CONCISE HISTORY
This
Church was formed A. D. 1634. It was the ninth Church in the Massachusetts
Colony.[a]
Settlement
of the First Minister.
[1634.] Rev
Nathaniel Ward took the charge of this Church in 1634, and continued to serve it
till the year 1645. Mr. Ward was assisted during the first year of his ministry
by Rev. Thomas Parker, who was afterwards
settled as the first Minister of Newbury.[b]
[1636]
Rev. John Norton was settled
in 1636, and continued in his relation to this Church till about the year1653;
when he was removed to Boston, and became Pastor of the old Church in that
place.[c]
Settlement
of the Third Minister.
[1638.] Rev. Nathaniel Rogers was settled, as Colleague with Mr. Norton, Feb. 20, 1638, and continued in his relation to this Church till July 2nd, 1655, when he died, aged 57 years. Seventeen male members of Mr. Rogers’ Church in England came with him to this town, and sat down under his ministry.[d] The following, according to tradition, were some of their names. William Goodhue, Nathaniel Hart, Nathaniel Day, Robert Lord, Messrs. Warner, Quilter, Waite, Scott, Littlehale, Lambert, Lumax, Bradstreet, Dane and Noyes.[e] This Church was in a very happy and flourishing state under the united labors of Norton and Rogers.[f]
Settlement
of the Fourth Minister.
[1656]
Rev. Thomas Cobbet was settled
in 1656. It appears from the Ancient Records, that this Church, under Mr.
Cobbet’s ministry, had a special regard to the children of those, who were
members in full communion. See vol. i. p. 67. It appears also, that the Church
provided for the relief of their poor members, by a special vote; and that they
excommunicated the scandalous. Under Mr. Cobbet’s ministry - there, was great
attention to Religion. He continued in his relation to this Church till Nov.
1685, when he died, aged 77.[g]
Settlement
of the Fifth Minister.
[1657.]
Mr. William Hubbard assisted Mr. Cobbet in
the ministry in 1656, and was settled as his Colleague probably in 1657, and
continued in the Pastoral office till his death, Sept. 14, 1704, aged 83.[h]
Settlement
of the Sixth Minister.
[1686.]
After the death of Mr. Cobbet,
Mr. John Dennison assisted Mr. Hubbard in the ministry. He preached, as a
Candidate and as a settled minister from 1686 to 1689.[i]
Settlement
of the Seventh Minister.
[1688.]
In 1688, Mr. John Rogers
assisted in the work of the ministry, and continued so to do till his
Ordination, Oct. 12, 1692. He continued in the work of the ministry till his
death, Dec. 28. 1745.[j]
Settlement
of the Eighth Minister.
[1703.]
In 1703, while Mr. Hubbard was
living, but so infirm as to discontinue the work of the ministry, Mr. Jabez
Fitch was settled a third Pastor with him and Mr. Rogers.—He withdrew from
the pastoral relation in 1724.[k]
Settlement
of the Ninth Minister.
[1727.]
Mr. Nathaniel Rogers was
ordained Colleague with his father, Mr. John Rogers, Oct. 18, 1727, and after
his death conducted the ministry alone till near the time of his own death which
occurred May 1775, aged 74.[l]
In five years of the united ministry of Rev. Messrs. John and Nathaniel Rogers,
viz. from 1741 to 1746, 149 persons were added to this Church. In 1746, the
Church consisted of more than 300 members.[m]
Settlement
of the Tenth Minister.
[1776.]
Rev. Levi Frisbie was
installed, as Pastor of this Church, Feb. 7th 1776, and died Feb. 25, 1806. GOD
in great mercy blessed his labors; especially between the years 1798 and
1801, when 28 were added to the Church. The whole number, added to this Church
during Mr. Frisbie’s Ministry, was 80.[n]
[1781.]
At a meeting
of The Brethren of the church in 1781, the question, whether the Deacons elect
should be ordained, was postponed.[o]
Settlement
of the Eleventh Minister.
[1806]
Mr. David T. Kimball was settled as Pastor of this Church Oct. 8th, 1806.[p]
In [1825.]
the year 1825 there was a revival of Religion under his ministry, as the
fruits of which 34 were added to the Church.[q]
SUPPLEMENT.
Churches
formed from this.
The
Second Church in Ipswich, now the Church in Essex, organized Sept. 6, 1681.[r]
The
Third Church in Ipswich, now the Church in Hamilton, embodied Oct. 27, 1714.[s]
The
South Church in Ipswich—gathered in 1747.[t]
The Church in Linebrook, formed by members of this Church, and of the Churches in Rowley and Topsfield, embodied Nov. 15, 1749.[u]
[a]
See
Kimball’s sketch of the Ecclesiastical History of Ipswich, page 14.
[b]
K.’s Sketch p. 14. Mather’s
Magnalia, vol. i. p. 470. Ipswich
Town Records.
[c]
K.’s
Sketch p. 15. Mather’s
Magnalia, vol. i. p. 261. Allen’s
Biog. Dict.
[d]
K.’s Sketch p. 17.
18. Mather’s Magnalia, vol. i. p. 373. Neal’s History of the Puritans.
[e] K.’s Sketch.
[f]
K.’s Sketch p. 19. Mather’s
Magnalia, p. 375, 376.
[g]
K.’s Sketch, p.
20.
[h] K.’s Sketch, p. 21. Ipswich Town Records. Hist. Col., vol. x, p. 35. E1iot’s and Allen’s Biographical Dictionaries.
[i]
K.’s Sketch, p.
22. Sermon by Dr. Cotton Mather, occasioned by the death of Mrs. Elizabeth
Cotton.
[j] K.’s Sketch p. 23. Eliot’s Biographical Dictionary.
[k]K.’s Sketch, p. 24. Ipswich Town Records. Ch. Rec. vol. i. p. 78.
[l]
K.’s Sketch, p.
25.
[m]
Church Rec. vol. i.
p. 5. and forward.
[n]
K.’s Sketch, pp.
27, 28. Church Records.
[o]
See Mr. Frisbie’s
Rec. in vol. i. p. 6.
[p]
Church Records, vol.
i. p.
[q] Church Records, vol. ii. p.
[r]
K.’s Sketch,. pp.
30, 31. Rev. Mr. Crowell’s Sermon, containing an historical sketch of
the 2nd Parish in Ipswich.
[s] K.’s Sketch, p. 31. Dr. Cutler’s Century Sermon, delivered at Hamilton, Oct. 27, 1814.
[t] K.’s Sketch, p.30. Ipswich Town and Parish Records.
[u]
Church Records, vol.
i. p. 13. Linebrook Church Records.