The history of the First church, Charlestown

Front matter

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THE

HISTORY

Preface

The following Discourses were prepared in the ordinary course of my ministry, and delivered at a stated monthly lecture during the winter of 1842-3. It was originally my intention to condense the facts I had gathered, and publish them in a small manual ; but having delayed the execution of this purpose until the commencement of the present year, I felt unable to perform the work of re-composition, and obliged to publish either what I had written or nothing. I have therefore revised my Lectures, and now publish them substantially as they were spoken, with a body of notes comprising the additional matter collected in the course of my investigations. I have enjoyed many pleasant hours, and been profited by many solemn reflections, while engaged in my historical studies, and feel that I have been repaid for my labor ; and if my book shall have a similar moral effect upon the people of my charge, and such others as shall honor it with a perusal, I shall be more than repaid.

I shall always remember with pleasure the courtesy and kind assistance received from the various gentlemen whom I have consulted for information or advice. My grateful acknowledgments are due to all of them, and especially to Rev. William Jenks, D. D., and Rev.

Samuel Sewall, as the subsequent pages will frequently

show.

It will be unnecessary for me here to enumerate the sources from whence my history is derived, as these will be sufficiently indicated in the course of the work ; it is with great pleasure, however, that I confess my obligations to the Hon. James Savage, not only for his valuable illustrations of Winthrop, which have thrown so much light upon our early history, but also for the encouraging interest and assistance he has afforded me in my labors. I am also indebted to Richard Frothingham, Jr., Esq., for valuable information afforded by his minute acquaintance with the antiquities of the town ; and trust that he will be amply encouraged in the publication of his < History of Charlestown,' on which he is now engaged. The likeness of Rev. John Wilson, prefixed to the volume as a frontispiece, is an accurate copy of a portrait preserved in the Rooms of the Massachusetts Historical

Society. .

I have only to say in conclusion to those of my friends who have been looking for my volume for several months, that the delay has been unavoidable, and has arisen in part from the intrinsic difficulty of carrying a work of this character through the press, and in part from the pressure of other and more important duties.

Charlestown, Dec. 8, 1845.

Contents

Page LECTURE 1 9

Settlement of the Town — Organization of the Church of Boston and Charlestown — Formation of the Charlestown Church — Rev. Thomas James — The Puritans.

LECTURE II. 31