for purity of character was not in all respects fully sustained. He left the town, and his subsequent history is imperfectly known. He went to the State of New York and it is understood that he has since died.-Mr. Cummings was installed here December 26, 1827, and was dismissed October 5, 1835. He had been settled before in Lebanon, N. Y. He has since been settled in North Wrentham, whence he has been recently dismissed in consequence of ill health.-Since Mr. Cummings left this people they have had no minister settled. Rev. Jonathan King preached to them one year. They have been but partially supplied. And such was the case with them previous to the settlement of Mr. Cummings. They were supplied but a part of the time. They received in the course of that period and also in past years of a later date some missionary assistance. They are not now perfectly united and harmonious. And the prospect at present of the settlement of the ministry among them is rather unfavorable.-Mr. Gushee preaches in the meeting-house in the southerly part of the town. He was settled September 23, 1803. He is the first that has been ordained in that part of the town. He has been settled now almost thirty-five years and he is still in office.

EASTON.

Easton was originally included in what was called Taunton North Purchase. It was afterwards a part of Norton, which was incorporated as a town and included in it at the time the present towns of Norton, Mansfield and Easton, in 1711. Easton was set off from Norton and incorporated as a town in 1725. It is not known when the church was first gathered in this town as no records for a long time from its formation were preserved. Mr. Short was the first settled minister in this place and he died in office. But neither the time of his settlement or death has been ascertained. He had, before he came to this town, been settled in Attleborough.-Mr. Farrar was the second minister that was settled. He was however in office but a short time. He took a journey to visit his friends; he died and never returned to his people in this town.-Mr. Belcher was the next minister that was settled. The time of his settlement is not known. Nor can it be ascertained how long he was in the ministry or when he was dismissed. He became deranged and left the place. And it is understood that he carried away with him the records of the church-Mr. Prentice was the next minister. He had been previously settled in Grafton. He was installed in Easton November 18, 1747. He was considered a New Light. He was suspended from the discharge of his public ministry November 12, 1754, and in April following removed with his family to Grafton where he had been formerly settled. His subsequent history is imperfectly known.—Mr. Campbell was the next minister. He was in the ministry in this place for nineteen years. He was dismissed and was afterwards resettled in Charlton where he continued about ten years. He was the son of Rev. Mr. Campbell of Oxford. He was respectable for his mental powers, literary attainments, and religious character.-Mr. Reed was the next minister that was settled. He had a quiet and peaceable ministry in this place of more than twenty-five years. He was much beloved by his people and died in their esteem.— Mr. Sheldon was the next and he is the present minister in this place. He has been in office now upwards of twenty-seven years and his labors have been very signally blessed. During his ministry the church has been visited at different times with seven revivals of religion and it has been very much increased in numbers. A great change has also been produced in the general and in the religious character of the town.

FAIRHAVEN.

Fairhaven was originally a part of Dartmouth. It was afterwards included in New Bedford and so continued till 1812, when it was set off and incorporated by the name of Fairhaven. In 1794 the Congregational church was organized, consisting at the time of twenty-six members. Mr. Weston was their first pastor. He was ordained in 1795. Nothing worthy of special notice occurred during the greater part of his ministry. The first revival of religion that was ever known in this place commenced in 1805 and extended into 1806. As the fruits of that revival rising two hundred were united with the church. In 1808 Mr. Weston was dismissed from his pastoral relation. He was afterwards appointed collector of the port of New Bedford. This office he held for a number of years. He then removed to the western part of the State of New York and there died. A division of the church took place in 1811. Subsequently a new church was organized. Mr. Wheeler was ordained over one of the churches in 1813 and he continued his pastoral relation for five years. The other church had no settled pastor. They were however generally supplied. Soon after the dismission of Mr. Wheeler, which took place in 1818, the two churches were reunited and they had the Rev. Mr. Jewett settled over them who continued their pastor for two years.-In 1822 Mr. Gould took charge of the church and people in this place. And during his ministry there

have been added to the church more than two hundred persons. The church and society are at present perfectly united and harmonious.-It may be proper to remark that Mr. Wheeler has been settled since he left this place, in Candia, N. H. He is now in the State of Ohio. Mr. Jewett had been settled before he came to this town, in Lebanon, Me. He has since been settled in Scituate and Carver. Mr. Gould had been settled before he came to this town in Dracut, Ms. and in Darien, Ga.

FALL RIVER.

Fall River was originally a part of Freetown and so continued till 1803, when it was incorporated as a town by the name of Fall River. In 1804 the name was changed to Troy. About the year 1833 the name was changed again to Fall River. The first Congregational church was formed January 9, 1816, consisting at the time of five members, three males and two females. Mr. Read was the first pastor. He was in office a little more than two years. He has since been pastor of a church in Ware, but is now dead. -Mr. Smith succeeded him in the pastoral office in this place. He had been previously settled in Portland, Me. and since been settled in Catskill, N. Y. He is now settled in New Bedford. He was pastor of the church in this place a little more than four years. Mr. Fowler, the present pastor, was installed his successor July 7, 1831. He had been previously settled for eleven years in Plainfield, Ct. He has given to the public a few productions of his pen. Among these there are a disquisition upon the evils of using Tobacco, and a series of lectures upon the mode and subjects of baptism; both of which have been very highly commended. "Since its organization the church in Fall River has been favored with the dews of divine grace, during a large portion of its existence; and with four seasons of special revival, to wit: In the winter of 1826-7, when about sixty were added to the church; in the winter of 1831-2, when about fifty were added to the church; in 1834, when about fifty were added to the church; and in 1836, when more than one hundred were added to the church. These displays of the mercy and love of a faithful covenant-keeping God, the church would record with admiring gratitude and humble praise." The present number of members in the church is three hundred and twenty. It may be proper to add that a part of the Congregregational church and society of Fall River reside in Tiverton, R. I.

The Unitarian Society in Fall River was incorporated March 9, 1832. It was organized in the following April, and it was supplied with preaching by different persons from that time till September 24, 1834, when Mr. Briggs was ordained their first minister. He continued with the society till November, 1837, when in consequence of an invitation to another place he was at his own request dismissed from his charge. He was installed in Plymouth, to which place he had been invited as a colleague with Rev. Dr. Kendall, January 3, 1838. The society are now destitute of a settled minister, yet they are generally supplied with preaching.

FREETOWN.

Freetown was incorporated in the year 1683 and it included at the time the present towns of Freetown and Fall River. It was originally known or at least the northerly and westerly part of it by the name of Assonet. In the year 1748 there existed a Congre gational church near the centre, in the westerly part of the original town and not far from the present dividing line of Freetown and Fall River, of which Mr. Brett was the pastor; he was in office from 1748 to 1773 or thereabouts. Mr. Brett was dismissed and left the place a little before the commencement of the war of the Revolution. The church was broken up by the war; they had no stated supply afterwards, several of the members removed their relation to Berkley, their meeting-house was occupied by the Baptists, and the church finally became extinct. There was a small settlement of Indians in this town, about one hundred in number, situated a little to the east of North Watupper pond now included in Fall River. A school-house was built for them at the expense of the colony and a school was supported by the town. The school-house was also occupied for a meeting-house where Mr. Brett was engaged at the time of his settlement to preach at least once a month to the Indians. A few of these Indians still remain, having their residence at the same place and in the present town of Fall River. A church was formed in the North part of the town in Assonet village in the summer of 1807, consisting of seventeen members, four males and thirteen females. They were supplied for a part of the time but not steadily for a number of years by different preachers, yet they had no settled pastor till 1829, when Mr. Raymond was installed. He had been settled before for a number of years in Chatham. He continued in this place about seven years. He now preaches in Bridgewater.-After the dismission of Mr. Raymond, the church was supplied for the most of the time till June, 1837, when Mr. Robinson, their present pastor, commenced his labors among them. ordained May, 1838. He studied theology at Auburn, N. Y.

He was

HEBRONVILLE.

This society is formed from the towns of Attleborough, Seekonk and Pawtucket. Their meeting-house stands upon the dividing line of Attleborough and Seekonk. The church in this place was gathered by the labors of Rev. Thomas Williams. It was organized December 25, 1827. Mr. Williams was installed the first pastor, January 1, 1828. He had been previously settled in Providence, R. I. and in Foxborough and Attleborough, Ms. He has since preached in Barrington, R. I. and in several other places. He continued in this place about four years and was dismissed at his own request. He was succeeded by Mr. Simmons who is still in office. The church has not been favored with any particular revival of religion since its formation but it has received considerable additions to its numbers. The society in this place, though small, is united and harmonious; and the prospect in regard to the future is favorable.

MANSFIELD.

Mansfield was originally a part of Taunton. It was afterwards included in Norton. In 1731 it was incorporated by the name of Norton North Precinct. It contained at that time about twenty or twenty-five families. The first parish meeting was held August 31, 1731. In 1770 it was incorporated as a district by the name of Mansfield. It was incorporated as a town with town privileges about the year 1775. As near as it can be ascertained it appears that the church was gathered on the same day on which the first minister, Mr. White, was ordained; and if such was the fact it must have been February 23, 1737. Mr. White was, from all that can be learnt of him, an amiable man and a worthy minister of the gospel. He was much esteemed by his people. He died in office. Mr. Green was the second pastor of the church and he continued in the work of the ministry nearly forty-seven years. He died suddenly on the 4th of July at Norton, where he had gone to attend on the celebration of our Independence. He was a worthy man and a good minister. He lived in much peace and harmony with his people, and he was held by them very deservedly in high esteem Mr. Briggs was an amiable and interesting man and he lived quite happily with his people and he possessed their confidence. For about four years before his death his health was impaired and he suffered from mental derangement. In consequence of this he was led to request a dismission from his pastoral relation to his people. He was accordingly dismissed and has since died.-Mr. Sayward succeeded him. He was dismissed in about two years from his ordination. His dismission is thought to have taken place in consequence of an anti-abolition riot. By that outrage the society became divided and very much injured. The prospect in regard to the resettlement of the ministry in the place is at present unfavorable.

NEW BEDFORD.

New Bedford was originally included within the limits of Dartmouth. It was incorporated by the name of New Bedford in 1787; it included the present town of Fairhaven till 1812, when that became a separate town. It is evident a Congregational church was formed at a somewhat early period in the original town of Dartmouth and within the present limits of New Bedford and Fairhaven, yet the time of its formation has not been ascertained. Indeed as access has not been had to the ancient records of the church for a long space of time from its formation, very few particulars in regard to its history and in regard to the ministers that preached in the place during that period have been learnt with any degree of certainty. It is believed however that the first minister that was settled was a Mr. Hunt. There is but little known of him. It is thought that he preached, died and was buried there.-Mr. Peirce was probably the next minister. His tomb-stone shows where his remains were laid. From that it appears that he was born in the year 1700, that he was in the gospel ministry sixteen years, and that he died March 3, 1749. This is all that is learnt of him.-It is probable the next minister was a Mr. Cheever. But nothing very particular is at present known of him. It is supposed however that he was settled for a few years, that he was dismissed and left the town.-Dr. West was probably the next minister that was settled. He was a man of strong powers of mind. In college he gained a rank among the most distinguished of his class. He was ordained in this place in the year 1761. He was a member of the convention for forming the constitution of Massachusetts. He was chosen an honorary member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences at Philadelphia, and a member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences at Boston. In the latter part of his life his memory almost entirely failed him. He resigned his charge in 1803 and removed to Tiverton, R. I. where he passed the remainder of his days with his son who is a physician in that town. He died in Tiverton and was buried at New Bedford and within the limits of the present town of Fairhaven. He possessed an original mind, of vigorous

powers. During the last thirty years of his life he used no notes in preaching. It was his practice, when he was not in his own pulpit, to discourse upon any text which was pointed out to him, and sometimes the most difficult passages would be given him for the purpose of trying his strength. He preached the election sermon in 1776. He published several occasional discourses and also Essays on Liberty and Necessity, in which the arguments of President Edwards and others for necessity are considered, the first part in 1793, the second in 1795. To these essays Dr. Edwards, the son of the President, wrote an answer, and Dr. West left behind him a reply almost completed. The meeting-house at the head of the river in which Dr. West preached was standing till 1837, when it was taken down. Both the meeting-house and the grave-yard near it in which Dr. West was interred, were within the limits of the present town of Fairhaven. The first church in New Bedford appears to have been destitute of a pastor and much of the time of a stated supply from the resignation of Dr. West in 1803 till 1828, when it was resuscitated and revived. At this time, viz. March 23, 1828, the church having become nearly extinct, there being but four members remaining, the church was renewed and five were added to their number. From this period they were generally supplied till 1830, when Mr. Seabury was settled. He continued to supply them for about two years when, by reason of ill health, he was obliged to discontinue his labors, but he was not formally dismissed till the ordination of their next and present pastor. He now resides in this town. Mr. Burt succeeded him in the pastoral office. Since the resuscitation of the church there have been some additions and it has been gradually increasing. The church and society are now perfectly united and harmonious. It may be proper to remark in this place that the church and society belong in part to Fairhaven. Dr. West for the most part of his ministry preached at the meeting-house at the head of the river. Afterwards a meeting-house was erected in the village of Bedford and after that time for a few years of the last of his ministry Dr. West preached alternately at the old house at the head of the river and at the new house in the village. For a few years after Dr. West resigned his pastoral office and left the town they were occasionally supplied in both places by different preachers. And such continued to be the case for the most part of the time till the year 1807, when the Congregational church in the village, now denominated the North Congregational church in New Bedford, was formed. And indeed there was a similar state of things in regard to a supply in the village till 1810, when Mr. Holmes commenced his labors in the place. It is proper to remark that in the mean time a second precinct was incorporated including the village of Bedford. It was entitled, the Bedford Precinct in New Bedford. It was incorporated February 29, 1808. In the spring of 1810, in consequence of a difference in religious sentiment, a division in the precinct began to manifest itself and it finally resulted in the secession of a majority of the church and a portion of the precinct and in the formation of a separate society. Over the society that was thus formed, including the church, Mr. Holines was ordained in July, 1811. The society at first was very small. It has since been greatly enlarged. The church has received continual additions. In 1831 it had so increased that more than fifty persons were dismissed from it and formed into a separate church now under the care of Rev. Mr. Roberts. The church has been wonderfully blessed. God has shown great mercy to this portion of Zion. Mr. Holmes has now been in office nearly twenty-seven years. He has been a very useful and a very successful minister of the gospel. In 1823 he received the honorary degree of M. A. from Brown University. Mr. Holmes has recently engaged for five years in an Agency at the West for the American Bible Society.-Mr. Smith studied divinity at the Theological Seminary, Andover, and has been settled in the ministry in Portland, Me., Fall River, Ms., Catskill, N. Y. He was installed as pastor at New Bedford, July 24, 1839.

The precinct was supplied by different preachers from the time of its incorporation in 1808, but it had no settled minister till 1814. In that year Mr. Randall was settled. He continued with them a short time and resigned. He was afterwards settled for a short time in Saugus Mr. Whitaker succeeded him for a short time. He had been settled before in Sharon. His subsequent history is not fully known. He died, it is believed, in the State of New York.-Mr. Dewey was the next minister. He was settled in the place from 1823 to 1834. He preached the election sermon in 1826. He is now settled in the city of New York.-After him Mr. Angier was settled in the place about two years and left. He is now settled in Milton. Mr. Peabody and Mr. Morrison succeeded him, being settled jointly. Mr. Peabody had been previously settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Morrison had not been settled before.

The Trinitarian church in New Bedford was separated from the North Church under the care of Rev. Mr. Holmes and organized November, 1830. It consisted at the time of its formation of fifty-five members. It numbers at present eighty-three. The meeting-house was dedicated May 16, 1832. Mr. Roberts commenced preaching here the 26th of the same month. He was installed the pastor of the church November 14, of the same year. He was born May 2, 1795, at Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England. He studied divinity at Hackney Theological Seminary, Eng. in 1818. After leaving that

institution, he itinerated and preached in different parts of England and Ireland till 1823, when he was settled over the Congregational church in Warminster, Wiltshire, where he continued till 1832, when he was distnissed and came to this country. His labors have been blessed since his settlement in this place and the church has been increased. The church and society are at present perfectly united and harmonious.

NORTON.

Norton was originally a part of Taunton. It was incorporated by the name of Norton in 1711, and it included at that time the present towns of Easton and Mansfield. The first person that built a house and settled within the limits of this town was William Witherell, in 1670. The first church in this town was gathered October 28, 1714, and Mr. Avery was ordained the pastor on the same day. He died April 23, 1770. Mr. Palmer was the second pastor of the church. He died in the sixty-second year of his age and thirty-ninth of his ministry.-Mr. Clark was his successor, and he continued in office almost forty-two years. He was Vice President of the County Bible Society, and he held the same office in the Board of Trustees of Bristol Academy. He was deeply interested in the welfare of the young. He frequently presided in Ecclesiastical Councils and was ever considered a man of a sage and discriminating mind.-Mr. Bridge succeeded him and he is the present pastor of the church. He has been in office now but little more than two years. He studied theology at Cambridge.-The Trinitarian Congregational church was formed April 3, 1832. At the time of its formation the church consisted of twenty members. It numbers at the present time nearly one hundred and twenty. They were generally supplied, though they had no settled minister till the installation of their present pastor. Mr. Allen studied theology at Andover. After leaving the institution he was employed for three or four years as an Agent of the American Tract Society in the States of Missouri and Illinois, and was then located as a stated preacher at Potosi, Mo. for about two years. He then returned to New England and was soon after invited to preach in this place and in a few months was installed pastor of the church.

PAWTUCKET.

Pawtucket was originally a part of Rehoboth. It was then included in Seekonk. And it became a separate town by the name of Pawtucket in 1828. The Congregational church was organized April 17, 1829. Mr. Hopkins was their first pastor. He was in office about three years when he was dismissed at his own request. He has since been settled in Utica and in Buffalo, N. Y.-Mr. Phinney was the next minister that was settled. He was in office about three years, was dismissed and was soon after settled in Westborough. And he was in a short time after deposed from the ministry.-Mr. Blodgett was the next and he is the present pastor of the church. He studied theology at the south and was first settled in the ministry in Savannah, Ga. He was afterwards settled at New Market, N. H. He is now in office in this place. The church at the time of its formation was small. It numbers at the present time about an hundred and fifty. It may be proper to remark that a part of the church and society belongs in Rhode Island.

RAYNHAM.

Raynham was originally included in Taunton. It became a separate town in 1731. By the act of incorporation the town was required within three years to "procure and settle a learned and orthodox minister of good conversation, and to make provision for his comfortable and honorable support; and likewise to provide a school-master to instruct their youth to read and write." The church was organized in October, 1731, and Mr. Wales was ordained the next day after its organization. The church at the time consisted of thirty-two members, fifteen males and seventeen females, who were dismissed from the first church in Taunton. Mr. Wales was in the ministry till his death -a term of thirty-four years, and he died in the sixty-sixth year of his age. "He was blessed with talents which rendered him very amiable and entertaining in social life. In public prayer his performances were eminent, and on some occasions almost unequalled. In his preaching he was faithful, and exhibited the doctrines of the gospel in a plain and affecting manner. His son, the late Dr. Samuel Wales, was professor of Divinity in Yale College. His daughter was the wife of his successor in the ministry in this place." During Mr. Wales's ministry an hundred and twenty-six persons were added to the church. In a little short of two years from his death, Mr. Fobes was ordained his successor and he continued in office till his death during a term of forty-five years. "He was a man exceedingly diligent in the acquisition of knowledge. He had a peculiar taste for scientific pursuits. In 1786 he officiated as President in Brown 19

VOL. XII.