History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

earing plums^ apricots, peaches, pears, and apples;
and his garden, orchards; and fiekls, years after his
death, bore witness to his skill and industry. Tradition
says he lived on the place now (1S7'J) owned
by Rev. 'w. F. Wheeler.
When the Eevolutionary War broke out he
remained firm in his allegiance to George III., say-
ing that as he had once sworn fidelity to the king as
a justice of the peace, he could not and would not
break his oath. In consequence of this his people
would not suffer him to preach, and he was shut
up or kept in surveillance in his own house during
the last two years of his life. He died IMarch 19,
1779, at the age of seventy-six, and in the fifty-
second year of his ministry. His widow died
October -20, 1789, at the age of eighty-four years.
Rev. Matthew Scribner was the second pastor.
He was the second son of Matthew and Martha
(Smith) Scribuei-, and was born in Norwalk, Con-
necticut, February 7, 1746. He graduated at
Yale College in 1775, and received the degree of
A. M. in 1783. His call by the town or parish
was given May 21, 1779, and he was ordained
September 23, 1778. His wife was Sarah Porter,
of Topsfield, Massachusetts, born March 21, 174.2.
They were married in Topsfield, December 16,
1779. Their children were ten in number, six.
sons and four daughters.
It is said that Mr. Scribner was never very pop-
ular in his parish; that his pastorate was tumult-
uous and stormy ; and that for these reasons it
was brief, lasting only ten years, while that of his
predecessor continued more than half a century.
He was dismissed November 10, 1789. At the
close of his ministry here he removed to Tyngs-
borough, where he took up a lot of wild land, just
over the line from Westford. This he began to
clear up and cultivate ; and there he tried an ex-
periment in raising Merino sheep, having imported
a few animals at almost fabulous prices. The ex-
periment faded, but he continued to reside on the
farm until his death, which occurred in 1813, at
the age of sixty-seven years.
Rev. Caleb Blake, the third pastor, was born
in Wrentham, Massachusetts, ilay 1, 1762, and
graduated at Harvard College in 1784. He was
ordained February 29, 1792. He continued in
office thirty-four years, and was dismissed Feb-
ruary 28, 1826. He belonged to that class of
theologians called Hopkinsians, and when the
Unitarian controversy waxed warm he took a de-
WESTFORD. 479
being ill fitted and less disposed for controversy, he
resigned, and betook himself to a farm. Afterwards
he removed to Bedford, Massachusetts, where he re-
sided several years, and then returned to Westford,
and purchased what was formerly known asthe Bixby
farm, on which he sjient the remainder of his days.
After his return he was chosen to represent the
town one term in the legislature. He was not a
close student, a fluent speaker, or an easy writer.
He published only one sermon, delivered before the
Ladies' Charitable Association in the year 1812 or
1813. He was fond of farming, and attributed
his good health in a great measure to that occupation;
but his chief pleasure was in reading. He
married Martha Mosely, of Hampton, Connecticut,
who was born in 1775, and was a sister of the
Hon. Ebenezer Mosely, lately of Newburyport.
They had five children who lived to adult age,
two sons and three daughters. He died May 11,
1847, aged eighty-five years.
Rev. Epliraim Randall, the fourth pastor, was
born in Easton, Massachusetts, November 29,
1785. He graduated at Harvard University in
1812, and was ordained in New Bedford, Massa-
chusetts, August 26, 1814. He was afterwards
histalled at Saugus, Massachusetts, October 3,
1826, and dismissed August 7, 1827. April 30,
1829, he was installed in Westford, and after two
years his connection with the church ceased, Mav 1,
1831.
During his ministry, namely, June 1, 1830, " the
church, by unanimous vote, adopted a new profes-
sion of faith and covenant."
After Mr. Randall's dismission Rev. Epliraim
Abbot was acting pastor, and continued to act as
such until April 3, 1834. In the summer of 1835
Rev. Jonathan Farr preached for the society, and
after him Rev. Epliraim Abbot " supplied the
desk until April, 1836." Rev. Luther Wilson
then preached until April, 1839, assisted for several
months, on account of Mr. Wilson's ill health, by
Rev. Epliraim Abbot.
Rev. Claudius Bradford preached awhile in
1840, and Mr. Abbot again in 1841 till the month
of April. Mr. Thurston, Mr. Coolidge, and Mr.
Buckingham preached as candidates between April
and October, 1841, when Rev. Ephraim Abbot
took charge, and served the church and society
until April, 1845.
In July, 1845, Rev. Edward Capen came and
preached for about one year, declining a call to set-
cided stand in opposition to the Unitarians. But tle at the close of his service. From July, 1846, to