Notes,

ACCOMPANYING THE PRECEDING STATISTICS.

THE County of Plymouth was incorporated 1685, and contains twenty-one towns, and forty Congregational societies, and 175 ministers.

ABINGTON was incorporated June 10, 1712, and soon after had a church organized. In 1714, Mr. Brown was inducted into the pastoral office, which he held nearly thirty-five years, and then resigned, after which he lived but about one month.-In seven months Mr. Dodge was introduced as his successor, and sustained the office twenty years.Mr. Niles, who succeeded, was son of the Hon. Samuel Niles of Braintree, and brother to the late Judge Niles of Fairlee, Vt. Possessed of a vigorous intellect, a heart imbued with the true spirit of the gospel, he was an able and faithful minister; and though fond of metaphysical investigations, he did not neglect the oracles of God; but made them the standard of his faith and the rule of his life. He was an able counsellor and peacemaker; wisdom and prudence were characteristic of him. About two years previous to his death, he was seized with a paralysis, which was the source of much suffering, till his death, in the beginning of 1814. He published remarks on a sermon of Dr. Reed's about 1813.-Mr. Weeks, who had been previously settled in the ministry at Waterbury, Conn., in 1799, took charge of the destitute flock about eighteen months after Mr. Niles's decease; and all things appeared propitious, but his mind was captivated with the writings of Emmanuel Swedenborg, and after retaining the pastoral office about five years, he was dismissed, and he became a warm advocate and preacher of the Swedenborgian sentiments, in Philadelphia and that vicinity, where it is said he still resides. Mr. Spring, son of Dr. Spring, of Newburyport, succeeded, and continued about as long as his predecessor, and resigned, and was installed at Hartford, in 1827.Mr. Shedd retained the pastoral office about eleven months, when he found himself enfeebled by a pulmonary complaint, resigned, after which he lived about five months. He was a man of great promise; at the age of thirty-three he fell a victim to death.Mr. Wheeler had been ordained, and spent some time in the western States; was installed, and continued less than two years, resigned, and is now the minister of the church and society in Conway.-Mr. Ward, the present minister, was ordained the last of May, 1834. There were three ordinations and two installations in the first society in Abington, in nineteen years, though harmony and good feelings have generally characterized that society.

Second Church was organized August 19, 1807. The local situation of the inhabitants, in the south and east part of the town, with the increased population, led to the establishment of the second church and society.-Mr. Thomas is the first minister. He has retained the relation of pastor to that church twenty-eight years, and still labors.

Third Church. Previous to the decease of Mr. Niles, a part of the town formed another religious society, and in the autumn of 1813, Mr. Colburn was installed their first pastor. He continued their faithful watchman little more than sixteen years.Mr. Alden, the present pastor, succeeded to the pastoral charge near the close of the year 1832. He had been ordained and employed as a missionary in the western States several years.

BRIDGEWATER was incorporated as early as June 3, 1656. It then included the territory which now embraces the four Bridgewaters; three of which are distinguished as East, West, and North, Bridgewater.-Mr. Allen, the first minister, was a native of Tisbury, Martha's Vineyard. He retained the sacred office ten years, and was then dismissed, and moved to cape Elizabeth, and lived twenty-six years, and died at the age of sixty-five. Mr. Shaw, his successor, continued in the ministry nearly sixty years; was useful and respectable, and died at the age of eighty-two. A little more than two years before his death, Dr. Sanger was installed his colleague, and lived nearly thirty-two years after his installation; but in the latter part of his life, the failure of his mental powers incapacitated him to discharge his duties. He had been the minister of Duxbury ten years; being afflicted with weak eyes and feeble health, he resigned the responsible office. He had contributed to advance the cause of literature in the neighboring region, by instructing many youth in their preparatory studies for a classical education; and some, who were sent from college to pass some months under his care and supervision.-Mr. Hodges succeeded him in the ministry, and continued about

eleven years and a half, resigned and took up his residence at Cambridge, and was succeeded by Mr. Doggett, who still remains the minister.

Second Church, during Mr. Hodges's ministry, was embodied; a meeting-house erected about two miles from the other, and in the month of January, 1823, Mr. Gay was installed pastor, where he still remains. He had previously been settled at Stoughton, where he was the pastor of the church more than four years; and on his dismission from Stoughton, he immediately commenced his labors with the Trinitarian society at Bridgewater.

WEST BRIDGEWATER was incorporated in 1622. This was the earliest settlement in the four towns, and had a settled minister half a century before either of the other Bridgewaters. As early as Feb. 1664, Mr. Keith was ordained the first pastor. He was a native of Scotland, and educated at Aberdeen. He sustained the ministry nearly fiftysix years, and died at the age of seventy-six. He is represented by Mather, as possessed of an amiable disposition, obliging and affectionate; distinguished for his fidelity and exemplary piety. His mind was well furnished from the rich treasures of the gospel; and in his preaching, he was instructive and pungent, but had not recourse to notes. He had six sons and two daughters; and twenty-five years ago, his descendants, in what are now the four Bridgewaters, were estimated at 200, and many in the neighboring towns were not included in this estimate. He published a Case of prayer on the establishment of a new society.—Mr. Perkins, the successor of Mr. Keith, was a useful and respectable man; continued in the ministry about sixty-one years, and died in a good old age, eighty-six.-Dr. Reed was ordained colleague pastor with Mr. Perkins, little more than two years before his death, and he was in the ministry nearly fifty-one years. He possessed a sound mind in a sound body." He was several years a member of congress. The three above named clergymen's lives, united, make two hundred and forty-two years, and the period of their ministry, one hundred and sixty-five years. Thus, for one hundred and sixty-seven years, that ancient church was not without a pastor for three years. Dr. Reed's eyes failed him in the latter part of his life, consequently his usefulness and activity were greatly diminished. He has left several publications, a volume, entitled An Apology for the Right of Infant Baptism, 1806, and several sermons.-Mr. Stone is the present minister, who was inducted into the sacred office, August, 1834.

NORTH BRIDGEWATER was incorporated 1821.-Mr. Porter was the first minister; a man of respectable talents, distinguished for his prudence, fidelity, exemplary life, and holy conversation. The great doctrines of the gospel were prominent in all his preaching; and a crucified Redeemer was a theme on which he delighted to dwell with peculiar interest and satisfaction. His faithful labors among his people were blessed to the salvation of many souls, and he long lived to serve his Master and see the pleasure of the Lord prosper in his hand. He was the father of the late Dr. Porter, of Roxbury, and Rev. Huntington Porter of Rye, N. H. He had three sons graduates of Harvard college, in the same class, 1777. He published a sermon at Mr. Brett's ordination at Freetown. Reply to Mr. Briant's remarks on that sermon. The day that completed forty years of his ministry, Mr. Meach was installed colleague pastor with the venerable Porter, and continued eleven years pastor was dismissed and returned to Connecticut his native State.-Mr. Huntington was son of Gen. Huntington, of New London, Conn. He succeeded Mr. Meach, and continued the beloved pastor of the flock more than twenty years, at which period, his health being feeble, he was led to resign the pastoral office; and retired to New London, his native place, and soon entered on the employment of instructing youth.-Mr. Thompson was invested with the pastoral office in September, 1833, and continued about a year, and resigned to accept a professorship in East Windsor Theological Institute.

EAST BRIDGEWATER was incorporated 1823.-Mr. Angier was ordained in 1725, and retained the office sixty-two years. When he had labored in the vineyard forty-two years alone, his son took part of the ministry with him, and the father and the son continued twenty years together, when the venerable old man entered upon his final rest. The son survived the father nearly eighteen years.-Dr. Flint, who studied with Dr. Bates, was successor to the Angiers; continued in the ministry little more than fourteen years, left in 1821; installed in the East church, Salem, successor to Dr. Bentley. -Mr. Fessenden continued four years, resigned and entered into mercantile business.Mr. Williams remained in the ministry little short of two years.-Mr. Crafts is the present minister.

CARVER was incorporated June 9, 1790.-Mr. Campbell was the first minister, ordained in 1733, continued thirteen years; and eight days after his dismission, Mr. Howland was ordained, who continued in the ministry fifty-eight years; succeeded by Mr. Shaw, who