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er, was the state of public feeling, in 1729, that the town voted not to support him any longer as their minister, to join with the church in deposing him; and chose a committee to supply the pulpit. But ecclesiastical contracts were not then so easily severed. This step by one of the contracting parties was inoperative, and the other was not inclined to recede from the strong ground he had taken. Even while the complaint before the Quarter Sessions was pending, he commenced a civil action for the arrears of his salary. These difficulties, at length, became so ruinous to the peace of the town and oppressive to its inhabitants, that they petitioned the Legislature, in 1731, for some relief in the matter, and a paper containing the names of each person in town, in favor and against Mr. Parsons, subscribed by each, was presented to his Excellency, the Governor, (Belcher) to inform him of the actual state of public sentiment upon the subject, and two agents were appointed to offer it. A resolve, in favor of releasing the town from their obligation any longer to support their minister, passed the House of Representatives and the Council, but the Governor refused to sign it. Judgment having been rendered against the town, by the Quarter Sessions, and the Governor, though twice petitioned, refusing to sign the resolves, the town petitioned the Legislature for leave to appeal from the judgment of the Court, "so that they might have a trial in the common law." But this petition failed, on account of the Legislature's being suddenly prorogued, and the town were again called together to revive this petition, in the hope "of being relieved" in the words of the warrant, "from Mr. Parsons' bondage." But by one of those sudden fluctuations in public opinion, which are sometimes observed in popular governments, the popular feeling was now turning in favor of Mr. Parsons. The vote dismissing him was reconsidered, his arrears of salary voted, and the Selectmen left to pay the fines assessed upon them by the Quarter Sessions, in consequence of a second complaint of Mr. Parsons, for their neglect in seeing him paid. These votes were, however, said to have been surreptitiously obtained, and produced much excitement.

These facts are detailed, rather as a sample of the mode of proceeding, at that day, in cases of disagreement between a people and their minister, and the disposition of the civil authorities to support ecclesiastical power, than because any interest can be felt in them so long after their occurrence. The differences between Mr. Parsons and his people, did not subside here. They at

length became so notorious, that six gentlemen from Worcester voluntarily assumed the character of mediators and visited the town for that purpose. A public entertainment was provided for them, but their efforts had no success and there was no cessation of hostilities till the town voted to join with the church in calling an eclesiastical council to discharge him from being their minister. This was on the 13th January, 1735, and he was dismissed, March 6th of the same year from his connexion with the church and society in this town. He continued to reside here till his death in 1737. He was by his special direction buried on his own land, apart from the graves of his people. He was unwilling that his ashes should repose by the side of those with whom he had once worshipped in the sanctuary and to whom he had broken the consecrated bread; his grave is now visible in a mowing field, about 30 rods north of the meeting house-a monument of human frailty. The long continued difficulties, of which we have given an outline, were too important a subject in so young and thinly populated a town to be soon forgotten. They are still handed down by tradition and form anecdotes illustrative of the times in which they occurred. We forbear repeating these, or dwelling any longer upon the character of one, who, with all his frailties, had many redeeming qualities. He left a family, from which have sprung many, who, in later times, have been distinguished for their learning, usefulness and talents, and have been among the most respectable citizens of their day.

After the dismission of Mr. Parsons, preaching was supported for a time, by contributions taken up on each Sabbath, and a Mr. Rice employed for a while. In 1735, the church and society set apart a day for fasting and prayer, for directions in regard to a successor to Mr. Parsons. And on the 30th January, 1736, they gave a call to Mr. David Goddard, who was a native of Framingham, to settle here, and voted him £300 settlement, and £100 salary, so long as he remained their minister. Mr. Goddard accepted this invitation, and in a short and pertinent answer, expressed his wish that the church should be governed according to the rules of the "Cambridge platform," adopted by the New England churches, in 1648. His salary, while their minister, was often in arrear; but his connexion with his people was uniformly happy and satisfactory, and an addition of £50 per annum was voluntarily made to his salary for several years. He was ordained over the society, June 30, 1736, and died January 19, 1754, at Framingham, where he was seized with a fever, when on a journey. He had been a min

ister of this church but 13 years, and was 48 years of age, at the time of his death. He alone, of the five clergymen who were settled here, previous to the present one, died in the ministerial service of the society; all the others were dismissed from their connexion.

In July, 1736, Mr. Joseph Roberts, Jr. was invited to settle as the minister over this society, accepted the invitation, and was ordained, October 23, 1754. The town voted to give him £133, 6s. 8d. silver money, "as a settlement," and £66, 13s. 8d. per annum, salary, in silver money, at 6s. 8d. per ounce. The salaries before this time had been paid according to the currency of the day, which was often so depreciated, that what seems at first a large sum, was greatly reduced by this depreciation. Provision was made at his ordination to entertain "ministers, messengers, and scholars."*

Although settled under favorable auspices, the relation of Mr. Roberts to the town soon became unpleasant. The precise causes of the disaffection do not appear, but they had become so strong in 1762, that the society voted to concur with the church in calling a council to settle the difficulties that there existed. The meeting of the inhabitants was called by personal notice to each. They made provision to entertain the council, though they declined taking part in drawing up a list of grievances which the church was going to present to the council. The council met, and recommended a dissolution of the connexion between Mr. Roberts and his people, and on the 14th day of December, 1762, he was accordingly dismissed. This did not, by any means, comport with Mr. Roberts' feelings, but it put an end to the difficulties between him and the people of the town, as he removed soon after from Leicester into Western, or its vicinity, where he died within a few years, at a very advanced age. He lived while a minister here, in the west part of the town, where he owned a considerably extensive tract of land. He was a bachelor, and was possessed of a good estate. Money seems to have been his favorite object, and his reply to the invitation of the society, to become their minister, is a singular specimen of professed devotedness to God and his service, and actual sordidness and avarice.

*From the death of Mr. Goddard, till the settlement of Mr. Roberts, the town had been supplied with preaching, and the sum of £17 was now appropriated to pay those who had entertained the preachers, while the greater sum of £18 was appropriated to defray the expense of keeping their hor ses during the same time.

Although the Society were unfortunate in having to provide themselves again with a clergyman within so short a time, they were happy in obtaining one who united them again as a religious society. In August, 1763, Mr. Benjamin Conklin was invited to settle as a minister over the society, and was ordained, November 23, of the same year. His salary was the same as that given to Mr. Roberts, and at his ordination, provision was made to entertain "Ministers, scholars, and gentlemen." His relation of minister to this church and society continued till June 30, 1794, when his growing bodily infirmities induced him to accept a proposal from the society for his dismission, by giving him a gratuity of £170, and an exemption from taxation. The society, at the time of dissolving the connexion between them, expressed to him their thanks for his useful and arduous services, and their sympathies for his declining health and increasing infirmities. The council that dismissed Mr. Conklin, consisted of the Rev. Drs. Sumner, Bancroft, and Austin, and in the result of their proceedings, they bore most unqualified testimony to his high character as a clergyman and a citizen. He survived until January 30, 1798, when he died, at the age of 65. A plain headstone, in the burying ground, in Leicester, bears this inscription, which he had selected for the purpose in his life time. "Hic jacet, Benjamin Conklin, M. in expectatione diei supremi. Qualis erat, dies iste indicabit." He married the widow of Dr. Lawton, who had been a practicing physician in this town. He left three children, one only of whom survives. He was a native of Southold, on Long Island, and was graduated at Princeton College, in New Jersey. He came here when about thirty years of age, and was a minister of this society for more than thirty years, including the trying period of the Revolution, and the troublesome times of the insurrection, known under the name of "Shay's war." It is most conclusive evidence of his prudence and firmness, that during the whole time he officiated here, he was acceptable to his people, and every attempt by disaffected individuals to remove him was controlled and defeated by his society. Though never distinguished for brilliancy of talents, he was a respectable preacher, and ever possessed a commanding influence among his people. He was a firm friend of his country, and never hesitated, even at the darkest period of her history, to avow the sentiments which he entertained. In one of the neighboring towns, it was thought by some of the people, that their clergyman did not preach strongly enough in favor of the cause of liberty; "then," said he, "I will

exchange with Mr. Conklin, and he will satisfy you, I am sure.” He was also a decided friend of the government during the insurrection of 1786, and became obnoxious to the insurgents, on account of his active exertions to support the laws and the government, and in one or more instances was obliged to seek a refuge away from his house from personal violence from the insurgents. In his person, Mr. Conklin was rather above the middling stature, and somewhat inclined to corpulency. His address was easy and familiar, and his conversation abounded with anecdote. He, at times, indulged in humor, of which he possessed a considerable share. He was pleasing and interesting without being brilliant, and useful and instructive without being great. He performed the duties of his station honorably and acceptably, and among the patriots of the revolution, he deservedly held a very respectable place.

After the dismission of Mr. Conklin, Mr. James Tufts was employed to preach as a candidate by this society, and a majority of them desired to settle him, and accordingly gave him an invitation to that effect. But a few of the society dissenting from him in religious sentiments, he declined accepting the invitation. He afterwards became, and we believe still is, the minister of Wardsboro', in Vermont.

In 1795, the Rev. Jesse Appleton preached here as a candidate for settlement. He was, at that time, very young, and though not very popular at first, he became very acceptable to all, and strong .efforts were made to induce him to settle. But though unanimously invited, he declined the invitation, much to the regret of all the society. He afterwards became President of Bowdoin College, in Brunswick, Me. in 1807, and died in 1819, very much lamented.

After him, ZEPHANIAH SWIFT MOORE was employed to preach here, and, in October, 1797, was unanimously invited to become the minister of this church and society. He was ordained here, January 10, 1798, upon a salary of $400 per annum. He continued here till October 28, 1811, when, having been appointed Professor of the Languages in Dartmouth College, he was dismissed at his own request. Dr. Moore filled too important a sphere in society during his life to be passed over in silence, when giving what purports to be a history of a town to which he held the relation of a minister of the Gospel for almost 14 years. He was born in Palmer, in this State, but removed in early life to Wilmington, Vt. Here he labored with his father, who was a respectable farmer, till he was twenty years of age.

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