History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

27G RISTOBF OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
1760 John (Bajjtiste?) Tibbedo and I\Iargaret his
wife, with six children, John, Moses, Joseph, Paul,
Mary, and Elizabeth, and cue grandchild, were
removed from town.
In the same year another French family, Francis
Meers, or Mears, with his wife and nine children,
were sent here from Boston, but soon after three of
them were sent to Stoneham, one to Maiden ; the
remainder, including the father, were left in Eead-
ing. In 170;3 the town appropriated £2 to Fran-
cis Mears, " a Frenchman," provided he, with his
family, move to Salem. He probably went away,
but for ten years received assistance from Reading,
mostly in wood, as appears from the records.
There is no positive evidence of the fact, but it is
suggested that the Mears families in this vicinity
may be descendants of this Francis Meers.
Rev. Daniel Putnam, pastor of the Second Church
(North Precinct), died in 1759, after a pastorate
of about thirty-nine years. There were added to
his church, during his ministry, one hundred and
ninety-four persons; he baptized four hundred
and ninety-one persons, and joined one hundred
and eleven couples in marriage.
Rev. Eliab Stone, in 17C1, was ordained pastor
as the successor of Mr. Putnam. This year, by
payment of £ 11^, Reading was relieved of all fur-
ther expense in " repairing and supporting the
Mystic Bridge in Medford."
The first store in the present town, and perhaps
in the three parishes, was probably opened by
James Bancroft in 1761. He gave notice of hav-
ing " sundry sorts of West India and other goods,"
whicli he proposed to sell " as reasonably as they
are sold in Medford, Charlestown, and Boston."
The people for many years did their principal trad-
ing in Salem. During the winter season they drew
their produce on hand-sleds, going in parties to
market, and bringing back sucli goods as they
needed.
Rev. Mr. Hobby, pastor of the First Church,
died in 1765, after a settlement of tiiirfy-two years.
He was reputed a man of learning, piety, and abil-
ity as a speaker and writer. In 1750 and 1751
lie was called to sit in the councils in A^orthampton,
at the request of Jonathan Edwards, who
wished to have two ciiurches from abroad to coun-
terbalance, in some measure, the prejudices of the
churches invited in that vicinity. Deacon Samuel
Bancroft — grandfather of tiie historian, Hon.
George Bancroft — was one of the delegates.
The people of this town seem to have taken a
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constant and active interest in public affairs. A
town-meeting, held October, 1765, instructed their
representative in the General Court to join in every
proper measure for a repeal of the Stamp Act, and
" to oppose the execution of it, until the remon-
strances, petitions, and cries of these distressed
colonies shall reach the ears of our sovereign."
While professing the greatest loyalty to the king,
and to the parliament as the " the most respectable
body of men on earth," they insist on maintaining
" our rights as freeborn Englishmen."
The First Parish, in 1768, erected a new house
of worship, near the old one. The residents of
Wood End demurred, and made an effort for sepa-
ration, which was not successful, although it was
recommended by a committee of the General
Court. The eii'ort was renewed in the next year,
and the Court ordered the division, and inoor-
porated the Third Parish, it being substantially the
same territory that is now included in the town of
Reading. The new parish took many of the best
men and families from the First Parish. The first
meeting was held August 9, 1769. John Temple
was moderator ; Samuel Bancroft, clerk ; John
Temple, treasurer; John Temple, Samuel Ban-
croft, and Captain Nathan Parker, assessors.
Money was raised for completing tlie meetinghouse,
which stood on the south side of the Common.
It was subsequently removed, and is now
known as the Union Hall school-building.
Rev. Caleb Prentiss, a graduate of Harvard Col-
lege in 1765, became pastor of the First Parish.
Eighty-eight members of the First Church, in
answer to their petition, were dismissed Febru-
ary 8, 1770, "in order to their being incorporated
into a distinct church by themselves." This body
established what is now known as the " Old South "
Church in Reading.
Rev. Thomas Haven, the first minister, ordained
November 7, 1770, was a graduate of Harvard
College in 1765. He died May 7, 1782, aged
thirty-eight years. He was the son of Rev. Elias
Haven, of Franklin, Massachusetts.
The number of voters in the First Parish (Wake-
field), in 1771, was eighty; in the Second Parish
(Nortli Reading), sixty-six; in the Third (Read-
ing), sixty-three. Ten persons were chosen " quir-
isters" in the First Parish, "to tune the Psalm."
Live alcwives were jiut into Martin's Pond by
an authorized committee of the North Parish.
The troubles with the mother country now attract
the public attention, and in January, 1773, at a