WilP Reddington admitted into full Communion. Amos Hood owned y® Covenant.
July 18. Sam” Pearley and his wife owned y® Cove- nant.
August 10. The Brethren of y® Church Tarrying after Lecture and after some Discourse had concerning y® charge of providing for y® Lords Table: y® following vote was passed viz. That each Communicant should for y® year en- suing pay Three shillings viz. 18^ in September next and 18*^ in March next, for y® Defraying y® rising Charge of y® Ele- ments.
August 29. Amos Dwinell, Hannah Perkins wife of Ja- cob Perkins, Rebeckah Edwards wife of Tho® Edwards, Abi- gail wife of Nathan” Hood Jun’’, Hepsibah Daughter of Abraham How, Sarah Daughter of Abraham Foster, Esther Dwinell, Jemima Town, Hannah Cumings Daughter of Isaac
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
37
Cummings Jun*^, Hannah Daughter of Sam” Perkins, Hannah Daughter of Sam” Potter, Rebekah Pichard & Mary y® Daugh- ter of Joseph Hale admitted into full Communion.
September 5. Charity y® wife of Doctor Mical Dwinell, y® wife of Benjamin Ireland & Sarah y® Daughter of Cap* Joseph Gould admitted into full communion.
October 17. Sam” Potter Jun*^ and Abigail his wife owned y® Covenant.
October 31. Doctor Richard Dexter and Mehetabell his wife, Zacheus Gould, Phoebe Town and Susannah Gould ad- mitted into full communion.
January 16, 1743. Benjamin Towne Jun*’ owned y® Cove- nant.
February 6. The Church being desired to tarry & y® Congregation also, y® Brethren of y® Chh : did then mani- fest y”^ Desire by a vote to keep a Day of Prayer with Fasting to God, to cry unto God for y® outpouring of his Holy Spirit in his converting and saving influences upon y® Flock both Parents & Children. The Brethren of y® chh: did also manifest y*" Desire by a further vote y* y® Congregation would join w*” them in keeping y® Day: Then y® Pastor appointed Wednesday y® sixteenth of this in- stant February to be observed as above expressed.
February 27. Aaron Hovey, Nehemiah Abbot, and Sea- brew a Negro Serv* Man belonging to Sam^* Pearly admitted into full Communion.
April 17. Thomas Symonds and Anna his wife owned y® Covenant.
June 26. David Balch & Sarah y® wife of Micall Holdgate admitted into full Communion.
August 7. Mary Barall owned y® Covenant.
August 21. The Brethren of y® Church being desired to tarry after y® Blessing was given a Letter sent from Exeter to be communicated subscribed by 29 of y® Brethren of y® Church in s^ town desiring of y® Church in Topsfield their assistance by their Elder & Delegates in Council with other churches, respecting some Differences that had arisen, and were yet subsisting among y® Members or some of ye Mem- bers in said church of Exeter: which Letter being read to, and debated on among y* Brethren of y® church in Topsfield,
38
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
and y* question put whether y* Church would send as de- sired in y® Letter, and it passed in y* Negative.
September 4. Ann Wallis owned y® Covenant.
October 9. Y® Brethren of y® chh : being desired to tarry after y® Blessing a second Letter from some aggrieved Mem- bers of y® Chh: in Exeter, with y® Result of y® late ecclesi- astical Council y* sat there and was left till Thirsday next (being a generall Thanksgiving on s** Day for y** Day for y® Preservation of y® King &c.) for consideration.
October 13. After y® publick Exercise was over y® Breth- ren of y® chh : being desired, tarried, y® officers of y® agrieved Members of y® Chh: in Exeter, being mentioned, and after it was briefly opened without reading y® Letter again it was first put to vote whether y® chh: would send Delegates as desired of y“ in their Letter, and it passed in y® affirmative. Secondly, ye chh: then proceeded to make choice of y® Per- sons y‘ should go with their Pastor to represent them ; one and another refusing to y® Number of Eight were chosen viz Deacon Peabody, Deacon Hovey, M*^ George Bixby, Cap^ Tobijah Perkins, Cap* John Wildes, Cap* Joseph Gould, M*" Luke Averell and M*" Mark How. But two only of those per- sons went withy® Pastor, viz. Deacon Hovey and Cap* Joseph Gould.
Nov“ 2. being Lecture Day y* Brethren of y® chh: being desired to tarry after y® Blessing y* Result of y® late Council of chhs. y* sat at Exeter was read to them.
December 4. Daniel Bixby owned y® Covenant.
December 25. Andrew Bradstreet admitted into full Com- m union.
January 8, 1744. Isaac Perkins and Elizabeth his wife owned y® Covenant.
February 26. John Perkins Third, and Elisabeth his wife, Lucy Bradstreet, and Pheebe Towne y® Daughter of Gideon Towne, admitted into full Communion.
March ii. Elisabeth y* wife of Robert Perkins and Pris- cilla y® wife of Jacob Averell admitted into full Commu- nion.
April 29. Mary y® wife of Thomas Gould Jun*' Admitted into full Communion.
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
39
June 3. On Sabbath Day morning a little after Ten y* Clock as people were assembled and assembling them- selves to y* publick worship God was pleased to shaken y® Land once more w*** an awfull Earthquake. At y® close of y® publick Exercises of y* Sabbath it was proposed first to y® Brethren of y® Church and voted by y“ & y" to y® Congrega- tion & voted by y“ as follows viz. That next Tuesday after- noon beginning at Three o y® Clock should be spent for these Ends.
1. to give thanks to GOD for his mercifull preservation w” y® Earth was shaken in a terrible manner & for a considerable time.
2. to cry unto God y* He would still spare us and this people.
3. That GOD would sanctifie to us this loud and awfull warning, and others also y* He is giving of us at this Day, that we may so hearken, listen & attend to y“ as y* there may be an abiding sincere & universal Reformation y* GOD may be pleased for Christs sake to turn from y® firm- ness of his anger, forgive our sins & prevent those awfull Judgments y* we apprehend we have warning of & are im- pending over us.
Accordingly w" y® Day came June 5, 3 oclock afternoon y*' was a numerous assembly and a sermon (calculated to im- prove y® present Dispensation of providence) was delivered from Heb. //. j. by faith Noah being warned of GOD, of things not seen as yet, moved w^*^ fear prepared an ark to y® saving of his House.
September 16. Joseph Cummings & Sarah his wife and Thomas Cummings (at their Desire) were dismissed from their speciall Relation to y® chh : of Christ in Topsfield, and recommended to y® Third Church of Christ in Ipswich.
December 9. Ephraim Kimball Jun*’ owned y® Covenant.
February 12, 1744-5. at a church Meeting in Topsfield after humble and fervent prayer to GOD, and also after a full and calm Debate y® following vote was passed by a great majority viz. that y® Rev** Whitefield be desired by this Church to preach in y® Meeting House. Cap* Perkins, Cap* Wildes, M*" Luke Averell and Doctor Dexter were desired to wait upon y® Rev** M*" Whitefield with y® chh. vote.
40
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
May 5. Joseph Perkins Jun^ and Sarah y* wife of John Wildes Jun’’ admitted into full Communion. Nathan^ Low dismissed from & recommended by y® church of Christ in Wenham to y® Church of Christ in Topsfield was according- ly received into y* Communion of Topsfield Church.
May 12. George Stark and Sarah his wife owned y* Cove- nant.
August 25. Sarah Jackson admitted into full Commu- nion.
September 15. Abigail Hovey (now Killburn) at her De- sire was dismissed from & recommended by y* chh of Christ in Topsfield to y* Christian Fellowship & Communion of y® first Chh: of Christ in Rowley.
September 22. a Letter (after publick service) was read to y* Brethren of y® Chh : in Topsfield from y* first chh : in Salem desiring their assistance in the ordination of M’’ Leav- itt by their Elder and Delegates: and I. voted y* y® Chh: would send as desired in y* Letter from y® said Chh: in Salem. II. y"y®chh: proceeded to make choice of Dele- gates or Messengers : and Deacons Peabody, Dwinell, Hovey and Cap* Gould were made choice of.
November 15. at a Church Meeting in Topsfield the fol- lowing articles were proposed to y® chh : to consider of by their Pastor viz. i. whether or no a Minister may not w**^ a good Conscience w**^out giving offence to CHRIST or his People, seek a Dismission from such a people who refuse to support y* Gospel among y“ tho often requested, provided y* people be able. 2. Whether or no y® people of Topsfield be notable to support y® Gospell in a credible manner, but yet refuse to do it, tho often requested. 3. inasmuch as y® money for some years past has not been made good, whether as a chh: you will do good endeavour that what is justly due, shall be paid, and also join w*** y® rest of y* Town in buying my Dwelling House &c. 4. inasmuch as this people
refuse to support y® Gospel, whether y* way be not now quite clear for me to seeke a Dismission from my Pastoral relation to y“ in a regular way: and whether I may not, if invited by any people, give some encouragement of preach- ing among them quickly. 5. whether or no, you will join in calling a Council, that I may be regularly dismissed : pro-
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
41
vided ye. Council apprehend y® way to be clear, ye Town supporting y® Council. Hereupon y* chh : voted to adjourn to y® Day 3 weeks from y* Date above mentioned.
December 6. y® Chh: met upon y® adjournment and after reading y® abovesaid articles it was put to vote whether y® chh: would join in calling a Council: passed in y® Negative, Nomine Contra dicente.
January 5, 1746. Joseph Cummins Jun*^ owned y® Cove- nant.
January 19. Elisha Cummings owned y® Covenant.
February 23. Thomas Baker admitted into full Commu- nion.
March 2. Mary Neeland y® Daughter of Philip Neeland admitted into full Communion.
March 30. Elijah Porter owned y* Covenant.
May 18. Eliezer Lake Jun*’ and Sarah his wife owned y® Covenant.
October 12. Robert Smith, Sam“Phippen& Amee his wife owned y® Covenant.
October 26. Benjamin Bixby and Ann his wife owned y* Covenant.
November 7, 1746 at a Church Meeting in Topsfield y® following votes were passed viz i. That whereas Dudley Bradstreet & Isaac Cummings late of Topsfield Deceased did each of y“ in their last will & testament bequeath to y® Church of CHRIST in Topsfield, several sums of Money for y® use of Chh : therefore voted y‘ Deacon Peabody and Deacon Hovey be desired and impowered in y® name, and on y® Behalf of y® said chh: of Topsfield, to receive y* said Money, of ye Executors of y® last wills of y® said Bradstreet and Cummings Deceased : that is to say thirty Pounds old tenor, of y® Executor of said Bradstreets will, and eighteen Pounds old tenor of y* Executor of said Cummings’s will, and give to y® Executors a Receipt or Discharge in full, in y® name of y* chh: of Topsfield.
2. That whereas there is something wanting respecting y® furniture of y® Lords Table, therefore voted, that y® Deacons be desired, to supply or mend what is deficient or broken, and to defray the charge hereof, to drawy* money out of y® aforesaid sums, and to keep y® Remainder of said money, for y® Chhs : use.
42
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
November 23. Recommended to y® chh: of Christ in Topsfield, by y® 2^ chh: of Christ in Boston John Bordman as one that had received his baptismal Covenant, and Eliza- beth his wife in chh: Communion, and dismissed from their chh : Relation in Boston aforesaid, were accordingly received by y® chh: of Topsfield:
December 7. Mary Neeland (now Abbot) according to her Desire was dismissed and recommended to y® 2*^ church of Christ in Andover, b}^ y® chh: of Christ in Topsfield.
Feb. 8, 1 746' 7. a Letter was read to y® chh: of Topsfield, sent to y“ by y® 2^ chh: in Groton desiring y* assistance of y*^ Elder and Messengers, in y® ordination of M*" Joseph Pear- son to y® pastorall office, over said chh: in Groton, y® chh: of Topsfield voted to send, and also chose Deacon Peabody and Cap* Wildes to go as Messengers.
March 29. Anthony Potter owned y® Covenant.
May 10. Nathan'^ Averell owned y® Covenant.
May 24. Margarett y® wife of Zebulun Wildes owned y® Covenant.
June 14. John Lee=Favour owned y® Covenant.
August 30. Nathan “ Averell Jun*" Admitted into full Com- munion.
October II. W“ Conant owned y® Covenant.
October 25. Widow Anna Bradstreet admitted into full Communion.
November I. a Letter from y* South Chh : in Ipswich was read to y* chh: of Topsfield desiring their assistance by their Elder and Messengers in y® ordination of M*" John Walley to y® pastorall office over said chh: in Ipswich, i. voted to send according to y® Desire expressed in y* Letter Missive. 2. Deacon Peabody, Deacon Hovey, Cap* Wildes, Cap* Perkins and M’’ Thomas Baker were chosen Delegates to go with y® Elder on y® important office.
November 15. Daniel Cummings and Mary his wife owned y® Covenant.
Feb’’^ 14, 1747-8. Dorothy, wife of Elijah Porter being dismissed from, and recommended by y® first chh: in York to y* Christian Fellowship of y* chh: in Topsfield, was accord- ingly Received into y® chh: of Topsfield.
June 26. Mary Dwinell admitted into full Communion.
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
43
August 28. Sarah Daughter of George Bixby admitted into full Communion.
November 6. Dorcas, y® Daughter of Joseph Perkins ad- mitted into full Communion.
November 27. James Andrews of Boxford owned y® Cove- nant.
December 4. Stephen Gould of Boxford and Hannah his wife owned y* Covenant.
December ii. Joshua Towne Jun*" owned y* Covenant.
December 18. Ebeneser Averell and Mary his wife owned y® Covenant.
January 22, 1749. Thomas Foster and Mehetabel his wife owned y* Covenant.
March i, 1748-9. at a Church Meeting in Topsfield y® fol- lowing votes were passed, viz. i. Whereas y® chh : stands endebted to y® Deacons lO;^ old Tenor for y® Elements, voted yt y« Pastor be desired to give Publick Notice to y® Chh: against y® sacrament in May, & desire y® chh : to contribute to raise Money, to reimburse y® Deacons. 2. Whereas each communicant gave 14® old Tenor to defray y® charge of ye Elements, but y* is found not sufficient, therefore voted y* each Member give 6* old Tenor for y® year ensuing, y‘ is 3* at each contribution. 3. whereas there is 42;^ 3® old tenor chh: stock in y® Hands of Deacon Peabody & Deacon Hovey : voted y* Money for y® year ensuing, be let out to Intrust by y® Deacons for y® use of y* Church.
March 5. George Lesslie A. B. admitted into full Commu- nion.
March 12. Hannah, wife of Sam” Curtice at her Desire W’as dismissed & recommended by y® chh: in Topsfield, to y® Christian care watch & holy Fellowship of y® chh in Ox- ford.
May 7. Joshua Balch and Sarah his wife owned y® Cove- nant.
Seabrew a Negro servant, at his Desire was dismissed & Recommended by y® chh of Christ in Topsfield to y® Chris- tian care watch & Holy P*ellowship of y® first chh of Christ in Newbury.
May 28. Thomas & Ezekiel Potter, John & Nehemiah Abbot dismissed & Recommended in order to be Embodyed
44
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
sundry other Members into a distinct church at Line- Brook Parish.
September 17. Sam” Towne Jun’^ and Mary his wife owned y® Covenant.
October 6. At a church meeting inTopsfield after prayer to God — I. voted to make choice of two Persons for Dea- cons. 2. upon sorting and Numbring y® votes, it appeared y‘ M*" George Bixby and Ensign Daniel Gould were chosen: who desired some time for consideration. 3. M*’ George Lesslie was dismissed & Recommended to be Embodied w^^ others into a chh : at Line-Brook Parish.
October 8. Benjamin Woodbury and Elizabeth his wife owned y® Covenant.
October 29. Nathaniel Boardman, Joseph Hale Third of Boxford and Priscilla Peabody admitted into full Commu- nion.
November 5. ye chh: being stopped after Lecture voted I. that Each Member next sacrament in January should con- tribute for y* Elements 4 shillings old tenor. 2. Sam” How- lett Jun*", Martha & Mary Howlett were dismissed & recom- mended to y® first chh: of Christ in Woodstock, two Let- ters Read to y® Church: Letter Read which came
from y® 2^ Church in Lynn to assist in Council, i. voted to send. 2. Deacon Hovey chosen a Delegate to go w^” y® Elder.
2*^ Letter Read, which came from Line Brook Desiring as- sistance in ordination, i. voted to send. 2. Delegates chosen, viz. Deacon Hovey, Cap* Perkins, Cap* Baker, Cap* Wildes, M*" Matthew Peabody and M*’ George Bixby.
November 16. The Result of y® Council at Lynn-End Read to y® Chh: in Topsfield.
December 10. Messieurs Bixby and Gould Deacons Elect manifested their acceptance, upon which by prayer they were commended to y® Grace of GOD.
December 31. Susanna & Mary Potter dismissed & re- commended to Line-brook Church.
January 7, 1749-50. Richard Marshall Jun‘‘ Received in- to y® Church of Topsfield being dismissed & recommended by y® 3” chh: in Ipswich.
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
45
April 29. Mehitable y® wife of Tho“ Foster admitted in- to full Communion. Widow Conant owned y* Covenant.
June 17. John Lampson and Anna his wife owned y® Covenant.
June 24. Widow Martha Balch owned y* Covenant.
July I. Esther y* wife of John Gould Received into y® chh : of Topsfield being dismissed & recommended by y® chh : in Dudley.
October 14. Daniel Lake owned y® Covenant.
October 25. Read a Letter to y* chh. sent from y® chh: in Wenham desiring assistance in ordination. I. voted to send. 2. Delegates chosen were Deacons Bixby & Gould, Cap^ Perkins, Cap* Gould, Doctor Dexter & M*" Joseph Ed- wards.
October 28. Elijah Foster owned y* Covenant.
January 6, 1750-51. Mary Neeland (now Abbot) dis- missed & recommended to y* chh : in Souhegan, also John Symonds dismissed & recommended to y* west chh: in Ha- verhill.
February 24. Phebe Town by y® chh: of Topsfield dis- missed & recommended to y® chh: in Quobbin.
March 3. a Letter from y® first chh: in Boxford desiring assistance in Council read to y® chh: & Left for considera- tion.
March 21. The said Letter as noticed March 3** above from Boxford, read again: & y® chh: of Topsfield voted i. to send Delegates to Join and assist in Council, as mentioned in y® Letter missive from y* first chh : in Boxford. 2. Dea- con Hovey, Deacon Bixby, Cap* Gould & Deacon Gould were chosen.
April 14. Read to y* Chh : y® Result of y® Council called by y* first chh : in Boxford.
May 12. Widow Buzzell owned y® Covenant.
July 21. David Cummings Jun*" and Anna his wife owned y® Covenant.
December 15. Amos Wildes and Hannah his wife owned y® Covenant.
February 23, 1752. Widow Lucy Perkins owned y® Cov- enant.
1752. Hannah wife of Ebenezer Killam being dismissed
46
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
and Recommended by y® 3^ chh : in Ipswich was admitted a Member in full Communion w‘*^ y* [chh:] in Topsfield.
July 5. Nathan** Smith owned y* Covenant.
August 30. Thomas Baker Jun' and Sarah his wife owned y* Covenant.
October 15. Jacob Gould and Elizabeth his wife owned y® Covenant.
November 5. Joseph Gould Jun’’ admitted into full Com- munion.
December 3. Widow Lucy Perkins admitted into full Communion. Thomas Perkins Jun** and Martha his wife owned y* Covenant.
December 31. Mercy wife of David Perkins admitted in- to full Communion.
January 14, 1753. Tho“ Moore and Mary his wife owned y* Covenant.
January 21. Samson a Negro serv* man belonging to Doc**" Dexter owned y* Covenant.
January 28. John Creed owned y* Covenant.
February 25. Jane wife of Benjamin Woodbury admitted into full Communion.
April 15. David Perkins and Lydia Dwinell owned y* Covenant.
May 20. Rebekah wife of Zacheus Gould admitted into full Communion.
May 27. y® widow Mary Hovey (now wife of M*’ Aquila Jewett) was dismissed & recommended to y* first chh. of Christ in Rowley, also y* Same Day Mercy, wife of Joseph Baker was dismissed & recommended to y® chh. of Christ in Methuen.
June 17. Jacob Curtis & his wife owned y* Cov^
June 24. Jonathan Towne ^nd Esther his wife owned y* Covenant.
August 5. Paul Averell dismissed and recommended to y* Chh of Christ in Killinglee of which y® Rev** M*" Cabbot is Pastor.
August 12. David Balch Jun‘‘ and Abigail the wife of Jo- seph Edwards owned y® Covenant.
September 9. Robert Perkins, Bartholomew Dwinell & his wife owned y® Covenant.
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
47
October 28. David Pricherd owned y* Covenant.
December 30. Rebeckah Smith admitted into full Com- munion.
May 19, 1754. Eunice y® wife of Stephen Perkins owned y® Covenant.
July 7. Abraham Foster Jun'' by y* chh at Topsfield dis- missed & recommended to y* 2^ chh in Rowley.
September 15. Sarah wife of Levi Andrews, in a Private House : that is gave her Consent to y* Cov* as y® Scripture of it was propounded to her by word of mouth, the Reason of its being done privately, was her Ernest Repeated Desire of Baptism w" to appearance was near to y® Eternal world.
December 8. Sarah wife of Israel Davis owned y® Cove- nant.
February 16, 1755. Moses Perkins and Anna his wife owned y* Covenant.
March 16. Jeremiah Gallop, Joseph Majory and Hannah his wife owned y® Covenant.
April 6. Paul Pricherd & his wife owned y* Covenant.
April 20. Eli Towne and Elizabeth his wife owned y® Cov- enant.
June I. Enoch Perkins & Ruth his wife owned y® Cove- nant.
June 8. Joseph Towne Jun' and Elizabeth his wife owned y* Covenant.
June 15. Abigail wife of Israel Herrick owned y® Cove- nant.
June 29. Archelaus Dwinell & Martha his wife and Re- bekah wife of Peter Robinson owned y® Covenant.
October 29. at a church meeting in Topsfield the follow- ing vote was passed, viz. That y® Chh®: money in Deacon Hoveys Hands which is 08=03=06 Lawfull Money, be de- livered in to y* Hands of Deacon Bixby and Deacon Gould, and by them let out for y® Church’s use, & that D. Bixby & D. Gould give to D. Hovey in y® Chh®: Name, a Discharge of Sum.
November 20. The Receipt was given to D. Hovey by D. Bixby and Deacon Gould.
December 21. William Gallop and Hepsibah his wife owned y® Covenant.
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RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
December 28. Sam” Tapley and Abiel his wife owned y* Covenant.
January 4, 1756. Sarah wife of Aaron Hovey admitted into full Communion. Timothy Dorman and Eunice his wife: Huldah Tapley, Alexander Tapley and Hannah Mars- tin owned y* Covenant.
January ii. Wife of Benjamin Bayley owned y® Cove- nant.
January 18. Jabez Towne Jun*" and Lydia his wife, Mary Cree, Sarah Cree, Phoebe Towne and Alee an Indian Woman owned y* Covenant.
January 20. Ebenezer Curtis Jun*" on a week Day, & in a private House, being sick owned y® Covenant.
January 25. Ruth Johnson owned y® Covenant.
February i. Prudence Towne, Anna Towne and Francis Towne owned y® Covenant.
February 22. Tho® Perkins 3*^ and Dinah his wife owned y® Covenant.
February 29. Anna wife of John Lampson 3*^ admitted in- to full Communion.
March 7. Mary Gould admitted into full Communion. John Jacobs owned y® Covenant.
March 14. W“ Hood & Mary his wife ow/ied y® Covenant.
April 4. Hannah wife of Amos Wildes, Mary wife of Ar- chelaus Rea admitted into full Communion.
April II. Richard Cree, John Back, and John Holdgate owned y® Covenant.
April 25. Elijah Porter, widow Mary Clark, Elizabeth wife of Samuel Bradstreet, Anna wife of Edmund Putnam & Martha wife of Tho® Perkins Jun*" admitted into full Commu- nion.
July 4. Jacob Perkins Jun*“ and Tho® Symonds admitted into full Communion.
August 8. Jacob Perkins 3^ and Martha his wife owned y® Covenant.
August 29. Sarah wife of Tho® Baker Jun' admitted into full Communion. Jacob Wildes and Martha his wife owned y® Covenant.
September 12. Isaac Estey & Hannah his wife owned y® Covenant.
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December 12. Stephen Symonds admitted into full Com- munion.
March 2 [1757]. John Bradstreet and his wife were re- ceived into y* chh of Topsfield upon their Dismission & Re- commendation from y* Chh. in Wenham.
March 21. Rebekah Gould (Formerly Bixby) was re- ceived into y® Chh of Topsfield y* Letter of her Dismission & Recommendation from y* 2^ Chh in Boxford being read to y® Brethren of Topsfield Chh.
May I. Mary wife of Nathan” Low admitted into full Communion.
June 26. Sarah wife of Cap* Israel Davis admitted into full Communion.
August 21, Jacob Kimball & Priscilla his wife owned y® Covenant.
October 9. Tho* Kimball & Hannah his wife owned y® Covenant.
October 16. John Peabody owned y* Covenant.
October 30. Huldah Daughter of Israel Averell admitted into full Communion.
November 20. Hannah wife of John Peabody owned y® Covenant.
February 26, 1758. Martha wife of John Cree admitted into full Communion.
March i. The chh : of Topsfield voted y* y® contributions to defray y® Charge of y® Elements should be on y* Sacra- ment Days in May and in November.
May 3. Esther wife of Philip Town dismissed & recom- mended by y®chh: of Wenham was admitted into ye chh: in Topsfield.
July 2. Andrew Bradstreet dismissed and recommended by y® chh: of Christ in Topsfield to y* holy Communion, watch & Care of y® Chh : of Christ in Biddeford.
July 28. Read a Letter to y® Church from y® 3"* Chh in Haverhill desiring assistance in an ecclesiasticall Council, i. y® Chh : voted to send. 2. Deacon Bixby was chose as a Delegate to go w*^ y® Pastor.
Nov***" 5. Mary wife of John Perkins dismissed & recom- mended by y* chh of Wenham was admitted into y® chh: of Topsfield.
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RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
December lo. Tho® Gould Jun*' owned ye Covenant.
January 5, 1759. at a church meeting in Topsfield a Let- ter was read to y® chh : fro[m] y® chh in Middleton desiring assistance in y® ordination of M*" Elias Smith to y® pastoral office in s*^ Middleton, i. y® chh: in Topsfield voted to send. 2. voted y* Deacon Bixby, Deacon Gould & Cap^To- bijah Perkins should go as Delegates to accompan[y] y® Pas- tor on s** important off [ice].
January 21. Sam^^ Cumings and Eunice his wife owned y® Covenant.
January 28. Read a Letter to y® Chh: in Topsfield from y® first chh : in Boxford desiring assistance in y® ordination of M*^ Elizur Holyoak to y® Pastorall office over first chh: in Boxford & y® Parrish also. i. y® chh: in Topsfield voted to send. 2. Delegates chosen to accompany y® Elder were Deacon Bixby, Deacon Gould, Lieu‘ Lampson and Doctor Richerd Dexter.
April 15. Joseph Hale 3*^ & Sarah his wife were dis- missed and recommended by y* Chh of Christ in Topsfield to y® holy Communion Christian watch & Fellowship of y* first chh of Christ in Boxford.
June 3. Stephen Symonds dismissed & recommended by y* Church of Christ in Topsfield to y® holy Communion Christian watch and Care of y® first Church of Christ in Box- ford.
December 9. Kezia y® wife of Amos Perkins admitted in- to full Communion. Joseph Andrew & Dorothy his wife owned y® Covenant.
May 4, 1760. Mary Bixby (now Baker) dismissed & re- commended by y® chh of Topsfield to y® first Chh in Salis- bury.
May II. Dan“ Averell & Joanna his wife owned y® Cove- nant.
August 3. Mark How dismissed & recommended by y® chh in Topsfield to y* chh in Line=Brook Parrish, also a Letter from some aggrieved Brethren in y® West Parrish in Haverhill desiring assistance in Council read to y® Chh. con- sidered, debated upon & then dismissed.
October 18. Tho" Howlett owned y® Covenant.
October 19. Molly Hooper owned y® Covenant.
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD'.
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April 26, 1761. Mary wife of J"® Jacobs owned y® Cove- nant.
May 24. Pheebe, wife of Eliezer Gould dismissed & re- commended by y® chh in Topsfield to y* chh in Douglass.
September 20. Read a Letter to y* chh in Topsfield, from y* chh: in y® West Parrish in Haverhill and by a vote of s^ Parrish desiring assistance in Council Respecting y* Differ- ence long subsisting between y® Pastor & People. The affair was left for consideration.
Octob** 4. Read y® Letter Missive 2^ time from Haverhill West Parrish to y® chh. in Topsfield desiring assistance in Council. The chh: of Topsfield voted to send: y® Dele- gates chosen were Deacon Bixby, Cap* Tho® Baker, DocU Dexter & M*" Elijah Porter. Tho but two of y® above named accompanied y® Pastor, viz Deacon Bixby & Cap* Baker.
October ii. After publick Service read in Publicky® Re- sult of y® ecclesiasticall Council in Haverhill West=Par- ish.
November 8. Davis Hewlett and Mary his wife owned y* Covenant.
March 14, 1762. Stephen Hovey owned y® Covenant.
April II. Jn® Baker, Jun’’ and Mary his wife owned y* Covenant.
May 9. Solomon Gould Jun** and his wife owned y® Cov- enant.
June 13, 1762. Sarah, wife of Cap* Israel Davis of Dan- vers, was dismissed and recommended by y* chh in Topsfield to y® second Chh in Danvers.
July 18. Read a Letter from y« fifth Parrish in Newbury, desiring assistance in Council, to embody a Number of mem- bers into a Chh : Being put to vote it passed in y® Negative. Nomine contra dicent[e].
August 22. Read a Letter to y® Brethren of y® chh: from y® new gathered chh : in y® fifth Parrish in Newbury, desiring assistance in Councill to install y® Rev^ M*" Noble — y* affair was left for consideration.
August 29. The Letter above mentioned read a 2^ time to y* Chh : who voted to send : M*" Elijah Porter and Cap* Tobijah Perkins were chosen Delegates to go w*^ y® Pastor, Deacon Bixby was also chosen but excused himself.
52
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
Septemb*' 19. Isaac Averell & Priscilla his wife owned y® Covenant.
Septem** 26. Tho® Wildes and his wife owned y® Cove- nant.
October 31. Elijah Clarke & wife owned y* Covenant.
November 14. Rebekah wife of Tho® Hodgdon.
February 20, 1763. Read a Letter to y® Chh : from y® first Chh in Lynn desiring assistance in y* ordination of M*” Jn® Treadwill to y* pastoral office over s*^ first chh in Lynn. I. y® chh of Topsfield voted to send to their assistance, as specified in y® Letter missive. II. Delegates were chosen, viz DocP Richard Dexter. Deacon George Bixby & Cap* Tho® Baker.
March 27. Anna, wife of Tho® Gould Jun*" owned y® Cov- enant.
April 27. The chh: voted as follows, viz I. That y® Money given to y* chh in Topsfield be called in. II. That y® Deacons be desired and impowered to call in money.
May 29. Widow Mary Clarke admitted into full Com- munion.
June I. y® Church in Topsfield passed y® following vote, viz That y* money given to y® chh of Topsfield, be by y® Deacons of s** Chh laid out (as far as it will go) to purchase a silver vessel or vessels for y® LORD’S Table.
June 26. Susanna Daughter of Cornitt David Cummings admitted into full Communion.
July 3. Sarah, wife of Tho* Baker Jun*" dismissed & re- commended by y® chh in Topsfield to y® Chh in Keen.
October 9. Stephen Foster Jun’’ and Abigail his wife owned y® Covenant.
October 23. John Jacobs and Mary his wife admitted in- to full Communion. Read a Letter to y® chh in Topsfi[eld] from y® chh in y* fifth Parrish in Newbury desiring assist- ance in council. I. y® chh in Topsfield voted to send, ac- cording to y® Desire in y® Letter missive. 2. Chose Dele- gates, viz Deacon Bixby & M*" Elijah Porter.
November 6. Dan" Hood and Ruth his wife owned y® Covenant.
December 4. Sam" Bradstreet & Ruth his wife, Nathan Hood Jun”" & Mary his wife owned y* Covenant.
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January 5, 1764. At a chh meeting in Topsfield y® follow- ing votes were passed, viz i. That y* Deacons w**^ y* Chh* Money, should buy two silver Kans for y* LORD’S Table. 2. That y* Deacons sell three old pewter Tankers that were used at y* Communion Table. 3. That y* Pastor be desired (y® Sabbath preceeding y® next Lecture) in y* name of y® chh, to desire y® Congregation after y® Lecture is over, to tarry and consult w*^ y® Chh about choosing some Person, or Persons to set y® Psalm when Cap‘ Averell is absent.
January 8. Abigail wife of Stephen Hovey owned y® Cov- enant.
February 5. Mary wife of Jn® Hood owned y® Cove- nant.
February 19. Sam'^ Harris and Abigail his wife owned y® Covenant.
February 26. Joseph Perkins and Anna his wife owned y® Covenant.
March 13. M*" Moses Perkins and M*" Jacob Kimball were
by y® Brethren of y® chh and also of y® Congregation chosen to set y* Psalm. Also voted y‘ y® s*^ Perkins & Kimball set in y* Elder’s Seat.
April 15. Stephen Towne Jun*" and Sarah wife of Elijah Dwinell owned y* Covenant.
April 22. Tho® Cummings Jun*' and Lois his wife owned y® Covenant.
April 29. Sam*^ Cree and Stephen Perkins Jun*” owned y® Covenant
May 13. Solomon Curtis and Vashti his Wife owned y* Covenant.
August 5. Edmund Towne owned y® Covenant.
August 13. Read a Letter from y® church in Byfie[ld] to y* church in Topsfield, desiring assistance in an ecclesiastical Council : Left w^** y® Chh for consideration to y® next Sab- bath after Service.
August 19. I. y® chh according to y* Letter read on y® 13*^ instant voted to send Delegates to accompany y* Pastor and assist in Council w^** other Churches at Byfield. 2. Del- egates chosen were Deacon Bixby, Cap* Tobijah Perkins and M*- Elijah Porter.
54
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
August 29. Whereas money is wanted for y® Elements the Brethren of y® chh in Topsfield voted as follows viz that besides y® contributions to defray y* charge of y® Elements, there should be a contribution of y® chh on September next, 9^*^ Day, each member to give 3 shillings old Tenor, & y^ y® chh be notified of it, September y® 2^ which is y* Sabbath preceeding y® Sabbath for y® s^^ Contribution.
September 30. Stephen Foster admitted into full Com- munion. Read to y® Chh of Topsfield the Result of an ec- clesiastical! Council in Byfield.
November 4. Cap‘ Tho® Cummings dismissed & recom- mended by y® 3*^ Chh in Ipswich was admitted into y® chh of Topsfield.
December 2. Rebekah Edwards (now Tuttle) at her De- sire was by y® Chh in Topsfield, dismissed & recommended to y® chh in Montacue. •
February 10, 1765. Jacob Kimball admitted into full Communion. Read a Letter from y® 2^ Parrish in Ipswich to y® chh in Topsfield, desiring assistance in Council, there were also five Brethren of y® chh in said 2*^ Parish y^ signed y® Letter missive who Joined w^^ y® Parrish. The Brethren of y® chh in Topsfield after some Discourse upon y® affair, voted as follows, viz. i. that they would send y® Delegates. 2. Deacon Bixby, Cap* Tho® Baker, and Elijah Porter were made choice of as Delegates to accompany the Pas- tor.
February 24. The chh made choice of DocP Dexter to go as a Delegate to y® 2^ Parish in Ipswich in y® Room of M*" Elijah Porter not able at present to go. But y® DocP declin- ing Liev* Averell was made choice of, who accepted.
April 7. Amos Porter owned y® Covenant.
May 19. Read a Letter to y® chh from y® Rev'* M*' Porter of Chebacco, put s'* Letter to vote, whether ye chh would have a meeting & act anything upon it & it passed in y® Neg- ative.
June 9. Nathan** Fiske and Lydia his wife owned y® Cov- enant. Read to y® chh & congregation y® Result of an ec- clesiastical Council at Chebacco in Ipswich.
June 30. Read a Letter to y* chh from y® Chh in New Plymouth to desire assistance (w**' other chhs) in y® ordina-
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
55
tion of Nathan Ward to be their Pastor : The Letter not acted upon, but left for Consideration.
July 7. The chh had some conference upon y® Letter read to y“ on June 30, 1765, and being put to vote whether y* chh would assist in y* ordination as desired in s*^ Letter, & it passed in y® Negative, Nomine Contra dicente.
July 31. The chh voted y* two Tanker [d]s (not now wanted for y® Communion Table) y^ y® Deacons be desired to sell y“, and y® purchase money be put to y® Chhs stock.
September 22. Abraham Hobbs Jun*’ and Elizabeth his wife owned y® Covenant. Read a Letter to y® chh in Tops- field from the South Chh in Ipswich desiring assistance w^^ other chhs in y® ordination of Dana. i. y® chh voted to send Delegates. 2. the Delegates made choice of were Cap^ Perkins, Cap^ Baker & Deacon Gould.
September 29. Susanna Cumings (now Susanna Towne) at her Desire, was dismissed and recommended by y® chh of Christ in Topsfield to y® Chh of Christ in New Ipswich.
October 27. Read a Letter from y® South Chh in Ipswich desireing assistance in Council. The Chh in Topsfield voted a compliance w^^ y® Desire in Letter.
December 22. Read a Letter from y* chh of Christ in Concord, to y® Chh of Christ in Topsfield, desireing their as- sistance by their Pastor & Delegates w'^ other Chhs to ordain IVP W“ Emerson Pastor of y® chh and congregation in Con- cord. The Chh in Topsfield voted a compliance w^*’ y® De- sire in y® Letter missive. Delegates were chosen, viz Dea- con Bixby, Elijah Porter, Jacob Kimball & Liev* Luke Averell. N. B. Deacon Bixby excused himself because of y® distance of y® way.
May 18, 1766. John May and Charity his wife owned y® Covenant.
July 6. Jeremiah Towne Jun’^ owned y® Covenant.
September 3. Abigail, wife of Jonathan Stanley, at her Desire, was dismissed and recommended by the chh of Tops- field, to the Chh in Rowley— Canada.
October 12. Elizabeth Robinson owned y® Covenant.
October 19. Isaac Hobbs and Susanna his wife owned y® Covenant.
November 30. Sam” Perkins and Dorothy his wife, Philip Thomas and Mary his wife owned y® Covenant.
56
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
March 22, 1767. Read to y® chh of Topsfield a Letter from some Members of y® first Chh in Newbury on behalf of themselves & many of y® Congregation desiring assistance in Council: The affair was left for farther consideration.
March 30. Chh Meeting in Topsfield. i. The chh chose M^ John Gould to y* office of a Deacon, who accepted. 2. Read y® Letter from Newbury, as above mentioned. The Chh voted upon it, and voted to send Delegates, w^^y® Pas- tor: Deacon Bixby, and Cap^ Tobijah Perkins were chose, but excused themselves: Then M^ Elijah Porter and Deacon John Gould were chose, who consented.
April 19. Read to y® chh in Topsfield, Letters or Mess- ages from y® Rev’^ M*' Tucker Pastor of y® first chh in New- bury, and also from Some Brethren of s*^ chh: the Design of which Letters or Messages, were to prevent going to Council at s*^ Newbury on y® Adjournment. Notwithstanding y® chh in Topsfield desired by a vote, that their Pastor with the Delegates would attend on the Adjournment.
April 26. Mar)* wife of John Baker Jun’’ admitted into full Communion. Read to y® chh in Topsfield (and also to y® Congregation, as many as saw Cause to attend) y® Result of y® Ecclesiastical Council at Newbury.
May 31. John Bacheller Jun^ owned y® Covenant.
June 7. Nathan Averell Jun*’ owned y* Covenant.
October ii. Read a Letter from y® Third Chh in Haver- hill, to ye Chh in Topsfield, desiring assistance w^^ other Chh® to ordain M** Joseph Hillard Pastor of y® s^ 3^^ Chh in Haverhill : The affair left for farther Consideration.
October 18. Aaron Estey Jun’’ owned y® Covenant.
October 25. Read y® Letter from y® 3^ chh in Haverhill to y® chh in Topsfield, 2^ Time. i. y® chh voted a Compli- ance, as specified in s‘^ Letter. 2. Delegates chosen, viz. Deacon Gould, Deacon Bixby & Cap* Baker.
January 31, 1768. Richard Potter & Lydia his wife owned y® Covenant.
March 13. Jacob Hobbs owned y® Covenant.
May 22. Nathan" Thomas and Esther his wife owned y® Covenant. Read a Letter from y® chh in Boscawen to y® chh in Topsfield desiring assistance in an ordination Coun- cil not acted upon. But left for further Consideration.
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
57
June 5. John Balch Jun*" and Sarah his wife owned y® Covenant.
June 12. The vote was put to y® chh, whether they would send assistance to y® intended ordination, as desired in y* Letter missive from y* chh in Boscawen, and it passed in y* Negative.
June 30. Read to y® chh of Topsfield a Letter from y® 5^^ Chh in Newbury, desireing assistance in Council, i. The chh. in Topsfield voted to send. II. Delegates chosen to accompany y* Pastor were Deacon Bixby, Deacon Gould, Cap^ Baker & IVP Stephen Foster.
July 24. Jacob Towne & Elizabeth his wife owned y® Cov- enant.
August 14. Joseph Hood and Dorcas his wife owned y® Covenant.
August 28. Daniel Bixby admitted into full Communion. Asa Gould and Asa Smith & Elizabeth y* wife of Smith owned y® Covenant.
September 18. from y® Chh in Boscawen Read a Letter to y® chh in Topsfield desireing assistance in an ordination Council at s*^ Boscawen. The chh in Topsfield voted accord- ing to y® Desire in y® Letter missive & Choose Delegates to accompany the Pastor, viz Deacon Gould, Cap* Thomas Baker & Liev* Luke Averell.
February 9, 1769. John Dwinell owned y* Covenant.
April 30. Mary wife of Samuel Cree owned y® Covenant.
October 15. John Gould Jun’’ & Elizabeth his wife owned y* Covenant.
October 29; Anna Estey admitted into full Communion.
January 7, 1770. Joseph Perkins and Mary his wife dis- missed from y® chh of Christ in Topsfield, and recommended to the first chh of Christ in Malden.
February ii. Benj" Kimball & Hannah his wife owned y® Covenant.
April 15. Henry Bradstreet & Abigail his wife owned y® Covenant. Read a Letter from a new Society in Bradford, to y® Chh in Topsfield, desireing Assistance in Council, put to vote, but passed in y® Negative.
June 17. Elisha Perkins and Jane his wife owned y* Cov- enant.
58
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
July 15. Robert Balch & Hannah his wife owned y* Cov- enant.
February 24, 1771. Nathan” Porter, A. B: graduated at Harvard College.
May 26. Jane, wife of Benj”^ Woodbury was dismissed & recommended to y® chh in Shirley.
June 9. Benj" Bixby Jun”" & Peggy his wife & Oliver Towne owned y® Covenant.
June 23. Anna Whittinggam owned y® Covenant.
August 25. Elizabeth wife of Joseph Gould owned y® Covenant.
Decemb^ i. Samuel Clarke owned y® Covenant.
Decemb’’ 22. Cornelius Balch owned y® Covenant.
March 8, 1772. Asahel Smith & Mary his wife, Oliver Perkins & Lucy his wife owned y® Covenant.
May 3. Anna wife of Samuel Clarke owned y® Cove- nant.
June 14. Daniel Clarke & Hannah his wife owned y® Covenant.
June 20. Sam” Page and Molly his Wife owned y® Cov- enant.
August 23. Will“ Fessenden, A. M: graduated at Har- vard College.
November 15. Abel Perkins and Mary his wife owned y® Covenant.
January 10, 1773. Solomon Dodge Jun’’ & Sarah his wife owned y® Covenant.
January 17. Sarah wife of Daniel Lake, dismissed & re- commended to y® chh in Rindge.
February 28. John Balch admitted into full Commu- nion.
March 21. Mary, wife of Elnathan Hubbard owned y® Covenant.
March 28. David Towne Jun^ & Susanna his wife owned y® Covenant.
April II, Daniel Bixby Jun*' owned y® Covenant.
April 25. John Dvvinell owned y® Covenant.
x^pril 28. The chh voted as follows, i. that y® chh stock be laid out towards purchasing a silver Tankard for y® LORDS Table. 2. The Chh voted, that they wou’d contri-
'CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
59
bute on y* 2^ Sabbath in May next, from y* Date above to make up what might be farther wanted, to purchase s'* Tank- ard.
July 4. Mehetabel, wife of John Perkins, 3'* owned y® Covenant. The Chh dismissed & recommended Joseph Hovey and his wife to y® Communion of y® chh in Hopkin- ton.
August 29. Sam“ Fisk & Sarah his wife, also Anna Towne, Daughter of Stephen Towne owned y* Covenant.
September i. Nathan** Porter a Member of y® chh in Topsfield, at his Desire was dismissed & recommended, in order to be admitted into a chh to be gathered in New==Dur- ham. Read a Letter to y® Chh in Topsfield from y® Brethren in New=Durham desireing Assistance in y® ordination of M*" Nathan** Porter, i. y® Chh voted to send as desired in y® Let- ter missive. 2. M*’ Elijah Porter & Deacon John Gould were chosen Delegates to accompany y® Pastor.
October 10. Dorcas Towne, Daughter of Stephen Towne owned y* Covenant.
October 24. Daniel Bixby Jun*" admitted into full Com- munion. Widow Sarah Fiske owned y® Covenant.
October 31. Mehetabel, wife of Cornelius Balch owned y® Covenant.
November 14. Nehemiah Towne & Lucy his wife owned y® Covenant.
December 19. Israel Clarke Jun*" & Ruth his wife owned y* Covenant.
May 15, 1774 were admitted into y® Chh: Cap‘ Sam** Smith, Simon Gould & Elizabeth Peabody. Widow Sarah Towne owned y® Covenant.
July 3. Sarah Bixby wife of George Bixby and Jean the wife of Simon Gould admitted into full Communion.
December 13, 1776. At a meeting of the Chh. of Christ in Topsfield after solemn prayer to God the Father of light for direction: the chh proceeded, first made Choice of the Rev"^ M*" George Leslie Moderator. Secondly Chose Sam- uel Smith to Serve them as Clerke. Then the Church voted to adjourn said meeting to y® 18*** Instant to 2 oClock after- noon on said day.
6o
RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
December i8. The Chh being meat together Rev"^ M’’ George Leslie moderator proceeded and brought in their votes for a Deacon and it appeared on counting and sorting the votes that M*’ Solomon Dodge was Chosen.
January IQ, 1777. M*' Solomon Dodges Answer was read
to y* chh after the Publick Service was over which is as fol- loweth viz To the Brethren of this Chh Inasmuch as the Brethren of this Church, at their meeting ware pleased to make Choice of me to the office of a Deacon, and desired me to take it under Consideration and give my answer in writing at some future day, accordingly I have Considered of the affair & realized my unworthyness and unfitness. Together with my Infirmity of body and I think it is my duty Pru- dence to give my A[n]swer in the Negative, hooping this Church will be directed to the Choice of one much more Suitable and Capable of that office, by a more fuller Choice, which is the Earnest desire of your unworthy Brother in the Church. Solomon Dodge.
August 25, 1778. Att a meeting of the Church in Tops- field being pressingly notified to make Choice of two deacons The Church brought in their votes and it Appeared on Count- ing and Sorting the votes that Maj** Joseph Gould was Chos- en 2*^ly the Church b[r]ought in their votes for another dea- con and on Counting & Sorting the votes it appeared that M'' Stephen Foster was Chosen, who have both accepted. 3*^ The Church agreed to Sell one of the old pewter Tank- ards that was not of present use, to Deacon George Bixby for the Sum of Twenty one Shillings to be appropriated for the use of s^ chh.
October 15, 1778. Att a meeting of the Church of Christ in Topsfield it being previously agreed upon and appointed, to see if the Church will agree to give M[a]thhew Scrib- ner who has preached the gospel a Considerable time in this Town an Invitation to Settle in this Town in the work of the Gospel ministry among us. The Church being mett ily Deacon George Bixby moderator, 2ly a motion was made that a question Should be put to se[e] if it was the Church’s mind to give M*" Matthew Scribner an Invitation to Settle in the work of the Gospel ministry in this town and after Sum discourse. The question was put and it Passed in the affirma-
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
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tive 20 members being at said meeting 15 yeas & 5 nays. 3^^. It was put to vote to se[e] if it was the Chhs Desire that the Selectmen Should Call a town meeting to se[e] if the town will Concur with the Churches vote and it passed in the Afirmative, 4 of said Selectmen being present. 4*^ It was then put to vote to se[e] if it was the Chhs mind that the town meeting Should be next Thursday and it passed in the Afirmative.
May 12, 1779. Att a meeting of the Church of Christ in Topsfield to se[e] if the Church would agree to give M’’ Daniel Breck who has preached in said Town for som time, an Invitation to settle in said town in y® work of y® gospel ministry. Said meeting being previously appointed for that purpose. The Church being meat together at y® meeting House Deacon George Bixby was Chosen Moderator for said meeting. 2’^ a motion was made to se[e] if y® Church would agree to give M^ Daniel Breck an Invitation to Settle in this town in y® work of y® gospel ministry and being put to vote and it passed in y® Affirmative Provided he would agree to Settle Agreeable to the regulations of Church Gov- ernment in the Church Platforme Agreed upon by y® the as- sembly of divines at Cambridge and Established by the gen- erall Court. 3^^ Deacon George Bixby, Deacon Joseph Gould and M^' Solomon Dodge was chosen a Committy to Acquaint M*’ Breck of y® Churchs Proceedings and to lay the above votes before him, and to receive his answer and to lay the Same before y® Church at the Adjournment of this meetinge. Then said meeting was adjourned to the first Tuesday of June next to three of y® Clock after noon.
Att a Church meeting in Topsfield held by Adjournment from May y® 12^^: 1779 to the first day of June following the Church being meat and made Choise of Deacon Foster for their moderator in the room of Deacon Bixby who was then Absent. M*" Breck being then present and read his answer. And after some discourse it was put to vote to se[e] if M*" Brecks Answer was so far agreeable to the Churchs mind as that they could Strictly Adhere to their former vote in giv- ing him a Call to Settle in the work of the gospell Ministry amongst us and it Unanimously passed in y® affirmative. M^ Brecks Answer follows.
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To the Church of Christ in Topsfield Honored and Beloved — Agreeable to your request in the late votes of your Church for the resettlement of the gospel ministry I would return an answer relative to Church government as laid down in y* Plat- forme referred to in y* above mentioned votes. Haveing ex- amined with som care and attention the said Platforme, I can- not perceive anything of Consequence Sufficient to prevent my Settling in the work of the gospel ministry agreeable to its Regulations. I have in view more particularly that part of the Platforme that relates to the Subject of Baptism, which appears in generall, consonant to the rules of the gospel. I conceive there is a foundation here for the purity and Pros- perity of the Church of Christ. All baptized persons are considered as members of the Church and Intitled to all the Ordinances & priviliges of y* Church: And when duly qual- lified may enjoy them, and in consequence of their being members of the Church and Intled to all its Ordinances & priviledges they are likewise Subject to the rules & govern- ment of the Church, Agreeable proposition third in said plat- forme, this I conceive to be the Important object that de- mands Attention ; and which if properly regarded and at- tended to would be greatly for the intreast of religion and the promotion of the Cause of Christ. Wishing you y* constant presence of the greate head of the Church to lead & direct you ; increase your number & make you prosperous and flourishing I Subscribe my Self: Your Servant in our Com- mon Lord, Daniel Breck.
Topsfield, June y® 1779.
June 27. Mary, y* wife of Zebulon Perkins owned y* Cov- enant.
July 4. Eliezer Lake Jun*" & Mary his wife owned y* Cov- enant.
September 20. Att a Church meeting in Topsfield It be- ing previously appointed by Chh to agree upon a time for y® ordaining M*" Daniel Breck to the pastoral office and min- isterial Care and Charge of y* Church and Congregation in this town Deacon Joseph Gould was chosen moderator. 2'^ the Chh agreed and Appointed Wednesday the Seven- teenth day of November next to be y® day for Ordaining M** Daniel Breck. 3*^ The Church Agreed to Send letters nais-
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sive to nine Churches for their assistance in Council in or- daining Breck. 4*^^ The Church Agreed that M*" Breck if he sea Cause Should make Choice of one half the Council, M*" Breck being present made Choice of only three viz of the Rev"** M' Lothrop Pastor of the Church of the old north so Call** in Boston, and of the Rev’’** ' M' Fisk Pastor of the Church of the West Parish in Brookfield, and of Treadwell Pastor of the first Parish in Lynn. The Church then made Choice of the Rev"* M*“ Dana Pastor of the Church of the Parish in Ipswich, & of Lesslie Pastor of the Church of Lynebrook Parish in Ipswich, and of M*" Holyoke Pastor of the Church of the first Parish irt'Boxford, and of M*" Wads- worth Pastor of the Church of the first Parish in Danvers, and of Chandler Pastor of the Chh of the Second Parish in Rowley and of M*" Parsons Pastor of the Chh at Byfield. 5*^ The Church made Choice of Sam* Smith, M*' Solomon IDodge, and of Deacon Stephen Foster a Com**® to desire the Selectmen to Call a Town meeting, and also for said Com**® to [present] the Churches votes before the town for their Concurance and in case the town Shall Concur with the Church in their votes, said Com**® are to Cause Letters mis- sive to be sent to the Severall Ministers and Churches desire- ing their Assistance in Council in the Ordination proposed &c The Com*®® Haveing Sent Letters to the Several minis- ters and Churchs above proposed.
On the 17*** day of November I779camethe Rev"* Chand- ler of Rowley west Parish; and the Rev"* George Lesslie of LyneBrook Parish in Ipswich, And the Rev"* Elizur Holy- oake Pastor of the first Parish in Boxford, and the Rev"* Lothrop Pastor of the Church of the old North (so call*) in Boston, and the Rev"* John Treadwell Pastor of the first Church in Lynn, and the Rev"* Benj* Wadsworth Pastor of the first Parish in Danvers, with their Delegates. The So- lemnity began with Prayer. M' Treadwell was the mouth of y® Congregation M*’ Lothrop Preached the Sermon from the 2"* of Corinthians 4*** Chapter & the 5*** verse, for we Preach not our Selves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your Servents, for Jesus Sake. M** Lesslie gave the Charge. Holyoak gave the Right hand of fellowship. M' Chandler Pray*. Afterwards a Suitable Hyme was Sung, and the Bless- ing given and the Solemnity Concluded.
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Decern^ 12, 1779. Elizabeth the wife of Deacon Joseph Gould admitted into full Communion.
January 16, 1780. The Church tarried after divine ser- vice to consult in regard to y* propriety of exhibiting Rela- tions, in admitting persons to Full Communion. And it was voted that this should not be considered a term of Commun- ion, but that every person who was to be permitted might act his pleasure in this matter.
Jan^ 30. Eliezer Lake & his wife Sarah, The widow Ruth Cree and Mary Bixbee, Elizabeth, a daughter of Deacon Jo- seph Gould, admitted into full Communion.
May 14. Mary the wife of Moses Connant admitted into full Communion. Sarah, y* wife of the Rev*^ Matthew Scrib- ner was dismissed, & recommended by this Chh to the Chh of Christ in Westford.
May 24. A meeting of the Chh in order to consult wheth- er it be not necessary to reconsider the above vote of Jan^ 16, & having said much upon it voted to adjourn y® meeting to Monday June 19.
June 19. The Chh met upon adjournment, & spent some time in expressing their sentiments respecting the propriety of havin[g] relations agreeable to their former practice, but did not conclude upon anything unless to adjourn y® Meeting to y® next Monday June 25.
June 25. The Chh met upon s*^ adjournment & having conversed upon y® subject above mentioned a vote was put to know the minds of the Brethren relative to their continu- ing in the present mode in admitting persons to full Com- mu" or adopting their form & method, & y* chh were equally divided, there being eight for the present mode & eight for the former. Then a vote was put after this form viz wheth- er those who are admitted into full Com" shall assent to a Confession of Faith which shall be drawn up agreeable to the mind of the Chh. & it passed in the negative. It was then voted that a Committee should be appointed to wait on the absent Brethren, to know their mind with respect to the mode of proceeding in admitting persons to full com", wheth- er to practice in the former or present method, & to abide by their determination. Accordingly M*" Solomon Dodge Jacob Kimball were chosen for that purpose.
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July 2. The brethren of y® Chh tarried after divine ser- vice & received y* report of y* Com“®® above mentioned w* was, that there were a majority for having y* vote that was passed for altering y® method of admitting persons to full Com" reconsidered & to proced in y® former method. Upon this the meeting was dissolved.
Decern^ 31. Ruth, a daughter of Deacon. Dan^ Gould ad- mitted into full Communion.
Jan^ 14, 1781. The brethren of y® Chh tarried after Di- vine service & passed a vote to have private lectures set up & for a sermon to be preached as opportunity shall offer, at on or other of their houses, on account of the gloomy state of religion among us, the frowns of GOD upon the land &c.
June 26. A meeting of the Chh to make choice of a Dea- con. Accordingly having looked to God for his presence & direction, there appeared to be a clear & full vote for M*" Sol- omon Dodge to that office, who accepted.
August 16. The Church met, to consult what measures were proper to take in admitting a man & his wife to own the Covenant (having some difficulties in my own mind respect- ing their admission). Having paid some attention to this (which was a singular case) the meeting was adjourned to the 22"*.
August 22. The brethren met & much being said respect- ing the qualifications requisite in order to own the Covenant ; and not being agreed upon any thing the meeting was ad- journed to Sep*^ the
Sep*" 7. Met & conversed upon several things relating to the present state of the chh & the qualifications suitable for Church membership, & not being able as yet to come to a de- termination, the meeting was adjourned to the 25*^.
Sep' 25. Met & paid further attention to this matter. But the Chh concluding it was best to furnish a presecident, for them as a chh to examine persons with respect to their qualifications to own the Covenant (as I had proposed in this instance, however) but to leave it as usual with the pas- tor, the meeting was dissolved.
Jan^ 6, 1782. John Gould Jun' & Ruth the wife of Daniel Hood admitted into full Communion.
March 10. Priscilla the wife of Isaac Averell admitted in- .to full Communion.
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May 5. Daniel Dodge admitted into full Communion.
Sep^ 8. Anna y® wife of Thomas Symons admitted into full Communion.
Oct' 13. Mary y® wife of Steven Towne and Esther & Eliz^* Gould, daughters of Deacon John Gould deceased.
Nov. 10. Mehitabel wife of Cornelious Balch & Anna wife of Zaccheus Gould Jun' admitted into full Communion. On y® same day was received Abraham Foster as recommended by y® 2^ Chh of Christ in Rowley with a removal of his rela- tion.
Decern' i, 1782. Read a letter to the Chh after Divine service, from the Rev Sam^ Hopkins of New Port, requesting assistance in behalf of his Chh, to repair their Meeting house which had been exceedingly injured in the course of this dis- tressing & calamitous war ; and the distresses of that town so great as obliged them to solicit charitable contributions from a number of Churches. This Chh voted that there should be a general contribution proposed which was done accord- ingly.
L. D. Feb^ 16, 1783. The Brethren tarried after Divine service and it was proposed there should be a meeting of the Chh to attend to the state of Discipline among us : which has been for a long time greatly neglected. A meeting was accordingly appointed Feb. 27. The Brethren of y® Chh met, & began with prayer, supplicating for guidance & direc- tion from the Father of Lights in the importance affairs be- fore us. After much had been said upon our distressing & melancholy state as a Chh, particularly in regard to the Gov- ernment of it, it was moved that something should be drawn up in writing relative to this matter, & to be laid before the congregation. A vote was accordingly passed for that pur- pose and the meeting was adjourned to March 5^^.
March 5. (After lecture) the address was read & accept- ed and there was a unanimous vote for its being laid before the congregation and likewise for a Fast,, being held on the Ins* in order to humble ourselves before GOD for past neglects & deficiencies in duty in general, in a special manner in regard to Christian watchfulness, the Spirit of which has been in a manner lost.
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L. D. 9 P. M. Read the address to the congregation, & acquainted them with the appointed of the Chh relative to a day of F'asting & requested their attendance.
March 19. This day was set apart for the special pur- poses above mentioned. We were favoured with the assist- ance of the Rev: M*" Dana & the Rev** M*” Frisbie of Ips- wich. The first preached a very proper & seasonable dis- course from Jerem 50, 4 & 5 and the other a very suitable & profitable one from Rev. 3, 2. The address was read again in the afternoon and the exercises & services of GODS house were finished with solemnity and in a promising & hopeful manner. The address is inserted in several of y* follow^ P^g[^s].
The address of the Church of Topsfield to the Congrega- tion at large — more especially to the Non-Communicants who have recognized the name & authority of Jesus Christ. Brethren in the profession of the gospel and in the bonds of Gods holy Covenant. When we take into consideration the deplorable state of our land, in regard to the melancholy de- cline of religion, we must acknowledge it to be the indis- pen*^*® duty of all Gods professing people, to do everything in their power that appears well calculated to promote a re- formation of manners & true piety.
With this view several Churches in various parts of the country have, of late made attempts to revise the Discipline of Gods house and it has thro’ Divine goodness been attend- ed with a remarkable blessing, in the revival of dying & de- caying religion. This example has been followed by some of the neighbouring churches who have by prayer & fasting besought the Lord to crown their endeavours with the like success.
The Church of Christ in this place, taking this matter into serious consideration, reflecting upon the sad neglect this land in general, & we in particular have been guilty of with respect to keeping a strict brotherly friendly & Christian watch over one another, & those in Covenant with us, have unanimously agreed that there is something for us to do as the keepers of our Lords vineyard, which may afford a hap- pier prospect of insuring his blessing than has lately ap- peared.
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With a humble dependance upon the Great Head of the church, for his gracious assistance, we have resolved to pay a stricter regard to our Covenant promises & engagements. That as we have unreservedly given ourselves to the Great God, to be intirely his, to love & obey him sincerely & faith- fully (according to his will revealed to us in his word) against all temptations of y® devil y® world & y® flesh, that as we have promised subjection to the government of his Chh, to promote his worship in our families, follow our callings peceably, live inoffensively, & by our good example & zeal, to provoke others to good works : in a word as we have promised to watch over one another with a spirit of meek- ness, love & tenderness, & to continue our ardent prayers for each other, we will be more engaged to perform these our vows.
From the experience of all Gods people in every age of the world, and more especially from our own observation & experience in the present degenerate age, we perceive the importance of those injunctions of our blessed Lord & his Apostles, Watch^ Pray without ceasing^ Be sober^ be vigilent^ because your adversary the devil^ as a roving lion^ walketh about seeking whom he may devour. Love ye one another with a pure heart fervently. See then that ye walk circimispectly not as fools but as zvise^ re- deaming the thne because the days are evil. Submitting yo2ir selves one to another in the fear of Cod. Finally my brethen be strong in the Lord & in the power of his might. Put on the whole a^mior of God &c. But how alarming will such language as this be if applied to us. the language of him who is said to have the Seven Spirits of God, & the Seven Stars. / know thy works that thou hast a name that thou livest & art dead. Be watchful & stre^igthen ye thhtgs which remain., that are ready to die: por I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received & heard & hold fast & repejit. If therefore thoit shalt not watch^ I will co7ne on thee as a thief & thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. These things we conceive to be written for our warning & admonition. And as we con- sider ourselves in a peculiar manner bound to an observance
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of them, so vve would recommend them to the special atten- tion & observance of all those who are professedly in cove- nant, & likewise to all those who have been baptized into Christ. And further, since we cannot but consider all such as under covenant bonds, we are persuaded it will be es- teemed our indispe[n]sable duty to remind them of these their obligations, & call upon them for a compliance. Is there any one who would be willing publickly to renounce his Baptism, & all connection with Jesus Christ & if not, what one is there who would refuse submission to his authority, duly exercised in his Chhs. We would once more observe that altho we consider ourselves bound, as far as in us lies, to support the laws of Christ’s kingdom, yet we wish to be dictated by that prudence, tenderness & affection which be- come the gospel of our merciful & compassionate Saviour, We earnestly desire & pray that a reformation may take place among us; that every one that nameth the name of Christ may depart from iniquity. We heartily wish to see those who have laid themselves under covenant bonds, en- gaged to submit to Christ in all his ordinances — to obey that plain command, this in remembrance of me. And we sincerely wish to see parents in general engaged to give up themselves & their children to God, & to ensure the blessings of his gracious covenant.
Let us all unitedly engage to reform whatever is amiss, & to strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die. Let us resolve upon a strict adherence to all personal & rela- tive duties. And here we would particularly recommend se- cret & family prayer which we fear is much neglected. And also faithful attention to the religious education of our chil- dren. Let integrity & honesty, brotherly kindness & charity, & whatever is lovely & of good report, mark every part of our conduct & behaviour. In fine, let us according to that divine injunction of the Apostle Peter, add to our faith vir- tue, & to virtue knowledge, & to knowledge temperance, & to temperance patience, & to patience godliness, and to god- liness brotherly kindness, charity, that these things being & abounding in us, make us that we shall neither be barren nor unfruitful, in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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These things vve have unanimously agreed to lay before you, ardently supplicating the God of all grace for his smiles upon our endeavours to advance the kingdom of his dearson. Amen.
April 14. The Chh met in order to consult upon the ex- pediency of appointing a Committee to carry into execution their late resolves, respecting the revival of discipline. Hav- ing paid some attention to this matter the Meeting was ad- journed to the 2i®b
April 21. Met by Adjourn^ & voted that it was expedient a Com“®® should be chosen for the purpose above mentioned. But it not being so unanimous a vote as was to be desired in an affair of this kind, it was thought proper not to proceed to a choice immediately, but to attend further to the matter & see whether we could not be more generally agreed. The meeting was therefore adjourned to y® 30^^.
April 30. Tarried after lecture, & voted that some in- structions be drawn up for the Com“*® that should be chosen, & which at the same time might set forth the particular end & design of chusing a Com“®® or rather the particular busi- ness of the Com“®® which was to be chosen. The Meeting was then adjourned to May y® 8*^.
May 4. Elizabeth, daughter of John Perkins admitted in- to full Communion.
May 8. The Chh met by adjourn^ & a number of Articles containing the instructions above referred to, were read to them, but so few of the brethren were present it was judgd ad- visable not to act decisively upon anything and the meeting was adjourned to 19^^.
May 19. The Chh met by adjourn^ & voted to receive what had been drawn up respecting the business of the Com“®® to be chosen, and then proceeded to chuse the fol- lowing persons of whom the Com“®® was to consist (there be- ing a larger majority for chusing a Com“®® than in the first vote) viz The Pastor & the two Deacons, Deacon Joseph Gould & Deacon Solomon Dodge, Samuel Smith Esq*" & M'’ Eleazer Lake. It was also voted that this Com“®* should stand till the first day of Nov*" next. The Chh voted at the same meeting that the Deacons should apply to M*’ Oliver Perkins for £6 113 14 which was left to the Chh by M^’Ja-
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cob Perkins Si that it should be put to interest during the Churches pleasure. The Articles which con [tain] theCom“®*“ instructions see upon y® next page. The following sets forth the particular design & business of a Committee chosen by the Church May y* 19, 1783.
The Church of Christ in this place having of late judged it expedient to adopt certain measures for reviving that spirit of Government & Discipline, so much recommended in the sacred scriptures, think it necessary (after the example of many other Churches) to chuse a Com“®®, in order to pro- mote so important a design, the purpose & business of which Com^*®* will appear in the following instructions.
We wish in this measure, most carefully to guard against whatever might militate with the exercise of that au- thority which belongs immediately to the chh and which ought not to be dispensed with, or committed to others.
2^^ It is foreign from our intentions in this appointment, to in- terfere with that which is manifestly declared to be the right & privilege of every individual member, a particular instance of this we have in the 18 chap*^ of Mat: 15, 16 & 17 ver[ses]. In this method of dealing with one another, we are to sup- pose there is both a privilege & duty. Every brother there- fore who is justly offended at the conduct of another, shall be considered not merely as having a rights but as indispen- sably bound to admonish, & require satisfaction And if he does not obtain satisfaction in taking the first step, he shall proceed as the gospel directs, & take with him one or two more (and whom he pleases) and so go on, if need be to the third step, without any particular regard to the Coni‘^*®. But
3^^ The Committee shall attend to the complaint & charges that are exhibited against the conduct of fellow members and enquire into the nature & grounds of them, & so proceed & determine agreeable to their best judgment. But no mem- ber shall be permitted to bring an accusation against a fellow member to the Com“*®, provided he has been knowing per- sonally to the conduct, which is sufficient matter of accusa- tion, since this would be contrary to the rule above men- tioned. Unless it be so scandalous, & at the same time so publickly known that it shall be judged to be duty to ac- quaint the Com“®® with it.
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4^^ Every member is to be considered as giving occasion of offence who does not enter a complaint to the Com“®® in any of these cases, having sufficient evidence to support his charge, And likewise in neglecting to take any other regular steps, when manifestly called to it.
5^^ If upon proper conviction of the faults or crimes al- leged against any member, the Com“** cannot obtain satis- faction, they shall proceed, as soon as may be, when mani- festly called to it.
The Com“** shall determine what acknowledgments ought to be made for offences committed, whether they shall be private or publick not interfering with any practice or custom established in this Chh.
The Com“** shall consider themselves under obligations to attend to the complaints & charges that are brought against any of the members of the Chh, whether communi- cants or iV(9;^-commu‘® : All such persons being looked up-
on as members, who are under the bonds of the Covenant.
8'^ We recommend all that mildness, moderation & tender- ness, which is consistent with the faithful discharge of so im- portant a trust.
9*^ We conceive ourselves bound as the friends & servants of Jesus Christ, to support the Com“®* which shall be appoint- ed for these important purposes, so far as they conduct agreeable to the rules & instructions herein prescribed.
L. D. August 3, 1783. The brethren tarried after Divine service, & agreed to meet the Thursday following 4 O Clock P. M. in order to attend to certain matters to be laid before the Chh.
Aug' 7. The Chh met, & voted i. That Deacon Joseph Gould & M’’ Abra“ Foster be a Committee to wait upon M** Will™ Gallop & acquaint him if it is the desire of this Chh he would be present at the next meeting to answer to certain charges. 2. That M*" Eleazer Lake & M*" Isaac Averell be a Com"** to wait upon David Balch Jun^ & acquaint him it is y* desire of this chh he w‘^ be present at the next meeting to answer to certain Charges. The Meeting was adjourned to Thurs^ the 21 Ins'.
August 21. The brethren having attended to the report of the Com"*** appointed at the last meeting voted i. That
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John Gould Jun’’ in the room of M*” Isaac Averell & M*” Elea- zer Lake be a Com“®* to serve M*" David Balch Jun*" with a copy of the charges exhibited against him, & inform him, it is the desire of this chh he would be present at the next meeting to answer to them. 2. That M'’ Will™ Gallops con- duct towards the com“*® sent to him by the Chh, was mani- festly contempt of the authority of this Chh, & refusing to hear them. And 3. That the censure of admonition be ad- ministered to him for the same. The meeting was adjourned to the first Wednesday in Sep*" next, immediately after y* stated lecture P. M.
Sep*" 3. The Chh having received the report of the Com“®* sent to M*’ Balch, voted That the Rev** M** Dana preside at this meeting, while those things which particularly concern M' Balch & the Pastor, be attended to and that the Rev** M** Frisbie be present to advise, in case it be needed. Both of those gentlemen were pleased to consent to it. The charges against M*" Balch were then read by y** Rev** M*" Dana, the substance of which charges was defamation of the Pastors character. But M*" Balchs refusing to acknowledge the au- thority & jurisdiction of y* Chh, things were left in an unset- tled state. The Rev M’’ Dana, having withdrawn, the pastor resumed his seat as Moderator, & y® Chh voted That Dea- con Joseph Gould & M*" Abra“ P'oster serve M*" Will™ Gal- lop with a copy of the charges brought against him at differ- ent times. Adjourned to the 18 Inst.
Sep*" 7. Martha, daughter of Abra™ Foster admitted into full Communion.
Sep^ 18. The Chh voted, i. That the pastor write to M^ Gallop & acquaint him with the nature of admonitions as ad- ministered in y® Chh of Christ. Mess" Simon Gould & Na- than Hood were chosen to wait upon M*" Gallop with the let- ter that should be wrote. Voted 2. That certain proposals be drawn up, in order to the settling of the difficulties sub- sisting between the pastor & M*" Balch, & be laid before the Chh at the next meeting. Then adjourned to the 2 1 Ins*.
Sep*" 21. The proposals referred above were read, & the Chh voted that a copy of them be sent to M*' Balch. M^ Jacob Kimball & Deacon Solomon Dodge were chosen a Com**®* to serve him with a copy of them. Adjourned to OcP 2**.
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Oct. 2. Attended to the reports of the Com“*^* and ad- journed to this day fortnight.
Oct. i6. M*" Gallop still refusing to submit to the authority of this Chh, therefore voted that a public admonition be ad- ministered to him as soon as it shall be convenient for the pastor. Deacon Solomon Dodge & Sam* Smith Esq*" were appointed a Com“** to notify M‘‘ Gallop of the time (when signified to them by the pastor) that he may be present. At the same meeting voted that the pastor ask David Balch Jun*" (who was present) whether he continues of the same mind expressed heretofore, relative to his disregard of the authority & jurisdiction of this Chh. IVE Balch being ques- tioned as to this matter, the brethren voted that there is suf- ficient evidence exhibited that he disregards the authority & jurisdiction of this Chh and therefore voted that an admon- ition be administered to him for the same. The meeting was adjourned to the 29 Insh
Ocf 29. Voted that Mess" John Gould Jun' & Dan* Bix- by be a Com“®® to acquaint M*" Balch when an admonition is to be administred to him. Adjourned to morrow three weeks.
L. D. Nov*" 9. After Divine service read a letter to the brethren from David Balch Jun*". Voted that the pastor write an answer to it and that the Chh meet on Tuesday next.
Nov*" II. Read the answer to M*" Balches letter, & ad- journed to Thursday sen night
Nov*” 20. Adjourned to Tuesday next.
Nov^ 25. Passed the following votes, i. That a Copy of the answer to M’’ Balches letter be sent to him. 2. That it was their mind reasonable satisfaction was given in it, for the conduct of the pastor,* referred to in Balches letter. 3. That those things that were considered a matter of ag- grievance by the Pastor & Balch should be sumitted to an ecclesiastical Council mutually chosen by them. 4. That M*” Balch return an answer to the Church at the adjourn* of
♦The conduct of the Pastor was his making certain proposals to Mr Balch wc sd Balch complained of as unfair, in his letter to the Chh : & promised to come into any proposal yy should make if he had satisfac- tory reasons for such conduct. The satisfaction given by the Pastor to Mr Balch was his shewing ye propriety of his making such proposals.
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the next meeting. Adjourned to the first thursday in next month.
Decern'’ 4. Met & adiourned to this day fortnight.
Decern*' 7. Daniel Gould & wife admitted into full Com- munion.
Decern. 16. The brethren being generally at Town meet- ing, & it being inconvenient to meet on y* 18, voted that the Chh meeting be adjourned to the 28 Inst.
L. D. 28. The brethren tarried after divine service, & vot- ed to adjourn to the morrow sev’n night.
Jan^ 5, 1784. Read a letter from M*" David Balch Jun*^& adjournd to the first Monday in Feb^ next.
L. D. Feb^ I. The brethren were desired to adjourn to the 8 Ins‘.
L. D. Feb. 8. After Divine service A. M. the brethren tarried & voted that the wife of Cap‘ Nehemiah Herrick, might on account of her declining state, as soon as may be, have the ordinance of Baptism administred to her, at her own house, & be received into full Communion with this Chh and for her children to receive baptism at the same time. After Divine service P. M. a letter was read, which was from the aggrieved brethren of the Church in Salem, of which the Rev** Nathan* Whittaker was Pastor, requesting assistance in Council. Voted i. To send according to y® desire in y* letter missive. 2. Deacon Joseph Gould & M‘‘ Jacob Kimball, were chosen Delegates. Adjourned y* meeting to Monday sev night.
Feb*" 16. So few present that it was thought best to ad- journ to L. D. 29 Insk
Feb^ 19. Merriam wife of Cap* Nehemiah Herrick admit- ted into full Communion.
L. D. Feb. 29. The weather so extremely severe that noth- ing relative to the Chh meeting attended to.
L. D. March 7. The brethren tarried after Divine Service & adjourned to the morrow fornnight.
March 22. The Chh met & paid some attention to our present difficult & embarassed circumstances, respecting Chh government or discipline and adjourned the meeting to this day three weeks.
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RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
April 12. The Brethren voted that the advice of the As- sociation of which y* pastor of this Chh is a member be asked relative to our present difficulties & Adjourned to Wed^ fortnight, immediately after Lecture.
April 28. The Church met, & Voted, i. That agreeable to the advice of an Association, lately consulted by us, the assistance of an Ecclesiastical Council is necessary in the present circumstances of this Chh particularly in an atten- tion to the unhappy difficulties which have for some time subsisted between the Pastor of this Chh & David Balch Jun*" and also to whatever matters this Chh shall think expe- dient to lay before them. 2'^ That M*" Balch be desired to join with this Chh in mutually choosing a Council, for the purposes aforesaid. 3’^ That if M*" Balch shall decline this proposal, this Chh proceed as soon as may be to choose a Council themselves.
Samuel Smith Esq^ M*" Eleazer Lake & Deacon Solomon Dodge were chosen a Committee to serve M*" Balch with a Copy of the above votes, & to desire him to return an an- swer at the adjournment of the meeting. Adjourned to the 17*^ of next month.
May 2. Daniel Hood and Sarah wife of Benj“ Hood ad- mitted to full Communion.
May 17. The brethren met, & having received an answer from M** Balch in the negative, proceeded agreeably to the third resolve passed at the last Meeting. Voted i. The par- ticular reasons to be set forth in the Letters missive, which made the assistance of a Council necessary, viz. The diffi- culties that have for some time subsisted between our pastor & one of his flock, & the late proceedings of this Chh rela- tive to Chh government or discipline. To which was added and to any other matters, it may be thought expedient to lay before you. 2. That the council consist of seven church- es. The seven following chhs were then chosen viz. The churches of Christ in Ipswich, of which the Rev^^ Mess” Cleveland, Dana & Frisbie are pastors. The Chh of Christ in Andover of which the Rev*^ M' P*rench is pastor. The Chh of Christ in Newbury- Port of which the Rev^ M*" Spring is pastor. The Chh of Christ in Newbury of which the Rev M"^ Tappan is pastor, & the Chh of Christ in Haverhill of
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
77
which the Rev M*" Adams is pastor. 3. That the house of M*" Tho® Porter be appointed for the Council to meet at — 4. That the time for their meeting be the third Tuesday in next month.
L. D. May 23. The brethren tarried after Divine service P. M. and it was proposed that an amendment, should be made in y* Letters Missive, to this purport, viz. That, in- stead of specifying the particular reasons why the assistance & advice of Sister Chhs was necessary, they should be ex- pressed in general terms and this appearing agreeable to the minds of the brethren, the amendment was accordingly made.
L. D. June 20. The brethren tarried afterDivine service P. M. & appointed a meeting the next Tuesday two O Clock P, M.
June 22. Agreeably, to the request of the Chh. in the Letters missive, the Pastors & Delegates of the Churches written to. Convened at the house appointed, and formed in- to Council. The Chh met & adjourned to the same house and there voted that the following articles be communicated to s** Council, viz. i. a state of the Difficulty between M*^ Breck Pastor of s^ Chh & M*" David Balch Jun’’. 2. The Meth- od in which thes^^ Chh have proceeded with him. 3. Wheth- er in such proceedure, as to principle, the Chh have con- ducted agreeable to the gospel? 4. Whether M‘" Brecks Character has been unjustly aspersed by M*' Balch? 5. To take a [d] vice what further steps the Chh ought to take with reference to him. 6. To lay before the Council the Case of M*" Gallop. 7. To desire the advice of Council respecting what method the Chh ought to take, in future, with respect to Discipline in general.
The pastor & Samuel Smith Esq*" were chosen a Com^‘®“ to wait upon the Council with the above. At the same time M*". John Bradstreet & Deacon Solomon Dodge, were chosen a Com**®® to notify M*^ David Balch Jun*" that the Council was convened. And Mess" Jacob Kimball & Daniel Bixbe were chosen to give M** Will™ Gallop the same information. Ad- journed, together with the Council to the meeting house. The remainder of this & the whole of the next day was taken up in a public hearing of those matters that related to above
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articles. On Thursday P. M. The Rev** M*" French preached a very good & suitable discourse from i Pet. 2, 3. “If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” The brethren tarried afterwards and attended to the proposals from the Council relative to IVP Gallops conduct & the Chh’s proceed- ings with him. See in the result page Voted, to accept them and that AF Gallop be received on his properly ac- knowledging what was here recommended. Voted that his acknowledgemen [t] was not a proper acknowledgment. Ad- journed the meeting to next day at 10 O Clock.
Friday June 25. M*' Gallop appeared & made the follow-
ing acknowledgement Viz. I am free to acknowledge, that in several instances yesterday I treated iVF Breck, the Chh & Council, in an unchristian manner and ask their forgive- ness. Voted, to accept of it and to restore him, agreeably to the proposals referred to above. Soon after, the Council came to the Meeting house, & the result was read. Upon their having withdrawn, the brethren voted, that their thanks be presented to the Council for their Christian labors & ser- vices among us. The pastor & two Deacons were chosen to wait upon them for this purpose. The same day, P. M. the Council was dissolved.
L. D. June 27. The Rev** M®Frisbie, at my request, desired the Brethren to tarry after Divine service A. M. to pay some further attention to y*. result of y® late Council. Thefollowing was left by him in writing.
Sir — Agreeably to the Request expressed within, I de- sired the Brethren of the Chh to tarry after divine Service was ended in the forenoon & proposed to them in the place whether it was their desire that the Result of the ec- clesiastical Council which had sitten here last week should be read to them ; and they voted in the Affirmative. I then desired if any of them had any objection against its being read they would please to signify it. But no objection was signified. I therefore read the Result according to their de- sire and after it was read proposed to them in the 2** place whether they approved & accepted it. Voted in the affirm- ative, desired if any had any objections they would please to signify them. No objections were made. 3*^ Proposed whether it was the desire of the Chh that the Result should
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
79
be read on the Wednesday following to the Congregation in public after Lecture. Voted in the affirmative.
Yours &c
Levi Frisbie
Rev** Daniel Breck.
Sep’’ 5. Lydia, wife of Nathanael Fisk & Eunice, wife of Benj" Emerson admitted into full Communion.
Sep*" 27. The brethren met in order to take into consid- eration some matters relative to ye result of ye late Council, but it was judged best not to act upon them at present. Ad- journed to this day three weeks.
October 3. Mary, wife of John Hood admitted into full Communion. Read a Letter to ye Chh from the first Chh of Christ in Amesbury to desire assistance (with other Chhs) in the Ordination of M’’ Benja" Bell to be their Pastor. Voted To send. 2^ Delegates were appointed, viz. Deacon Jo- seph Gould, Samuel Smith Esq** & Deacon Solomon Dodge.
Oct. 18. But few of the brethren met at the time of Ad- journ* and it appearing to be the general sense of the Chh that it was best to suspend, for a while, acting upon those matters, they were left for future consideration.
Nov*" 7. David Perkins and his son David Perkins Jun’^Sz; his wife admitted into full Communion.
March 20, 1785. Samuel & Abigail his wife admitted in- to full Communion.
July 3. Admitted into full Communion, Tabitha F'isk.
Sep*" 4. John Lamson admitted into full Communion.
OcP 9. (L. D.) The Chh voted a Dismission to John
Jacobs and a recommendation to the 2^ Chh in Sutton. A Letter was then read from the Chh of Christ in Stoneham re questing assistance (with other Churches) in the ordination of M*" John Cleaveland Juffi to be their Pastor. Voted to send and Deacon Joseph Gould & Sam* Smith Esq*" were chosen Delegates. A letter was likewise read from the Chh of Christ in Salem usually meeting in the Tabernacle, de- siring assistance from this Chh in setting apart to ye work of ye gospel ministry, the Rev** Joshua Spalding. Voted to send. The Delegates chosen were Mess” Jacob Kimball & Isaac Averill.
OcP 30. Ezra Perkins & Eliz** his wife admitted into full Communion.
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RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
May 15, 1786. The brethren of the Chh met to take into consideration the expediency of making an alteration with respect to ye stated seasons for celebrating ye Lords Supper. Voted that, instead of its being once in two months, the year thro’, it be once in six weeks from the first Sabbath in April to DecemL and that it be omitted in the winter sea- son, & the month of March on account of the inconvenience there is then usually of attending. Voted 2'^ That d, Lecture be preached on the third Wednes^ in Febuary annually.
July 2. Jemima Fisk admitted into full Communion.
Nov^’ 12. Abraham Foster Jun*" & Abigail his wife admit- ted into full Communion.
Feb^ 18, 1787. The Chh Voted a Dismission to Mary Wife of Stephen Towne, & a recommenda" to the Chh of Christ in Sunderland, State of Vermont.
July 1. Read a Letter of Recommendation of Joseph Cummings by the Chh of Christ in Marlborough (N. Hamps®) to the Chh of Christ in Keene, in order to his enjoying occa- sionally, Chh privileges in this place, and a Vote being asked whether the recom" was satisfactory, it passed in the Nega- tive.
L. D. August 12. The brethren tarried after Divine ser- vice and voted To attend further to M*" Cumming’s re- quest to enjoy Chh privileges. 2 To hold a meeting for that purpose on the day of the next stated Lecture immedi- ately after divine service.
Sep*" 17. The brethren tarried after lecture & there being a thin meeting adjourned to the 27 Ins*
Sep’' 23. A Letter was read from the 2 Chh of Christ in Beverly to the Chh of Christ in Topsfield, desiring assistance with other Chhs, in ye ordination of M’' Daniel Oliver to be their Pastor. Voted to send agreeably to their desire and Deacon Dodge, Deacon Gould & M*" Jacob Kimball were chosen delegates.
Sep’' 27. The Church voted that M’’ Joseph Cummings be desired to get a Letter of recommendation from the Chh of Christ in Marlborough or the Chh of Christ in Keene to this Chh.
November 2. The brethren took into consideration a re- commendation of Ruth Porter, wife of Thomas Porter, from
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
8l
the Chh of Christ in Salem of which the Rev^ William Bent- ley is Pastor & Voted it to be satisfactory in preparing the way for her being propounded for full communion with this Chh. In the next place a Remonstrance was read to the brethren against the measures a number had adopted for the dismission of the pastor from his ministerial office in this place, & it was voted unanimously that it should be present- ed to the town. There were thirteen present when this vote was passed. It was afterwards signed by Eighteen of the brethren & the rest of them declared their disapprobation of those measures.
Nov'' i8. Elizabeth, wife of Abra“ Hobbs & Ruth, wife of Thomas Porter admitted to full Communion. The breth- ren Voted a dismission to Daniel Hood & wife, & a recom- mendation to the chh of Christ in Wilton, N. Hampshire. They likewise Voted that the congregation be invited to join in setting apart Wednesday the 5^*' of Decern'' next, as a day of humilation & prayer on account of the melancholy situa- tion of this town.
Decern'' 17. Read a Letter to the Chh from the Chh of Christ in Byfield to desire assistance, with other Chhs, in the ordination of M'' Elijah Parish to be their Pastor. Voted to send agreeably to their desire and Deacon Gould, Deacon Dodge & M*" David Perkins were chosen Delegates.
Feb^ 20, 1788. The brethren of the Chh tarried after Lecture, & chose a Committee to sign with ye Pastor, Letters missive to the Churches which were chosen mutually by the pastor & the town, for the purpose of deliberating upon & deciding matters of difficulty subsisting between him & a number of ye inhabitants. M'' Zaccheus Gould, Deacon Gould & Deacon Dodge were chosen for this Comm“®®.
Feb^ 24. Aaron Kneeland & Hannah his wife admitted in- to full Communion.
March 1 8. The pastors & delegates of the following Church- es met for the purpose aforesaid, viz. the Chh in Salem un- der the pastoral care of the Rev*^ M'' Barnard, ye Churches in Ipswich under the pastoral care of the Rev*^ Mess'"® Dana, Cutter & Frisbie, the Church in Newbury- Port under the pas- toral care of the Rev^ M'' Spring, the Chh in Lynn under the pastoral care of the Rev^ M'' Parsons, & the Chh in Beverly
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RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
under the pastoral care of the Rev*^ IVT McKeen. These Churches having met according to desire, at the house of M' Samuel Hood, formed into an Ecclesiastical Council, chose the Rev** M*" Dana Moderator & the Rev** M*" Parsons scribe, opened with prayer, & by desire of the Chh proceeded to the meeting house & went into a publick hearing of the difficul- ties between the Rev** M*" Breck & some of the inhabitants of the town, a general view of which was exhibited to the Coun- cil by a Committee of the Town in some papers containing matters of charge against the Rev Daniel Breck. For further particulars vide Reports. After the Council was formed, the Church voted that the two Deacons & M'^Zaccheus Gould be a committee to make such representations to the Council as should be deemed necessary.
March 27. Mess" David Perkins & Daniel Bixby were chosen by the Chh as an addition to this Committee.
May 14. The brethren of the Chh tarried after Lecture when the pastor asked a dismission from his pastoral rela- tion to this Chh. It was judged proper to take this under consideration, & the meeting was adjourned to the 22 Ins*.
May 22. The Chh met & paid further attention to the pastors request, but not yet considering the way clear to grant this, they appointed a Committee to draw up a dismis- sion & recommendation to be laid before the Chh at their next meeting that it might be prepared, should the Chh be clear in granting it. Deacon Gould, Mess” Jacob Kimball & Daniel Bixby were chosen for the purpose.
May 26. The Chh met, & having attended to the renewal of the pastors request for a dismission, consented to it, & voted an acceptance of what the Com**®® had prepared as a recommendation. They then proceeded to the choice of M*" Jacob Kimball as Clerk, to record the votes of the Chh, and having in a very affectionate & solemn manner united in prayer, the pastor & brethren, parted.
Voted unanimously that the following Letter of Recom- mendation be Signed By the moderator In the Name of the Council. Whereas an Ecclesiastical Council Conven’d at topsfield In the County of Essex Commonwealth of masachu- setts on the 18 of March 1788 advised the Rev Daniel Breck To ask a Dismission from his pastoral relation to the Church
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
83
& Congregation in said Town. This may Certify all persons to whom it may Be presented That the Said M*' Breck was not advised to ask the afore Mentioned dismission on ac- count of any Chargses supported against his moral or minis- terial Character & Conversation. But solely on account of Some unhappy Difficulties Which had arisen Between him and a number of His people and forbid the prospect of his future usefulness In this place for it appeared to the Coun- cil from a Critical examination of all matters & Charges Sub- mitted to their Consideration & decisition that M*" Breck had Uniformly Supported the Character of an Upright pious and faithfull minister of the gospel and as Such he is Recom- mended to the Benevolent attention of all persons & people among whom he may be Conversant or Bestow his ministeral laboring
In the name of the Council
Joseph Dana moderator
Topsfield march 29*^ D 1788.
A Coppy of M*" Brecks Request.
To the Church of Christ in Topsfield Honoured and Beloved Permit me to renew my request for a Dismis- sion from my pastoral relation to this Church. My rea- sons for this I doubt not you Conceive to be Sufficient to Justify Me in it, the Defeculties which have arisen in the Town have appeared so great in the view of the late Respectful Councul as to Make a Seperation Necessary. They have accordingly advised to this and it has bin Ex- plicitely, Consented to by the Town and Me. And now brethren I commend you to God and the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inhearat- ance among all them that are Santified. May the Create Shephard of Israel lead you and watch over you as a beloved Flock and provid for you a pasture after his own hart who May be for a long time a rich and Valuable blessing to you. Earnestly Desiring an intrest in your prears I Subscribe my Self Veary affectiantly yours in the faith and fallowship of the gosple
Daniel Breck.
Topsfield May 26, 1788.
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RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
April 21, 1789. At a chh meeting, eighteen members present. Voted that M*’ Asahel Huntington be the Pastor of this chh, to perform all the services of a Minister. But one Dissenter. Voted That a committee be chosen to ask the selectmen to call a town meeting, to see if the town will con- cur with the vote of the chh, in their choice of M*" Hunting- ton to be their Minister. Voted that the committee consist of three viz Deacon Solomon Dodge, Deacon Joseph Gould, & Mr David Perkins.
Elizur Holyoke Moderator.
September 23, 1789. At a chh meeting, which was pre- viously appointed, for the purpose of choosing a council to ordain M** Huntington, & for assigning the Day for his ordi- nation. Voted That, if it be agreeable to the Town, Thursday the 12^'' day of November next be the day for the ordination of M*" Huntington. Voted 2*^’^ That M*' Hunting- ton, if he pleased, should choose one half the council. M*" Huntington chose the Rev*^ M*" Hart of Preston, Connecticut, The Rev^ M*" Nott of Franklin, Connecticut, The Rev*^ M*" Dana of Ipswich, The Rev*^ M*” Smith of Middletown and the Rev M*" Parish of Byfield. The Chh chose The Rev^ Mess" Cleaveland, Frisbie & Cutler of Ipswich. The Rev^ M^ Hol- yoke of Boxford. The Rev^^ M*" French of Andover, The Rev*^ M*’ Wadsworth of Danvers & the Rev*^ M*" Oliver of Bev- erly.
Voted 3 That a committee be chosen to lay the votes of the chh before the town for their concurrence, & in case they concur, That s*^ committee, shall, in behalf of the chh, send letters missive to the Churches of which the above named Gentlemen are Pastors, requesting their assistance in coun- cil, for the purpose of ordaining M*" Huntington.
Deacon Joseph Gould, M*" Daniel Bixby, & M"” Jacob Kim- ball were chosen a Committee for the above mentioned pur- pose.
Nov 9, 1789. At a chh meeting, on M*" Huntington’s pro- ducing a certificate of his membership & regular standing in the chh at Dartmouth College, — Voted that he be received into the communion of this Chh.
November 12, 1789. This day convened the Reverend Gentlemen before requested to sit in Council (M*" Oliver cx-
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD. 85
cepted) with the delegates of their churches, & ordained M*” Asahel Huntington to the pastoral office in this place.
IVf Nott made the introductory prayer, M*" Hart Preached a sermon from Heb. 12^^ i®* “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.” M*" Smith made the consecrating prayer. M*" Cleaveland gave the charge, M*" Holyoke gave the right hand of Fellowship, M' Dana made the concluding prayer.
Confession of Faith adopted by the Church of Christ in Topsfield.
1. You believe there is one God, who is eternal, immuta- ble, omnipotent, omniscient, infinitely holy and good, whose existence is a Trinity in Unity; or there are three distinct persons in the God-head, the Father, the Son, and the Holy- Ghost.
2. That God made all things by the word of his power, from eternity, decreed all things, and extends his providence over the whole creation, ruling & disposing all things for his creatures for his own glory. 1
3. That God created man in his own image, in knowledge,
and righteousness and holiness & consequently in a state of innocence & happiness; but in a state of trial under a cove- nant of works. ■
4. That man continued not in that estate; but our first parents sinned, and in consequence of it all, both Jews & Gen- tiles are under sin.
5. That God hath not left mankind to perish in that state of sin & misery; but hath elected some to everlasting life.
6. That the Scriptures of the Old & New Testament, are the infallible word of God; containing all instruction neces- sary to salvation.
7. That the Lord Jesus Christ, who is revealed in the Scriptures, as both God and man, — that he hath offered him- self a sacrifice for sin; and that He is the only Redeemer of God’s elect.
8. That the Spirit of God must convince us of sin, and change our wills, before we exercise that faith, which unites our souls to Christ, and makes us partakers of the benefits of his death & resurrection.
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RECORDS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
9. That God requires of us, as necessary duties, ' though not as meritorious conditions of salvation, faith, repentance, and obedience.
10. That those, who are born again of the Spirit of God: or are brought to the exercises of evangelical faith & repent- ance, will be preserved from final apostacy, and will infallibly be saved.
11. That there will be a resurrection of our bodies, and that our souls will be reunited to them in such a manner, as that we shall be capable of endless happiness or misery ; — that Jesus Christ will appear & judge the world in righteous- ness, the form of which judgment will be— The wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into fife eternal.
Sept. 26, 1790. Mehitable Foster, Widow, of Line-Brook Parish, was dismissed by this Chh, & recommended to y® Chh in Line-Brook Society.
May 12, 1792. At a chh meeting voted That the follow- ing be received as the Covenant of this Chh. viz. You do now in y® presence of God & this assembly, solemnly take y® Lord Jehovah, Father, Son, & holy ghost to be your God, & do give yourself to be his, promising to make his holy word y® only rule of your faith & practice. You devote yourself to God humbly depending on his grace in J. Cht. y® media- tor for righteousness & strength that you may be pardoned & accepted with God, & be enabled to walk in sincere obedi- ence before him. You do also subject yourself to y® Gov- ern* of Cht in this Chh & to y® regular administration of it in y® place promising, in brotherly love to seek its peace & wel- fare as long as God shall continue here And y* you will not withdraw from it without just cause, & first acquainting y® Chh with your design, & obtaining y*" consent. This is y® purpose of your heart, divine God assisting you.
May 16, 1792. Admitted as a member of this Chh M*'® Alethea Huntington on a letter of recommendation from y® Chh in Abington — Pomfret.
June. DocP Nehemiah Cleaveland admitted into full Communion.
Nov. 1793. Eunice y® wife of Aaron Conant admitted into full Communion.
CHURCH IN TOPSFIELD.
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June 30, 1794. Experience Cleaveland wife of Nehemiah Cleaveland Esq. admitted as a member in full communion on a Letter of Dismission & Recommendation from the Chh. of Cht. in Abington, Pomfret.
May, 1795. Mary Perkins, Baptized & admitted into ye Chh.
Augh 1795. Phebe Gould, wife of Cornelius Gould admit- ted.
Sept. 1795. Robert Perkins Jur. admitted.
5» 1797* ^ meeting of the Church voted & chose
John Gould Jr. Deacon to officiate in the room of Deacon Solomon Dodge who is excused from farther Service.
Nov. 1797. Huldah Peabody, wife of Jacob Peabody jr admitted.
Nov. 1798. The Widdow Sarah Balch admitted.
June 10, 1799. At a meeting of the Chh. called for y® purpose of Choosing a Deacon. Voted & chose Daniel Bix- by Deacon who succeeds Deacon Joseph Gould who is ex- cused from farther service in the office of Deacon.
Nov. 1799. Mrs. Dodge, wife of Deac. Sol" Dodge ad- mitted.
May 18, 1800. Lucy White admitted.
Sept. 14, 1800. Moses Bradstreet & Lydia Bradstreet his Wife admitted, the latter baptised. Widow Sarah Averell admitted.
December, 1800. Sarah Gould, wife of Simon Gould jr admitted.
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TOPSFIELD WARREN BLUES.
APPROVED AUGUST 5, 1 837.
We, the Members of the Topsfield Warren Blues, whose names are hereunto affixed do pledge ourselves to remain united and the more effectually to ensure success to our un- dertaking have adopted and subscribed the following articles for our Rules and Regulations.
Art. The uniform of the Company shall be blue coat, white pantaloons and Cap, with such trimmings as may be adopted by a majority of the Company.
Art. 2"*^. The Sergeants uniform to be the same as pri- vates, with the addition of side arms. Corporals same as pri- vates.
Art. The uniform of the Commissioned officers shall be similar to that of the Company, with such additions as they may deem expedient.
Art. 4^^^. There shall be chosen annually on the third Wed- nesday of April by ballot, a standing committee, whose duty it shall be to inspect the Clerk’s and Treasurer’s books ; to inspect all accounts exhibited against the Company, and di- rect their being paid ; to assess such sums of money as may be necessary for the ordinary expenses of the Company, which assessment if approved by the Commandant, shall be collected by them; — to direct the Clerk to call special meet- ings when directed by three members; to excuse soldiers from the payment of fines — provided a sufficient excuse is made — to remit assessments in cases deemed expedient; and also to provide an armourer, and see that he performs his duty — and allow him such compensation as they may think proper.
(88)
TOPSFIELD WARREN BLUES.
89
Art. 5^*'. It shall be the duty of the Clerk to keep a fair record of all the transactions of the Company; collect all fines and pay over to the Treasurer all the money he shall re- ceive taking his receipt therefor, to warn all meetings of the Company when ordered by the Commandant, — to keep his books open to the inspection of the Standing Committee, and render an account to the Company at least once a year.
Art. 6^^. There shall be chosen annually on the third Wednesday of April, a Treasurer, whose duty it shall be to receive all monies from the hands of the Clerk, and give his receipt therefor, to pay all bills that are approved by the Standing Committee, to keep regular accounts of the receipts and expenditures ; to have charge of the property of the Company, and to pay over to his successor in office all prop- erty remaining in his hands belonging to the Company, tak- ing his receipt therefor, to keep his books open to the inspec- tion of the Standing Committee and render his account at least once a year.
Art. 7^^. In case of vacancy in the office of Standing Committee or Treasurer, the Commandant shall immediately call a meeting, giving four days notice, for the choice of a member to fill the office, till the next annual meeting.
Art. 8^^. Any person ma)^ become a member of the Com- pany by making application to any member thereof, who shall report the same to the Clerk, and if accepted by the Company shall, after signing the Bye-laws, be entitled to all the privileges of the Corps.
Art. 9^^. The Company shall meet for a drill at their Ar- mory, or such other place as the Commanding officer may order, at such time, and in such dress as he may direct.
Art. All fines shall be appropriated to defray the
expenses of the Company.
Art. I At a special meeting of the Company, when called by desire of the members, every member being on an equality, a moderator may be chosen from the Company pre- sent;— At all meetings called by the Commandant the high- est officer present shall preside. Fine for non-attendance at any special meeting seventy-five cents, unless excused by the Standing Committee.
Art. 12^*^. The Company shall not be involved in any ex-
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RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE
pense aside from their ordinary expenses, unless by a vote of a majority of the members present, at any stated meeting.
Art. 13^^. The most implicit obedience shall be paid to every officer on parade, especially while under arms.
Art. 14^^. There shall be holden annually, within one month after the last fall training, a special meeting at the Armory, or such other place as the Commanding officer may direct; for the purpose of attending to the concerns of the Company, and examine the accounts of the Clerk, Treasurer and Standing Committee — Who shall then render them to the inspection of the Company — report the delinquencies for, fines &c. The Standing Committee shall attend to setling all the accounts of the Company, previous to such meeting and should the Company be found in arrears, there shall be made an equal assessment on the members to meet such arrear- ages.
Art. 15*^. Any member wishing to be discharged from the Company, shall apply to the Commandant, who, after such member shall have discharged the demands of the Com- pany against him, shall take measurers to procure his dis- charge, provided he deem it expedient.
Art. NO INTOXICATING LIQUORS shall be
provided at the expense of the Compaii}^.
Art. 17*^. In case any member shall be removed by death, it shall be discretionary with the Commissioned officers, after consulting the friends of the deceased, to determine in what manner his funeral shall be attended by the Company.
Art. i8“\ At any meeting of the Company, when ordered to assemble for drill or to transact any other business it shall be the duty of the Clerk to Call the Roll at the opening and close of the meeting, and any member being absent at roll call shall forfeit 8z pay twenty five cents for each offence.
Art. 19^^. Whenever the Company is ordered out to tran- sact any business the members present shall constitute a quorum, they being obliged to vote either in the affirmative or negative.
Art. 20.^*^ No alteration shall be made in the foregoing By- Laws, unless such alteration shall have been proposed at a previous meeting of the Company, and subsequently passed by a vote of two thirds of the members present.
CERTIFICATES OF MILITARY SERVICE.
91
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Head Quarters,
Boston, Aug. 5, 1837.
Having examined the foregoing Rules and Regulations of the Topsfield “Warren Blues,” so called, I do hereby ap- prove the same.
Edward Everett
Commander in Chief. Mass. Militia. (See also, Topsfield Historical Collections, Vol. I. pp. 19-29.)
CERTIFICATE OF MILITARY SERVICE, 1758
These Certify that Zacchaus Gould has Done a Turne'in his Majesties Service to Lake George &cc by hireing John Robinson in his Room who performed that service in y* year 1758 under y® Command of Cap‘ Israel Herrick.
, John Bordman Cap
Topsfield March 31**: 1758.
SAMUEL GOULD’S MILITARY SERVICE IN THE REVOLUTION.
Topsfield Septem’’'* 4*^ 1780
This may certify that I the Subscriber went from Tops- field to Middleton to Work on the tenth of February 1779 And then I returned Home to Topsfield the Sixth Day of August, and went into the Service for Topsfield, nine Months, and then returned Home, to Topsfield, again on the twenty ninth Day of May 1780, and then let myself to Middleton the twenty sixth Day of June 1780, and from thence came home to Topsfield the twenty second of August,
as witness my Hand
Samuel Gould
92
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
TO BE SOLD, a large Farm laying in Townshend, con- taining upwards of lOO Acres of Land, situated in the Coun- try Road, with between 20 & 30 Acres of Improved Land, and a House, with a very fine young Orchard, that contains about 300 Trees, many of which begin to bear. The said Farm is to be sold the second Day of May next, at the House of the Widow Sarah ConnanV s, Innholder in said Townshend^ to the highest Bidder, by Daniel Lake of Tops- field,
Boston Gazette,, Apr, 14.,, 1758.
Topsfield, May 15^*^ 1793
Whereas I Robert Perkins Junr of Said Topsfield Cord- winer Did on the Day of March Last Pass in open town meeting utter and Valentaly publish the Following words against Daniel Bixby of the Said Topsfield vz meaning the Said Bixby that the Said Town of Topsfield was wronged out of two Dollars the Last year by his Conduct which Dec- laration and Charge I Do by these present acknowledge in the presents of m'’ Zaccheus Gould and Roger Balch was False or grownless which I uttered against Said Bixby
Robert Perkins Junr
attest
Zaccheus Gould Roger Balch
Topsfield May 15^^ 1793* Reed the above of Robert Per- kins Ju as Satisfaction in full for the above Charge
Daniel Bixby Bixby Family MSS,
JOHN HOOD OF LYNN, MASS., AND SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS.
BY MRS. JENNIE (HOOD) BOSSON.
1 John Hood was the son of John and Anne Hood of Halsted, England, and was bom about 1600. His father was a weaver and died at Halsted, and by will dated Nov. 6, 1622, proved Nov. 20, 1622, bequeathed to his son John, all his real estate, and to his daughters Anne, Jane, Avese, Catherine, Grace, Mary, and Rose, 40 shil- lings each, while his wife Anne was appointed executrix. She afterwards married Thomas Beard.* The daughter Mary married Richard Truesdale who emigrated from Lincolnshire, arriving in Boston in 1630, then being about 24 years old. He was a butcher by trade, a deacon in the First Church, Boston, and one of the founders of the Old South Church. He died apparently without issue, his will being proved, in January, 1671-2. His widow Mary in her will, proved Nov. 26, 1674, bequeathed ^50, each to brother John Hood’s children, Richard and Mary, not of age.
John Hood, junior, was a weaver, and settled at Cam- bridge, Mass., as early as Oct. 20, 1638. With his son Richard, he appeared in Lynn before 1650.f In 1652, John Hood of Lynn, yeoman, conveyed to William Crofts for <£30, “ three dwelling howses or tenements with all thereto belonging in Halsted in the County of Essex in old England with a covenant for further assurance. And the said Willm is to pay 40s. a peice to the sisters of the said John according to his father’s will the wch apeth in the bargain and sale by deed dated the 10th day of De- cember, 1652.” f
*Lechford’s Note Book, pp. 10-12. t John Hood was also in Kittery in 1652. jEssex Registry of Deeds, Book I, leaf 58.
(93)
94
JOHN HOOD or LYNN, MASS.
The following year he visited England, as appears from a deposition in old Xorfolk County records, under date of Dec. 5, 1653, that John Hood, late of Lynn, sent a letter out of old England, to his wife Elizabeth, then living in Lynn.
In February, 1683, John Hude with two others bought from Koger Shaw of Hampton, N. H., an estate in Lynn, of house and two acres more or less, 3 acres lying near Sagamore hill, 4 acres salt marsh near Saugus river, 12 acres of planting ground on east side of tovm.
Children of John and Elizabeth:
2. Eichakd, b. abt. 1625, in England.
3. Mary.
2 Richard Hood, said to have been born at Lynn Regis, Xorfolk Co., England, about 1625, came to America with his father and was living in Lynn before 1650. In 1681, he bought for £100, Mr. Humfries farm in Lynn on what is now Xahant street, which for several years pre- vious he had leased of Humfries’ widow, at an annual ren- tal of £9, and “one good load of salt marsh hay.” The house upon this farm was the one in vTich Lady Deborah Moody formerly lived. He was admitted a freeman in 1691. In 1692 he was allowed to sit in the pulpit with seven other old men, probably on account of defective hearing. He died September 12, 1695, and administration on the estate was granted to his son Richard, but he died before it was settled and his brother John was appointed September 7, 1696. The estate was divided as follows : “ The children of the eldest son, he being dec’d,” two shares, and John, Samuel, Xathaniel, Joseph, Benjamm, Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth, Ruth, Rebeckah, Hannah and Anna Hood, each one share.
Richard Hood married Mary, daughter of Anthony Xew- hall whose will proved Mar. 31, 1656, mentions grand- children Richard and Elizabeth Hood, and daughter Mary to whom he bequeaths the third part of the interest of his orchard for seven years, also a “ pcell of ground that lys one the other syde the brook at the north end of my hows lott uppon condittyon that her husband doe build a dwel-
AND SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS.
95
ling hows oppon it.” One half of the remainder of his estate also went to Mary.
July 7, 1682, Richard and Mary Hood sold a house and four acres of land.^' This was the four acre lot next Hathorne’s that Mr. Newhall bequeathed to his daughter, and here probably her husband built a house for their homestead, instead of on the small lot north of the brook, spoken of in the will. A Mary Hood died about Feb. 14, 1727-8. — Lynn Records.
Children of Richard and Mary, born in Lynn :
4. Mary, m. Michel Derich. In 1692 she was accused of practising
witchcraft, and was imprisoned in Boston for 7 months. She was a wid. in 1692.
5. Richard, b. Nov. 18, 1655.
6. Sara, b. Aug. 2, 1657; m. Oct. 25, 1675, William Bassett, jr.,
husbandman. She was tried for witchcraft May 23, 1692, and imprisoned at Boston until Nov. 2. While in prison she had with her a child 22 months old, and another was born after her liberation whom she named “ Deliverance.” Her husband’s sister Elizabeth, m. John Proctor of Danvers. She also was accused and sentenced to death, but afterward re- leased through the brave and persistent efforts of her hus- band, Goodman Proctor, who afterwards suffered the death penalty. Had: (1) Sarah, b. Dec. 6, 1676; m. 1st Joseph Grif- fin; m. 2d. Newbold; m. 3d. Hawkes; (2) William,.
b. Nov., 1678; m. Jan. 14, 1703, Rebecca Berry; (3) Mary, b. June 13, 1680; m. Feb. 15, 1705-6, Andrew Jearns of Boston; (4) John, b. Sept. 8, 1682; m. Feb. 9, 1704-5, Abigail Berry of Chelsea; (5) Hannah, b. Feb. 2, 1685; m. John Estes of Salem; (6) Ruth, b. Mar.l6, 1689-90 ;m. Jan. 6, 1713, Abraham Allen of Marblehead, fisherman; (7) Joseph, b. Dec. 15, 1692 ; lost at sea before 1721; (8) Deliverance, b. Aug. 2, 1695; m. Jan. 25, 1719-20, Samuel Breed, jr. ; (9) Abigail, m. Dec. 12, 1728, Samuel Alley.
7. Elizabeth, b. Nov., 1658; m. Dec. 6, 1682, Thomas Farrar, jr.
8. Ruth, b. July, 1660.
9. Rebecca, b. Feb. 7, 1662; m. Dec. 9, 1681, Hugh Alley of Lynn,.
weaver. Had: (1) Solomon, b. Oct. 11, 1682; (2) Jacob, b. Jan. 28, 1683-4; (3) Eleazer, b. Nov. 1, 1686; (4) Hannah, b. Aug. 16, 1689; (5) Richard, b. July 31, 1691; (6) Joseph, b. June 22, 1693; (7) Benjamin, b. Feb. 24, 1694-5; (8) Samuel..
•Sometime ia tbe possession of Anthony Newhall, to Matthew Farrington for £56.
96
JOHN HOOD OF LYNN, MASS.
10. John, b. May 7, 1664.
11. Hanna, b. Oct. 21, 1665; m. Mar. 15, 1702-.3, Edmond Needham;
d. Sept. 28, 1740, “suddenly.” Had: (1) Daniel, b. Dec. 5, 1703; (2) Bathsheba, b. Apr. 30, 1705.
12. Samuel, b. May 12, 1667; m. Deborah He became a
Quaker before 1690. Had : Sarah, ra. July 29, 1731, John Presbrey of Boston. Samuel Hood, d. Mar. 9, 1749-50. — Z. Collins Diary.
13. Nathaniel, b. June 9, 1669.
14. Anne, b. Feb. 13, 1672; m. (as (Anna) Feb. 5, 1691-2, Samuel
Breed of Lynn, husbandman and weaver. Had: (1) Samuel, b. Nov. 11, 1692; (2) Amos, b. July 20, 1694; (3) Jabez, b. Jan. 26, 169.5-6; (4) Abigail, b. Sept. 7, 1698; (5) Nathan, b. Jan. 3, 1702-3; (6) Keziah, b. Oct. 16, 1704; (7) Anna, b. July 28, 1706; (8) Ebenezer, b. May 1, 1710; (9) Ruth, b. Mar. 10, 1711-12; (10) Benjamin, b. July 4, 1715.
15. Joseph, b. July 8, 1674.
16. Benjamin, b. Jan. 3, 1677; made freeman, 1691; d. 1696.
5 Richard Hood, born Nov. 18, 1655, united with the Quakers before 1690. He married about 1689, Han- nah , and died in 1696. (Adra. on his estate granted
Dec. 11, 1696.)
Children of Richard and Hannah, born in Lynn :
17. Samuel, b. Oct. 18, 1690.
18. Richaki), b. Mar. 30, 1692.
19. Zebulon, b. Sept. 13, 1693; d. Dec. 2, 1693.
20. Zebulon, b. Feb. 28, 1694; d. July 12, 1695.
10 John Hood, born May 7, 1664, married Sarah Breed of Lynn. He united with the Quakers before 1690 and from that year until 1720, with others, signed a yearly petition to the General Court for refunding the ministerial tax which was levied also upon Quakers. In 1696, he was imprisoned one month in Salem jail for re- fusing to pay a tax to support the Rev. Mr. Shepherd. Ac- cording to the diary of his son-in-law Zaccheus Collins, of Lynn, he died Dec. 4, 1730 and his widow died May 6, 1747. His will dated Dec. 1, 1730 ; prob. Jan. 2, 1730-1, mentions wife Sarah.
Children of John and Sarah, born in Lynn :
AND SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS.
97
21. Barbara (Barberry, birth and marriage rd.), b. June 10, 1694;
m. (int. Mar. 14, 1717-18) Benjamin Bowden of Marblehead.
22. Hui.dah, b. Nov. 28, 1697 (Hildah Hood, m. Michael Bassett of
Marblehead). Int. Dec. 5, 1719.
23. Benjamin, b. June 14, 1700.
24. Content, b. July 25, 1703; m. (int. July 15, 1721), Zaccheus Col-
lins of Lynn. She was not named in her father’s will, in 1730.
25. Breed, b. July 22, 1706. Breed Hood, buried Nov. 23, 1763, at
Marblehead— Z. Collins Diary. Shipwright and lived in Mar- blehead, where he m. Lydia . Will dated Oct. 14,
1763, probated Nov. 24, 1763.
26. Sarah, m. (int. Nov. 23, 1729), John Andrews of Marblehead.
27. Lydia, b. Apr. 17, 1714 ; m. Nov. 30, 1736, Daniel Bassett, hus-
bandman, of Lynn.
13 Nathaniel Hood, born June 9, 1669, in Lynn, married Oct. 16, 1706, Joanna Dwinnell of Topsfield. They lived in Lynn for a few years and then removed to Topsfield and lived in the northwest part of the town ad- joining Ipswich and Boxford on the farm owned in 1835 by Capt. Daniel Bixby. In 1746 Nathaniel Hood built a house by the pond which is now called “ Hood’s Pond.” The house has always remained in the Hood family and in the Hood name and is now owned by Ralph D. Hood. Nathaniel Hood died Oct. 30, 1748, at Topsfield, and his wife Joanna died Mar. 1, 1731-2.
She was daughter of Michael Dwinell a French Hugue- not who came to America after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, and settled in Topsfield.
Children of Nathaniel and Joanna :
28. Nathan.
29. Nathaniel.
30. Joseph, m.; d. Sept. 6, 1745 at Newport, R. I.
31. Susannah, b. 1714; m. Nov. 7, 1733, Samuel Cummings; lived
in Middleton and Stoughton. He was a soldier in the ex- pedition against Louisburg and d. in Sharon, Mass., Dec. 11, 1804; she d. there Jan. 14, 1812, as. 98 y. Had 11 child- ren.
32. Amos, unm. ; lived at Biddeford, Me., where he joined the
church, June 27, 1742; tailor by trade.
33. Richard(?), m. Apr. 1, 1747, in Beverly, Elizabeth Coy. He was
then of Salem. He was a mariner and lived in Beverly. He
98
JOHN HOOD OF LYNN, MASS.
d. in Bristol, of small pox, in 1751 (adm. granted on his es- tate June 17, 1751). She d. in Beverly, May 24, 1748, ae. 27y. Had: Elizabeth, bp, Jan. 17, 1747-8; m. Jan. 9, 1766, An- drew Gage of Beverly; d. (bur. Oct. 28, 1810.)
34. Marcy (dau. Nathaniel and Hannah. Beverly rds.), b. Dec. 12,
1722, Beverly ; m. in Salem, June 8, 1742, James Smith.
35. John, b. Jan. 10, 1724.
15 Joseph Hood, born July 8, 1674, married May 17, 1716, at Boston, Rebecca Cumbey. She was born Dec. 8, 1683, daughter of Robert Cumbee, and married, first, July 27, 1704, John More; married, second, Oct. 24, 1706, Thomas Mieres, and had one son Cumbey Mieres. She married, third, Joseph Hood. He died Dec. 14, 1729 (Z. Collins Diary') and she may have married, fourth, in 1738, William Lee.
Child of Joseph and Rebecca :
36. Cumbey, b. Aug. 28, 1717, at Boston. Was the captain of a
vessel, and was lost at sea.
In 1749, he sold the homestead on Salutation Lane, Bos- ton, and in 1751 removed to New York.
He married, first, in 1739, Lettice Begood, at Boston, and had Kebecca, who died in infancy; married, second, Sarah Nolens, daughter of Robert Nolens, gentleman, of Wales, They had a daughter Sarah, born Mar. 8, 1749, who married, Oct. 7, 1773, at Portsmouth, N. H., Ezekiel Russell, and died Oct. 15, 1806.
17 Samuel Hood, born Oct. 18, 1690, married (int. Dec. 15, 1723) Agnes, daughter of Henry and Sarah Snow of Kitterv, Me. He was a husbandman and lived in Lynn. His will dated Feb. 28, 1749, probated Apr. 2, 1750, names wife Agnes, and eight children. “ In those early days, a young man who was inclined to indulge in the laudable, custom of courting, went to visit a young lady named Agnes. As he was returning, late one evening, he was overheard saying to himself — ‘ Well, so far proceeded towards courting Agnes.’ This phrase became common and has been introduced into an English comedy.” — Lewis andNewhall’s History of Lynn.
AND SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS.
99
Children of Samuel and Agnes, born in Lynn :
37. Richard, b. Jan. 26, 1725.
38. Mary, b. Apr. 22, 1727; mentioned in father’s will as unm. in
1749.
39. Sarah, b. Jan. 4, 1730; d. Aug. 11, 1761.
40. Elizabeth, b. Feb. 19, 1733.
41. Samuel, b. Aug. 18, 1736.
42. Hannah, b. May 1, 1739.
43. Daniel, b. Mar. 18, 1742.
44. John, b. Dec. 16, 1744.
18 Richard Hood, born in Lynn, Mar. 30, 1692, married May 20, 1718, Theodate, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Collins of Lynn. He was a husbandman and lived on Nahant where he bought land in 1739. Zaccheus Col- lins’ Diary notes that his wife died in Boston and was buried in Lynn, Jan. 17, 1764. His will dated Dec. 7, 1769 was probated May 29, 1779.
Children of Richard and Theodate, born in Lynn :
45. Theodate, b. Oct. 27, 1719; m. (int. Apr. 8, 1739) Jeremiah
Gray; d. Apr. 28, 1751, “ suddenly.”
46. Jedadiah, b. Sept. 25, 1721; d. Sept. 26, 1721.
47. Content, b. Dec. 20, 1722; m. at Salem, Oct. 8, 1741, JohnPhil-
lips of Boston, shipwright, s. of Walter Phillips of Salem.
48. Rebekaii, b. Apr. 3, 1725; m. Oct. 20, 1742, Solomon Alley,
cordwainer, of Lynn.
49. Hannah, b. Dec. 9, 1727 ; m. Sept. 19, 1750, Daniel Holder,
shipwright, s. of Thomas Holder of Marblehead.
50. Patience, b. Sept. 9, 1730 ; m. Aug. 18, 1756, Daniel Silsbee,
shipwright, of Boston, s. of Henry Silsbee. She was living with her father in 1769, her husband having died.
51. Abner, b. Sept. 26, 1733.
52. Abigail, b. Sept. 14, 1736; m. Jan. 26, 1757, Hugh Alley, house-
wright, s. of Samuel Alley.
53. A child, b. Nov. 8, 1737.
23 Benjamin Hood, born in Lynn, June 14, 1700, married Dec. 16, 1729, Elizabeth, daughter of William Bassett of Lynn. Housewright and husbandman and lived in Marblehead and Lynn (Nahant). Inherited his father’s house. Will dated Dec. 22, 1762, probated Oct 5, 1778, mentions wife Elizabeth.
100
JOHN HOOD OF LYNN, MASS
Children of Benjamin and Elizabeth, born in Lynn :
54. Content, b. Sept. 3, 1730; m. Sept. 26, 1752, Walter Phillips*
jr., s. of Jonathan Phillips.
55. Rebecca, b. Aug. 18, 1732; m. Nov. 23, 1757, Gideon Phillips,
s. of Jonathan Phillips.
56. Sarah, b. Dec. 30, 1734; m. Aug. 25, 1779, John Alley.
57. Elizabeth, b. Dec. 4, 1743; d. Sept. 12, 1762.
58. Anna, b. May 12, 1746; ‘‘drowned in Lynn harbour,” Aug. 8,
1770, from a canoe, while with a party of se%'en others, going on board a schooner in the harbour.
28 Nathan Hood, married, first, Mar. 6, 1731, Eliz- abeth Palmer, who was born May 1, 1710 at Rowley. They resided at Topsfield. She died June 10, 1782, “in a very sudden manner,” and he married, second, (int. Nov. 24, 1782) Lydia Corliss [Colly. Topsfield rds.] of Salem, N. H. He was a housewright, a surveyor of highways in 1738 and constable in 1756. He died May 4, 1792. Children of Nathan and Elizabeth, born in Topsfield :
59. William, b. Dec. 26, 1731.
60. A child, d. May 24, 1734.
61. A child, d. May 26, 1734.
62. Mary, b. Jan. 1, 1735-6; d. Jan. 9, 1738.
63. Joanna, b. Nov. 19, 1737; m. Feb. 27, 1759, Daniel Averill; d.
Dec. 12, 1816, “ occasioned by falling into the fire.”
64. Nathan, b. Jan. 10, 1739-40.
65. Daniel, b. Nov. 11, 1741.
66. Mary, b. Jan. 1, 1744; m. July 23, 1768, Moses Safiord of
Ipswich.
67. Joseph, b. Feb. 2, 1746.
68. Benjamin, b. Feb. 13, 1748.
69. Elizabeth, b. Apr. 19, 1750; m. Apr. 5, 1774, Andrew Gould;
d. Aug. 5, 1791.
70. Mehitable, b. Mar. 15, 1752; m. Nov. 30, 1772, Jonathan
Perkins of Boxford.
71. Susanna, b. June 17, 1754; d. July 8, '1756.
Nathan and Elizabeth also may have had a son Jonathan who set- tled in Topsham, Vt., in 1782, and who came from Topsfield, ac- cording to family tradition. He was one of the first settlers in the town and was killed by being thrown from a load of hay. Had: (1, Polly, b. 1773; m. Reuben Gilbert of Lyndon, Vt. ; d. Feb. 19, 1842; (2) Betsey, b. 1777, m. Lemuel Randall of Newbury, Vt.; d. Oct. 2)
AND SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS.
101
1864; (3) William (twin), b. July, 1778; m. Sally Crown; d. Dec. 3, 1862; (4) Jonathan (twin), b. July, 1778; m. Susan Farwell; d. Sept. 23, 1848; (5), Sally, b. 1780; m. Jacob Morse; d. June 8, 1861; (6), Mehitable, b. 1787; m. Zimriah Dodge of Topsham; d. Feb. 23, 1844; (7) Hepsibah, b. 1790; d. unm. Oct. 10, 1865.