An Historical Discourse in commemoration of the one hundredth Anniversary of the formation of the first Congregational Church in Templeton, Massachusetts. With an appendix, embracing a survey of the municipal affairs of the town

Preface

As it seemed desirable to make some commemoration of so interesting an event as the completion of the first century of the existence of the First Church of Christ in this town, the junior pastor, on Sunday, Dec. 9, 1855, the day preceding the anniversary, preached a Discourse, continued through both parts of the day, containing an historical sketch of the early settlement of the town and of the annals of the church. Rev. Dr. Wellington, the senior pastor, took part in the services, morning and afternoon, — reading the Scriptures and hymns, and offering prayers. Soon after the delivery of the Discourse, a request was made to have it printed ; and arrangements were made for that purpose. But, before they were carried into exe cution, the desire was expressed, from many sources, that the writer should proceed to make some account also of the municipal affairs of the town since its incorpora tion.

He assented to this in part, though not expecting, at first, to enter into so much detail as is done in the Appendix. The printing of the sermon has accordingly been delayed, in order that the whole might appear to gether. The amount of time and investigation requisite to make and verify a sketch of the affairs of a town

PREFACE.

. and society, extending through a period of a hundred years, can be appreciated only by those who have per formed similar labors. Often a brief statement, occupying perhaps but a line, especially when it involves the asser tion of a negative, is the result of hours and days of research among records sometimes not very legible. It has been the author's aim to make the survey contained in the following pages include a correct account of all the important votes and doings recorded on the various subjects named. For this purpose, he has carefully ex amined all the warrants ever issued for meetings of the inhabitants of this town, and for meetings of the ancient proprietors and of the parish, with the votes passed, and action taken under each of them. In the Discourse, some passages omitted in the delivery, for want of time, are now inserted ; and several additions have been made, con sisting chiefly of historical details.

A few items, originally in the Discourse, have been placed in the Appendix. The information respecting the value of land in the township in the early times was obtained mainly through the courtesy of Daniel Ward, Esq., the examiner of titles in the Registry of Deeds at Worcester. Assistance in ascertaining various other facts has also been afforded by Rev. John L. Sibley, Librarian of Harvard College ; by Rev. Dr. Wellington ; and by others. CONTENTS, PAOI. HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 1