LIBRAPlY OF CONGRESS. 
 
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 ^/^e// .£).^. L..a- f 
 
 I UNiTED STATES OF AMERICA. | 
 
lld^dC- 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Jlp$f iJ^wg^^galwMl i)il«iwl, 
 
 BRISTOL, R. I., 
 
 1687 — 1872. 
 
 By 
 
 .^oH^Ptx^Y., Pastoi? 
 
 PHO VIDENCE : J 
 
 PROVIDENCE PKESS COMPANY, PKINTER9, 
 
 1872. 
 
 ^<^'C0PYRICrfT--,^ 
 
 ^V\o/JlA^D,r 
 
 C/ 
 
 <!^/y/^, 
 
 mon'^S' 
 
Entered accDrdiiig to Act of Congress in the year 1872, by 
 
 J. P. LANE, 
 
 Jn tlie Ofiloe of the Libarian of Congross, at Washingtou, D. C. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 I. The Foundations Laid. 1620-1691. - 3 
 
 Prel i mi n ary survey of the groun d, - 3 
 
 Settlement of the town oi Bristol, - ^' 
 
 Efforts to settle a Gospel Ministry, - 1^^ 
 
 Erection of a House of Worship, - 21 
 
 24 
 28 
 28 
 30 
 
 38 
 40 
 46 
 
 [1 
 
 Organization of the Chnreh, 
 Biographical notes of the Early Members, 
 John Wali.ey, 
 Nathaniel Byeield, - 
 IMus. Deborah Byeield, - - 38 
 
 Mrs. Sakah Byeield, - 
 Benjamin Church, 
 John Caky, 
 
 Nathaniel Reynolds, - - 4' 
 
 Hugh Woodbury, - - ^"^ 
 
 Willi a:m Throof, - " ^"^ 
 
 Nathaniel Bosworth, - 48 
 
 The Kev. Sanmcjl Lee, D. D., Founder and 
 
 First Pastor, - - - 49 
 
 IL The Building Going Forward. 1691-1718, 65 
 
 Efforts to obtain a Pastor, - - 6^ 
 
 Tlie Rev. John Sparhawk, Second Pastor, 66 
 
 HL Storm AND Peril. 1718-1740, - 68 
 
 The McSparran difficulties, - - 68 
 
 The Rev. Nathaniel Cotton, Third Pastor, 72 
 
 The Rev. Barnabas Taylor, Fourth Pastor, 75 
 
 lY. Peace and Prosperity. 1740-1775, - 76 
 
 The Rev. John Burt, Fifth P:istor, - 76 
 
V. Halting of the Work. 1775-1785, - BO 
 
 Scattered without a Shepherd. - - 80 
 
 VI. The Work Renewed. 1785-1812, - 88 
 
 The Catholic Society organized, - - 88 
 
 Erection of a Second House of Worship, 89 
 
 The Rev. Henry Wight, D. D., Sixth Pastor, 90 
 
 VII. The Period of Revivals. 1812-1830, 94 
 
 The Revival of 1812, - - - 94 
 
 The Rev. Joel Majin, Seventh Pastor, 97 
 
 The Sabbath School begun, - - 98 
 
 The Revival of 1820, - - 99 
 
 Erection of " the ILdl," - - 101 
 
 The Rev. Isaac Lewis, D. D., Eighth Pas^^or, 103 
 
 The Revival of 1830. - - - 108 
 
 VIII. The Building Still Going Forward. 
 
 1830-1872, - - - 110 
 
 The Rev. John Starkweather, Ninth Pastor, 110 
 
 The Rev. Thos. Sheperd, D. D., Tenth Pastor, 110 
 
 Ei'eclion of the Third House of Worship, 112 
 
 The Rev. Cyrus P. Osborne, Eleventh Pastor, 116 
 
 Payment of the Debt, - - 117 
 
 Erection of " the Memorial Chapel," 118 
 
 The Rev. James P. Lane, Twelfth Pastor, 122 
 
 Funds and Chnrities, - - 123 
 
 Sacramental Furniture, - - 125 
 
II I S T O R Y 
 
 I. 
 THE FOUNDATIONS LAID,— 1G20-1 691. 
 
 PRELIMINARY SURVEY OF THE GROUND. 
 
 When the Pilgrim Fathei-s landed at Plymouth, in 
 1620, Massasoit, at the head of the powerful tribe 
 of Wampanoags or Pokmiokets was the principal 
 Sachem of the territory between Narragansett and 
 Massachusetts Bays, having his chief seat at Soicams 
 or Soivamset, now Warren, R. I. 
 
 He earl}^ manifested a friendl}' spirit toward the 
 English, and, in the spring of 1621, made a treaty 
 of peace with Governor Carver, which was main- 
 tained without serious difficult}^ until his death in 
 1661. 
 
 He was succeeded b}' his eldest son, Alexander. 
 A rumor soon after obtained credence that Alexan- 
 der Avas not disposed to follow in the good waj^ of 
 his father, but Avas plotting with the Narragansetts 
 against the English. He was prompth^ summoned 
 to the court at Ph^mouth, where he stouth' main- 
 tained that the rumor was false. Haviug pledged 
 fidelity he was suffered to depart in peace, and not 
 Ions; after died. 
 
Philip, the 3'oimgest sou of Massasoit, succeeded 
 his brother Alexander, having his chief seat at 
 Mount Hope, a beautiful elevation on the east side 
 of the peninsula, now included within the limits of 
 Bristol, R. I. Among his first acts, he renewed the 
 ancient treaty of his father with the Colonists, and five 
 years passed awa}' before any suspicion of treachery 
 was entertained, when there was a vague charge that 
 he was willing to plot with the French or Dutch 
 against the English. This he denounced as a calumu}'. 
 After nearlj^ four 3'ears more, another rumor of 
 treacheiy awakened solicitude at both Pl3'mouth and 
 Boston. Upon investigation, proofs of bad faith 
 were discovered, but conference with the authorities 
 issued in renewed engagements of fealty. Three 
 3xars later, Sassamon, a " praying Indian," informed 
 the Governor of Ph'mouth, that Philip was tiying to 
 excite other Sachems to war against the English. On 
 hearing of this, Philip protested that it was not so, 
 but the government did not believe him. A few days 
 after, Sassamon was missing, and it was soon dis- 
 covered that he was murdered at the instigation of 
 Philip. Concealment of his treacherv being no 
 longer possible, Philip openlv engaged in war, and, 
 having enlisted the cooperation of other tribes, 
 lighted the flame in various parts of the countiy 
 which burned so deeply that it proved to be the most 
 terrific of all those early conflicts with the Indians 
 into which the Colonists were drawn. The first 
 English blood was shed on or about the twent3'-fourth 
 of June, 1675, and peace was secured under the well- 
 
directed energy of the Hon. Benjamin Church, in 
 command of the Colonial forces, by the death of 
 Philip, who was killed near Mount Hope the twelfth 
 of August, 1676, and by the surprise and capture, a 
 few days later, of Annawon, Philip's chief warrior. 
 The territory over which Philip had presided came 
 into the possession of Pl3^mouth Colony by right of 
 conquest. 
 
 When the war thus brought to a close broke out in 
 1675,Pl3'mouth had been settled fifty-four years, and 
 the entire population of New England, excluding 
 Indians, was about eighty thousand. In what is now 
 the State of Maine, there were thirteen towns and plan- 
 tations, and one organized Congregational Church. 
 In New Hampshire, four towns and three churches. 
 Vermont had not been settled. Massachusetts had 
 sixt3^-four towns and fifty-seven churches. Connecti- 
 cut had twenty-three towns and twenty-one churches ; 
 and Rhode Island had six towns, viz. : Providence, 
 Newport, Portsmouth, Warwick, Westerly and New 
 Shoreham, but no organized Congregational Church. 
 The various tribes of Indians had been greatly 
 reduced in numbers bj^ wars among themselves and 
 with the Colonists and by the inroads of disease, and 
 in all did not exceed eleven thousand, of whom about 
 four thousand were " Pra3ing Indians," who had 
 been won to some comprehension and practice of 
 Christianity. 
 
 " Along a line of rugged coast, from the Penobscot to the 
 Hudson, were scattered settlements of Englishmen at un- 
 equal distances from each other, — closely grouped together 
 5 
 
Jibout midway of that line, farther apart at the extremi- 
 ties. Almost all of them were reached by tide water. A 
 Tery few were planted in detached spots in the interior; 
 the most distant of these being about a hundred miles from 
 the sea, whether measured from the east or from the south. 
 In the three associated Colonies there was great similarity 
 in the ordinary occupations and pursuits. The adults of 
 both sexes worked hard ; the children went to school. The 
 greater part of the men got a living by farm labor, provid- 
 ing bread and meat, milk, butter and cheese for their own 
 tables, and raising stock to sell in tlie West Indies for 
 money with which to buy foreign commodities. But they 
 were not all ftirmers. A portion were lumberers plying 
 the axe through the winter in the thick pine forests, and, 
 at the return of Spring, floating down their rafts to a sure 
 and profitable market. Another portion were fishermen, 
 familiar with the haunts of the cod, the mackerel and the 
 whale, and with all perils of the sea. In the principal 
 towns, various classes of artisans pursued a lucrative trade. 
 The country furnished some staples for an advantageous 
 foreign commerce; and especially in Boston not a lew 
 merchants had grown rich." — Dr. Palfrey''s Hist. N. E., 
 UI. 132, 134. 
 
 SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN OF BRISTOL. 
 
 The treaties of the Indian Chiefs Massasoit, 
 Alexander and Philip, with the Plymouth Colon}-, 
 secured to them their rights to the land, unless parted 
 with b}^ honorable purchase, but recognized the juris- 
 diction of the Colony under the English Crown over 
 the entire territor3\ In 1669, the Plymouth Court 
 granted one hundred acres within the present limits 
 of Bristol, to Mr. John Gorham, " if it can be pur- 
 chased of the Indians ;" and the remainder to the 
 
town of Swanze}", " for the promoting of a wa}^ of 
 trade in this CoUonie." On the first of Jnl^^, 1672, 
 Mr, Constant Southworth, Mr. James Brown, and 
 Mr. John Gorham were appointed b}' the Conrt " to 
 purchase a certain p'cell of land of the Indians 
 granted by the Conrt to the said John Gornm hing 
 att Pappasquash Neck."* After the close of Philip's 
 war on the thirteenth of Jul}', 1677, the Court 
 " rattified, established and confirmed the aforesaid 
 one hundred acres of land to John Gorum's heirs 
 and successors forever." This land was north of the 
 town Cemeter}--, between the Neck road and the Ba}-^, 
 and remained in the Gorham name and family for 
 several generations down to a quite recent date. 
 
 In 1680, The Plymouth Colony granted to John 
 Walle}^, Nathaniel Oliver, Nathaniel B^'field, and 
 
 * Pappasqtiash, Poppasquash, Pappoosqtmws, Pappasqua. 
 This name, so vaiionsly spelled, has, according to Dr. 
 Trumbull, two plausible derivations; one, from papasqu, 
 meaning "double" or " opposite to," applicable to the 
 southern end of Bristol, divided by the harbor ; the other, 
 from. paupocks2i, meaning "partridge," applicable to this 
 place as having been a good hunting ground for partridges. 
 Another derivation is fiom Pappoose and Squaws, from the 
 fact that in the early Indian w^ars the Pokanokeis sent their 
 children and wives to this Neck as a place of safety. This 
 last derivation seems to be now generally accepted, al- 
 though it is mere speculation, there being no historical 
 data to establish it. The name was at first used to desig- 
 nate all of the western part of what is now Bristol, includ- 
 ing both the beautiful peninsula to which it is now applied 
 and the land north, as far as the Warren river. 
 
8 
 
 Stephen Burton, four merchants of Boston, for 
 £1 100, all that portion of territory not previousty sold, 
 which is now included in the town of Bristol. The 
 whole of Pl3inouth Colony was then settled, except 
 this territory, which was the last spot left uncovered 
 in the western march of English population. Mr. 
 Oliver sold his share of this purchase to Nathan Hay- 
 man, another merchant of Boston. 
 
 These gentlemen obtained from the Colon}' special 
 privileges, and made liberal provisions for the settle- 
 ment of the town. Among the former were exemp- 
 tion from all Colony taxes for the term of seven 
 3^ears ; the privilege of sending Deputies at once, 
 as other towns, according to the number of free- 
 men ; a Commissioner's Court to trj^ and deter- 
 mine all actions and causes under ten pounds, with 
 liberty to appeal to the Court of Plymouth ; also, 
 when sixty families were settled, a new Count}^ 
 should be organized, and this town should be the 
 County or Shire town. Among the latter were the 
 laying out of broad and regular streets, with building 
 lots of convenient size on them ; the donation of 
 lands for the support of the Ministr}^ and Schools ; 
 the reservation of a large and beautiful Common in 
 the central part of the town ; and the donation of 
 six hundred acres for the Common improvement of 
 the settlers, and designated as " The Commonage.'* 
 The proprietors retained for themselves, each, one- 
 eighth part of the original purchase, and, with the 
 above donations, put the balance into the market for 
 sale at reasonable prices. The liberal inducements 
 offered soon drew a number of families here, chiefly 
 
9 
 
 from Boston, where the proprietors resided, and from 
 Plymouth Colon3\ The proprietors, themselves, 
 also settled here with their families, and closely iden- 
 tified themselves with all the interests of the town. 
 On the first of September, 1681, the people assembled 
 together and agreed " the name of this town shall 
 be Bristol."* 
 
 *The following names appear on the Town Records, as 
 being admitted Inliabitants at this date : 
 
 John Walley, Nathan Hayman, Nathaniel Byfield, Ste- 
 phen Burton, Proprietors; and Captain Benjamin Church, 
 Doctor Isaac Wjddron, Nathaniel Williams, Nathaniel 
 Reynolds, John Wilkins, William Ingraham, Nathaniel 
 Paine, Christopher Saunders, .Timothy Clarke, John Baf- 
 fin, Solomon Curtis, John Finney, Jabez Gorliam, Hugh 
 Woodbury, John Rogers, Jabez Howland, Jonathan 
 Davenport, Richard Smith, Joseph Baxter, William Brown, 
 John Corps, Joseph Ford, John Cary, Edmund Ranger, 
 Benjamin Ingell, George Waldron, Thomas Walker, 
 Thomas Dagget, Thomas Lewis, John Pope, John Martin, 
 David Cary, Increase Roliinson, William Hedge, Daniel 
 Landon, Widow Elizabeth Southard, Anthony Fry, John 
 Smith, William Hoar, Robert Dutch, James Burrel, Na- 
 thaniel Bosworth, Benjamin Jones, Eliashib Adams, 
 Zechariah Curtis, John Gladding, Joseph Jacob, Robert 
 Taft, Peter Pampelion, Samuel Woodbury, Samuel Gal- 
 lup, James Burrows, Uzal Ward well, Benjamin Bosworth, 
 Edward Bosworth, Samuel Penfield, George Morye, Jona- 
 than Finney. Nicholas Mead, Jeremiah Osborn, John 
 Bayley, Joseph Sandy, Jeremiah Finney, Henry Hamton, 
 John Thurston, Richard Hammon, William Brenton, 
 Watching Athercon, John Wilson, William Throop, Maj. 
 Robert Thompson, Thomas Bletsoe, Samuel Cobbett, John 
 Birge, Richard White. 
 
10 
 
 EFFORTS TO SETTLE A GOSPEL MINISTRY. 
 
 The Proprietors of Bristol and their associates 
 were fully imbued with the spirit of the Puritan and 
 Pilgrim Commonwealths, and took earl}' measures to 
 secure an able Gospel Ministr3\ During the first 
 year of the settlement the}' obtained the services of 
 the Rev. Benjamin Woodbridge,* who removed 
 
 *Mr. Woodbridge was a son of the Rev. John Wood- 
 bridge, who was the first pastor of the first Church at 
 Andover, Mass., and a grandson of the Rev. John AA'ood- 
 BRIDGE, who was a distinguished dissenting minister of 
 Stanton, Wiltshire, England. 
 
 His mother was a daughter of th(3 Hon. Thomas Dud- 
 ley, married in 1641. His grandmother was a daughter 
 of the Kev. Robert Parker, who, by his writings, is well 
 known to have been a strong friend and advocate of non- 
 conformit3^ 
 
 The father, born about the year 1613, was sent to Oxford 
 to be educated, but refusing to take the oath of conformity, 
 he was obliged to leave tlie University, and pursued his 
 studies privately. In 1634 he came to this country with 
 his uncle, the^ Rev. Thomas Parker. In 1641 he married 
 and settled at Andover. Upon the invitation of his friends 
 in England, he returned there in 1647. In 1662, being 
 ejected by the Bartholemew Act, he again came to this 
 country and became an assistant to Mr. Parker. Subse- 
 quently he was a magistrate of the Colony. He lived to 
 see three of Ins sons, JoJin, Benjamin and Timothy, in the 
 Ministry, and four of his grandsons preparing for it. He 
 died 1695, ISIarcli 17, in tlie eighty-second year of his age. 
 "The piety," says his biographer, "which he imbibed in 
 his childhood increased with his years. He possessed a 
 wonderful command of his passions, and afliictions and 
 
11 
 
 here with his family and continued his labors about 
 six 3'ears. At the first, bej^ond the provision of a 
 " honse to live in " and wood sufficient for his famil3''s 
 use for one 3^ear, there was no fixed salar}-, but va- 
 rious amounts were rated at different times, probably 
 according to the supposed need of his family and the 
 ability of the town. A house, owned b}' Nathaniel 
 B^'field, and situated on B3'field street, near the 
 present residence of Hon. I. F. Williams, was hired 
 by the town for Mr. Woodridge's residence, and the 
 lower south room of the same for Sabbath services 
 and other meetings, for which Mr. Byfield received 
 £10 rent per year. 
 
 November 29, 1684, it was voted " that Mr.Wood- 
 bridge's salary" for this year be made up to Eight}' 
 pounds as Mone}', — and for the next 3'ear to be made 
 up Ninety pounds as Money, — and for the year 1.686 
 to be made up as a Hundred pounds as Money, and 
 the sum for each 3'ear to be yearly- made up, dis- 
 counting of each year so much as shall be contributed 
 by strangers ; and the Hundred per annum to con- 
 tinue till the time that, by agreement of the Court of 
 Plj'mouth, the, Town is to pay towards the Colony 
 charge, and then to come to such further settlement 
 
 losses did not shake his peace. Just before his death he 
 refused a glass of wine which was offered him, saying, I 
 am going where I shall have better." 
 
 Mr. Woodbridge was ordained over "the Presbyterian 
 party " in Windsor, Conn., 1670, March 18, and after a 
 Ministry of about ten years came to Bristol. 
 
12 
 
 with Mr. Wooclbridge as may be according to the 
 ability of the Town, whether it be more or less. 
 And for the raising of the sum j^earl}^ for Mr. 
 AYoodbridge, it is tobeb}^ contribution, if what they 
 contribute be not less than their proportion accord- 
 ing to such rules as are hereafter set down, and such 
 as contribute short, or not at all, to be Rated b}^ the 
 Selectmen, and gathered b}'' the Constable each 3'ear." 
 
 This vote met with considerable opposition in the 
 town, and the ninth of December following was re- 
 scinded, and the following proposal of Mr. Wood- 
 bridge was adopted, viz. : "I do propose that from 
 the twentj^-fifth day of April next, and so onward 
 during my continuance, I will take up with a free 
 and weekl}^ contribution. Provided, if it doth not 
 amount to sixty pounds per annum, the Town forth- 
 with to make it up, and if ever it come to above 
 an Hundred per annum, the overplus to be at their 
 disposal." 
 
 The labors of Mr. Woodbridge werenot sufficiently 
 acceptable to some of the leading citizens to favor his 
 settlement, although no opposition was made to 
 employing his services temporarily. This state of 
 things was unfortunate, both for Mr. Woodbridge, 
 who desired a permanent settlement, and for the 
 town, which needed a settled Minister and a regu- 
 larly organized Church. At length the subject was 
 brought before the Town at a meeting, 168G, May 
 17, when it was propounded whether any persons 
 were against the settling of Mr. Woodbridge. Eleven 
 persons voted against his settlement, and between 
 twenty and thirty voted in his favor. 
 
13 
 
 About this time the following letter was addressed 
 " to the Rever'd Mr. James Allen, Mr. Increase 
 Mather, and Mr. Samuel Willard in Boston.* 
 
 "Bkistol, the 11th May, 1686. 
 
 Gentlemen :— There is a few lines subscribed by ray- 
 selfe & some others thai I suppose you will have the peru- 
 sal of, & though there is not opportunity fully to lay 
 things before you, yet I know not but without coming to 
 perticulers you may see reason not to encourage Mr. 
 Woodbridge staying with us, I am satisfied that he is not 
 like to have a quiet & peaceable settlement ; nay, those 
 that are estimated by him to be his greatest friends & most 
 desire his settling, yet own they doe not see any probability 
 of it. You may hear somewhat of our motions by Mr. 
 Byficld, but there is more to be said that probable he will 
 mind, but if put upon proofs by Mr. Woodbridges not own- 
 ing or denying ^vee must desire time not exspecting this 
 would be the manner or the season of issueing but rather 
 an opportunity of advising. That I may a little give you 
 the state of some things with us please consider 
 
 That here in this town 14 [or 15] men that have been 
 members of other churches, Mr, Woodbridge instead of 
 getting more Interest in those hath brought it to that now 
 but 3 that I can perceive can act for his settling. 
 
 Among them that are the Proprietors soe called being 
 about 18 in number, though they are not willing to vote 
 him out of town, yet I cannct perceive as things are cir- 
 cumstanced that there is above 5 or 6 that act for liis 
 settling. 
 
 Take the Town as a ToAvn & I know not wOiether it will 
 not be good to see who they be & how many thai are for 
 recalling & further encourageing him, both whichlper- 
 
 ^Mass. Hist. Coll., VIII., 4th Series, 651. 
 
14 
 
 ceive he exspects. For Mr. Woodbridges first call which 
 he hath built upon ever since was when we were not a 
 Town & were not a Third so many concerned as now are. 
 
 Our designe in the paper we have some of us subscribed 
 & sent, is not to give an account of how many in the Town 
 are dissatisfyed, but that you may see that many of them 
 who are principally exspected to act in Church matters are 
 not satisfyed & though there be but 7 of the 14 I mention 
 above have subscribed, yet I can make out what I there 
 write to be true. 
 
 It is exspected that there should be a Town meeting, 
 though those Mr. Woodbridge reckoned when he went 
 away should promote it have been cold in it since, but 
 they have rec'd a note from Mr. Woodbridge that surely 
 will put them that are desirous of his returning to be upon 
 action & it will be with lesse offence for them that are for 
 him to appear then for others that are not satisfyed to act 
 against him. It hath been a great wrong for Mr. Wood- 
 bridg he hath all ways reckoned his Interest greater than 
 it is. Some there are that are sincerely for him no doubt; 
 but if he will make it his own act to leave us I doubt not 
 but matters with us would quickly be quieted, more than 
 the charge of making Mr. Woodbridg satisfaction for what 
 he hath laid out; if he demand, it will render the thing 
 grievous to some. But if wee part I am for doing all things 
 wee are capable of that can rationally be required of us. 
 For my own perticuler I can truly say I never have 
 managed any perticuler controversie with him. I endeav- 
 ored his settlement & promoted his Interest & boare with 
 many discouragements as long as I thought I ought or 
 could doewith a good conscience. It was allvvays my un- 
 happiness, that whatever I managed, really designing his 
 benefit, other constructions were made of it by him; but 
 that I easyly gott over & thought he should act for himself, 
 or they for him that he thought could doe it more to his 
 satisfaction. I have slited or took little notice of many 
 affronts I have mett with, but some word lie hath said of 
 
15 
 
 late that I have heard him speake, some own others & that 
 I helieve 1 can make out the rest, that I must needs say 
 I take not well from him. How forr of late he hath been 
 guilty in spreading a false report of me in matters that have 
 been much to my damidg & discredit, might be made out 
 if need were. That ho should charge me with haveing de- 
 signs as deep as the bottomless pitt; That he should charge 
 mee not only that my designs tended to it, but that my de- 
 sign was to ruin this town, whereas on the contrary it 
 sulliciently appears I have rather adventured the undoing 
 of myselfe for the good of the Town; That he should 
 charge me that because I was sometimes ready to justifye 
 my sincerity in all our late motions respecting him, & that I 
 had peace in my conscience, lett others charge me how 
 they would, That he believed I had some secret inward 
 guilt lay on mee that made me speake soe much of nty 
 peace in these matters ; & then at a Town Meeting, where 
 there was a peaceable issue in ade of some affairs of the 
 Town which it is said he is troubled at, that he should say 
 he questioned whetlier I had anything to do to vote there. 
 These & other such charges & reflections I never deserved 
 from him, or had he reason for, but these are things that 
 I have not had account of or heard but a little while & 
 therefore not in the least to be reckoned as any part of the 
 ground of my former unsatisfyedness with him. To goe 
 about to give an account of the occasions & reasons of my 
 dissatisfiiction & by what degrees it came to that heighth 
 th'it now it is, would be a larger taske than I can now goe 
 about ; but if what Mr. Byfield hath to offer be no ground 
 I doubt not but I shall be able to say th.it & more 
 when there is opportunity. 
 
 These lines are writt in haste. Be pleas^ to put a can- 
 did construction thereon. I thanke God I hope I can 
 truely say I would be found doeing of that which is my 
 duty, could easyly passe by personal injurys. It is not the 
 matter of maintenance or anything of any such nature, but 
 an assured & I think well gi'ounded confidence that his 
 
16 
 
 settling here is not like to be with love & peace & any com- 
 petent satisfaction to those that are principally aimed at 
 for can-ying on church affairs. If he come again there is 
 no hopes of settling church affairs that I foresee; if it be, 
 it will be in some strange and unusual way, & if there be 
 not a settlement of these matters according to the practice 
 of other Churches what sober men that are among us that 
 can will endeavor to remove from us, & we expect no so- 
 ber men to come to us & our place indeed will be outdone. 
 I have mett with several losses & disappointments of late 
 & unexpected dealings from some men, but I reckon this 
 not among the least of my troubles. I hope God will doe 
 me good by all. I should earnestly desire & gladly accept 
 a few lines from you to advise me in anything you thinke 
 necessary. Shall not add but my service & hearty respects 
 to each of you, desiring your prayers for mee, that I may 
 be kept in this hour of temptation & that I may be directed 
 in my duty & found doeing those things that may be for 
 the glory of God and the best good of this place. 
 Your friend & servant, 
 
 John W alley." 
 
 The following is a copy of the document referred 
 to by Mr. Walley and addressed to the same per- 
 sons, at the same date or a little before.* 
 
 [This letter, with the exception of the signatures 
 of the other persons whose names are attached, is 
 in the hand-writing of Mr. Walley.] 
 
 " Whereas^od who setteth the bounds of the habita- 
 tions of the children of men ; hath in his sovereign wis- 
 dome disposed soe many of us to this place as he hath, wee 
 
 ^Mass. Hist. Coll., VIII., 4th series, 695. 
 
17 
 
 do desire to be found doeing those things in our several 
 places & capacities that may be for the glory of His name, 
 the promoting the Interest & Kingdome of Jesus Christ & 
 to be laying of such foundations as might be for the good 
 of ourselves & our Children after us «& as it is our duty soe 
 it hath been our earnest desire that we might enjoy not 
 onely the preaching of the word, but other the ordinances 
 of Jesus Christ & although from time to time wee have 
 been in the use of means in order thereunto (yet to our 
 griefe) we find things more & more unlikely for obtaining 
 the same & our motions therein have been hindered, as 
 wee thinke by him who should liave most encouraged the 
 same. The Rev'd Mr. Woodbridge, in his paper he left 
 with the Town speaks of his return, if it might be with 
 peace, incouragement and joynt concurrence, neither of 
 which wee thinke he will procure & when we have been 
 discoursing about gathering a church in this place he hath 
 not been willing to promote the same in any way, without 
 he could see some certainty of his being settled & called to 
 office therein. And wee the subscribers, having had op- 
 pertunity to take notice of Mr. Woobdridge his methods & 
 designs among us, have reason to think his settlement here 
 will not be for the glory of God, his good, nor ours ; he 
 having had many oppertuni ties wherein to have had a com- 
 petent comfortable & quiet settlement among us & he never 
 having embraced the same & being he would not be per- 
 suaded to fall in therewith, makes us ready to think that his 
 worke will be rather in some other place than here & that 
 he is not the man that God intends to doe us good by. 
 And if he should be voated in as a minister by a major part 
 of the Town (which we question) or imposed upon us by 
 others we must beare it and desire" we may as becomes 
 Christians ; but to be active for his settlement & especially 
 to have any hand in calling him to office amongst us wee 
 must be excused in. It is our griefe that things fall out 
 soe among us. Wee are troubled for him as well as for 
 ourselves, & doe solemnly declare it is not out of any 
 6 
 
18 
 
 pr'ejudice to his person or any perticular interest or contro- 
 versie of our own, but the keeping of a good conscience in 
 tlie discharg of our duty wee owe to God, to the Town, to 
 ourselves & one to another; & anj^thing wee can doe for 
 him, that wee may & ought to doe, wee would not be want- 
 ing in, & wee do believe that if he would make it his own 
 act to leave us, it would be the readyest way to settle us, & 
 we trust God will provide for us. To give the reasons of 
 our discouragements wee have not now time lor, but if any 
 necessity lyes upon it wee think wee should have time, & 
 if the decision of matters is to be by a Council wee thinke 
 it ought to be upon the place, & then will be best opportu- 
 nity to understand the state of things with us. In the 
 meane time your counsel & advice to us & prayers for us 
 is earnestly desired by your servants to our power. 
 
 John Carey, 
 Hugh Woodbury, 
 Nathaniel Reynells, 
 Nathaniel Bos worth, 
 John W alley, 
 Nathaniel Byfield. 
 
 A few weeks later another letter respecting this 
 subject was addressed " To the Reverend Mr. In- 
 crease , Mather, Teacher of the Second Church of 
 Christ in Boston. To be communicated to the 
 Church."* The following is a copy of this letter : 
 
 "Honored, Reverend & Beloved in our Lord 
 Jesus, — It is, we doubt not, by the Churches and faithful] 
 in Christ sadly observed, that there are vijrie uncomforta- 
 ble disagreements among us in this Place, which have an 
 Evill & perilous tendency. 
 
 L *Mass. Hist. Coll., VIII., 654. 
 
19 
 
 And (with s^ie^Q wee speake it) of such a Nature they 
 are, and such an influence they have that our peace is 
 much impaired, the worke of Christ Obstructed, our quiet 
 settlement in a way of Church Order and Gospell fellow- 
 ship for the present wholly hindered and the name of God 
 much dishonored. 
 
 And although some of us (of God's abundant Grace, and 
 not for any worth in us) have sometimes t:isted the Good 
 of Communion with God in His ordinances, which, if our 
 hearts deceive us not, leaves such an impression upon our 
 spirits that we would be willing to Deny ourselves to the 
 uttermost; Rather than become Guiltye of not doing what 
 God Requires of us. to our severall abillityes & in our 
 severall capacityes for the enjoyment thereof, and the 
 settling of a Gospel Church and JVIinistrie here in a way of 
 peace and order : yet soe it hath pleased God to denye His 
 Presence and Blessing with our endeavours for some years 
 past, that our essays hitherto have bin successles, and our 
 condition at this time is very deplorable. We do therefore 
 Earnestly Request yourselves in our present difficultie to 
 aftoard us your helpe by your Elders and Messengers upon 
 the third Wednesday of July next, that being here at that 
 time Assembled they may fully hear & Consider our Case, 
 and give us the Counsell & Advice in the Lord, who, we 
 hope will open our hearts to Receive it; in order where- 
 unto we intreate your prayers, that we may see, & be hum- 
 bled for our sins, which have been a provocation to God & 
 that the Lord will Graciously be reconciled to us & accept 
 us in the Lord Jesus, in whom we are 
 
 Your Assured friends to serve you, 
 John W alley, 
 Natiial. Byfield, 
 Nathaniel Reynells, 
 Nathaniel Boswokth, 
 John Caky, 
 Hugh Woodbury. 
 Bristoll, June 28th, 1686. 
 For ourselves & in the behalfe of sundry others." 
 
20 
 
 We have found no record of the Council thus 
 called. It seems highly probable that it resulted in 
 the withdrawal of Mr. Woodbridge by his own act, 
 and the restoration of peace.* 
 
 *He was not long after settled in Kittery, Me. In 1691 
 he resided in Portsmoutli, N. H. In 1698 he was living in 
 Charlestown, Mass., and was employed by the town of 
 Medford to preach for six months, provision being made 
 for conveyance from his home to Medford every Satur- 
 day, and return every Monday. His preaching was so 
 generally acceptable that movements were made to give 
 him a call, but matters were not hastened, and, at length, 
 difficulties arose which prevented his settlement. He was, 
 however, anxious to settle, and persisted in acting as the 
 town's minister, contrary to the advice of a Council of 
 Clergymen and Elders from Boston ; and, in spite of votes 
 of the town in 1704, " that what they had done about Mr. 
 W.'s settlement be null and void," and in 1705, "that they 
 would not proceed to settle Mr. W. as their minister." 
 With a few earnest friends he attempted to gather a church 
 " contrary to the advice of the Elders in the neighborhood, 
 without advice or respect of the inhabitants of the town, 
 and without the countenance and concurrence of the 
 neighboring churches." This highly irregular attempt was 
 met by an earnest protest from the town. Appeals were 
 then made to the " General Sessions of Peace," at Charles- 
 town, and to " Gov. Dudley and his Council," both of 
 which were decided adversely to the claims and course of 
 Mr. W. Finally, the case was referred to a Council of 
 Churches wht) censured both parties, and advised the quiet 
 withdrawal of Mr. W. The advice was not followed, how- 
 ever, and Mr. W. continued to preach until his death, 1710, 
 January 15, after a residence of netu'ly ten years, aged 
 sixty-five years ; and on the same day, with commendable 
 
21 
 
 ERECTION OF A HOUSE OF WORSHIP. 
 
 The first public religious service in Bristol was in 
 the dwelling house of Deacon Nathaniel Bos- 
 WORTH, a building still standing, occupied as the 
 residence of J. DeW. Perry, Esq. Afterwards 
 Sabbath services were held in Colonel Byfield's 
 house, B3'field street, to which reference has pre- 
 viously been made. These arrangements were tem- 
 porary, to continue onl}^ until such time as the 
 inhabitants could build a House of Worship. 
 
 In the " Grand Articles " of agreement between 
 the Proprietors and those to whom they made grants 
 of land and other privileges, it was stipulated among 
 other things, " that ever}^ one shall and will, accord- 
 ing to his estate, pay his proportion of the charge 
 for the erecting and building of the Meeting House 
 and Minister's House and accommodations there- 
 unto, when and at such time as those that have the 
 major part proprietary in said land shall nominate 
 and appoint." 
 
 October 24th, 1683, at a Town meeting, two hun- 
 dred and fift}' pounds were ordered to be raised, to 
 defray the expense of building a Meeting House ; 
 and John Walley, Nathaniel Byfield, Benjamin 
 Church, John Cary and John Rogers were ap- 
 
 promptitude and just liberality, the town voted ten pounds 
 to defray the expenses of his funeral, — an act which 
 proves that they would not let the sun go down upon their 
 animosity.— ^rooA:6-' Hist, of Medf or d, 203-208. 
 
22 
 
 pointed a committee to superintend its erection. 
 Measures were prompt!}^ taken to carry out this vote. 
 A plan of house was soon adopted, and the work 
 commenced. Citizens who could be well emplo^'ed 
 on the building were so emplo3'ed and the A'alue of 
 their labor allowed on their taxes. The timbers were 
 cut from the Common, near by, and with united zeal 
 and courage the; work progressed until a spacious 
 and well constructed Sanctuar}^ stood before them to 
 the jo}^ of their hearts, a monument of their self- 
 denying interest in the Cause of the Eedeemer. This 
 House was erected on the spot where now stands the 
 State Court House. We find no record of its exact 
 dimensions, but tradition describes it as " spacious ; 
 square in its form like the Apocalyptic City ; clap- 
 boarded inside and out ; having double galleries one 
 above the other ; with a cap-roof, surmounted in the 
 centre with a cupola and bell, from which a rope was 
 suspended directly beneath, b}^ which ' Goody 
 Corps,' the sexton's widow, used to ring the people 
 to church for three pounds per year, as her lamented 
 husband had done ere he died ;" over the preacher's 
 head, a dormer window, and on all sides double rows 
 of windows for the ingress of light ; and the floor, 
 divided into square pews with oaken doors, " through 
 the rounds of which the children used to peep at 
 each other when the people rose for prayer and 
 praise. " These pews were constructed from time to 
 time by the citizens as the}^ were able, by leave of 
 the town, and several years elapsed before the floor 
 was all covered. 
 
23 
 
 Considering the pecuniary circumstances of the 
 people, this effort was a remarkable instance of self- 
 sacrifice and consecration to the higher interests of 
 religion. The}^ were few in number, feeble in re- 
 sources, and had scarcely sheltered their families in 
 their humble dwellings, when the}' gave their best 
 enero^ies to building a habitation of God. At a sac- 
 rifice of toil and mone^^, of which we in our com- 
 parative abundance can have little conception, they 
 secured for themselves this Religious Home, and with 
 glad songs of praise dedicated it to the worship ot 
 Almighty God. }Ve ma}' smile at the severe sim- 
 plicity of st3'le, devoid of architectural beauty ; 
 unprotected in winter b}' warming apparatus, and in 
 summer offering literall}' to the swallow a place to 
 build her nest and lay her 3'oung upon its unceiled 
 arches ; its family pews square and roomy ; and its 
 high pulpit, surmounted with pendent sounding 
 board, seeming ready to fall and crush the man of 
 God beneath its weight, as he discoursed of the awful 
 wrath of God towards impenitent sinners ; 3'et 
 we cherish the most tender and hallowed associations 
 clustering around this first Sanctuary of the fathers 
 in the wilderness. 
 
 This quaint building, laboriously^ erected by the 
 pioneers of our civilization, and dedicated to the 
 worship of Almight}' God, was the only Sanctuarj' in 
 town for nearl}' fort}' years, and the home of the first 
 church for a round centur3\ Here our pious ances- 
 try sat and listened to messages of Divine Truth and 
 salvation, raised their hearts in prayer and praise to 
 
24 
 
 God, and received nourishment of spiritual life. 
 Here were they trained for the kingdom of glort, 
 and to-day their notes of praise respond to angelic 
 harps around the throne of God in heaven. Although 
 of the people who once lived on earth and worship- 
 ped here not one remains, and of the people now 
 living not one ever saw this House of God, we cher- 
 ish tender thoughts of the past, and preserve with 
 veneration the door of the pastor's pew, the only 
 remaining relic of the Sanctuary where our fathers 
 worshipped God for one hundred j^ears. 
 
 ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 Not long after the retirement of Mr. Woodbridge, 
 the Rev. Samuel Lee, D. D., an English dissenting 
 Clerg3nnan, celebrated among his contemporaries as 
 a man of profound learning and ardent piety, arrived 
 in Boston, and was cordially received by his Breth- 
 ren and the Churches. Great interest had been 
 awakened for the cause of Christ in Bristol, which 
 seemed to suffer fi^om the divisions that had sprung 
 up under the Ministry of Mr. Woodbridge. Friends 
 in Boston felt that it was of the highest importance 
 that a man of commanding abilities and established 
 reputation for soundness in the faith and wisdom 
 should at once occupy this field, around whom the 
 people might rally in union, and under whose direc- 
 tion a Church of Christ might be founded. At their 
 suggestion he visited Bristol, and at once the hearts 
 of the people went out to him as being sent of God, 
 and the conviction became almost universal that he 
 
25 
 
 was the man for whose coming they had prayed, 
 suffered and waited. 
 
 Measures were promptly taken to secure his set- 
 tlement. The Town Records, 1686, November 23, 
 give the following account of his enthusiastic recep- 
 tion b}^ the people, who went from the Town Meeting 
 in a body to enforce their call by the magnetism of 
 their presence. 
 
 " Then voted and agreed by a full vote and unanimous 
 consent, to call the Rev. Samuel Lee to the work of the 
 ministry in this town, which was accordingly done by the 
 whole that were present at the Town Meeting, waiting on 
 him at Mr. Byfield's, Avhere one appointed manifested their 
 invitation to him and he took it into consideration." 
 
 Sixty pounds per year was voted b}' the town for 
 his salary, and fifty pounds towards building him a 
 house.* The lands for the Ministry set apart by the 
 Proprietors in the settlement of the town were also 
 voted him. This call he accepted, and began his 
 labors 1687, April 10. 
 
 *As speedily as practicable, a spacious mansion, built in 
 the old English style and, it is said, by fai the most elegant 
 dwelling in town, was erected on the east side of Thames 
 street, which was then the shore of the harbor. This house 
 was afterwards owned by Jeremiah Finney, descended 
 by inheritance to his son, JosiAii Finney, and was the 
 birthplace of all his children. In it was born the wife of 
 the late William DeWolf, Esq., who, with her sister 
 Martha, occupied in their early days the sacred study 
 chamber where the man of God studied, wrote and prayed 
 
26 
 
 The third day of May following was observed as a^ 
 day of fasting and pra3'er, in the midst of which 
 sacred season the Church was organized in due form 
 by the mutual consent of eight fathers of the town. 
 The following is a copy of the record of these events 
 taken from the earliest records of the Church, in the 
 almost illegible hand of Deacon John Carey, whose 
 name heads the page. 
 
 "In the year 1687, it pleased God to bringe that rever- 
 end Mr. Lee to Bristol, and [it was (?; ] on visit to se the 
 plac[e] and preach to the peopell. Ther was a joyntvoat 
 of the town for his taking charg heer to preach the gos- 
 pel], and in order of settlinge theplac[e] in gospell order; 
 which after some short spae[ej came with his wife and 
 family to settel heer." 
 
 " The 10th of April he begins ^^dth us, in order there- 
 unto '87. ****** 
 
 "May the third was the cliurch gathered by the mutual 
 consent and agreement of thos[e] persons mentioned. 
 
 Major John Wallet, Captain Nathaniel Byfield, 
 Captain Benjamin Chukcii, Nathaniel Reynolds, 
 John Carey, Hugh Woodbuky, Goodman Thkoup, 
 Nathaniel Bosworth whom they elected Deacon." 
 
 for his beloved people. The two eldest of Mr. DeWolf s 
 children were also born here. For many years this house 
 was known as '• The Old Bay State," we know not why, 
 unless it may be because it was so redolent with the 
 associations of Puritan ideas, which are the glory of Massa- 
 chusetts. The only relic of it now remaining is a p.-ine of 
 glass inscribed with the name Martha Finney, in the 
 possession of a descendant of the family. 
 
 The 8th of May '87 was tlie first sacrament in Bristol : 
 Con.-0-4-3 the Contribution-0-11-2. 
 
27 
 
 Major Walley's daughter Elizabeth that day baptized, 
 Nathaniel Reynolds his sone Benjamin bajDtized.— The two 
 first in that Church." 
 
 Thus was the First Church gathered in Bristol, the 
 first of the Congregational order within the present 
 limits of Rhode Island.* At the organization, and 
 for man}' years afterwards, the Church was known as 
 "The Church of Christ in Bristol." After the 
 incorporation of the Catholic Congregational Society 
 in 1784, the Church was, b}' common consent, called 
 " The Catholic Congregational Church." By 
 this name it was known until, in order to hold and 
 protect Charitable funds entrusted to its care, it was 
 incorporated b}" act of the General Assembl}' in 1869, 
 under the title " The First Congregational Church 
 IN Bristol." This is our present name and appro- 
 priate designation, though we* be no less a simple 
 " Church of Christ" than when we began, and are 
 no less "Catholic" in our fellowship with all who 
 love our Lord in sincerit}', and strive to do his will. 
 
 Our Church life began in pra3'er to God, who gra- 
 ciously directed those sturdy- pioneers as they bowed 
 
 *The Church at East Providence is older, but its mem- 
 bers are from both East Providence and Seekonk, Mass., 
 and it has always been identified in Conference relations 
 with the Massachusetts Churches. The Church in Bar- 
 rington has also been claimed as being organized at an 
 earlier date, but it is stated in Bicknell's History, p. 180, 
 " that no distinct Church with a thorough Congregational 
 polity was established until after the year 1711, and prior 
 to 1718." 
 
28 
 
 before Him. Firmly, therefore, were the foundations 
 of our spiritual edifice laid, and though the storms 
 of earth have beaten against it, all these 3^ears it has 
 stood, because it was founded upon a rock. 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES OF THE EARLY MEMBERS. 
 
 The constituent members of the Church were all 
 men of excellent character and leading influence in 
 the town, and some of them were also prominent 
 actors in Colonial affairs, and held stations of honor 
 which gave them a national reputation. 
 
 John Walley, the first on the list of members, 
 one of the four original proprietors of the town, was 
 highly respected and honored with various offices 
 which he discharged with marked ability and fidelity. 
 In all efforts for the civil, social, moral and religious 
 welfare of the community he was among the fore- 
 most of the citizens, and favored the most liberal 
 provisions for these ends. He loved the Church of 
 Christ with singular devotion, and it was a great 
 grief to him that the organization of the Church in 
 Bristol w^as so long delayed. He was ever the warm 
 friend and hearty supporter of the Gospel Ministry, 
 and, while he conscientious!}' opposed the settlement 
 of Mr. Woodbridge, and, perhaps more than an}' 
 other man, was instrumental in his removal, he yet 
 rejoiced in all the good he accomplished, and was 
 among the readiest to give him liberal pecuniary 
 support as long as he remained. 
 
 Nor were the public services of Mr. Walley con- 
 fined to Bristol. He was well known throughout 
 
29 
 
 New England, and especially in Boston, where he 
 had lived and engaged successfulh' and honorabl}^ in 
 mercantile pursuits, his valuable public labors were 
 in frequent calL He was, for a season. Judge of the 
 Superior Court, aftd a member of the G^overnor's 
 Council, In 1600 he had command of the land 
 forces in the expedition of Sir William Phipps, 
 against Canada, of which he published a journal 
 which is preserved in Hutchinson's history. Although 
 this expedition, was unsuccessful, it involved much 
 heroic self-sacrifice and refl^ct^d honor both upon 
 the men and their commanding officer, 
 
 Mr. Walley w^as a son of the Rev. Thomas 
 Walley, of London, who was at one time Rector of 
 St. Mar} 's White Chapel, and said to be a man of 
 great esteem ; w^ho was one of the eight ministers 
 who came from London in the " Society," Captain 
 Pierce, arriving in Boston, 1663, May 24, and who 
 died on Sunday, 1678, March 24, aged sixty-one 
 years. 
 
 He came before his father and settled in Boston, 
 whence he removed to Bristol, 
 
 His residence in this town was in the rear of State 
 street, and his dwelling, substantially built after the 
 style of those earl^^ times, is still standing and 
 knowm as '^ the Walley house." His family con- 
 sisted of wife and three children, two daughters and 
 a son born here. 
 
 His daughter Sarah married Charles Chauncy, of 
 Boston, and was the mother of a son of the same 
 name, who became " one of the most distinguished 
 7 
 
30 
 
 divines on our side of the ocean," the jnnior Pastor 
 of the Old South Church, referred to in the follow- 
 ing notices of Mr. Byfield and family. 
 
 On the second of March, 1692, he was left a 
 sorrowful widower b}^ the decease of his loving and 
 dutiful wife, the sharer of his jo3'S and burdens, who 
 departed in the triumphs of Christian faith. In the 
 latter part of his life he returned to Boston, where 
 he died in calmness and humble reliance upon the 
 Great Redeemer for mercy, 1712, January 11th, in 
 the sixty -ninth year of his age. 
 
 " The high trusts imposed by his country," says his Bio- 
 grapher, '• were discharged with ability and fidelity. To 
 his wisdom as a Counsellor and his impartiality as a Judge, 
 he added an uncommon sweetness and candor of spirit and 
 the various virtues of the Christian. His ftiith was justi- 
 fied by his integrity, his works of piety and charity." 
 
 Nathaniel Byfield was the son of the Rev. 
 Richard Byfield, " the laborious faithful pastor of 
 Long Ditton in Surrey, England, who was one of 
 the oldest of the ejected ministers in that county- ; 
 who afterwards retired toMontlack, where he usuall}^ 
 preached twice every Lord's day in his own famil}', 
 and did so the very Lord's day before his death, in 
 1664, aged sixty-seven years;" who is described as 
 " a man of great piety^, zeal and exemplaiy holiness 
 of conversation ;" who was one of the distinguished 
 Westminster Assembl}', that prepared that admirable 
 compendium of Orthodox Faith, known as " the 
 [shorter Catechism." His mother was a sister of 
 Bishop Juxon, a noted family in England. He was 
 
31 
 
 the youngest of twenty-one cliildren, and one of the 
 sixteen that sometimes attended their pious parents 
 to the place of public worship. He was born in 1653 ; 
 arrived at Boston in 1674, and conceiving a love to 
 this country" resolved to settle here. According!}', 
 he married the following j'ear Miss Deborah Clarke, 
 and commenced business as a merchant in Boston. 
 In this he was eminently successful, accumulating 
 considerable propert}', and, at the close of Philip's 
 w^ar, invested a portion of his wealth in the purchase 
 of this township. Here he became an early settler, 
 casting in his lot with the pioneers of the wilderness, 
 sharing with them the toils and hardships of laying 
 the foundations of a new and well regulated commu- 
 nity. He continued a citizen of this town fort}'- 
 four 3'ears, and his infloence was great in all civil 
 and ecclesiastical affairs. His residence was on the 
 beautiful peninsula known as Pappoosquaws Point, 
 west of the town, and his farm embraced nearly 
 all of the peninsula.*. Here was his famil}- tomb, 
 prepared b}' himself, located on the estate of the 
 late William D'Wolf, Esq., whose remains are 
 traced to this da}-, in which were buried members of 
 his famil}' who deceased during his residence in 
 
 *It has been generally supposed thai his dwelling house 
 stood on the spot where Deacon William Manchester now 
 resides, but recent investigations lead to the belief that the 
 venerable mansion now occupied by ihe heirs of the late 
 Mrs. Sarah Herreshoff, was built originally by Colonel 
 Byfield and occupied as his residence. 
 
32 
 
 Bristol. Within the recollection of persons now liv- 
 ingy the name of " Priscilla '* and a part of " By- 
 field," were distinctly traced upon the head-stone 
 
 He was also a large real estate owner in the com- 
 pact part of the town. He had five children born 
 here by his \Tife Deborah, three of whom died young. 
 The other two lived to be married, the 3'oungest to 
 the Hon. Lieutenant Goternor Taylor^ of Massa- 
 chusettSy who soon after died without issue ; the 
 other to Edward Ltde, Esq., by whom she had 
 five children y three of whom grew up and left de- 
 scendants. 
 
 Mr. Byfield was thrifty in his habits, catttolic in 
 spirit, and generous in his benefactions, giving away 
 systematically and cheerfull}' a portion of his income, 
 amounting often to several hundred pounds 3^earl3". 
 One instance of his charities mention etl as worth}^ of 
 special remembrance for the good it accomplished, 
 was the publishing and gi^atuitously distributing an 
 edition of ten thousand copies of the Assembl}''^ 
 Shorter Catechism. He was alwaj^s a faithful and 
 efficient friend of Education and Religion, and a lib- 
 eral supporter of the Gosj^el Ministr3\ To his wis- 
 dom, foresight and liberality are we chiefl}' indebted 
 for our broad and regular streets, our large and beau- 
 ful Common, audi especiall}^ the seJiool lands tvhick 
 'jvere chiefly his own generous gift to the toicn, the 
 income from which have been a material help to the 
 cause of education here and a perpetual public charity. 
 Two cups of our Communion Service of solid silver 
 are inscribed as ^' the gift of Nathaniel B^^field, 
 
33 
 
 1G93." Many other tokens of his interest in and 
 liberal aid of the Church and Ministr}^ here are held 
 in remembrance with us to this da}'. 
 
 Nor was his large generosity confined to the limits 
 of Bristol. His eminent abilities, natural and ac- 
 quired, fitted him for a high position in affairs of 
 State, and he cheerfully gave his services to the 
 various offices, both civil and militar}-, to which he 
 was called by the suffi'ages of his fellow citizens as 
 well as by royal appointment. Few have passed 
 through a greater variety of scenes in public life. 
 " In the field he quickly arrived to one of the high 
 est places of power. In the State he was honored 
 with man}' betrustments ; was in commission for the 
 Peace and Judge of Probate ; was several times 
 chosen Speaker in the Honorable House of Repre- 
 sentatives ; sat chief thirt3'-eight j-ears in the Court 
 of General ^ssions of the Peace and Common Pleas 
 for the county of Bristol, as afterwards he did two 
 3'ears for the count}' of Suffolk ; was one of His 
 Majesty's Council for the province of Massachusetts 
 Bay, a great number of years ; and had the honor of 
 receiving five several commissions for Judge of the 
 Vice Admiralty from three crowned heads ; from 
 King WilUiam, in 1697 ; from Queen Anne, in the 
 years 1702, 1703 and 1709, and from King George 
 the Second in 1728." Being well informed for the 
 exercise of authority, his very looks inspiring re- 
 spect, loving order and possessed of a fine elocution, 
 sincerely devoted to the interests of the community, 
 he discharged all these trusts to popular acceptance. 
 
34 
 
 His name throughout New England was a household 
 word ; and one of the towns of Massachusetts, 
 although he had no special connection with its his- 
 tor}^, honored itself and paid him the homage of its 
 respect by taking his name which it holds to the 
 present day. 
 
 The wisdom and justice of Mr. Byfield's acts as a 
 Civil Judge, are apparent from the remarkable fact 
 that in no case were his decisions ever reversed on 
 appeal to higher powers. It is still more interesting 
 to note his freedom from those superstitious preju- 
 dices which blinded even some of the best men of his 
 time, and which led to the cruel proceedings in the 
 matter of " the Salem Witchcraft" that are a dark 
 blot on the page of histor3\ Those proceedings he 
 had the courage to oppose and condemn ; and had 
 his counsels been followed, no innocent person would 
 have suffered death as a witch. *^ 
 
 He did not escape the common lot of public men 
 to sutfer unjust aspersion and severe criticisms from 
 political rivals in his own time, and from the detrac- 
 tions of prejudiced or ill-informed historians who 
 came after him ; but well authenticated facts give 
 him a highl}^ honorable name. 
 
 Nathaniel Byfield surely made his mark, and 
 the footprints of his influence will be traced to the 
 end of time. With all his grand and noble works of 
 life, he had a steady and unshaken faith in the truths 
 of the Gospel, and died in the lively hope of the 
 glorious Redeemer. In 1724, on account of his 
 advanced age, he returned with his family to Boston, 
 
35 
 
 where he closed his long and useful life 1733, June 
 6th, in the eightieth year of his age. The sermon 
 preached at his funeral b^^ his pastor in Boston, Rev. 
 Charles Chauncy, U. D., and afterwards published, 
 was from the text John 1:42: Jesus saw Nathaniel 
 coming to him and saith of him, behold an Israelite 
 indeed in ichom is no guile; A A^ery clear and forci- 
 ble presentation of the beauty and worth of " a 
 guileless character ;" at the close of which it is 
 applied to Mr. Byfield in these words, viz. : 
 
 " I have no need to insert here, not doubting your thot's 
 were upon our Nathaniel while I was representing the 
 character in the text ; the application was so easie and ob- 
 vious ; and I would hope unexceptionably : having care- 
 fully avoided saying anything but what I thot in justice 
 belonged to him." 
 
 An extract from the " Weekly News Letter," of 
 June 14, 1733, appended to the published discourse, 
 mentions, with other facts that are embodied in the 
 foregoing sketch, the following : 
 
 " On the 6th of this instant, between the hours of 1 and 
 2 in the morning, died at his house here, after about a 
 month's languishment, the Honourable Nathaniel 
 Byfield, Esq., in the 80th year of his age: Having long 
 been a greiit ornament both of our Church and State. * * 
 
 " For his character, justice to his memory requires it 
 should be said — He was greatly valued and honored by 
 those acquainted with him, for his superior genius and 
 abilities; his great natural courage. Vigor and Activity; 
 his plain, unaft'ected, cheerful and instructive >vay of con- 
 versation; his cat hohc spirit; his real Integi'ity, and un- 
 questionable faithfulness and Honesty; his zeal against 
 
36 
 
 sin, and to maintain public peace and good order ; his first 
 regard to the worship of God, and constant and devout 
 and exemplary attendance on it both in Public and private, 
 and in one word his love to the Ministry, the Churches and 
 Civil and Religious interests of this people : All which 
 being united in the same person and in an eminent degree, 
 as it rendered his life an extensive blessing, so his Death 
 just matter for lamentation. 
 
 lie lived with the wife of his youth till 1717, upwards of 
 forty years ; and the following year married Mks. Sarah 
 Levekett, youngest daughter to the Honorable Gov- 
 ernor Leverett, with whom he lived till 1730 : when he 
 was again left a sorrowful widower. He died with great 
 inward peace and serenity of soul: and was honorably 
 interred last Monday — a funeral prayer being first made by 
 the elder Pastor of the Old Church to whose Communion 
 he belonged. He has left his grandson Byfield Lyde, 
 Esq. ; (son-in-law to his excellency Governor Belcher) 
 Heir to the bulk of his Estate." 
 
 The last will of Mr. Byfield, dated 1732, Decem- 
 ber 6th, shows that he had large real estate in Boston, 
 including mansion house, coach house, stable, cow 
 house and two gardens joining ; also, rope walk, 
 ware house, wharf and flats ; also, other tenement 
 houses, stores, etc., and lands covering a large por- 
 tion of Fort Hill, and various sites from Beacon 
 street west and north to Cambridge street, now 
 among the most valuable in the cit}' ; also large es- 
 tate in several New England towns, together with 
 extensive tracts of land of several thousand acres in 
 Maine and Vermont. His Christian character is 
 manifest in the provisions of this Will, both the rever- 
 ent expression of faith towards God, and bequests of 
 
37 • 
 
 charity, together with an equitable division of 
 property among his heirs after the full payment of 
 all debts and other bequests. It was his principle 
 and practice to give largely in life to religious and 
 charitable objects, and he expected the heirs of his 
 estate to follow his example in this respect ; accord- 
 ingly there were no large charitable bequests made 
 in this Will, 3'et as a token of personal affection and 
 respect for their office, he bequeathed gifts to " all 
 and every " Minister of Christ, of every denomina- 
 tion, in Boston, to the President and professors in 
 Cambridge, and additional bequests to his " dear 
 pastors," FoxcROFT and Chauncy, of the Old South 
 Church. His servants were remembered with Chris- 
 tian affection and counsel, and freedom^ with ample 
 provisions to secure the enjoj^ment of the same, was 
 given to a favorite servant to take effect six months 
 after his decease. 
 
 Mr. Bj'field was buried in the " Granary Burial 
 Ground," near Park street Church. The tombstone 
 has inscribed the Byfield Coat of Arms, with the 
 name Lyde cut on the shield. The stone which 
 marked Mr. B3'field's grave has long since disap- 
 peared, and is supposed either to be destroyed or, in 
 the changes made in the tomb, to be concealed from 
 view. The following epitaph, the production of Rev. 
 Mather Byles, was inscribed : 
 
 " Byfield beneath in peaceful slumber lies; 
 Byfield the good, the active and the wise ; 
 His manly frame contained an equal mind ; 
 Faithful to God, and generous to mankind ; 
 
3$ 
 
 High in his country's Honors long he stood, 
 
 Succored distress and gave the hungry focd; 
 
 Injustice steady, in devotion warm, 
 
 A loyal subject, and Patriot firm ; 
 
 Through every age his dauntless soul was tried : 
 
 Great while he lived, but greater when he died." 
 
 Mrs. Deborah Byfield, the wife of his 3'oiith 
 and companion for about forty years, was the daugh- 
 ter of Captain Thomas Clarke, of Boston. She 
 united with the Church in Bristol, soon after its organi- 
 zation, and tradition sa3's, was one of the most valua- 
 ble and useful of the female members, a fit associate 
 and help-meet of her worth}- husband. We regret 
 that there are no records or materials from which' a 
 more extended notice can be given. As her decease 
 occurred in 1717, several years before his return to 
 Boston, it is supposed that she was buried here in 
 the Family Tomb on his farm ; but as her death is 
 not recorded in the town books, it is possible that 
 she died and was buried among her family friends in 
 Boston. 
 
 Mrs. Sarah Byfield, the beloved consort of his 
 riper 3'ears, who died in Boston, 1730, December 21, 
 was buried in the Burial Ground where his remains 
 were afterwards placed b}^ her side. The Weekl}' 
 News Letter, No. 1405, of date December 29, 1730, 
 gives the following notice of the funeral : 
 
 " Yesterday were buried here the Remains of that truly 
 honorable and devout Gentlewoman Mrs. Sarah Byfield 
 amidst the affectionate Respects and lamentations of a 
 numerous concourse . Before carrying out the Corpse a 
 
39 
 
 Funeral prayer was made by one of the Pastors of the Old 
 Church to whose communion she belonged : which tho' a 
 custom in the country towns is a singular instance in this 
 place, but it's wished may prove a leading example to the 
 general practice of so christian and decent a custom. The 
 Pall was held up by the Hon. the late Lieut. Gov. 
 DuMMEK with other gentlemen of his Majesly^s Council. 
 Among the mourning Relatives went his excellency 
 GovEKNOK Belchek, and his Honour Lieut. Gov. 
 Tailek, followed by a long train of persons of public dis- 
 tinction and private character; paying their last offices to 
 the Dead, and uniting their sincere condolence with the 
 living," 
 
 On the Sabbath following her decease and burial, 
 her pastor, the Rev. Charles Chauncy, D. D., 
 preached a discourse from the text, James 4 : 14, on 
 " Man's life considered under the similitude of a 
 vapor," from which we make the following extracts : 
 
 " She had naturally a weak and tender Body, but a 
 strong and noble soul ; which being cultivated and en- 
 riched by a good education and great industry rendered 
 her truly amiable and desirable, and fitted her to be a 
 blessing in the station Providence had assigned her. 
 
 " Her temper was lively and cheerful, yet far from light 
 and vain : being well ballast by a singular discretion. In 
 her most pleasant hours, she was never unfit to enter upon 
 a serious subject, and always treated it with a becoming 
 gravity and reverance. 
 
 " She had a good taste in conversation and was exceed- 
 ingly well turned for it, having a ready wit, a sprightly 
 genius, an easy smooth way of expressing herself: and 
 bemg able without stift'ness or ostentation to be both en- 
 tertaining and profitable. 
 
 " She was an honour to her sex, in her exemplary De- 
 portment under all the various characters and relations of 
 
40 
 
 life : As a neighbor kind and pitiful : As a friend, true and 
 hearty: As a wife tender and dufiful, engaging in her car- 
 riage : reverent and respectful : As mistress in a fomily, 
 discreet in her management, neat and cleanly, tho'tful of 
 all under her care, indulgent and compassionate to her ser- 
 vants, especially concerned about their souls, and frequent 
 in teaching them the good knowledge of the Lord ; in her 
 treatment of strangers, hospitable; courteous, pleasant, 
 observing and edifying to those that came to visit her. 
 
 "But her chief excellency and whatmosc recommended 
 to all that knew her was her undissembled piety. She 
 had an habitual prevailing awe and reverence of God upon 
 her heart, which early discovered itself and all along 
 through the course of her life, not only in an utter abhor- 
 rence of everything that savored of irreverance but in a 
 due treatment of those things wherein the Divine honor is 
 nearly concerned. She loved the House and sanctified the 
 day of God and gave her constant, devout attendance on 
 the public worship and all Gospel ordinances; paid a sin- 
 gular regard to the Holy Scriptures ; valued the Ministers 
 of Religion ; and had an universal regard to all good men. 
 But above all Christ was the object of her love her ftiith, 
 her hope. Him she embraced as the alone Redeemer of 
 souls ; Him she trusted with the great affair of her eternal 
 salvation; him she loved with her whole heart; Him she 
 made it her care to please in all things ; His image she 
 was adorned with, and the graces of His Spirit she lived 
 in the daily exercise of ; And Ave charitably believe she is 
 gone to be with Christ, which is best of all."* 
 
 Benjamin Church, the third on the list of origi- 
 
 *For these memoranda of Mrs. Byfield, also items given 
 in sketches of Mr. Byfield, we are indebted to a volume of 
 Sermons in " the Prince Library," Boston, containing the 
 two funeral discourses of Dr. Chauncy. 
 
41 
 
 nal members, is a prominent name in the earlj^ 
 Colonial histor3\ 
 
 He was a son of Richard Church, who came to 
 Massachusetts in the fleet with Gov. Winthrop ; a 
 carpenter b}- trade ; lived at Wessagusset (Wey- 
 mouth,) and Pl3'mouth, where he was admitted a 
 freeman in 1633 ; married Elizabeth, daughter of 
 Richard Warren, in 1636 ; was often a member of 
 the " Grand Enquest," and frequently chosen as a 
 Referee ; served as Sergeant in the Pequot war ; 
 helped build the first Meeting House in Plymouth 
 about 1637; was in Charlestown in 1653; but 
 finally settled in Hingham, where he made his will 
 1668, December 25th, and died two days after at 
 Dedham, leaving nine children. 
 
 He was born at Pl^'mouth, in 1639, and was bred 
 to his father's trade. 1667, December 26th, he mar- 
 ried Alice Southworth, grand-daughter of the dis- 
 tinguished wife of Gov. Bradford, second daughter 
 of Constant and Elizabeth (Collier) Southworth, 
 of Duxbuiy, born in 1646. Their earl}' married life 
 was passed in Duxbuiy, though he temporarily re- 
 sided in various parts of the Colony in the pur- 
 suit of his vocation. 
 
 Less than six months after his father's death, 1669, 
 June 1st, he received from the Court a grant of 
 " land att Taunton River," which William Pabodie 
 had taken up and then surrendered, " for full satis- 
 faction for all the right his father Richard Church, 
 deceased, hath to land in this CoUonie." He was 
 for many years in the almost constant employ of the 
 
 8 
 
42 
 
 Colony, on juries for the trial of both civil and crimi- 
 nal cases, and was the Constable of Duxbur3\ 
 
 In 1674, influenced b}- the representations of Cap- 
 tain John Alm}^, of Rhode Island, whose acquaint- 
 ance he had made during a session of the Court at 
 Pl3-mouth, he visited the territory known then b}' the 
 Indian names Pocasset and Soglcoiiate, now Little 
 Compton, R. I., was pleased with it, made a pur- 
 chase, settled a farm, and soon erected two build- 
 ings upon it. This farm was in the north-west part 
 of the town, near the east passage of Narragansett 
 Bay. He was the first Englishman that settled here, 
 " gained a good acquaintance with the Natives, got 
 much into their favour, and was in a little time in 
 great esteem among them." 
 
 During the following spring, while he was dili- 
 gently employed on his farm, and hoping that his 
 good success would be inviting unto other good men 
 to become his neighbors, the rumor of a war between 
 the English and Natives gave check to his peaceful 
 projects. Being informed by JVeetamoe and some of 
 her chief men of the inimical intentions of Philip, 
 the Sachem of Mount Hope, and receiving fuller 
 intelligence of the same at a Great Dance given by 
 Awaslionks Squaw Sachem of the " Sogkonate " 
 Indians, to which she had invited him, he immediately 
 set out for Plymouth to apprise the Authorities 
 there and take counsel with them respecting meas- 
 ures to be taken in the emergenc}^ From this time 
 until the close of Philip's war, he was employed in 
 the service of the Colony. Distinguished for re- 
 
43 
 
 markable phj^sical vigor and activity, exposed from 
 childhood to the perils of Indians, and understanding 
 thoroughly their mode of warfare, he rendered most 
 valuable services as a military leader, and to him 
 more than to any other man belongs the honor of 
 bringing to a victorious close that bloodiest and most 
 terrific of the Indian wars, known as King Philip's 
 war. Late in life he dictated to his son, Thomas 
 Church, Esq., a narrative of this war and of later 
 expeditions, which was published, passed through 
 several editions, and is still the standard historj' of 
 those times. He was at the head of the party by which 
 King Philip was slain in the swamp at the foot of 
 Mount Hope, and bj' his skill and braveiy a few daj's 
 after, Annowan, the last of Philip's great war chiefs, 
 was taken captive. His surprise and capture of this 
 warrior has been described as " an act of heroic 
 boldness which has no parallel in modern times." 
 His numerous and perilous adventures with the sav- 
 ages in the region of Narragansett Ba}^ and Cape 
 Cod, read like a volume of romance. His success in 
 these encounters inspired such confidence, that he 
 w^as subsequently charged with the command of five 
 diflferent expeditions against the Indians in Maine, 
 with the rank of Major and afterwards of Colonel. 
 In consequence of his long and bloody conflict with 
 the savage Indians, he has been unjustly repre- 
 sented as of a hard-hearted and cruel disposition. 
 But he had a merciless and treacherous foe to con- 
 tend with, and there remained no alternative but to 
 meet them on their own ground and by their own 
 
44 
 
 acts of warfare, or suffer them to cany desolation 
 and death in their most horrid forms through the 
 scattered and feeble settlements of the white men. 
 The historian of Fall River says, " In raising up 
 such a man as Benjamin Church for the defense of 
 the Colonists, and in preserving his life, amid the 
 imminent perils to which he was subjected, the finger 
 of Divine Providence was most signally manifested." 
 Before the impartial historian this veteran of Indian 
 warfare stands " as a man of integrit}" and piet}', a 
 benefactor to his country, and a friend to his race." 
 
 He was no less devout as a Christian than he was 
 brave as a warrior. " I was ever sensible," he says, 
 " of my own littleness and unfitness to be emploj^ed 
 in such great services, but calling to mind that God 
 is strong I endeavored to put all my confidence in 
 Him, and by His almight}^ power was carried through 
 every difficult action, and my desire is that His name 
 may have all the praise." " I desire prayers that I 
 may be enabled well to accomplish my spiritual war- 
 fare and that I may be more than conqueror through 
 Jesus Christ's loving me." In his home especially 
 he was the devout and consistent Christian. He reoju- 
 larly maintained family worship, wherein he read, 
 and often expounded the scriptures to his household. 
 In the observance of the Sabbath and in attending 
 the worship and ordinances of God in the Sanctuary 
 he was exemplary. 
 
 After the close of Philip's war he removed to this 
 town and cast in his lot with the first settlers. He 
 purchased largely of the original proprietors and 
 
45 
 
 held for many 3'ears much landed estate. He bnilt 
 the house known as the " Old Talbee House," still 
 standing, near the corner of Thames and Constitu- 
 tion streets. He was frequentl}' elected to offices of 
 trust and served the town with marked fidelity and 
 wisdom. He was public spirited and contributed 
 with great liberality for the support of institutions 
 of Religion and Education. He was several times 
 chosen Deputy to represent the town at Plymouth, 
 and in 1696 was representative at Boston. He had 
 seven children, five sons and two daughters — several 
 of whom were born in Bristol, and have descend- 
 ants still living among us. 
 
 From Bristol he moved to Fall River and subse- 
 quently to Little Compton, where he spent his last 
 days on his farm. As years advanced he became 
 uncomfortably corpulent in person. Being severely 
 wounded by a fall from his horse, he sank under it 
 and died. He was buried with militar}* honors in 
 the cemeterj^ on the Common, where the visitor to- 
 day ma}' stand over his ashes and read how highl}' he 
 was revered in the significant inscription upon his 
 tomb stone. " Here lieth interred the bod}' of the 
 Honorable Colonel Benjamin Church, Esq., who de- 
 parted this life Jan. 17, 1717-18, in the 78th 3'ear of 
 his age." 
 
 High in esteem among the great he stood, 
 His wisdom made him lovely, great and good. 
 Though hn be said to die he still survives 
 Through future time liis memory shall live." 
 
46 
 
 John Gary, fifth on the list of members, emigra- 
 ted from Bridgewater, Mass., to Bristol, among the 
 earliest settlers, .-ind established himself as a Brewer, 
 residing on what is known as Malt house lane, deriv- 
 ing its name doubtless from his business. He was 
 the eldest son of John Gary and Elizabeth God- 
 frey, who came to Pl3^mouth Golony in 1630. He 
 had ten brothers and sisters. His father was a man 
 of superior education and had great influence in the 
 colony and as an officer of the Ghurch, and, tradition 
 says, " he taught the first Latin school in the colon}', 
 and was ver}- pious and public spirited." 
 
 On coming to Bristol, Mr. Gary at once took a 
 prominent position in civil and ecclesiastical afifairs, 
 and was frequently elected to offices of trust. Soon 
 after the organization of the Ghurch he was chosen 
 Deacon as an associate with Deacon Bosworth, 
 which office he held to the day of his death. His 
 family consisted of his wife Abigail, and eleven 
 children, seven of whom w^ere born previous to 
 coming to Bristol, and four of them here. Most of 
 these grew up from childhood in the covenant rela- 
 tion of baptism, and were worthy and exemplary 
 members of the Ghurch. Two of the sons were 
 Deacons and the husband of one of the daughters, 
 Samuel Howland. He died and was buried in the 
 ancient burying ground on the Gommon. An up- 
 right stone was erected to his memory bearing the 
 following inscription : 
 
 " Remember death. Here lies yc dust of Deacon John 
 Gary, a shining pattern of piety whose spirit returned to 
 
47 
 
 God that gave it July 14th, 1721, in ye 76th year of his 
 age. 
 
 " A man of prayer, so willing to do good, 
 His liigliest worth, who of us understood; 
 Fear (iod, love Christ, help souls their work to mend, 
 So like this saint fit for bliss without end." 
 
 Respecting the other constituent members we have 
 onl}' the briefest memoranda. Nathaniel Rey- 
 nolds was the son of Robert Reynolds, of Water- 
 town, Mass., in 1635, perhaps, born in England. He 
 was by trade a shoemaker as was also his father. 
 He lived a while in Boston, where he was admitted 
 freeman in 1665, was a member of the Artillery com- 
 pany and commanded a company in King Philip's 
 war under Colonel Church. He removed to Bris- 
 tol among the first settlers and was an active and 
 useful citizen, and an exemplar}^ Christian. He died 
 in the faith of the Redeemer at an advanced age, 
 1708, July 20. 
 
 Hugh Woodbury was the son of William Wood- 
 bury, born in Salem, Mass., 1650, June 30. His 
 wife was Mar}^, daughter of Thomas Dixey, and they 
 had several children, but the name in this town has 
 long been extinct. He was among the first who 
 settled here and appears to have been a worth}' citi- 
 zen, respected and honored both in civil and eccle- 
 siastical relations. He died 1702, April 17th, in the 
 fiftj'-second 3'ear of his age. 
 
 William Throop, called " Goodman Throop " in 
 the record, came from Barnstable in 1680, and was a 
 son of William Throop, who came from Lej'den in 
 
48 
 
 1640. Tradition sa^^s he was a very pious and godly 
 man and highl}^ respected, as were also his children, 
 two of whom became Deacons in the Church and 
 filled that office for many 3'ears. He died 1704, 
 December 4th. 
 
 Nathaniel Bosworth was a son of Deacon Ben- 
 jamin BoswoRTH and Rebecca Stevens his wife, 
 born in Hingham, Mass., in 1651. He first settled in 
 Rehoboth, and removed to Bristol in 1680. His 
 mother was killed by the Indians in the early part of 
 King Philip's war. His family were numerous and 
 many were their descendants. He was a cooper by 
 trade and a fisherman, and tradition sa3'S he worked 
 hand in hand with his associate. Deacon Gary, not 
 onl}' in the interests of their business, but in pro- 
 moting the welfare of Zion which was their chief 
 joy. He was chosen Deacon at the organization of 
 the Church and continued in the office until his 
 death, 1690, August 31st, in the vigor of earl^^ man- 
 hood. 
 
 Such were the men, earnest, devoted, godl}- and 
 highl}' esteemed, who gave the weight of their char- 
 acter and influence to the foundations of our beloved 
 Zion. We wonder not that siich men in the Divine 
 Providence drew around them and left behind them 
 many others of kindred spirit. Every decade of 
 our histor}^ has furnished those whose names are 
 worthy of special commendation for their faith, 
 their integrity, their shining example of Christian 
 character. 
 
 But not the men alone were thus worthy. Though 
 
49 
 
 at the organization of the Church the fathers of the 
 town only united, the mothers in Israel soon after 
 joined them. In their humbler spheres they were 
 equally faithful, and then, as in our later histor}- and 
 as in the almost universal histor}^ of Christ's Church 
 in earth has been true of godly women, the}' contri- 
 buted the largest share of christian graces to the 
 Church life, and by far the brightest light, in its 
 daily shining before the world. 
 
 SAMUEL LEE, D. D.. FOUNDER AND FIRST PASTOR. HIS 
 LIFE, MINISTRY, AND PUBLISHED WORKS. 
 
 Mr. Lee was a son of Mr. Samuel Lee, a wealthy 
 and highly respected citizen of London, and was 
 born in the year 1625. He early in life manifested 
 a fondness for books, which his parents were pleased 
 to gratity, sending him to the celebrated "St. Paul's 
 School " to pursue his studies preparatoiy for college. 
 Such was his proficienc}' here that in 1640, at the 
 early age of fifteen 3'ears, he entered the University 
 of Oxford, where he took and maintained high rank 
 as a scholar, and in 1648, received the degree of 
 Master of Arts. He was soon after settled in a 
 Fellowship in Wadham College, and, having been a 
 highl}' successful lecturer in Great St. Helen's 
 Church in London, he was, in 1656, appointed Proc- 
 tor of the Universit}'. These offices were well sus- 
 tained, and gained for him the reputation among his 
 contemporaries of being a man of very superior 
 learning and moral worth. 
 
50 
 
 At the time of the famous " Bartholomew Act " 
 which deprived nearl}' two thousand clergymen of 
 their parishes and pecuniar}' support, because of their 
 dissent from some of the prescribed forms and cere- 
 monies of the Established Church, his sympathies 
 were heartil}' with the Dissenters, although he had 
 himself no preferment to lose. After the death of 
 the minister of a Non-Conformist Church in Hol- 
 burn, London, which took place in 1667, he was 
 associated in the pastorate of that Church with the 
 celebrated Rev. Theophilus Gale. In September, 
 1679, we find him settled at Bignal near Bicester, in 
 Oxfordshire, and he was afterwards, for several 
 years, the Minister of an Independent Church, at 
 Newington Green, near Bishopgate, in London. 
 
 After these j^ears of distinguished service in the 
 Ministr}' of Non-Conforming Churches, he was urged 
 b}" Bishop Wilkins to accept a living in the Estab- 
 lished Church, and was strongly advised thereto b}' 
 many of his friends. But his dissent from the cere- 
 monies and usages of that Church was conscientious 
 and hearty, and while he was liberal to concede to 
 others their rights of conscience, he could not com- 
 promise with his own conscience for the sake of any 
 of the flattering advantages offered to the gratifN'ing 
 of a lofty ambition. This persistence in identifying 
 himself with the weaker Non-Conformist part}- 
 offended those who desired to avail themse ves of his 
 great talents and learning, and who felt that they 
 had as it were a preemptive right to all distinguished 
 personages in the Realm. For this offense he suf- 
 
51 
 
 feredmnch annoyance and petty persecutions at their 
 hands. But the Non-Conformist party, grateful for 
 his hibors in their cause and for the strength of his 
 name, rallied around him as a leader, and gave him 
 the enthusiasm of their admiration. 
 
 At length, being apprehensive of a still further 
 invasion of the rights of conscience, he resolved to 
 migrate to New England, where he could, untram- 
 meled, exercise the Gospel Ministry in accordance 
 with his own sense of duty. This resolution was 
 not made without a struggle, for he ardently loved 
 his native land, was strongly attached to his numer- 
 ous friends there, and having inherited from his father 
 large real estate, his departure from England would 
 involve much pecuniar}' loss. But, in spite of all 
 that opposed, his resolution was made, and, with the 
 clearest conviction that he was following the guiding 
 hand of Providence, he sailed with his famil}' and 
 landed in Boston in the summer of the year 1686. 
 
 Of his reception in this countr}' and his happj" 
 settlement in Bristol, an account has already- been 
 given. 
 
 On the accession of William to the throne of 
 England, a change was inaugurated which promised 
 greater tolerance and freedom to Dissenters. The 
 heart of Mr. Lee 3'earned for his native land and the 
 friends of former daj's, there to enjo}^ what a few 
 years before had been denied him. Accordingl}', to 
 the regret of all who ki^ew him, not onl}' here but 
 throughout New England, he decided to return. 
 After an affectionate parting from his flock in Bristol, 
 
52 
 
 he embarked with his family on board the " Dolphin" 
 at Boston. After a boisterous V03'age, nearing the 
 coast of Ireland the}' fell in with a French Priva- 
 teer, were captured and carried prisoners into the 
 port of St. Maloes, in France. After some deten- 
 tion, his family were allowed to proceed to London, 
 but he was still {leld as a prisoner. Depression of 
 spirits, solitude and the rigors of winter induced the 
 prison fever which soon terminated his valuable life 
 in December, 1691, aged sixty-four 3'ears. Being 
 denounced as a heretic, his bod}^ was interred with- 
 out the walls of the city.* 
 
 Mysterious are the wa3's of Providence. Man}' of 
 the Lord's chosen are called from the earth in the 
 way of suffering Martyrdom ; his Church are left to 
 mourn the loss of these precious ones of their num- 
 ber. But, doubtless, heaven opens to these saints, 
 with joys all the brighter because of their earthly 
 tribulations, and in the triumphs of their faith, those 
 left behind learn important lessons of trust in the 
 darkest hours, and are animated to press forward in 
 the march to final victory. 
 
 The Ministry of Mr. Lee in Bristol was very brief, 
 though remarkably fruitful in good results. The 
 Church received additions constantly, and there had 
 been enrolled in its fellowship forty-eight persons. 
 They continued harmonious in all their church re- 
 lations, and were spiritually profited by the minis- 
 
 *Sprague's Annals. Allen's Biog. Diet. Dr. Shepard's 
 Hist. Disc. etc. 
 
53 
 
 try of their beloved pastor. His was a Catholic 
 spirit. His learning was united with charity and 
 the poor were often relieved by his bount}-. His 
 toils, says tradition, out of the pulpit in visiting the 
 sick and afflicted and administering the consolations 
 of the Gospel, were continuous and faithful ; and his 
 preaching was sound, able and eloquent. The fol- 
 lowing passage from one of his sermons, preserved 
 in the recollection of one of his people, has been 
 handed down to the present day : 
 
 ** Every breath we draw should go forth warm with 
 anthens; the blood's circulation should run around in 
 songs, and every pulse beat upon the strings of David's 
 harp. The wholesome herb should cure our murmurs, 
 and all the creatm-es of earth, air and water, should by us 
 render a tribute of praise to God." 
 
 Mr. Lee kept up an acquaintance with other pas- 
 tors, and by frequent interchange of views, strength- 
 ened them in their work and was himself strengthened 
 in his work. The following extracts from published 
 letters, show how fraternal and cordial was this 
 ministerial intercourse.* 
 
 The Rev. Joshua Moody, then associate pastor of 
 the first Church in Boston, in a letter to Increase 
 Mather, then on a visit to England, in 1688, says : 
 
 " Mr. Lee is in Town (tho' going out to-morrow,) Wee 
 spent the 2d instant in your study & had his compy part of 
 the day with us where wee had (blessed be God) a good 
 
 *Mass. Hist. Coll., VHI., 4th series, 355, 540, 542. 
 9 
 
54 
 
 clay of Prayer for you and hope in God's good time to have 
 in the same place a day of Praise with yon." 
 
 The following extracts from letters of Mr. Lee to 
 Mr. Mather, show not only cordial friendship but 
 his interest for the spiritual welfare of the whole 
 region round about as well as for his own parish : 
 
 "Aug. 25, '87 Mount Hope. 
 Deare Mr. Mather. * * * j ^^^^ compassed with va- 
 rious humors in neighboring towns & Islands, but blissed 
 be God the fogs fly. I have had a long disceptation I cant 
 call a disputation with a stout Anabaptist. But blessed be 
 his holy name they give ground. I am invited to the 
 Island & hope next week to see it, with the Lcn-d's leave & 
 try what work may enter. I want strength of body. I am 
 in a Frontire. You had need incourage us with amunition 
 & auxiliaries from Heaven & to begin to think of some 
 learned, holy, discreel man, that might undertake at New- 
 port. But no more at present. My hearty love to your 
 good son, to my ancient loving friend Mr. Allyn & to my 
 Beloved Brethren Mr. Moody & Mr. Willard, intreating 
 your prayers for strength every way, with hearty respects 
 to my deare sister of whose Turkeys I have so often tasted. 
 Yours affectionately in the Lord. S. L." 
 
 " 8, 14, 87, Mount Hope. 
 Deare Mr. Mather,— Methinks its very comfortable to 
 see your hand & had I Dove's wings I would soone see 
 your face with divine permission & a supply, which you 
 can more easily have there. My good ffriend Mr. Morton 
 [Rev. Chas. Morton] has been here. I thank him, but he 
 runs up & down here from place to place & suddenly runs 
 back. That truly I am much troubled at. Once he left 
 me among the bears at Cambridge & now among the 
 all bears in Rhode Island, but all in Love. Yet I 
 
55 
 
 shall hope when yoii come, you will give me some more of 
 your company. Theres no discoursing under a bit of wnxe ; 
 but meeting at Heaven's gate with the same petitions, 
 through our gracious Redeemer. I found great respect 
 from the Islanders, as Paul speaks, no little kindness in 
 Malta. One desired me to speak for a young scholar or 
 student to live in his house & teach his children ; a man of 
 some quality : but I think will give onely dyet at pr'sent. 
 If any good ITriends would help for about 10 lbs. a y. for 
 clothes : we might begin some work there I hope. I have 
 pr<;acht once there to a few with kind resentmt. & I 
 took occasion by the Judges going in there & would fain 
 have p'suaded Mr. Morton; since the P'sident told him he 
 would provide for his place : but his love to his wife & 
 some other things were his Apology I'intend to give him 
 some account in time God willing- My hearty love to 
 your good son & acquaint him he is in debt a letter to me. 
 To your kind wife & to all our Brethren in the Ministry & 
 in the Lord my wife and drs. pr'sent their hearty resp., 
 especially Anne & so does your truly Lov. Br. & Serv't. in 
 theLd. S. L." 
 
 The following to Mr. Mather, on the eve of his 
 departure on a visit to England, is especially affec- 
 tionate and kind : 
 
 " Febr. 15, 8 7-8. 
 Deare Good Mr. Mather. Your hearty letter I recVl as 
 heartily & embraced it utrisq ulnis & in imo sulce pectoris. 
 I am glad & sorry of your motion to England nostri haec 
 farrago libelli. I doe earnestly desire to sit up one night 
 with you. 3 things hinder as yet. A supply of my place 
 which if you or our f 'ds would engage Mr. Metcalf or Mr. 
 Parry to come for 2 or 3 sabbaths I should endoavor to 
 come to you toward the end of next month by the will of 
 God. Another is I expect some things from England in 
 
56 
 
 May & that will double my trouble to come then too. 
 Another is the difficulty of travell to me. But if I get a 
 supply by that time with your loving help & some of our 
 ffds when they come up to you, since my house is as farr 
 from being put in equipage now as in Octob. last ; onely 
 hopes begin to spring. There be many things uncommitta- 
 ble to a languid seale, which I remitt, if the Lord p'mitt, to 
 enjoymt. I am shutt oif into an Angle from your com- 
 pany ; but not from a conversation with you above the 
 circle of human affairs. In haste, longing my letter should 
 quickly see you, subscribe deliberately Your psvering ffd 
 & throu. Grace Br., S. L." 
 
 He published several works, among which was a 
 dissertation on " The Ancient and Successive State 
 of the Jews, with Scriptural evidences of their fu- 
 ture conversion and establishment in their own land." 
 This was in 1679, and was as able and ingenious a 
 work in advocacy of that theory, which is now held 
 by but few, as was ever published. In 1810, more 
 than thirty years afterwards. Dr. Buchanan, in a ser- 
 mon before '' the Jewish Institution," a benevolent 
 society in England, says, — " It is possible before the 
 end of the present year the four gospels will be pub- 
 lished and copies sent to the Jews in the east, as the 
 first fruits of the ' Jewish Institution.* It is very 
 remarkable that this should be the very year which 
 was calculated long ago by a learned man, as that in 
 which ' the times of happiness to Israel ' should 
 begin. In the year 1677, Mr. Samuel Lee, a scholar 
 of enlarged views, who had studied the prophetical 
 writings with gTeat attention, published a small vol- 
 ume entitled "Israel Redux** or the Restoration of 
 
57 
 
 Israel. He calculates the event from the prophecies 
 of Daniel, and commences the great period of 1260 
 years from A. D. 476, which brings it to 1736. He 
 then adds : 
 
 'After the great conflicts with the papal powers in the 
 west will begin the stirs and commotions about the ,Tews 
 and Israel in tlie East. If then to 1739 we add 30 more 
 tliey reach to 1766 ; but the times of perplexity are deter- 
 mined by Daniel to last 45 years longer. If then we con- 
 join those 45 years more to 1766 it produces one thousand 
 eight hundred and eleven — 1811— for those times of happi- 
 ness to Israel.' " 
 
 His other published works were " The Joy of 
 Faith," in 1689 ; a sermon preached before the Court 
 of Bristol, entitled " The great da}^ of Judgment," 
 in 1691. "The triumph of Merc}'," much read in 
 New England, an edition of which was printed in 
 1718 ; and " Contemplations on Mortalit}'," respect- 
 ing which Dr. Allen says, " they displa}- great learn- 
 ing and genius :" Besides these, there were other 
 sermons and smaller works, in all some ten or 
 twelve volumes. 
 
 He devoted great attention at one period to the 
 stud}^ of Astrology, but afterwards testified his dis- 
 approbation of it, by burning his collection of books 
 relating to the subject, a hundred volumes. 
 
 As a specimen of his st3de and exuberance of 
 thought, we give the following extract from his 
 ^' Triumph of Mercy," p. 27 & foil. 
 
 "The Rainbow of the Heavens knows not more rare 
 and delightful colours than the rainbow of the Covenant, 
 
58 
 
 under which our Saviour hath placed his Throne. The 
 beauty of a picture shines in variety : which sets such a 
 delicious^ and pleasant lustre upon prospects and land- 
 scapes, where hills and dales, woods and plains, rivers 
 and seas, castles and cities, and the carcases of ancient 
 ruins and hanging rocks are curiously drawn by the Pencil 
 of nature. ****** 
 
 God seldom delivers in the same methods. There was 
 never the same face of Heaven from the Creation to this 
 day. The aspects, clouds, and weather do always vary, as 
 the shells on the seashore, and the pebble stones none ex- 
 actly alike. We have new songs f< -r every moment had 
 we hearts to tune them. When God's wisdom takes one 
 mercy away, his beneficent bounty sends another. When 
 iSome setting stars dip their flaming rays in the Western 
 Ocean, new ones glitter in the east. Never did the same 
 water bubble from the same fountain : but as God is the 
 inexhaustible spring of new and amiable mercies : So we 
 find he adorns the out-rooms of the world, and the cham- 
 bers of the Tabernacle of his Church with the Tapestry- 
 hangings of the curious needle-work of his Providence. 
 Such Wisdom dwells with Prudence and finds out the 
 knowledge of witty inventions. All the curiosities of Art 
 and the cunning devices of Artificers are from God : the 
 swarthy Plowman derives his seasons and management of 
 his lands, tillage and culture from Heaven : the women 
 that sit at the wheel, turn it about by the direction of God 
 for the ornaments of the Tabernacle : The weaver, the 
 embroiderer and the ingenious lapidary learnt all in the 
 school which is aboA^e the stars ; the most admirable of all 
 inventions have dropt into the fsmcy from the Celestial 
 intelligence. For what the vain unthinking world calls 
 casualty is a graft upon the minds of men cut from the 
 trees of Paradise. ***** 
 
 And shall we not think that infinite wisdom cannot 
 always present new and ravishing wonders of mercies 
 
59 
 
 upon the stage from him who is unconceivable in Counsel 
 and as admirable in working? When we study in this 
 Library we still find new lines and new editions ; we sail 
 upon new coasts and see new stars as in the Southern 
 hemisphere, and enjoy a new set of Creatures, and smell 
 at many leagues dist;int fragrant odoriferous scents ; as of 
 Cinnamon from the mountains of Ceylon in India; of 
 Rosemaiy from Spain ; Cedar from Lebanon, that perfume 
 the very thoughts of a Saint; and the further we travel, 
 the more delicious are the surging tops of the hills of 
 Canaan! And the more we taste the more surprising 
 sweetness astonishes our Palates; like the Queen pine in 
 Barbadoes that supplies and transcends expectations with 
 new and rasive favours and tunes our vocal instruments 
 for new songs to bear a part with the Harmony of Angels 
 forever," 
 
 From " The Joy of Faith," p. 6 and foil, we give 
 the following extract, a portion of an argument for 
 the worth of the Scriptures deduced from their 
 ^' imperial power and efficacy on the souls and con- 
 sciences of men :" 
 
 " Let the world rage in storms of contradiction and like 
 him in Laertius afUrm snow to be black, or assert the sun 
 shines not when I see it, or a cordial comforts not when I 
 feel it or that a troubled conscience is but a melancholy 
 fjincy, when the terrors of the Lord drink up the spirits of 
 men. These should be sent to Anticyra to purge with 
 Hellebor for madness. Pray, what energy or power can 
 be in a printed paper, in the reading of a chapter where- 
 with Austin and Junius were converted from sin to God, 
 or what powerful charm in hearing a mean Preacher, per- 
 haps none of the Learnedest, like the blessed Fishermen 
 of Galilee, to change the heart: if so many proud, haughty 
 and rebellious sinners who of direful persecutors havo 
 
60 
 
 sometimes turned tender cherishers and protectors of tbe 
 Church of God : were it not for the fire of the Word of the 
 Lord hosts that melts the stone of the heart and the ham- 
 mer of that Word that breaks the sturdy Zauzummins all 
 to powder; insomuch that bitter scoffers have been changed 
 into witty Tertullians and turned their satires into pane- 
 gyricks. What can that be imagined to be that works so 
 strange effects upon whole Nations from the East to the 
 Western-Indies, whitened the Blackmooi's, civilized the 
 hearts of Scythians more ragged and brutish than the 
 Rocks and Hyrcanian Tygers that gave them suck and 
 beautified the barbarously painted Britians far beyond the 
 oratory of the Gaules. It could be no other power than 
 the awful dread of the Divine Majesty and the melting 
 sweetness of his Mercy concomitant witb his heavenly 
 Word. Wherefore such are justly to be suspected for 
 strangers to the work of grace like Nicodenuis at first, 
 tho' a great Doctor in Israel, yet a great dunce in the ex- 
 cellent point of the New-Birth : or like that Doctor at 
 Oxford, sometime since, that searcht the dictionary for the 
 word, and could not tell what to make of it because he 
 found it not there. I say we may gi-eatly fear that they 
 never felt this mighty power of the Spirit of God to change 
 their hearts that dare talk so proudly and irreverently 
 against the self-evidencing power of the holy scriptures on 
 the consciences of men : when the Majesty of God shines 
 ten thousand times brighter in the meridian of that book, 
 than the sun without clouds at noonday in the zenith of 
 Africa." 
 
 His sermon, entitled " A summons or warning to 
 the Great Day of Judgment," preached " at the 
 Assizes at Bristol, in N. E., October 7, 1G87," was 
 a pictorial scene of soul-moving terror such as 
 few could hear without most serious thought. The 
 
61 
 
 text was from Revelation 20 : 12 : And I saw the 
 Dead, small and great, stand before God: and the 
 Books icere opened : and another Book was opened 
 which is the Book of Life : and the Dead were judged 
 ■ out of those things ivhich were written in the Books, 
 according to their loorks. The sermon closed with 
 the following words of exhortation. 
 
 1. *' As to you the Worthy and Reverend Judges that are 
 to sit in judgement before the Lord this day : I shall not 
 enlarge but only present unto you what King Jehoshaphat 
 gave in charge to them from God, when he set them about 
 this work. City by City. Take heed what you do, for ye 
 judge not for man but the Lord who is with you in the judg- 
 ment. Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you. 
 Take heed and do it : for there is no iniquity with the Lord 
 our Ood, nor respect of Persons, nor taking of gifts. 
 
 2. "To you that are the People and auditors this 
 day Count it a great mercy, that you have been pre- 
 served by Restraining or Sanctifying grace, not to stand in 
 the plnce of the nocent and so to become obnoxious to the 
 wliolesom laws & Righteous judgment of the Magistrate. 
 Bless God for that singular mercy : If it were not for the 
 Magistracy, that great ordinance of God in the world, 
 mens tongues would be like poisoned arrows shot forth, 
 speaking deceit, treating their neighbor with their mouths 
 peaceably, and laying wait in their hearts : Some such sons 
 of Belial there are that a man cannot speak to them, they 
 are so surly and interrupting & ought to be thurst away 
 like thorns : if a man touch them he must be fenced with 
 iron & the staff of a spear. Men would prove wolves and 
 vipers ; tigers and dragons mixt in one and the same per- 
 son to each other, O bless God for this gi*eat gift of Princes 
 and Judges to rule the wicked and enormous world and to 
 sway the scepter of righteousness in the earth. O Remem- 
 
62 
 
 ber to speak honorably of Rulers and dignities ; for they 
 are Ordained of God for the praise of them that do well ; 
 and God's Ministers and Avengers npon them that do evil. 
 Were it not for them such as are now but secret, malacious 
 backbiters would soon prove badgers and bite through the 
 bone to the very heart. Have then a special care of two 
 originating sins that lead to many foul enormities, that is 
 pride and envy : First in yourselves that you be not tempted 
 thereby to hurt others : and Secondly in others that you do 
 not hurt them. For wherever you see manifest signatures 
 and tokens of these sins, lurking or putting out their forked 
 tongues against others; beware of them, they are persons 
 marked of God. And always have engraven upon your 
 breast that famous emblem of a righteous man. Do as 
 you would be done by : Tis our Lord's most Golden Rule 
 of Equity : Then judge yourselves before God as to all in- 
 firmities, and otherwise insuperable weakness : then tear 
 not man's day : having presented yourselves by Faith as 
 clothed with the Righteousness of Christ and in some 
 sweet measure prepared for that solemn appearance at 
 His Tribunal. 
 
 3. " A word or two also to the poor guilty person which 
 has murdered her own unlawful infant, and so I con- 
 clude. As for thee poor Creature. What wns it that in- 
 ticed, intauL'led, inflamed thee to the commission of these 
 sins against the laws of God, the light of nature and the 
 just laws of the land. I understand thus much from thee 
 in the prison ; that thy p.'irents were very negligent of thy 
 education, and so becamest a gi-eat neglecter of Sabbaths 
 and sermons, and then fellest into the fellowship of lewd 
 companions, which may be a just warning to all others. 
 All that I shall say at present : because of the greai Sor- 
 row, remorse & Repentance which thou hast manifested 
 before many witnesses, and 1 hope may prove sincere : If 
 thou fleest from the horror, stain and shame of these thy 
 crying sins unto the most precious blood in Jesus Christ; 
 
63 
 
 and hiyest hold upon it with a true though but a Weak 
 faith: thou hast patterns of mercy in the blessed book of 
 God: Manassah, Mary Magdalen, and the Thief upon the 
 Cross to dispell their black and dismal cloud of despair : 
 and to lead and incourage thee to hope in His Mercy. To 
 which I humbly and heartily commend thee in the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, the Lord both of Dead and Living. Amen.'' 
 
 Mr. Lee was regarded as one of the most learned 
 and pioiis men of his daN^, and was called '^ the light 
 of both Englands '* and " the head and glory of the 
 Church of Bristol." Cotton Mather said of him 
 that " if learning ever merited a statues, this great 
 man has as rich an one due him as can be erected ; 
 for it must be granted that hardl}^ ever a more uni^ 
 Versallj learned person trod the American Strand." 
 
 THE MINISTRY LANDS» 
 
 The Proprietors of Bristol, among other gifts for 
 the benefit of the town, gave certain tracts of land 
 " for the encouragement and use of an able Gospel 
 Ministiy, which land shall remain forever and be for 
 the use of the Ministiy for the time being," viz. : 
 One lot on the corner of High and Bradford streets 
 containing two acres, the site of our present Chapel 
 and Church edifices ; one twelve acre lot west of 
 '• the Commonage ;" and one one hundred and 
 fiftieth part of " the Commonage." These lands 
 were designated as " the Ministr}- Lands." 
 
 To these lands others were subsequently added, 
 
 the gift of individual citizens, viz. : A twelfth part 
 
 of sixteen and one-half aCi^es, then improved by 
 
 Madame Dorothy Paine, after her decease, by Will 
 
 10 
 
64 
 
 of Charles Church, Esq., dated 1746, November 
 29th ; A lot on the Neck containing ten acres, by 
 Will of Samuel Viall, Esq., dated 1756, May 3d; 
 A lot on the Neck containing about five acres, by Will 
 of Joseph Reynolds, Esq., dated 1757, February 16th. 
 
 In the original gift b}' the Proprietors, the Denomi- 
 nation for whose benefit lands were given was not 
 designated, as only one Church was then contempla- 
 ted, and it was obviously intended that these lands 
 should be for the benefit of this Church.* But the 
 donors of the additional lands were carefnl to state 
 that the}' were " for and towards the support of the 
 Gospel Ministry in the Presbyterian or Congrega- 
 tional way and for no other use or purpose whatsoever." 
 
 The lands thus generousl}^ given b}" the founders 
 and earl}^ members of the Church have aided very 
 materiall}' in the support of the Gospel Ministry-. 
 The}' are for the most part leased for periods of va- 
 rious lengths of time, and the rents appropriated in 
 accordance with the will of the donors. 
 
 *Respecting tlie intention of the donors of the original 
 Ministry lands, we have written evidence of decisive char- 
 acter. On the 30th of March, 1724, Nathaniel Byfield, 
 one of the four Proprietors, gave to Nathaniel Cotton, 
 then pastor of this Church, about six and a half acres of 
 land. In the deed conveying this gift, Mr. Byfield refers 
 to the original deed of Ministry lands, and says, they were 
 " intended to be for the Ministry of tlie holy Gospel as 
 practiced generally in the Churches of Christ in New 
 England, ivhich I understand to be Presbyterian and Con- 
 gregational, which was the design of the four first proprie- 
 tors of tJie lands of Mount ITope.''^ 
 
65 
 
 II. 
 
 THE BUILDING GOING FORWARD.-1G91-1718. 
 
 EFFORTS TO OBTAIN A PASTOR. 
 
 After the departure of Mr. Lee, measures were 
 promptl}' taken to obtain a successor in the Pastoral 
 Office. Consultation with the Elders in Boston led 
 to the introduction of Mr. Leverett, of Harvard 
 College, as a candidate for settlement, and on the 
 twenty-ninth of Jul}^, 1691, with hearty unanimity, 
 a call was voted. He declined, " because his obli- 
 gations to the College would not admit of a present 
 acceptance." The caR was renewed, with the prom- 
 ise of waiting until the Spring or Summer, " earn- 
 estl}^ desiring that he would continue to supply the 
 pulpit meanwhile." He continued to supph^ until 
 August following, when, on being pressed for a 
 definite answer to the call, he gave a negative reph', 
 and negotiations with him ceased. 
 
 After this the Pulpit was supplied by various 
 Ministers in succession, fifteen shillings weekly 
 being paid for the service until 1693, Jul}- 24th, 
 when a call was voted to the Rev. John Sparhawk, 
 with a 3^€arl3' salary of sixt}^ pounds ; " five pounds a 
 year additional for firewood, and, after he has a 
 famil}', ten pounds a year for firewood and the im- 
 provement of the Ministr}^ lands." The call was 
 
6(5 
 
 accepted, and he began his labors October 6th fol- 
 lowing. He continued on trial a year when the 
 following vote was adopted by the town : 
 
 " We, the Inhabitants of the Town of Bristol, being met 
 together this 19th day of September, 1694, do, for the main- 
 taining of the Public Worship of God amongst ns, and for 
 the Love and Honour we bear to the Rev'd John Spar- 
 hawk, and hopes of speedy settlement by him, and for tlie 
 putting a full and final stop to any further discourse i*e- 
 lating to the Strangers' Contribution as an overplus to the 
 Minister (here with us,) do agree upon the considerations 
 abovesaid, and do hereby promise to.p^iy to the said Mr. 
 Sparhawk, by weekly contribution or otherways, within 
 the year the sum of 70 pounds per annum whilst he re- 
 mains a single man, and 80 pounds for the year when 
 he comes to keep a family, and this we promise during his 
 continuance in the work of the Ministry with us." 
 
 With cordial unanimit}^ he was duly installed the 
 second Pastor of the Church, on the twelfth of June, 
 16&5, nearly four years after their sore bereavement 
 in the death of Mr. Lee. 
 
 JOHN SPARHAWK.- — SECOND PASTOR. 
 
 Mr. Sparhawk was born in 1G72, and graduated 
 at Harvard College in 1689, at the youthful age of 
 seventeen vears. Respecting his ancestry w^e have 
 no definite information. 
 
 Not long"^ after his settlement in Bristol, he mar- 
 ried Priscilla , and lived in a house on State 
 
 street, north of the Common, on or near the spot 
 where now stands the house of P. Hammel, Esq. 
 They had two children, John and Nathaniel, born 
 in 1713 and 1715. The first graduated at Harvard 
 
67 
 
 College in 1733, was ordained at Salem, Mass., 1736, 
 December 8th, and died 1755, April 30th, in the 
 forty-second 3^ear of his age. 
 
 He died 1718, April 29th, in the twenty-third j'ear 
 of his Ministr}', aged fort^'-six 3'ears, and was buried 
 with the tender laments of his people in the ceme- 
 tery on the Common, near the Sanctnar}', where he 
 had faithfull}^ held forth the word of life, being 
 borne to his resting place, from his house, on the 
 shoulders of the office bearers in the Church. His 
 w4dow survived many years and continued to reside 
 here till her death. 
 
 The name of Mr. Sparhawk, as testified by the 
 Kev. Mr. Burt, twent}^ 3'ears after his decease, " re- 
 mained exceedingly dear and precious to his people." 
 He w^as a good preacher, and a faithful, judicious 
 pastor. Though not so celebrated as his predecessor, 
 and doubtless a less learned man, he did his work 
 well, and fell at his post his harness on, being called 
 by the Master up higher. The records show that 
 during his Ministry" one hundred and two persons 
 w^ere added to the membership of the Church, mau}^ 
 others " owned the Covenant," and three hundred 
 and seventj'-six children and adults were baptized. 
 
 Over his grave his afflicted people erected a me- 
 morial stone with the following brief inscription : 
 
 " Here Lyeth Interred 
 
 YE Body of ye 
 
 Reverend MR. JOHN SPARHAWK, 
 
 Minister of this Place 23 Years Last Past. 
 
 Dyed ye 29th of Aprill, 1718, 
 
 IN YE 46th year of HIS AGE." 
 
68 
 
 III. 
 STORM AND PERIL.— 1718-1740. 
 
 THE MCSPARRAN DIFFICULTIES. 
 
 After the death of Mr. Sparhawk, there was no 
 settled Pastor for nearly four years. A call was ex- 
 tended to the Rev. Samuel Ciieckley, who was 
 afterwards the first Pastor of the New South Church 
 in Boston, but he declined it. A call was next voted 
 to James McSparran, a young man who had recentl}^ 
 arrived in this countr}^ from the north of Ireland as 
 a Licentiate of the Presbytery in Scotland. 
 
 *' Ye choice of this McSparran," says Mr. Burt, " opened 
 a door to all manner of confusion and disorder. Several 
 scandjdous immoralities were soon after reported of him. 
 Dr. Mather, of Boston, and other Ministers, wrote to ye 
 Church by no means to settle him. But ye affections of 
 many towards him for his excellent oratory rendered them 
 slow to believe anything to his disadvantage. Wliilst 
 others were as implacably set against him. Tw^o days 
 were set apart for his ordination, but ye Ministers sent for 
 would not lay hands on such a man to separate him to ye 
 work of ye Ministiy. But he, being fond of a settlement 
 and hoping to prevail with ye Church, offered to submit to 
 a lay ordination. Not long after this it was suspected & 
 yt suspicion was so violent yt, it amounted to little short 
 of proof yt. his credentials from ye Presbytery in Scotland 
 were a counterleit and a forgery upon wh his opposers 
 were more implacably set against him. October ye 13, 
 1719, ye Church met at ye motion and desire of Mr. 
 
69 
 
 McSparran to consider whether they ought to give him ti 
 Dismission or otherwise permit him to go to Scotland as 
 ye INIinister there to clear up his character and to return 
 again. But after considerable debate his dismission was 
 voted ye Church being unwilling to be under a promise of 
 staying for his Return." 
 
 It appears from the official records that the Church 
 voted, on the 16th of December, 1718, to call him 
 to the Pastoral office ; on the 2 2d of December fol- 
 lowing, the town, b}' a vote of seventy^ to three, con- 
 curred in the Church's choice ; on the 19th of April 
 following, arrangements were made to call a Council 
 for his ordination. There is no official record of the 
 doings of Council. On the 25th of May followiug, 
 the town adopted this minute : 
 
 " The accounts lately received from Barnstable and 
 Plymouth in favor of the RevVi Mr. James McSparran 
 being read in publick Town Meeting together with our 
 own experience of his good conversation during his abode 
 in this Town and his humble Christian deportment under 
 the present afflictive Providence, with his ready acknow- 
 ledgement of his ungaurded conversation in times past, 
 with his earnest desire under his hand which hath been 
 now read to be reconciled to the Church of Christ, demand 
 our Christian compassion in the exercise of that fervent 
 charity Avhich covers the multitude of sins. We do in 
 duty, as well as affection, declare our hearty forgiveness of 
 all his past miscarriages and that we do receive him as 
 our Brother in tlie I^ord, humbly depending upon the 
 boundless mercy and compassion of our most gracious 
 God through the merits of our blessed Redeemer ye Lord 
 Jesus Christ for pardon and acceptance. We most earn- 
 estly desire that all Christian People referring to this ou}* 
 
70 
 
 dear and Rev'd Brother, Mr. James MeSparran, would 
 put on charity which is the bond of perfe<;tness and all 
 these scandalous Reports that have been spread abroad 
 will, as they ought, be buried in oblivion." 
 
 *' The above writing being distinctly read in the Town 
 meeting, and people being asked whether they had any 
 objection against it or any part of it, it was unanimously 
 voted in ye affirmative as the mind of ye town, no one 
 objecting after ye vote was called except Conll Paine. 
 Attest: Samuel Rowland, Town Clerk." 
 
 The way now seemed clear for his settlement in 
 regular order. Accordingl}", arrangements were 
 made to call a Council for this purpose on Thursday, 
 October 22d, following. Before this day arrived, the 
 new report of forgery of credentials broke out and 
 threw matters into worse confusion th:in before. 
 Without waiting for the meeting of Council he pro- 
 posed to withdraw at once if the Chui'ch and town 
 would give him an honorable dismission, or to re- 
 turn to Scotland and obtain confirmation of his cre- 
 dentials, if they would grant him leave of absence. 
 As stated by Mr. Burt, the Church voted his dismis- 
 sion, but the town would not concur in this action 
 but adopted the following vote, viz. : 
 
 " Voted, that Leave is given by the Town to Mr. James 
 MeSparran, our present Minister, to take a voyage to 
 Ireland, in order to procure a confirmation of his creden- 
 tials, the truth of which being by some questioned : and 
 that he return to us again sometime in June next ensuing, 
 and proceed in ye work of the Ministry with us if he pro- 
 cure yc confirmation of ye aforesaid credentials." 
 
71 
 
 On the 20th of June, 1720, having heard nothing 
 from Mr. McSparran, the Town voted to extend his 
 leave of absence to the IGth of September 'following. 
 This period also passed without his return, or any 
 report from him, and the town was then read}' to 
 cooperate with the Cluirch in securing another Pas- 
 tor. 
 
 While the town were thus patientl}' waiting for their 
 Minister's return, he was abroad taking Orders in the 
 Church of England. On the 21st of August, 1720, 
 he was admitted to Deacon's Orders by the Bishop 
 of London. On the 25th of September following, 
 he was ordained to the Priesthood by the Archbishop 
 of Canterbur3\ On the 23d of October following, he 
 was commissioned b}' the Bishop of London " to 
 discharge the Ministerial Office in the Province of 
 New England in America." Under the patronage of 
 " the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in For- 
 eign Parts," he came back commissioned as a " Mis- 
 sionar}' to Narragansett in New England, who is to 
 officiate as opportunity shall offer at Bristol, Free- 
 town, Swanzc}', and Little Compton, where there are 
 many people, members of the Church of England, 
 destitute of a Minister." 
 
 DAY OF PRAYER AND CHOICE OF PASTOR. 
 
 On the 22d of September, 1720, the Church set 
 apart the 1st of October following as a day of fast- 
 ing and prayer, in view of the present unhapp}' 
 condition of affairs. To assist in the services of the 
 day they invited tlie Rev. Messrs. Thatcher, of Mil- 
 
72 
 
 ton ; Danforth, of Freetown ; Wadsworth, of Boston ; 
 White, of Attleborough ; Fisher, of Dighton ; Billings, 
 of Little Compton ; and Clapp, of Newport. The 
 day was one of great spiritual profit, and a fitting 
 preparation for choosing and settling a Pastor, which 
 was not long after accomplished. 
 
 On the 22d of December, 1720, the Centennial 
 Anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims at PI3'- 
 mouth, the Church, by nearly an unanimous vote, 
 chose the Rev. Nathaniel Cotton for their Pastor, 
 and on the 23d and 30th of Januar}^ following, the 
 town " by a very considerable majority of votes," 
 gave its concurrence and proposed, for his encourage- 
 ment to settle, one hundred pounds ; also, one hun- 
 dred pounds 3^early salary beginning with the 1st 
 of January, and the Strangers' Contribution. Sub- 
 sequentl}' the improvement of the Ministr}' lands 
 was added. The call was accepted, and on the 31st 
 of August, 1721, he was duly ordained the third in 
 the succession of Pastors of this Ancient Church. 
 The sermon on the occasion was by the Rev. Joseph 
 Belcher, of Dedham. 
 
 NATHANIEL COTTON. THIRD PASTOR. 
 
 Mr. Cotton was a descendant of the distinguished 
 John Cotton who came to Boston from England in 
 1633, who, being then about fort3^-eight years of age, 
 of large and varied experience, and eminent for his 
 talents, learning and piety, w^as soon designated and 
 set apart as Teacher of the Fii-st Church, of which the 
 Rev. John Wilson was Pastor, whose labors were 
 
73 
 
 attended with such remarkable blessing that during 
 the first five 3'ears a greater number were admitted 
 to his Church than to all the other Churches in the 
 Colon}-, and who died on the 23d of December, 1652, 
 in the sixt3'-eighth year of his age, lamented as a 
 public loss in all the Churches in the countr}'. 
 
 He was a son of the Rev. Roland Cotton, of 
 Sandwich, Mass., born in 1698, graduated at Har- 
 vard College in 1717, and was therefore onl}- twent}'- 
 three 3-ears of age when he assumed the Pastoral 
 Office in Bristol. His father was a grandson of the 
 Rev. John Cotton, above mentioned, and one of 
 several Congregational Ministers whom this family 
 produced, all of whom were eminent for their piet}^ 
 and usefulness. His younger brother, Josiah, gradu- 
 ated at Harvard in 1722, and was ordained Pastor 
 of the Beneficient Church in Providence, 1728, Octo- 
 ber 23d, which office he held for several years, and 
 was afterwards settled at Woburn, Mass., and 
 Sandown, N. H., and died 1780, May 27, aged 
 seventy-eight years. 
 
 Not long after his settlement he married the 
 widow of Mr. William Sanford, of Newport, and 
 lived, it is supposed, in the house on State street, 
 which had been previousl}- occupied by Mr. Spar- 
 hawk, and, after his decease, by his widow. 
 
 His Ministry was continued under the embarrass- 
 ments which grew out of the McSparran difficulties 
 until his strength failed, and he sank t;p an early 
 grave 1729, Jul}' 3d, in the thirt3'-first year of his 
 age. But, though troubled and brief, his Ministry' 
 
74 
 
 was fruitful in good results. Many were added to 
 the Church on Profession of Faith, others " o^\iied 
 the Covenant," and over a hundred children and 
 adults were baptized. The House of Worship was 
 also thoroughly repaired and improved, and the cour- 
 age and hope of the church failed not. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Burt says of him, " he was a man 
 of singular prudence, of admirable patience, and for 
 the cause of Truth and Righteousness he was as bold 
 as a lion, and his name continued fresh in the memories 
 and exceeding dear and precious to his people." 
 He made his grave with his beloved flock, and a 
 Memorial stone was erected with the following in- 
 scription : 
 
 Here lies the remains of 
 
 The rev. MR. NATHANIEL COTTON, M. A., 
 
 and Pastor of ye Church in this Town. 
 
 Born at Sandwich, June ye 16, 1698, 
 
 2d son of ye late Rev. Mk. Roland CottoK, 
 
 and his wife Eliz., only daughter of ye Hon. 
 
 Nathaniel Sallonstall, Esq., of Haverhill. 
 
 Took his degrees at H. College 1717 and 1720. 
 
 Ordained here Aug. 30, 1721. 
 
 Married ye relect of Mk. William Sanford, of Newport, 
 
 By whom he had 4 sons and 4 daughters. 
 
 Died here July 3tl, 1729, 
 
 Greatly Valued and Lamented. 
 
:75 
 
 BARNABAS TAYLOR. FOURTH PASTOR. 
 
 Shortly after the decease of Mr. Cotton, the 
 Church and Town, with a remarkable degree of 
 uuanimit}', united in calling the Rev. Barnabas Tay- 
 lor, voting him two hundred pounds for settle- 
 ment, and a j^earl}' salar}- of one hundred and forty 
 pounds, together with the use or income of the 
 Ministr}^ lands and the Strangers' Contribution. The 
 call was accepted and he was dul}' installed the 
 fourth Pastor, 1729, December 25th. 
 
 There are no Church records during his Ministry 
 and we have no means of knowing any fruits of his 
 labors. Mr. Burt says, " he was much admired at 
 first ;" but for some cause respecting which the 
 record is silent he failed to give satisfaction, and, b}' 
 the advice of an Ecclesiastical Council, was dismissed 
 1740, June 3d. 
 11 
 
76 
 
 IV. 
 PEACE AND PROSPERITY.— 1740-1775. 
 
 JOHN BURT. FIFTH PASTOR. 
 
 Very soon after the dismission of Mr. Ta3^1or, the 
 Rev. John Burt was introduced to the Church, and 
 began to preach in July, 1740, as a candidate for settle- 
 ment. On the 17th of November following, he was 
 unanimously chosen to the Pastoral office. On the 5th 
 of Januarj^, 1741, the Town voted unanimous^ to con- 
 cur in the Church's choice, and for his support proposed 
 a yearly salar}^ of two hundred and fifty pounds in 
 silver money, at twentj^-eight shillings per ounce or 
 its equivalent in paper currenc}', the Strangers' 
 Contribution, and the improvement of the Parson- 
 age house and Ministry lands. The call was accepted, 
 and on the 13th of May, 1741, he was duly ordained 
 and installed the fifth Pastor by a Council consisting 
 of the Elders and Messengers of Churches in Boston, 
 Newport, Little Compton, Dighton, Rehoboth, Attle- 
 borough and Providence. The sermon on the occa- 
 sion v/as preached by himself, from 2d Cor. v. 20. 
 The charge to the Pastor was given by the Rev. Mr. 
 Webb, of Boston, who was the Pastor of his child- 
 hood and the Instructor of his riper years. The 
 right hand of fellowship was given by the Rev. Mr. 
 Turner, of Rehoboth. And the pra^^er was offered 
 by the Rev. Mr. Fisher, of Dighton, the Moderator 
 of the Council. 
 
77 
 
 Mr. Burt was a native of Boston; born 1716, 
 graduated at Harvard College, 1730, at twent3\Years 
 of age. After graduation he pursued his studies for 
 the Ministry under the direction of his Pastor. He 
 remained in the Pastorate to the day of his death, 
 1775, October 7th, in the thirt^^-fifth year of his 
 Ministry and the fift3^-ninth yesir of his age. 
 
 His house was on Hope street, near the present 
 mansion of Mrs. Scott Greene. During the attack 
 of the British on the town, 1777, May 25th, this was 
 the first house which was fired and destroyed. 
 
 On taking charge of the Church he gathered what 
 information he could respecting its histor}' and pre- 
 sent condition, and prefaced an account to a book 
 of records which he faithfully kept during his entire 
 ministr}', and for neatness of copy and fullness they 
 are much in advance of any kept by his predeces- 
 sors. At the beginning of his Ministry seventy-seven 
 names appear on his record as being at that time 
 members in full communion. Additions were con- 
 tinually made, and, at his death, sixty-five members 
 had been received to full communion, one hundred 
 and eighteen others had " owned Covenant," and 
 five .hundred and twent3^-six children and adults 
 had been baptized. 
 
 His Ministr}^ was eminenth^ successful. A faith- 
 ful, bold and earnest preacher, and a judicious coun- 
 sellor and friend, he won the respect of all classes, 
 and enjoj'ed, in a marked degree, the confidence and 
 affection of his people. This period was emphati- 
 cally one of peace and prosperity. The bitterness 
 
78 
 
 of the McSparran controversey had greatly abated ; 
 measures for the support of the Gospel were adopted 
 which were generally satisfactor}-, and a steady 
 devotion to the cause of Christ produced its fruits of 
 joy and harmony. 
 
 In 1746, by Commissioners, the Town of Bristol, 
 with four other towns, was setoff from Massachusetts 
 and annexed to Rhode Island. As by the funda- 
 mental law of this State, the support of religious 
 institutions could only be b}^ voluntary contribution, 
 the Cliurch could no longer look to the town for sup- 
 port as formerl}^, but must rely upon its own special 
 friends and helpers. But, previous to this, an 
 arrangement was made with the town, whereby those 
 who chose to have their Ministry taxes go towards 
 the support of the Ministry of another order could 
 do so by properl}'^ signif3ing their wish to the town 
 authorities. 
 
 On the 7th of October, 1775, there passed away 
 from earth this Pastor beloved. Tenderl}^ was his 
 body laid away to rest in the cemetery on the Com- 
 mon, w^here sleep the mortal remains of Sparhawk 
 and Cotton, and as a tribute to his memory a tablet 
 with the following inscription was erected b}" his 
 mourning people : 
 
79 
 
 S.-icTiid to the Memory 
 of the REV. JOHN BURT, A. M., 
 
 born in Boston, educated at Harvard University 
 
 Ordained pastor of the Congi-egational Church 
 
 in Bristol, May 13, A. D. 1741. 
 
 He died aged 59 on the 7th of Oct. 1775, 
 
 in the evening of the ever memorable 
 
 Bombardment of this Town 
 
 by a British Squadron. 
 
 He was the nohle advocate 
 
 of Civil Liberty and. religious Freedom, 
 
 and a faithful Pastor to his Flock. 
 
 His Parishioners 
 
 from a sincere respect 
 
 for his many virtues, 
 
 and a just veneration 
 
 of his excellent character 
 
 have erected this Monument 
 
 to his Memory. 
 
80 
 
 V. 
 HALTING OF THE WORK.— 1775-1785. 
 
 THE FLOCK SCATTERED WITHOUT A SHEPHERD. 
 
 In 1775, Bristol was a flourishing commercial 
 town with a population which numbered about twelve 
 hundred and lift}'. On the breaking out of the Revo- 
 lutionary war, the town took prompt measures to 
 perform its part in the memorable conflict, and its 
 history during this period is one of thrilling interest. 
 " Some time during the summer, a British squadron 
 arrived in Newport, and lay there until the 7th of 
 October, on the morning of which day an express 
 arrived here with the news that the squadron was 
 getting under weigh at Newport, with the intention 
 of sailing to Bristol. This news caused much alarm 
 and confusion throughout the town. The da}^ of the 
 occurrence was unusually pleasant. About three 
 o'clock in the afternoon, the squadron, consisting of 
 three ships of war, named the Rose, the Gaspee, 
 and the Eskew, with a bomb brig and a schooner, 
 was seen standing up the ba}^ in full sail, with a gen- 
 tle breeze to the south. Shortly after sunset they 
 were anchored in our harbor, making a display such 
 as never was seen here before or since. Wallace, in 
 the Rose, took the lead, run up and anchored within a 
 cable's length of Market wharf. The Gaspee next 
 came up and anchored about a cable's length to the 
 
81 
 
 south. The other attempting to go farther south 
 grounded on the middle ground. The schooner ran 
 up and anchored opposite the bridge. At eight 
 o'clock a ro3'al salute was fired from the flag ship. 
 Shortly after the salute a barge left the flag ship, 
 and was pulled in to the wharf where a large number 
 of the citizens were congregated. The commanding 
 officer having stepped upon the wharf, communicated 
 the fact that Captain James Wallace, commander of 
 the squadron, had sent him with a demand for forty 
 sheep and a pair of oxen ; and if they were refused 
 he should fire upon the town. The Town Council 
 were immediately^ called together, and the demand 
 of the British was laid before them. After some 
 discussion upon the subject the Council decided that 
 the demand was unreasonable, and that the}^ would 
 not comply with it. ' Is this 3'our final answer ? ' 
 asked the commander. ' Yes, yes,' shouted man}^ 
 unfaltering voices in repl}'. The oflflcer immediately 
 jumped into the barge and pulled towards the ship. 
 In a short time after the barge returned, the report 
 of a cannon, fired from the flag ship, was heard. The 
 other ships then commenced firing upon the town, 
 and the flashes of the cannon, the whistling of the 
 balls through the air, the bursting of bombs, was a 
 scene terrible in the extreme. The bomb brig threw 
 carcasses (machines made of iron hoops and filled 
 with all manner of combustibles) to set fire to the 
 town. The}' were thrown up nearl}' perpendicular, 
 with a tremendous tail to them, and when they fell 
 to the ground they blazed up several yards high." 
 
82 
 
 '' Horror and dismay were depicted on every coun- 
 tenance, women and children crying and screaming 
 were seen running through the streets in every direc- 
 tion to seek some place of safety. Many of them 
 w^ere removed to the farms and remote parts of the 
 town while the balls were whistling over their heads 
 as they went. The firing continued for about an 
 hour when a citizen standing upon a point of land 
 which made off some distance in the harbor, suc- 
 ceeded in hailing the commander of the squadron, 
 and the firing was suspended. An epidemic was 
 raging in town, which had proved fatal in many 
 cases, and at this time three persons lay dead in their 
 dwellings, while the remains of Governor Bradford's 
 wife had been buried but the day before. Letters 
 were sent on board stating these facts and promising 
 to comply with the demand if they would stop firing. 
 One account sa3^s : ' While preparations were being 
 made to send the sheep on board. Captain Martin, of 
 Seekonk, arrived with a compan}' of men and pro- 
 tested they should not be sent. Bringing his field 
 pieces upon a small eminence that commanded the 
 bay, he commenced firing upon the enemy's shipping. 
 Opposed thus unexpectedly and placed now at a dis- 
 advantage to renew the contest, the ships of Wallace 
 made their way back to Newport.' But from the 
 town records it appears that the town paid for sheep 
 furnished by citizens and delivered to Captain Wal- 
 lace ; and an account written by an eye witness says, 
 ' In the morning we returned to our dwellings, and on 
 coming up Main street we saw the British squadron 
 
83 
 
 standing out of the harbor bound to Newport.' If 
 Wallace was defeated and driven out by Martin, it 
 could not have been until the next morning." 
 
 "It is wonderful that there was no person killed. 
 There were many hair breadth escapes from death. 
 A little lad three and one-half 3'ears old, accompan}^- 
 ing his mother in flight, a cannon ball struck the 
 limb of a tree on their left hand which, severed from 
 the trunk, fell directl}^ at their side. As Governor 
 Bradford, who in the name of the town refused com- 
 pliance with the demand for sheep and cattle, was 
 returning to his house through his garden, as he was 
 climbing the fence, the board on which his hand 
 rested was knocked from his grasp by a cannon ball. 
 A man wxnt to a well to get water to put out one of 
 the "carcasses" which fell near his house, and he 
 had scarcely left the well when a cannon ball struck 
 the curb which was. shattered to pieces." 
 
 " The onl}^ person who died during this attack was 
 the Rev. John Burt, who was afterwards found dead 
 13'ing on his face on a hill of corn. A nine pound 
 shot was dug from the earth at a short distance from 
 him, and in an exact range of him and the ship, but 
 no marks of its effects were found upon his bod}'. 
 An inquest was held before Daniel Bradford, Esq., 
 coroner, and the verdict of the Jur}' was, that ' he, 
 being for sometime past sick and languid, was sur- 
 prised by a cannonading upon the town of Bristol, 
 on the evening before his heath, abdicated his house, 
 attended by nobody, either got lost and bewildered, 
 or was seized by some sudden fit and so came to his 
 death.' " 
 
84 
 
 The day following was Sunday, and a day of sol- 
 emn sadness to the people who gathered in the 
 Sanctuaiy and learned that the voice of their beloved 
 Pastor was hushed in death. A great gloom settled 
 over the communit}^, and man}' hearts bowed to God 
 in tearful prajer. 
 
 The thoughts of the people were now chiefly given 
 up to the war. But the few families who were not 
 driven abroad made great efforts to keep the pulpit 
 supplied during most of this gloom}-^ period. The 
 following ministers officiated, viz. : the Rev. Messrs. 
 Amasa Leonard, George Morey, Huntingdon Por- 
 ter, Joseph Davis, Allen Olcott, Eliphalit 
 Porter, Thomas Roby, Samuel Shuttlesworth, 
 Henry Channing, Asa Piper, and Jude Damon. 
 
 On the 25th of Ma}^, 1777, the town received the 
 severest blow of the war. In the morning " about 
 live hundred British and Hessian troops, under the 
 command of Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, started 
 from Newport in a ship of war. Before daylight 
 they anchored about half a mile south of Peck's 
 rocks, on the west side of Pappoosquaw. The}' immed- 
 iately landed and marched through Warren to the 
 Kickamuit river. A number of boats belonging to 
 the State had been collected here. The British 
 heaped these boats together and burnt them. They 
 then marched back to Warren where they took a 
 number of prisoners and burned the Baptist Churchy 
 a powder magazine, and a number of dwelling houses. 
 They delayed here but a short time, as the}^ feared 
 an attack from the American militia. They then 
 
85 
 
 marched down the main road to Bristol, plundering 
 houses and taking the men prisoners. The inhabi- 
 tants of Bristol were filled with consternation, as on 
 account of the special enmity of the British to this 
 town thc}^ had eyery reason to expect the most severe 
 treatment. At this time a regiment of militia, com- 
 manded by Colonel Gary, and a company of artillery. 
 Captain Pearce, were stationed in the town. The 
 militia were quartered in different dwelling houses 
 on Hope street, and the artillery in a house on the 
 corner of Hope and Burton streets. Word was 
 brought to the commander of the troops that a large 
 force of British were coming down the main road. 
 Their numbers were probably much exaggerated. As 
 he had but about three hundred and fifty men he 
 deemed it advisable not to engage with the British, 
 and accordingly' marched his men out of town to the 
 back road. The artillerj^ compan}' marched up Bur- 
 ton street to Wood street and there halted." 
 
 " Meanwhile the British entered the town. The}' 
 continued to make all the men prisoners, but re- 
 frained from injuring the houses until the}' reached 
 the large dwelling house where the Rev. Mr. Burt 
 had lived, which they burnt to the ground. The 
 work of destruction thus commenced soon became 
 general. The houses in which the troops had been 
 quartered were all burnt. On the east side of Hope 
 street all the houses were burnt, from Mr. Burts' to 
 Byfleld street except the Oxx house. On the we&t 
 side all to the Episcopal Church, which was also 
 burnt. The square below the Church was then a 
 
S6 
 
 meadow, unoccupied with buildings. Eighteen 
 dwellings and a number of other buildings were de- 
 stro3'ed, and between thirty and forty men were 
 taken prisoners." 
 
 " As soon as the British landed, an express was 
 sent to General Sullivan in Providence, intelligence 
 reaching him about eight o'clock in the morning. By 
 his direction, Colonel Barton, with a few horsemen, 
 started for Bristol. The regiment which had marched 
 to the back road returned down Mount lane, and 
 passing down High street marched in pursuit of the 
 British who were then crossing Walker's bridge. As 
 soon as the enemy made their appearance the artil- 
 lery commenced firing upon them, and pursued them 
 to the Ferry, firing all the time. B}^ the blood in the 
 road it was supposed that a considerable number of 
 the British were killed or w^ounded. A large num- 
 ber of militia now poured into the town, but they 
 were too late to be of any service. The ship which 
 brought the British from Newport, after having sent 
 a boat on shore and taken captive Captain Westcott 
 and nine American privates who were on Pappoo- 
 squaw got under weigh, and sailed to the Ferry for 
 the purpose of taking ofi the British, which was suc- 
 cessfully accomplished." 
 
 " This attack of the British left the town in a 
 wretched condition. Nearl}' every house on the 
 principal street was reduced to ashes. It is probable 
 that if the British had not been closely pursued they 
 would have burnt the entire town. In addition to 
 the loss of their houses, the inhabitants were obliged 
 
87 
 
 to endure poverty and want, as provisions were 
 scarce and prices consequent!}' high. A large num- 
 ber of soldiers were constant!}^ quartered among 
 them, and the}' were obliged to submit to all the 
 inconveniences of a garrisoned town. The}' were 
 kept in a state of continued alarm, and their slum- 
 bers were broken nearly every night. The fences 
 were all torn down for fuel, and the land for nearly 
 two miles out of town laid waste. Many of the in 
 habitants left their homes taking their personal 
 effects with them." 
 
 Under these trying circumstances, continued 
 through the period of the war, it could hardly be 
 otherwise that Zion should languish, and the work 
 of building her walls halt and almost cease. But 
 though cast down she was not destroyed. Her life, 
 though feeble, still breathed, and in due time a 
 brighter day dawned. 
 
 The foregoing account is chiefly condensed from 
 "Annals of Bristol," a series of papers published in 
 " The Bristol Phenix, " in 1845. 
 12 
 
S8 
 
 VI. 
 THE WORK RESUMED.— 1785-1812. 
 
 THE CATHOLIC SOCIETY ORGANIZED. 
 
 At the close of the war, as soon as the town began 
 to rall}^ from its long prostration, the friends of the 
 Congregational Church took measures to resume 
 with new vigor the work of building up Zion. 
 Some of the leading members of the Congregation 
 at a meeting, 1783, March 31st, opened a scheme for 
 a fund, "the annual interest of which to be appro- 
 priated for the support of an Orthodox Congrega- 
 tional Minister." At a meeting, 1784, September 
 6th, it was voted to petition the General Assembly 
 for an Act of Incorporation. 
 
 The Charter of the " Catholic Congregational 
 Societj', of Bristol, R. I.," was granted b}^ the Gen- 
 eral Assembl}^ of the State, 1784, October 4th, " for 
 the purpose of raising a fond b}' free and voluntary 
 subscriptions, contributions, legacies and donations, 
 for the support of public worship in the Congrega- 
 tional Society in the town of Bristol, of which the 
 Rev. John Burt was the late Pastor." 
 
 By the terms of the Charter the Society were re- 
 stricted to the raising of moneys for the purposes 
 named onh', " by free and voluntary subscription, 
 contribution, legacy or donation." And if ever 
 there shall be a less number than nine members, then 
 
89 
 
 " all monej's, bonds, mortgages, deeds, notes, obliga- 
 tions, books and papers of eveiy kind, together with 
 all the estate, both real and personal, whatsoever 
 at that time belonging to the said Catholic Society, 
 shall be given up to and the sole property thereof be 
 vested in the Congregational Societ}^ aforesaid, for 
 whose use and benefit the said Catholic Society is 
 instituted." 
 
 This Society have continued to act in cooperation 
 with the Church to the present day. The " Ministry 
 Lands," originall}' entrusted to the town, naturall}' 
 and properly fell to the care of the Catholic Societ}', 
 and all the arrangements for the support of the Gos- 
 pel Ministry and for meeting the current expenses of 
 the Church are under its direction. 
 
 ERECTION OF THE SECOND HOUSE OF WORSHIP. 
 
 Soon after the organization of the Catholic Society, 
 measures w^ere taken for the erection of a new house 
 of worship. The site chosen was at the corner of 
 Hope and Bradford streets. The house was raised, 
 1784, June 12th, and was finished and dedicated to 
 Almight}^ God, 1785, Januar}' 5th, the day of the 
 ordination of the Rev. Henry Wight. The house 
 was of the stjde of architecture common at that 
 period, with square pews, high pulpit. Deacon's seat 
 in front, and sounding board overhead. At a later 
 period it was thoroughly renovated in the interior by 
 substituting for the square pews the modern style of 
 slips, and neatly covering' the walls with " hard 
 finish." It served the congregation until the erection 
 
90 
 
 of the present house in 1856, when it was given to 
 the town, who removed it to its present site, on the 
 north side of Bradford street, and having thoronglily 
 remodeled the interior, witli but little change in the 
 exterior, have since used it for Town purposes. 
 
 HENRY WIGHT, D. D. SIXTH PASTOR. 
 
 The Rev. Henry Wight, born iiiMedfield, Mass., 
 in 1753, graduated at Harvard College in 1782, 
 began to preach liere 1784, March 14th, and being 
 unanimously^ chosen to the Pastoral office with the 
 heart}^ concurrence of the newl}- formed Catholic 
 Society, he was ordained 1785, Jamiary 5th, in con- 
 nection with the interesting services of dedicating 
 the new house of worship. The sermon on this 
 occasion was b}^ the Rev. Thomas Prentiss, Pastor 
 of the Church in Medfield, Mass., in which Mr. 
 Wight was baptized in infancy and had passed his 
 earl}' years, from the text 2 Corinthians, vi. 3, 4. 
 The ordaining prayer and charge to the Pastor were 
 by the Rev. Solomon Townsend, of Barrington, and 
 the Right-hand of Fellowship b}' the Rev. Robert 
 Rogerson, of Rehoboth, Mass. 
 
 Very soon after the installation of Mr. Wight, the 
 list of Church members was revised, and was found 
 to contain thirtj'-six names of persons then living, 
 of whom seven were males and twenty-nine were 
 females. On the 21st of March, 1785, the custom of 
 " owning Covenant" which had previously prevailed 
 was abolished by the following votes : 
 
91 
 
 "Voted, that the half-way Covenant is not consistent 
 with the spirit of the Gospel, and a hindrance to vital 
 piety. 
 
 " Voted, that hereafter this Church will have but one 
 Covenant for admission of members to their body." 
 
 Dr. Wight continued in the sole pastorate of the 
 Church until 1815, November 13th, when the Rev. 
 Joel Mann was ordained as Colleague Pastor. On 
 the 11th of November, 1828, at his own request, he 
 was dismissed by an Ecclesiastical Council, but con- 
 tinued to reside among his people to the day of his 
 death, in August, 1837, in the eighty-sixth year of 
 his age. His residence was at the corner of High 
 and Bradford streets, the house now occupied by 
 William H. Spooner, Esq. His family consisted of 
 several sons and daughters, who grew up in the 
 Christian faith, and adorned the stations of life 
 which they were called to fill. The eldest, John B. 
 Wight, was ordained Pastor of the Congregational 
 Church in East Sudbury, Mass., 1815, January 25th. 
 The sermon on the occasion, which was published 
 with the other parts of the services by the Church, 
 was from Matthew xxviii. 20, by the Rev. Joseph 
 McKean, LL. D., Professor in Harvard College. 
 The Charge to the Pastor was by his father. 
 
 From 1793 to 1833, Dr. Wight was a member of 
 the Board of Fellows of Brown University, and in 
 1811 received from thence the degree of Doctor in 
 Divinit3\ 
 
 His ministry, continuing for nearh' half a centur}', 
 longer than that of any other pastor, was character- 
 
92 
 
 ized by Catholicity in intercourse with other denomi- 
 nations, and an amiability of spirit and fidelity to 
 his convictions of right, which won respect and con- 
 fidence. He took an active interest in the political 
 questions of the day, and did not hesitate to intro- 
 duce topics of this nature in his pulpit ministrations, 
 which offended some whose views differed from his 
 and led to their withdrawal from the Society. He 
 was singularly faithful in recording all the votes of 
 the Church, and even the informal proceedings of 
 Conferences and Committee meetings. He also kept 
 for many years quite a full record of current events 
 in the town, particularly of marriages and deaths, 
 and this book has alread}^ proved to be of invaluable 
 worth in proving titles to property and to the boun- 
 ties and pay of soldiers and others who died in the 
 Governmental service. 
 
 During the sole pastorate of Dr. Wight, there 
 were two hundred and twenty-eight additions to the 
 Church membership, and a large number of children 
 and adults were baptized. 
 
 His memory is precious to the aged few who 3'et 
 survive to recall his labors in the days of his strength. 
 The marks of his influence are indelibly traced in 
 the character of the communit}^ ; and in the great 
 day of account we doubt not it will be said of this 
 man, " Well done, good and faithful servant, enter 
 thou into the joy of th}^ Lord." 
 
 His mortal remains rest in the Juniper Hill Ceme- 
 tery, and over his grave is erected a memorial stone 
 with the following inscription : 
 
93 
 
 "The Grave of 
 
 REY. HENRY- WIGHT, D. D., 
 
 Born in MedfieJd, Mass., 
 
 May 26, 1752. 
 
 Graduated 
 
 at Harvard College, 1782: 
 
 Settled over the Cong. Church 
 
 in this place Jan. 5, 1785. 
 
 Deceased Aug. 12, 1837, 
 
 in the 86th year 
 
 of his age, 
 
 and the 53d of his ministry. 
 
 Faithful and kind in the duties 
 
 of his sacred office. 
 
 Affectionate and tender 
 
 in the relations of domestic life, 
 
 his memory is precious 
 
 to his surviving kindred and people. 
 
 With long life was lie satisfied 
 
 and his end was peace. 
 
 Bemember the words which I spake unto yoti 
 while I was yet present with you^ 
 
94 
 
 VII. 
 THE PERIOD OF REVIVALS.— 1812-1830. 
 
 THE REVIVAL OF 1812. 
 
 Revivals of Religion of remarkable depth and 
 power were enjoj'ed by man}^ of the Churches of New 
 England during the earl}- part of the present cen- 
 tury. 
 
 The first signal awakening of this description in 
 this town began to be developed in the summer of 
 1812, and was promoted through the united efforts 
 of all the Churches among whom there prevailed a 
 delightful harmou}'. 
 
 The Rev. Isaac Lewis, D. D.. of New York, as he 
 was journe3'ing with his wife for her health, tarried 
 for a night in Bristol. Learning of the interesting 
 state of the public mind on the subject of personal 
 religion, he was induced to remain a few da3^s to 
 participate in the good work. It was arranged that 
 he should preach on a week da}^ in the Congrega- 
 tional house, and notice of the service was circulated 
 as far as practicable. As the hour of meeting ap- 
 proached the people en masse turned from their shops, 
 their farms and their homes, and flocked to the 
 Sanctuary. An air of solemnity and earnestness 
 pervaded the crowded assembl3\ Even those who 
 came from curiosit}^, or from an impulse which they 
 could hardly define, as they crossed the threshold of 
 
95 
 
 the House of God, were deepl}' impressed with the 
 thought that it was an hour of supreme importance 
 to them. The preacher felt the inspiration of the 
 occasion, and preached from the text " Remember 
 now thy Creator in the da3's of th}' 3'outh," Eccles. 
 xii. 1. The vast audience were deeply moved. 
 Many were convicted of sin and a number then and 
 there resolved to be at peace with God. 
 
 From this time the Revival progressed in depth 
 and power, and the labors of Dr. Lewis, in coopera- 
 tion with the pastors, were greatly blessed. Many 
 were converted. Persons who had grown old in sin, 
 broken hearted turned unto the Lord and received 
 pardon. Men and women encompassed by the cares 
 of this world and eagerl}^ pursuing its riches were 
 arrested to care for their never-d3'ing souls and to 
 obtain the enduring riches of heaven. Young men 
 and maidens in the vigor of their strength laid their 
 all upon the altar of God and entered upon the 
 Christian service. For many months the whole 
 interest of the people was absorbed in this mighty 
 work of the Spirit, and the incidents connected with 
 it remained the subject of delightful and thankful 
 record while any of the generation lived who had 
 been made partakers of it. 
 
 The influence of this Revival extended to other 
 towns and Churches, and in mam' places its impres- 
 sions were indellible. At one time, a part}' of young 
 men from west of the Ba}- came in a boat for the 
 express purpose of having a " rollicking time," and 
 to disturb the meetings. The Spirit of God met 
 
96 
 
 them here and some of the number were converted, 
 returned home to carry the good influence with them, 
 and became eminently devoted Christians. 
 
 All the Churches in Bristol shared in this glorious 
 Revival. The venerable Dr. Griswold, Rector of 
 St. Michael's Espiscopal Church, was also Bishop of 
 the Diocese which then embraced all the New Eng- 
 land States. Entering cordially into the work, his 
 influence was felt not only in his own Church, which, 
 under his Ministry and the holy influence that per- 
 vaded the town, glowed with large results of the 
 Divine Blessing, but throughout the Diocese giving 
 new character and life to many of the Churches. 
 Around him as a leader and example gathered the 
 evangelical elements of the body, and from his Minis- 
 try and Episcopate, the distinguishing sentiments of 
 the Evangelical party received their organized shape 
 and tone. 
 
 Dr. Wight, the pastor of this Church, being ad- 
 vanced in life, from the infirmities of age, could do 
 but little beside the routine work of his calling. 
 Under these circumstances Dr. Lewis was emplo} ed 
 as an assistant for a period of six months, and 
 invited to settle as Colleague Pastor. This he de- 
 clined, but during his temporary engagement insti- 
 tuted a class for Doctrinal instruction, embracing 
 over a hundred persons, chiefly converts of the 
 Revival in our congregation. The class met weekly 
 and recited lessons from the Assembly's Shorter 
 Catechism. These were accompanied by familiar 
 but elaborate lectures on the doctrines of the Bible 
 
97 
 
 By this means Christians icere rooted and grounded 
 in the faith ^ and an Evangelical tone was given to the 
 Church which has ever since characterized it. 
 
 The fruits of this gracious Revival were remarka- 
 bly permanent and abiding. The Sabbath services 
 were crowded with attendants. The congregations 
 were serious, earnest, and engaged in worship. The 
 people listened to the faithful preaching of the Gospel 
 with unbroken interest. The meetings for private 
 worship and instruction in the week were well 
 attended. A religious spirit was the very atmos- 
 phere of the place, and the people were united, 
 ready and earnest in ever}^ good work. This was 
 the immediate fruit and influence of the great revival 
 of 1812. To the few surviving subjects of it, the 
 recollection to this day is most precious. Their 
 countenances are animated with jo}^ and their lips 
 are tremulous with grateful emotion, as they speak 
 of the gracious scenes of this remarkable awakening 
 sixt}^ 3'ears ago. 
 
 JOEL MANN. SEVENTH PASTOR. 
 
 The great revival of 1812 and its results, prepared 
 the wa}^ for the settlement of the Rev. Joel Manx, 
 the Seventh Pastor, 1815, November loth, as a 
 Colleague with Dr. Wight. He was a native of 
 Oxford, N. H., and graduated at Dartmouth College 
 in 1812. He remained in the Pastoral office until 
 1826, September 14th, when, at his request, he was 
 dismissed by Ecclesiastical Council, and was after- 
 wards settled in Kingston, Greenwich, Conn., and 
 Salem, Mass. 
 
98 
 
 His Ministry was erainentl}^ successful, and was 
 particularly distinguished for the institution of the 
 Sabbath School, the great revival of 1820, and the 
 erection of " the Hall," accounts of which are given 
 further on. He is still living in a remarkabl}^ vigor- 
 ous old age in Brooklyn, N. Y., and is cordially 
 received by his friends and former parishioners on 
 his annual visits to the town. 
 
 His residence here was on Bradford street, a few 
 rods east from the present Parsonage, in a house 
 recently owned and occupied by Messadore T. 
 Bennett, P^sq.^ which was destroyed b}' fire on the 
 4th of July, 1870. 
 
 THE SABBATH SCHOOL BEGUN. 
 
 The Sabbath school was first instituted in the 
 town of Bristol in the spring of 1815. Miss Susan 
 Wyatt, associating with herself three others, viz. : 
 Miss Mar}^ A. Bourne, Miss Abb}' Monroe, and 
 Miss Wait}' Sanford, opened a school on Sunday 
 afternoons at five o'clock in the school room of her 
 father, Mr. Stutely Wyatt, on High street. This 
 school continued in successful operation until the 
 approach of winter when it was discontinued. 
 
 The following year, 1816, Miss Mary T. Borden 
 (afterwards Mrs. Nathaniel Gladding,) opened a 
 school in the south-west basement room of the house 
 on Hope street, now owned and occupied by James 
 E. French, Esq., where she also kept a day school 
 for man}' years. Here for several years Miss Bor- 
 den, assisted by members of the Church, gave Sab- 
 
99 
 
 bath instruction to the young. From a small beginning 
 the school grew in interest and importance until in 
 1820, June 26th, the Church, by a formal vote, took 
 the school under its own charge, appointed a com- 
 mittee to conduct its affairs, and chose teachers for 
 the several classes. 
 
 From this time to the present the school has been 
 under the fostering care of the Church, and is re- 
 garded not as a separate institution but as a field of 
 labor for which the Church is responsible. The 
 Superintendent, nominated b}' the teachers, is elected 
 b}' the Church at the annual meeting, and to the 
 Church he makes an annual report of its condition. 
 
 Previous to 18G5, the school was held successively 
 in private rooms and in the various "Halls" that 
 had been provided for conference meetings, etc. 
 But the growth of the school made it necessary to 
 secure a larger place for its sessions, and in the 
 autumn of that year the school was transferred to 
 the House of Worship and was soon doubled in num 
 bers. Here its sessions were regularlj^ held until 
 the completion of the " Memorial Chapel" in 1870, 
 in whose beautiful and convenient rooms it has at 
 last found a Home. 
 
 A library of about six hundred volumes is con- 
 nected with the school, arranged in three departr 
 ments, Youths', Intermediate, and Adult, to which 
 additions are annually made. 
 
 THE REVIVAL OF 1820. 
 
 During the Winter and Spring of 1819-20, another 
 13 
 
100 
 
 season of extraordinary refreshing from on high was 
 enjoyed. Previous to its manifestation there was 
 nothing special to awaken expectations of it, save 
 that in the weekly meetings of conference and prayer 
 and the Sabbath services an earnest evangelical 
 spirit prevailed, the habit of famil}' prayer was 
 generally maintained, and songs of praise were heard 
 in the evening hour from man}' an habitation. Re- 
 specting the progress of this Revival the pastor, the 
 Rev. Joel Mann, writes as follows : 
 
 " The meetings became more frequent, and as room in 
 a private house was not sufficient to accommodate the 
 people, they were transferred to the second story of a cabi- 
 net-mnker's shop. Here was disphiyed the power and 
 grace of God, from day to day, in a signal manner. It was 
 the place in which many submitted to the Lord, and found 
 joy and peace in believing. 
 
 '•This room became so filled as to be uncomfortable, 
 and another, over a carriage house, was prepared and 
 seated at considerable expense. 
 
 "This proving too strait, meetings were lield in the 
 church, and at length the large room m the Court House 
 was obtained, which was occupied and filled from evening 
 to evening for many weeks, until needed for a session of 
 the court. Here cases of conscience were tried and de- 
 cided. Here the Omniscient Judge presided, and trembling 
 sinners were arraigned and made to feel and acknowledge 
 their guilt. Here long-standing controversies were settled 
 between Him and them. Here violaters of divine law 
 were convicted, owned the justice of their <;ondenmation, 
 submitted to the disposal of the Judge, and obtained par- 
 doning mercy. The pleadings of God's people were heard, 
 and the blessings for which they sued were granted. The 
 voices of converts proclaimed the riches of divine grace, 
 
101 
 
 the wonders of redeeming love, and songs of praise burst 
 forth on every side. The Lord Jesus held His court there, 
 presented an indictment to the conscience of many a sin- 
 ner, made him plead guilty, and then discharged him with 
 full and free forgiveness. The scenes enacted there made 
 a new swell of joy in heaven, and brought glory and praise 
 to the divine head of the Church." 
 
 As in the Revival of 1812, so in this the work was 
 shared by all the Churches iu town, and a delightful 
 spirit of Catholic union prevailed. Bishop Gris- 
 wold, the Rector of St. Michael's Church, had, under 
 his charge, several students for the Ministrj', among 
 whom was the venerable Stephen H.Tyug, Sr.,D. D., 
 of New York city. Being suddenly prostrated by 
 sickness, the responsibility of guiding inquirers, 
 holding conference and prayer meetings, etc., de- 
 volved largely upon these students who, under the 
 blessing of the Spirit in this remarkable work, 
 received an impulse and a tone of piet}- which, in 
 subsequent years, distinguished them as Evangelical 
 preachers and earnest winners of souls. The name 
 of Dr. T^^ng especiall}' is familiar to all, and the 
 thrilling watchword, " Stand up for Jesus," uttered 
 by his son in a dying hour, furnished the inspiration 
 of one of the sweetest songs of Zion, sung in ever}^ 
 land and language where the story of the Cross is 
 told. 
 
 ERECTION OF " THE HALL." 
 
 Conference meetings and lectures were first held 
 in private houses and in the Pastor's study or par- 
 
102 
 
 lor ; but at length the time arrived when a room in 
 a private house no longer answered the wants of the 
 people and resort was had successively to several 
 halls. 
 
 The first hall used for this purpose was owned by 
 Joseph Brown, Esq., and stood near the present site 
 of the Methodist Church on State street. It was in 
 the second story, and was also used as a school room 
 by Mr. W3^att Manchester until his decease. The 
 lower story was used for storing lumber. This was 
 known as the " Blue Hall, " until it was sold, re- 
 moved to " the Neck," and made over into a dwell- 
 ing house. 
 
 On leaving the " Blue Hall," a small hall in the 
 second stor}" of another building on State street was 
 rented for a short time, but it proving too strait for 
 the wants of the people it was abandoned, and 
 the Court house on the Common was obtained for 
 use, excepting when needed for Court business. 
 
 This arrangement not proving satisfactor}^, meas- 
 ures were taken in the spring of 1821 to erect a 
 Conference Hall. This was completed early in the 
 winter of 1821-2, at a cost of about seven hundred 
 and twenty dollars, under the supervision of Benja- 
 min Wyatt, Benjamin Norris, and Giles Luther, as 
 a Building Committee. It was located near the 
 Parsonage, on the north side of Bradford street. It 
 was a plain structure, measuring fort}^ b}^ thirt}* feet, 
 with ten feet w^alls and an arched ceiling. It was 
 furnished with plain wooden seats, but originall}' the 
 seats on either side of the desk were considerably 
 
103 
 
 higher than the rest, and were occupied by the elder 
 and more prominent members of the Church. One 
 of the builders wished to have it called "Puritan 
 Hall," and cut those words with considerable care 
 on what he designed for the corner stone, but another 
 with iconoclastic tendencies broke the stone in pieces 
 with a maul, so the edifice was ever spoken of as 
 simply " The Hall." 
 
 This Hall served the congregation for more than 
 forty years, and was the scene of man}' seasons of 
 spiritual refreshing. The farewell meeting held in 
 it, 1870, February 20th, was one of peculiar interest. 
 The room was filled to overflowing. The time was 
 occupied with grateful reminiscences connected with 
 the Hall, and with praise and prayer. After two 
 hours thus occupied, all who had been converted in 
 this Hall or b}' impressions received in it were re- 
 quested to rise, and about one-third of the entire 
 assembly responded. It was a most aflfecting testi- 
 mou}' to the goodness of God experienced within 
 those hallowed walls. 
 
 ISAAC LEWIS, D. D. EIGHTH PASTOR. 
 
 After the dismission of Mr. Mann, the hearts of 
 the people turned to the Rev. Isaac Lewis, D. D., 
 whose labors in the Revival of 1812 were so signally 
 blessed, b}^ which he was greatl}- endeared to them. 
 With hearty unanimit^^ he was called to the Pastoral 
 office and installed 1828, November 12th. He re 
 sided on Hope street, in the house now owned and 
 occupied by the heirs of the late Major Jacob Bab- 
 
104 
 
 bitt. He remained in office until a failure of 
 voice compelled him to retire, much to the regret of 
 his people, 1831, September 28. After his dismis- 
 sion he resided in the family of his daughter in New 
 York. 
 
 Dr. Lewis, and a brother Zechariah, were twin 
 sons of the Rev. Isaac Lewis, D. D., Sr., born in 
 Wilton, Conn., 1773, January 1st, and were both 
 graduated at Yale College in 1794. 
 
 The father was a son of a worthy and respectable 
 farmer in Huntington, Conn., born in 1746, and 
 graduated at Yale College in 1765. His conversion 
 was during his junior year in college under the fol- 
 lowing remarkable circumstances : At that time the 
 whole college was poisoned through the villainy of 
 certain French neutrals. These fellows had taken 
 mortal offence at the conduct of a few wild students, 
 and, though every reasonable effort at reconciliation 
 was made they refused to be reconciled, meditating 
 the most deadly revenge. To accomplish their pur- 
 pose they contrived to visit the kitchen at which the 
 food of the students was prepared, and infused a 
 large quantity of arsenic into one of the dishes that 
 was to be placed before them. A deadly sickness 
 came over all who had eaten of the dish, but by an 
 immediate resort to medical aid most of them were 
 cured, a few were so much affected that the}' died 
 shortly after. Ver}' soon after this the evangelist 
 Whitefield visited New Haven, and preached in the 
 College Chapel, and made use of this event as a 
 solemn admonition. A profound impression was 
 
105 
 
 made upon the whole college, and man}' of the stu- 
 dents were hopefulh' converted, among them the 
 subject of this notice. After graduation he pursued 
 theological studies under the direction of the Rev. 
 Samuel Buell, of East Hampton, L. I., and of his 
 pastor the Rev. Mr. Mills, of Huntington* Receiv- 
 ing calls to settle at Newport, R. I., and Wilton, 
 Conn., he accepted the latter, and was ordained 1768, 
 October 26th, and was married the same year to 
 Hannah, eldest daughter of Matthew Beale, of New 
 Preston, Conn., a lad}' every way suited to the sta- 
 tion to which her marriage introduced her. During 
 the Revolutionar}' struggle he espoused his country's 
 cause with great zeal, served seven months as chap- 
 lain to one of the Connecticut regiments, and after 
 the State troops were disbanded was appointed chap- 
 lain in the Continental arm}', but his people being 
 unwilling to spare him again he declined the appoint- 
 ment. A few 3'ears subsequent to this he labored 
 arduously for a season in a missionary tour to the 
 destitute fields in the vichiity of Dorset, Vt. During 
 his residence in Wilton, he was invited to take 
 charge of a congregation in South Carolina, but de- 
 clined it, chiefly on the ground of his " strong dis- 
 approbation of the system of slavery." Becoming 
 satisfied that the prevailing practice of " the half- 
 wa}' Covenant " was wrong, he took a stand against 
 it, occasioning dissatisfaction among his people and 
 finally leading to his dismission in June, 1786, after 
 a Ministry of nearly eighteen years. On the day of 
 his dismission he was invited to preach at Green- 
 
106 
 
 wich, Conn., and was soon after called to the Pas- 
 torate which he accepted, and was installed 1786, 
 October 18th. After a highly successful ministry, 
 by which he was greatl3^ endeared to his people, he 
 was dismissed, at his own urgent request, on account 
 of the infirmities of age, 1818, December 1st, but he 
 continued to dwell among his people, and to labor 
 for their welfare as his strength would allow until 
 his decease, 1840, August 27th, at the advanced age 
 of nearly ninety-five years. In 1792 he received 
 from his alma mater the degree of Doctor in Divinity. 
 In 1816 he was chosen a member of the corporation 
 of Yale College. He had a prominent agency in 
 man}' of the benevolent movements of the day, and 
 was connected with most of the prominent societies 
 then existing for the extension of the Gospel and the 
 promotion of the great interests of humanity. Dr. 
 Lewis and his wife were the parents of nine chil- 
 dren, six sons and three daughters. Of the five sons 
 who lived to maturity-, three were educated at Yale 
 College, two entered the Ministry, and three were 
 lawj-ers. Their mother died 1829, April 13th. 
 
 Zechariah, one of the twin brothers, studied 
 theolog}^ at Philadelphia, Pa., and was, at the same 
 time, a private tutor in the family of General Wash- 
 ington. In 1746 he was licensed to preach, but 
 accepted the office of tutor in Yale College, where he 
 continued until a failure of health compelled him to 
 resign in the summer of 1799. Not recovering health 
 suflScient to enter upon the Ministry, he became edi- 
 tor of " the Commercial Advertiser " and " New 
 
107 
 
 York Spectator," and remained in this emploj'ment 
 till about the year 1820. He was subsequently cor- 
 responding secretar}^ of the " New York Religious 
 Tract Society," and of the " United Foreign Mission 
 Society ;" and commenced and for several 3'ears 
 edited the " American Missionar}^ Register." He 
 died at his residence in Brookh'n, N. Y., 1840, 
 November 14th, in the sixtj'-eighth year of his age. 
 
 Dr. Lewis, our Pastor, pursued his theological 
 studies at New Haven, under both Presidents Stiles 
 and Dwight. He was ordained 1798, May 30th, and 
 in 1800 was installed over the First Presbj'terian 
 Church in Cooperstown, N. Y., from whence he was 
 called, in 1806, to the Presb3^terian Church in Goshen, 
 N. Y., and from there came to Bristol in 1812. After 
 his brief but fruitful labors here, he officiated as 
 stated supph' in the Churches of New Rochelle and 
 West Farms, N. Y., until he was called to succeed 
 his venerable father at Greenwich, Conn., being in- 
 stalled on the day of his father's dismission, 1818, 
 December 1st. After aremarkabl}' successful Minis- 
 tr}' of a few years he resigned his charge, and was 
 soon after settled as the eighth Pastor in the line of 
 succession over this ancient Church. 
 
 In 1844 he was honored with the degree of Doctor 
 in Divinity by Delaware College. In 1827 he preached 
 the Election Sermon at New Haven, Conn. Several 
 sermons and public addresses were published, includ- 
 ing the Ordination sermon of Rev. Joshua Knight, at 
 Sherburne, Mass., 1804, two or three occasional ser- 
 mons preached at Bristol, and an address before the 
 Fairfield County Bible Society in 1844. 
 
108 
 
 A man of excellent talents, of elevated Christian 
 character, of fine expressive countenance, of urbane 
 and gentlemanly manners, and of richly endowed and 
 well furnished mind, he commanded the respect of 
 all. As a preacher he was sound in doctrine, able 
 and eloquent in appeal. As a Pastor he was faithful, 
 and w on the hearts of all who received his kind and 
 Christian ministrations. He died at New York, 
 1854, September 23d, in the eighty second year of 
 his age. 
 
 His Ministr}^ in Bristol, though brief, was dis- 
 tinguished by another of those seasons of gi-eat 
 spiritual refreshing which characterized this period, 
 resulting in large accessions to the membership of 
 the Church. 
 
 THE REVIVAL OF 1830. 
 
 Though from advancing years the natural force of 
 Dr. Lewis had in a degree abated, the recollection of 
 his past services secured for him a warm welcome 
 to the hearts of the people who were ready to co- 
 operate with him in every good word and work. The 
 thoroughly evangelical character of his preaching, 
 his fidelity in pastoral labors, the sweet influence of 
 his christian example, the kindl}' and prayerful co- 
 operation of the Church prepared the way for a 
 third general Revival in 1830, of a similar character 
 and extent to the two which had preceded it. Re- 
 specting this great w^ork of grace, we make no 
 special record of incidents or details, but it is grate- 
 fully remembered b}' the surviving subjects of it as 
 
109 
 
 a precious season of interest throughout all the 
 Churches, and affecting nearl}- ever}^ family in the 
 town. The converts, numbered by hundi-eds, were 
 of all ages and several of them w^ere far advanced 
 in life, who, having passed through the previous sea- 
 sons of refreshing without submitting themselves to 
 God, felt that this was a last call to them, and un- 
 less they now yielded to the Divine claims their day 
 of grace was over. 
 
 Thus has God blessed this Church and town with 
 repeated and remarkable Pentecostal seasons, and 
 his blessing has rested upon the conimunit}- at all 
 times. Surely He is faithful that hath promised, and 
 His mercies are from everlasting to everlasting. 
 With what gratitude should we acknowledge his 
 goodness, with Avhat penitence should we acknow- 
 ledge our sins before Him, with what earnest faith 
 should we consecrate ourselves and all that we pos- 
 sess to His service. 
 
110 
 
 VIII. 
 
 THE BUILDING STILL GOING FORWARD. 
 
 1830-1872. 
 
 JOHN STARKWEATHER. NINTH PASTOR. 
 
 The ninth Pastor in the succession was the Rev. 
 John Starkweather, a native of Worthington, 
 Mass. ; a graduate of Yale College, 1825, and of 
 Andover Theological Seminary. The call, voted on 
 the 21st of November, 1831, was unanimous, and 
 with cordial harmou}- he was duly installed on the 
 14th of December following. For a time this unani- 
 mity of feeling continued, but at length there arose 
 considerable dissatisfaction and w ant of confidence 
 which was expressed in a written communication to 
 the Pastor, signed b}' tw enty-one male members. On 
 the 29th of December, 1834, the matter was mu- 
 tually referred to an Ecclesiastical Council, who 
 advised the dissolution of the Pastoral relation, 
 which advice w^as accepted. 
 
 During his brief Ministr}^ twenty -two were added 
 to the Church, and the Manual which has been in 
 use to the present time was prepared and published. 
 
 THOMAS SHEPARD, D. D. TENTH PASTOR. 
 
 Soon after the dismission of Mr. Starkweather, 
 efforts were made to secure the services of the Rev. 
 Thomas Shepard, late of Ashfield, Mass., and by a 
 
Ill 
 
 unanimous vote of the Church and Societ}- he was 
 called to the Pastoral office, 1835, April 1st. Ac- 
 cepting the call he was dul^' installed on the 30th of 
 April following. ■ . . 
 
 Dr. Shepard was a native of Norton, Mass., 
 born 1792, May 7th; graduated at Brown Univer- 
 sit}' 1813, and at Andover Theological Seminary 
 1816 ; was employed until 1819 as a missionar}^ and 
 teacher in the State of Georgia ; and on the IGth of 
 June, of that 3'ear, was ordained as Colleague Pastor 
 with the venerable Nehemiah Porter over the Church, 
 in Ashtield, Mass. After a successful ministr}' of about 
 fourteen years, during which two hundred and seveut}'- 
 four were admitted to his Church ; he was dismissed 
 1833, May 8th. After his dismission from Ashfield, 
 he was employed as an agent for the American Bible 
 Societ}' about two years, from which service he was 
 called to the Pastorate here. In 1853 he received 
 from Brown University the Degree of Doctor in 
 Divinity. In 1846 he was elected a corporate mem- 
 ber of the American Board of Commissioners for 
 Foreign Missions. 
 
 A Parsonage was earl}' in his Ministr}' erected on 
 Bradford street, which he has occupied with his 
 family ever since. A few years ago Mrs. Sarah W. 
 Shepard, the sharer of his jo^'s and burdens, was 
 called to her home above. A devoted wife and 
 mother, a faithful friend to all, and especially kind 
 to the poor, a decided Christian in all the walks of 
 life, her memory is cherished gratefull}' b}^ the 
 people among whom she passed her useful life. 
 14 
 
112 
 
 On the 7th of May, 1865, he resigned the active 
 duties and responsibilities of the Pastoral office, and 
 asked that a successor might be chosen. His resig- 
 nation was accepted, with the understanding that he 
 would continue to live among his own people until 
 called up higher, and the use of the Parsonage was 
 tendered him during the remainder of his life. He 
 still lives among us as the retired Pastor universally 
 respected and beloved. 
 
 During his Ministry several seasons of unusual 
 religious interest transpired. In 1837, 1838, 1842, 
 1846, 1852 and 1858, the Holy Spirit's power was 
 manifested in the quickening of God's children and 
 the conversion of many souls. These seasons are 
 gratefully' remembered by all who were participants 
 in them. 
 
 ERECTION OF THE THIRD HOUSE OF WORSHIP. 
 
 Early in 1855, the subject of erecting a new House 
 of Worship was agitated, and, after some delibera- 
 tion, it was decided to proceed to build. The fol- 
 lowing gentlemen were chosen a Building Commit- 
 tee, under whose supervision the work was success- 
 fully accomplished : William B. Spooner, Messadore 
 T. Bennett, Josiah Gladding, Stephen T. Church, 
 and Nathan Bard in. 
 
 The House is located on the corner of Bradford 
 and High streets, fronting on the latter. It has 
 three entrances in front and a rear entrance at the 
 south-east corner leading to the library and pulpit, 
 and also leadiiig to the chapel recently built. It has 
 
113 
 
 a tower on the north-west corner eighteen feet square 
 with buttresses extending upward about eighty feet, 
 surmounted with belfre}- and turrets. The full di- 
 mensions of the house are as follows : Length, one 
 hundred and one feet ; width, sixty-seven feet ; walls, 
 twenty-eight feet high in the clear, and thirt3'-nine 
 feet from the floor to the apex of nave of the main 
 arch. The style of architecture is gothic. The 
 trimmings and buttresses are of pure granite ; the 
 filling up is of a stone somewhat different in qualitj", 
 presenting a pleasing variet}^ in figure and color. 
 The roof is covered with slate and tin. The interior 
 is finished with groin arched ceiling with eight pend- 
 ants or corbels for springing the arches, and from 
 which depend the chandeliers. The pews, number- 
 ing one hundred and fourteen on the main floor, are 
 circular, trimmed with black walnut, and neatly up- 
 holstered. The i^ulpit, communion table and chairs 
 are of black walnut, harmonising well with the gen- 
 eral st^'le of the house. The recess back of the 
 pulpit is richh' frescoed as are also the arches in the 
 ceiling of the roof. The organ, made b\' IMessrs. 
 Hook, of Boston, is finished to correspond with the 
 interior of the Church. The case is gothic, thirty- 
 four feet high and fourteen feet wide. It has thirt}-- 
 two registers or stops, and is of superior tone and 
 capacity-. The orchestra is dropped within a few 
 feet of the main floor, and harmonizes in style with 
 the pulpit at the opposite end. The entire floor of 
 the Church is richly carpeted, and the whole interior 
 is lighted with gas. The architect was Seth H. 
 
114 
 
 Ingalls, and the master builder was William Ingalls, 
 both of New Bedford, Mass. 
 
 The House stood complete and read}^ for dedica- 
 tion in November, 1856. On the 23d, farewell ser- 
 vices of an interesting character including an histori- 
 cal discourse by the Pastor, founded on Psalm xlviii. 
 12-13, were held in the old House, and on the 25th 
 the new House was dedicated to Almighty God 
 with appropriate services including discourse b}^ the 
 Pastor, founded on Psalm Ixxvii. 13. These were oc- 
 casions of special interest to the congregation who 
 requested copies of the discourses for publication, 
 which request was complied with. The following 
 extracts from these discourses will show the anima- 
 ting spirit of Pastor and people : 
 
 " In taking leave of these venerable walls within which 
 our fathers have sat and listened to the messages of salva- 
 tion for seventy-two years, whore venerable men of God, 
 some of whom have ceased from earth and gone to their 
 final reward, have been trained for the kingdom of glory, 
 where the praises of God have been sung by lips which are 
 now responding to angelic harps around the throne, many 
 affecting thoughts crowd themselves upon our minds. 
 This has been the birth-place of souls. Here, blind eyes 
 have been opened to behold the light of truth, as it shines 
 in the fn.ce of Jesus. Here deaf ears have been unstopped 
 to listen with rapture to the messages of mercy tlirough 
 atoning blood. Here multitudes have set out in the 
 christian race, for the prize of an unfading crown. Oh! 
 how hallowed to memory is such a place. But it has done 
 its work, and in the revolutions of time it is meet that 
 it should give place to another, and a more com- 
 modious and more attractive liouse of worship. And while 
 
115 
 
 the very dnst of this sanctuary will ever remain precious 
 in our eyes, may our united prayers ascend to God, that 
 the glory of the latter house may exceed the glory of the 
 former. The materials of its walls are imperishable. 
 Long, long will it resist the corroding tooth of time. Cen- 
 turies will not impair those granite foundations, scores of 
 generations will worship in its courts, and thousands of the 
 sanctified pass up to the purer devotions of licaven.'" 
 
 '• What is this new and stately edifice, this pulpit, these 
 pews, yonder orchestra, these frescoed arches? What but 
 one common passage way to the grave, the judgment se;it, 
 the retributions of eternity. If they all could speak to us, 
 would not their united voice be "Prepare to meet thy 
 God?" Oh if tliese buttresses and turrets and pillars and 
 arches and gildings had a tongue to speak for Him, to 
 whose service they are this day dedicated, they would say 
 to you in tones unearthly, ' let not the novelty of these 
 imposing scenes divert your minds one moment from the 
 great question. What must I do to be saved ?' Consecra- 
 ted stone (n- Avood or mortar wrought into the highest 
 state of architectural symmetry and beauty cannot save 
 you. Yonder organ with its deep and silvery tones, this 
 pulpit with the highest eloquence that shall ever grace it, 
 cannot, of themselves, work out your salvation. Except 
 ye repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,— except ye 
 give your heart to God and live to His glory, ye must live 
 and die without hope. No external privileges can super- 
 cede the necessity of the washing of regeneration and the 
 renewing of the Holy Ghost." 
 
 " See that you refuse not Him that speaketh to you to- 
 day through these scenes and services. Bring no strange 
 fii-e to oli*er on this altar. Come up hither witli the sacri- 
 fice of an humble and contrite heart. Listen to the Word 
 as those who must give account. Pray with a fervent 
 spirit. Make melody in your hearts unto the Lord. In a 
 word, worship God in spirit and in truth. And after a few 
 
116 
 
 more Sabbath suns shall have arisen and set, you will have 
 offered your last prayer, have sung your last hymn of 
 praise, joined in your hist communion service, your seat 
 be occupied by another, and your spirit, if purified in the 
 blood of the Lamb, will pass away to the Sanctuary 
 above, 
 
 Where the assembly ne'er breaks up 
 And the babbath ne'er shall end." 
 
 CYRUS P. OSBORNE. ELEVENTH PASTOR. 
 
 After the retirement of Dr. Shepard, several per- 
 sons were heard as candidates for settlement until 
 the 11th of September, 1865, when the Church voted 
 unanimousl}' to call the Rev. Cyrus P. Osborne, in 
 which action the Societ}' also concurred, and on the 
 2d of November following, he was duly ordained and 
 installed as the Eleventh Pastor in the succession. 
 
 Mr. Osborne was born in East Boston, Mass., 
 graduated at Harvard College, 1859, and at Andover 
 Theological Seminary, 1862. He continued in the 
 Pastoral office until 1870, June 6th, when, at his own 
 request, he was dismissed, that he might avail him- 
 self of a favorable opportunity to visit Europe and 
 the Hol}^ Land. 
 
 His ministry, though brief, was fruitful in good 
 results. An interesting revival of religion was en- 
 jo3'ed in 1866-67, during which season a large number 
 of 3'oung persons professed conversion, and over a 
 hundred united with the Church on profession of 
 faith. 
 
117 
 
 PAYMENT OF THE DEBT. 
 
 One leading object in the organization of the 
 Catholic Societ}' was to secure a permanent fund for 
 the support of the Ministry. With much self-denial 
 a fund was started which promised to be of very 
 material aid by a prospective increase from year to 
 year. But the event did not justify- the hopes thus 
 entertained. Eighteen 3'ears later the fund seems to 
 have shrank somewhat, for in the settlement with 
 Dr. Wight a note of one thousand dollars was given 
 b}' the Society. This beginning of debt was a bad 
 precedent too easil}" followed in subsequent 3'ears, 
 until it rolled up in round numbers to six thousand 
 dollars. On the 22d of March, 1864, a member of 
 the Society, who has since rested from his earthly 
 labors, liberally offered "to pa}' one-half the. debt 
 himself if the Societ}^ would raise by subscription a 
 like sum." This offer set the people to thinking, 
 but did not arouse them sufficientl}' to secure the de- 
 sired end until the fall of 18G7, when, at a meeting 
 in " the Hall," on the evening of September 17, 
 about fort}'' members of the congregation being 
 present, the ball was set in motion b}- a liberal sub- 
 scription, a committee was appointed to canvass the 
 parish, and in a few weeks the requisite amount was 
 secured. Great was the rejoicing over this result, 
 and a meeting of the people for thanksgiving and 
 praise was appointed, which was attended by large 
 numbers and is spoken of as " the Jubilee meet- 
 
118 
 
 ERECTION OF THE MEMORIAL CHAPEL. 
 
 The year following the pa3'ment of the Society's 
 debt, the subject of erecting a Chapel was agitated, 
 " the Hall " being thought by many to be too small 
 for the present and prospective need of the Church. 
 The Sabbath School began to make weekly offerings 
 as the nucleus of a fund for this purpose, and plans 
 were discussed of securing a general contribution 
 throughout the congregation, but before arrange- 
 ments were completed, two sisters who had often 
 made the Church their debtor b}' their unstinted 
 benefactions, desiring to honor their sainted parents 
 and at the same time make provision for the wants of 
 the Church, whose spiritual welfare was dear to them, 
 assumed the entire responsibility of building and fur- 
 nishing a '•'• Memorial Chapel." Arrangements were 
 soon completed, and the work was begun under the 
 supervision of IMessadore T. Bennett, William B. 
 Spooner, William H. Church, Stephen T. Church, Mar- 
 tin Bennett, and James E. French, as a building 
 committee. The architect was Seth Ingalls, Esq., of 
 New Bedford, Mass. The corner stone was laid 
 with appropriate services at eleven o'clock, Tues- 
 day, Jul}^ 6th, 1869, and in the following Februaiy 
 the Chapel stood complete and furnished for oc- 
 cupanc3\ 
 
 The Chapel adjoins the Church edifice, with which 
 it harmonizes in material and st3'le. The walls are 
 of rubble stone ; the door, windows and buttresses 
 of dressed granite. The side walls are thirteen feet, 
 siVfid, the maiu gable thirty-four feet high. The ceil* 
 
119 
 
 ing is finished to tlie height of twentj'-nine feet. A 
 vestibule ten feet b}' eleven feet joins the Chapel to 
 the Church. A north wing extends across the end 
 of the vestibule and in the rear of the Church twent\'- 
 six feet by twenty-two feet two inches. A south 
 wing projects from the opposite side fifteen feet by 
 twent3'-one feet eight inches. The main audience 
 room, with which the wings are connected by sliding 
 doors with ground glass panels, is thirty-three feet b}^ 
 fifty feet. These are all inside measurements. The 
 floors are of southern pine laid in mortar. The walls 
 are ceiled up thirty inches from the floor with south- 
 ern pine, having a base and chair moulding of black 
 walnut. The ceiling overhead is finished with trans- 
 verse arches and pendants or corbels for springing 
 the arches to which are attached the gas fixtures. 
 The walls above the chair moulding and the ceiling 
 overhead are neatly tinted with a light color that 
 harmonizes well with the general style of the interior. 
 The western or front gable has a large gothic win- 
 dow of stained glass, and a similar window of gi'ound 
 glass is in the north gable. The other windows are 
 all of ground glass. 
 
 The main audience room is furnished with black 
 walnut seats in cast iron frames with reversible 
 backs, a neat black walnut desk made by William O. 
 and Charles Manchester, and gothic chairs of the 
 same material for the platform, a small black walnut 
 table front of the desk, and a Mason & Hamlin 
 organ, valued at three hundred dollars, presented b}" 
 the Sabbath School. The aisles and the space front 
 
120 
 
 of the seats and around the platform are covered 
 with neat and durable matting, and the platform with 
 a tasteful carpet. The north room is furnished with 
 settees with reversible backs, and a movable desk 
 and chairs, and the entire floor is neatly carpeted. 
 The south room is carpeted similar to the north 
 room, and is furnished with an extension table and 
 movable chairs. B}' opening the sliding doors the 
 three rooms are thrown into one, ever}^ part of which 
 is in range with the desk of the large room. 
 
 Upon the inner wall of the large room is a plain 
 marble tablet, inscribed as follows : 
 
 THIS CHAPEL 
 
 Dedicated to the service of God, the Fathek, Son, 
 
 AND Holy Ghost, 
 
 Was Erected in 1869, in Memory of 
 
 WILLIAM AND CHARLOTTE DEWOLF, 
 
 Deceased 1829. 
 
 By their Daughters Charlotte DeWolf and 
 
 Maria DeWolf Rogers. 
 
 " We have thoiight of thy loving kindness 
 
 Ood in the midst of thy templet 
 
 The Chapel was dedicated 1870, Februar}' 24th, 
 with impressive services, including a dedicatory ad- 
 dress b}^ the pastor, Mr. Osborne, and dedicatoiy 
 prayer by Dr. Shepard. 
 
 The address closed as follows : 
 
 *' Thus, my hearers, does this occasion suggest to us im- 
 portant duties, too apt to be neglected. Does it not also 
 
121 
 
 call for gi-ateful acknowledgments ; first to God, whose 
 providence has furnished us this gift ; next to the himian 
 instruments of His benefaction. 
 
 " It is pleasant to commc-nd. To praise the patience 
 and wise council of the building committee, the skill of 
 the architect and builder, the fidelity of the workmen in 
 their several parts, the zeal of one who has shown the 
 detipest interest in the difficult work of furnishing the 
 several apartments were a grateful office and not embar- 
 rassing. But wortliily to praise the bountiful devotion 
 which has built these walls and given this edifice, with all 
 its comely furnishings, a free-will offering to the Lord, — 
 for this I have no fitting words. I cannot give voice to 
 the grateful sentiments that pervade this assembly. Nor 
 would I if I could. For this would only wound the ten- 
 der sensibilities of natures as modest as they are munifi- 
 cent. 
 
 " We will only rejoice that their eyes have been per- 
 mitted to behold their completed offering, and to be 
 witnesses of our joy in its completion; and pray they may 
 be spared to see it become according to their fervent wish, 
 * the birthplace of souls,' and resolve never to forget 
 tiieir frequently expressed desire, that this sanctuary may 
 be hallowed to the service of the Master. 
 
 *' There is an element in this ofiering too sacred for our 
 touch. ' In Memoriam ' is graved upon its walls, point- 
 ing our thoughts heavenward. 
 
 ' Oh, it is sweet to think of those that are departed, 
 While uumbered prayers sink to silence tender-hearted; 
 While tears that leave no pain, are tranquilly distilling, 
 And the dead live again, in hearts that love is filling.' 
 
 " Some will make the dead live again in flovvers upon 
 their grave, watered with tears that have their fountains 
 in the heart. Some will keep their name alive by tons of 
 rock heaped over them,— marble from Italy or gi'anite 
 from the hills, carved into elegant but idle forms. But far 
 
122 
 
 more beautiful is that aflection which turns the memory of 
 the dead into a benediction of the living. It was a loving 
 thought of the sainted dead that reared this little temple. 
 It was a happy thouglit that combined in a single act such 
 honor to the memory of parents long departed, and such 
 devotion t<j a Redeemer's cause. If the redeemed in 
 heaven can witness earthly scenes, those revered parents 
 must rejoice, as piety and filial love now lay this offering 
 at Immanuel's feet." 
 
 JAMES P. LANE. TWELFTH PASTOR. 
 
 On the first Sabbath in November, 1870, the 
 present Pastor began to preach as a candidate for 
 settlement. Receiving a unanimous call from the 
 Church and Society, he accepted the same, and on 
 the 11th of Januar^^, 1871, was dul}" installed in 
 office. The sermon on this occasion was by the Rev. 
 Jacob M. Manning, D. D., of Boston, Mass. The 
 installing prayer was by the Rev. John L. Ta3'lor, 
 D. D., of Andover, Mass. 
 
 Mr. Lane was a native of Candia, N. H. ; son of 
 the late Isaiah Lane, M. D., who deceased at Meri- 
 den, N. H., in 1855. He graduated at Amherst 
 College, 1857, pursued Theological studies at And- 
 over, and was ordained pastor of the Congregational 
 Church in East Weymouth, Mass., 1861, January 
 10th. After a ministry of nearly five years, during 
 which about one hundred were admitted to the 
 Church, he was called to the pastorate of the Free 
 Church in Andover, and was installed 1866, April 
 4th. From Andover he removed to Bristol. 
 
123 
 
 CHARITABLE FUNDS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. 
 
 A bequest of five himdred dollars, made bj' Mrs. 
 Ann Coggeshall, widow of William Coggeshall, and 
 deposited in " the Bristol Institution for Savings," 
 is held in trust by the treasurer for the benefit " of 
 need}' widows who are communicants and members 
 of the Church," and the annual interest is distribu- 
 ted to those who are entitled to receive it on or about 
 the first of Januar}' in each 3'ear. This fund became 
 first available in 1855. 
 
 In 1867, November 6th, Mrs. Mary T. B. Glad- 
 ding, (the founder of the Sabbath School in 1816,) 
 deceased, aged eighty-two j^ears. After other be- 
 quests, she gave to the Church the rest of her 
 property, amounting to about five hundred dollars, 
 to be forever held in trust for " the use and benefit 
 of aged and indigent females, communicants of the 
 Church." This fund is deposited in " the Bristol 
 Institution for Savings," and the annual interest is 
 distributed according to the terms of the bequest by 
 the pastor at his discretion. 
 
 The late B. W. Greene, Esq., of Hartford, Conn., 
 made a bequest of property-, valued at about two 
 thousand dollars, " to the poor of the Church congre- 
 gation in Bristol, R. I., the proceeds or income to be 
 distributed annually by the Deacons of the Church." 
 The Will containing this bequest was set aside by 
 the Probate Court, but the heirs generousl}' under- 
 took to carry out the intentions of the testator in an 
 agreement to pa}' over the amount " to the Congre- 
 15 
 
124 
 
 gational Church in Bristol, R. I., in trust that the 
 income shall be annualh' spent for the poor of said 
 Chnrch at their discretion." This fund, amounting 
 to about two thousand two hundred dollars, is de- 
 posited in '• the INIechanic's Savings Bank, Provi- 
 dence," and in '' the Providence Institution for Sav- 
 ings," the bank books being in the hands of the 
 Church Treasurer. 
 
 Collections for the poor are taken at each commun- 
 ion season, and distributed b}" the Deacons at their 
 discretion ; also, an annual collection for the same 
 object at the time of the State and National Thanks- 
 givino-. 
 
 With these liberal provisions for the poor — sup- 
 plemented by other private benefactions, — the Church 
 is also mindful of the calls for religious and charita- 
 ble work abroad. The causes of Home and Foreign 
 Missions, Christian Education, Bible dissemination, 
 etc., receive annual attention, and contributions 
 amounting in the aggregate to several hundreds of 
 dollars are made. A " Ladies Missionary' Societ}-," 
 connected with the Church, contribute, besides do- 
 nations in monc}', articles of clothing, etc., auxiliary 
 to both the Home Missionary and Foreign Missiou- 
 ar}' Boards of our denomination. 
 
 A " Sewing School" has been sustained b}' several 
 of the ladies of our congregation, and much good 
 accomplished in teaching poor children this useful 
 art, and providing needed garments which are given 
 them. 
 
 There are other local charities in the support of 
 
125 
 
 which this Church unites, with the other religious 
 societies in town, as follows : 
 
 A " Home for destitute Children," under the care 
 of a matron and the supervision of a board of ladj^ 
 managers, selected from the various religious socie- 
 ties in town. The current expenses of this noble 
 charit}' are met chiefl}' b}' the voluntary contributions 
 of the citizens annually. The house and garden for 
 the Home were the gift of the late Robert Rogers, 
 Esq., of our congregation. A thousand dollars, also, 
 from the same estate, has been placed at interest for 
 the benefit of this institution. 
 
 A ^' Ladies Charitable Society," embracing mem- 
 bers from all the Churches, has existed for man}^ 
 3'ears, and through this agency great good is accom- 
 plished in ministering to the wants of the worthy 
 poor. 
 
 A " Young Men's Christian Association " main- 
 tain a public reading room and librar}', accessible to 
 all under certain regulations. The current expenses 
 are met by the dues of members and voluntary 
 contributions. 
 
 A " Bible Committee," auxiliar}' to the American 
 Bible Society, keep a depository of Bibles and Tes- 
 taments which are sold at cost, or given to the desti- 
 tute who are unable to buy. 
 
 SACRAMENTAL FURNITURE. 
 
 A massive Baptismal Font of white sand stone, 
 beautifull}' wrought, was presented to the Church by 
 
126 
 
 Rev. Prof. J. Lewis Diman, of Providence, and 
 
 stands near the pulpit in the House of Worship. 
 
 The Communion service is of solid silver, and 
 includes two cups inscribed " as the gift of Nathaniel 
 B3'field, 1693;" one cup ''the gift of Rev. John 
 Sparhawk, 1718;" three cups "to the Bristol Non- 
 Conformist Church, March 29, 1723," the donor of 
 which is not known ; two cups " the gift of Hon. 
 Nathaniel Blagrove, 1745 ;" and two flagons, pre- 
 sented August, 1855, by Miss Charlotte DeWolf, 
 and Mrs. Maria DeWolf Rosrers.