History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

support of tlie clergymen of the town, they being
conscientious Baptists. But the town voted that
their petition be not granted. March 15, 1756,
John Hammond and others, wiio ^ere Baptists,
requested of the town that they might not be rated
for the support of the ministry ; but their request
was met, after some debate, by a prompt refusal.
In 1771- ten persons — John Dana, John Kcnrick,
XFIVTOX. 233
Caleb Whitney, Thomas Parker, Eben ]5artlett, foot five times for the purpose of carrying on the
Joseph Hyde, Nathaniel Parker, Thomas Tolman,
Widow Abigail Riciiardsou, and Elisha Bartlett —
work. The frame of the house still stands, transformed
into a dwelling-house, on the east side of
addressed another memorial to the town, certifying
that they were Antipjedobaptists, and generally
worshipped with people of that persuasion. In
June, 1776, tlie town, urged by the importunity
of these repeated petitions, at last excused James
Richards and Edward Hall from paying the minis-
terial taxes, and four years later the First Baptist
Church was formed.
In the autumn of 171-0 'Rev. George Wliitetield
preached in Newton and the vicinity, and a general
interest in religion attended his ministry. From
his labors sprang a movement which resulted in
the formation in several towns of Separate, or New
Light churches, so called. A church of this name
was organized in Newton. They held their assem-
blies at the house of one of their members, IMr.
Nathan Ward, who became tlieir pastor. Most of
the members afterwards adopted the views of the
Baptists, and formed the nucleus of the First Bap-
tist Church. They held their meetings at first in
dwelling-houses, and afterwards in a school-house,
the worshijD being conducted by Deacon Jonathan
Richardson and Mr. John Dana, and occasionally
by visiting ministers. They continued their wor-
ship in this manner nearly twenty years. In the
spring of 1780 Mr. Elhanan Winchester, who after-
wards embraced and preached the doctrine of uni-
versal restoration, visited Newton, he being then
a Baptist, and several persons received baptism at
his hands, who were embodied into the church
July 5, 1780, as before stated, by jjublic ceremonies,
probably in a room in the house of Noah
Wiswall, since the home of the heirs of Deacon
Luther Paul. The first pastor was the Rev. Caleb
Blood, who continued to serve the church till Jan-
uary 24, 1788. When he became pastor the
number of members was seventy-three ; at his dis-
mission, ninety-two ; number of admissions, nine-
teen.
The vote to build a church edifice is dated Jan-
were to be forty feet by thirty-two, and the expense
about £300 specie, or $1,000. The land was
given for the building by Noah Wiswall. Dread-
ing the encumbrance of a debt, the parish was sev-
eral years in accomplishing the enterprise, and it
was not till April, 1795, fourteen years after the
commencement, that the edifice stood complete.
During tliis period a subscription had been set on
Wiswall's Pond. A vote was passed March 19,
1782, " that the singing be carried on, in a general
way, by reading a line at a time in the forenoon,
and a verse at a time in the afternoon." In the
first meeting-house no person could have a pew
who subscribed less than £10 towards the build-
ing. The church contained twenty wall-pews, that
is, six on each side and four on each end, and " four
pews back of the body seats." In 1802 the house
was enlarged by tlie addition of seventeen feet to
the west side, which gave space for twenty-four
new pews. The salary of Mr. Blood was £60,
''and the loose money contributed on the Lord's
days." The contribution-box was carried around
on the lower floor every Sabbath, and in the gal-
lery only once a month, until the year 1815.
Rev. Joseph Grafton was ordained pastor June 18,
1788, having received a call after he had preached
sixteen Sabbaths. The salary promised him was
for the first year £55, equal to $183, to be paid
quarterly, " and after that to make such additions
as his necessities require and our circumstances
admit of." After Mr. Grafton became pastor, iu
addition to the salary and eight cords of wood,
£20 a year were granted "in consideration of the
enhanced price of the necessaries of life." Several
members of the parish purchased for £75, or §350,
" half the place that Mr. Blood used, to own," and
gave it to Mr. Grafton as a " settlement," or pres-
ent, in token of esteem and good-will. This estate
was the triangular estate owned and occupied by
the late George C. Rand, Esq., and bounded by
Centre, Homer, and Grafton streets. The value
of the whole estate, therefore, at that period was
only $500.
The society was incorporated by the legislature'
of Massachusetts, and the act of incorporation
signed by the governor February 12, 1821. The
ministry of Mr. Grafton extended over a period of
forty-eight years and six months, and he had many
uary 17, 1781. The dimensions of the cliurch hearers, not onlv citizens of Newton, but from sev-
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