History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

oO>^ HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
ber is not known. In the same diary it is stated
tluat Captain Ebenezer Jones, from "Wilmington,
with fourteen other soldiers, was killed in an en-
gagement; and the writer adds, "They were all
hurried in one grave and Mr. Marrill made a
prayer, and it was a Bo\mn fun ered." IMr. Mor-
rill, having been paid in silver dollars on his return,
caused a sufficient number of them to be wrought
into a tankard, which was used at the communion
service of his church for many years.
This ministry of more than half a century was
marked with great changes to the town and country.
The savage beasts disappeared. The last wild bear
killed in this vicinity was shot by Ephraim Buck
in August, 1760, from beneath the branches of an
ancient oak, now standing near the road leading from
Wilmington Centre to the east part of the town,
at the edge of the meadow. This event took place
on an estate which has been held in the Buck family
since 1685, and is now owned by Mr. Benjamin
Buck, a grandson of Ephraim, who still has the
identical gun that did so good execution in the
hand of his grandfather.
The next minister was Kev. Freegrace Raynolds,
who came to Wilmington when a young man, representing
the " Emmons school of theology." The
first council called to examine and, if deemed ex-
pedient, to ordain him, was equally divided, six
voting in favor and six against it. It was then
dissolved, but he was ordained by a secoud council,
October 29, 1795. His ministry was marked by
an earnest faith which endeared him to the church
and secured the general respect of the people. The
next year there were nine members added to the
cliiirch. In 1813 a new meeting-house was -erected,
after the style of architecture of that day. Mr.
iiaynolils was greatly interested in the education
of tile young, and in favor of progressive move-
ments. It may be stated that he was one of the
few clergymen who wen^ present at the preliminary
ni(vli]ii.r^ |i,.|,l in Aiidovcr for deliberation on what
ati(i-\\;ird dcvridprd iiihj \\\v American Board of
r(iiiwiii,-.si()Mers for Foreign Missions. His pastoral
nlaiicin with his church terminated June 9, 18:30.
lb' ((inliiined to ])rcach for several years, his last
lirld „r service being in i.cvcrcit, Masswlmsctts.
At Um- rlns,. nf Ins minislry thrrrh,' rclunird lo
d.'alh, «hirh (MTiinvd DcviuIht (1, I S.",.-,, al the I
. FraiH'ls \,
.1 was dism
|
ber 25, 1812. His ministry tended greatly to the
enlargement of the church.
In 18-10 a new religious interest was commenced
under the direction of the Free-will Baptist denomi-
nation, with such encouragement as led to the
organization of a church and the building of a
meeting-house in 1841. This church for several
years was principally under the care of Elder John
M. Durgin. He was a genial man, and earnestly
engaged in his work, and was instrumental in
doing much good to his people ; but removals,
deaths, and other causes so diminished their num-
ber that the organization was given up, and the
meeting-house sold to the town. It is now used
for town purposes.
Tlie fifth minister, Eev. Barnabas M. Fay, was
installed April 23, 1815, and was dismissed July 30,
1850. Tile sixth. Rev. Joseph E. Swallow^ was
histalled March 26, 1851, and was dismissed Janu-
ary 1, 1856.
In 1854 a convenient and approved parsonage
was bought by private subscri]5tion and donated
to the society for the use of the pastor. ]\Ir. Swallow
was succeeded by Rev. Samuel H. Tolman,
who was ordained August 1-1, 1856, and was dis-
missed June 7, 1870. The burning of the meet-
ing-house occurred during his temporary absence
in February, 1864. His labors, incident to the re-
building and furnishing of the present house of
worship, when considered in connection with the
purpose and spirit of his ministry, will keep his
memory in grateful remembrance. Tlie eiglith min-
ister was Rev. Benjamin A. Robie, who was installed
April 13, 1871, dismissed April 9, 1874, and is now
at Groton. Rev. S. S. Mathews was ordained Octo-
ber 23, 1874, dismissed October 29, 1875, and
is now settled at Jamaica Plain.
The present and tenth pastor. Rev. Daniel P.
Noyes, was installed October 11, 1877. The jiart
that AVihnington was permitted to take in the hour
of the country's peril, in 1861, shows the same
s])irit that characterized the cities and towns of
Massachusetts, especially those of old Middlesex
County. The number of men fnrnishctl from all
sources was ninetv. From the luiniber of her own
honored .iti/riis,eiglit mrl a s.-ldirr's death.
Ill the earl) times a tan-yard was established in
tlie north ])art of the town, where the farmers were
accustomed to take the skins of their slaughtered ani-
mals to be converted into leatiierfor their own use.
Anil when tliis was done, the shoemaker was in-
vited to make his annual visit, and bring his tools