a great-grandson of the Rev. James Keith. This pauper, with his father, Daniel Keith, and grandfather, John Keith, son of the Rev. James Keith, lived and died in the plaintiff town. It became necessary to prove where, in old Bridgewater, Minister Keith lived and died, and sundry old people were witnesses of, and sundry depositions of ancient people were then (1828-29) taken for that purpose, as well as to prove the genealogy of the pauper; and some of said deponents and witnesses well remembered the house then (1828) owned and occupied by Arrabella, daughter of said Amasa Howard, deceased, and widow of Benjamin Eaton, deceased, as far back as 1750, and said it was then (1750) an ancient-looking house, and had always appeared the same as it then (1828-29) appeared. That case was tried, and before the whole court, twice, and the fact that the Rev. James Keith lived and died in that house was then well and satisfactorily established. "The homestead of Rev. James Keith consisted of two house-lots of six acres each, with a ten-acre lot at the head of said house-lots, and with a house thereon built by the town, conditionally given by the town to him in consideration of his future services as their minister, and remained entire until about 1800; and though this house and a portion of the homestead on which it stands has been owned and occupied by many persons as tenants, in common and otherwise, yet the title to this house and portion of the home. stead has always remained in and been confined to four persons and their families, to wit: "James Keith and his children, down to 1723......... 61 years. 66 42 66 50 66 222 years. "We have never been able to find any record of the date of the birth of Rev. James Keith, nor the date of his marriage to Susanna, daughter of Deacon Samuel Edson, or of the date of the birth of his children, except Joseph. In the pamphlet referred to on the third page of this book it is stated that they were married May 3, 1668, but that date was acknowledged by the author to be conjectural and without authority, and we have no confidence in that date. His son, in that pamphlet, is said to have married Mary Thayer, of Weymouth, May 3, 1695. The records of Bridgewater give the dates of the births of his children, but not of his marriage, James, his oldest child, being born Jan. 8, 1696. Susanna, daughter of Rev. James Keith, was married, in Taunton, to Jonathan Howard, of Bridgewater, Jan. 8, 1689, and died soon after without issue, and the Rev. James Keith was probably born as early as 1643, and began to preach in Bridgewater soon after his arrival, in 1662. Master James Keith probably continued to preach and perform the office of minister for that people from that time to the time of his settlement, Feb. 18, 1664, old style, but when he arrived, or in what ship, or who his parents were, or his brothers or sisters, if any, were, or when he first went into possession of this house and land does not appear. The town had employed one Mr. Bunker to serve them as minister for 1660, 1661, and perhaps a part of 1662. He then declined to accept their invitation to settle among them. The town had previously, without reference to any particular minister, agreed to give their minister a purchase right with all privileges. "In support of the above history of this house, we present the following extracts from the first volume of town records, and a copy of the inventory of the Rev. James Keith, recorded in the fourth volume of Probate Court Records at Plymouth, page 185 : "Volume I. pago 30. It is agreed upon by the towne, meett together the sixt-und-twentieth of Desember (1664), that there shall be a house built for a minister upon the town's lands, where it shall be thought most convenient, and that the said house and grounds is to be freely ginen to that minister y shall liue and die amongst us, being called by the towne to the work of the ministry, or by a church gathered according to the order of the gospel, with the consent of the towne; as also a compleat purchase, with uplands and meadow lands, according as other townesmen haue.' "This record further provides for the contingency of death, a short time of service, and inability to serve, and occupies the last half of said page. "This house was probably built in 1662, in pursuance of the town's agreement on the 26th day of December, 1661, but not finished May 13, 1664, when the town employed two persons to finish the chimneys and glass the windows, as follows (44th page): "An agreement made between the towne and John Willis, seynior, and John Ames, for the finishing of the chimnies, backs, hearths, and ouen belonging to the minister's house. And they are to find all and draw all, both clay, stones, and 200 bricks, for the aforesaid chimnies, backs, and ouen and hearths, and to do it sufficiently; and the towne, for their paines, are to pay to them next haruest twenty bushels of good marchandable corne, and the work to be finished by the last of August insuing; the date hereof being now the 13th (thirteenth) of May, 1664, to be paid when Indyan corn is marchantable.' "The roof was probably a thatched roof at first, and the house unoccupied and neglected at first; and on the 11th of October, 1664, the house required some repairs and improvements, and the record in the same book, page 43, reads as follows: It was agreed upon by the twone, mett together the elenenth of October, 1664, that the twone was freely willing to couer the minister's house the second time, and to glass the windows as soon as they cann, prouided that they cann gett glass for boards.' "On the 44th page the town gave him possession of said house and land, as follows: "This record made the 18th of February, 1661. The towne, being meet together, doth declare and hold forth that the towne did then resigne and make ouer to Mr. Keith the house and garden belonging to the minister's lott or purchase, according to the tennor of the agreement made between Mr. Keith and the towne, and gaue him free liberty to possess it.' ( "And on the 34th page of said book is a full record of the terms of his settlement made with the town under date of Feb. 18, 1664, old style; and among other things, the town agreed to giue Master James Keith,' conditionally, 'twelue acres of land, already laid out, with a dwelling-house built upon the same by the towne; the lands well known, and liing upon the Mill Riuer, and joining to the lands of Nath' Willis on the one side and to George Turner on the other side.' Sept. 13, 1670, page 60, 'town choose a committee to let out Mr. Keith's barn, and to set the work forward and do their endeavor to see the workmau paid for his labor;' and, May 23, 1673, on page 68, the town gave him full title to his house and lands, as follows: "It was agreed upon by the inhabitants of the towne of Bridgewater, the three-and-twentieth of May, one thousand six hundred and seventy-three, that Master James Keith, in consideration of hauing been some competent time in the work of the ministry among them, should haue the dwelling-house and out-houses he is possessed of, with the twelue acre lot he liues upon, as also all the lands, whether uplands or meadow lands, belonging to a full purchase.' "And did then freely give and grant the same to him, his heirs, and assigns; and on Nov. 20, 1675, page 71, 'uoted there shall be a garrison made about Mr. Keith's house.' "On the 20th of September, 1677, page 74, the town 'uoted to raise and give Mr. Keith 24 lbs. toward the building of him a conuenient roome or dwelling-house,' as follows: "The town being mett together the twentieth of September, 1677, did arran and agree to give freely to Mr. Keith twentyand-four pounds, to be paid at his house-the one half to be paid in Indian corne, and the other half in boards and clapboards, by the last of April insuing the date hereof; and the said twenty-four pounds to be raised by way of rate upon the inhabitants of the town, which was given to Mr. Keith toward the building of him a conuenient roome or dwelling-house; the boards at 5×, a hundred and clapboards, shaven, at 58. a hundred.' "This house, in which many of his children were born, was probably not enlarged with a convenient room until the summer of 1678. "The inventory of Rev. James Keith, recorded in the fourth volume of the Probate Record, page 185, was taken Aug. 25, 1719, by John Field, Isaac Johnson, and John Ames, Jr., and contains ten items of personal property, amounting to 167lbs. and 11s., and shows the internal division and arrangement of the house at that time, corresponding to the rooms and condition of the house at the time of the alteration in 1837, to wit: Mr. Keith was succeeded in the ministry by Rev. Daniel Perkins, who was ordained Oct. 4, 1721, and was pastor sixty-two years. He died Sept. 29, 1782. Rev. John Reed was the next pastor, ordained June 7, 1780, and continued his ministry here until his death, Feb. 17, 1831. Rev. Richard Stone was settled in 1834, and continued about eight years. Darius Forbes appears as pastor in 1845. Rev. J. G. Forman was settled April 1, 1849. Rev. Russell A. Ballou was settled April, 1852. Rev. Ira Bailey supplied the pulpit in the summer of 1857, and was settled April 21, 1858. Rev. Daniel S. C. M. Potter was the pastor July, 1860, and settled in May, 1861. Rev. Males B. Thayer supplied the pulpit from April, 1863, to April, 1864. Rev. Nathaniel O. Chaffee supplied from August, 1864, to April, 1865. Rev. Theodore L. Dean began his services with the society April, 1865, and was ordained as pastor Feb. 14, 1866. His services with the society terminated April 1, 1867. In April, 1867, the Rev. J. G. Forman, a former minister, supplied the pulpit a few Sabbaths, and was invited to become the settled minister again after the repairing of the church building, which was completed during the months of June, July, and August, and during said months the church was closed. This building was erected in the year 1801, it being the fourth church edifice which this society had built and used for public worship since the settlement of the Rev. James Keith, in 1664. Tradition locates the first building for church use in several different places, but history is silent in relation to it. The second and third meeting-houses stood on what is now the Central Square, and it was the place where the entire population of the original township of Bridgewater assembled for public worship. The last on that location was a three-story building, having two tiers of galleries. The west end of said building stood about where the soldiers' monument now stands. About the time that the Rev. Mr. Forman commenced his second term of service with this society it came into possession of a bequest of twenty thousand dollars, made by the late Capt. Benjamin B. Howard, the income of which was to be applied to the support of the ministry in this church. The society being thus encouraged in its prospective condition, entered into an engagement with Mr. Forman for a term of five years, and a longer time conditionally; but at the end of three years the engagement was brought to a close, and the society was again without a pastor March 27, 1870. Rev. F. P. Hamblett supplied the pulpit after May, 1871, and was installed as pastor April 29, 1872, and continued as pastor about four years. Rev. James W. Fitch supplied the pulpit from July, 1866, to February, 1867. Rev. David H. Montgomery was the pastor of the church from September, 1877, to September, 1881. C. C. Carpenter supplied from September, 1881, about two years. Rev. William Brown supplied the pulpit a part of the time during the summer of 1883, and was engaged as pastor of the society for a term of five years, commencing on the 1st of September, 1883, without a formal installation, and is the present pastor. Baptist Church.'-Originally there was but one church in Bridgewater, and that was of the Puritan order, or, as we of to-day say, strictly Orthodox Congregationalist. We find this church maintained its purity during the pastorate of its first pastor, Rev. James Keith, and, for aught we know, for the first few years of that of its second pastor, Rev. Daniel Perkins; but in 1748 we find the church began to be troubled with Separatists; probably these were the fruit of the great awakening, or possibly the fruit of the preaching of John Porter, whose sermon on the New Way so excited the ire of Mr. Perkins. 1 Condensed from an able address delivored by Albert Copoland. We find, by referring to the church records, that at a church meeting held Sept. 12, 1448, "To consider the case of some of our brethren who attended a separate meeting at private houses the last two Sabbaths, the following question was put: Whether those that remain steadfastly adhering to the ministry and discipline of this church are not bound to inquire into the reasons of the conduct of their brethren in separating from them, and act agreeably to what they shall find? Voted in the affirmative by a large majority. Also voted that Deacon Edson, Mr. Keith, Esquire Johnson, and Mr. John Willis be a committee to discourse with the brethren that are for upholding such separate meeting on the Sabbath, and that they give in their reasons, if any they have, for so doing." At another meeting, held Sept. 21, 1748, only nine days after, the record says, "Stopped the church after lecture, and the votes of the church were read, and then the reasons of the separating brethren were communicated, and the question was put, Whether these reasons are in the judgment of the brethren sufficient to countenance the upholding of a separate meeting on the Lord's day? Passed in the negative. Voted, that they should be admonished not to go on in such disorder, but to return to the only Communion of the Church, and that we could not on any other terms be free to hold communion with them." Oct. 10, 1748, the church voted as follows, viz. : "That they continue of the same mind as before, not to justify the conduct of their separating brethren, and that we defer the consideration of their case till Monday, the 31st instant, and that meanwhile their pastor and two brethren be desired to discourse with them." Oct. 31, 1748, the church met, and a number of the Separatists desired a dismission to form a church by themselves for the reasons already given. The church voted in the negative, and voted to still further wait on their brethren and see if they will return to an orderly walk with us. At a church meeting held Dec. 12, 1748, "It was voted that such of the brethren as continue to separate from us be publickly admonished and suspended from our communion till they return to order, peace, and fellowship with us." "Jan. 8, 1749, read an admonition and suspension for twenty-eight members of this church, viz.: Joshua Willis, Experience Willis, Silas Willis, Thomas Willis, Jr., Susannah Willis, Nathaniel Harvey, John Snow, Hannah Snow, Elezer Snow, Mary Snow, Samuel 2 Original members of the First Baptist Church, Bridge water. Lothrop, Abiel Lothrop, Daniel Lothrop,' Rhoda Lothrop, Isaac Lothrop, Patience Lothrop, Rachel Alger, Joseph Alger, Mary Alger, Joseph Alger,' Jr., Joseph Ames, Susannah Ames, Abner Hayward, Mary Hayward, Mary Lothrop, Mary Howard, Esther Soper, and Patience Hall. Voted that this be sent by the hands of Deacons Fobes and Burr, John Willis, and Samuel Dunbar." This was the action of the church in relation to the Separatists in 1748-49, three years after the great awakening. Therefore we may safely infer that these Separatists were the fruit of that awakening, and also infer that the First Church in Bridgewater had followed in the downward course with the other New England churches, although it had not as yet admitted members without a relation of their Christian experience. But at a church meeting held May 28, 1768, nineteen years after the exclusion of the Separatists, the church voted: "That no relation of experience should be required of persons desiring admission to the church, nor be improved unless the person desiring admission desired it." In this band of Separatists we find the nucleus, or embryo, of the First Baptist Church. Some of this band came back, and were made to acknowledge and confess the "sin of separation," and were restored to the fellowship of the church. Many of these twenty-eight persons were inhabitants of the west part of the town, and that some of them, at least, remained steadfast in the "liberty wherewith Christ had made them free" is evident from the fact that there is recorded in the old church records a statement that committees were appointed from time to time to "Discourse with our western neighbors to endeavor to win them back to the fellowship of the Church." The First Baptist Church in Bridgewater was formally organized June 7, 1785, a little more than thirty-six years after the expulsion of the Separatists. Thus more than a generation of men had been born and passed away between these events. The late Dr. Ide, of Springfield, in speaking of the slowness of the divine operation, once said, "Majestic slowness is the order of divine progress. God never changes. Immutable in His nature and in His counsels, He acts in both the world of matter and in the world of mind by the same line of procedure. The creature is impatient, the Creator deliberate. The creature, whose sum of earthly life is bounded by threescore years and ten, hurries to and fro in the restlessness of his will, seeking to push forward his Original members of the First Baptist Church, Bridge water. objects by excitement, by passion, by turmoil. The Creator, serenely seated on His eternal throne, upholds all things in the majestic repose of unlimited power, and calmly waits the issues of the agencies and developments He has ordained. With Him a thousand years are as one day." Forty years Israel wandered in the wilderness from Egypt to Canaan, subject to the corrective discipline of the Almighty, by which to render them a people suitable to go in and possess the land. Of their wanderings we have a partial record. But two of all that came out of Egypt entered the promised land. Of the little band of Separatists who were driven out of the Egypt of the old church we know nothing except by tradition. How often they were fed with heavenly manna," or how often they "smote the rock" and were refreshed by the waters of divine truth, we have no record. Five of their number, after thirty-six years of wandering, became members of the First Baptist Church at its formation, having previously joined the First Church in Middleboro'. How constantly they had preaching we are not accurately informed, but doubtless often, especially during the years immediately preceding the formation of the church. Backus often visited them, and preaching to them, strengthened and encouraged them by his prudent counsels. In 1779 this vicinity was visited by an extensive revival of religion, as a result of whose preaching it is not known. Backus was here, and, no doubt, some of his co-laborers. How many persons were the subject of God's converting grace at that time it is not known. Mr. Seth Howard is supposed to have been the first person who received apostolic baptism in this town. He was baptized by Mr. Backus, March 10, 1779, and united with the First Church in Middleboro'. He was one of the sixteen members of that church who were dismissed May 3, 1785, for the purpose of constituting a Baptist Church in Bridgewater. Previous to the formation of this church, the Baptists here had gathered quite a congregation, and Elder George Robinson had preached the year immediately preceding. The council for the recognition of the church met June 7, 1785. It consisted of the pastor and delegates from the First Church, Middleboro'. Isaac Backus was the pastor; who the delegates were is not known. The church in Taunton sent as delegates Deacon Ebenezer Bust, Jabez Briggs, and probably the pastor; the church in Attleboro' sent their pastor, Job Seamans, and Brethren George Robinson and Jacob Newland. The council was organized by the choice of Isaac Backus, moderator, and Job Seamans, scribe. The record of its proceedings reads as follows, viz.: "Having sought to heaven for directions, and having carefully examined into their faith and proceedings, Eight Brethren and Five Sisters signed solemnly the covenant together, whom we now esteem a regular Church of Jesus Christ." Three of those who were dismissed from the church at Middleboro' not being present, afterwards signed the covenant, making sixteen members. Their names were as follows: Elezer Snow, Seth Howard, Daniel Lothrop, Joseph Alger, Daniel Alger, Jesse Howard, Nathaniel Ames, James Perkins, Rhoda Lothrop, Bathsheba Carver, Rebeckah Pool, Maltiah Howard, Mary Perkins, Mary Snow, Mary Ames, and Charity Howard. to the church, but would continue with them so long as they should fulfill their obligations to him, and should be mutually beneficial to each other. Elder Robinson had poor health, but from what disenso he suffered is not known. This is probably what he meant by "being burdensome to his people." In July, 1789, his health became so poor that he was unable to perform the public labors of his station, and advised the church to procure other help; but it does not appear that any help was obtained. He continued to preach until February, 1796, when he notified the church that he could no longer perform the duties of his office, and Mr. Stephen Nelson was employed to supply the pulpit three Sabbaths, Mr. Ebenezer Nelson two Sabbaths, and a Mr. Tripp two or three more. In July, 1796, Mr. Robinson's health still being poor, he requested the church to release him from his charge. This they refused to do, desiring him to preach as he was able, and made some addition to his support. He continued to preach as his health per Thus was formed the First Baptist Church in Bridge- | water. As we look back at that event from our standpoint we may think the progress slow; but when we call to mind the obstacles and hardships which all dissenters from the standing order had to encounter, we almost wonder that it was so rapid. They were permitted until the 26th of December following, when he secuted, oppressed, and made to suffer all manner of indignities; they were compelled by law to help support the churches of the standing order; and if they resisted the payment of such unjust taxes, their property was restrained and they themselves imprisoned. The first Baptist meeting-house built in Boston had its doors nailed up by order of the marshal, and a notice posted upon it forbidding meetings being held therein under "pains and penalties." There were also circumstances which tended to retard this movement, and first among these was the fact that, although the dissenters were somewhat numerous, yet there were but few that fully embraced the doctrines of the Baptists; another was, the pastor of the church was aged and infirm, and, in the course of nature, must soon give place to a new and younger man; and in the coming man there was a faint hope that the church might be revived, and take her former position as to faith and practice. But when, in 1780, Rev. John Reed was ordained as his colleague, all hopes that the church might be placed on a gospel footing and a reconciliation take place speedily vanished. Then it was that the movement, commenced so long ago, took special form, and soon developed into a Baptist Church. We now proceed, in the second place, to speak of the ministry of the church. The church, at its first meeting, July 8, 1785, "voted to give Elder Robinson a call to settle with us in the work of the ministry, with a salary of sixty pounds," and, March, 1786, Elder Robinson gave his answer to the call in substance as follows: He did not wish to be burdensome asked a dismission from his charge. The church was unwilling to grant his request, and he continued as he was able until June, 1707, when he became so enfeebled in body that he refused longer to act as pastor. Mr. James Reed supplied the pulpit until September, and then was employed for a year at a salary of fifty pounds. At the expiration of Mr. Reed's year, Mr. Robinson, having somewhat recovered his health, again supplied the pulpit for a few months, but the warm weather coming on, he was obliged to cease preaching, and gave up his charge in June, 1798. He ministered to this people about fourteen years, and' was pastor nearly thirteen years. During his ministry there were thirty-eight added to the church by baptism and five by letter. The first individual baptized after the constitution of the church was William Curtis, in December, 1787, and the last during Mr. Robinson's pastorate were Betsey Andrews and Ithamar Phinney. Mr. Robinson was a faithful minister, of fair education, as a preacher above the average, and was greatly beloved by his people. After the close of Mr. Robinson's pastorate, Elder Ilinds was obtained to supply the pulpit, and continued to supply most of the time until May, 1800,—a space of nearly two years. There were no additions during this time, and the church declined. Mr. Hinds was a man of large stature, and loved a good horse, and had one. He was eccentric in the extreme, and very sarcastic. There are many anecdotes of him extant, one of which is as follows: During his stay in this town he one afternoon rode down to call on Dr. Reed, the minister at the centre of the town. |