History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

soil has been tlieir life business. The average
yearly death-rate during the one liundred and six-
teen years of the town's existence has been Vlh per
year. There have been, at different periods, eight
physicians who have lived and practised tlieir pro-
fessions in town. Of those who made Shirley the
place of their life-work was Dr. Augustus G. Parker.
He was born in Harvard, February 14, 1796.
His father was a physician, and he was the youngest
child of a numerous family. He early imbibed a
taste for the profession of iiis fatlier, and while yet
a youth began to ac(juaint himself witli the rudi-
ments of the healing art. It is undoubtedly true
that his future success was, in large degree, owing
to that singleness of purpose witli which he devoted
himself to tlie duties of jiis calling. While
he was yet a minor his fatlier removed with his
family into the state of Vermont, wliere he passed
the rest of his life.
Here the subject of this notice commenced tlie
active duties of his profession in company witli liis
father. He was thus ushered into business, like
many other practitioners of his time, without a
public education, and witiiout those other privi-
leges that are now almost universally regarded as a
necessary passport to the confidence of the com-
munity.
Dr. Parker removed to Harvard, his native town,
and entered into partnersliip with Dr. Stone of that
place. In one year he removed to Sliirley, where
he passed the remainder of his life, iiaving a very
large and lucrative practice. In 18i7 he received
a diploma from the Massachusetts Medical Society.
He died June 18, 1843, in the forty-eiglith year of
his age.
The early settlers of most of tiie New England
towns were of Puritan descent, and possessed one
form of Christian faith, one order of church pol-
ity, — hence tlie ecclesiastical history of one com-
munity may be fairly taken as a history of all.
It consisted generally of accounts of special fasts,
the calling, ordaining, and burying of ministers, —
for it was rarely true that one was dismissed, or
relinquished his position while he lived, — the dis-
SHIRLEY. 305
When first occupied it was only rough-ceiled on
the outside, and wiiolly without pews or seats,
either on the ground-floor or in tiie galleries.
Still, it was an essential point of attraction for all
true lovers of the sanctuary. It protected them
from the rough winter blasts, and from the scorchr
ing suns of summer, and supplied the hardy settlers
witii a place of worship.
With various improvements, this house remained
the only place of public worship for twenty years,
when it was converted into a barn, which is now
in use. In 1773 tlie second meeting-house was
erected, and tlie framework and outside covering
of this second temple are now parts of the meeting-
house of the First Congregational Society, which
is now and ever has been in constant occujjancy.
The building has undergone alterations on three
different occasions, and is at present one of the
most convenient, ornamental, and substantial
church structures that can be found in any of our
rural districts.
It was some eight years after the meeting-house
had been prepared for use before a ministry had
been established, the pulpit, meantime, being sup-
plied by transient preachers and regular candidates.
On the 25tli of February, 176^, Mr. Phinehas
Whitney received a unanimous invitation to settle,
on the following terms ; First, he was to receive
£133 6«. 8^/. as a settlement, one lialf to be paid
in three months, and the rest within tlie year.
Second, he was to receive £53 13*. 4^/. as a sal-
ary, to be raised to £60 when the town should
have seventy-five families, and to £66 13*. i:d.
when there were eighty-five families. Third, he
was annually to receive twenty cords of wood, to
be cut and brought to his door. These prelimi-
naries being adjusted, Mr. Whitney was ordained
June 23, 1762.'
The ministry of Mr. Whitney, which lasted for
more than half a century, was one of general peace
and prosperity. He had the confidence of his
people, and between him and them a good degree
of harmony was maintained. He was also fa\ or-
ably considered abroad, was frequently invited to
ciplining of members, and the building of meeting- sit in ecclesiastical councils, to assist in tlie settlehouses.ment
of clergymen, and was noted for his decision
For several years after the town was incor- and firmness. In the trying period of the Ameriporated
the people continued to worship with their can Revolution, when the people of the town found
friends in Groton, and it was not until after many themselves unable to pay his full salary, he bore
and hard struggles with poverty that tiiey were the deprivation with calm resignation, and even
enabled to set up an altar to God nearer home. contributed of his private resources, towards the
In 1754 the first meetinsj-liouse was erected. expenses of the war, wliat would linve been an