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<f,ifk ". ^

Congregational Churches

IN NOVA SCOTIA.

SAMUEL A. GREEN.

[Reprinted from thf Proceedings of the Massachusetts
Historical Society, February, 1888.]

CAMBRIDGE :
JOHN WIISON AND SON.

Enibeisitg Press.
1888.

■J .y.^J

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES IN NOVA SCOTIA.

Dr. Green conmiuiiicated copies of the following letters in
the Society's Library, which contain interesting facts in regard
to tiie church history of Nova Scotia. They relate to the dis-
senting ministers of an early period, of whom several were
from New England, and graduates of Harvard. They furnish
a glimpse of pioneer missionary work in that Province, which
is not found elsewhere. The original manuscripts were given
by Mr. John Fleet Eliot at the July meeting of 1865, and
are now found in the volume marked "Andrews and Eliot
Letters. 1662-1811.''

To the Rev,d pasters And Christian Brethen of the Several Discent-
iug Churches in Boston in the Massechusets-Bay In Neweugland
And in the towns Adjacent &•;

The Memorial of the Con-gregatioiinl Church in Cornwallis in the
County of Kings County in the province Of Novascotia . . .

Whereas God in his providence who orders the bounds of the Habi-
tation of his people, after previously Removeing our Enemies, planted
us in this Infant Colony (in the year 1760) and after our Continueing
five years Destitute oi a minister of tlie Gosple : by application to the
South Association in Hartford County in the Colony Of Connecticut, we

obtain'd one : (viz) the Kev'd Benajah phelps, who Came to us ordain'd
to the work of the ministry, and well Uecommended (by Said Associa-
tion) who after one years Continuance with ua on jjrobation took the
pastoral Charge of us to our General Satisfaction. At which time We
were in CircMrastances to Afford him A Comfortable INIaintainance, be-
ing a time of prosperity with uu.

But the two years \)ast things have taken A Different turn : the
produce of our Village being much Cut Short, which occasioned
So Great A Scarcity Among us, that we had not last Spring a Suffi-
ciancy of grain in town to Seed our Lands. And our Straits had
Necessarily Increast to Extremity through our Inebility to pur-
chace Seed, had not god Inclined the hearts of Some of our Father-
Like Friends at Ilallifax to Relive us By procureing us Seed At
A Neighbouring Town, the produce of which hath well Answer'd our
Expectations. Yet Notwithstanding the plenty this Year hath pro-
duced Among us. And our Numbers Which Consists of 133 familys (Not
10 of which of the Establish'd Church) And between Eight & Nine
hundred Souls : Our Lands also Good and Fertile : what by Means of
the Late Distressing Scarcity, And the present Extraordinary Expences
on our Dikes, Building A Meeting-house &'; together with our neces-
sary Expence For Clothing before we Could put our Selves in a way
to make Any Proficiancy in Mannifacturing our wooliug, hath Involved
us so fur In Debt to our traders, that but very fue of us have Any pro-
duce By which we Can Relive our minister Under his present needy
Circumstances, And without Some Relief from Some other Quarter, Our
Said Minister Cannot Continue much Longer with us which if after a
Seperation from the Society And Communion of our Christian friends
in Newengland, And five years Continuance without any previlege of
Gosple Administrations (According to our profession) Notwithstanding
our many indeavours Tn that time to have them Established Among us,
And the Expence Of Settleing A Minister Building A meeting house &?
We Say if After All this we Should be Left Destitute of Gosple Admin-
istrations by Neglecting to petition the Aid Of Such of our Christian
Brethren As Are Able to Afford us Relief at So Critickle A Junctur as
this, We Should be both wanting to Our Selves and posterity, And the
Cause of Religeon among us. And be Reduced to A Worse ConditioD
than At Our first Settleing.

For As there is Now A Church in Building in this town And A Church
minister provided free of any Expence to all proselitos (viz the Rev,d
M' Eagle-Stone from Ireland, who First Appear,d here As A presbe-
terian, hath ben home for. And Last Spring Returnd with Orders)
And Several of the More Loose And Unstable of our people have already
gone Over to them. And the Door is open for many more : and If we
now part with our Minister (who Seams willing to tarry with us on

very modirate terms) we of Coticequence Ii» A Few years Shall all be
Churchmen or Nothing (ie) in point of Kelij^ion, as it Seams we Shall
be in no Condition to Reccttle Another Minister. And if our Circum-
8[tauce8] As here truly Rfipresentod : Clame Any Interest in your Pity
And prayers, wo trust you will Not bo forgetfull of us : Nor Refuso to
Contribute to our Relief, if you .ludge the Nature and Circumstance of
the Matter Require it.

It is Recomnu3nded that Any Doiuitions for the Relief of our Rcv,d
Paster be p.nid into the hands of the Rev,*" Andrew Klliot of Boston,
and By him Remitted to Mallachi Salter Esq^ of hallifax by whome
your Liberallity will be brought Safe to hand, your Complyance Will
be Greatfully Acknowledged by us your Memoriallists, and the Interest
of Religeon May bo greatly Serv'd.

CouNWALLis November 8'!> 1709

Samukl Beckwitfi
Caleb huntington
Isaac Bioalow
John Nkwcomb
IIezijciaii Cogswell
Elkanah Mokton Juu'

as Com"
For the chh
& congregation

To The Rev.d M: Andrkw Ki.liot In Boston in Newenglaiul.

Halifax January 18«!' 1770.

RevV SiVs We were yesterday favor'd with the receipt of your
Letter of the 12".' December, and agreeable to youi request, shall now
furnish you with the best Accounts W3 are able to collect, of the Cir-
cumstances, of the Dissenting Clergy, and their Congregations, within
this Province.

We have in all Eight dissenting Clergymen, settled here. Six of
whom are Congregationalists, Viz' The Rev" M' Wood Cheever, Sec-
comb, Moor, Phelps & Gannet, and two are Presbyterian Viz' M'
Murdoch, & Mf Lyon.

The Rev'! M' VVood at Barrington, came from New Engl'! We can't
learn that he has any Establish'd Salary, but that his people (yet in
low Circumstances) are able to afford him but a scanty support.

The Rev*! M' Cheever ^ at Liverpool is also from N'Engl'! He was
promis'd a salary of about £80, f annum, but his people are not able to
make good their Contract, and having a very numerous Family, finds it

1 The Rev. Israel Cheever was born at Ccnconl, Sept. 27, 1723, and graduated
at Harvard College in the Class of 1749. He was settled for many years at
Liverpool, Nova Scotia, where he died in June, 1812.

tmm

extremely ditHcult to support tliein, and 'n feiirfiill whether he shall not
be obliged to remove to some other Province for a SubaiHtence.

The Rev'! M' Seccomb ' at Chester is also from N'Enfjl'' He has
never had any Establish'd Salary, but receives about i!20, >' annum
from his Parish, which contains a few Industrious, but poor People,
He has expended all the Money he brought with him into this Coun-
try (and wliich we are inform'd was consideraljlo) in Buildings «Sc other
improvements, on a new Farm, whi(di has reduced bin) to very necessi-
tous Circumstances: lie has had some small relief from this Town.
We cannot avoid Karncstly recommending this Gentleman, now ad-
vanc'd in years, — as an Object very worthy of a Charitable Assistance.

The Rev'! yV. Moor at Hiillfdx, is from Ireland; lie is paid a salary
of £!."><>, y aninim (the whole of which lie expends for the support of
his Family) and but tor the exertion of a few individuals of our small
Congrt'gation, (who contribute largely), this Gentleman's Subsistance
would \)v too urecarious, to induce his continuance amonjfst us.

The Rev'' M' Murdoch at Norton, i;i also from Ireland His priist^nt
salary is about £70. I' annum, but as his people an; greatly in arrears
to him, he complains for want of a sutHciency to support him com-
fortably.

The Rev'' M' Phelps at Cornwnllis, is from Connecticutt, His
salary by agreement is £80, V aimura, but he says his People are not
able to make good their Contract, and are of course very much in
arrears. This Gentleman has purchas'd. a farm, built an Mouse and
made other considerable improvements which has much embarrass'd
him, and we believe he at present struggles hard for a subsistance, Yet
we must observe, that this Town is one of the most thriving settlements
in the Province.

The Rev'' Mf Lyon at Truro., is from the Jerseys, — lie has no
stated salary, but w(! suppose he may receive about £50, 'j:^ annum.
He says he is often destitute of the necessary's of Life, Yet is encour-
aged to continue, from a prospect of being supported in a better man-
ner in future, as his people are Industrious and are making great
improvements.

' Tilt' Kev. Joiui Seccombc was born at Medford, April 25, 1708, and gradu-
ated at Harvard College in the Class of 1728. He was settled as the minister of
Harvard, Massachusetts, from Oct. 10, 17iW, to September, 17o7, and of Chester,
Nova Scotia, from 1763 to the time of his death on Oct. 27, 1792. The first
ordination sermon preached in the Province of Nova Scotia was delivered by
him in Halifax on July .3, 1770. He was the author of a humorous poem
entitled "Father Abbey's Will," first published as u broadside, and afterward
reprinted in " The Gentleman's Magazine " and " The European Magazine,"
both for May, 1781, and in " The Massachusetts Magazine " for November, 1794.
Our late associate, the Kev. John Langdon Sibley, prepared an edition of this
poem wliicii was privately printed in the year \6b\.

'Vhv. Ucv'' M' Gimrict ' at ('nmlierldnd In from New Kngl'l his nalary
is al)out £80, >' iiiiiiiiin, whic^li is puid him by thu Kx^rtiori of u
Hmall number of g(>iH!roii8 pisoph) there, that from him we hear no
C(/mphuiitH.

From tliis succinct accoimt (ientlomeii, You will he able to form
some Judgment of the present situation of the Dissenting Cler<j;y
amongst us, whoso poverty may be easily accounted for, when it is
consider'd tliat the most of the Inhabitants of this Colony are yet
but in indifferent Circumstances, not having recover'd the Kxpenco
th«!y have been at in Transporting themselves and Familys into the
Co "itry, clearing new Lands, Huildings &, Improvements thereon &".
&" that their farms at present do but little more than afford them a
coarse subsistance for their Familys, The people however do in gen-
eral begin to thrive, and will in a little time, we hope, be .-.ble to attbrd
their Ministers a better support.

Should you be pleas'd, Gentlemen, kindly to interest yourselves for
the relief of your necessitous Brethren in the Ministry here, any charit-
able donations from the well affected among you, will bo very season-
able, and accepted with great thankfullness, and wo doubt not may
tend to promote the cause of Religion and Piety among us ; — We
would beg leave to propose, that whatever Suras may be collected^ may
be put into the hands of some discreet & Judicious j)erson8 here, to be
disposed of by them in due proportion.

The Gentlemen for whom we would sollicit this Charity, We be-
lieve to be of unblemish'd reputations, and of exemplary Lives &
Conversation.

We take this opportunity to express our gnitefull acknowledgements,
for the kind reception given to the Rev'! M' Moor at Boston, and
Especially for the recommendation of him & his Cause to the Gentle-
men, your friends, in England, which is likely to prove Effectual, hav-
ing received Letters from him since his arrival, — Encouraging us to
hope he shall be able to raise something considerable.
. We are Gentlemen,

Your Most Obed' & humb. Serv"

Bn Gerrish.
Malachy Saktkr
To The Rev<? Mess" Anduew Klliot, and Samukl CoorER.

1 Tlie Rev. Cnleb Gannett was born at Bridge water, Aug. 22, 1745, and grad-
uated at Harvard College in the Class of 1763. He was ordained at Hingham,
Oct. 12, 1767, and was at once settled over the society at Amherst and Cumber-
land, Nova Scotia; but from the inadequate support given him, he returned to
New England in 1771. He was a tutor at Harvard College from 1773 to 1780,
and Steward from 1779 to the time of his death, which took place at Cambridge,
April 25, 1818. He was chosen a member of this Society, Oct. 31, 1797. See
Collections, 2d scr. vol. viii. p. 277, for a memoir of him.

IIamkax May 10. 1770

CtP.y^ I have now heforo me your P'steeinM favor of 2.'J'' of April,
nddrc^ssM to Mr. M. Salter and mysedf, and tliank you, in behalf of the
Worthy dissenting Clergy of this province, for the generous ('ontrihu-
tion you have obtain'd for their present relief, and whieh will, I doubt
not, be received by them, with the Utmost Gratitude.

Mr Salter is now at Uoston, and will consult you upon the proper
distribution of the Money, he being much iHittitr ac(|'.iainted with the
particular Circumstances, and wants of Each of the CJentlemen, than I
am ; It is my opinion however, that if the Collection could be laid out
in necessary provisions for the Use of their families, such as Pork Jlour,
Meal, Chocolate, Coffee, Tea, Sugar »&'■' &c. it might bo more advanta-
gious, than if the Money was given them, those necessary articles being
much dearer here, than with you. If you should concur with me
herein. Mr IJarrett will be so good as to see, that the provisions are
purchas'd, and proportion'd, as may Im! .idvised, and sent hither in differ-
ent packages, and directad, when t)ie same shall be forwarded by the
first Conveyance.

I Sincerely wish that Mr IMoor may be so happy as to obtain from
the Charitably disposed in England somewhat that may prove of a more
lasting benefit to the cause we would promote : of which you shall be
made acquainted, so soon as anything certiiin relative to the matter may
arrive.

I am Gent"- with mucii respect

Your Most Obedient & Humble Servf

Bn Gerrish.

P S. Since writing the above I have seen the Rev"! Mr Seccombe,
who is desirous that any proportion of the Sum given that may be
assign'd him, may be sent in money.

To the Rev'i Doctors Eliot & Cooper

Rev" S-r, Some Time last September I receiv'd Forty Dollers
from Benj, Gerrish Esq' at Halifax, Part of the Donation of some
Charitable Gentlemen at Boston for the Relief of the indigent dissent-
ing Minister of this Province, which came very seasonably to me and I
have Reason to think to others also — About which Time I was in-
vited by a Letter from Malachy Salter Esqf to go to Halifax and preach
a Month, Dr. Moore being gone — I accordingly have been, and Mr
Salter informed me that I was peculiarly indebted to yourself and
Doctor Ccoper for the Donation, And I now return hearty Thanks for
the same, wishing to yourself and others a better Reward than this
World affords — you will please to thank those charitable Gentlemen

on my Hehalf — At Halifax I met with thtt KeV^ Mr Seccomhc of
Chester und tlu^ Rev'' Mr Giimiot of Ciimherliuul, (ieiitlemeii whom 1
had never hejui arM|iiaiiite<l with heforts and was mneh pKiaHcd to find
Hndi Herious and good MiniwterH in this Province, for I have not before
V,(!<!n ac(|iiainted with any onci, exce|)t Mr Wood, who has eoiiHc^nted
last Summer, I am informed, that his l'eo[)le should he no longer
obliged to give him any support, nevertht-less has offered to preach
this Winter for Nothing as they call it.

This Town is very nmch deta(;h'd frouj the rest of the Province, to
the northward and eastward there is no regular setlcd Town nigher
than Annapolis, and to the southward Harrington or Cape Sable is the
nighest which is Twelve 'leagues hence — and Halifax Fifty — There
is a comfortai/le Unity in Opinion amongst us in this Part of the Town
call'd Cape forchu, about Two Thirds of the Inhabitants here, have
laid themselves under some Obligation to give me Fifty Pounds |)r
Annum, but I have not receiv(!d the One half of that, for the Time
that I have preached herj since last summer was Three Years, the
People not being well able — A Congregational Church was gathered
here, last September Three Years ago, in which I have to this Day
ofRciated as their Minister — The other Part of the Town settled on a
River called Taboguo are less happy than we in Regard of Unity —
The Rev'd Messrs Reed & Cnnant of Bridge water if I mistake not
were here last Spring to assist them to Unity, and so far succeeded
as to persuade them to meet in One Assembly, till the last Sabbath,
when they parted again, and One Part have Mr Scott a layman
among them, & the other Part Mr Moulton a Haptist Minister from
Brimfield

From Your humble Servant, & Fellow-Labourer in the Gospel

Neh" Porter'
Yarmouth in Nova Scotia Nov. 16. 1770.

To Tlie Hev' Dr. Anhrkw Kliot. In Boston New England.

' The Rev. Nelieniiah I'orter was born at Ipswich, March 27, 1720, and grad-
uated at Harvard College in the Class of 1746. He was settled at Yarmouth, Nova
Scotia, in 1767, where he remained until 1771, when he returned to Massachusetts.
He died at Ashfleld, Massachusetts, Feb. 29, 1820, at tiie advanced age of ninety-
nine years and eleven months.