Ambassadors appointed by Christ to treat with mankind on the subject of reconciliation to God

Front matter

THB

MimSTRY OE TAIMTON,

WITH

Preface

Whoever, in this day of "making many books," presumes to add one to their number, is bound to show good reason for so doing. That it was not for want of other employment the present work was undertaken, every pastor with the care of a pulpit and the charge of a parish can very well understand. Indeed, it has been under the constant pressure of numerous parochial duties, that these sheets have been prepared for the press. Although the materials have been accumulating for several years, their arrangement in a form to meet the public eye, is of recent date, and has cost no little labor. The toil and time requisite in such an undertaking are known only to those, who with limited facilities have been employed in gathering up the fragments of our early Ecclesiastical History, so that nothing may be lost. With our greatest pains-taking, it is comparatively little which can be rescued from oblivion. But this little is all the more precious, because it alone is left to us. The sole object of this publication is to make a slight addition to the general fund of knowledge concerning the Fathers of New-England. Their memory

IV PREFACE.

should be dear to the men of this generation, increasingly dear, with the lapse of time, and the ever new developments of the value of the institutions which they were enabled, under the Divine direction, to plant in this Western World. There is no fear of recurring too often to first principles — of asking with undue warmth and earnestness for the "old paths" — of keeping too much in mind the "ancient landmarks'' which these our fathers set up. It has been far from our purpose to give a partisan, sectarian, or sectional character to this work. So far as was possible the early ministers of this ancient town have given expression to their own views and feelings. They may justly claim of the thousands who have descended from the first attentive auditors of their words, a calm, and candid consideration of these same words once more heard, after so long a time, from the printed page. In this way — being dead — these venerable men yet speak.

The plan of the present work was not new with its author. Many years since Rev. Andrew Bigelow, D. d., now of Boston, then pastor of the Unitarian church m Taunton, conceived the plan which his taste and talenc admirably fitted him to carry out, of collecting and placing in a permanent form the principal facts connected with the earlier church organizations in this place. The church records were not in existence save for a period of less than half a century, having mysteriously disappeared, hke those of too many churches in our land. But fortunately the records of the to^vn remained. From these records, tradition, and the retentive memories of the aged, it was hoped sufficient might be gleaned to make a volume of interest to this community. At the same time Mr. Bigelow was prosecutmg his work, the Hon. Francis Baylies

PREFACE. V

had undertaken to write a history of the town which should embrace other and miscellaneous matter, which could not have failed to prove a most valuable addition to the historical collections of the State. But at the precise time when both these undertakings were partially accomplished, and the records of the town were deemed essential to their completion, the destructive fire of 1838 came, which laid in ashes a large part of the centre of the town, and with it, the early records of the town, which were lying with comparatively worthless matter in a frail Printing office. If the irreparable loss could only teach towns to provide a place of safe deposit for such valuable documents, in some fire-proof building, the bereavement of a single town would prove a most profitable lesson to the remainder.

With such meao-re materials as the loss of church and town records has left, the present work has been undertaken and in a v^ry imperfect manner, prosecuted. If the compiler has done what he could in the circumstances, a lenient community will not, perhaps, charge him with presumption in asking its kind consideration. It was far from the author's purpose to make a book, when his acquaintance with the writings of these early ministers commenced. But having made frequent reference to them from time to time in the pulpit, and having been from various quarters solicited to give specimens of their productions to the public, it did not seem proper to refuse.

He is greatly indebted to the many kind friends, who have sanctioned and encouraged the proceeding, by a prompt and full reply to letters of inquiry, and such a communication of facts, as greatly enhance the interest and profitableness of the work. Their names will appear in connection with their communications. It need not be

VI PREFACE.

added, that from the Hon. Francis Baylies,* suggestions and statements have been derived which have proved ol important service. His is one of many names wliich hav-e contributed to the distinction of a town, not only earlj founded, but early known as the birth-place or adopteti residence of some of the most eminent men in this or in any other State.

Taunton, October, 1852.

* Since the above was •vtritten and in tyite, Mr. Baylies has departed I this life, thus swelling the list of remarkable men, whose decease ha^s ■ rendered the present year one of painful interest. He died the 28th o'f October, 1852, aged sixty-nine years and twelve days, haA'ing been born- Oct. 16, 1783, and not 1784, as it is eiToneously printed in the notice of.' Mr. Baylies, on page 253, of the 1st volume. It is to be considered a Providential thing, that the individual so eminently qualified to assist in this effort to revive the memory of the departed dead, should live to see it commenced and so nearly completed. The last use JNlr. Bayliei ever made of his pen was in connection with this book. ' .

CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.

Introductory Notice by Hon. F. Baylies, ,

Chapter I

TAUNTON. ITS SETTLEMENT AND ORIGINAL CHURCH OR- GANIZATION, 13-21

Appendix To Chapter I

Note A. Early Literature of New-England, 22-29

Note B. Names of the signers of the compact on board the Mayflower, 29-30

Note C. League of friendship between Massassoit and the English, 30-31

Note D. Squanto's aid to the English, 31-33

Note E. Winslow and Hopkins in Taunton, 33-36

Note F. Our Forefathers honest in their dealings with the Indians, 36-37

Note G. Kames of the first and ancient purchasers of Tannton, 37-38

♦fOTE H. Proprietors of the " North Purchase," 38

Note I. Proprietcrs of the *' South Purchase," 39

Note J. Incorporation of Taunton, and the towns formed from it, 39-40

Note K. Lechford"s account of the formation of a church in Taunton, 40-42

Note L. Monuments in memory of Elizabeth Pool, 42-43

Note M. Descendants of Richard WiUiams, 43-46

Note N. The qualifications of freemen, 45

Note 0. Epitaph of WiUiam Pool, 46-47

Note P. Notice of John Gilbert, 48

Note Q. " " Henry Andrews, 48

Note R. " " John Strong, 48-49

Note S. '' " John Deane, 49-52

Note T. " " Walter Deane, 52-56

Note U. " " Edward Case, 56-57

Note V. " " Richard Smith, and other original settlers, .' 57-62

Chapter II

REV. WILLIAM HOOKE, THE FIRST MINISTER OF TAUNTON, ... 63-73

Hooke's first Fast Day Sermon, preached in 1640, 75-98

Hooke's second Fast Day Sermon, preached in 1645, 99-129

Appendix To Chapter II

■ ^ote a. Letter of Hooke to Governor Winthrop, .130-133

(note B. Hooke's Discourse on the " Priviledge of the Saints on Earth,-' &c., 133-151 I Note C. Hooke's " Discourse concerning the Witnesses," 152-154

^ NoxB SUPPLEMEKIABY. Letter of Key. John Waddington, 154-155

Vm CONTENTS.

Pace.

Appendix To Chapter V

Note A. The Medical Profession in Taunton, 233-241 !

The Legal Profession in Taunton, 242-255 i

Note B. Danforth's Letters in 1705, concerning a religious awakening, 255-260 )

Note C. Danforth's Letter in 1720, to the Ministers of Boston, concerning

the Indians, 260-266 '

Note D. Danforth's " Taunton Lecture,'' 266-267 '

Note E. Danforth's " Essay on Singing," 267-287 '

Note F. Poem on the death of the Taunton Minister,', 287-291

Chapter VI

REV. THOMAS CLAP, THE FIFTH MINISTER OF TAUNTON, ...292-301

Clap's Sermon on "Our Likeness to God," preached in 1730,. .302-329

Chapter VII

REV. JOSIAH CROCKER, THE SIXTH MINISTER OF TAUNTON, 330-341

Appendix To Chapter Vil

NoTB A. Origin of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Taunton, 342-345

Note B. Crocker's Letter in 1744, to T. Prince, on the Great Revival, .346-376

Note C. Crocker's Preaching in Middlehoro', and attestation to Revival,. . .376-381

Note D. Crocker's Ms. Sermons, 381-382

Note E. Crocker's answer to aggrieved brethren, 382-39S

Note F. Ecclesiastical Council called, 393-394

INTRODUCTORY NOTICE.

The clergy were the principal instruments in keeping alive the spirit and enterprise of the English race in the wilds of America. Nor did they confine themselves to their ecclesiastical functions. Their influence was felt in the civil affairs of Government, and even in the transactions of ordinary life. Hugh Peters, the minister of Salem, gave the first impulse to foreign commerce, and he labored with indefatigable perseverance to open to his followers that road to wealth. They were the most trusted physicians and the most trusted lawyers in the communities of their respective churches. Danforth, an early minister of Taunton, may in fact be called the principal, if not the only physician and lawyer, of that town. Sometimes they appeared in the field and discovered great martial prowess in the ifars with the Indians. Newman, an early minister of Kehoboth,. pursued with spirit and success even Philip himself when flying from Pocasset to the Nipmuck country. They made their way through all the hardships, dangers and disasters of war with the Bible and the Musket. Providence was set on fire, the people fled, but Eoger Williams remained, and while his town was blazing around him, he reproached the savages for their cruelty and wickedness, and they spared him, for they knew, they said, that he was a good man.

They have been accused of bigotry, and the accusation is not without some foundation. Yet there can be little doubt of their sincerity. Their bigotry sprung from a fiery zeal, in many instances no doubt mistaken and misdirected, to compel the com-

X _ INTRODUCTORY NOTICE.

munities in which they resided to believe in doctrines which they regarded as essential to their eternal salvation, rather than from spite, envy, malice, hatred and uncharitableness, which in modern times corrode the heart and poison the very fountains of the social sympathies.

In this notice we have been led into remarks which perhaps, have but slight connection with the subject which we propose to present at large, and which is the Ecclesiastical History of the ancient town of Taunton. Yet we think that some light may be thrown on our own ecclesiastical history by showing in a desultory manner, the spuit of the times in which the Shepherds of the flocks opened the forests of New-England to the husbandmen of England, and introduced the laws, civilization and the arts of the parent country into the wilds of America, and whose influences are now felt in the extremest borders of this vast Republic, and have opened the sacred fountain of the Gospel of Christ even on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. It is not too much to say that it was the Clergy of New-England,* who led the way to the attainment of these mighty results ; such men as Wilson and Cotton of Boston, Hio-o-inson and Roger Williams of Salem, Richard Mather of Dorchester, his distinguished son. Increase Mather, President of Harvard College, Ms still more distinguished son. Cotton Mather, superior in learning to his father and grandfather, but deficient in what they abundantly possessed, — common sense, — and many others.

Williams was the founder of the State of Rhode Island, the friend and associate of Sir Henry Yane, the Governor of Massachsetts, and one of the greatest men of his times, and of his rival, John Winthrop, also Governor of Massachusetts, and to him even the dark and suspicious Cromwell, and his son who succeeded him in the Protectorate of England, gave entire confidence. Williams was the best expositor of the science of Government, not only in the times in which he lived, but lessons, even now, might be taken from his theories, from which modern statesmen might profit.

'^ Note A. Appendix to Chapter I.

INTRODUCTORY NOTICE. XI

Chauncy, the second President of Harvard College, was called from his parish in Plymouth Colony to take charge of that renowned seminary of learning, and Dunster, the first President, returned to Scituate, and frequently exercised his clerical gifts.

Amongst these great men, the two first Ministers of Taunton, Hooke and Street, held no undistinguished place. The sermons of Hooke, who was a cousin of Oliver Cromwell, and who was the confidential friend and adviser of that great man, particularly when the crown of Great Britain was oflfered to him hy Parliament, are still extant ; and the determined spirit, hold and energetic eloquence which characterized him, are apparent in his works. Street, also, was one of the ablest writers and politicians of his day. Hooke, who left Taunton for New- Haven, went to Eno-land durins: the Protectorate of Cromwell, and Street succeeded him at New-Haven, and as a statesman discovered great talent on the question of the junction of the ancient Colonies of New-Haven and Connecticut.

In returning to ancient times we are compelled to remark, that the first original instrument, or organic law which would now be called a Constitution, was conceived and adopted as such, in the harbor of Cape Cod, in which the principle that the majority should rule was recognized. This principle is at the bottom of all our institutions of Government, the basis of all, which without it are mere forms, destitute of all efiiciency. And thus to the Pilgrims of Plymouth we must look for the original principles of all our modern Constitutions. It was through them, and them alone, we were freed from all feudal obligations and the pride and influence of birth ; they it was who gave the first sanction to the equal rights of mankind.

THE MBISTRY OF TAUNTOJ^.

Chapter I

TAUNTON. ITS SETTLEMENT AND ORIGINAL CHURCH ORGANIZATION.

It was only about six months after the first fire was kindled in the forest of Patuxet, or New-Plvmouth, in mid-winter, bj Gov. Carver and just one hundred others,* who had agreed to call him the leader of their expedition, that two of their number, Stephen Hopkins and Edward Winslow, (afterwards governor,) undertook their long and perilous journey of more than forty miles from Patuxet to Packinokik, " sometimes called Sowams, afterwards Mount Hope, and since named Bristol."! The object of that great undertaking was one which reflects the highest honor on the founders of the colony, and which is worthy of being rem.embered by their posterity. It should silence those who are wont to cast aspersions on the fair name of the fathers of New-England, as if they were cruel and unchristian in their treatment of the people they found here. The treaty with Massasoit, entered into the March

* Note B. i t Prince's New-England Chronologv, vol. i. p. 102.

following the landing at Plymouth, sufficiently well indicates the peaceful policy of the Pilgiims.*

It was the design of Winslow and Hopkins in their visit to Mount Hope, so soon after the ratification of that treaty, to assure "the greatest commander amongst the savages" of the good will of the English, in the very words of one of the ambassadors, which have come down to us — " to ' continue the league of peace and friendship — to make satisfaction for some conceived injm-ies." And what was • the great injury which these honest men took a journey of forty miles through a thick wilderness to confess to the Sachem of Packinokik, and, if possible, to repair ? Let Edward Winslow speak for himself, and for his company : "Whereas at our first arrival at Paomet (called by us; Cape Cod) we found there corn buried in the ground, and finding no inhabitants, but some graves of dead new buried, took the corn, resolvmg if ever we could hear of any thatj; had right thereunto, to make satisfaction to the full for it,; yet since we understood the owners thereof were fled for fear of us, our desire was either to pay them with the like quantity of corn, English meal, or any other commodities we had to pleasure them withal ; requesting him that some one of his men might signify so much unto them, and we w^ould content hhn for his pains." Now if these men were not honest, and careful of the rights of others, where in the wide world will you find those more so ? It was in this journey of peace and amity, in the month of June, 1621, under the direction of Squanto, or Tisquantum, a friendljfp Indian, who could speak English,! that the territory of the Indian Cohannet, now called Taunton, was first traversed j

^ Note C. t Note D.

FIRST VISIT OF ENGLISHMEN. 15

by the feet of Englishmen.* The route of Winslo^y and Hopkms from Plymouth to Mount Hope lay directly through the town. Their accountf of the region, as it appeared to their view two hundred and thirty years ago, cannot fail to be interesting to the thousands who novf live on the borders of the stream which they followed in its course from Patuxet to Mount Hope Bay. Again, two years after, "VYinslow repeated the journey, having for his companion one John Hampden, then on a visit to the colony- — desiring "much to see the country," by Dr. Belknap and others ^supposed to have been the veritable John, who afterwards acted so conspicuous a part in the stirring scenes of the Revolution which cost not onlv Charles the First, but Hampden his life. There is a sad pleasure in the thought that he who returned to England to strike an effectual blow for liberty, to die in the noble attempt to obtain a free constitution for a land which he loved more than life, once roamed through the woods of ^N'emasket — forded these streams— rested on their banks, and made memorable the spot he once stood upon in this Neio World, by his deeds of daring in the Old.

What other excursions were made by whites in the direction of Taunton, or who besides savage tribes, traversed

* Whether the Northmen in the tenth century, 500 years before Christopher Columl us "was ever heard of, left their handwriting on the " Dighton Rock," (which however at present lies in a part of Dighton, known as Assonet ISfeck, and included in Berkley,) is a question, which I leave for those who profess more learning in such matters, to settle.

t Note E.

% The supposition here made has been declared groundless by some. But it is a well ascertained fact that for the period of time which his absence in this country would cover, there is nothing heard or known of John Hampden in England. And what is more probable than that one of his sympathy and generous impulse should wish to make the acquaintance of kindred spirits in NcAV-England.

its forests till 1637, we know not. Tradition sajs, there were adventurous, isolated settlers, as early as 1626, but of this we may well doubt. " For twelve years after the commencement of the settlement of Plj-mouth," remarks Mr. Eaylies, " that town constituted the whole colony." It was not till 1636 Satuit or Scituate was incorporated, and in the year following, Duxbury. The same year, (1637,) whilst Hooker and Stone, the ministers of Newtown, in the Massachusetts colony, which was fast filling up, are on their way with their whole church and congregation to Hartford, a distance of a hundred miles, thi-ough a trackless wilderness, with " no guide but their compass, no covering but the heavens," driving before them one hundred and sixty cattle, and subsisting on the milk of cows ; whilst Davenport, Eaton and their company, finding no room in Salem, Charlestown, Boston or Cambridge, are preparing to follow and lay the foundation of New-Haven ; Dorchester, likewise, has some choice spirits, whose eye is turned towards Cohannet. "What renders this latter movenaent the more remarkable is the fact — that a ivoman led the way — '^ duxfoeminafacti." Winthrop calls her "a gentlewoman — an ancient maid — one Miss Poole." He says: — '^she went late thither, and endured much hardship and lost much- cattle." Mr. Savage, in a note on Winthrop, remarks : "she was probably encouraged in her perilous undertaking by the Rev. William Hook, who wasi the spiritual guide of the new settlement." That it was "perilous," and required no common nerve to undertake it will appear, if you consider that the nearest settlement on the east was Plymouth, at a distance of twenty-six miles — and in the intervening forests the Nemasket and Tetiquet tribes claimed dominion ; that on the west, was

SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN. 17 nothing but the feeble settlement of Roger "VYilliams at Providence ; -whilst the numerous, powerful and barbarous Narragansetts roamed free, ready any moment to devour ; that on the north, between Dorchester and Cohannet, were yet other tribes, as the Punkapoques and Neponsets, which completely shut them in from other colonists, and left them at the mercy of merciless men, accustomed to deeds of blood. She was indeed a hon-hearted lady who not only left England, where with ample means at her command, she might have enjoyed a whole lifetime a dignified ease at her own quiet fireside in the town of Taunton, Somersetshire, but when arrived hither, coveted not the quietest, safest spot, nay, penetrated the dark, untrodden wilderness, and planted a neiv church, miles from any human habitation. I do not see why Mr. Bayhes has not ascribed the true motive to the " vu-gin mother" of the town, when he says : " It was the ardent love of religion — an enthusiastic desire of planting another church in the American wilderness which impelled this pious Puritan lady to encounter all the dangers, and all the hardships of forming a settlement in the midst of the Indians." She was not alone in her feeling. The same sentiment led to the settlement of other towns in the Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies, to the settlement of New-Haven and Hartford. Thus the author of the Historical Memoir of the Colony 6f New-Plymouth well remarks in justification of himself in occupying so much space with the ecclesiastical afiairs of the towns : " It must be recollected that Plymouth as well as Massachusetts was settled by churches as such, and in such communities, the minister or pastor is of course the chief personage."* * Hon. F. Baylies — preface to 2cl part, 2d volume of Hist. Memoir.

2*

'18 THE MINISTRY OF Tx\UNTON.

Elizabeth Pool made a satisfactory purchase of the place — called "the Tetiquet purchase"* A confirmatory deed bearing date July 20, 1686, states "that Mrs. Elizabeth Pool, formerly of Taunton, did for and in behalf of the said to^Yn of Taunton purchase #ie lands of Tittiquet, in the year one thousand six hundred and thirty-seven, and that the right owners of the said lands did make sale thereof to the said Mrs. Elizabeth Pool as aforesaid and received pay of her for it." So that Mr. Baylies is right in saying that " she purchased her lands by giving a fair equivalent before occupation."!

The first or "Tetiquet purchase "$ included the present towns of Taunton, Ra}mham and Berkley. In 1668 there was an additional purchase called the JVorth Purchase, § including the present towns of Norton, Mansfield and Easton. In 1672 a third purchase caUed the South Purchase, II w^hich is now the town of Dighton. In 1680 Assonet Neck was annexed to the town. The earlier ministers of the town preached to a congregation gathered from these remote parts. ^

In the absence of church records, the loss of which we may well deplore, there is room for conjecture only as to the number and the names of the church, which in 1637 Elizabeth Pool, under the direction of the Great Head of the Church, planted in this then wilderness place. The following notice of it from one Thomas Lechford, who vis-^ ited this country about that time, and on his return to England in 1642, published a pamphlet entitled "Plain

* So called, because bought of the Tetiquet tribes, living on Taunton river. They are also called the Tittiquet and Titticut trilbes, according to the varying orthography of the name of the river on which they lived.

11 Note I. IT Note J.

EARLIEST CHURCH ORGANIZATION. 19

Dealing or liewea from New-England," is of no great worth. The writer, speaking of Taunton, sajs: "Cohannet, alias, Taunton is in Plymouth patent. There is a church gathered of late, and some ten or twenty of the church. Master Hooke, Pastor, Master Street, Teacher."* The statement is worthless, for that Taunton was in Pfymouth patent we know ; and that Master Street was associated with Master Hooke in the charge of the church, we do also know — ■ and whether ten or twenty was its original number, and what were their names, is just what we should like to know. We may rest assured however that Ehzaboth Poolf and Richard Williams J were members ; for if the first was the founder, the last "may be considered the father of the town."§ Born in 1599, he lived till 1692 — during nearly an entire century. Plis family was numerous, and his descendants almost without number. The blood of a Cromwell coursed through his veins. He is pronounced by Mr. Baylies, who is a descendant of the fifth generation, "a rigid Puritan." I find an mteresting fact inserted in a note of the Historical JMemoir, which is worthy of a place in this connection : " When blind and deaf from age, he was accustomed to attend public worship, saying, ' that although he could neither see nor hear, yet it was consoling to his feelings to know that he was present, while the people of God were at their worship.' || We may ari^ive at the names of yet others who probably constituted this church ui the wilderness ; for if none could be admitted to " the freedom of the body politic but such as were

* Note K. t Note L. t Note M.

§ Baylies Hist. Mem. vol. 1, p 284.

II For this fact Mr. Baylies informs me he was indebted to Mr. Samuel Dean of East Taunton.

church members,"* the list of freemen from Taunton will be in fact a list of its male church members. On the fourth of December, 1638, Mr. William Pool,t Mr. John Gilbert, Sen., J Mr. Henry Anclrews,§ John Strong, ||. John Dean,^ Walter Dean,** and Edward Case,f f were made freemen of the Plymouth Colony. Previous to 1640, Mr. Richard Smith, William Parker, John Smith, '■ Mr. Thomas Farwell, Mr. David Cor withy, Mr. Holloway, Mr. Nicholas Street, Thomas Gilbert, Thomas j Cooke, John Richmond, Hezekiah Hoar, Richard Paull, Hugh Rossiter, Francis Street, John Gingell, and William Scadding, were freemen. J if Thus we have the names of , not less than twenty-four men, who doubtless belonged to I the original church of Taunton, and if there were as many women, it was certainly a goodly company to covenant together on the banks of the Tetiquet. The precise spot where they built their first meeting-house — its size, and outward or inward aspect, who of us can tell ?§§ There is room here also for conjecture. We may suppose it to have been just where its venerable successor of the third generation stood. We can readily conceive of it as a ( plain, unadorned structure, without bell, belfry, steeple, or spire — a mere " log-hut" of the most moderate dimen-

=5«= Note N. t Note O. J Note P.

h Note Q. II Note E. T[ Note S.

** Note T. _ tt Note U. XX Note V.

§§ The only notice concerning the iirst meeting-house I have been able to find, is the following quoted by Mr. Baylies from the early Rec- i ords: "In 1647, the calf pasture was 'sold to Henry Andrews, for build- 1 ing the meeting-house.'' This of course was the original meeting-house of the town. When it was commenced, or when finished, or any further particulars concerning it, I know not. ' My friend. Mr. JReed, who has been examining large quantities of papers left by Brigadier General Godfrey, has fortunately fallen upon the following notice concerning the second place of worship.

"May 19, 1729. This day we began to raise the meeting-house in

THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE. 21

sions, and yet in the esteem of our devout, God-fearing fathers — "the House of GocV — sacred to His worship. Within its walls might have been seen gathered every Sabbath and in all vrcathers, no mean men, listening to the teachings of two of the most eminent divines ; to one of whom it is proposed to introduce the reader, in our next chapter, as the first* Taunton Idinistcr,

Taunton"' — which paper appears to be in the hand writing of John Godfrev. the father of the General. It was built, as I have been informed"; by Samuel, the son of Kichard Williams, with two galleries, aecordinii- to the custom of the times.

The third mccting-liouso was built in 1789, by Mr. Dcmonds of Scituatc ; is at present occupied by the Spring Street Society, and ni it are heavy oak timbers, v/hich were in the second, and probably in the first church edifice of the place. The location of the second and third, and proliably of the first meeting-house was not far from the beautiful sito of the present Unitarian stone church.