Evangelical Congregational Church 
   at Grafton, Massachusetts

Catalog of Members

Historical Sketch  

The following note, found in the oldest records of this Church, gives the origin of the first Church of Christ in the town of Grafton, then known by its Indian title, "Hassanamisco."

"The Indian Church which was gathered in this place, was the second Native Ch. in N.E.:  it was formed either by Revd John Eliot, or some one raised up through his instrumentality.  It is said to have been one of the most permanent establishments of the kind, and yet it wd seem as if it continued but a short time in its original state.

It was formed in 1671, and three years after contained, it is said about 16 members living in ye town, besides several residing in other places.  But 60 years after, as appears from this Book, it was necessary to form another, and none were natives probably."

The church last alluded to in the foregoing note is that now existing, and was organized at Hassanamisco, Dec. 28, 1731, as appears from the accompanying record.

"A Church of our Lord Jesus Christ being about to be gathered in sd place, the candidates for the Ch. were, by the Revd Elders and Beloved Messengers in counsel assembled, desired to bring their certificates from the Chh. which they respectively belonged unto, which certificated being brought in and read before the counsel they proceeded to embody into a church of our Lord Jesus Christ those persons before mentioned and recommended.  The number was Twenty-two."

On July 9th, 1728, it was voted at a public meeting of the Proprietors of the town, to build a Meeting House, to be finished at or before Nov. 1, 1730.  This house was erected on the site of the Common in the centre of the  Town, and was occupied for religious worship about three quarters of a century.

In the month of May, 1735, the plantation of Hassanamisco was organized under the name of "Grafton," by the choice and appointment of the proper town officers.  The present House of Worship was dedicated Dec. 4th, 1833.
  

 The following facts connected with the ministry of each Pastor of interest, it is thought both in the history of the Church and to its members, are added.

At the ordination of Rev. Solomon Prentice, the introductory prayer was offered by Rev. Ebenezer Parkman, of Westborough ; sermon by Rev. Nathaniel Appleton, of Cambridge; ordaining prayer by Rev. Mr. Smith, of Framingham. Rev. Caleb Trowbridge, of Groton, joined in the laying on of hands. Right hand of fellowship, Rev. Mr. Loring, of Sudbury. During Mr. Prentice's ministry 178 were added to the Church. He was born at Cambridge, May, 11, 1705; graduated at Harvard, 1727; died at Grafton, May 22, 1773, aged 68 years.

At the ordination of Rev. Aaron Hutchinson, Rev. Mr. Martyn, of Westborough (now Northboro',) offered the introductory prayer ; Rev. Mr. Pumroy, of Hebron, Conn., preached the sermon; text, Acts 20: 28. The charge by Rev. Mr. Loring, of Sudbury; right hand by Rev. Mr. Parkman, - of Westborough ; ordaining prayer by Rev. Mr. Hall, of Sutton.

During the ministry of Mr. Hutchinson 83 were added to the Church. He was born at Hebron, Ct.; graduated at Yale, 1747.

At the ordination. of Rev. Daniel Grosvenor, the introductory prayer was offered by Rev. Aaron Putnam, of the First Church of Pomfret, Ct.; sermon by Rev. Ebenezer Grosvenor, of Scituate; text, Gen. 45:24. Ordaining prayer by Rev. Elisha Fish, of Upton; laying on of hands by Rev. David Ripley, of the Third Church in Pomfret (now Abington), and Rev. Joseph Sumner, of Shrewsbury; charge by Rev. David Hall, of Sutton; right hand of fellowship by Rev. Amariah Frost, of Mendon (now Milford;) concluding prayer by Rev. Josiah Whitney, of the Second Church in Pomfret (now Brooklyn.)

During Mr. Grosvenor's ministry 41 were added to the Church. He was born at Pomfret, Ct., 1749; graduated at Yale, 1769; died at Petersham, July 22, 1834, aged 84.

At the ordination of Rev. John Miles, the introductory prayer was offered by Rev. John Robinson, of Westboro'; sermon by Rev. Asaph Rice, of Westminster; text, Is. 49:4. Ordaining prayer by Rev. Zedekiah Sawyer, of Bridgewater; charge by Rev. Daniel Grosvenor, of Paxton; right hand of fellowship by, Rev. Joseph Sumner, of Shrewsbury; the concluding prayer by Rev. Ezra Ripley, of Concord.

The additions to the Church during Mr. Miles's ministry were 95. He was born at Westminster; graduated at Brown University, 1794.

At the ordination of Rev. Moses C. Searle, Rev. Elisha Rockwood, of Westboro', offered the introductory prayer; Rev. Samuel Green, of the Union Church, Boston, preached the sermon; text, 1 Cor. 1: 23, 24. Rev. Samuel Judson, of Uxbridge, offered the ordaining prayer; charge by Rev. John Crane, of Northbridge; right hand of fellowship by Rev. Joseph Searle, of Lynnfield; charge to the people by Rev. Joseph Goffe, of Millbury; concluding prayer by Rev. Benj. Wood, of Upton.

The additions to the Church during Mr. Searle's ministry were 162. He was born at Rowley, 1797; graduated at Princeton, 1821.

At the close of Mr. Searle's pastorate, the Church, and a portion of the society, finding that there was no probability of their continuing to enjoy the labors of an Evangelical Pastor while connected with the parish, withdrew from it, and made provision for the preaching of the Gospel in its purity by the erection of a commodious house of worship-the one still standing-and the settlement of a Pastor, Rev. John Wilde.

At Mr. Wilde's ordination, Rev. Mr. Fletcher, of Northbridge, offered the introductory prayer; sermon by Rev. John Codman, D.D., of Dorchester; ordaining prayer by Rev. Elisha Rockwood, of Westboro'; charge by Rev. Benj. Wood, of Upton; right hand of fellowship by Rev. Osgood Herrick, of Millbury; charge to the people by Rev. George Allen, of Shrewsbury; concluding prayer by Rev. John Maltby, of Sutton.

There were eighty additions to the Church during Mr. Wilde's ministry. He was born at Dorchester in 1803; graduated at Middlebury, Vt., 1827; died at Alexandria, Va., February 10, 1868, aged 65.

At the ordination of Rev. Thomas C. Biscoe, the introductory prayer was offered by Rev. C. B. Kittridge, of Westboro'; sermon by Rev. William A. Stearns, of Cambridge; text, John 2:9. Ordaining prayer, Rev. Charles Forbush of Northbridge; charge, Rev. Benj. Wood, of Upton; right hand of fellowship, Rev. David Peabody, of Worcester; charge to the people, Rev. George Allen, of Shrewsbury; concluding prayer, Rev. Hiram A. Tracy, of Sutton.

During Mr. Biscoe's ministry 440 were added to the Church. He was born at Cambridge, and graduated at Amherst, 1831.

The exercises at the installation of Rev. John H. Windsor were the following:

Reading of the Scriptures, Rev. William T. Briggs, of East Douglas; introductory prayer by Rev. William A. Houghton, of Berlin; sermon by Prof. Egbert C. Smyth, of Andover Theological Seminary; text, 1 Cor. 15 :47; installing prayer by Rev. L. F. Clark, of Whitinsville; charge by Rev. Seth Sweetser, D.D., of Worcester; right hand of fellowship by Rev. Stacy Fowler, of Millbury; charge to the people by Rev. Royal B. Stratton, of Worcester; concluding prayer by Rev. A. O. Bates, of Saundersville.

Mr. Windsor was born in England; graduated at Iowa College, 1854; Andover Theological Seminary, 1857.
  

Catalog of Members

Source:  Manual of the Evangelical Congregational Church at Grafton, Mass., Adopted September 3, 1869.  Worchester:  Printed by Chas. Hamilton, Palladium Office, 1870.

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