ter's degree at Harvard. Thomas Frink, at Harvard, 1722, first settled minister at Rutland, resettled at second church at Plymouth, and afterwards again settled at Barre, and dismissed a third time. John Loring, at Harvard, 1729, son of Rev. Israel Loring. Jonathan Loring, at Harvard, 1738, son of Rev. Israel Loring, was a lawyer, lived and died at Marlborough. William

Cooke, at Harvard, 1748, son of Rev. William Cooke. William Baldwin, at Harvard, 1748, lived and died in what now is East Sudbury, was a worthy man, and a deacon of that church, and a justice. Gideon Richardson, at Harvard, 1749, was a settled minister at [uncert.] Samuel Baldwin, at Harvard, 1752, and brother of William above named, was a settled minister at Hanover. Abraham Wood, at Harvard, 1767, settled in the ministry at Chesterfield in New Hampshire state, still living. Nahum Cutler, at Harvard, 1773, died at Sudbury many years ago. Asahel Goodenow, at Harvard, 1774, lived in Sudbury, and still lives, not in publick life. Damon, at Harvard, 1776, settled in the ministry at Truro, county of Barnstable, still living. Reuben Puffer, D. D. at Harvard, 1778, settled in the ministry at Berlin, still living.

Jude

A TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION AND HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF EAST SUDBURY, IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX AND COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, INCLUDING ITS ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

1

As this was originally a part of Sudbury, and remained so almost an hundred and fifty years, it is fitting and necessary that some account of this place should immediately follow that of Sudbury.

Sudbury was incorporated as a town September 4th, 1639. The first settlers fixed down on this east part of the town, for various reasons no doubt; as they were few in number and not of sufficient ability to erect a bridge over the river, and make it comfortable passing over the meadows where the causeway now is; and also

on the east side they were more safe and secure from the Indians on the west. Here they built houses for publick worship, in succession: and although they pretty soon began to settle on the west side, and had got tolerable passing over the river and meadows, and were become more numerous than they were on the east side, yet they continued one religious society until their third minister, in succession, had been ordained several years. In the year [uncert.] they were, by act of the General Court, divided into two parishes: the west part, being the most numerous, was considered as the first parish; and by a most happy, harmonious agreement of the people, the two ministers had salaries alike, both paid out of the Town Treasury, and shared in the profits of the ministerial lands, until this east part was incorporated into a distinct town, which was on the 10th of April, 1780.

The ecclesiastical history of this part, now East Sudbury, should here be introduced.

Soon after the division of the town into two parishes, a church was gathered in this second parish; and the Rev. William Cook, (graduated at Harvard University in 1716,) was ordained their first pastor, March 20th, 1723. Mr. Cook died November 12th, 1760, in the 64th year of his age, and 37th of his ministry. He was a worthy man and good minister, living in much harmony with his people, and was highly esteemed by them for his work's sake.

He was followed in the ministry, in this parish, by the Rev. Josiah Bridge, (graduated at Harvard University in 1758,) who was ordained their second pastor, November 4th, 1761. Mr. Bridge died pretty suddenly, June 20th, 1801, in the 62d year of his age, and the 40th year of his ministry. He was a popular preacher, had a fine, clear and loud voice, possessed good pulpit talents, and spake with great animation. He was chosen to preach on several publick occasions. In May, 1789, he preached the election sermon, which was printed. In 1792 he preached a sermon before the Convention of Congregational Ministers in Massachusetts, at their annual meeting, the day after the General Election. This

was not printed. He also preached the Dudleian Lecture in Harvard University, in the year 1797. This was a discourse against the errors of popery, agreeable to the establishment of the pious founder. This was not

printed.

Mr. Bridge was succeeded in the ministry in this place by the Rev. Joel Foster, (graduated at Dartmouth College in 1777.) Mr. Foster was installed here on the 7th of September, 1803, and died Friday morning, September, 25, 1812, in the 58th year of his age, after having been nine years and eighteen days in the ministry in East Sudbury. He possessed excellent pulpit talents, and was specially gifted in prayer. He had been previously settled in the ministry in New Salem, in the county of Hampshire, where he was ordained on the 9th of June, 1779, and dismissed January 21, 1802. The cause of his removal was the want of an adequate support. Va. rious attempts were made to compromise this point: at length the people proposed to give him $400, which he accepted, and was thereupon regularly discharged from his pastoral relation to New Salem, under the direction of an ecclesiastical council.

On the 25th of January, 1815, Rev. John B. Wight was ordained their pastor, at which time, also, their new meeting house, built in 1814, was solemnly dedicated to the service of Almighty God.

East Sudbury is bounded, northerly, on Lincoln; easterly, on Weston; southerly, on Natick; and westwardly, partly, on Framingham, and, partly, on Sudbury. It contains 8123 àcres, including water; and is about seven miles long, north and south; and its average breadth is about three miles. In this town are no noticeable hills. Sudbury River runs on the west side of the town; Mill Brook, near the meeting house; also, West Brook, with some others of less note. On these streams are two small grist mills and one saw mill. There are about 600 acres of meadow lands in the town; and a small propor. tion of orcharding. In this town there are some clay grounds; and bricks have been occasionally made therein. There are three ponds; one called Town Pond,

containing about 81 acres: Dudley Pond, containing S about 200 acres ; and Baldwin Pond of 17 acres. The

causeway is more than half a mile in length; and Fast Sudbury supports rather more than one half of it. Their ministerial lands are valuable; 40 acres of woodland, pasturage, &c. and 20 acres of meadow.

ANECDOTE OF KING PHILIP'S GUN LOCK.

DEAR SIR,

I PRESENT an old rusty gun lock to the Historical Society, which you will please to deposit among the relicks of the early wars of our country. The lock was given to me, a few days since, by Dr. Nathaniel Lothrop of Plymouth. The history of it is interesting. The late Isaac Lothrop, esq. of Plymouth, obtained it of Mr. Silvanus Cook, late of Kingston. Silvanus was great grandson of Caleb Cook, and Caleb was the soldier, placed with an Indian by Col. Church to watch, and if possible kill King Philip, should he attempt to escape from the swamp in Mount Hope Neck where he had taken shelter. When Philip was pursued, on the opposite side of the swamp, he endeavoured to escape at the place where Cook and the Indian were stationed. "Cook," as the historian relates, "snapped his gun, but it missed fire. He then bade the Indian fire, and he instantly shot him through the heart."

The tradition is, that Cook, having a strong desire to possess the gun with which King Philip was killed, requested the Indian to exchange guns with him, to which request the Indian consented, and the fortunate gun has been preserved in the family of the Cooks, to the present time. When the great grandson consented that Mr. Lathrop should take the lock, he retained the other parts, as memorials of the interesting event.

With due respects to yourself, and much esteem for the Historical Society, I am your most obedient servant, JOHN LATHROP.

REDFORD WEBSTER, ESQ.

A PAPER RELATING TO HARVARD COLLEGE, 1707. [For the following scrap, relating to the history of the University at Cambridge, we are indebted to a gentleman, at Pejepscot, in the District of Maine, to whom our thanks are due for sending us the original paper in its first draught, certified by the senior fellow.]

To His Excellency Jos: Dudley, Esq. Capt: Gen: and

Governour in Chief, &c. The Humble Addresse of the Fellows of Harvard Coll: in Cambridge, Sheweth,

That we have, according to the Rules of our House, Unanimously Declared our Desires that the future Heads of this Colledge may be Resident, and as Resident Presidents were aunciently wont to doe, may Govern the Students and Serve them with Divinity Expositions, &c. & In Pursuance thereof, we have Chosen the Hon. orable John Leveret, Esq. Our next President; Of whome we have Good Confidence that He will (when Accepted and Subsisted) Lay aside and Decline all Interfering Offices and Imployments, and Devote Himself to Said Work, and By the Divine Help be a very able and faithfull Instrument to Promote the Holy Religion Here Practised and Established, by Instructing and fitting for our Pulpitts and Churches and other Publick and Useful Services such as shall in this School of the Prophets be Committed to His Care and Charge: We Recommend the said Honorable Person as our President to Your Excellencys Favourable Acceptation and Pray that You would Present Him to the Honorable General Assembly and move for His Honorable Subsistence. If Your Excellency thinks fitt so we Rest

Your Excellencys most Humble Servants. Harvard Coll. in Cambridge Oct: 28. 1707.

Voted.

JAMES ALLEN, Senior Fellow.

That the Revd. Mr. Allen the Senior Fellow Sign the Abbove Address and present the Same to his Excellency in the name of the fellows of Harvard Colledge and Mr. Treasurer with the Fellows living in Boston are desired to Accompany the Revd. Mr. Al'len when He Waits upon the Governour with the said Address.