~.

COLLECTIONS

or TH& r

RHODE ISLAND HIS1'ORICAL SOCIETY.

VOLUME vm.

THE DIARY OF JOHN CO~IER•

aolTKO W1TH .ons n

c. EDWIN BARROWS, D. D.,LMtI,..",.","ryI""" Ch",••N~••• 1.

WITH AJI InaooucnOtf AND .A ,. W ADDmOMAL .ora n

JAMBS W. WILLMARTH, D. D., LL.D.,,..... f/'" ... .".., a-d. Mi' «If'.

PVBLI8IRD POB THE 8OCIaT.189&.

,"•.

DEDICATION.

THB EDITOR

IS PERMITTED TO INSCIUBE THIS VOLUME

TOONE

WHost NDua. DUaIXO BU un. • AI A COIIITAJIT ...PlUT1e*dD TIIa ..&MORY or WHOM. "0. THAT lBa lIAS

D&.PUT&D. IllAU a& A PERnTUALDlCUfTtV& TO HIGIIU

U&YIC1

•

PREFATORV NOTE.

1'ma~ tM,.1irned to be 01 hlll&nrlcal Intcftlll aDd ....08 to thl'...,.a public-. to the ritbnl of Rhod., laland. aDd to lb. n.rti-t

I)eaomiDaljoD. .. publl.btd by thea AIIM'MCSD Bapt1.c h blitStjon

Rc»Mc-t1 In tunJunc.-tlon .ith the RbtMJ. I.lanel Ifa.torital ~.n.-t1."

.bl~h It .... originall1 e-litc-cl and annotatro. A portioD of th. 8nt

edition bNn tht' inll-rint or tbo lattft't-e-rlftty.

TIM "~1p!' plaIN aft' pm",hi"' by the.' tr"M'n.Ity 01 IIOD.IloratJo o.tcw Jon.... of l'hl""('lphla. and Mr. ~1M'1 A. ('rueer. ott·pIaDcl. r.n..

Tb.- aat.ttrNrh of Juhn Com.r .. Ii..... OD ~ 1~. aDd ... far.ellbc-d b1 th.. kind.... of linn. II. (,. JohN.

For.~tC'xp~uryof lb. DrdI....tloD fir thie YollUlM',,,

IDtnldarllon. I'll" It.It .111 1M' ande·Mood. of t(lQr.-, thai .-pnuihilit1 ror opinion.

np,.......t In Oae' Nut.. aDd Intl"OdattiuD bPloap eatJrelylo &hI' .ri....I.W. W.

1Io._~" ...ILADaUIII.... oeL L\ ...

•

8 INTRODUCTION.

in Newporl" In 1731 he removed to Rehoboth, Mass. A Baptistchurch was formed there which was in accord with his views of trothand order, and in less than two years it increased to a membership of·ninety-tlve. While in Newport he had ocaurionaUy done missionarywork; now he labored. Dot only at home but' in Sotton, Leicester, Mid..dleborough, and other places. A bright future seemed to be before him.His ability, piety, and wisdom marked him out for high uselolness andleadership among the New England Baptists, who were then a "feebletolk," struggling with opposition and pereecution. But in his zeal hetaxed his physical powers too severely, contracted consumption, and"died joytnlly" at Rehoboth, Maya, 1734, when DOt yet quite thirtyyears of age.

His DIA.BY, covering the greater part of his life,18 of an antiquepattern. He often JotII down occunences in the fewest poeeible words.He deals "ttle with the piewJiaI and pictureeque elemena. He revealshimself as a man of thought, of decision, and of piety; but his expres­sions often appear to os quaillt; hie reftections, always pervaded by a·devout spirit, seem ocmsionally childlike, especially in the religioOlawe awakened by every unU8U&l phenomenon or striking event. Itwas the way of the times to regard every calamity as a Judgment, andto look npon many natural phenomena with tear, as portents of wrath,rather than wttli lCientiftc inquiry and with admiration ot God's won­derful displays of his power. This was no doubt an error. Yet whoshall say that John Comer was not right in his unqueetioning beliefin God's providential control of the world, and that his mentalattitude was not far nearer the~t than the leM believing and moreflippant temper of thi8 generation? Surely, we may leam something ofwitKIom and reverence from men like him, even ~ their quaintness andsimplicity sometimes create a smile. When too, we consider the youthof the wri~r, I thiiLc we shall be impressed with the Ceeling that hewas a man of strong intellect and noble powers, and that only his earlydeath prevented him trom becoming a commanding figure in the his­tory of his people and in the literature of his day.

As we read this old-fashioned Diary we are ~ed back to dayethat, in some reepect8, ~m to belong to remote antiquity For, twohundred years ago there W&8 not a railroad or steamboat or telegraphor telephone in the world. Men traveled and communicated with

~ ea('h other in the most primitive ways. ThilcounVy W&8 new, 8p8l"!elysettled, undeveloped, and bound by ties of political and commercialdependence to the mother country beyond the sea, to CroR8 which wasa far more formidable undertaking than it is now to circumnavigate

10 INTRODUCTION.

at Newport, Was familiar with its localities, its history, and itl traditioDl,and was pastor of the ancient church w which John Comer ministered.Be brought W his work ample ability, habits of diligent and paine­taking research, and a remarkably well-balanced and trained power ofhistorical judgment. He had advanced far wward its completion whenhis labors were terminated by his unexpected and lamented death.

The mannscript notes and memoranda which he left were placedin my hands W prepare the work for the pre.. I found the great bodyof the notes in a state of admirable readiness. It was nece88ary onlyW look them over with a view w the correction of clerical errol'8, and

• these were very few indeed. Two or three notes I have been able tofurnish from the author's memoranda in pencil. In quite a number ofcases he had indicated his purpose to make other notes, of which DO

traoo could be found. He had undoubtedly pused them, intendinglater W supply the deficiency-probably, after farther research. TheseI have not been able w prepare, being without accees to the requisiteauthorities. My own additions are indicated by my initials.

It is a matter ofgreat regret that the ediwr was prevented by deathfrom finishing his work, especially becauee in the final form, which itwould have received at his hands, it would, I think, have fumishedadditional light on sOme interesting subjects. For example: it is wellknown that a friendly rivalry exists between the First Baptist Churchof Providence and the First Baptist Church at Newport, for the honorof being acknowledged as the oldest existing Baptist church in America.Dr. Barrows, in a very gracious and historical spirit, W88 an advocate ofthe claim of the Fint Church at Newport, havinga firm conviction of itlvalidity, and being well aquainted with the facts and authorities enwhich that claim is based. A note indicated but not written might (Iconjecture) have thrown BOme light upon this question. I am BOre thatthe friends of both churches, and aD who are interested in historicalreeearchea, will regret that Dr. Barrowe was prevented from .yingwhatever he may have desired to say upon this matter of historicalfact. ~in, I am almost BOre that lOme fuller notice of the life,work, and character of that great and good man, John Clarke, wouldhave been found in these notes if tbe author had been permitted to pre­pare them. for the Prelll. It is known that he had under advi8ementthe project of preparing a life of John Clarke; a work which wouldhave been of great valne, and for which he had every qnaliftcation.Also, it is natural W suppose, that the ediwr would not have failed togive fuller details of the 1aet day! and labors of John Comer than Ihave been able w aopply, and that be would have given some accoontof his posterity. A IOD, narDed allO John Comer, W88-8CC0rding to

12 INTRODUCTION.

and practiee. By no means diIpoeed to contention, or even to contro­versy, with a mind ofjudicial temper, he never shrank from the pathof duty. lie knew how to promoteand delend what he believed to be theeause of truth and of Christ himlelf, with patient persistence and withvigilance, firmness, and wisdom. Be knew alao how to act this import­ant part without rashness or bitterness in a broad and moderate spirit,without compromise and yet with abounding charity to all, "speakingthe troth in love!' He was, therefore, by the grace of God, equal toevery emergency, and his in#luence continually grew. The fmits of hislabors and of his leadenhip remain his noblest monument.

He Was frequently'"called to positions of honor and trust. He wastwice choeen President of the Rhode I8land Baptist State Convention j

was elected trustee of Brown University in 1878, and was, for one termat least, on the Board of Managers of the American Baptist MissionaryUnion. He reeeived the honorary degree of Doctor in Divinity fromColby University, in 1881.

It will mrpriae no one who reed! hie note8 in this volume, to knowthat in the necrology of hil alma mater it is said of him that" he had atrue historic spirit, which became Btronger and more active by investi­gations and writings, which were characterized by thoroughness andaccuracy, by candor and a singleness of devotion to the pursuit andattainment of troth."

The worth of Dr. BarrowB was fully known, however, only in thedaily walks of p88U)ral duty and in the sacred enclO8tlle of his home.He was mamed January 1, 1862. His wife W88 Hamet Willmarth, theeldest daughter of the Rev. Erastus Willard, for more than twenty yearsBaptist mi8Bionary in France. MI'8. Barrows was a woman of high men­tal and social endowments, and "the heart of her husband safely trustedin her."

Her death, March 13, 1883, was a crt18hing blow to him, and at firstit seemed that he would never rally from it. At lenlrth, however, hehad rieen above the first stunning shock of hi! great aflliction, and hadgirded himself to return to cc life and to duty with undismayed heart."The touching dedication of this volume to the memory of the departedwife, shows at once the depth of his undying affection and hiB braveresolve, inspired by her memory, to devote himself to " higher service "for God and for mankind. This dedication I regard as a precious 800­

venir of them both. I found it, in pencil, among the notes and memo­randa, and it is given twbatim as its author left it. Ita last worde seemalmost prophetic. The providence of God baa removed him from allearthly endeavor, and his aspiration for U hj~her f'ervice" in this lifemust remain unfalJllled; but all who ItDew him and loved him will take

1~IR()Dt~("TI()N. II

C'JOID.Ixt III u.. ..-uaDee thai be taM ODI, befD caUed to • ,.".,.,..-Rev, mct-d. lD • more perht Uta.

TIle (l.Ir 01 the oIdeG time, .ith hie ample faith aDd quaiDt "Y'the ..",." of tbe .... tUn., .Ith hla rip« eaJtare aM.idn knowl·~ bat wttb eq.J Idtb lD God aDd lD blilioly Word-both taithtolW'onlDNl lD tile -.me riJMtyard i both true.-nang of the- 1alDt' Mutor;both worth, mcx-... of Jolla Clarkt'; bl)th barina hMN ..)~ tt)(kM! UId IIWdJ la obecI'-oe to him aDd th.~ o( bi8 truth; lx)thIovl.. aDd IcmabIe lD the dall, nlb 01 ute i both railed to .. bieber IPr­

yi~"111 the aUdIt of Ibelr~ aDd~ th. YOIamecIMp budI am. the~aDd be!Dc cL.d.Je& .-L

• J.uaa W. WlLLIIAJIIL1Ios.-ooa., PII............. OCL &I, -.

Remember tluJ JtWfntJr tAing. of old, lor I am God mul t1&t:re "ftOR6 611&-1-. J,6 : 9•

.And thou,W remember all tluJ way vhtcA JelotJGA tAy God•1141 led tAu.-DevL 8 : B.

So, OD and OD, through many an opening door,That gladly opens to the key I bring.

From brightening oourt to court of Christ, my King,Hope-fed, love-fed, I jonrney evermore.

At last I trust these changing scenes will cease;

There is a court I hear where he abides ;

No door beyond that further glory hides:

My hOlt at home, all changts is changed to peace.

WILLIAM C. WILKIlI8OB.

14

THE DIARY O~

I DOl. thlI book 1D ,. 1M .....wlth aD....,....,... .. ...... oIlDJ' birth wb1ch ... 011~ tln& day 01 A..... ID,. ,.... 011~, 17ot.

The ,..., of my aatlvlty ... BoMoa 1D N. EactaacL I ...&be Nlkw& .. 01 III)' pareDta, vlL Mr. JobD aDd lin. IIaI7OJIDN-.

J dNtN to ~,. IIIJWQIar ProvIdmft' of (100 la 1f'UIt1D« m'Tbirth la • land 01 JIOIIP8l Uab' w"",, I .... tavoand with.ft'11PJwl fIllunatJoo. havln« twh 01 my IfUldmotMn, vi&. Xn.1:J1Dor ('onwr aDd )In. Mary PlUom. DOted amoac yelOd17lorem1.....l ADd "XND~ plfty.

My dNr aDd honoaftd tatlK'r. )lr. Joha ('omPr,~ ... noe.~ la • voyap to }:tl«lalMl. but kMlrhlq 8ntat Mouth Ouoll_ ... 800D tak.. "~k with ye prttval11n« 1Ik-k­..01" "MlDtI7. ADd la .... da)...X~ • I tnll4}:arIAr•., litartf'n. 011 ~ 12th 01 July J7(tR. la ye 8211 JfW of h~ lIP, I&bNI bdtln« ahcJUt I WN'b or t,,-o)~ or ...... 'TIa DO&abIe yt the wry DJab' hi' dJt'd be appMnd to m,motber. tMt1n« tbNI In Ilclldoo. with. bloody baDclk~hW labu band. Note,'" blfd murh In hilt lII<-klWM.

Tb"lIpI1na I W1M pat 'o ..hoot to )I..... (II.........~ ClDDtlaUld .. 1I« ..11M' ,.,... till I nuIM' to n-tIM'ID-

bel' InID8 lbl.... m".ar. I \)1.. ("xl ft., ye CWt' takm of mewtMIG I ...10 yoaq ,. I ml«ht IftU1l to rNd ye holy HcTIpturM.

Tbla day my mot""' .... marrlfd to Mr. Job.~ L PhIWs-, of BcMtoa, bJ whom abe ..... twocla~

... aDd • daaaht....Thla day I W1M 8.. ,..,. old. ThL-) I 1"*

Me ....... JlfIIIM'tD..,..1 thlftJrl'; thC' ftrwt thlt my dNrpudmolber )In. IIaI7 Plttom tak1Dc 11M' Into h« ~haJD"

I·.

16 THE DIABY OF JOHN COKER.

every evening before I went to bed, and she kneeUng downby ye bedside caused me ro do 80 too and used to dedicateme to ye Lord. I to this day (and hope ever shall) rememberthat one sentence in her prayer, viz. Lord remember this childand make it thine in y. day ')'hen thou makest up thy Jewels forChrist's sakA.

My mother has told me yt this year I read my Bible half out.This year my father's mother died; this grandmother was a

very eminent woman for exemplary piety.The holy do they live here forever?

This month my mother's mother died suddenly.IIMob, 1'711. She got up well in y. morning and died about noon.

Blessed are ye dead Y' die in y. Lord. She was taken speech­less at ye ftrst stroke.

This year I was put to school to Mr. Ames Angier,1 In Boston.I think this month was ye great fire in Boston in a

Ootober. very dreadfal manne~,2 about 100 houses burnt,U>gether with y. old meeting house and town house. A dmnkenwoman living near y. meeting house carelessly set some oacom[oakum] on fire, and 80 ftr'd her bouse, etc. .

Blessed be ye Lord for his remembering mercy at yt time, Mymother was yo burnt out and had llke to have lost~ lUe. Iwas sick at yt time at my aunt's.

I Amee A.n,ter (or AD", .. the Dame lalOlDeUmea apelled) w.. boro in Bebobo.h, JaDe....,. _,1881. RII lather". the Bey. Samuel Angier, minlaier 10 Rehoboth, aDd hIamother". the ooly child of the BeY. UrlaD Oat.. fourth pnsldeDt or Hanard Q)Uep.Ba Dame, A from hla paternal,randmotber, who .... the daughter of the famoUiWUUam Ama U graduated from Baryard Q)Uep In 1701, and 1D 1708 wu marriedto Margaret McCarty. The ..Inter befon hIa ,..adoaUoo h. tau,ht IChool in Cbarleetown,the oontract beutn, date NOTember21, 1700, recel.rinlu oompeoaatloo ao ID DloDer,.nd• amall quantity of wood.. Be beoame the ant muter of the ecbool Mtabllahed abo8&1717 ... the OOI'D'" of Welt aDd Commoo (DOW Tremont) Sla ,BoItoo. EarIJ In the year1m, be"". eboe-o ICboolmMter tor a wrltln'lOhoolat the IOUth part of the towo a& 100poanda per aonolD." He dlecllD the laUer part or the ,ear 1720.

For theM Item., .. weD • tor 0&_ faota embodleclln th. follo...ID, Dots, the editor I.IDdebted to the kinoeu 01 Jobn L. SIbley, M. A., Librarian Emerltu or Hanud OolleJrf',whoee two ample Yo'olD.of 1175 pqeI OD Ie HUTard Graduatee" are a DObI. oootrlbuUuu&0 the blatory or hi' Alma Kater. The MOODd YolulDe reach.. dOWD onlJ to 1177•

• "The are of 1711, &be .~t aweepl•• and dlautroua .hat, W Jet occarred, burn"down all tlte ho.... aome of them Tet'J capaclooa hulldlnp, 08 both aldee of Oornbll1froID Rebool Street to Doek Hquart!, beald. the Fin" Church, the Town Houe. all theopper .-n or Kin". 8&.... a.d the~ part. of Puddln,IAoe. In all, DMJ'11 00.handled hnuea W.N ded1"OJM, or whlch the nabblah taken fl'f)ID the rWa. w. UM totil ap Loo....harf. • 'lbu &lie to..D of Bc*oll....ya the ReT. OoUoo Xather, to hllMI1DODOil the eTeDt.·Jud pl... to pt beyood fbanoore J.... of ap, aDd eoDftlctiol with mucJaIabor.ocl aonow,'" a.., rital aDd Taluble .-notl\, aooD oat 011 a04 GoWD .".,.'"-• ...-wBUl......u..... .

THE DIARY OF JOHN COHER.·\

17

I I

1714.

I

I

4I

I

In this year (I think) as I was playing a childishAuar., 1718. play on a tilter [a teeter] with one POOJer Merit, oneof my schoolmates, near a cellar, I fell, by re8BOD of a Huddenjerk, off into it, among some stones, and cut my head and tongue80 yt it hung out of my mouth unless kept in by a muftler, andnone thought I should ever be able to speak plain again; for by yefall I was entirely -senseless. But in about 4 months by a constantsupply of honey in my [mouth] it was healed; and yt God whois a God working wonders gave me ye free use of yt memberagain, beyond all expectation.

This summer my mother with my father-in-law[stepfather] went over to South Carolina to live. One

principal reason was because he had got two hundred pounds in-money from my mother yt my own father left for my ed.u~tion,

and upon my grandfather's hearing of it he pursued him ro getit; but he went away thither privately. So I was abused. ButGod has promised to avenge ye wrongsofye fatherless. He livedthere about two years and at ye expiration of ym, he having beenout on his horse (Sme home in 8, dark evening and goiQg into the

· house ~e out to look after his horse with a long pipe in hismouth, it being very .dark fell over a log, ye pipe stem ran downhis throat and broke .and all means yt could be used could not getit out. it being Saturday, he continued till Monday withoutspeaking and died. Thus ye Lord found out a way in his Prov­iden~ (tho awful) to meet with him. I always thought it ajudgment.

1716.

•

This year took some notice of God'8 goodness tome, and began to see so much 88 excited me to look

to God in a way of prayer, being I hope in some measure madesensible ofmy sinfulness and unworthiness and of the need I hadof ,Divine preservation. To the best of my rem~mbrance theProvidence yt first stir'd me up W88 the surprising death of alittle lad about my age, his name was William Thomas, who wasplaying marvils [marbles3 near the Old North Meeting H0118e,Boston, and a cart laden p8S8ing by, a marvil rolling under thecart he stept to get it, the horse starting run ye wheel over hishead and brake it· 80 yt his bralns <mile out and he died on ye. •• Hewas carrledintoMr•.Bunderlain'shouse, where I saw himtogether with multitudes of others; he look'd awfully. 0 howmy soul seemed at yt time when mine eye aifected my heart won­derfully. I thought, were it my case to lie so bmised and broken,and to have my soul fty inro the world of spirits, how would it

,

18 THE DIARY OF JOHN COliER.

11&7.

be? I was lost in myself. But this I knew, I was strong [ly]affected wth it. The next Lord's Day, Dr. Cotton Mather,' Iremember well, preached from these suitable words: In yemorning it ftourisheth and groweth up, but In ye evening 'tis cutdown and withereth. This first awakened me.

This day I was twelve years old. I remember 'tisAq. 1, 1710. remarked of my dear Redeemer yt at this age hewas found disputing in ye midst of ye Doctors both hearing andasking ym questions. Luk. 2 : 42, 46. 0 may I conform to ChristIn all things possible; may I be willing to hear and ask aboutgood things.

'Tis remark'd yt Saint Ignatius was ot this age at Christ's cruel­ilnon, and yt he was the child yt he took up in his arms to teachhis disciples humility. 0 may I be humble; I am 8ure a senseof my sinfulness is enough ro make me so. May I be 80 in deedand In truth.

I having been disappointed by my tather-ln-lawKaroh, 1'718. [stepfather], by his taking my money from me, of aliberal education, ye time being near yt I must be put out to learna trade, and this month there was great concern about one, mygrandfather inclined to a tailor's trade, but my [mind] was bentupon"studying. Only at length 'twas concluded ~.t I should learn aglover's trade, and Mr. Benjamin Hanis was pitch't upon. Aftermany Intreaties I was prevailed upon to comply, and, since Itmust be so, I chose him because my own co1Asin Thomas Dolbearwas Just gone to the same plac&belng of~ age.

This month I went to learn ye glover's trade of Mr.Benjamin Harris, of Boston.

This day I am fourteen years of age. This day IA1I8'.1. was bound. by my Grandfather, Mr. Jno. Comer, for

• Cotton Xather, IOn of the ReT. Increase Hather and Ifarla, daugb~rof tbe ReT. JohnCotton, ..u bom In BMton, February 12, 1662-63. Be entered Hanard Col1~ at tbe apof twelTe, and wu graduatN In tbe ,.ea" 1678, and May 13, 1683, wu ordained colleaguewith his tatJaer. OTer the North Church LConpgatlooal] 10 Boston, wbich poaltloD he bttldtUI bil death, February 13, 1728. In 1710, he recehed from the UniTenlt1 of GI_gow thehonorary degree of Docto" of Dinnit)', belog the ft ....t Amerlcan tbul honored b1 a BrltlRhuobenlt}"... His INmlog wu probably more ftIi~ and exunlhe than that 01 aDf otherpenoD In Amf'riea."-8PJ'8IU~, A,.A4h o/Uw ..4MCW. hlp/I•

• The laWI relating w the tradee were early tran.. r!rred from the Old to the New World,10 far .. the natare of tbe cue would permit. In tbe .."eral (".oIODles, the statut8 relatID.to tbe eeni~ of mlnon ..ere borrowed from Engllllh 1~)atJOD. Earl)' In tbe reign ofEJIAbeth. "it wu enacted that DO penon should e~~rci~ a trade or m,..tery ..ltboutbaYing aened a IEITeD Jean' apprenUesblp." k Tbb period .... thoultht no more thin1QSc1ent"to In.tract the learDflr In hb professlnn. eTaft, or mJltel'J, U oder a Properl1

20 THE DIARY 0.. 10HN COKER.

Aa8.1.

•

This month I began my gram1nar with myoidDeoembel'. schoolmaster, Mr. Ames Angier, being 16 years and

tour months old. Thus I set out upon my studies.The latter end of this month the small pox' was

Api'll, 1'1511. brought into Boston, which wasexceeding surprisingto me. The first man who brought it in died.

The distemper prevailing in town, some of ye youth of my ae­quaintanoo were taken away by death, which by God's blessIngtended to blow up y. coal ot conviction In my 80ul and to keep Italive. I thought much about ye angel slaying In y. camp of y.Assyrians, as ye sickne8d prevailed. This put me on ye duty ofself-examination and crying to ye Lord tor ye magnifying b~

graoo towards me.Being this day seventeen years old, I set it apart

88 a day of solemn fasting and supplication In mychamber, to humble my soul before the Lord; to bewail the sinsof my youth and of my nature which is ye woful spring of allactual transgressions. I bemoaned myself before the Lord insecret, and between each prayer I spent ye time In close examina­tion and in reading Mr. VIncent's' book, entitled ChriBl'8 certainIDnt&Uon from hU brotherSamuel, who ..... then a wiDlater 10 Dublin, IreIaDd. Beenrolledhlmlelf .. altudent ID Trinity Colles~and ..hen but nineteeD yean ol age reoeil'ed theKaster'sd~ Retuming home, he married, Kareh 6, 1882, Marla, daoghter of the cele­brated BeY. John Oott~D, and, May 27, 16M, became putor of the North Church In~D,and oontlaued ID that oSee un b1I death, mean"hUe aening .. Pret1dent or HanardCoDege from 1684 ttI11701. The corporation and oveneen of the eon. preeented him ID16~t2 with a diploma or Doctor of Dblnlty, thb being II the ant ID1Un08 In wblch luch •decree ". CODferred 10 Brltlah Amen.." He died August 28, li2is, aged 84 1euL­Sprape'l.AfttlnU•

• The fear expreteeel by Mr. Comer In hb diary,"u cbaracterlaticof the age. The smulpox wu at. that time, doubtl.., the mOlt dreaded or all \be IeOOrgeB that atJl1ct mankind.•• Ham. been twenty JearI In abeyance,lt reDewed ita dreaded "laltaUon in 1721. NearlrIIx thousand perIOnl took It In Boston, of whom nearly ene thousand died In the year."­NfttlW. NUl. Bod..Il. 52. DurlraJ( the ttmeotlta pre"alence,it recehed the nrneat aU_·tion of medical men, who lOogbt to compel It to yield to their treatment. And the atudle.thus belrtGwed were crowned "Uh a good depree 01 auoceea. A wonderful d1.lco"ery .,..made, and the p,.,.loe 01 inoculation w.. Inb'odoced.

We haTe. e8roro. peeor the pre"a1eoce of the amaJl pnx. aDd ofthe dread with wh1cbIt .... repIleI,h written by the Rey.Jo-eph BeJladaY,JanuU')' 23, 17M. Calledfrom bla nwal,.t16ln Ot1mectlout, to beeome peItor of the PrftbyterlaD churcb In NewYork ctty, he Iud the C*e, after haYing informally declined onoe and .,.10, before theCODTnc&tIoD of IJtehfteld County lor anu declalon, Mrnest'" hoping tbt7 wouldcounsel hlJD not to 10, cillo, to tbem amoDI otber re&IOnl for not ,oln, thil, "I may diewith &-be emall pox, and Jea,.. a widow and latherlell ehlldftD tD a helplell coDdiUon."

, Thll w. Thoma Vln~nt.a.an oloon'lderable Inftuftnce In bll dar; WAI educated atOxlord; became mlDlateror fq.. M&r1 Kqdalene Cbtueh in London; w. ODe or tbfll mtnle­ten ejectecIlD 1_ for Nonconformity; IUMeqoently, pl'Ncbed at NostoD until hb deathID 1178. Darlo. the p'ape In London, la 1865, he " .. dlatingubhecllor hla eonl&aDt &Del

THE DIARY OF JOHN COKER. 21

•

and B'IJ,(},d,en appearance to judq'lTUmt; which I hope was made ofsome use to me. In ye close of ye day I resolved by the. help ofChrist, that if the Lord saw meet to visit me with the small pox(which I no way expected to escape) and would raise me up again,I would study the advancement of his glory; and walk in the ob­servation of all gospel duties, even to the commemoration of hisdying love at his holy table. After ye going down of ye sun Ivisited my Grandfather, who was then sick and laboured under

. ye infirmities of old age; whom it pleased God to call hence as Itrust into ye joy of his Lord, on !\londay, Augt ye 7th, 1721.

He committed me .to the care and inspection of ye Revd• Mr.Joo Weeb [Webb] 8 and b~' will bequeathed to me £500. I wouldeye this favor and esteem jt as coming from God. This sum wasto bring me up and introduce me comfortably in ye world, whichit did. 'l'ho there i~ one would have had it otherwise, but God'sholy Providence provided, and diverted all contrary advices. Imay comfortably take up that word Hos. 14 : 8; Jer. 49 : 11.

Finding wt com(ortable provision God had made for me, Iacquainted Mr. WeE'b [Webb] of my extremefE:lu of yesmall pox,upon which he advi8ed me to go to school out of town. There­upon, on ye 15th of Augt , I left my former master Mr. Angierand went and boarded at Mr. Ephraim Ezbone's [Osborn's], abouta mile and t from Cambridge, and was recommended 00_ Mr.Sam! Danfo~h,9 schoolmaster of Cambridge. ~r I W88 ad-

disinterested activity in behalf or tbe sufferers. He Wal the author of 8eTeral works, mostof them passing through manyedilions. A catalogue of tbem Is given In Wood's Athen.Ozon. III., 117 J. lie had at one time a controversy with Wi1lJam Penn. Edmund Callamy181S ill his Ejected Mlll16ter8, II., 32, that he "was a worthy, humble, and eminentl,. pioulman, of sober prtnciplal, and great zeal and diligence."

The above work on OArllt'~ C6rtaln andSu~ .dppenrtlf&CtJ to JudfI"MAI was tnt publishedIn 1667 88 an 8vo; was published again In 1669 as a 12mo; the sixth edition appeared In1683; the tenth edition In Glasgow in 1723. It has been once republished In this country,at Greenfield, Mass., In 1816, a' copy of which is in the libral'1 of Harvard Oollege.-Allibone's Diet. oj Autlwr,. .

8" John Webb W&I born at Braintree, Mass., was graduated at Harvard College In 1708;was ordained first pastor oftbe New North Church, Boston, October 20,1714; received tbeBev. Peter Thatcher as Qolleague In 1720; after Mr. Thatcher's death In 1738 was solepastor untU 1742, when the Rev. Andrew Eliot was ordained as his colleague; and diedApril 16, 1750."-Sprague's AnnaU.

'Samuel Danforth,son of the Rev. John Danforth (H. C.1677), of Dorcheater, Mus., and• grandson of the Rev. Samuel Danforth (H. C. 1643)~ of Roxbury, MaBI., was graduatedfrom Harvard College In 17U5; was 8Choolmast~r In Cambridge in 1724, and bad been torsome time previously; married, August 14, 1726, Elizabeth Symmes; died October 'J:1, 1777,aged about eighty-one years. He early left the vocation of scboolmaster; held several clvlland Judicial 01l1ce8; wa Judge of Probate and also or Common Pleas. Durio. the Reyo­lutloD be Wal a royaliat..-Luclul B. Paige, Hul. oj CbmbrldglJ, Hau.

22 THE DIARY OF JOHN COKER. •

mitted into ye school, and settled in a religious family, I thoughtmyself exceeding happy and hoped I should not be visited wth y~

prevaillng distemper yt was raging In Boston, which I 80much feared. My ho~ upon yt aooount were soon disappointed .,and cut off; for ye Lord by a strange and undiscovered way andmeanssentltlntoyeveryCamilyandnootherlnyeneighborhood; )·e

beginning, Mr. Ozbon's [Osborn's] youngest daughterOok»ber. was visited with it, and in 10 days she died. Tis

beyond expm38ion to relate wt trouble I was then filled withal atyt amazing instant. But upon ita breaking out here I betookmyself to the house of Mr. Jonathan Steadman, In ye middle ofye town of Cambridge, 80 yt notwithstanding my extreme troUble,I kept to school. Nevertheless scmples arose mightily In me atyt time whether my remove from Boston was not sinful, all thingsconsideNd, and highly displeasing to God; for I going fromBoston to escape It, and yt coming only Into ye family I was In,I thought it look't like Jonah's flying from the presence of theLord; wh word was a very great aggravation or my trouble. Onor about

having taken a solitary walk as far as ye Royal00t.80, Oak, which is about a mile out of town towards

Charlestown, being in a praying posture with my hat in my hand,near the 8 mile stone, I used such uncommon expressions 88 these,beIng in deep distress of soul: Lord, If it be thy holy will yt Ishould be visited wth )·e small pox, I pmy thee yt if I am for liCeand the~ Is still any work for me to do for the people )~t I mayhave my fears continued concerning my death till ye instant~ Iknow ye small pox is broke out upon me; and then as a token ytI shall live to show forth thy praises let my mind be composedunder the visitation; let this be a token to me of my life for thygoodness'sake, 0 Lord. After this I was exceedingly grievedtearing it was an unlawful petition and yt ye glorious God wouldbe offended at· it rather yD answer it.

About this time ye practice of Innooulation 10 was set up and

10 IDoculaUoo ..a preyeotatlTe or small pox cl1d not become pneraU, kOOWD in EnglandtUIsRer tbe,ear 1717, wbeD LadJ MODtague wrote her celebrated letter from Adrlanople.ADd not till more than a qoarter or a oeDtul'J after ita Introduction did it become ftrm l ,.

eetabll,hfd. It encountered bitter oppoelUon from the learned, and ~peciall1 from themedical protfulon. Moore, In bis lrutMy qf 8JAaU-por, .rhtt'n in lRU. Atalel that at thebegtnnlol or the eighteenth ceotlll'J about one-fourteenth 01 tbe population cUed 01 Imallpox, while at the cloee or the century the number bad IDcr.-sed to oDe-tenth. Thefriend. or the DeW pnetice In England recei"ed. boweyer. IndructlnD anti encouragementfroID aol"Oll the water. 1D 1722, Mr. Neal gaTe 10 the pub11e" A Narrathe of the method

THE DIARY OF JOHN COKER.

Nothing but ye PshIy [ghastly] countenance of death unpre­pared. for was before me, and no light of a reconclled God, nor asense of the application of ye sin-eleansing blood of Chdst ro mydistressed 8Oul. I remaIned in extreme terror until the

of Novr • All ye interval of time I spent in lookingover ye aft'alrs of my soul and on yt day I was taken

sick. Assoon as 'twas told me ytyedistemperappeared, all my fearsentirely vanished away and a beam of comfort darted into mysoul and with it a satisfaction from yt word thou 8halt not die butliw and declare the tDOra of the Lord. Yea, 80 great was my sat­l8factioD y~ 1 immediately replied to my Aunt who Informed me,Then I know ~ 1 shall not die now; but gave DO reason why 1said 80. Then the prayer-hearing God was graciously pleased toanswer my requests while at Cambridge. So yt under ye situationwhen 1 was In my senses (for 1 was deprived 4 days) I was sup­ported by y~good word Ps'. 60 : 15. The visitation tho heavy wasmade light and easy (I was not totally blind) because God's rodand staff comforted me. I lay under it from Nov. 22, to

on which day I was 80 far released as to walkJ)eoemr. 10, abroad. .

Being restored to my former health and 8trengthl'1U. again, after 80 awful and remarkable a vlsltation, in

which there were between eight and nine hundred snatch'd awayby the stroke of death, I resolved to study God's glory as mychief end; and also to follow my studies with my former school­master, Mr. Bam) Danforth, of Cambridge, because I ~lighted inyt place.

Aooordingly I returned to Cambridge In the month ofat which time ye small pox: was spreading there.

Marolt. Among those who died of it (which were about9), Mr. Bam! Steadman, a young gentleman, a physician, was onero whose funeral I was invited and chosen to be a bearer, withwh I complied. He was a near friend of mine and much in myaffection. 0 cruel death, and yet kind.

On ye Commencement Day, one - Lamb, a stu-Jal7. dent at y. College in an airy fit got out of y. window

ro go to another chamber, It being ye 3d story, feU down and re­ooived his death wound; 80 yt he expl.red in a few days. May 1take warning.

At this school I p888ed thro many of the Latin authors. HereI took the sweetest satl8fact1on. Everything about me waapleasant and desirable.

,

26 THE DIARY OF JOHN COKER.

This day I was received into full communion with••b.l'7. ye church in Cambridge.

This day was sacrament day; I eqJoyed great com­Lord'. D., Sl4. fort and satlstactlon in attending yt Sacred Institu-tion of my dear Lonl.

On the 24th of Feb. W88 ye most remarkable tide yt ever wasknown in N. England, ye sea. rose several feet higher yo usual.Sunday meetings in Boston broke up on yt BCOOunt by peoplebeing called to secure things from ye wash of ye sea.

About this time my near companion Mr. Ephraim Craft,16 whowas a member of Mr. Webb's Communion, in Boston, embracedthe principle of Believer's Baptism, in opposition to InfantBap~, and "·88 baptized by Mr. E. Callender,l' in Boston.In some little time after I met him and manifeBted myconoorn about yt aftBir (at this time I never in ye least degreedoubted ye validity of Infant Baptism); and after some con­trary discourse, he earnestly desired me to read Mr. Jos. Sten­nett's n treatise on Baptism, which I consented to, after much

degree of Doctor 01 DinGily, aD honor wb1cb had been pftl'vlooalr coDlerred by tbat co).lege upon ooly ODe indhldual, oamel"locreue Mather, about ellht11an before." Hedied Febnl&rJ 9, 17S&.-ElUot, Blog. Via.; Sprague'. AflMlI.

[Tbia "cburch 10 Cambridge" 11'.., or ooone, Cl0J1'8PUoDaL CoDgreptlODaI oburchs01" &he ltandins order," '- e., eltabl1lhed bylaw 10 Muucboletta and CoOGectieut, werethe leafllng cburchee or tboee &Ionl.; the Baptlata &h" were a amall, daplaecl. aDd per­IeeUted people. 10 Comer'. Diary and the Notes, Coogreptlooal churcbea are OfteD men­tlODed u "tbe Flnt," .. tbe North," etc., without denomlnaUonal dellsnadoD, U 11''' tbeeurreot oustom In JobD Comer'. time, lor the obrioua reuGn Jut at&ted. A JlttJe atlen­tloD 11'01 abow the reader what church II meant 10 each .ucb eue, u dlltlDgullhecl tromthe BapUatcborcheaofteo spoken 01. We Dote, In pualDg, that Jobo Com., at Int a eoo­peptiODalllt, &hoop a atuNY Baptl·t, without thoulh.. of oompromlle, and uDliDebiDgI,true to hi, ooo11ct1oDa. caltl"ated trleud.hipe wl..h pod men 01 other denomlDatlona, i ....eluding thoee 01 &he oommuDI01l he had I..ft. For esample, be eYldeDtl,. edeemed Rw.)(r ('Jap, Conl(1"eptloDaI putor at Newport, and often ....ted hlm.-J. W. W.]

II Epbralm Craft ... bapt1Jled iDto tbe FI1'Bt Baptllt Churcb In BoRon, January 12, 17t&.1. Ellaba CalJender, lor twent,yean (171K-I738) PMtor or the Flnt Baptta Church IDBMton, 11''' a 100 oltbe Be". ElJla Callender, bnm ID &don 10 1880 and Induated fromHa"ard CoUe«eln 1710. Be w.. the Gnt BaptUt min1ater 10 tbfl eoODtry wbo recelyedhlR oolJegIate edncatlOD ID the New World. Be 11''' b4aptlsed AU~'lI0, 1718, and ftYer'"latn, Mar 21, 1718, 11''' ordatDecll*tor or the eburch to wbleb his lather had lonl mlD­latered. At thla ordioatloD aemte, .h~ Dr. Increue Mather preecbed &he 1eflD0D,th~weN at I.... two penon. prelent who rememberfd \be Dal1ln~up o( 1he meedn, bouedooft by order 01 p1'eJ'DlDeDt., namely, Rey. Ell1a Callend.... and :o.oon BenJ.mln Sweet.r.Jlr. c.l1e"der ... a cnltiyatect maD. A correapoDdence whlcb be malDtalned wltb frieDa10 IADdoD'" prnduotlYe of rich peeuDtary bleulng to bll AIfINI JliIUr. Jlr. TbomMBoll1l became a muntlceDt beDetactorot Ha....rd C.oUep. Mr. CaUeader'. deatb ooeurreclftr'J IOddenlr, ID lhe mlat of bla uetaJo.., Marcb 81, 173L-Ca&b.n, 1ItJfI. li1Itt:r.;Spnpet.A....

II Jc.epb 8leDDett, lOll 01 Ed... SteD"'I, a ID1DbtG' 01 lOme 4JaUnctloD d1U'le......

28 THE DIARY OF IOHN COKER.

ton,lt Mr. John Webb, Pastor; the New Brick io Boston,· Mr.Willm Waldron,l1 Pastor; the church a~ Aodover,ft Mr. John

the one, aDd Kr Samuel Ch1ckleT of the other. But beald. the toremenUoued churebel,"blch are properl, tbe EatablbbmeDt of &he ('AMlDtrr, there II OM Eplaeopal church, oneFrencb, one Anabaptlat, and one CongreptloD of Quaken., The Quaten are but few inDumber, though tbtt, are &.reated at pl'elent wUh .. much caDdoaraod soodn.... the, canreuonablT dealre; the Anabaptlata are Ukewlle but few, bot lenou, mocl.t, bumbl.ChriltJanl. Mr. Ellaha Calleoder II their pnleDt putor."-N.a, HiM. No Bttg., IL, 227.

The Old Nortb, or 8eoond CbuNb In BoetoD, w.. tormed lD luo. For tWeDt, rean ODemeeUnl bOUle bad aocommodated the whole population of lbe tOWD. In tbe year 1&&8,howe,.er, the Dumber of InhabltaDta had 10 increued that another".. deewedabeolutel,DeOeII&I'7 tor their acoommodatloD. It w.. therefore a,reed that one IbouJd be bun, attb. Nonb End, tbe toundaUoD beln,laId the luUowtng ,ear. To dlatiolUbb it from theother, tbla Second Church wu called the North, and In ,Ime the Old North. It w.. lOme­LIm.. deelgnated the .. Church of the Matbers," bc,cauee it w.. fOr 10 manr ,.ean prealdfdo,.er by dUlUent memben of tb1a emioent Camily. Samuel Xa&ber preached h.... tor aabon tlme wb.o It wu An' formed, thoap be b Dot reckoDed amoD,lta puton. oMpyea by the Bey. Chandler Robblu, the early paton of the church were, JohD Ma,o(l~I672),Increue Matber (1aM-1728), Cot&OD Matber (16M-1728). DurinS the Revolutiontbla cbureb loe' Ita meeting boale, wben It w. united with the New Brick Cburch, theeoneoUdated bodr retainlDI the oame and recorda or the 8eooDd Cburcb.-Cbandler Bob­bloat lIUl. HortA C1. j JI.-. HUL lIM.

liThe New North Churcb w..ol'pnt.ed in 1714, "leYeDteea aubataDtlal mecbanlClformlDIthe DUcleua" of the body. Jobn Webb wu ordaloed tbe 1m l*\Or. to accordanc. wltkthe cuatom o( Ule tim.. the obllJ'Cla dealnd, SD 1710, to call ao aaiataDt putor. Thechol~, wblcb fell on Peter Thatcher, wu not unaolruoua; indeed he had a bare Dl~orlt1

of ODe vote, aDd that w. eu, by tb. pastor, Xr. Webb. A dl,.Won w. created, and aDUmber or mewberl withdrew. ~e,.enhel~Mr. Thatcher coDttnued to ....e ~b. churcbu ....taot ,.tor uotll his death. The meetlDg bOUle... built OD the conaer 01 Clarkand aaDOyer, tbeo caned Nonh 8treet.-lt;pbralm ElUot, HUI. 6ft!) NortA CA.

• Tbe New Brick Cburch had Ita orlglo In tbe dl,.laloD In the New Nortb Churcb 0CC8­

"oned bTUte calUnS of the BeY. Peter Tba&eher. Tbe orpnlatioD w.. ea'ected lD 1722.WUlIam Waldron w. ordained the Ant putor. The ••Ung hOOM, &OnLlDg on Uaool"eJ'Street, w. built or brick, the Int 10 the town, aod wu elegant Cor tb. times; It wu dedi­cated Kay 10, 1721. Thla hOUle became IUbeequeDtJT the home or tbe Second Cburcb, bywhJcb the New Brick <"llurch wa abeorbed.-Cbandler Bobbin., Hill. Nell' Brld CIa.

• William Waldroo, 800 of Captain Rlobard Waldron _Dd EUnor Vaugbao, ·was born InPortamoutb, N. If., No,.ember 4, 1897, and graduated from Ha"ard O>IIt"ge In 1717. "'benthe New BrIck Churcb In BoetoD wu formed, be was cho8eD putor and w.. ordained Kay22, 17U, Cotton Mather preachlnJ( tbe sennon 80nn anerhl. ordlnatton, he married EllaAllen, by wbom he bad two cblldren, one oC tbem auhawqueotly becoming tbe wife orJoaab Qulnoey, of Braintree, II.... Af'tn ha,.lng pl'f'tK'hed bot sht.bon 1"rB be w.. takenladdeolyllck wblle 00 a TI.U to a friend, tbe ftta\". William Cooper, mlnlReroftbe BrattJe8tftet Church, and died Noyeruber 11, 1721.-."'pra,oac'.·AfUIGh•

... The cburch o( Andover w.. organized October 2.a, 1s.a6. The ftnt meeting bOUle"AI bollt near tbe old buryiog ground in North Andover, and etoocl till 1711. Tbe lartta'portion of tbe Inhabitants, tor ..,.eralyearl after IeUlement,lhed 10 tb.t part of thetown. Wben, bowe"r, 10 1707, it wu thought DeoeIAJ")' to build a new meet1nl bnule,\be ,.ot. of tbe town sbow that th. bulk of tbe population w.. 10 tbe soutberlr part.For, 'september 1,1707, yoted to let ~be meeting bouae on tb 11 IpOt of rround near thewood caIl'd Holt'. Wood. where the CrOll patba meet at tbo lOutbwc.wt corner of GeorgeAbbot.. ground.' Tbls wu objected to on the ground that It would rreatly looonullod.the BeY. 1Ir. Barnard, who U,.ed near the old meeUn, boule. A dlYla10n took p18CW'tlt.A

•

30 THE DIARY OF JOHN COlfER.

llaJ',

sept.

These with ye church in Cambridge,· Hr. Nathl Appleton, Pu­ror, were 7 in number.

'Twas concluded by Mr. Webb yt I should be forwardoo If Iwould go and stodie with a private minister in ye country whichI consented to; aooon!ingly Mr. Barnard, of Andover, wasplWh't upon, to whom I ,,·ent in

and while I was a student at his house I communedwth his church, but laboured under inexpreeslble

di1ftculties in my mind on ye point of Baptism.ThL'i month one Comelius Bennett II and I finding

\\"e should not yt )?e8.r be presented to CambridgeColledge for admittance we resolved to go to New Haven Col­ledge and offer [ourselves] for admittance there, and accordinglywas admitted by ye Revd Mr. Samuel Andrew,1O Pastor of )"e

church in Milton! 31 and Mr. James Pairpoint [Pierpont], 12 tutorof ye college.

• The Flnt ConlftllAtlonal Church 01 Cambrldae, II..., 11''' orpnbed Ft'bruary 1,1631 (0. 8.). The paton were: Thomu Sheppard, ordaloed 1636, died IIG; JooathaoKitcben, ordained 1650, died 1667; Urian Oakes, ordained 1671, died 1681; Nathaniel Goo­kln,ordaioed 1682, died 1692; WilHam BratUe, ordained 16M, d1ed 1717, Nathaniel Apple­too,OrdalDed 1717, died 17M. [ElflAl 1MJtaru em 1M HUtor, oJ 1M Hr., ell.rcA Ua am.­bridge, b1 Aleuoder Mackeoale,I813.]

• (WantJog.)10 Samuel Andrew, eenond rector 01 Yale College, wu the eld.t IOD o( Samuel Anti"';',

olCambrtdge,and wu born Janoarr2t,lM6; wu graduated (rom Ha"ard College In 1675.Be wu ordalDed minister at IIlllord, Conn., No.ember 18, 1685. Ue married Ablpll,daugbter of GoT. Robert Treat " Be wu ODe of the original projectors, (ouDden, aDdtl'Utee8 01 Yale eon.; and after the death 01 Mr. Plenon, the Ant rector 01 tbe oollege,he wu appointed tempora"1 rector," In 1707, and contiDued to oftlc1ate uoUI 1711,occulO1lally repairing to the 0011. at Saybrook aDd New Ha.,en, bot resided at Milford•.. He was one o(the mlollrten who aNemb1ed a' ~ybrook 10 1708, hy order o( tbe GeneralCourt. lor the purpoee 01 adopting and ncommendlng to the churches a manual o( eburcbd1Iclpllne, called tbo C 8a1brook Platlorm.''' Be died January M. 1738. A daughterm.nied the Be.,. Tlmoth, Cutler, wholU~edhim lu Ule reetonblp of Yale ColJep.- ,Spngue'l A tIIIGlI.

It (Wanting.)• Jam. Pierpont, who ... bom ID New Ua....., Conn., Va,21,1891, walt the eldeA 10ft

01 the Be.,. Jams Pierpont (Ha". J681), tbe mlnllter 01 New 8a.en. and )(Iry, daugbter. 01 the ReT. Samuel Hooker (Barr. 1M3), o( Farmington, Conn., and wu graduated fromYale OoUep 10 1718. ID 1722, be wu eJected tutor lD the col1ege, aod wu tbe ant 0011.olleer to snbecrlbe to the new testa o( ortbodosy reqalred hy tbe trustee-. Belag aenlortutor, be bad more thaD tbe DlUal lftIponfllhllltyslnce tbere was no rector durin, bll termolofllee. Be realpeod In litt. A halt' llater o( btl married tbe HeY. JOMpb Nay" (Ylle,1708), who soooeeded bll father as putor In New Ha"en, and wa~ one 01 tbe bulwarb ofthe" Old Llghta." An own ..Iuer married the Be". Jonatban FAwareb (Yalf, 1720), whobecame e1'en more dtstlngul.bed I' a champloD ot' the It New ~bta." In tbe eon' roftl'lleao( tbe period, Tutor Pierpont eIpOoNJd 'he caUIe 01 tile latter. He died In 1r78. For the...bstaDce 01 this Dote, aDd lor otber Iaets, tbe editor ack'lowll'dpe bll tnd.btt'dueM toFnokllD B. Dater,~ of AmerloaD IUa&or1ID Yale Coil... Profe.or Dester

82 THE DIABY OF "OlIN COMER.

sept.

TIaIN.,8.

•

I have cause to mention ye name of that servant of y. Lordwith the greatest honour and respect immaglnable.

This summer a war broke out with y. Indians II while I was atMr. Barnard's, which was a frontier town, and his hoWJe wasgarison'd, tho there was continual fear and a town watcl1 ormilltary wareh rather, yet no hurt was done by ye Indians.

This month, in the beginning, I went to N:. Havento be there on the comm~ncementand to tarry there

till y. next spring, having spent the summer in private Htudle,which I esteem ye best.

A few days after ye commenooment was over I was taken sickwith a fevour which left; me low, with a fevour and ague; uponwhich it was thought proper y' if I could go to Boston It wouldbe better for me; soon after a sloop presented.

On ye back side of Cape Codd we were overtakenOCtobe.. .,. with an extreme storm of wind and rain attended

with thunder and lightning in ye night wh did some huit to ourvessel, 80 Y' none of us ever expected to see the light of another

day; but through God's wonderful goodness ye nextWedDeM.,8. morning we were safely arrived in Plimouth Harbor.

We arrived safe at Boston.This day Mrs. Rebecca Burnol exchanged this

1'I7d., 10. world for a better as I trust, and I was chosen a pallbearer and accepted. She was one whom I first fixed my affectionsOD, and was truly a well accomplished woman, and noted for s0­

briety and virtue; but in her death the will of the Lord is done.This sickDe88 and trouble were motives to stir up my desires to

obey Christ; but I seemed afraid, for I had told Done my mind.Upon which yt word was made of a quickening nature to me,He that is ashamed of me and my ways, of him and his wayswill I be ashamed lHfore my Father and the Holy Angea; uponwhich I broke my mind to Mr. Callender in order to proceed inthe month of December. .

Thi~ day I W88 Baptized by the Revd• Mr. Elisha~s:.Callender and was admitted Into full communion

with the Baptist church In Boston,· having before

• (Waotlale)• The FI"" Bapabt Cbarob In BoetOD wa. &OCOrdiD' to the ftCOnt, orpnlled .. 011 the

..... of &be lei mODt.b, 1&86." The 28th of Mar, O. M., bfcomN 7th JaDe, N. R AmoDg tbeearly pu&on wen &be follnwtog: Thoma. Gould, huo HaJJ, John RU'RII, Thom.. SkiD­ne,. JObD Emblea. £Ula Callender (li08-1718), FJI.ba Callender U7J~I738), JeremiahOondJ (1""1784), 8Mnael 8d11111aD (1;6&-1807), Jowph Clay U807-18(9). TbfA Jiat, wllb&be aeepUoD of allD,1e Dame, II takeD lrom Beoedlet, wbo cIaI.... to ba". toUowed the

46 THE DIARY OF JOHN COKER.

• before Baptized 11 persons) I set out on ajourney for SpringfieldIn company with Mr. Richard Hardin, IT of Swanzey, [and] Mr.Thomas RU88ell, of Boston.

In Plainfield my horse broke ye bridge and threwWedDe",18. me off; but thro God's goodness without anyhurt to either. .

This day I arrived safe at ye hOU88 of Mr. JnoThtnId., 10. Devotion, at Southfield, being part of four days

on ye journey.Went over to Sprlngfleld and ftnd all things agree­

~., 80. able. I wrote a journal of this joumey distinct, )"t Icarried with me.

Preached at Springfleld from Acts"16: 9, A. M., andLord'. 4., as. Jno 17 : 8, P.)I. 70 auditors.

This day Mr. Ebenezer Devotion· ye minister of1'wI4",134. Southfield came to see me and seemed much troubled

about ye amur I c8.me upon.This evening two mlni8t~rs mrtle to see me, viz.

Lord'. D., aG. Mr. Devotion and Mr. Hopkins, and while they werewith me, 88 it happened, the glorious God, who is a God doingwonders, as well as glorious In holiness, shook ye earth terribly.'Tis ye most remarkable Earthquake ever known In N. England.It came on about 10 ofye clock in a calm night; it was universalthrough the whole continent. It awake many yt were asleep.

This night Oct. 29, 1727, is a night to be remembered and yecircumstances of It to be transmitted to posterity.

This day set out for Newport, and lodg'd this nightJIooDd.,80. at Mr. Clap's,. who is ye minister of Wendom

[Windham]•

., It I. uncertain whether or not thl. ··}(r. Richard Hardin, or8wanKeT," can be identl­8ed with the" Richard Httrdln" mentioned by Baeluu in hla .11Utot7, II , 24, who in 171b"beeame both a deacon Ind the clerk or the FInt Church In 8wao_y." The rucalltyorHardin WU Dot dllcoyered unt!l17..1O, three Jean after this Jouroey was made br Comerto Springfteld. Tbla reference may be dolo, peat loJultlce to Comer'. companion on tbi.occulon.

• Tb1I Hr. Df-yotfon, minister at Southfteld, or Bameld, 81)0 or John ne\,otlon, wu •Datlye of Brookline, Hau.; .... gradu.~ from Bal'Yard {".oll('ge in li07; ordained atSumeld, June 28, 1710, and died April 11, 1741. A letter of hi. In oonD<'Ctlon with thllmoyement at SprlnJ{fteld Ia .I1'('n In Back".' Hi6torJJ, 1.,513-316. He marrlec! Naomi,daughter or the R~1'. Edward Taylor (H. C., 161i), or Weetfteld.-SpraJ(ue's ...tftM/••

• .. Mr. Clap or Wendom," II probably the ney. Thomas Clap of Windham, who wu bornat Scituate, June 28, 1708, llJ"&duated from Ha"ard Conep In 1722, at the 1ge or nineteen, or­dained u Pastor at Windham, {"onn., August 8, 1728, where hecootlnued until 1739, wheD,at the rell«naUcm orthe Rtay. Elisha William.. be was elected, against the eanlest pro~·tof hJa de\'oted oblU'Ch, Bector of Yale ColleJe. aDd ... Inducted ioto office April 2, 1740"

48 THE DIARY OF JURY COKER.

orableSamlCranstone, '11 Govemo&r, Ap. 26th. Edward Thirstone[Thurston] Asst, in ye same month.

At the Election in May the HonourableJoseph Jenks, 'It DeputyGovemour, was chosen Govr in Chief.

Mr. Jonathan ~lchoJs, Asst was chosen Deputy Governourjhe was called from hUt 01l1ce by death In July tollowing.

King George the first, July ye 15th, left his temporal [crown]and exchanged [it], I trust, tor an eternal CJ'9wn of glolj".

This ~"ear is the most wonderful yt ever I knew; th~ remark­able year 1727, in ye memory of man there never was such a oneknow~here. In July, heat; in August, lightning; In September,wind; in October, earthquake; each oftbese In avery admirablemanner. Four were drowned, accidentally, 88 some termd it.One wilfully.

This year my ministry was crowned with some success, throughthe divine bl~iogupon It. I recmved to the Lord's table 7 per­SODS, 4 of whom I Baptized, and 8 were Baptized by other ad­ministratorJ. What I had for support from my people, from thechurch and congregation, amounts to .£93 1~. 4d.

We4De84., This night Mary Dye WLot and drowned herself 88.laDU&r717, the Jewry [Jury] gave it; but most concludtl(} 6~e

17_. was murthered by her husband. One of her armswas broke and OIl ytarm appeared 10 black and blue stripes. Shewas not found until [Sentence incomokte.]

n Goyernor Cranston died at the~ or 68 yean, haying held the omce or Goyernor01 the Oolun,. during the unprecedented period 4Jf tweut,.-b1oe coneecuUYe Jean, being

. In& elected In 1618. Arnold, In h1a llulorv oJ llJaocM r.lIJad, _y"," He held bll poeIt.lon,probably, ionpi' thaD Iny oth.. man who haa eyer been IUbjeeted to the teat or an aDJIualpopalar elect1on."-L, MO. "In the strengt h of hi. intf'lIect, the COUnlt' Ind ftrmoeea ofhis admJnlstratlon, and the aklll 1l1~h whJc.h he conducted publio ."111'8 io eyery crt.1e, beresembled the early nee of Rhode l ...nde.... Thirty tlOJes aucce8fhl'1,. cboeen to thehighest oftlce, he preeerved bll popularity amldlt political cont'ulsloos lbat bad .wept aWl,.eTe..,. other ofticlalln the 0(100)'. He WI' the oooof'Ctlog Unk between tW'o eenturl. or IIIhistory, and eeemed, u It were, the' bridge oyer wblch It puHd In sarety, from tbe long.trupl~ for esbteoce with \he roJal goTernon or Mauachueetts to the ptat't'tul poaeIIlonof Its chaliered rights under the HOUle or Hanover."-Ibid., D., 83.

T! JOAeph Jenks, as Comer spells tbe name 10 the test, and u be hlml'elr 'I'f'llect It, orJencks a. ginn bJ BeckuI', or Jenckea sa moa IUbiequent wrlten hare been ~omecl&0 write It, waa Depue,. Goyernor or the euloOT from 17US until 1721. Ind again from 1722..otIl1727, wben at the de-thor Goyeruor ('raoRoO bewu ch-en al bla lucceuor,and heldthe ofDoe or Goyernor for the next aye yean, ~lldiog,at the reqUf'llt of tbe General AMftIJ­bl,., rur mOil. of the time In Newport. He died JUlie 13, 1740,lD bl" stth year. Be marrltd)(Irtba, daugh~r01 Jobn Brown, and granddau,hter 00 her ratht-r'1 aide of the ReT. ChadBrown, of Proylderece, and on her mother'a aide of the Rn. Obadtab Holm"_ 01 Newport.A 1.1$er 11 preaened by Backus, in hIa HhtlJry, 11., 23, 14d.reaed bJlioyernor Jpnks -bUereddin. in Newpon, to hla putor and brother-Io-law, n.ey. Jam. BroWD, pnta1JlJD' toeocles1utlcal d'aln In ProvtdeDoe.

50 THE DIARY OJ' JOHN OOJOB.

This day Mr. Eals" preached in Mr. Clap's pulpitTh1r8d.• 4. from Gen. 82 : 26, 29.

This evening a schooner from ye Bay under yeLonl·. D., 7. command of Capt. Jamel Emmit in a mighty srorm

of wind accompanied with rain was cast on shore, OD a sand beachat Westport, in this Colony, and all goton shore, being 6 in number(Rave one Indlangirl who was drowned in ye vessel); there were4 Englishmen and one Indian. The 4 were 80 far spent with ye dif­ficulties of ye storm, after they had travelled some distance fromye wreck [that they] dropt down dead a little s))800 from eachother. ye Indian travelled a great part of ye night till he founda hay stack, under which he sheltered till day, and yD gave in­formation so yt they were all taken up and decently burled.Taken from MaJor Stanton's own mouth, of ,\\Testerly, who wasthe 2d person yt came to ym.

Thisday also Mr. Clap preached from Jer. 15: 19, A. :M. ; Isa. 14:82, P. :M., and did not Invite of ye ministers to preach. These textswere wonderfully adapted to ye circumstances, and delivered Inye audience of ye counell and messengers. Note, this was ye lnstsermon he ever preached In y. meeting house. n About half anhour at't.m' by ye toll of ye bell, Mr. Foxcroft " preachE~rln ye meet­ing house from Jno 17 : 11. I attended this meeting.

This day ye meeting house door was broke open,110114.,8. 'tis said Mr. Jno Coddlngron had ye chief hand In It,

"Nathan1e1 EalI, or FAlla, 100 ot the Bey. Nathaniel EeJ1a," wu graduated: at HarnrdCollep in 1689; w.. ordained at 8c1tuate June 14, 17M; aad cUed Auguat 26, liao."­Sprape'l Aa"".

rr IC Father Clap" preterrecl to nrreDd.. hla meeUnl boa.. rather thaD hJa ooDYIotlou01 dutrlo thIa matter. Thomu W. Wood, In h1I JI& IT..,. of tIM U_1Md Oneg. 0\., ..,.:.. OIl tbeneulD, 01 April 26, J728, • .... aaotbel' meet.1D, of ,.. Church (8eooDd), wbenb:a IpropoIed to tbem reUDqal8h1og the meetlog bOOM for Mr. Clap to retw'D to It apia, butwu reIUIed;' 10 wrote JIr. Adams. The Flm Church lmmed1atelr oolllllleooed theirleCOud [third '] meetlq boWIe, which was 80llbecl 10 1721, IDd ltood 00 land deeded byEdward Pealham and IOD tor tbe purpoee 00 the IOQtb Iide of HUI Itrwt. Tbll bOGIe ••orlrlullll, paid tOI' partIr bJ tbe Flm Church aod congreaat!oD, and put!,. bJ mODI.railed bJ Boetoo mlollten lor the ~od Cboreh-tbe latter tatlD, Ule old house ODTaDoer IUeet [now W.& Bro.dW&,.] aD. old UOI'&IDeDtU IurD1t1aI'e. aDd n&eu1DI tilemonlel aDd panoD", to the former."

"Thoma Foxcroft ... born In Cambridce In 1811, and grl4aated M BU"Yard Col....ID 1714, aad on the totb 01 NoYelDher,1717, wu OI'dalDId Putor ot the Fa.. Cburcla lDBoston .. eoll-.,oe with the BeY. BeDjamln Wwwonh. When the latter wu eIeotecIPre8ldeat of Harnrd Colltp lu 172ft, Mr. Foz.oroft beeame Inle putor ot the church, buttwo yean Jaw, 10 1727, be !'eaebed Hr. Charles Chauncey .. hIa oollNlOe 1D the mlmatl'J.Mr. Foxcroft wu • warm friend ot Mr. Whlteleld, aod ablr deleoded "1m aplDlt theattacks of h1a _1ID1~ He died June 18, 17Si• ., wheD be bad UYed 0"'" .."entr·&hree,ean, 6Ar-'wo of wbleb he bad apeDt lD the JDlDlatrr."-8prape'a A...u.

52 THE DIARY OF JOHN COHER.

These things I make a remark on that 80 I may take notice ofye working of Divine Providence in 8uch a proceeding.tatned to Adwinlater the ordinance 10 IUcb • case of neceu1ty; Especiall,. when thebrethren ot t.he Church 10 earnestly Dcalred &0 EnJo,. the precloul JostitutJon.

.. Again, tho we ftnd he hal latel,. administered \he ordinance and would rejoice lDhia being able to attend his Duty in that matter; Yet we think that eTeu then he w.taulty, and acted OODtrary to the rules ot Christian Charity and prudence in adminiaterla,It to a small pari. ot the Brethren of the Church without glTlng at the 6nt Utile ••• UooIoJ page tqm off, ptJrl oj tvJo liRU] calling io an Eccladaatlcal CouDoil to ooDaider aDdaddae upon the dUftcult1ee &ad di1r'erencel In the Church.

" Again, bAa manner 01 admitting penoDlloto the Church we And EsoeptioDalln .Tera!Inatancee-PartieularlY, h1I taking in a woman Tery latet,. without proposing her pubUcI,.&0 the Church for their conlent, II Jadged to be a~lolationof GoapeU order, aD unwarrantedlnyulon upon the Liberty ot the Brotherhood, and Just matter of grleYance to them.

" Further, .. ~ hla administration of the boly ordinance ot Baptism, ..e ftnd .Teratthings exceptional and Tery Irregular objected against him, Pa.rtlcularlylo the cue of Mr.Randall Nicholls' chUd, and adult perIODs not. being IeUOnably propounded.

" And then, as to hla conduct wUh relation to the affair of Mr. Adams' Settlem' .. a col­leape with him in the mlniaUT. we Judge It in all regards to be very strange, and b1a re­fUllng to Content to the Vote of h1I Church and Congregation In that m.tte~. withoutgiving &Dy kind ot reason, carries with It. the bee of a reproachable sell w111'dn8S8, ond ap­pears Tery plalDly to be the unhappy meanl of that eorrowful Contention "hereby religionlutren and order In the Church 10 macbobstrocted as at this day•

•• We Ind that Mr. Adams hath reoelved a Valid Call to eeUle In thla mlnletry in oon­junction with Mr. Clap by Vlrtae ot the atoreuJd Vote, tho not 10 regulAr in an Ita Clr­cumatancee: We cannot ftnd b,. the ItriCtest Enquiry made that any Jult Exceptlolll areor can be ol"ered against Mr. Adama' preaching or conyeraatlon: nor can we learn from theBretbren who haTe retracted their Votee (tor Mr. Adams' .ettlemC) that theyarelnlueucedby &Dy other principle but a tenderuess to Mr. Clap, and lothness to contradict and grlel'ehim; And therefore the opposition which bath arl8en, and Is now carrylog on to the Ordl­Dation of Mr. Adams (In pursuance ot the call given him) 11 Judged altogether UDWarraul­able, and without aD,.lufBclenL grounds to auppon It.

•• We find about X of the ('burch and Congn-gatlon Ire ItUI Tery closely anlted Intheir a1feet1ons t.o Mr. AdaDll, the Pastor Elect.. and that hil remoyal from Newport underthe Clrcumstancel or the present. day 11 Dot at all likely to make tor~,Dor will It haTe• TeDdency to BerTe the Interest of reUgloD In this place.

"Further, we think oursehE'$ obllg'd to add, It appean to al tbat the notion of theaggrieyecl Breth'. desire and design to drhe away Mr. Clap II altogether gronndleM anduntrue; they haTing unanimously expreMed themselves, In pn!l8ence of the Council,heartil1 willing to lit under Mr. Chlp'l mlnistrr, ltlt may be with peaceable Enjoyment ofMr. Adame's mlnJatry In conjunction therewith j and that they desire nothing more thaD••• [bottom oJ page tom o§'.part oj ttl'{) NMI] mch meuuree In Church GOTernment u areGenerally practised In tbe Churcbes ot N~w England, most agreeabl" to GOIpel rule.

II We DOW tD the name 01 our Lord J~us Christ Earnestly Intrest and flxhoTt Mr. Clapand the Brethren who oppose 'Mr. Adams' 8ettlem' to con~lder these thlnr In the Cear 01God, and EndeaYorrespectlve]ya better rE'gulation of their Tempe,. and Conduct Cor tbe re­storing 100t peace and repalrlnr the Injured honour ofGMpell ord~r and reJf~on. In par­ticular, u aprlghtly JudginK It the best and most pro,. Expedient tor the ftld; 'Ve adTlMand beseech Mr. Clap and the Brethren to give t1lelr coneent to the ordination of IIr.Adams... a colteague with him In the ministry, or give as forthwith 80me NtlSCaetoryreason (11 any Inch they haTe In reserve) wby they refuee It; or If they contJnue to reru..their ooDlent, without lend'rlng any sullieleDt I'NIOn tor their conduct, and bfnu~weapprehend the ordaining Mr. Adams a colleague with IIr. Clap In the P,,-tonl Charp ofoDe and the same flock, UDder the pnwent circumstances ap1DSl Kr. Clap's comfort, aDd

64 THE DIABY 01' IOB5 OOJUm.

80.

gatherers were some ~ gathered ye first when Mr. Clap was or­dained, which was Nov. 8, 1720, after he had preached here fromye year 1696.

This day Mr. Clap began to pft'aCh In his ownLord'. D., 14. house,. had a oonsiderable auditnry.

This day my little 80n fell headforem08t out of ·:::a. a back window In the lower room, about one P. K.,about 6 feet high from the ground, and through God's

goodneBJ by ye administration of suitable means he was cured ofr wounds he received in his head In a llttle time. At first hewas taken up for dead. 0 what cause of thankfulness I· have forthis favour.

About 8 P. M., one Deborah Grlnman [ureenman]~.. 81. was ldll'd with thunder, at Narraganset. There

were some th1Dgs remarkable In her death. Two nights beforeshe dreamed~ a woman laydead In ye 8aIIle spot she was strockdown In. She told her sister of It under great surprise, and Y'she was ldll'd wtIa thunder. In Y' morning of ye day in whichshe was kIll'd 'twas very clear, but she apprehended It would bea fatal day. And when ye cloud arose she said ther6 iI 11' whichtDUl do ge burineM. Accordingly she was kill'd In ye same spot.She was burnt on ye side of her face, and her Instep was broke.At yt time she had a child In her arms, which was stunned, butlOOn recovered.

ThIs day my house was raised, and no hurt done=.: by any of ye timber.ThIs day Mr. James Blackstock bought ye meeting

house of Mr. Daniel White and Mr. Thomas Boyls.It was a very ill act, both in ye buyer and sellers.

JIrJ'd., This day Governor Wllllam Burnet" anived here~ ua. in his p8888ge to his government or ye M8MftChusett&

Rhode 1alaDd, p". tbe OMaINPUonal .. 'oUow: BeGd. theM two In Newport," thereare thne Pnebrtel'lan or Coopeptlonal cbareh.._.t ProTldeDee, Soutb XJnptou aDdWeaterl'i e.ch 01 them Lbe1Dll nppl1ed at preeent with a palor,,..... the BeY. Kr. JoelabColton, at ProTldeDoe; tIM BeY. Mr. Joeeph TOIT81, M SoaUl Jt1DptoD, aDd the BeY.IIr.loeepb Part, at We8ter1,."

• That II, In hJa own dwel1lD, booM, the panooap...WUllam Burnet, IOn of Bllbop GUben Barnet (of8al'um), w.born at tbe Hlp..Karch.

1887. and Damed WUllam ID hoBor 01 the l11ultrlou PriDoe of OraD... He came to tblaOOUDtrT 10 1720, arrlnDI at New York Itt.h September; wu made GoYeJ'Dor 01 New YorkaDd New Jener ; W'U aablequeatly traa.rernd bJ Geo.... IL to Mulachueetta. at AI bewuto PM' throoP Rhode IalaDd on the waf to btl new goTernment, the A81embl1 YOted bllD• public reception." On the 12lb or JU)1, 1728, •• a ship 01 war from EIIa.and broqbt Rar·... tIM Dew GoYel'DOr of JIuIaobUIUI &0 NewpoI'L &ala_ weN exobaDpd a& the am,

56 THE DIARY OF JOHN COlfER.

show, the sky being In other places or a clear blue, and stanshining very bright.

A sloop oommanded by :Mr. Wm Gardner with1IoDd.,l4. whom were Stephen and David Mumfonl, Peter

Arault [Ayrault], and two Negroes, was l08t as is supposed by asudden storm of snow yt arose. They went to receive prohibit­ted goods brought from Holland, but did not do It.· It wasye first this year tho a very considerable one.

This day I preached by request at JusticeWedDell4., 18. Thomas Church's hOU89, at Little Compton, fromJno 17 : 8. Mr. Billings, the PrMbyterian minister was present,and a large auditory.

This day a Presbyterian church was gathered atWedDH4., 88. Providence, It Mr. J081as Cotton 18 onlained Pastor.

About this time in ye month Mr. Joseph O'Hara., an Episcopalminister, ~e to Providence from England. After he hadpreached two or th"ree days, on ye 3d he published himself toMrs. Allce Whipple, of Providence. But before he was out,published news came l' he was married, and in about 3 weekshis wife <BIDe. But he denied her. to be so, by which he W88def~tedof his new Intended mawh.

'Tis observed that ye last Lord's Day he preached~~~:... in ye church, he was by an extraordinary gust or

wind forced out of ye church in ye time of service.It blew in a large window at ye west end, and very much shook

• (Note waodD..)• AI wu the CM8 In Newport, 10 was It In Pro\'ldenoe, ConpeptJoaal preachtD, w.

JUlntalned lor 80rne rean betore a church wu gathered. FroID Judge Staples, .If U4U oJPrtw.. we learn that" a ConpegaUnnal PedobapUlt IOCle&r w. formed about 1720 " ; andthat MID 1;~ the 8OOlet1 erected a bOUle lor wonhlp at the corner of College aDd BeDee,&neta." MTbeyluid DO .Uled mlDlater uDtlll728," wben Kr. CottoD came to them. ODtbe dar of bla ordloaUon a churcb w.. orgaobed conalatloR or nine penoos. la 1770,I' the BennoleD\ o,ngreptioDal 8oclet,." wu incorporatid. The SocIety 801d Ita meeUng(bOUM] ill 17N,and built ano&ber". the oornorof BeDeyo)ent aDd BeDel\ Streeta," wblcb"was deRroyecl by e~ 00 tbe momlng of the l~b of JUDe, 181~." The loUowin.yearanother bou8e wu erected upon LbelalDe llite. Tbe IUcoeu1ye mlnlaten baye been .. tol­Ion: Joelah Cotton (1728-1;47), John Ball (116~·1758), PaTid 8. Bowland (1782-117.),Enoe Hitchcock (1783-1808). BeDI'J Ed. (1~1832). Tbll became "the 8nt UnlWIaDchurch In Rhode Ialand."-Amold. Hut. R. I., II., 77.

• JOilab CoUoD. IOD of the ReT. Boland Cotton. or SaDdwlch, and rrea&1nodlOD oftile ramous ReT. John Colton, 01 Boston, w.. lftClaated at Ba"arcl College in li22, aDdordained at Pro"ldeD08, October 11,1728," elpteea charchftl ~I.DI pft'Mnt by their deIe- ...tee to ..lit at the ordiDatJoo"; the Ml'lDon on the oceulOD wu preached bJ \be Rn.N.hanlel AppletoD; baTing heeD dJamlMed he wu Inl&a11ed at WoburD, Jul,.15, 1747;belq a eeoond Ume dlaa1lled w.lDa&alIed at Sardo1fD,N'o\'ember .,1758; and died 1Ia.,17,1780.-8prape'l ...tIMIa.

53 THE DIARY OJ' JORN' COKER.

About this time I found my people 80 uncomfortable yt wemust divide from each other, which W88 exceeding grievous tome. The reason why I received no more from ym this year wasbecause they withheld wickedly what I was to have had Justlyby their own offer and former fulfilment because I preached upImposition of Hands on Baptized believers 88 such (t.ho I madeno bar upon yt account), this, and this only was ye ft880n whythey began ye quarrel with me.·1 So yt all which I had fromthem for y. service of 8 years and two months, i. e., from tJte 1stof Novr 1726, to the 1st of January 1729, amounts by the mostuact JUrount to £217 68 tOO

That is, in the year1726, .£86 148 6d To building, 48 11 01727, 98 12 4: Small gifts, 26 14 01728, 88 0 0

£217 6 10 Total, ~7 11 M)

Note that there are 86 persons more in the church yD W88 whenI came to the Island; 4: y& I Baptized joined to Swanzey churchwho lived there. 80 that all y& ever. I Baptized are 29 Jlel8ODS;and 9 I received to special church communion who were beforeBaptized. The whole church when I ~me consisted of but 17members, 10 mal~ and 7 females.· There was no public singingtlll I came, and by ye blessing of heaven Introduced it.· In yetime of my administration there was one excommunicated, Sept.11, 17Z1; two set apart, one for drunkenness, one for disorderedbrain, Feb. 22d, 1728. Threewere as I trust thro~ translatedin glory thro the gate of death.

Here I think proper to Dote the line on my father's side, andwould on my mother's, but I don't know certainly.

My grandfather Mr. John Comer was born Apr. ye 26,1644.My grandmother Mrs. Elinor Comer was born July ye 20, 1644•

• Mr. Comer's laDguqe S. yerJ expUclt., U this aDd tho 001, wu ,. reaIOO wb, tbe,begaD,. quarrel with me." Some later writen haft ..Iped other reuons tor thla ...­ration of putor aDd people. '!be ohurch wu certalol, yel'1 repreheoalble tor at&eDlptlD,to withhold from 1&1 JMLI*OI' the 1&1&17 due him., No action on hb put could warraD' It IDtreaUD, him with loJultloe. or eYeD with dl8oouru.r. Two memben IDlueDUa110 th.body were large1, reeponalble tor leadI0' I' Into thla wroDI coone.

• The Church Reoordl ..y that U '"' ,. time of ,. DlYlatOD ID .,. ohurch [ocoulonecl by111'. White] ~herewere ID full ooDlllulmon 18 penons, 12 m.... aod 17 femalel." ot theM,ten IeJoyoed In toll with Mr. White In ,. time ot ,. dh'lslon.".« 8inging, whieb eee.... to haye tallen 11110 dlaaee, wu re-Introduced loto the pabUcwonblp." Jrut. 0/ 1M ~l, p. 80. The ohurch aled .. pealmody" 10 public wonhlp ..early .. 1652, and wltbou~&Dy doubt from the beglDD1Il,.

60 THE DUBY OJ' JOHN OOKED.

1'7.

23.

18.

ThJs day I passed ulider hands by Mr. DanIel'1'bJn4., 8. Wightman, and offered for transient communion

until Spring, or till I saw how God inhis Holy Providence mightdispose of me.

I preached in Mr. Wightman's congregation P. M.Lord'.D.,lA. from Jno 20: 17. Mr. Saml Maxwell supplying my

pulpit• .,This day Dean George Berkeley" arrived herewith his spouse and a young ladie in companie, in

order to find a suitable place in America to settle a colledge; hewas 4 months and 16 days to Virginia, where he made but a shortstay; 80 to Newport he was 5 months. He is reputed a man otmoderation. I

Bt'ing on Saturday evening a violent storm of snow••b.18. attended with sharp lightning and hard thunder,

which struck ye west of ye English Church broke 9 quaries[squares] of glass, melted ye lead in sundry places, and in severalparts of ye windows it burnt ye frame to a coal.

This day was found a number of persons in y. actof counterfeiting ye public bills of credit of this

Colony.-Here follows an exact coppie of ye Articles drawn up by ye

money makers, who were discovered by Mr. Brown (Who en­graved ye plate) Feb. 17, taken from ye original by me thro ye

favour of ye King's Attorney, Mr. DanIel Updike,Feb. ye 19th.

Whereas we, Nicholas Oatis, Samuel Hallet and David Rich­ards, have unanimously joined in a firm League and Contract touse our best endeavors in our respective places to make and put offwithout discovery a quantity of paper money. In consideration

• ConllderlDl h1I brief ltay In Newport, Dean George Berteler made a protound 1m­preulOD upon the toWD. In punoanee o( h'l purpoee to touod at Burmuda, or at lOIDeother more IGltable place ID~ a oollege tor the beDe8t ot IDdlao youth, he arrIye4at Newpon ID 1728, where he ioteDded to make hll heaclquan..., and collect material torhta cootemolated ioatltutlon. About two miles out ot town he purchued a farm and builta house, which he called WhitehalL "Not tar from hla hOUle, among what are known uthe Hanging Boob, la a natural alOOYe, which, opening to the south and rooted with HoD"commands an ext.eDalY8 new ot &be ocean. Bere tradition.,. that Berkeley wrote hi,• Alclphron, or JUnute Phl101Opher,' which wu prlot.ed 111 Newport by Jam.. Fraotlill."The Dean wu attended br a oorpa ot llterarr men and artlata, among them Smlben, whop,.e an Impetu to AmertOUl an. Soon after his urly" a pbJlO8Ophlcal eocletJ ....formed, wbleh IOmewhat later, ill 1747, pTe birth to &be Redwood Library. DI..ppolntedill his original purpoee, he gaye h1a farm to Yale eollege, aad ID 1731 retumed to England.-Arnold, Irul. Be 1., D., II; Biog. o,clop. oj R. Ie

• To counterfeit theee bl1ll of credit had beeD declared le1oD7 b7 ua ad of &be G.-.lA.IIembl,.

62 THE DIARY OJ' JOlIN COllBB.

P. B.-Whereas we, Hannah Hallet and Joanna Oatis, havebeen knowing to and concerned in y. foregoing Articles and our888istance (as heretofore) will be required to act in our husbands'absen~ in their &mad and place, wh we promise faithfully to per­form to ye best of our understanding, for y. interet5t, preservationand safety of ye Companie, and as there is none made privie inye 841 Articl~ of Agreement, we by ye above written solemn oathbind ourselves to secrecy not to declare on any account wteveranything contained therein, as also to observe and fulfil ye afoMtdArticl~ in every particular, 88 witness our hands y. 2341 day ofJanuary, 1728 or 1729.

JOANNA OATIS.HANNAH HALLET.

A number of Baptlst8, Churchmen, and Quakers,IIODda:r, in all 80 persons, belonging to ye township of Reho­Ilarch8.

both, were committed to Bristoljail, by reason of theirrefusing to pay ye ministers' rate.1T The lBeasl~ brought intotown, and spread.

1I0Dd 10 I went to visit ye prisoners at Bristol with Mr•., · Stepl1en Gorton. Upon ye request of ye prisoners I

heada:r,11. preached this day in ye old prison at Bristol, fromPsalm 86 : 11. Sundry of ye town attended ye meeting. Aftermeeting I returned home. Blessed be God.

I think to insert this account. The ministers of ye Epi~pal

church have some of ym received ye Primitive and ApostoUcaIorder of Baptism by a total Immersion in water. Mr. Usher- ofBristol In ye month of January 1724 or 1725 Baptized Mr. Car­penter of yt town. Mr. Piggot· of Providence in ye month ofJuly 1726, Baptized Mr. Nath1 Brown of Rehoboth his two

., Two otben were added af\nwardl to the number of prleonen. A llet of their nameII "yen by Rackal In his 1IUItwy, I., 518. •• For retadD, to pa, that fear'. tax to JOhDGreeDwoocl aDd Dayld Tamer, mlnlltenofthat tGwu, twenty-elght Baptlata, two Quat...aDd two Epl8OOpaJlans, were Ie1aed and ImprilOned at Bmwl, by Jonathan Blsworth andJaoobOrmlbef.,Mnstableeof Reboboth; the main oftbem on Mart"h8. 1721." "AI nootberwa,. appeared of dellyeraDC8 from a nauaeoul plaCe wblch had Injured their bftlth, batpaytnR I&1d tax. and ooeta, tbla " .. IOOD after done b, tbelr trlenda!'-lbU•

• This wu the BeT. John Ulher, the MCOod rector of the EpJlCOpal Church In Rrlatol(then undertbeJuri8dlctloo or Mauachuaetta),lUcceedJn, Mr. Orem about 172.'t

• The Bey. Oeorp PlacK w...ot b, &be SocIet, tor &be Propaptlon or the GoapellDForeign Pane AI a 1Il1lllonary Into New EDgland; he ftnt weDt to Stratford, Conn., 101722; tb~ folIowlDI,.ear to P,.nidence, where he ".. aettJed oyer tbe newl, rormed Ep'"copal obUJ'eb. the ftnt In Providence. aDd the third In the Colon,. Gathered darin, themgn ot the Flnt GeoTge. it ..... In his honor oalled Jtlnl'l Church; In 17t~.lt nacelTed thenUDe of 8t. John'. Qaurch.-8taple'. A...,.,. qf Prw.

64 THB DIARY OF JOHN COKER.

Haven in Connecticut, named by Mr. Samuel M:il~ of yt place,who in September set out from thence bound to Antequa. Whoupon ye morning of ye Lord's Day, sept. 29th, Just befole y. daybroke, being in ye same latitude in which they were found (for yevessel lay like a log on ye water) ye wind being then at East SouthEast and East N. E. blowing ex<&181ve hard, and ye salls furl'd,scudding before it; y. vessel ship't a sea which earned all upondeck over. We being 14 penKlDS in all, 11 Whites and 3 Negroes,viz., Mr. Westbury, a passenger, his wife and two children, 880nand a daughter, myself, 6 hands and 8 Negroes. At ye time of yegreat seas breaking in there were 8 men upon deck wh werewashed away. It broke ye mast midway and ye waist of ye vessel,and carried away ye quarter deck, and broke in ye bulk head ofye cabin. Mr. Miles, Mr. Westbury, his wife and two childrenand a Negro were in ye cabin, 6 in number, upon which we got[ym] uWndeck as BOOn as possible (save ye Negro) who was sup­posed to be there drowned, and immediately a 2d sea came andcarried away Mr. WeJtbury's wife, but ye other hold were pre­served (tho we were 4 in number); as soon as 'twas possible to .recover sense after this sea, ye Master hearing a noi8e in )~ waterof some struggling (being Just about day dawning), and finding'twas two men who held by ye maln sheet, all possible helpwas got for ym and got ym on ye hull of ye vessel wth )·m (there )TIlbeing 6 in number) and finding ye vessel's stern sinking, withgreat diftlculty by ye help of ye boom tackl~ fall (1) thtty all got toy. head of y. ve&~l. 'fe middle yo being 3 feet und~r \vater andy. head only remaining about a foot out of water there they lay~ ye sea washing over ym. And God who is a God working.wonders found out a way for their preeervation. Six sheep whichwere washt overboard 8wam to ym and were a means to supportym about one "9eek.

Note, ye storm after it had continued about 24 hours abated andthe weather 88 God ordered it was calm till ye night after they,vere taken up; which had yt been 80 great 8B yD to an e)Ye ofreason they had all perishro. But witb God all things are p0s­sible. With Prise (?) they got two hogsheads of water andsome come out of a hogshead, and by ye water being over yemiddle part of ye veesel a dolphin swimming in and lodged in yesail wh they had pre8erved, one of ye men catehed it in his armswh help't ym. And thus in this sad condition they r~mained

often laying ymselves down being wholly without expectation ofever seeing land again or having any longer time or opportunity

66 THE DIARY OF JOHN COHEa.

saL

..Jbe.

care ofprectous souls and may be excited to greaterwarohfulness.Yet Lord I hope I <ml say, if I know my own heart, I desire to dogood to souls. And now Binee my circumstances are altered uponye commotion in my flock, and since I stand at this day in nopastoral relat.ion to any particular flock of Christ, ye Lord fit anddispose me for an installment over any flock where in h~ holyProvidence he may cast me, either here or elsewhere, and grantme ye conduct of his Spirit yt my ministry may be blessed for yeeternal benefit and salvation of many souls.

This day Mr. Samuel Maxwell left my flock andLord'. D., M. went to Church [Episcopal]. Strange doings.

The first week of this month Mr. James Updike,of Narraganse1i, going in a small boat alone a fiBbing,

being gone two days, ye boat was yn found on ye backside ofCon­nanicut and he in it dead. 'Tis supposed he fainted and 80 died,

, suddenly; for he had rolled up his line, and everything on boardseemed as tho he had done and was returning home..

This day came on ye Yearly Association here,l. itis supposed to be ye largest Convention yt ever hath

been. There were present of ministers:

:Mr. James Clarke (in ye 80th year of his }

Mr.~elWightman, of Newport.Mr. John Comer,:Mr. James Brown,'· of Providence.1M

1. Tbla .AI the Yearl,. Keetln,'ot the Six PrlDe1ple BaptUU, with whom IIr. Comerhad identified hlmeelt. This AuociatJon mult baTe held ita aanual meetlnp for 1eTera!yean; Mr Comer Ipeab of It U lOmething well kDOWD. Knlgbt, In hU l&kJrr oJ 1M SIs

. PrittdpU BaptUU, p.122, Ita&eI that tbeM Yearly Keetlnp bepn "abou& the cloee of thealxteenth century," he mdently means leTenteenth oeDtury. The churchee were rep~..ted in the Auociatlon by their elden and melleD....

1. Jamell Brown, IOn orJohn and Mary (Holme) Brown, aDd grandlOo of the BeT. ChadBrown and or the BeT. Obadiah Holmes, 11''' born In 11M, and married MU'J Harrll,lJ'&Dd.daulhter of William Harrie, ODe of the aTe original _tlen of Providence. The time orhi, ordination to the~l ministry hu not been recorded, nor the extent or h1a term ofpastoral MrTlce. Hia ,Ister, Martha, married Jc.ph Jenu, GoTerDOr of the 00looy from1727 unUI 1732.

101 At the General AIIe1Dbl1 held Tu"da1, February 17, 1780-81, It WAI ordered." for­lIIDuch u the ootlands of the town or ProTI4ence are lURe and replenlahed with lDhab­Stauta Stdllotent to make aDd erect three townshlpe beIIld. tbe town or ProTldence, andthe laud Ilea conTenlent," that lU.oh dlTlaJon be made.-R. L cw. Ru.,IV., 443. The threetown. thoe created out of the" outland, " were Smlthfte1d. 8ottaale, and Gloueeeter. Thefour ohurcbe- In Prol'ldence mentioned in the text fen b,. the paI1JUon loto dUrereattownahlpe; one ohurch helng In ProTldence, whoee rulnl.er".. Jamee Brown; two 108mlthle1d, &be mlnbWr of the ODe JonathaD 8prap~, aod of the other Peter Place; th~

68 THE DIARY OF JOBR COKER.

Mr. Valentine Wightman, of Groton.1.

Mr. Philip Tabor,l. of Dartmouth.no

Mr. Stephen Gorton, of New London.ll\Mr. Daniel Everett,lll of South Kingston.llI

Met this morning at Mr. Wightman's house, 821Io1Ul•• 98. persons in all, viz. 8 ministers, 8 deacons, 21 brethren.There are of churches in communion 18 distinct bodiee. In

Pr~vid.ence,besides those above mentioned there are two underye care of Mr. Peter Place 11. [and] Mr. Samuel Flsk.tll In ye

101 Th1I wu the tint churcb ot tbla order In ConDer.ttcut, gathered about 1705. The t.woWightman., tather and eon, filled the pulpit ot th1I church tor a period ot more thaDelghty,.ean. Thla church &aye name to tbe AlIOClatlon known u The Groton Conter­ence, tormed at a much later date.-Backus, HUI., 11.,414,310, 51«L

Ie. Elder PhllJp Tabor wu with otben lwprllOned Ma,. 25, 1728, MID the common Jail atNew BrIatoI," where be remained tor thirteen monthl, tor refudDg to par the tax ....-edby the town for the aupport ot the mlntater ot the" atandtng order." A petltloa 111 behalfof the pl'boDell, drawn poeatbly br Mr. Tabor, w. preeeDted to King George, aDd aD orderWUlJ'&Dted for tbeir releaae.-Bactna, Hut., I., 500. Mr. Tabor died NoYember,17D.

110 The gea.lI of tbe Dartmouth Church wu as tollo1l'l: "John Cooke, whOle Dame wemeet with on the fint and OD nearl,. eyery page ot the early recordl ot the towD," a deputyand a eelectmao, 6Jling Yarloul oalCN of trult and bonor, w.. a Baptlat mlDlster for manyYe&r8."-Old DGrtrnouJA CeftteMI4l, p. 86. Mr. Cooke had been eoDDected with &be churchIn Plrmouth, ba~ embracing Baptist yiewl had beoome a member of the Ftnt Church illNewporL Be labored as a preacher" In Dartmouth man,. years, from which labon," .fIBacku',.d~,p. 1M, "SPron, the Baptist Church, In t.he eat borden of TlYeIton."or this church ill Tlyerion, Benedict 1&"1, Hut., I., 603, tbat.lt II wu formed 10 the adjolnlDgtown of Dartmouth about. 1686; the memben at flnt Uved ill Dartmouth, 'nYer1on, andLItLIe Compton." 1Ir. Tabor wu the third paltor ot tbe church. HaYing remoYed U."leatfrom Dartmouth to TlYertoD," layl Benedict, .. 1t coDtinus to tbe preseat day," aDd hualnce been known, .,.. the editor of Bactua,". the Flrst"Baptllt Church ill TlvenoD.R.I."

111 Thil church at New London, the second of tta order ill CoDDecdcat, w.. formedNoyember 28, 1726; but after a few yean It was" dlllolyed."

111 Elder Daniel EYerett. continued to eene the cburch until hll death .. IOOD after 1750."lU This church existed .. u earl1. the year 1725." 8. F. Baucnck, tn a lRItorUtIl SkkA

of 1M FI,..,1l4p&t (;IureA 01 &utA Kingltotm (WaU~l4),"yl: " Knight, In a statement otdoubtful accuraq, places Ita origin In 16.qo (Knlgbt's Hut., pp. 278, 319). Benedict (011011"

Knight Other ludlcatlona polot to a date later than 1710." About the rear 1750, " ElderDal'ld Sprague, from North KingstowD, who had cbanged from I general redemption' to• particular,' disseminated the latter view. In the church. DlylalODI eDlued, and tbe churchflnaUy became extinct. huc Backus, writing In 17M, Ia,.a that It bad then 'loDg~n dU­IOhf'd.' "-Ibid. See a1Io am"nary of 1M PEr.1 BapiUt ClaurcA in SouIl Ki""lol£ft (1881), apamphlet ot 91 pp.

114 Peter Place, of ProYidence, perhaps eon of Peter, ot Bo.ton, 8wore allt'giance to CharI.n. In May, 1182.-s.Y&ge, G~aJ. Did. Knight Is certainly In error wben, baYlngspokenot tbe death of .Jonathan Sprague, b*, sayl: .. Elder Peter Placemcceeded him, and perha..w.. bla oolleague."-BUt., p. 267. lie el'ldeDtly eoll(ounda two dl.tlnct churchs, both InProvidence, and at t¥ time or the dlrlaton, both were let ott with tbat pan ca1leclSmithfield.

111 Knf,ht, 1lUt., P. 270, says, Mr. Fiske w.. ordained In .luRUsl,'t127, addied about 1744.Thll church, at the t1me of the cl1rialon ot Prondence, tell Into the Dew town calledSclwa\ee

70 THB DIARY 01' JOlIN OOIlElL

#

at W~terlyunderye mreofMr. Joseph Maxson.lft One at New­port under ye care of Mr. Joseph Crandal.111

In all of Baptist churches in New England, there are 18 innumber.ltl"

111 Welterly was first aettled b)' colonista from Newport, lOme of whom wen memben orthe FirIt Church. "BopklDton wu ODce the oorth part of Welterly, where lOme of lIr.Clarke's charcb U"," before the eeparaUoD on account of the Sabbath toot place 10 Url1.Mr. Joho Crandall wu ooe 01 them, who wu lmprllOned with Clarke aDd HoI.......Boston, 10 1651."-Bactua, HUl., II.,lMJI. At the ume of the dlTJalon to the churcb, Lbebrethren at We.teJ'lyembraced the view. of the 8&bbatariaDa. In 1708, theM brethreDlormed tIlezBleb. loto a church &bere. Frederio .Deo1lO0, 10 hJa W"'" arttI U. wu­...., p. 60, "'1: " Tbe orpulatloD wu formed wheD &be toWD numbered but AO lobab­ltaDta, in 1708, un. Be". Jobn MaxoD, Sen., .. pu&or, and s.1tJ.ll ul.ttlDI .. the FlrRHopklDtoO Se"enth Day Hap,1at Church. Their fint meetiDl hoUle I. belle"ed to haTebeen baUt, •aboGt &be year 1680,' and was located 00 a lot IbeD for til. purpoee by PeterCrandalL" Tbe ana. putor w.. lacoeeded by hJa IOn, John Maxon, Jr.; the IaUer w..mcoeedecl by Joeeph Mamo, "IOn of &be 6nt aod brother 01 the IeOOnd putor." He"..bona ill 1672, ordaioed 10 178"J; on tbe death or hla brother In 1742 he aucoeecled to tbe,...toni omce, .. thoup ."eoty-8". yean old"; he died In September, 17GO.

III Thla church, which wu formed ill 1671, had for Ita fint palor William B1Icox, untilhe died, Kay 24, 17CM, aged nID8t,-elx, wheo be wu auoceeded by WUUam Glbeon°, fromLondon, who wu putor uotil he died, Jlareb 12, 1717,qed leTenty-DiIle. JOMpb Cru­dall, who had been h1a ooUeque lor two,ean, Wat chONn hla IUCOeIIOr, and remained IeoSee unUl hll d_th, September 13, 1737. BackUl, lIlIL, II., ao2. Benedict oonfound.lhIaJoeepb Crandall wUh John Crandall wbo was fined In Lynn In 1661.-H...torr, IL, 41••~ [In exuololDl Dr. Barron' papers I found the follo.lol estracta copied from the

Beoorda oj &he SecoDd Cburoh, Newport, which may be a matter 01 lDterat as embnclDlhistorical facti coDC8l"Dlng that ohurch and a1Io OOOcerolDI an Auoclatlon which I IUppoIe

was compoeed of " SIx PrInciple Churchel "-which church. appear to haye had",..umeetlDp" dao early date. 8u Note 102.-J. w. W.)

r. 1bIrod~ tIN 8«* CAweA, N...",... Cb meeUnp tnt held Dec. 31, 1728, for atteDcliDl to basin.. of tbe ch. An aoo& of the

time wben lIlem" were admitted Into tbe ch foryeyear1718 tabn from brother TlJDo&hyPetkbom'l note book by regnO of there belDltheD DO ltated record kept bJ ,.Toice of theob, traucrlbed thla .,. day of Karch, 1721-ben 11 aD aootol,. recelp& of ..... 10Je&I'8 before ,. ch appl a Beoord."

171G, Deo. 10. WILLJAJI CuGGft.

1... 4. ELrzABft1I BAaKD.She removed a1Jl a year la_ to tile other Baptld ch. rCOm......rltlol·)

• The laDd 00 which,. meetlDJ boaee now ItaDdeth made 0"" to ,. church by 1Ir.Jam. Clarke, putor, who obtained,. deed tIlenol ill h1a OWD nUDe Oo&ober,. DI,I8t7,ID which year the fint meetlor boa. ".. ballt." rJlIo. eo....]

.. To all Cbrlattan peop'e to wbom this preeeat iIlatnuaent may eome I Jam. Clarke ofN.wpon on Rhode laland 1D~ Colony of Rhode IIlaDd aDd Proncleaoe PlaDtaUoDl Ac.8eDd~"""nr·

"Know ,. .,. wherea I .. Jam. Clarke dl. bay or purch_ a Cf'I1alo pleee of 1aD4ly1nl and belnl to ,. town 01 Newport at~ cootalnlng ao toot hID North to Sooth andfrom Eaat to Welt and '" bounded F...asteTlyon a blahway Northerly and We.te1'"ooNathl CocJdlDgtoD'1 laDd, Southerly by a piece 01 laDd left oat tor a h19bwa,., aD whlcb 10&01' land .... boa"'t b1 me .. Clarke of MaJor Nathl C.oddlDcton topther with all ,. rlptaaDd prlTf1e~ thereunto beIoDpq U II Nt forth ilion at lup aDd wW more tully arPeU'by ,. deed tbenof beulnl date October ..1m•

..AJao aDOt.ber piece of laDd oonialDlDI ao r~ 10 "ph and 40 foot ill width aDd pert ot

72 THE DIARY 01' J01lll OOKBB.

18.This day Mr. Joseph O'Hara,la" ye Church

priest, at Providence, was conveyed to Jail here forhis breaking open ye door of ye church, wh his people had fastenedup after they had hauled him out of his pulpit on ye 9th iDstantfor his lrregularities.

This day a meeting house was raised fQr Mr. Clap's1IoDd., at. congregation.1M Also this day I gave Madam I.

Cranston a note for twenty pounds I had of her.I went to Providenoo; 8(U)mpanied my mother 88

Tue8d., H. far 88 Rehoboth. Lodged at Justice P. TUlioghast's.TbIracl.. sa4. I went up into ye woods to see Mr. Jonathan

Sprague, 15 miles; preached in ye woods at Mr.1'rJ'cL, u.Sprague's meeting house,·· from 1 Tim. 1: 14. A

considerable auditory.1IMard.,88. Returned to town.

This morning Mr. Cotton sent a note to Invite meLoret'. D., fn. to preach for him In ye forenoon; but I could notgratifte him. Preached at Providence in Elder Brown's congre­gation. This morning I received a letter from Mr. O'Hara andhis commission signed by Edward Gibson (formerly Bishop ofChichester, transla~ thence to ye Bee of London, now in ye 7thyear of his translation), dated at Whitehall July ye 1st, 1728-

The land to build ye church on was given by Mr. Nathl Brownof Rehoboth, ye deed bears date, Sept. 18, 1722; ye church wasbuilt 1724.1•

The Baptist, Presbyterian, and 'Quakers there, about ye sametime built.

This evening was an awfUl and total eclipse of ye1I0D4., 88. moon.

I returned from Providence, got home yt night'rae.., SIO. well. Blessed be ye Lord. This day a young man

was drowned near Castle Hill.llT

This day I am arrived to ye 25th year of my age•.A.~i. 0 yt I may have understanding to improve m~" time

to God's glory. I this day heard Mr. Adam~ fromPe. 26 : 6. Make yt my resolution.

1tI~ 1bla UDworthy IIWI fa called Cbarro by both 8tapI_ aDd Updike. The1 bothmention that be".. dlam1aed from bla cbarp tor JLtchlylmproper conduct.

lit Thll bOOM was built on Mill At. See Note 77.- What Mr. Comer bere calli" the woocla," the General A..embly In dlTldlD, Pro'"

deoee deecrtbee as .. tbe ootlaDdi or the-towD." See Note 105. Knl,b& 1&" W. meedD,bOUle stood "about ODe ID11e BOrth or tbe Amttldeld Academy."

- (WuaUq.) • (Waodq.)

74 THE DIABY 01' JOHN COMER.

Judgment in ye Revelation. He was pastor of ye Baptist churchin Providence; 1. I had It of Elder Brown•.

Having been moved hererofore ro speak in publick of thesethings which are mysterious, which none but they to whom it isgiven can understand~ ye Spirit saith unro· ye churches :

1. The opening of ye first seal, showeth by y. going forth of y.white horse ye powerful conquest made by ye glorious gospel ofChrist in y. days of X [Christ] and his apostles, ye weapons oftheir warfare not being ca.rnal, but mighty thro God to ye pullingdown of strongholds to ye obedienoo of Christ, this victory andye effects of it were famous for 2 or 800 years after X [Christ].

2. Ye 2d seal by ye coming forth of ye red horse, showeth y.bloody wars that arose in ye earth and chiefly at Jerusalem, yenext generation following and ye dreadful persecution of ye saintsforerold by X [Christ] Matt. 24, and also to his faithful church ofSmyrna in chap. 2, ye shall have tribulation 10 days, meaning10 reigns of cruelty.

8. ye 3d showeth by ye black horse and his rider wth ye balancein hIs hand, ye coming forth of grievous wolves foretold of, ytwould make merchandize of ye word, seeking their gain fromtheir [every] quarter and greedy of fllthy [lucre], contrary ro X[Christ] and his apostles' commands Wld exampies, then begunand still continued by pretended ministers even ro this day anddarkness of these times.

4. ye opening of y. fourth seal under ye pale horse and hisrider, wh was death and hell following, showing the dead andwoful condition ye professors o( ye gospel were6now come into, 88

ye word mentioned chapt. 16, the 2d angel poured out his veyal .[vial] on ye sea, and it became 88 ye blood of a dead man, andevery living 80ul died in ye Bea, the bottomleB8 pit now beingbegun to be opened and ye smoke darkening ye sun and air.-~"fIGlI oj Prof/., 414. Although Mr. Tillinghast ~Iyed no pecuniary eompeout1on forh1a Ie"lcea as pastor 0' tbe church, be maintained hla right to reoehe .u~b compenaatlon.Goyernor Joseph JeoD, writing from Newport. under date March 11, 1730,""': .. Ibe1leye tbere are Myeral of m1 brethren wbo can remember tbat Elder TlWolhu& (IDhis lifetime), who wu a man exemplary for his doctrine. u well u of aD uoblemlahedoharacter, did eeyera! times in bla teaebln, declare tbat It .... the duty of a charch tocontribute towards tbe malntenaaoe of tbelr elden, who labored in the word aDd doctrineof Chrlat; aDd although 'or his own part he would tate notblDR, yet It remaloed theohurch's duty to be performed to su,.h u might auooeed blm."-Baokul, HU/., 11.,23. Mr.TtlUnghut died January 29. 1718, at tbe age of nlnety-e!x 1ean. See letter of 14.­Brown, on .. The DeIIoenclaDu of Pudoa TllliD.but." 1D NftIJIOrlllUL JIG'.' VoL m., pp.164-162.

UI (WanUD•.)

76 TIlE DIARY OP JOIIB OOJIBIL,

Crandal,ID were taken up by ye Justlooof Lin [Lynn], Mr. RobertBridges, there on ye Lord's day, July 20, 1651, and committed toBoston Jail for being Baptists, and on ye 31 of July had the sen­tenoo of Court passed on ym, ya lit to pay £20 or be whipt, ye 2d£30 or be whipt, ye 3d .£5 or be whipt. None su1fered but Mr.Holmes, and yt In a terrible manner to ye extent of ye law. Mr.John Wilson,lu a Presbyterian minister, struck Mr. Ho1I£eswhen he went from ye bar and said, Th6 curse 01 God go tIJ'itnthee. He died Oct. l;jth, 1682.

The first free school in N. England was in Charlesrown, foundedin 1635.1'5

111 Jobn Crandall. the tblnl of the trio, who went to LTDn lD 1651. and _ft'ered imprt.oD­JDent, 15 as an elder iD Ule Flnt Church. and died about 1676. Be wu lpoken 01 brSamuel Hubbard, iD a letter to the Bey. Edward 8&ennett. In Eng1aDd, AI W Dlr dearbrother John Crandal."

lit John Wil80D wu bom at Wbulot. EoglaDd, in tbe r.r 1588; came to tbJI ooantJ'1lD 1680. In comp&Dr with John Winthrop, aDd became" teach'D, elder" 01 what wu after­warda known as the Firat Church iD Boetoo; in 1632, he wu chOMll pator, aDd &he Bey.Jobn Colot.on the rollOwlol1e&1' became hll ooUeague u teacher, tbJI reJatlonablp cooUna­Ing untD the death 0' the latter in 1M2, wheD in 1656 the BeT. Jobn Norton becameteacher. ~r. WUIOD wu agalD left alone bT the death of 1Ir. Nort.oo, III 1663, aDd 10 ooa­tlnued uDtil bla own deatb, Augun 7, 1667. Be WAI lohe leader &DlOIll tbe oppoDenta 01

the ADtlnomlana In 1637; bb colleague IIr. Cotton Inclined to the other IIde of thequeet.lon then diatW'blol1he good people 01 BoetoO.-8pnpe'1 A.....u.

1. The bonor of haYln, establlehed the Int. Cree acbool III New EDI1aDd ... beenclaimed Cor Newport. 00 the 20Lh 01 August, 1&&0, the town or Newpon Toted to call IIr.Lent.hall .. to keep a publio IOhool for tbe learning 01 routh, and for b1I eocoarapWeDtthere wu graDted to him and btl heln one hundred acree or land, aDd four more lor ahoule lot"; It was a1Io Yoted .. that ODe hundred acre. IhoWd be laid forth, and appropri­ated Cor a achool, Cor enooura«ement. or 1be poorer IOn, to train up their roath In 1e&rDln"and Mr. Robert Leothall, wbUe be COOtiDUS to teach ICh~ Ie to have the benelt thereof."-callender, HUt. ~., 116. "Thll," ..y_ the Hon. William P. Sbe8leld, 1D the~JOtU'fUJl, 1877, "wu the Int publIc ecbool, and Ro~n Lentball wu the ant muter of apublic IObool In America.tt "Although Ha"ard rollep wu founded In 1688, to proddea learned mlolatry lor the church.. pubU" lCboole, controlled aDd malDtained br thepY"mmeDt tor tbe publIc good, were not altempt8'l bl the HuaaehuRtti Colour aDtlI1647, Nau. (»I. 1l«l., II., 103, nor br tbe PI,mout.h ColoDr antll 1172, P/r. (W. lUc., V..107. See abo Baril.' AleaoirI of PI,- ())l., pt. 11,13. Yet. Goyeroor Bodford earlr COD­

celyed the Idea or lhioclD8truotlon to the rooDg 0' b1I Colonr. bat. eooouDter'ed h ....per­able dlftlcuitles."-llilt. PI••~; " Mnu. HUt. CWl., In.• 161 i ct. Bacon'l GauU td1M N. B. C4A., P. 887; Sarro.,.' Dttwtl. Bop. PriM. ill R. I., p.; 89 ct. Arnold, l&L, I., 1~Schools earlier than 1"7 had exlated In K....eluu.etta; but tbey were either coonectedwltb the church u parochial lOhooll or malntaloed by prlyate IUblertptlO.... whoe-.&4yaotages however were oWered to ..he public probably gratultoualy, aDd lD tbJI .....onll u t'ree "-Me",- HUt. BOlt., I., 128; MtJM. cw.~.• II , 6.9. Thomas LnerMt, elder 01Ule Flnt Church. BoetoD, wrote April 13, 1635: a. UkewiRe It ".. then K8DeraUr apeedupon that our brotber Philemon Porm.. _ball be eotreated to become achooJ_uter lor ther..chlog and nourterlnc or childreD with aL"-MeMo Hut. Bolt.• 1.,123. Mr. Chuls K.Dillawar adds: It Tbla bela, the ODI, pabUc acbool for about hall a eentary. tt II ftUOn.

able to tllleT that the elementary .. well as the hlttber brancbel were &au",,, Ita prlnC'l­pal object, howeYer, Crom Itl ea&abl1lhmeot 10 the pl"e8enlo tbDe baa beea to prepare Jtan•

78 THE DIARY OF JOHN COKEB.

Bat-,e.

This day I prayed with James Grlnman, near y.WedDellCt.,8. point of expiration. This day also Mr. Roeom'seldest daughter died. This evening I prayed with sister H.Wilson.

At ye sessions in June past y. Assembly past an act for y.Colony to be divided Into Counties, viz., Newport County, Prov­idence County, and Kings County, 8 in number.l18

Note. By a letter to me from Boston, dated Aug. 6th, 1729,I have this information, yt every night by order from y. Govr , acompany in a night, wawhes; and he intimates yt he Intendsit shall be 80 thro ye winter. The reason of such a watch is be­cause in y. last week in July a mob rose to prevent ye landing ofIrish, and to hinder the merchants from sending away y. com88 they attempted.

This day Mr. Bryant'd wife died. My aunt Mason came.1T7d.,6. This day Mr. Charles Bardine died.

This morning I went over to y. Yearly Meeting"at North Kingstown, ye wind exceeding high, but

blessed be God I got safe over. This day Mr. Everitt began withprayer; 1 began in preaching from yt word Luk. 24 : 82; [Mr.] Her­Indine [Herenden] concluded wth prayer. After sermon Mrs. ElizthMoot, of Canterbury, in Connecticut, proposed herself for Bap­tism. She gave good satisfaction concerning ye work of Godupon her 8Oul. 'Twasconcluded she should be now baptized, andI was chosen to Baptize her, which was done accordingly; andMr. Valentine Wightman imposed hands. Lodged at Deaco~

Pardon Tillinghast's.uoThis day Mr. Samuel Maxwell left 011' preaching.

Lord'. D., 'I. This day 'twas concluded upon, yt Mr. John Wal-ton 1'1 should pray and begin in preaching, wh he did from Rev.

111 See R. I. Cbl. ll«:.,IV•• 427. Amold 1lUI., 11,12, 17. AI early u 17M, the colonywas dlylded tnto two counties. thfl ODe embracing the leland. aDd caned Rbode 1I1and,the ot~r the ma1Dland, and called ProYideoce Plantatlona, Newport and ProTldeDcebelDg tbe sbln townl reepectJTely. At thl. IeOOnd dlYialoa mentloDed by Comer, theInt count,. remained u before, recelTlog only a new Dame; tbe other county WAI dlYidedInto two equal parte, the northern portion being called ProTJdeDoe, the toutherD, emb~lD~ Kln,(1 ProTlnM. noelYing the name or Klnp County.

J. ThtaleelD8 to baTe been a" Quarterly" meetlog or the AaeoclatloD or Sis PriDcipleBaptist&.

J40 Probably tbe ODe mentioned by SaTap, .. a IOD or tbe BeT. PardOD TllUncbut, whowas bom tn ProTideDce aDd NlDOTed to Eat Greenwtch.-GtRMl. Diet.

Itt John WaltoD w. a man of-Ilbenl educatJon," .. a practlclng phyalclD," wh~tn 1710wu loYl&ed to preach In ProYldeoce. " when a Uke reformation IDI.ht be hoped lor;' AI

wu then lD propeala Newport. or bla .Ien nepectJlII the Impoeltlon or handa upon

•

80 THE DIARY OF JOHN COliER.

worsbip aDd to pay taxes alao ~ ya Preebyteriana, and y' the gracioua act ofindulgence together with ye r8uoDableneil of our request \rill be motiy.sufficient to move yr Honoun to grant ye reqUeit of ~ Honoun' humbleMemorialist& Signed in ye name and by ye order of the ad Association.this 8* day or September, A. D. 1729, by

RIOHARD SWEET, }V AL••TIN. WIGHTIIAN Elden.SAIIUBL FISK,J OBN CoKER,P ABDon TILLIliOBAST,JOHN WIGHTIIAB,JAMBS KING.BJ:N.lAKIN HBRBlmEB!f, [Herenden.]TIMOTHY PECKHAM,

JOSEPH HOLIla,EBBN&Zl:R CooK,GBORGE GARD".,THOllAS DURJt.,EBBNEZER GRAVB8,J AilES BATa,J OBI{ TILLI.NGH.A.8T,JOSEPH S.urW-ORD,SAIIUBL WEIGHT.

Here follows what was thought convenient to be added.

To the Honorable Gent Aaembly of ye Colony or Connecticut to be COD­

vened at New Haven on ye 2d Tbu'rsday of October next, tbeae linel maysignUle y' we ye subscribers do heartily concur with ya Memorial or ourBrethren on ye other side and humbly request ye same may be granted,which we think will much tend to Christian unity and be serviceable ~tme religion, and will very much rejoice your Honours' frienda and veryhumble lenanfa.

JOSBPH JEND. Govemour,JAMES CLARKE, } EldenDANIEL WIGHTMAN, 'JOHN ODLIN,EZEJtIEL BURROUGHS.

Dated at Newpo~ September ye 1()dl, 1729.

There WM drawn from ye Treasury of ye Church at Newport,408. towards defraying ye Charges in prefening ye Petition.

This day ye lecture was observed instead of Thur&­We4DellCt.,10. day upon ye account of Mr. Walton's being In townto preach. He preached from Matt. 16: 26, what Is a man profitedif he gain ye whole world, &c.

ThIn4. lL This day I went to Bristol, with my Aunt Mason,, who was bound to Boston. Returned well. I praise

ye name of ye Lord. This day Saml IIallet and David Rlchanlswere cleared by yeJury, who went out twioo on ye mse.

Here I think to note )~ letter from ye AssociationPr7d.,1S. of ye Baptist churches, met at Newport, June 21,

17~, to the brethren belonging to ye meeting house at SouthKingstown.

82 THE DIARY 01' JOHN ('OllER.

This day I transcribe frOm my no~ Lord's Day1I0D4..16. August ye 18th, 1727 what I delivered in a funeral

sermon from Eoo. 9: 5 upon ye death of my wife's father, Mr.John Rogers, being y. sum of h19 Just character, who died sud­denly ye Friday morning.

"Hath not ye sudden and surprising death of an exemplaryChristian something worthy of some notice and remark? Mod­esty almost obliged me to pass such a death by, and not to men­tion it in a Publlck Auditory. But duty and gratitude ro yedeceased, whose memory is blessed, and benefit to you, stronglyand irresistibly engaged me to take notice of a few of y. manyChristian virtues which shone wth a very peculiar lustre, thro y.series of almost 59 years. His studiousness and diligence, hiswatchfulness and integrity in all his undertakings, if we shouldconsider him in all relations, we should find ye spirit ofa Christianacting of [in] him. His earnest zeal in ye promotion of Religion,his constant attendanoo on ye publlck ministry of ye word, andhis wonderful deportment at ye Table of ye Lord, his seriousness,gravity, and solemnity, are highly \\·orthy of our remark and ob­servation, together with ye many hours of secret communion be­tween God and his own sOul, and ye savoury discourses of a workof grace in wh he took a great delight, give abundant proof yt heconverst in Heaven, while he tabernacled heft' upon earth.~"Among ye various entertainments of a soul sensibly over­

come wth divine love, he took peculiar pleasure and satisfactionIn ye doctrines of grace, and in ye Illustration of ye excellenciesof Christ and ye wonderful Redemption wrought out alone byhim, and was willing to ascribe all unto ye riches of Sovereigngrace without any merit of his own. He adored Christ 88 hisLord and trusted in his rfghteoUSDe9B as ye great Mediaror. Hewas zealous to maintain ye doctrine of tree grace agaiIlb~~ oppo­sition whatever.

" His practloo and conversation were agreeable to his Christianprinciples, for he knew yt ye grace yt brings salvation teaches adenial of all ungodliness and worldly lust. He was regulated by[the] standing rule of God's word (wh he took for his guide) throye help of ye Holy Spirit at all times. And tho much of his pietywas undiscovered from ye mean conception h~ had of himselC,yet 80 much was apparently made manifest 88 demonstrated hima real ChrIstian,

" When It pleased God in ye all wise course of his holy provi­dence to invite him into ye glory of his Lold, and to bid a final

84 THE DIARY OP J'omr COKER.

A prison is a house or care,A grave for men alive,

A tombstone for to try. friend,No place for men ~ thrive. .

This day I received a letter from ye Baptistchurch in North Carolina.,l~ settled about two..tard.,rt.

B. Proctor came to visit me. This evening I received a letterfrom Mr. Tholll88 SymmoDS,l" pastor of y. Baptist church inSouth Carolina.

. This day Mr. Wightman and I went down to ye'rueM., 88. beaCh to see ye seln drawn; and did so. I obtained

a copple of a divorce of Sarah Brown, of Providence, from herhusband, Jonathan Brown, signed by Mr. Richard Ward,Reoorder.We4D.-., sa4. Visited.·

'.rhis day I being sent for to ye Almshouse by Mrs.ThlnId., fIa. Steadman being yn sick; went and prayed with her.

She seemed in great terror about her 8Oul. She exp~ greatfear ordeath. 0, said she with great anguish; I am afraid to die,I am afraid. 0 may I have my work well done.

This day I went to prison to visit Mr. O'Harra, ye1T74., H Church minister of Providence, being under close

confinement 8 days, and a prisoner 21 days, but he was at largeand 80 made his ~pe, and for yt reason was closely confined.A doleful place. Lord, I pray thee grant me thy grace and leaveme not to commit any ill, 80 as to expose me to ye diftlculties ofa prison.

1M U Of the early aetUen of South Carollna, a conl1derable proportion wen Baptlat&.They came in eeparate colonies, about the year 1683, partl, from tbe WEllt of England, aDdpartlylrom Ptscatawayin tbe District of Malne."-Benedlct, HilL, II ,120. A cburch wuf01'llled at Charleston, with William SoNYeD as palor. "10 1699 they erected a briekmeeting hOUle," and parsonage bouae.-Tbid. It wu of tbla eburch that Thomu SIm­mons wu pastor,aucceed1Dg ~be ReT. wnUam Peart. During Mr. Simmon's putorate,.. tbe cburcb passed througb a aerie. of trials, occasioned by tbe BChi.m and eocroachment.of tbe General Baptbt&" He wu the author of a work entJUed .. Some Queries conotm­log the Operation. of the HolySptrit ADlwered," and died January 31, 1747, beln,lUo­ceeded in the putorate by the ReT. OUTer Hart. (The remoTai of Bapthtl from Kittery,Maine, to South Carolina, In 1682 or 1883, according tG Dr. Bull Manly,"eeema ooly tohaTe been a transfer of tbe lleat ot wonbtp of the persecuted flock (or a majorlt1 of It)which had been gathered on the Plseataqua." The cburch WAI located flnt at Somerton,S. C., and removed to Charleston about 1693.-J. W. W.]1. "Moore, In h1a HUto,., of NortA OJroliu. 8&18, • Sir WUllam Berkeley, GoTeroor orV11'Ifnfa, droye out of that Colony, in 1683, tbe Baptlstll and Quakel'l, who found a refttpIn tbe Albemarle regloo of Carolln..' " .. The 8m ehurcb, boweY.., of which we~was Dot orgaobed tin 1727, in the oounty of CflDden."-Bap. BAcr. AOCOnlJD, to Comer,DiGrr, p. 73, It was III the eountr of Cbowall.

86 THE DIABY 01' JOHN COKER.

JOHN CLABKE,.JOHN COOGE8BALL,1I&SAMUEL WILBOa.lII

JOHN SANJlOBD,UITHOKA..8 SAVAGE,.WILLIAM FBEEBOBN,.JOHN W ALKEa.IMWILLIAM HOLSTINE,­RANDOL HOLDEN.-

Ham C"oddington and his united friends, for 40 fathoms of whitebeads, March 24th, 1687-8.

They incorporated into a Body Politick March ye 7th, 1688.This was ye form of ye incorporation: u,

RHODE ULA)I'D, March y. 7*, 1688.We whOle names are underwritten d., sware solemnly in ye preeenoe of

J ebovah to incorporate oune1Vel into a Body Politick; and [u] he sballhelp us will submit our persons, lives, and estates, unto our Lord JesusChrist, the King of kings and Lord or lords, Ilnd to all those moat perfect udabsolute laws of his given us in his holy W OM of truth, to be guided andjudged thereby."

WILLIAM CODDIBOTON,161WILLIAM HUTCBIN80N,1IIWILLIAM AaPIlfWALL, 116

J OB)I' POBTER,I6T

EDWABD HUTCBIN80lC',1IIWILLIAM DYRE,lllPBILIP SB_RMAN,"RICRARD CARDER,.H_NRY BULL,llT

or the Ba" u abo tbe part1cular IUbjeotiDge or tbe deK 8achlml or Acqu1daecteuacl JWactamuckqutt," etc.-B. L (])I. ~.. L, G. The third ucbem meotloDe4.... &0 haye been IUbord1Date, aDd _deot s.cbem or AquldDecL "Thla wltD....&bat It WaoamalraDDemlt [u the Damela epelled lD the iDatrumentJ ,.atpr-.ot s.cbeIa.lDbabltaDt 01,. Ialaod." "-Ibid., 47.

1. The 1aDpap or thla InatnuDent uglY. br Comer, aboYe, is aUlhtll lnacounte;lD8tead or •• do Iwear ••• to IDOOrporate," it Ihould read... do here ••• lDCOrpora&e";aIao, lulead or •mOl& perfect aDd aheolote lawa," It Ibould ~, .. perf_ aDd mod abeu­late 1&...."

The Scripture ...... pTen tD the orfllDaI. Com. hu omluecl; th...... Eud. t& : ';I Claron. 11 : 1,4; 2 KlDp 11 : 17; to reprd to whlch lee /lap. QIuIrI.. x., 1-.

Amold, 1&L, L, 1M, -.as that thla clril compact wu liped at ProrideDoe. Prot.J. C. C. Clarke, BtIp. QIuIrI.. X.,190, clalma that It wullgDed I.D Boe&oD, adellD,: "TheoommOD -..ertioD that t.b1I act wu performed in ProridenC8 b iDdeleuible.tt

The Ilpenu..ueI•• of &b1I dOOGlD8Dt, 8&..,ID h.l.t o..L DW., deledbee u .. UDOD,

the bed meD of BoetoD."The authonblp or lbll oompact-" the real ant ohaJ1er or Rhode I.land "-with the two

aocompaDJiD," .ppm....." b oDtDOWD. Prot Clarke t.b1Db "TheprobabWU.or Kr.aut... aathonhlp of the doca.meatl are conaplououa!'

uo Tbe lUteDeely reltpoul 8plrit penadlDC the compeot or lDcorpondOD hal led to amJnnQeraaDdlDI or It. porpoM. WhUe IlepantiDC Church from S&a&e. the ooloDlata ....OIDbed God u the author of both. aDd iD e8Cb u the IUpreme 8OUr08 0' authority Inorder to dbarm u tar u poMlble all adTene critlclam by rlTal aDd boetUe eoloDieI, aDd to..ure tbelDMlT. and all tature GOlDen, that the State, t.boup deDled JorI8cUetlon io the8plritual realm, wu Del'erthl.. clo&bed with dime l&aodoDa, t.her declared tbat God wu&be IOU... 0' alTO aut.boritJ. and h1I re.ealed wUl, 10 tar .. It per1a1DI to \be OODdu~ofmaD with DWl,lbould be the fundamentalla" &0 PTeI'D lD cdril reladODL Thai. wbUedeDylDc to It eocI-..uc.l rale, &bey c1aImecl for the 8ta&e authortt, .......b7 God ..4 noopUe4 b7 IaIa WOId.''-{Bu101n).~ &,.~ .. & L.

88 THE DIARY OF JOlIN VOllER.

Providence. Prayed with Mrs. Charity Carpenter, beina verysick.

obtained & cbarter guaranteeing" prhilepe unpara11e1ed iD &h. blatol'7 GlUM world"; iWdeclared "that DO perIOo within th. Bald 00100", anydme bereafter, ahall be au,.wiae lDO­l_ted, puo1lhed, dJaquleted, or called io qUeet10D for aD,. dJ6reDoee oC opiDloD on mau..ot religioD." Returning hom. in 16M, Mr. Clark". 00GDMIa aud eernoe. weN 1D oona&aDtrequiaition. HIa lut publlo act wu~rmed ooly a Cew 4&11 before h1a cleMh, 10 matlqgood the detenaee ot his colon,. agalDat the ...age attaco of the Indiana. H. died "errsuddenly, April 20, 1676, whll. t.he war oC •• Xing Pbilip " wu ill progreu, meucla, th.peace and weL,. of tbe OODlDUlnlty. H. ".. burled upon hJa OWD land, upon wba& w..aRerwatde kDOWD .. TaDner au.. (DOW W.t BI'oadW&y).-8a..... (ha. Ina.; Ca&hcar&,Bap. Bncv·.

[Joho Clark. wu a broad-mlDded, leYe1-headecl, ItroDg DJaD; a maD oC God. In hJIeloctr1Da1 and practical new. he wu remarkably In aooord with Beplar BaptWa of '"prtMDt t.lme in t.h1a couotry. B. wu bee froID the eooenlric1t1ea which appeared ill th.lite of the celebrated Roger Wll1lamL IIore than aDy other maD be 11 entiUed &0 be calledthe Founder of the Baptlat Denomlna&!on io AmerioL lila Iarp par1JolpatJoo lD thepublic and political aAln of the inCant colony wu rendered DeONa&r'J bylmperatl•• ell'­cumataoces, aDd caD be abundatly JuetUled without reprd1D,lt u a preoec1ent lor p0lit­ical acU"lt,. on tbe part ofmlween In an old and _tled oolDlllunlty. Ria tame bat Dotequaled h1a merlta, but It I. to be hoped tbat future bl.torlUl8 wUI do blm tuller Jutioe.I know that In thla eet1mat. of John Clarke I "olee th. oplDlon of the aut.hor of tb_Notea.-J. w. W.]

U1 wUUam Hutchluon w.. born lD Llncoln.hIre, BopaDd, about -- nacbedBolton, September 18, 16M, wbere he became & member of the Firat Church on &be16" of October, and a freeman the folJowin, ~ of Ka1'Cb. H. I.a dtMribed u a mer-

• cbant, and as being poueaed ot .. a good state." It".. h1a wife, Anne, wbo became 10

eoDlplcuou. In Boston In connection with the Antinomian oontroYenr, and upon whomthe .,,,erlty of Ka....cll1l1ettalaw Cell 10 beanly. Banlabed from Jlauachuaetta, the wilewu not deserted by her bUlband; be toot hJa tamll,. to Rhode la1aud. Be held the om.of treuurer of the Colon,., and when tbe dl"Won toot pbce, aDd moat of th. pubUoo.cera remo"ed to tbe lOuth and seUled Newport, h. w.. made chief aecuti•• ol &hoeeremaining at Portsmouth, t.he orlglnal settlement. He died 164 The 1~ aft« hJIeleath, his wlCe remoTed to tbe Dutch Pro'flnoe, and berore abe W:ll talrly eatabUahed wumurdered by the Indiana. Mrs. Butohlnaon wu In man,. reepeota a remarkable WOIDaD.and must haTe been rlehl,. endowed; but it I.a a mlatate to make ber a promlDent 111118 lDtb. early hlatol'1 of tb. Dew colooy; to repreeent her .. In an,. IeDIe a leader ill themo"ement to ..ttle Rhode laland; indeed, It doee not appear thM abe bad aD,. share .in the eounaels that led to that 'suIt. Their daugbter Faith married Thowu Sa ....

1M John Coggeshall came from Ellex, Englaud, arrlnng at--Stoptember 16, HI2 ;aclmlUed & freeman the'" of NOTembel' following; remo"ecl to htoa; wu a repnMD­tatt". in the OeD_rat Court for eeveralyean; Iympathbln, wltb the ADtioomlaD1 bewu expelled from bls .eat, dllU'lDed, aDd bal"bed; went. to Rhod. Ia1and. cboeeD A..IdItant, then Pmddent of the Colony. After Glling other bonorable position., he died,probably In No"ember, 1~. HI. 100, John, 'married EU..beth,10un" dughler ofWUllam Baulaton.

111 WIUiam AAplnwall cam. to tbla country In 1680, probably In the fleet briDglDg louWlntbrop; was one of the euiieet memben of lbe churob In CbarleatoWD, and cboeeaone of tbe two deaeona; lOOn remo"ed to Boeton, became & IrNman April a, lid, ael lD1837 a repreeentatiTe In the General Court; .ympath1mla wltb tbe Antinomian part,.la1817, he wu U dJllDlaeed. diaanDed, cUatrancbleed, aDd baDlabed " ; entered .. with 10 maDyotber of hll Cellow--unta" the m01ement to found a DeW Colon,. In Rbode llland In las,ad a& Ita orpnbaUOIllae became Uae aecre&ary. But hla connectloD with tbe O.loDy ....

90 THE DIARY OJ' JORY COKER.

This day I attended ye funeral of Mr. Joseph Bor-JII7d., 8. den from his house to ye Quakers' meeting house ;

John Wanton,l. DePl Govr preached. He died 8uddenly onto Rhode Island with the fint set.tlen in 1638; In the div1lion of the Cok>~,~ 1639,he went with the larger nWllber to the lOuth to eettle Newport; hla name appean on theroll of freemen at Newport, March 16, 16&1, t'or the last time.

1. Blchard Carder flra~ appean At Roxbul7, wheoce he earl, remoyed to Boaton, becamefreeman Kal 23, 1636; .. as a supporter of the pestilent beresy" of the Antinomlana, ....dJaarmecl aDd dJatranch1aed In 1637: remoyed to Rhode Illand with other oolooilta In1638; in 1643".. engaged with Samuel Gorton, Randall Boldeo, Richard Watermau, andothen In the purchue of Warwick; wa, In defending his rights, lm'lI'laoned at Boxburr,and placed in trona and threatened with death; was boweyer releuecl, aDd be Uyed 10peace at Warwick unUI the breatlD, out of Xing PhUlp'a war, when be led to Newponfor protection, where he died In 16;8. His family afterward returned to Warwick.81lUDoa Carder, IUppoeed &0 be a daughter of Richard, married Nathaniel, IOn ot' BJch&rdWaterman.I. William Baulaton, or Bal8ton8, wu admitted a freeman at BoItoD, October 11, lao,

ad wu In ateatlyemployment for the town untI11687, hamg been" trusted among lheworthl_"; was chosen .electman In 1637, but wu in the autumn of that ,ear clliarmed.. with a majority or hla f'ellow-worab1ppen for Antlnomlanlsm"; after h1a remoya1 toRhode Ialand wa ualatant lD J63I. 41, G8; he died March 14, 1671, aged 78.-8avage, GeN.DkI.I. Benl7 Bull wu born in 1610, arrlyecl at Roxbul7 in 163.~,~e a freeman Kay 17,1687, removed to Boston, and becau:e infected with the new yiewsgaining Inch wide cu....rency; the Roxbul7 Church records ..y, "belnl weak and affect100ate. was taken aDdtraDaported with the opinion ot' famlliam, etc., U IDa,. be HeD in that story," relerrln, tothe book lent forth by Mr. WeIde', the Roxbury pastor,ln which he chancterlRa ADneButeblnaoD a a" Jeaebe1 ,. ; Calling with othen UDder the displeasure or the IOvernment,he remoyed in 1638 to Rbode Island, where he became the C.,looy's flnt Sergeant In 1881,aDd 1881 was Goyernor of tho Colony; be died Januarr 22, 169;1-4, and w.. burled 1D theCoddington burying ground, on Farewen street. Hia flnt wiCe wo Elizabet.h, who diedOctober 1,1666; hAa aeoond wU. w. Anne Clayton, widow or Nichol. Easton, who diedJune 8,1707. Be buUt the atone boOM on ~prlng street, which 11 atlll ItaDding, the on!,.building erected by &I tbe ant comers" now remaloing.,. Randall Bolden came from WDtahJre, England; h1I Dame c10ee Dot appH!' 1D aDT

record of th. New World until f'ound .. oae 01 the witneuea to the deed of the IDdlaa8acbema conveying Aquldneck to the ant eettlers. Hia name ID thla Jlst or ahtnera of'thecompact of IncorporaUon baa occaaioned scbolan aome little dUlicultr. Comer In theaboy. lJat omits the name of Edward HUlchlnlOn, sen., and gives Rand.n Holden, maklo,tbe number eighteen. Callender, Hin. Dile., p. 84, gt"ea Edward Hutchioson, leD., aDdomit. Randall Bolden, makin, the number eighteen, U d0e8 Comer. Backus ,Iv..s thenumber of alpert u nineteen, inclodln, botb tbe above Dames. The R. L (J)I. R«., aleoalve "be Dumber of Damel u nineteen. Arnold, llin., I., 124, ..,.., " 1I0ldftl's Ie eepantt'dhm the othen b,. a line." II There were eighteen originAl vroprieton and nineteenaSpen of the oonlp&Ct." Holden could not. ha"e been one of the purcbaaen, a bla nameappears u ooe of tbe witneueelo the d,'&1.

lit JObD Wanton, IOn of Edward aod Ellnbeth Wanton, was bom In 1m; .. was deputyIOYerDor from 1721 to 1722, and rrom 1729 to 1734, when, upon the death or hie brotberWilliam, be wu elected GoTernor Beven tlmea sacceeel"ely ;" thas ror twe1ye oool('('1uJyeyean, .. the ant ave U deputy goyernor and tbe laat .yeo a. chief ma«!ltrate, he hadheld the blghest oftl~ of the State." when be dlf'd while still In office, July 3, 1740, and".. burled In the CUlton burying ground on Golden Htll 1t1"eet, In Newport. He w.. forman,. y'" an appro"ed minister or the SOOlet,. of Friends, and" I&1d to ha.e beeD Yel'

eloquent.-Arnold, 1&1., II., 126; Bi/)g.~ Be L

92 THB DIARY 01' JOHN OOJIBB.

Mr. Henry Loveall slgnl1led his desin- to visit y.1I0D4.,18. churches in the Jersles and earnestly requested a line

from ye ministers here. I was desired to draw a few lines. Anexact copple.

These lines may signitle to the Baptized cburches of our Lord J.uaChrist in the J eraies and places adjacent, That our Brother. Henry Loveall,the bearer, having had a desire to make a visit into your parts, we doby these signi1le to you yt we know nothing but yt his cODvenaation i.agreeable to y. gospel of Jesus Christ. We would further noWie to.you ythe haa been IOm~timee exercised in yo ministration of y. word. Theaetherefore are to recommend him unto the communion and fellowship of yechurches among you where God in his holy providence may caat him.

So committing both you and him to y. conduct and protection of beaven,earnestly wishing you all y. bl..ing of y. everlasting covenant, we IUb­ICribe ourselves your aifectionate Brethren in y. bonda of y. gospel of JeauaChrist our Lord. J Alia CLARK.,

DANIBL WIGBTIIAJr.JOHN CaMBL

Newport on Rhode Island, Oct' ye 18, 1729.

Here follows wt I gave him. privately:Brother Loveall: I earnestly wish y. Lord to be with you in)'our In­

tended Journey and desire you would grati1ie me in y. following particular&.(1) In each place you go to Itrive to know in w' year ye ch was Irst COD­stituted (2) W' number of members they respectively consiat of at thistime. (8) Wt is their conatitutioD in principles, whetber genl or particular.(4) Wt are their tel'lDl of communion. (6) Wt year yo agreement wumade in to hold communion at yo table of tbe Lord wtb ...lcb u were Dotunder ImpOlition of handa. (6) How many churches there are in com­munion. (7) Be lUre to present my hearty respects to each church. (8)Endeavor to do all poeaible good among them yi you can. These tbinllfrom your loving ~, JORlI CoIIKL

N. Rhode Ia1and, Octr ye 18, 1729.

He had gathered here towards It, £4 158. Od.[?]This evening, in Mr. Thurston's tan vatB,lTl a child of Mr.

Will- Claggett's!1t was drowned.In Wanting.111 WI11iam Clagett wu ac1ock-maker In Newport, and ofooDllderableoe1ebritJ lD bladal

Sneral of hla &all c10cb of e1epct workmaoahlp may attn be found In the bomea of New­port. keeping good tlme, aDd MI"riDI AI oraameotal piecel of (uraUuN. He".. a IIWl 01marked lopnulty. aDd wu poIIeIIeC1 of an toqulriD, mind. The subject of electrlcltJwhlcb wu tbeD Just bePDolDg to aUn.c& the atleDtlOD of ICholan. wu made by hlm a pr0­found awdy. He lIaald to haye antlolpated FnnkUn in lOme of hla uperimeDt&. Beoonlb'ucted for hll u. an electrical machine 01 large dimeuloDa. which FraDklIa ... ona YIalt to Newport. AltboaCb the latter ., had made lOme electrical uperilDeDta by UaeMotion of gl..Jan. yet th1I wu the ant machine of the kind he had e.er ...." nilmaeh1ae Is lD the poue.loa or the he1n or the late Doctor Da'id XJDI. 1Ir. aaaeu pab-

.......:.. ....-

94 THE DIARY 01' IOJIK OOKBB.

Preached at ye place of Baptlzlng. Joseph Card'D1r84., us. buried.

This day I read over ye a1fairs of the trouble In 18BMard., 18. church to Elder Ephraim Wheatnn, who came down

to visit my former people. I don't find by him any repentancein ym for ill management, neither do I learn any good deslresinym.

Preached in course. Elder Wheaton admiDilieredLord'. D., 10. the Sacrament of ye Lord's Supper tn my people.This Is ye 2d time this year.

Vlslted my people, and Mr. Clap; he said Ifpeople1IoD4., ~o. would but weigh ye aifair of divine grace In ye scale

of right re&8On expressed to fallen man and not to fallen angels'twould serve to convince them of ye greatness and sovereigntyof it. Divine grace is free tn all, but more free to some.

Prayed with Daniel Shrief, continuing low. ThisWeclD.II4.... day came news of ye small pox being in Boston. Itcame in about ye middle of ye month, brought in an Irish vessel,who (as I hear) threw over 19 In their passage.

This day instead of a lecture, a funeral sermon wasTblnd., u. preached by Mr. Wightman in ye meeting house,

over ye corpse of Mr. Peleg Carr's little daughter.Visited Mr. Clap; in discourse he said that holy

1IoDd., ft. things were too good and wicke1 things too bad, forbanter and laughter. True words. Mr. Jno Adams visited me.

My antient acquaintanoo Mr. John Hobbs visitedWeclDN4.,.. me.

Exceeding rainy; preached from Luk. 10 : 42, but'l'blnd.,80. 12 people at lecture.

Attended Mr. Crandall's meeting. Mrs. Lydia.J77d.,81. Ryder Baptized by him. A small audltory.

Attended Mr. Crandall's meeting, Mrs. L)"dia::':'L Ryder~ under hands. This day 4 years I eametn live on Rhode Island.

Preached In course. At even Mr. Constant Deva­Lord'. D., SI. tion visited me.

Here I would observe the admirable providence of'raHd..4. my good God towards me in his divine preservation

shown to me and mine. 'Tis this. On Thursday, May the 15th

my mother being In the forenoon about 10 of ye clock in yechamber bedroom, Ialil down her pipe in a chair near ye bed andDot 80 well observing whether there were any fire or no, SOOD

96 THE DIARY OF JOHN COKER.

Signed by

preach ye funeral sermon. This day a snow fell deep-the ftrst.Lodged at Col. N. Powers.

This day I preached at ye fun~ral of Capt. Potter,Lord'. D., us. at ye meeting house in Providence, from thesewonls, Pe. 116 : 15, Precious in the sight of ye Lord is the deathof his saints. A vast auditory of all sorts of people. Afterprayer, Joseph Smith, a Quaker, said a few words moderately.Lodged at Col. N. Powers'.

This day twelve months ago the sermon which1IoDd.,17. offended my people was preached. 1 adore divine

goodness expressed tnwards me in carrying me through yt sink­ing trouble I met wth from ym. Remained at Provi !ence.Lodged at Justice Tillinghast's.

This day visited Elder Brown and Deacon Win­TuHd.,18. sor.lf' 'My horse sent to Swanzey. This evening I

was entertained with a rare water-melon at Col. Powers' yi grewin hl!J garden. Lodged at Justice Tillinghast's.

This day about sunset Mr. Dodge's sloop set sailWedDead.,lO. for N. port, in which I obtained a p8888ge. Wearrived at N. port about ten of ye clock yt night. A very com­fortable passage. Got safe home. Blessed be ye Lord.

Tbln4., 80. Preached at ye lecture In my wonted course.The letter my people Bent to Swanzey for help IJlr7d., sn.

saw in y. church book, dated at N. port sept. 16th.

WILLM PEcKOOM, Elder,SAM'L MAxWELL, Deacon,GEORGE HALL,JAMES PECKOOM.

This evening after ye service of ye day was overLord'. D., SiS. Mr. Hiscox preached in our meet'g house an eveningl~; the 24 in yt place.

Visited. This day I record ye comfortable accountIIODd., ~4. which I received, that on Thursday the 6th of this

month ye Baptist church in Swanzey and ye brethren belongingto Palmer's River, Joined together again, after they had stoodoff near four years, and ye Lord's day following communed to­gether. I d('$ire to praise God for it.

This day I wrote a letter to Deacon Prime of NewTaeacL, u. Milford in Connecticut. -

Uf (Wanting.)

98 THE DIABY 01' J01D1' COKBB.

This eveningJust after nine an ala.rm was beat to find a little boyyt was missing who lived wtb Henry Baben.

This morning Gideon Wantnn's ITI chUd's funeral1'174., sae. bid to. .

Preached in course. This day the council metLord'. D., SIS. about ye small pox.

As to the aft'airs of the past year, I have met withWeclDee4., 81. many things hard and exceedingly uncomfortable,

espec1ally about my church in their ill carriage to me; but Ihave found ye Lord wonderfully supporting ot me under it,praided be his holy name.

It has I think been the most trying year to meon many accounts.There have been this year two drowned; one found dead in

hIs boat, Mr. Updike; one stood in the pillory and [waut] clipt.There have been seventeen reoolved into the church tn whom I

preach. This year I Baptized one as a minister at large, i. e.,under no obligation 88 pastor tn any particular flock, at Narra­gansett Yearly Association-Elizabeth Moot.

A Presbyterian meeting house built.What I had this year for support from the church and congre­

gation amounts to £129 Os. Od.An exact account of what lowe in the world thIs ftrst day of

January, 1780, John Comer.£,

To the Colony.. . . . . .• . . . . . •. ••••••••••••. .• li()" Mr. Jno Odlin ....•.•••••••••••.••••.••.. 50" Sister Ellzth Barker.. . .• .•.••••••.•..... 40" Mother Boilers. . . .. ••••••••.•••.•••.... 40" Mr. ArnolaCollins. .• . ••. ••••••• . . . ••• .• 40" Mr. Willm Swan. . . •••••••••••••••• . . . .. 16" Mr. John Clarke . .• . . . . . ••••••.. • . ••• . . . . 6" Mr. Jonathan Kingsley. . ••••••• ••••. ••.. 12" Madam Judith CraDstone. ••• •• •••••••. .. 20" Sundries in small debts.. • •• ••• • . • . . . • . .. 18

8. d.o 0o 0o 0o 0o 0o 0o 0o 0o 0o 0

Total ~1 0 0

111 Gideon WaDtoD, IOD of Joeepb and sarah (Freeborn) Wanton, ".. bon in T1YertoD,October 20, 1883; married FebruaI'J 8, 1718, Mn. MaI'J Codmaa, who died September I,1780; for two Jean, 174&-&7, held the om.. o(Goyernor. While 10 omee, n.pGnded to thecall for troo.- to aaallt In CUTJln, on the war aplolt. France. The people nobJ1 suPportedhim, but" DO maD toot a deeper Interest In It lhaG the Quaker GoYeroorof Rhode laIand."Mr. Bartlett .11: "TbM although a Quaker, he wu a belligerent ODe, and tully equal tothe emeJPDCJ, and had be beeD Goyemor aDd Captaln-Geawal of Bbode bJand In 1...would haye been amon, the am to eeod a repmeDt of Rhode Illaacl yol11nt.een to Wash­!qtoD." He died September 12, 1717.-Biog. ~~lop., R. 1.

100 TJIB DIARY Oil' JOIlll OOKBIL

.... .

LeNd'. D .. 4. Prea£-hed in course.___ . Mm. Arault's funeral bid to. Mr• .John.Hobbs.-.u.,8. visited me.

w.-..s. 4. My brother James Phillips came to this Island In, 1 order to sail henoo tn ye West lDdles 8Ild London.

~ _ This day I wrote a letter to ye Baptists at SprlDg-, · field, directed to Doctor John Leonard.

This day being sent for I prayed with Mrs. EadyLcmI'. D., U. being sick.

This day Mr. Wightman went to ye almshouse to~,80. visit Hannah Weston. Upon request I prayed with

her.Lont'aD., This [day] preached in course.

••braa17 I. This morning a woman named Becks, at ye Point,1IoDd.... was found dead in her bed. 'Twassuppoeedshedied

in her sleep being alone.'faNd.,8.' This day I preached at ye funeral of Mr. R. Gard­

ner's child.w...... 4. This night between nine and ten of ye clock in ye

• North appeared the aurora borealis, having manybright streamers extending towards the zenith.

This day Col. William Coddington III 8Ild Jahleel~, e. Brenton In, two of the Committee for signing ye bills

of public credit, went to~n to attend the court, at which weretn be tried ye next week Paul Euni~,who was found In uttering(and suspecUd Cor counterfeiting) sundry bills oC this Colony, inNovr past.

Prayed with ye widow Thurston's child, being very1I0D4.,8. low. .

This day Mr. Maxwell stopt yechureh and proposedLord'aD.,ta. for Mr. John Walton tn be sent for to supply my

place in ye church wh was under my care, which was concludedin ye aftirmative. I learn yt 1\1r. Willm Claggett is a principal in­8troment in yt. affair. I am Informed yt Philip Smith 1M some­thing delirious; yt. ye same wicked spirit still rules in EdwardSmith and Capt Willm Peckcom as in )~ height of ye dJfferenoo,who were ye princlpal wicked Instruments in it, tho they werewilling to lay all upon me, wb is utterly false. But I am sup­ported by God's Infinite' grace and this day by yt word, Psalm87 : 1, 7, 8, 9. Fret not thyself because ofevil doers.

102

•

settle among ym, if it might be comfortable. Lord if It be thyholy will give ym new hearts and sinoorealms in thy Rlory In thJIundertaking, and remove away ye bitter spirit of envy yt is stillI fear ina much reigning in three or four of ym against me, andforgive ym and me al~ for Christ's sake.

This day Mr. Jno Walinn preached in my formerLo~'.D., 8. congregation. This night he lodged at my house.

This day Mr. Jno Walinn preached a lecture In y.Taud.,10. meeting house. I am sure I desire ye Lord might

direct him what in do. Things respectlng his settlement withra appear strange in me at this time.

ftIn4.,1II. Preached; Mr. Wightman absent.Mr. Walton preached again in my former oongre-

Lcml'. D., Ia. gation. That wh is of God will stand; but if It benot of God, in his own time It will be brought in naught. LordI pray thee in enable me in stand still and see the working of thyholy Providence. ForWlemewthall sultablegrace and thy nameshall be glorified.

This night Mr. Jno Callender lodged at my hoaseWedDeK,I'1. and had suitable opportunity for conference.

This day I preached at Mr. Thomas Stevens'sLoI'd'. D., H. house.

1IoD4., ... This day I began in keep schooLThis day I had a num~ of verses printed for

1IoD4., 80. chlldren, 400. Cost 26s.I wrote a letter in Mr. Nathl JenldDs,nl mlnl&tu

::Ulldg: at Cohansey. This day being a day ot prayer In yeMassachusetts, I heard Mr. Clap preach in his house

from Ps. 79 : 8, 9 verses, excellently welLAttended church meeting. Prayed With Dr. Ar­

8atald.,4. nold's little daughter.ThIs day ye 7th Day CoupegaUon met in myoId

1IMaJ'd., 18. meeting house.About this time I ~ived a letter from Mr. Paul Palmer,

minister In North C'ALrollna together wth a manuscript for yepress, entitled Chrlst the Predestinated and Elected.

The form ot the Agreement of the Baptist church on RhodeIsland when they bunt a meeting house (owning ye Doctrine ot

DI Nathaniel JeaJdDI "u bon ID Wale. In 1878; eml,...&ed to this OOGJltry. _4 eett1eclat Cape IlaT, New Jenq, In 1712; In 1710 became putor at Coh&DM1."ben be died lD17M.

104 THE DIABY 01' JOHN COKER.

2. By faith and practice with us, we mean and intend those that aredipped into water with a verb.l demonstration of their faith and repent­ance, yielding obedience to all ye rest of the ordinances of our Lord J eauaChrist, as laying on ot handa with a reall faith in ye Beeurrection of ye dead,and y. Eternal Judgment; 88 alao keeping their holy union and fellowshipin Breaking of Bread and Prayer; as will be better seen and i8 set forthmore at large in a printed sheet or declaration of faith and practice ot y.Baptized churohea, falsely called Anabaptist, in London and in other placeain England; wb sbeet i8 signed by certain Elden and Brethren of adchurches to y. number of 78, and printed in y. year 1691.

8. We 8ignil1e by these presents yt we are m~tually agreed yt if ounelvelye purchasers of ye land mentioned for holy use in ye instrument abovewritten bearing date January ye 28, 1706-7, and likewise mentioned in yepresent dilcourse,-we say if we ourselves or our succeuors shall by y. bap­tized ch [urch] or churches in faith and practice above ad be cen8ured andJudged erroneous or corrupt in principle or practice, in life and conversa­tion, and 10 by sentence of sci church be cut off from society and fellowshipof y. same, that any and every person or penons 10 offending shall forever100e his or their claim to any part of Ie Mid land or bouse.

4. We do hereby oblige ourselves and successors forever, to make andmaintain all yo fence y' y. above named Jamee Clarke waa obliged to makuand maintain about Sd meeting house lands as may Rppear by ye two deedsthereof from Major Nath' Coddington to y. above Sd James Clarke. In wit­ness whereof and for ratillcation of each and every of the said mentioned

mfMlr or heirs ma,. at an,.tlme pretend to b,.nrtue or ,.- two deeda abo.e mentloue4I Lbo at Jam. Clarke do hereblin oon.ideratlon 01,.- above" oontrlbutlon-Dloney j elYe,1ftD& In fee. and conlrm both 7- aOO.e at deedl or land. together with all ~ rlghtl aDdprlrilepe thereunto belonging, unto m,. brethren. J.rewlah Clarke, Daniel Wightmaa.John OdliD. John Greenman, Jam. Brown, John Hamwet, Jeremiah Weeden. JoeephCard, Jamee Barker, William Rhodes, Stephen Weeden, Willlam Gmman, Henry Clarke.John Rhodel, and their SUcceAOn Corever. to have aDd to bold uJd landa.. they are battedaDd bounded with all 7- rtghte and priYllepe thereunto belonging; to ye proper aee andbehoof or all ye aboY. named brethren. (or ye OM &bove .. from him at Clarke. his helra, ez­ecutora, &dminlatraton, or uatgna. foreyer. belDg free11 aDd clearl,. acquitted and ds.­ebarpd from all manner orpfta, 1ftDt8. thlrda,Jolntera. or aDyincumbBnce whataoeY.b,. 111m at Clarke done or made. or mtrered to be made at an1 time berore the InaeallDg anddeJiYery hereof and,.. ye at Clarke bath pod right and lawtul power In h1m.eJf to II: ake"'e and good Utle .. aboTe at. III wUn.. wbuenf I ha.e hereunto eet m,. hand aDd Malthll 23d da1 01 JaDD&1'7 1701-7•

.. WltD....{~~1LLLUIL

.. Pereonall,. appeared before ~e thl. 8th 01 Feb., 170&-7. JUDe. Clarke ~ .bIcrIbehereolaDd did OYD aDd actDowledp,.e abo"e written iDatrumeDt &0 be b.1a act ad deed.

Au.ted: JOIl1l Boe.... JaaUoeolPeloe.·'

~M0.., .. BeoenII ti 8Ioort4 BopIW C1MIrM, NNIpOI1.

108 TJIB DIARY 01' JOHN COKER.

This day the town was mightily alarmed by ye~4" u. death of a stranger at ye house of Mays Nichols, tav-

em-keeper, who had been drooping several days; but it appearedto those yt inspected the body to be ye small pox of wh he died.By order of authority he was wth utmost despatch buried. Itisn't known who he is, or certainly whenoo he came. His com­panion is fled out ot town to avoid examination, 88 Is probable.The man came last Friday. Lord fit ye town for ye visitation ofy. small pox.

A few epitaphs which I took oft' of some graves in the commonburying place at Newport on Rhode Island.

On Mr. Simeon Parrett, who died May 28, 1718, aged 84 years.

Here doth Simeon Parrett lye,Whose wrongs did for vengeance cry,

But none could have;And now yO grave

Keepe him from injury.

On :Mrs. Ablgall Wanton, who died May 12, 1726, aged 28years.

Ilteara alas could speak a husband's wo,My vene would straight in plentiful numbera 1I0w;Or if 80 great a lou deplored in vainCould solace 80 my throbing heart tram painThen could I 0 lad coDtOlation chuaeTo soothe my carel811 grief a private mUle iBut since thy well known piety demandsA public monument at thy George'. handa,o Abigail, I dedicate this tomb to thee,Thou dearest half of poor forsaken me.

On Mr. Will- Sanford, A. M., who died Apr. 24, 1721, aged 81years.

Here lyetb dust that as we1.rultUnited is to Christ,

Who will it raise, tbe Lord to praiNJ OiDed to a lOu1 DOW bleat;

l'ebruarr IS, 1m, he became putor of the churcb iD Lltt)e Wild Itreet, Londno; becamecelebrated lor hll euet and ezlenll.e koowledp 01 ancient 1D&ouecrlpt.; ID 1717 ap­pototed Ullstaot Ilbrarlaa 01 tht' Brltlah MWMNm. tbouKb IUD CODtJDQlol to dlacbarp thedaUee othU pu&onblp; be died Juo. 19, 1784. Dr. GUford'... oollect1on 01 rare oolDa ...the 1D08& .aluable ID Greai Brlt.ala; It attracted the atteDtiOD 01 Georp II., wbo IJUNbued1& for b1I OWD cablDet."--ea&bcan, B9. AMr.

108 THE DIABY 01' JOJDT OOJIBB.

This day Mrs. Nichols was· removed in Coa8ter's=": Harbor, for ye small pox broke out on her.This day Mr. Saml Maxwell stopt ye church and

Lord'. D., .,. read a paper to ym in wh he slgnifted his intent in layaside preaching wholly, and yt he was much in scruple about In­fant Baptism. Lord keep those whom I baptized 80und In yeOfaith.

Th1s day died Mrs. Nichols' In~ woman, atWedDee4.,10. Coaster's Harbor, who was csrried there on Lord's

Day morning with ye small pox. It did not come out well. 80ye two ftrst y' had it died. Lord make It awakening ro yelnhab­itants.

This day visited Mr. Clap. He informed me of aTbInd.,ll. fast Mr. Adams' people had yt day week, and yt

they had sent to some ordained ministers in come and help in yework of ye day; but they refused because they were not clear inye management of Mr. Adams' dismission, and to some young

I mlnisters, who decllned because they had heard they Intended intry six or eight before a choice, and 80 declined to stand on yestool of approbation at Newport; nevertheless two young minls­ters from ye Massachusetts, and one from Long Island came andcsrried on the day of fasting by prayer and preschlng. Theirnames were Mr. Cleaverly, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Searing.

Bo Mr. Clap upon ye refusal of ye ordained mlnlsters, and yedeclining of ye young ones, remarked this witty remark on yepeople from ye names of y. young mlnlsters. Phat they wenCleaf'erly Petrrc'cl and &ar'd.

This day also I went to discourse wUa Mr. Maxwell about Bap­tism and 80 in falthtalDe98 to dlscharge myself.

This day Mr. Crandall preached in my people, be­Lcml'. D., 14. lng destitute by reason of Mr. Maxwell's declarlng ye

Sabbath before for Infant Baptism, or at least his 9CrJ1plesabout it.

, This day after public service was over in ye inwn,Lcml. D., 81. one Samuel Fenno a printer, lately from Boston, a

young man, gathered a number of loose people together at yehouse ot Jno Pearce and attempted in [do] something by way ofpreaching from Bol. Bong 4: 7, and sang ye 100 p88Jm and ye 108psalm, ye audirory consistingofabout a score. ye principal personswere Mr. Saml Pike, Mr. Brown, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. JohnsoD,Mr. Martendll &c. Set these aside and there aren't such a num­ber of yt sort In ye town. Oh profane &<.1, and highly in be dJsap-

110 THE DIARY OF JOBN OOKEB.

This day ten per8OI18 wereBaptized by Mr. Wight­'1'aN4., .,. man at Providence.May the Lord influence each or them by his Holy Spirit, and

give ym grace in persevere in his ways, and help 1m to adom thedoctrine of God opr Saviour in all things.

TIalnd, o. This day preached; Mr. W. absent.8atard., 11. This day preached to ye 7th day congregation.1I0D4.,18. Went over in an entertainment at <Jonanicut.

This day went to see Edward Smith being upon'heed.,l4. his sick (and I am apt to conclude his death bed); I

had no dieoourse with him 88 I desired by reason of his being Ina kind of lethargy.

Will the Lord give me a truly forgiving ftame of spirit 88 Ihope God for Christ's sake will forgive me.

This day preached both parts for Mr. Crandall, [he]Ba'-d., 18. continuing sick.~•• D., IIJ. Preached. in course.

This evening an Insurrection W88 made or a mob~. Sl4. was raised in the town, oocasIoned by some young

men being put lnin gaol ye day before tor siding and being en­gaged about a quarrel raised a few evenings before between Au­gustus Lu~ and--Coggeshall; ye one calling himself of y.gentleman's party and ye other being lookt upon not 80. AbouttwWght the mob began to pull down ye prison fence, 80 yt [at]candle light an alarm was beat and men In arms, together wt.hsome of ye authority with drawn swords and other weapons,watched ye prison, for it was threatened to be pulled down ytnight. There was no hurt done in ye Insurrection but in oneman, Mr. Bas8ee was Imockt down for dead by Richard Durfeewth ye back of a cotl888. •

The next day ye men came under bond, and 80 came out ofprison.

Thisday I wrote a letter to Mr. Nathl JenklM, min-w=':e. fster ot Cohansey, and Deacon Job Bhe~herd of ye

same place.This day In-r [~ ilUg0le] upon acknowledge

'1'b1nKt.,8. ment was received to his place In ye church ofSwanzey.

This day I preached at Freetown by requMt, aLoI'd'. D.,BO. large auditory. Returned home well, blessed be God. I

'l'Idl.s., This day [my] former people met at ye meetingSept. I". house to consult about getting a mlnJster, since Mr.

112 THE DIARY OF IOBN COKEB.- ------ ----------

Island by reason of an Act of Assembly prohibiting all from B0&­ron except they lay four days currenteen [quarantine] by reasonof the amall pox being there. He Is a man of parts and worthy.

Returned home well from Narragansett; I praiseWedDe8CL,". the holy name ofGod.

'l'b1r84., 8.: Visited Mr. Condy [he] being sick.This evening between six and seven of the clock

TblNd., u. came on the most tenifylng awful and amazingNorthern light 88 ever was beheld In New England as I canlearn. There was at the bottom of the horizon a very greatbrightness and over It an 8.J1lazln g red bow extending from North\0 East like a dreadful fire and many fiery spears, and the~was wonderfully lighted and some part of the appearance con­tinued many hours and people were extremely terrified.

Woniscan'texpress ye awfulness of it. "'·tGodls about [to do]is only known to himself.

This night between twelveand one ofye clock a 1lre~:=:.ct~. broke out at Capt. MaU>one's wharf In a cooper shop

and prevailed till It had destroyed five or six ware­houses and w~rkhousesand one dwelling house and caught an·other; but thro God's wonderful mercy there ,,·ere no live8 lost,and beyond expectation It was prevented from spreading thro thetown.

This day I preached at Freetown, a large auditory.Lord'. D., 8. :May God bless the Journey for the good of precious

BOuls.About this time I heard of this ead and tenible story. One

- Barter, In Boston, (who in time past I knew well), who wasa member otye New North [Congregational] Church In Boston,under Mr. Thatcher and Mr. Webb's care, who had lately fallenInto ye prevailing rin of drunkennu8; he was improved by)".church to take care of y. meeting house and to ring y. bell, ha,··Ing once been suspended communion for said sin, but upon ac­knowledgment and repentance was restored in his place. About 8

month ago ye deacons of said church having set ye sacramentalvessels on ye table In ~Y8 meeting house for communion, betweE'nye ringing of ye lit and 2d bell, before y. congregation came to­gether he went to ye v~18 and drank 80 eX<'eS8lvely yt he withdlftlculty got into ye belfry, but was incapacitated upon ye opera­tion of ye drink in perform his oftlce, and lay there dead drunk allsermon and sacrament time. y. church ye next day call'd ameeting and suspended and admonished him and put him

•

114 THE DIARY 01' JOHK OOKEB.

to be erected in five several places with long epitaphs he has leftinserted on each of ym. And in case those of Clare Hall do Dotexecute this his will, his effects are to go to Bt. Ju4'· College; andif they refuse, to any other of the respective oolleges yt will \undertake its full execution. By ye Journal we learn yt ClareHall refuses U> do It.

This day received from my dear Brother the RevetWedDe84., 8. Mr. Nathl Jenldns two letters to my great satisfactiOD.

This day I wrote a letter to Mr. Andrew Glft'ord,JIr7d., u. Baptist minister in Brlstolln Old England, and Mr.

Joseph Stennett, Baptist minister In Exeter, Old England; the 24in each. I Informed ym according to my best knowledge yt there I

were 26 Baptist churches In America under their several divi­sloos, and about 2,110 communicants, reckoning from North Caro­Una to Boston.

I tremble with ye sad news this day I receivedWedDee4.. 80. from Mr. Nicholas Eyres, of New York, dated Novr

ye 26, concerning Mr. Henry Loveall, alias Desolate Baker, i. e.yt he served his time on Long Island when he came flrst fromEngland wth Daniel8ear8, ••• yt he ran away from his master,changed his name, and now lives with another man's wife inadultery. This awful report was made known about a fortnightafter his ordination.

I can't say he can In my Judgment be ever accepted as a minis­ter, especially when I call to mind 1 Timothy 8 : 7.

Glorious God I beseech thee give divine directlon to thyear­vanta in the ministry and to ye church among whom 80 wofol adlfticulty hath happened, what to do in this affair 80 88 thy holyDame may not be blasphemed and thy cause suifer. Direct bythy spirit and grace, and give true and sound repentance untohim who has 80 fallen by his ingenuity In ye days of his vanity.Make him a true gospel penitent for Christ's sake.

Thus I end ye year 1780. It has been a year in which I haveeyed the divine goodness ot my gracious God to me and mine, Inproviding for me on all accounts, for which all possible praise berendered to his holy name.

I have been preeerved from sickness this year. I have had acompetency of the good things ot this life. I have been sensiblysupported by divine promises a.~ to my Inward man.

There have happened this year: One found dead In her bed.The northern light hath appeared this year four times, but themost awful October 22.

116 THE DIABY OP JOHN COKER.

time, ye wind at N. E. in y. P. M. ~ed. Lay to nearWatch Point all night. A rolling sea.

About break of day hoisted sail, wind hard at N.WadDeN., 1'7. N. 'V. Great sea near Watch Point, like to have

been lost on ye rocks. Got.fnto Stoningtown harbor about oneP. M. Lodged at Mr. Greenman's. Praised be y. name of yeLord.

Went aboard in ye morning, holsted anchor aboutTb1ra4.,18. 0 A. M., wind N. W. Got to N. London about 8

P. M.Remained at New London, wind contrarY. Went

~, 10. to visit Mr. Gorton, got to town at night, dark andrainy.

Called up about day dawn. Wind at N. N. W.8Uard.,80. Pleasant morning. Bet sail at 6 A. M.; about 12

touched on seabrook bar; about 2 P. M. anchored at Southholdharbour, by ye oyster ponds on Long Island. Went ashore andtamed till 7, and about 11 at night hoisted anchor and set sail;wind extremely hard, but God preserved.

Becalmed till 1 P. M. At night dropt anchor In yeLord'. D., m. Sound against Fairfield. A rolling sea.

This morning about 4 weighed anchor, wind at N.IIOD4., u. E., rainy, shifted about 9 to B. W., exceeding hard,

great sea. About one anchored at White Btone, ye tide not suit­ing to go thro Hell gate. This day we were in great danger bymany squalls. Lodged 88hore at Mr. La~nce's comfortably.

. About day dawn w~t aboard. About 8 went thro'he84., SIS. Hell gate. About 10" A. 1\1. arrived safe at New

York. Thue God has preserved me and I now offer ye praise tohim. Waited on Revd Nicholas Eyres. Saw Mr. Jno Campbellmy former ~uaintance, kindly treated, took a view ot y. city.

Went to see y& new Dutch church wh Is very beautiful, a stonebuilding. It is curiously wrought, being 100 feet in length, and70 In breadth, having in it 150 pews, and no pillars to support y.roof wh Is finely arched, having two doors opposite to the pulpit;over each in 8 flne white stone ot about a foot and a half squareare these two Scripture epithets at large, Ps. 28 : 8; Isa. 56: 7.The [stepsf] up to ye belfry are 11~, 16 windings. Lodged atMr. Eyres'. Cost me a double bitt.

Remained at York. Mr. StE'phens went with meWedDHd..84. to see the Fort, which is n strong one. Saw yechapel, ye organs, the Governour's Library, the garden, where I

118 THE DIARY 01' JOHN OOKER.

10.

_.

I

I~'

It11

II

close with him as your minis!r; but you neither minded my advice Dor y'of our Association, but as persons infatua~you have rushed on withoutrule or precedent to ordain a man for y. ministry y' is hardly It to be a com­mon or private member. How is it you did not read their qualilcatioDl1 Tim. 8: 2, 8,4,6, 6, 7. Not a novice &c. And he must have a good re­port ofy. y' are without. Is it a good report yt he committed uncleannel8?[Certain partieulara omitted.] And is it a good report that now his Jutspouse should be another man's wife? [Certain parltetdara omitted.]Is It a good report y' he waa and yet is an impudent liar? And couldyou be 10 childish as to be satisfied with a bare confeuion. and as lOOnftS he had confeued to Jump into the pulpit to teach you y' were neverguilty of half his crimes? What is this but as if a criminal wouId conCeIahis villainy at the bar and &8 lOOn as he had done to jump to the bench togive judgment. Oh monstrousl How could you join with luch an one with­out more ,. ordinary humiliation a8 a cummon brother 1 Oould any of youthink of y' place 1 Tim. 6 : 22, 24, 25 lay handa suddenly on [no] man &c.What right had Paul Palmer to be employed by you in that work? Werethere no ministers belonging to your own Association? Only you wereafraid you should Dot be suffered to dance about your calf. But, my dearBrethren, consider the dreadful day of the Lord i8 coming, and all thechurchee shall know that he knows theIr hearts and thought&. Conaider ytreproach you brought on your proCeuion hereby. I am ashamed of it. Icould have told you-[The letter cloaea thus abruptly.]

This day I returned home from visiting thechurches. Thanks and praise to God's holy name

for Divine preservation.This day my second daughter, Mary, was born, on

.l1lDel4. Tuesday night about 11 of ~.c1ock. Lord I give itup to thee to thy guidance and government of thy ble88ed Spirit.

On Monday I and my former peoplemet in the meet­ing house and ~mmodatedour old dUrerence. 'a"

lIIH ThU recoDclllatioD betw~ 1Ir. Comer and the church w..'t.o yean after hll die­mlJaloD. The ChrcA B«»nU Shoe aD &COO1lot ot & meetlDg JUDe 28,1731, " pthered at therequest ot Mr. Comer, and by OOD8eDt of oar Elder, WD!1am Pacteom." .. After lOme dJa­c6ufte with lIr. Comer oooeern1Dg the dl1l'erence that h.. been & lon, time betweeza himand the chUJ'Oh, )lr. Comer belngleDlible ot hll mba.atee d8lred forgtYeneM, and ID Par­ticular hll Umtng otthat dI8aoane concerning laying on or banda, aDd In a sermoo .hlchhe afterwarda p~edtwhich ... very otrenlive to the church, charging them with lUehcrimee .. ther were no way. Ienl1ble they were eYer pllty ot, which he desired might beo'ftJ'loott. And It ... agreed thai all papen that were .rltten 00 both .ldel relating tothe dl1l'enmoe. might be produced and bam.., wblch ... aooordlng1y dooe; and the meet­Ing IDlabed 10 love and peace, .Ith prayer by Mr. Comer." Heftin Mr. Comer 0011'8 hlltruly CbriatlaD Iplrlt. He ... about to leave Newport for aoother field ot labor, and couldoot depui until a reoooclUatloo IuMl beeD e1l'eoted; aDd he "Idently went.. tv .1 becoullteDt1yooald 10 maklD, cooee-lou to aecure the end be lOugh&, but ucri4dD. DO

OODricUoa or prlDclple.

120 THE DIABY 01' JOHN OO~

..

KODd., This day a Baptist meeting house was raised inHoft. 18. Rehoboth.

1'78S1. This day I begin a new year in a new place, tho:'::~' not iBanew employment; for my delight of soul is in

serving my dear Redeemer in the sacred service ofthe ministry which I prefer and esteem above and beyond every­thing~ (tho I· acknowledge unfit, unworthy in myself). Lordwho is su1Bcient for these things l' Su1Iiciency is alone of God, onhim I rest and rely continually. Lord grant me this year newsupplies of thy Spirit; and IS I now [have] a new year I entreatI may And my desires renewed to glorify and serve thee.

This day Mr. Jno Luther's house was burnt down.Left'.».,10. about 11 otye clock A. M.in Swanzey.

This day a Baptist church was gathered in Reho­TIalrIl4., SlO. both, and I was chosen to the pastoral 08100.117.

• While th1a church formed in Behoboth WAI In itl onUr "SIx Principle." It w.. In It.doctrine II Calvinlatlc tt j It, w.. modeled on the pattern of the churches in Phlladelphla,whence Mr. Comer had Just returned from a vlalt. giving upreaalon to hla U great aat1lrao­tlon In the slgbt beheld or t.he faith and order of thOll8 church.." [Namel,. churchs ortbe Philadelphia Baotlat AMociatlon.-J. W. W.] The cbange or Bentimenta which occa­aloned the sever.nce ofbJa 1ll'l'tpast.oral relatlonslD. Newport. embraced nothing more thanthe tenet" oflmpoaltlon of handI." See tbe entry In the Diary under date Jult 3, 1731.

[Here ends the work of anDot.tlon by the late I.mented Dr. Barrowa. It may be properto add. few worda to thll. his lat DOte. Mr. Comer appean to h.ve severed hiIJ pastoralrelati()n with the .F1nt Church. Newport. becaule be believed In and advoc.ted Ie the im­position or hands on the newly baptized." they arid he alike being II Calviniata." Andlater be levered bu rel.tionl with the Second or " .Ix principle" Church, because thougb heand they alike believed In and practiced .. the Imposition of h.nd.... they were generally.. Arminlan ,. In NDtlment, and he "CalvlnlBtlc." Hen08 bls ,atllf.ction expreeaed withtbe faith .nd order then existing In the Phtladelpbla A8aoc1ation-the olden AS8OC1atioDin America-II easily understood. The churches of that body held the II Calvinistic doc­t.rlDe" with ,real, t.enaclty, aDd &lao practiced .. the impoaitioD of hands." ThiIJ anclentcustom has gone out of use. In the oourse of time, among American BAptists, except In atew churches. It baa been lupel'leded by the" right h.nd of fellowship," [or, II of wel­oome"l. In a few churches the old practice llitill retained. They do not make it a II termof communion," or • subJeot or oontentlon with their brethren. but are unwinlng to aban­don a rUe whloh leems to 'hem 10 ecrlptural and 10 significant of the gift ol the HolySpirit promised to the believer. With some ot these, tbe II band ollellowshlp" follow••Others consider this UnD8OeI8aI'J'. there being DO acrlptural authority for it,80 tar as!Jowly baptbed oonvertl are conoerned; while the "laying on of bands," accompanied by101emn prayer, seems to them Car superior In meaning and Imprel581veness. The" impoli.tion II or U layln, on ol hands" II now practiced by the Second and the Boxborough Bap­tist churches ol Philadelphia, and until recently also by the Lower Xerion Baptist Church,In tbe vicinity of Pbiladelphla. It ~ retained in tbe Second Baptl8~ Church of Newport,which has now nothing else in oommon with the" Six Principle Baptists." but is in te11ow- •ship with tbe Regular Baptista of Rhode Island. Whetbel' the practice II ~uDd now Inany other regular Baptlat churches in tbe Philadelphia A.uociatlon or elsewhere InAmerica, I cannot say. But if we may judge from the Phlladplpbla Confessfon oC Falt.h.aDd Crow notices In t.b1I...~ aDd elsewhere, it".. once a part of acknowledged order

122 THE DIARY 01' JOHN COMER.

lately went In clearing my debts when I sold my house to Mr.Isaac Peckcom in Newport, April y. 6th, 1733, in which sale Imet with y. most heavy loss of all, selling for Just 100 pounds lessthan I W8B offered about threeyears before, ye times being dead andmoney scarce. However I brought my a1fairs Into a lesa compass,viz. April ye 7th, 1738 cleared ye 60 pound bond of Mr. OdIin.

Cleared ye 50 pound bond of Capt. Peckcom's to ye Colony.Cleared ye 20 pound bond of Mrs. Sarah Co1.liDs.Paid 18 pound(s] to Mr. Arnold Collins.Paid 10 pound[s] to Madam Cranston.

A record ot marriages performed by John Comer, pastor of theBaptist church in the town of Rehoboth, in the province of yeMassachusetts Bay in N. England.

On Friday night, June y. 80th, 1732, Mr" John1'188. Davis of Haverhill was married .to Mrs. Sarah

Barney of Rehoboth, certiftcates of their legal publication fromunder y. clerk's hand being produced. lOs. John Eaton, clerkof Haverhill, Ezek. Read, clerk of Rehoboth.

On Thursday evening, 8epte~bery.14tb, 1782, Mr. JeremIahOrmsbee, Jr., and Mrs. Peirsee Millard, both of Rehoboth, pro­duced a certificate of their legal publication were married by me.lOs. Ezek. Read, clerk of Rehoboth.

The above sent and recorded in ye Town Record, ()ctr ye 12th,1782-

On October ye 19th, 1782, Caleb Balsbury and Prudence Westwere married in Rehoboth by me,-upon producing legal certifi­cates. 58. Hezh Luther, clerk of Swanzey, Ezek. Read, clerk ofRehoboth.Uberty on "he other, haye been the callie of it. Maoy had Joined with the Baptiata ut8wan_y, from time k) time, uotll Mr. John Comer came and _iated 10 formlo,. churchin RehoboUi. . • . He ... aD excellent preacher of the gospel, and aD eminent lDa&.rumf'Dtof reYlriog doctrinal and pracUcal reUlion In Newport, tor a1x yean belore be remoTldto Rehoboth, In Augu...., 1781; aDd. Baptist church wu formed there January 20, 17:"2.aDd he became their pastor, and it lncreued to nlnety-lve memben In 1_ ..haD '11"0

yean. And to that time he weDt aod labored tn SUttoo, LelCfJlter, MlddJt'bol'OQ,h, andother placea. But be exerted bla po"en 10 much In thla noble cau.e, tha" be feU tntu aCODlumptlO1l, and died JoyfuUy, M., 23, 17M. before be w.. thirtyy.... old. BlllO" Ie DOW• member ot the Bapttlt churcb in WarreD [R. I.], aod he lent me bls rather'8 diary and~ber WritlDgI, which baye been yerr eerrieeable In our blltory."-Backu8 ~,WaIcnt'. EdiHmt, II., 488. ElM"bere Backus remarb or Comer'. labon in Rehoboth.. But ho" much did he do in • UUle Umfl!" (11.,31.) Fitting word. wherewith to CION

whal my beloved friend Dr. Barrow8 baa writteD to elucidate &Del illustrate THB DUlll'cw Jon VoMSL-J. W. W·l .

124 THE DIABY OJ' JOHN OOKBB.

An account of 8uch persons that have been Baptized by Mr.John Comer, in remote places from my habitation for the year1732.

Lei"••!',

Jan.80, 1'78g.

IIlddleboroqb,

311171'7.

~D,

.I1I1J'80, 1'788•

Thomas Richardson, Dani~l Dennee.EUJah Nevers, :Martha Green.

Joshua Nichols, Ablathar Vinton.Bathsheba Nevers, Lydia Vinton.

Benjamin Booth.

Levi Luther, Elizlla Martin•

• ew.80,1'70. Jonathan Cole, Ebenezer Olle.Elizth Cole, Obadiah Bowen.

The six last to Join with ye church in Swanzey.

SUPPLEMENTARY NOTE.

Since the preparation of this work for the Prellt there hal cOIDe bato myhands a written sketch of Bev John. Comer, by Mi. Annie B. Oole, datedWarren, B. I., May, 1888. From this I make the following extracta:

U During 'hese yean [the two yean or more at Rehoboth] Mr. Oomer 1

preached, wrote, and studied, but consumption, a hereditary diaeaM, DOW

claimed him for ita victim. He died May 28, 1784, in the thirtieth year ofhis age, and Wal buried by the aide of the Rev. Ephraim WheatoD, in therural cemetery where Mr. Wheaton wu laid to NIt one month before.

"Mr. Comer left a widow and three cbildren, John, Sarah, and Mary.John, the eld.t, married Elizabeth, daughter of TbOmM and Sarah.[BoI­worth] KinnicutL He Walt' zealous Baptist and a constituent member ofthe Warren Church in 1761. He Wal al80 one of the three who, in behalfof the new church, prelented the ordination call to tbe Rev. J amel Man­ning to become the drat pastor. He lived to be upward of ninety yean ofage aDd died December 80, 1816, closing in peace a blameleu and worth7life. Hi. descendants ItiU OWD and occupy the homestead lands or theirvenerable anceltor.

"The daughten of Rev. John Comer, Sarah and Mary, married intoRehoboth familiel, Mendal and Cranston, and their patemal name wulOOn lOlL

" Mrs. Sarah [Bogen] Comer, [widow of our Jobn Comer], married torher IeCOnd husband Samuel Killard or Miller, a prominent and wealthycitizen of Swanzey and aD early inhabitant or Warren, when the flnal set­tlement of boundary lin81 in 1746 gave this ne. townahip to Rhode Island.

1Kia Cole ..,.. &be DUM 1a DOW wrlUeD aDd pIODOQIloed .. Coomer."

•

126 THE DIARY Oll' JOHN COKER.

I am happy to be able to put on record the additional facta and the JUItteatlmonM eeldained in this Dote.· For the reat-all that haa pUled intooblivion-we must wait till the day of the Lord'. coming, when all bi.faithful servants will receive tull~ aDd full reward, through abound­ing and IOvereign grace.-J. W. W.