History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

4S0 HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUXTY.
January, 1847, the society was cugag-fd in repair-
ing its house of worship, which was re-dedicated
January 7, 1847. Then came Eev. Herman Snow,
and preached for the society one year, ending Feb-
ruary 7, 1848. From that time to March 19,
1848, different persons occupied the pulpit. Soon
after this Rev. John 13. AA'ilhird was chosen pastor,
and ordained May 24, 1848. Mr. Willard was
born in New York City, April 1, 18:22. His
parents, Lutlier and Mary (Davis) WiUard, were
partly in Boston, but never entered the legal profession.
He studied theology with Eev. Washing-
ton Gilbert, then of Harvard. He dissolved his
connection with the church liere December 1, 18.30.
After leaving Westford he was employed by the
Unitarian Society of Windsor, Vermont, which
society he served at intervals until 1856, when ill
health obliged him to relinquish his charge. He
has since preached for short periods in Lowell,
Barnstable, Lunenburg, Warwick, and A'orton,
Massachusetts. He now resides in the village of
Still River, Harvard, Massachusetts.
After the retirement of Mr. Willard various
persons, namely, Rev. Mr. Maynard, Rev. Jacob
Caldwell, Rev. J. B. W^illard, Rev. E. Abbot, and
Rev. Timothy Elliot, supplied the pulpit until
185."5, when Rev. Stilhnan Clark came and
preached until March 29, 1857.
In June, 1858, Rev. George JL Rice was in-
vited to preach one year. He continued his min-
istry for nearly eight years. George Matthias
Rice was born in Danvers, ira.-saeliii.sctl.s, June 28,
1814. His parents were re-iiliiil> cii Sah m, Imi
as war then existed, and Salem uas ihieatc iied with
an attack from the i?ritisli lleet, they retired to
Danvers for the summer. .Mr. Rice was fitted for
college in the schools uf Salem, especially in the
gniiinnar scIkmjIs uiuler iln- tuiliiin of tliosc renowned
masters, ,\i,u- and II. K. Oliver. He was
ill ls:i5. 11,- uas onlan.d as .n ,van^e],s( nt
\Valill,,un, Mi^x, elm-ells, in 1M(I, hrni- al llial
time 111.' a. ling pa-lor of ihr j'lrsl ( ongrrgal lonal
Cliuirh ni L.Aiiiglon. Alierwanls la^ liiul pastoral
charge of the Inilanan ehiirehes m Lunenburg,
North Chelsea, and Mendon, Mass., Eastport, Jle.,
and Lancaster, N. H.
On the 7th of August, 1866, the church "voted
unanimously that Mr. George H. Y'oung be in-
vited to become the pastor of the first church of
Christ in Westford." Mr. Young was ordained
October 17, 1866. He continued in office nearly
six years, and resigned in April, 1872. He was
afterward pastor of the Unitarian Church in Troy,
New York, and of a church in Santa Barbara,
born in Harvard, Massachusetts. He graduated California.
at Brown University in 1842, then studied law Mr. Young was succeeded by Rev. William A.
three years, partly in Syracuse, New Yoik, and Cram, who came in A])ril, 1872, and was acting
pastor until April, 1877, a period of five years.
Tlie present jDastor is Rev. Joseph Sidney Moulton
(D. C. 1873), who began his labors in 1876.
The Union Congregational Church was organized
December 25, 1828. It was composed of members
of the First Church, who withdrew on account
of doctrinal differences, and a few others who were
members of churches in other towns, but residents
here. The number at the organization was fifty-
nine. Two persons were received by profession •
of their faith, the others by letter. The first pas-
tor was Rev. Leonard Luce, born May 14, 1799,
in that part of Rochester now Marion, Massachu-
setts. He graduated at Brown University in 1 82-1-,
and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1828.
He was ordained April 8, 1829. The church and
society having no house of worship, the exercises
of ordination were held at the house of Mr. John
Davis, in the south part of the town. Mr. Luce
continued to be the pastor for more than twenty-
three years, and was dismissed July 8, 1852. Rev.
Thomas Wilson was the second pastor. He was
insialled over this church May 4, 1853, and
was dismissed Februarv 13, 1856. The church
was then supplied bv l!ev. Davi.l 0. Allen and
Rev. John Wlnlney'nnld May 1, 1859. Rev.
Edwin R. Hodgman became acting pastor June 26,
1859, and contiiuied five years, closing his term of
service Jnly 3, 1864. Rev. George F. Stanton then
(
intended f(n- 'ambrnige, hiil Ins fm her liaviiiir re- succeeded "him for three months', and llev. E. A.
moved to (ieneva, Xeu York, jir cnleivd (naieva Speiiee lor two years. The latter was ordained
(now Hoharl) Coll.-.' in ls:i'.l, and uTaduaIrd in here as an evanir.list in 1866.
ls;!2. lie Ihen pnrsned Ins sin.lies m lli.Cani- IJev, Heniv I). Woodworlh Was installed past„r
bridge Dninilv S.-hool, IVom win.li he unulnatrd ()el,,ber 2, ISCm. The nnnislry of Mr Wood-
worlh was brief, lasting only two years, .nnd clos-
ing bv his dismission, Julv 18, 1869. After Mr.
Wooduorlh left Rev. Nathan R. Nichols sup-
l)lied I he pulpit about two years. ^Vfay 7, 1872,
Rev. II en IV II. HamiUon received a call from the