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Subject: [GENMASSACHUSETTS] The Early Ministers of Lancaster,Mass. Part 1 of 3 Parts.
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:44:38 EDT

The Early Ministers of Lancaster, Mass.
Source: The Early Records of Lancaster, Massachusetts 1643-1725
by Henry S. Nourse, A.M., Lancaster, 1884. Part 1 of 3 Parts.
p.340
The Ministers of Lancaster, Massachusetts.
FIRST CHURCH.
Part 1.
Nathaniel Norcross, son of Jeremiah Norcross of Watertown, Mass., born in
England; graduate of Cambridge University, 1637; chosen minister of the
Nashaway Plantation, 1644. Returned to England 1646.

Joseph Rowlandson, son of Thomas of Ipswich; born in England, 1631 or 1632; a
graduate of Harvard College, 1652; began preaching in Lancaster, 1654;
ordained
1660. April, 1677 he was settled as colleague of Rev. Gershom Bulkley at
Weth-
ersfield, Conn., and there died, November 24, 1678.

The first meeting-house, built probably in 1654 was near the parsonage, and
was
crowned the highest part of the grounds now called "the Middle Cemetery".

Samuel Carter, eldest son of Rev. Thomas Carter of Woburn, Mass.; born August
8, 1640; graduate of Harvard College, 1660; bought land and resided on George
Hill, 1688 or earlier and supplied the Lancaster pulpit temporarily between
1680 and 1688. He removed to Groton, Mass., and died there, 1693.

Edward Oakes, son of Urian, a graduate of Harvard College, 1679, preached
temp-
orarily at Lancaster; afterwards of New London, Conn.

John Denison, son of John Denison of Ipswich, graduated at Harvard College
1684,
occupied the Lancaster pulpit for a time. He was settled as colleague with
Rev.
William Hubbard of Ipswich and died 1689.

William Woodrop, a non-conforming clergyman driven from his church in
England,
1662, preached at Lancaster, and Cotton Mather recorded him in the Magnalia
as
minister here. He returned to England July 12, 1687.

The first meeting-house was "burned by the enemy" (Indians) after the
abandon-
ment of the town in 1676. The second meeting-house was built upon the same
site
about 1684.

John Whiting, son of Rev. Samuel Whiting of Billerica, born 1664; a graduate
of
Harvard College, 1685; began preaching in Lancaster, February, 1688; was
ordain-
ed December 3, 1690, and was slain by the Indians, September 11, 1697.

Mr. Jones was invited to settle in Lancaster, but some obstacle arose to
prevent
ordination. This was probably John Jones, son of William Jones of New Haven,
Conn., born Oct 4, 1667; a graduate of Harvard College, 1690. He drowned on
Jan.
28, 1719 in the New Haven harbor.

John Robinson, son of Samuel Robinson of Dorchester, a graduate of Harvard
Coll.,
1695. For a time filled the Lancaster pulpit. He was settled at Duxbury, 1702
and died 1745.

To be continued Part 2 of 3 Parts - p.341
Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth



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