9. Warren Fay, son of Nahum Fay, Esq. was graduated at Harvard University, in 1807; ordained at Brimfield, Nov. 3, 1808; dismissed, June 26, 1811; installed at Harvard, Jan. 26, 1814; dismisse', at his own request, Jan. 5, 1820; installed as minister of the First Congregational Church and Society in Charlestown, Feb. 23, 1820.

10. Luther Rice, son of Capt. Amos Rice, was graduated at Williams College, in 1810; ordained at Salem, Feb. 6, 1812, as a Missionary; sailed for Calcutta in company with Messrs. Hall & Judson, Feb. 18, 1812. Soon after his arrival he changed his views on the subject of baptism; was baptised by immersion; and, in the autumn of 1813, returned to this country. He now resides in Washington, D. C. and is Treasurer of Columbia College.

11. John Davis, son of the late Isaac Davis, Esq. was graduated at Yale College, in 1812; is now a Counsellor at Law, in Worcester, and represents this District in the Congress of the U. S.

12. Isaac Davis, son of Phineas Davis, Esq. was graduated at Brown University, in 1822; is now an Attorney at Law, in Wor

cester.

There are, at present, two physicians in this place, Docts. Stephen Ball, Sen'r. and Jun'r. The only other physician who made Northborough his permanent residence, was the late Doct. Stephen Ball, father of Stephen Ball, Sen'r. There has never been a lawyer residing in the place, with the exception of John Winslow, Esq. who remained here only a few years. And, it is a singular fact, that with this exception, and that of the three successive ministers, all of whom were educated at Harvard University, none of the permanent inhabitants of the town, at this or at any former period, received a public and liberal education.

ECCLESIASTICAL, &c.-Measures were taken immediately after Northborough became a separate precinct, to support the public worship of God, by building a church, and procuring a minister.

December 31, 1744, the parish voted to build a meeting house, and to raise £50, lawful money, for that purpose. This led, as frequently happens, to a controversy respecting the location of the edifice, which, after several months continuance, was finally submitted to the arbitration of three respectable men from the neighboring towns, Capt. Daniel Heywood, of Worcester, Capt. John Haynes, of Sudbury, and Capt. Thomas Hapgood, of Shrewsbury, who fixed on the spot, near the site of the present church. The land on which the house was erected, was given to the town for

the use of its inhabitants, by Capt. James Eager, by a deed bearing date April 26, 1745, "so long as the said inhabitants of the north precinct shall improve said land for the standing of a meeting house for the public worship of God."

The committee reported, April 24, 1745; and, on April 30, only 6 days after, the house was raised; a vote having previously passed, that "every man should provide for the raising as he was spirited."*

New difficulties now arose respecting the settlement of a minister. Several candidates had been employed; and, as usually happens in such cases, the minds of the people were divided between them. Under these circumstances, the precinct appointed a fast for the 12th Sept. 1745, and sent for five of the neighboring ministers "to give them their advice who they should apply to for candidates, in order to a choice."

The following gentlemen attended on the occasion; viz. Rev. Mr. Prentice, Rev. Mr. Parkman, Rev. Mr. Cushing, and Rev. Mr. Morse, who recommended that the parish should hear a few sabbaths each, two candidates from Cambridge, Rev. Mr. Rand, and Mr. Jedediah Adams, in order to a choice. Mr. John Martyn was one of the candidates, who had previously been employed by the parish; and although they complied with the advice of the neigh. boring ministers, so far as to hear the other candidates two sabbaths each, yet on the 19th of December, 1745, "Mr. John Martyn was chosen by a clear vote"; and a salary was offered him of £50 in bills of the last emission, (which was at 7s. 6d. per ounce,) or £200 in bills of the old form and tenor, after the rate of silver at 30s. per ounce, or in other bills of public credit, equivalent to the said sum, and to be paid at two payments annually." Besides this, a settlement of $300, old tenor, was voted by the parish.

Mr. Martyn accepted the invitation, and was ordained, May 21, 1746, O. S. a church having been gathered on the same day, consisting of ten brethren, besides the pastor elect, four of whom, it is worthy of notice, were foreigners.†

* The dimensions of the first meeting house were 46 feet by 36. The whole cost of finishing the outside was £443 11s. 2d. The building committee consisted of Capt. James Eager, Wm. Holloway, and Jesse Brigham. The house was framed by Daniel Hemminway. The price of labor at this time, was, in the old tenor currency, for a man per day scoring timber, 6s. for hewing, 6s. 6d. for carpenter's work, 8s. White pine timber, 3 pence per foot; for oak, 2 pence, running measure. "Allowed Jotham Bartlett £2 10s. for two barrels of cider at the raising of the meeting house."

+ The following are the names of the persons who subscribed to the church

The ordaining council consisted of the following pastors, with their delegates :

Rev. Mr. Parkman, of Westborough, who preached on the occasion, from Heb. xiii. 17; Rev. Mr. Prentice, of Lancaster, who gave the charge; Rev. Mr. Cushing, of Shrewsbury, who expressed the fellowship of the Churches; Rev. Mr. Loring, of Sudbury; Rev. Mr. Hall, of Sutton; Rev. Mr. Gardner, of Stow; and Rev. Mr. Barrett, of Hopkinton.

Although the ceremonies of the ordination took place in the meeting house, yet it appears from the town records that it was in a very unfinished state, having neither pulpit, galleries, glass windows, nor even permanent floors. It was not till June, in the following year, that a vote could be obtained "to glaze the meeting house and lay the floors ;" and not till the next autumn, that the pulpit and gallery stairs were built. This was indeed the day of small things; and when we compare the accommodations of the spacious and elegant temple since erected near the spot, with the loose floors, and rough seats, and open windows of the house in which our fathers worshipped, we shall do well to inquire whether we surpass them as much in the punctuality of our attendance, and the spirituality of our worship, as in the beauty and accommodations of the place of our solemnities.

Northborough became an incorporated district, Jan. 24, 1766, not long after which, viz. April 30, 1767, the Rev. John Martyn, after a short illness, departed this life, in the 61st year of his age, and the 21st of his ministry. His wife died, Sept. 8, 1775, aged 70.

Mr. Martyn was a son of Capt. Edward Martyn, of Boston, where he spent his early life, under the care of an excellent mother, who had been left a widow in easy circumstances, some time previous to young Mr. Martyn's entering college. Mr. Martyn was graduated at Harvard University, in 1724. For several years after he left college, he devoted his attention to secular pursuits, and was for some time an inhabitant of Harvard, in this county.*

covenant at this time.-John Martyn, the pastor elect; Ephraim Allen; Joshua Dowsing, (sometimes written Townsend) from England; John McAllester, from Ireland; Jonathan Livermore, (afterwards Deac. Livermore ;) Gershom Fay; Matthias Rice, (afterwards Deac. Rice ;) Samuel Allen; Jacob Shepherd, a foreigner; John Carruth, also a foreigner; and Silas Fay.

* Rev. Mr. Martyn was married to Miss Mary Marret, of Cambridge, by whom he had the following children: John, who lived in this town; Mary, married to a Minot, of Concord; Michael, who was married to Zilpah, daughter of James Eager, and lived in this town till the commencement of the rev

At length, at the age of 40, he directed his attention to Theological pursuits, and became an able, faithful, and useful minister. He possessed, in a large measure, the confidence and affections of his flock, was honored in his life, and deeply lamented at his death.

Rev. Peter Whitney was the only person employed as a candidate in this place between the death of Mr. Martyn and his own ordination.

Mr. Martyn died the last day of April; and, after an interval of only 6 months and 4 days, that is, on the 4th of the following November, his successor was inducted into the office of a christian minister.*

The services at his ordination were performed by the following persons. Rev. Mr. Morse, of the second church in Shrewsbury, (now Boylston) made the Introductory Prayer; Rev. Mr. Whitney, of Petersham, the father of the candidate, preached from Matthew, xxviii. 19, 20.; Rev. Mr. Parkman, of Westborough, made the consecrating prayer, and gave the charge; Rev. Mr. Smith, of Marlborough, expressed the fellowship of the churches; and Rev. Mr. Bridge, of Chelmsford, made the concluding prayer. The other ministers on the ordaining council, were, Rev. Mr. Stone, of Southborough; Rev. Mr. Goss, of Bolton; Rev. Mr. Morrell, of Wilmington; Rev. Mr. Davis, of Holden; Rev. Mr. Woodward, of Weston; Rev. Mr. Clark, of Lexington; Rev. Mr. Sumner, of Shrewsbury; and Rev. Mr. Cummings, of Billerica.

The salary of Rev. Mr. Whitney was £66 13s. 4d. with a settlement of £160, lawful money.

Rev. Peter Whitney was the son of Rev. Aaron Whitney, the first minister of Petersham, was born Sept. 17, 1744. He was graduated at Harvard University, 1762, where he pursued his Theological studies preparatory to entering on the work of the ministry.

Distinguished for the urbanity of his manners, easy and familiar in his intercourse with his people, hospitable to strangers, and always ready to give a hearty welcome to his numerous friends; punctual to his engagements, observing an exact method in the distribution of his time, having a time for every thing and doing every thing in its time, without hurry or confusion; conscientious in the olutionary war; Richard, who settled in Windsor, Conn.; and Nathaniel, who removed to one of the Southern States. Widow Abigail Fay, is the daughter of John, abovenamed, and is now living in this place.

*Mr. Whitney began to preach in Northborough, June 7, 1767, and gave his auswer to settle the 12th of the following October.

discharge of his duties as a christian minister, catholic in his principles and in his conduct, always taking an interest in whatever concerned the prosperity of the town and the interests of religion, he was, for many years, the happy minister of a kind and an affectionate people. At length, having continued in the work of the ministry almost half a century, he suddenly departed this life, February 29, 1816, in the 72d year of his age, and the 49th of his useful ministry.*

Mr. Whitney was married to Miss Julia Lambert, of Reading, in this state, by whom he had ten children who lived to man's estate, eight of whom still survive.

Mrs. Whitney survived her husband nearly five years, and died at Quincy, while on a visit to her children, Jan. 10, 1821, aged 79 years. All who knew Madam Whitney will bear testimony to her worth; and admit that she possessed, in no common measure, dignity of manners, sprightliness of mind, and goodness of heart. She was indeed a most pleasant companion and a most valuable friend.

The writer of these sketches was the only candidate employed by their society after the death of his immediate predecessor; and after a probation of about four months, was ordained their minister, Oct. 30, 1816. His salary is $600 per annum.

* Rev. Mr. Martyn left none of his writings in print. His successor made himself extensively known by his History of Worcester County; a work highly valuable for the facts it records, many of which would probably have been lost, had they not, with great pains and fidelity, been collected and embodied in this work. It is a work, the value of which will not be diminished by the more minute histories now publishing in the Worcester Magazine and Historical Journal.

The other printed writings of Mr. Whitney, so far as they have come to my knowledge, are-Two Discourses, delivered July 4, 1774; a Sermon, delivered at a Lecture, July 4, 1776, on publishing the Declaration of Independence; a half Century Sermon, preached June 1, 1796; a Sermon at the ordination of his son, Rev. Peter Whitney, of Quincy, February 5, 1800; a Sermon preached at Shrewsbury, February 16, 1810, at the funeral of Mrs. Lucy Sumner, wife of the Rev. Joseph Sumner, D. D.; and a notice of a remarkable apple tree, in the first volume of the Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

The publication of the History of Worcester County recommended the author to the notice of the Massachusetts Historical Society, who elected him a member of that association.

†The ordination services were performed by the following persons:Rev. Mr. Whitney, of Quincy, made the Introductory Prayer; Rev. Prof. Ware, of Harvard University, preached from Jer. xv. 19; Rev. Pres. Kirkland, of H. U. made the Consecrating Prayer; Rev. Dr. Saunders, of Medfield, gave the charge; Rev. John E. Abbott, of Salem, gave the Right hand of Fellowship; Rev. Dr. Puffer, of Berlin, made the Concluding Prayer. Besides the above, the following Ministers were on the Council: Rev. Dr. Sumner, of Shrewsbury; Rev. Dr. Bancroft, of Worcester; Rev. Dr. Thayer, of 23

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