A sketch of Elder Daniel Hix, with the history of the First Christian church in Dartmouth, Mass., for one hundred years

Preface

The following pages were written to supply a local want, and to preserve the records of the First Christian Church of Dartmouth in a permanent form. It is evident such a book will be useful not only to the church but to all desirous of reviewing the lessons of the past ; and perhaps no apology is required, beyond regrets that the work has been done in such an imperfect manner. This, however, from a pressure of other duties, was unavoidable. The book lays no claim to literary excellence, and goes forth with the desire that it may be profitable, if not faultless as a scholarly production.

Some years ago the propriety of such a work was seen, but few materials could then be found. Recently the diary of Elder Daniel Hix, his list of baptisms, and the church records of the old Baptist organization, were obtained from Mrs. Rachel Davis of Westport, to w^hom the thanks of writer and readers are due.

I am under obligations to Gilbert Miller, clerk of the church, for Information found in

IV PREFACE.

the later portion of the work. Indebtedness is also thankfully acknowledged to General Ebenezer W. Peirce, Rev. O. A. Roberts, Rev. I. C. Goff, Rev. Moses How, Rev. B. S. Batchelor, Rev. George N. Kelton, Jesse W. Nichols, Thomas Cottle, Mrs. William Allen, Mrs. Judith Whithead and others, for particular incidents, correction of lists of church members, &c. Some of the church documents, and names in most cases, have been copied literally; family records have been consulted, and much pains taken to verify any partial or doubtful dates : it is likely, however, that among so many names some mistakes may be seen, which it is hoped will be pardoned. Contributions have also been levied upon the Memoirs of Elders Smith, Shaw, and Fernald, besides Backus's Church History, Bliss' History of Rehoboth, and Ricketson's History of New Bedford.

I also desire here to express thanks to Mr. B. F. H. Reed, for aid in revising the work, proof reading, &c., which has enabled me to fulfill my promise to subscribers ; and if the book is in any degree helpful in promoting piety, the object in view will have been attained.

S. M. A.

North Dartmouth, March i, iSSo.

Contents

Page

Preface, iii

Contents, v

Chapter I

Elder Daniel Ilix ; His Family ; Boyhood; Education; Military Service ; Marriage ; Religious Experience ; Call to the Ministry ; His Character as a Man and a Minister, i

Chapter H.

Religious Meetings in Dartmouth ; Organization of the Church ; Call of Elder Hix ; Original List of Members ; Ordination ; Installation ; Discipline ; Salary ; Elements of Success ; Success in Preaching ; Groton Conference ; Revival at Long Plain ; General Reformation of 1 788, 29

Chapter IH.

Preaching Tour ; Revival of 1794-5 ; Doctrinal Discuscussions ; Council in Freetown ; Revival of 1 801-2 ; Ordination of Elder Ira Phillips ; Great Revival of 1805-6 ; Elias Smith ; Sermon of Elder Hix ; Change of the Church, 63

VI CONTEXTS.

Chapter IV,

Page

Continued Reformations; Organization of the North Christian Church in New Bedford; Elder Howard Tripp; His Early Preaching; Revival in Taunton, Rochester, New Bedford, and Middleborough; Final Separation from the Groton Conference; Letter of Elder Hix to the Conference; The Second Church Built; Revivals of 1811-12-13, 93

Chapter V.

War of 1 81 2; Secession of Anti- War Members; Revival and Formation of the First Christian Church in Westport; Ordination of Elder Howard Tripp; Great Revival of 1825; Organization of Fall River Church; Other Revivals; Death of Aunt Mary Hix; Last Sermon and Death of Elder Daniel Hix; Church Troubles; Temperance Reform; List of Members, 1829-44, 123

Chapter VI.

Advent Meetings; Causes and Effects of that Excitement; Third Church Built; Elder Tripp's Resignation; Elder William Faunce; North Westport Church Formed; Revivals of 1857-61; Difficulties; Sketches of Successive Pastors; Revival of 1870; Obstacles; Present Condition; List of Members; Record of Marriages Solemnized by Elder Hix, 161

Appendix,

Sketch of Elder Daniel Hix.

SKETCH OF ELDER DANIEL HL\.

CHAPTER L

ELDER DANIEL HIX ; HIS FAMILY ; BOYHOOD ; ED- UCATION ; MILITARY SERVICE ; MARRIAGE ; RE- LIGIOUS EXPERIENCE; CALL TO THE MINISTRY; HIS CHARACTER AS A MAN AND A MINISTER.

Daniel Hix was born in Rehoboth, Mass., Nov. 30, 1755. The house where his father, Elder John Hix, then lived is still standing (Oct. 1879) perhaps three fourths of a mile southwest of the Oak Swamp meeting-house. Little is known of the early history of the Hix family beyond a tradition that two brothers came from England near the beginning of the eighteenth century. John Hix, father of Daniel, was born May 10, 1 71 2 (O. S.) ; his wife, Hannah Galusha, was born April 25, 1713 (O. S.)

Bliss, in his history of Rehoboth, says that John Hix formed a Baptist church in that town and was ordained its first pastor, Nov. 10, 1762. In 1 77 1 there was a revival in this church, and Elder Hix baptized forty persons. He was taken sick, but the revival continued under the B labors of Elhanan Winchester, who shortly after formed another church. The new church was divided the next year on doctrinal questions, and Jacob Hix, the oldest son of Elder John Hix, was ordained pastor of the part which retained the old Baptist principles, Jan. 20, 1773.

Jacob Hix was born Jan. i, 1740, and seems to have been a truly pious and useful man. He preached in a church situated about one and a half miles southwest from the present Oak Swamp meeting-house, and three fourths of a mile from Stillman Baker's residence and the cemetery on the old Hix homestead. He owned a farm and part of a mill, which, wath some help from the church, enabled him to live comfortably. He had no children, and died March 30, 1809, after an illness of only four days, aged sixty-nine years. His wife, Submit Hix, died May 25, 1809, aged seventy years.

The other children of Elder John Hix were : Sarah, born Oct. 17, 1735, who married Daniel Carpenter, and removed in early life, perhaps to New York state ; Anna married Valentine Horton, and died in Rehoboth ; Nathan was born Aug. 23, 1742, and died June i, 1816. He was the father of Capt. Nathan Hix and grandfather of John Hix, now living in Rehoboth. John, another son, settled in Richmond, N. H., as appears from some nearly illegible writing in Daniel Hix's diary, dated Nov. 30, 1774. This was his nineteenth birthday, and he began a journey of four days to Richmond to see his brother John. Nothing more is known of this brother, unless the death of John Hix, Nov. 10, 1776, as recorded by Daniel, refers to him. Josiah, son of Elder John Hix, settled in Royalston, Mass. His son Josiah^came to Dartmouth and married Serapta Phillips, and their children were Mary, Daniel, Jacob, Sarah, Nancy, Eliza, Amanda and Philip. Sarah and Philip are dead ; Amanda removed years ago ; Mary, with her husband William Allen, lives on the homestead of Elder Daniel Hix; Mrs. Eliza Briggs lives in Dartmouth ; Daniel and Jacob Hix live inWestport.

From the rolls of the old military companies, it is certain other families of the same name lived in Rehoboth, but whether they were relatives of Elder John Hix is not known.

Elder John Hix continued preaching in Rehoboth until 1785, when his health failed, and he died March 17, 1799, aged eighty-seven, having outlived his wife eleven years. There is no doubt of his sterling qualities as a man and a minister. In 1780 his church comprised 106 members.

The family seems to have been characterized by a rugged honesty common to the best families of that day ; and while the boys were early trained to out-door work, the girls knit, spun and wove most of the family clothing, besides doing other work belonging to the household. Elder Jacob Hix was a millwright, Daniel was a cooper, and all were hunters and farmers, and by all these occupations they gained their livelihood. Such surroundings could hardly help forming a character such as Daniel Hix afterwards possessed. With a sturdy frame and robust health, he early became a leader among his associates, and stories of his feats of mischief have been transmitted from one generation to another. So far as we can learn, his acts were inspired by a spirit of frolic rather than malice. There is nothing surprising in this. Strong animal life is ever associated with buoyant spirits, and the ablest minds have generally been found in connection with good health and robust bodies. The preacher Daniel Hix was the natural outgrowth of the boy who was able not only to lead his comrades into, but out of mischief successfully. On one occasion, after a more than usual roguish prank, he lay stretched out upon the meal chest, while his mother urged him to abandon his habits of folly, and appealed to his love for his father and brother Jacob, who

ELDER DANIEL MIX. 5

were much grieved by his conduct. " Well, mother," said he, ''you know the shaking of the bag is the flour of the meal ; I shall be a preacher by-and-by, and when I am I shall beat father and Jacob both."

A neighbor one Fall had loaded his cart with apples to draw away, when Daniel and his comrades, seeing a chance for some fun, backed the cart down a hill and tipped the whole load into the well. This was rather serious, and his father deemed it best to secure Daniel in his room at night. The opportunity for more mischief soon arrived, and with outside help from his companions, he passed out through the window, but was careful to return before morning. Another complaint was made to Elder Hix, but said the old man, " It could not be Daniel, for he was fastened securely in his room." At one time a minister came to visit Elder Hix, and as he shared Daniel's room the boy was supposed to be secure for that night at least. After his bedfellow was asleep, Daniel crept out, and with his associates went to a store or public house and removed the sign-board, which they carried to the meeting-house and placed under the pulpit, which concealed it from view. This too was charged to Daniel, but the minister testifying to his presence through the night saved him from punishment.

His opportunities for education were very limited. There is one record in his note-book relative to school. He writes : "School began July 12, 1773; the school ended Oct. 16, 1773. For boarding schoolmistress, £2 5 s." Elder George Kelton says, " Judging from my personal knowledge of the educational interests of the community fifty years later, his advantages must have been very limited, but in this he was the peer of his age and time." It is evident he improved all his privileges, for books still preserved show he could read, write and keep accounts years before he began to preach, and he seems to have been very exact in his records.

He was without doubt early taught the principles of piety, and afterwards wrote, " I was often convicted of my being a sinner by the Spirit of Christ," but the excitements of the revolutionary war were probably not favorable to early piety.

He was in his twentieth year, when he wrote, April 20, 1775 : '* An alarm came here in the morning to go to Boston. I set out with my sword by my side and my gun upon my back, until we met Col. Smith, who ordered us to go back and meet in the morning at Deacon Danlel Bullock's, and we should have news if we were wanted ; which we did. In the morning of April 2 1 we met and chose our officers. Chose John Kilton captain, Stephen Bullock lieutenant, and Samuel Gofif ensign. Col. Smith came and said he had no news from Boston, and our captain ordered that we should be ready at a minute's warning, and dismissed the company for a week." This alarm was in accordance with the plans of the patriot officers ; but being so far from Lexington, of course the British had retreated to Boston, and the Rehoboth men were not needed.

The continental army was made up at this time of volunteers, but the militia were enrolled and drilled, and sometimes were drafted to serve as coast guard. When on such duty, they were partly or wholly supplied with weapons, clothing, &c., by the government, and were under pay. During the years i 'J']^-'] it became necessary to call out a portion of the militia as a coast guard ; it appears also that the company to which Daniel Hix belonged became sadly disorganized. " The 4th company met at Deacon Daniel Bullock's on the 22d of March to choose officers, and after consulting a while, chose Nathaniel Pearce captain, Stephen Bullock lieutenant, Samuel Gofif ensign. They all refused to serve. Then chose James Horton ensign, and he refused. They then elected S. Bullock captain, James Horton lieutenant, and Israel Nichols ensign, and they accepted. The under officers were left to be chosen by the commissioned officers. The 4th company met again at Deacon Bullock's March 28, when the officers came to take proper measures to settle the company. It was put to vote whether the company would sign a covenant to obey them, and they could not get a vote ; then the captain asked a dismission of the soldiers, but they refused, and then he declared he would not serve them in that place. Col. Peck came there to list men, but none listed that day. " " May 29th, 1776, this company met at Hezekiah Martin's and drew up before his door. Elder John Hix prayed with them ; then they marched into a field ; the roll was called, arms inspected, then exercised till they were ordered to fire ; when eleven men left the company, and afterwards others as the officers showed no authority over them."

Sometime in the Winter of 1775-6 it is quite certain Daniel Hix was in government service, for ** Lieutenant Bowen, Sergeant Cambell and Elisha Mason went to Roxbury for money for the soldiers." Once D. Hix went with Abiah

Jenkins and Wheaton Luther to Roxbury and Watertown. They arrived home Feb. 29th with the money, and stayed at Elder John Hix's that night. " March 2, paid Daniel Bullock and Richard Lee their money and took a receipt for the same."

''March the 5th, 1776, a part of a company listed under Peck ; " who was probably the Capt. Peleg Peck under whom Daniel served in the fall of 1777 in Tiverton, R. L

From the various records of farm work, &c., it is quite certain that Daniel Hix lived in Rehoboth during most of 1776. March 2, 1777, he was married to Mary Kelton, daughter of Capt. John Kelton, whose family is well known in Rehoboth. In Oct. 1777, he served 17 days more in the coast guard at Tiverton, R. L, in Capt. Ichabod Wade's company in Col. Williams's regiment.

With their various disadvantages, it cannot be doubted that these terms of service were beneficial in forming in young Hix the habits of order and promptness for which he was afterwards noted. It is said that in the course of his military service he sometimes preached for the amusement of his comrades, which folly caused him regret in later years.

As far as known, his religious experience lO A SKETCH OF

began Dec. 9, 1779. He came from work one night and found his wife had gone to meeting. While eating his supper his thoughts took a serious turn, and he resolved to go and return with her. At this meeting he decided to begin a Christian life. He writes afterwards, '* My distress and trials cannot be written, nor my joys when delivered, Dec. 17, 1779." Baptized by Elder John Hix, the same month he joined his brother Jacob Hix's church. " The Lord only knows why this should be, but I believe he means it for good to Zion, and I immediately found the Lord never meant his children should hide their tallow under a bed or bushel, nor their talent in a napkin." This view was what might have been expected of such an earnest, energetic disposition. His mind was much exercised for souls out of Christ, and he says, " I conferred not with flesh and blood though my strength was small."

With a solemn sense of his responsibility, he yielded to the persuasion of friends, and preached his first sermon from Jeremiah, IV, 19, (which he says "was gloriously opened to my mind,") March 13, 1780.

The following part of a letter from Elder John Hix was probably sent to Daniel soon

ELDER DANIEL IIIX. I I

after his ordination, which took place in July, 1780.

To Brother Daniel :

O brother Daniel, be humble; carry low sails. I tremble for you, ordained so soon after conversion. I trust I had been religious ten years, and preached four years but not ordained, being three or four years older. I preached for you a little that night, and pray you may take good advice; let your experienced father counsel you, and be humble and teachable. You are so newly come to the faith, I am afraid like Uzziah of old you may give wrong touches to the ark which is the cause of religion; be good and religious, brother Daniel.

Soon after ordination his way was opened to live in Dartmouth, at which time he wTites : *' My soul so loveth the Lord and the cause of my master, on the 5th of April, 1781, I left my honored father and loving mother, and all that was near and dear and delightful but Jesus and Christians' conversation, which is more than all earthly friends, and came to labor and improve my gifts in Dartmouth, with a branch of Elder Jacob Hix's church which lay nigh my heart and has for twelve months past, and at their repeated request. O Lord, bless my poor soul, and grant that my labors, private and public, may be blessed to the advantage of Zion and convincing to sinners of the error of their ways."

From the foregoing it is clear that Daniel Hix was perhaps strong willed and impetuous, but with reflective faculties capable of correct judgment, even in youth ; he was not guided so much by feeling as by reason, and he certainly possessed deeply settled convictions of truth, which he preached with a strong faith in their ultimate triumph. He had a well-balanced mind, which counted the cost of every enterprise, and when undertaken it was prosecuted with wisdom and zeal. These qualities are the elements of real greatness, and enabled him to impress society as few men of the present age have done. He was called eccentric ; doubtless he was so in his modes of preaching, which grew out of a real wit natural to the man ; but there was usually an object in view which was secured by these odd expressions. Besides being limited in general culture, he was in harmony with the age in using the most direct and striking language to convey his ideas.

He once held a meeting in the south part of Dartmouth. After meeting he said to a man present, ''Some tears shed to-day." "They were not caused by your sermon," replied the man, probably afraid of a direct appeal. " No, I suppose not," said the Elder ; '' they were doubtless caused by your wicked actions."

On one occasion he met a man much intoxicated ; he was passing by, when the man called with drunken familiarity, " Why, Elder, don't you know me ? You converted me twenty years ago." "Ah," said the Elder, "it looks like some of my work ; I don't believe the Lord had much to do with it."

We copy the following from the Old and New, a paper published by Rev. O. A. Roberts on the seventieth anniversary of the organization of the North Christian Church in New Bedford, Mass., January 25th, 1877 :

He [Elder Daniel Hix] preached not by constraint, but willingly; nor for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. His sermons were long, often two or three hours; and although not carefully prepared, they were so remarkable for strength and originality of thought, so practical and full of the Holy Ghost, that his hearers never tired. He held a revered, beloved and sacred place in the hearts of multitudes in this region. He was often called away to officiate at ordinations, installations, and four-days meetings. At the close of one of these latter, held somewhere down on the Cape, where the brethren were rich in faith only, a brother arose, hat in hand, and said Elder Hix had been with them several days, they had enjoyed a precious season, and he would now proceed to take up a collection in his behalf. "Don't, brother, don't," said the good Elder; "you're welcome to my labors, and my heart's with you and I feel for you. When I came down here I had a little change in my pocket, and I 've been thinking all the time how I could divide it round amongst you. If you won't say anything about it I won't, — but don't pass round the hat." Elder Hix often labored all night long at his trade while his faithful wife wove at her loom in order to meet their temporal C wants and give him time to attend to his ministerial duties by day.

We are indebted to the memory of Elder Moses How and the pen of Elder B. S. Batchelor for the following account of the first meeting of Elders Hix and John Leland :

These two eccentric men had never met each other, but had corresponded, Mrs. Hix was in the house alone, except a young girl who assisted her about her work, when a stranger came in, and after the usual salutations took a seat on the dye-tub in a chimney corner, and taking out his pipe commenced smoking. Mrs. Hix, not liking his ways, sent the girl into the field to call her husband. He came in immediately and looked at the stranger. "How d'ye do?" was the opening salutation, answered by " How d'ye do? " Elder Hix then took his pipe and began to smoke as he walked the floor. Soon the stranger called him by name. " You have the advantage of me," said Elder Hix ; " you know my name, and I should like to knot\' yours." "Why do you ask my name?" said the stranger, "seeing it is secret? " "I never heard of but one that had a secret name, and that was an angel, and I guess you are not an angel unless you are a fallen one," was the reply. After a pause. Elder Hix pushed his inquiry by asking, "Where are you from?" The answer was, " From the wilderness." " Where are you bound? " " For the land of Canaan." "It is doubtful if you ever get there." Another pause, and Elder Hix said, " I should like to know your name." "John, sir, John," was the reply. "John what?" "John Leland, sir." "Don't believe it," was the incredulous answer. " He that believeth not shall be damned." This parleying had now lasted half an hour; but when Elder Hix became sure that it was his hitherto unseen friend they embraced each other and wept hke children, and spent the most of the night together in conversation.

The following illustrates his style in the pulpit. The Elder had great love for trapping foxes, and he turned his experience to account in this wise. When preaching his anniversary sermon after a forty years pastorate, he said : *' I have preached here these forty years, and some of you are no better than you were when I began. You make me think of an old fox that I tried to catch.- I baited the trap but the fox came and stole my bait. I set it again and baited it, and he came again and stole it. Then I turned the trap bottom up, and that night I caught him. Now some of you have been stealing my bait all these years. The Lord help me to turn the trap up-side down !"

That Elder Hix's love for fun did not pass away with youth is evident from the following anecdotes.

A Mr. John Andrews sometimes went hunting with him, and on one occasion the Elder, walking in front, grasped a bush, holding it until John was in the right position, when he let it go, switching him smartly in the face. Some emphatic remarks followed from the injured party, and Elder Hix replied, " Hush, hush, John ; I held it as long as I could."

The same man was a good friend of Elder Hix, though not a church member. Once on receiving his pay for mowing, he dedined pay for one day's work, saying he would take that in preaching. " I don't know about that, John," said the Elder; " I shouldn't want to chase you through the woods bee hunting on Sunday to pay you in preaching."

Another characteristic of Elder Hix was a native shrewdness, manifest in conversing with an educated Calvinist clergyman, who questioned him as to the nature of evangelical repentance. '' Define evangelical," said Daniel. " Why, that repentance which is unto salvation." ''Ah," said Elder Hix, "that is what I preach, — repentance unto salvation."

A little girl in the same minister's society wished to be baptized. The preacher objected, saying she knew nothing about circumcision. **Ah," said Elder Daniel, "circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth anything, but a new creature."

He evidently felt but little respect for useless forms, but sought the life and power of experimental piety, which course kept him in advance of the people. In this work his native common-sense made him judicious in the choice of means, and he probably made as few mistakes as any preacher of his time. His success as pastor and evangelist was almost unrivaled ; his work extended nearly over and even beyond Bristol county, and he held the respect and love of thousands of people.

He seems to have been a spiritual man in the best sense of the word. Prayer was his delight, while he taught and believed the doctrine of trusting in God for blessings needed in daily life. On one occasion he made a preaching tour to Fall River, from there to Connecticut, where he preached once or more ; then being furnished with a lunch of johnny-cake and cheese, he started to return home. On his way was a ferry, and he had but a ninepence in his pocket, not enough to carry him over. He stopped to let his horse feed, and ate his lunch, and then prayed most earnestly for direction, after which he remounted and rode on. He soon heard a traveller behind him, who rode up and told him he heard him preach the night before, and then saying his business required haste, he shook hands with Elder Hix, leaving in his hand several pieces of silver money, and rode on. This incident verified his faith, and he sometimes related it in later years.

Perhaps it was on this tour that he overtook the Dutchman driving to the meeting to be held that night. Elder Hix kept up with him, and after meeting, the Dutchman said to him, " I thought you might be a surly old deacon, but did not think you were a preacher. I find you are a preacher and your preaching has a witness with it."

Elder Hix was strongly attached to his church and people. When asked once about going to Middleborough to live, he replied, "If I go there I shall have to remove my family there." "Of course we expect that," said the friend. "But," said the Elder, "it would be very difficult to remove the whole church of Dartmouth there with me."

As an instance of his strength and activity, he once saved a burning house while the men were away to town meeting, by walking on the roof, holding a line attached to the chimney, while women handed water to him through the scuttle.

The daring courage of the man was exemplified in his religious work. We have little idea of the virulence of different sects towards each other during the early part of the present century. Baptism, the doctrines of election and the trinity, claimed much attention, while the scholarship of the age was exhausted in proving the respective creeds. It required much wisdom with real courage, to carry out any plan of religious improvement; yet Elder Hix seems to have pursued a course which secured the present welfare of the church and also laid the foundation for future successes.

His success was not accidental nor ephemeral, but obtained by forecast and industry. It could hardly be said that Elder Hix was a man of genius, unless a combination of common-sense faculties made him so ; but for a large judgment in organizing and executing plans of religious improvement in his field of labor, he has rarely been equaled. He seems to have recognized the conditions of the best success, and after due thought pressed forward with energy in the path of duty. As a result, success came — a true and lasting success in developing the religious forces of his large society. He must have had enemies, and he speaks of deep trials, especially before the church was dropped from the Baptist denomination. He was doubtless slandered w^hile pursuing a course that he felt was necessary to the welfare of the church, but we hear of no harsh expressions in return. He held his doctrines firmly, ever appealing to the scriptures as their support, and displayed more than ordinary ability in defending them from attack.