Reverend John Rogers of Boxford

• Reference: FamilySearch Record - SmartCopy: Oct 20 2019, 13:43:23 UTC

John was the son of Jeremiah Rogers and Dorcas. born 1684 in Lancaster, Salem or somewhere in between. See discussion in next paragraph.

And he is the father of Hon. Nathaniel Rogers. (Children include Susanna (Rogers) Peabody, John Rogers, Mehitable Rogers, Nathaniel Rogers, Lydia (Rogers) Smith, Mercy Rogers, Eunice Rogers, Lucy Rogers and Samuel Rogers.)

"John Rogers, minister of Boxford, was born November 22, 1684, the son of Jeremiah and Dorcas Rogers. It is said that his birthplace was Salem, but neither there nor at Lancaster, where his parents were married, is his birth recorded. His descendants traced their line through the great Nathaniel Rogers of Ipswitch, but it seems more likely to have been through Jeremiah Sr. of Dorchester and Lancaster. Jeremiah Jr. and Dorcas were humble people who, in their later years, were dependent upon the town and their son John. He was admitted to Harvard in the Class of 1705, but did not take up residence until the second quarter of sophomore year. The Corporation then awarded him the income from the Brown ..."

"1. Rev. John Rogers, son of Jeremiah and Dorcas Rogers, b. Salem, Mass., Nov. 22, 1684, [admitted to] Harvard University, 1705, and settled over the church in Boxford, Mass., March 24, 1709. He m. Susannah Marston, b. April 29, 1687, dau. of Capt. Mauasseh Marston, of Salem. He retired from the ministry about 17—, and lived with his children in Leominster, Mass., where he d. August 17,1755. His widow d. in Salem, Oct . 22, 1757. 2. Rev. John Rogers, son of Rev. John 1, b. Boxford, Mass., Sept. 24, 1712; Harvard University, 1732; ordained at Leominster, Mass., Sept. 14, 1743. He was an able preacher, and his pastorate is an interesting chapter in the history of the town. He m. March 21, 1750, Relief Prentice, b. Lancaster, Mass., dau. of Rev. John and Prudence (Frost) Prentice. He d. Oct. 6, 1789. Seven children. 3. Dr. John Rogers, son of Rev. John2, b. Leominster, Mass., March 27, 1755. Harvard University, 1776; removed to Plymouth, 1781, or early in 1782. He was a well-known and respected physician and a cultured and public-spirited citizen of Plymouth. Trustee Holmes Plymouth Academy, 1808-1814. (Biography in Vol. I.) He m. Jan. 11,1782, Betsey Mulliken, b. Bradford, Mass., Nov. 10, 1760. He d. March 8, 1814. She d. Sept. 15, 1848. Eleven children."

Rev. John Rogers was born at Salem, 22 November, 1684, graduated [wrong, "admitted"] at Harvard College in 1705, and was ordained the minister of Boxford. He died at Leominster, 17 August, 1755, in his 71st year. His wife was Susanna, daughter of Capt. Manasseh Marston, of Salem. She was born 29 April, 1687, and died at Salem, 22 October, 1757, aged 70. They were married 24 March, 1709. The children were Susanna, John, Benjamin, Mehitabel, Nathaniel, Lydia and Eunice. [URL: http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/26554827/person/1886739960/media/2?p...] Research of Linda Berg StaffordPublications of The Colonial Society of Mass. Vol. XV, p. 369: Corporation Meetings, 1702-1703 Voted That Rogers have the benefit of Mr Browns Legacy for this Year. p. 374 College Book IV Voted That Rogers have the Benefit of mr Brown's Legacy for the Year past. p. 376 College Book IV Voted that Rogers have ye Benefit of mr Browns Legacy for the year 1704, & that Phillips have the Benefit of said Legacy for this year. Vol. XVI, p. 746: At a Meeting of the Presdt & Fellows of Harvard-College in Cambridge July 4th 1744. being Comencemt Day. Vote 2. That the Revd Mr John Rogers, Minister of Boxford who formerly had his Degree of Bachelr of Arts in this Society, have his second Degree him ys Day.

Notes regarding Rev. John Rogers of Boxford, from the records of First Church Congregational visited on Sept. 13, 1984. [by Charles Bartlett Rogers] A. First Church Congregational, Boxford, Mass. Rev. Stuart C. Mutter, Pastor Nancy Ferguson, Secretary. (1984) B. Notes from history of the church according to Rev. Robert Kendall, Pastor, "as copied from the original records" in 1886:

1. Rev. John Rogers, son of Jeremiah Rogers of Salem, was "descendent of the Martyr."

2. Rev. Rogers graduated from Harvard in 1705.

3. He was pastor of Congregational Church of Boxford from Oct. 22, 1708. The salary was 60 pounds a year plus a house and lot, use of the farm, four acres of land, pasture for a cow. Pay was to be partly in produce at going rates.

4. In 1733 Mr. Rogers mentioned that he made "at least as good as when he came."

5. He married Susanna Marston of Salem Mar. 24, 1710, had nine children.

6. His second child, John, graduated from Harvard in 1732, was first pastor of church in Leominster, Mass. C. Notes from original minutes of church meetings. Highlights noted by C. Rogers on visit September 13, 1984.

1. 1736 - Mr. R. voted 148 pounds for year, 28 pounds being from past unpaid salary. (no way of knowing how much was paid. That would not appear in later minutes.)

2. Dec. 27, 1736 - voted to repair Mr. R.'s kitchen.

3. At same meeting - some questions about erecting a meeting house or "frame" between Mr. Rogers' house and road (apparently this was done but not occupied for some time.)

4. February 1746 - Congregation voted 200 pounds for year ending June 1746 for Mr. Rogers.

5. June 1, 1747 - Congregation trying to supply the pulpit. (Apparently Mr. Rogers simply stopped preaching.)

6. 1746 - Congregation voted to ask Mr. R. to "aquit" his lands for a "sum of money" and also to "reckon" with his back salary. (Obviously he quit the pulpit because he wasn't being paid but did not give up or vacate his pastoral agreement.)

7. November 1747 and January 1748 - Congregation still trying to get Mr. R. to aquit his lands.

8. Aug. 7, 1749 - Congregation agreed to pay Mr. R. 2000 pounds over a period of several years in "notes" (apparently promisory) if he would grant a quit claim deed for his property. (There was no further mention of this so he must have turned it down.)

9. Aug. 7, 1750 - Committee appointed and voted 10 pounds to go to Leominster to settle all claims and salary arrears and make a full and final agreement with Mr. Rogers, providing he would give up his pastoral agreement. (It appears that he was still officially pastor and the church was dependent on interim ministers.)

10. At about this same time two persons were appointed to take the matter of Mr. Roger's land to the court in Salem. (It appears from later events that they lost.)

11. Everyone, of course, knew how these problems were resolved but nothing would appear in the minutes unless there was discussion. Mr. Kendall, pastor in 1886 determined that settlement was finally made with his son in 1761, after John had died.

12. Mr. John Rogers preached for nearly 40 years at Boxford and appears to have become more stubborn with age over not being paid. It is apparant from the discussions that took place at every meeting that he never received his full 200 pounds in any year.

Ancestry of Rev. John Rogers, of Leominster The following quotation is an excerpt from an address by Rev. George M. Bodge, delivered at the 150th anniversary of the First Congregational Society of Leominster, Mass, as printed in the Leominster Enterprise, September thirtieth, 1893. Beginning in the middle of a paragraph... ". . .I will tell you briefly the facts without the long details of the hunt. I found from the published records of Lancaster, compiled by a careful and eminent antiquarian - Mr. Henry S. Nourse, - that Jeremiah Rogers, with Abia, his wife, settled in Lancaster among the early settlers. In correspondence with him I learned that he came from Dorchester, and sometime before the destruction of Lancaster, went back to Dorchester with his family, and died there in 1676, and his wife Abia and two daughters died there two years later, 1678, of the small-pox scourge which raged that year. This last from Dorchester records. A gentleman from Salem sent me some manuscript notes which showed that Jeremiah of Salem and his wife Abigail Trescot came from Dorchester. Finally I found the key to the relationship, in the record of a deed from this Jeremiah of Salem of the land in Lancaster which had belonged to the settler Jeremiah. This carried the genealogy back a whole generation and we have the descent of our Leominster first minister from the probable emigrant of this name. And it stands, Jeremiah and Abia Rogers of Dorchester about 1650, when, or near that, their oldest son Jeremiah was born. (The famiy were settled in Lancaster from 1658 to about 1674, the father taking up his claim in 1654). Jeremiah Jr., a wheelwright, and his wife Abigail lived in Salem in 1693. Their son John was born in Salem March 22nd, 1684. Graduated from Harvard in the class of 1705. He was settled as the second minister of Boxford in 1709 and married that same year Susanna Marston of Salem. They had children of whom John the oldest son was born September 24th, 1712, so in a way we are celebrating his birthday (leaving out the matter of "old style" and "new style".) John graduated at Harvard College in 1732. Probably taught school and preached in various places until he settled in Leominster at the age of thirty-one years."

Dr. Cassie Turner wrote in 1938, "Extract from letter I received: 149 Burrill Street, Swapscott, Mass., Oct. 15, 1935. John Rogers was the second minster of Boxford. History Boxford by Perley page 145 states that 21 June 1708 the town voted that Rev. John Rogers of Salem should preach 4 successive Sundays after that date. His services were again secured for a quarter of a year, at 20 shillings per week. He probably was successively engaged until he was permanently settled in the latter part of the following year. No records remain hereby we can tell the particulars either of his or Mr. Symmes ordination." All went well for about 30 years. There was then some disagreement. Mr. Rogers removed to Leominister just before 1750. Same page 171 is a letter from him concerning troubles. He would not give up house and lands allotted to him until parish made up the arrears in his salary. Mr. Rogers died before it was finally settled for 210 pounds. During his ministry (34 years) 202 persons were admitted, more than any other clergyman had equalled in that parish. Mr. Rogers forcible in speech. Know nothing against his moral or Christian character. Perhaps the fact that he did not name any of the children after their grandfather lies in the fact that Jeremiah (2) was a pretty strong willed man as he had trouble with the parish relative to his paying the amount due the minister." Sincerely Signed Arthur M. Richardson."
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Sidney Perley, The Dwellings of Boxford, Essex County, Mass. (Salem, Mass: Essex Institute, 1893) pp. 109-110: The Holyoke Mansion.--The Holyoke house occupies the site of the parsonage built by the town for the first minister of Boxford, Rev. Thomas Symmes. In April, 1701, the town voted to build him a house 48 X 20 feet, two stories in height, with a back-room 16 or 18 feet square. The house was finished and taken possession of by Mr. Symmes in July, 1702. Here he lived until his dismissal in 1708, and four of his children were born here. Rev. John Rogers, the successor of Mr. Symmes, settled here immediately after Mr. Symmes went away, and continued to reside in this house until his removal from Boxford in 1743. He afterward resided with his son, Rev. John Rogers, who was settled at Leominster, and died there in 1755. Mr. Rogers had nine children, all born here, and all baptized in the little ancient church that stood on the hill north of his residence. Mr. Rogers' son Benjamin lived in this house after him. Benjamin married, first, Mrs. Alice (Perley) Foster, widow of Thomas Foster, by whom he had eight children. She died, and he married, second, Lois Perue in 1751. By her he became the father of two children. He died in March, 1761, and his widow married, in December of the same year, Ephraim Houghton of Lancaster, to which place she doubtless removed. Some say that Mr. Houghton belonged in Harvard, the publishment on the Boxford town records calls him of Lancaster, and his marriage record in Harvard calls him of that town. However, nothing more is known of her and little of her children, who doubtless removed with her wherever she went. In 1759, two years before his death, Mr. Rogers (the rest of the heirs having quitclaimed to him their interest in the estate) sold the house and lot to Rev. Elizur Holyoke, who was settled over the church here in that year. The next year the old house was taken down and the present one erected by Mr. Holyoke's father, Samuel Holyoke, a merchant of Boston. Rev. Mr. Holyoke afterward resided in the new house.

Ada Rogers: When John Rogers first came the church was a crude one, built in 1701. The second meeting-house was built in 1746 and John Rogers may have held the first service in it 1-3-1757 as he was still living there and no other minister had yet been settled in the town. The third and present church was completed 5-9-1839 to the south of the old church which is thought to have been on the hill above the cemetery. The dispute regarding his salary continued even after he left town. His refusal to share the expense of a church council to arbitration of the dispute illustrates his crisp temper: "nor do I see any reason for the poor accused to obligate himself to help the potent accusers to defray the charges of their prowess against him." The case went to the Supreme Court in Dec. 1752 and was still unsettled when Mr. Rogers died in Leomister 8-17-1755. His widow carried on the fight until her death when her sons took it up and settled finally for 210 pounds. John Rogers was said to be a very forceful speaker and was earnest in his application to a desired end, but his blunt and frank preaching was probably the cause of his falling out with his church. The fact that more persons were admitted to the church, on a yearly average, during the ministry of John Rogers (202) in 34 years than during the ministry of any other over in Boxford attests to his power and personality. His only published sermon was "The Nature and Necessity of Repentance... a Discourse Occasion'd by the Earthquake, preached at Boxford in part on the Publick Fast, Dec 21, 1727." Boston, 1728, 78 Pages BA, LC, MHS. Boxford has changed less than most villages in the last 300 years. Its population since before the Revolution has not varied much and has never exceeded 1000. Sleepy and quiet, it has great charm with its old trees and houses. It is even surrounded by forest as in the old days as the State forest is all about it. His sister, Abigail and her husband, Nathan Bix [sic], lived only three miles away at Topsfield where his uncle Jehosphat was a tailor. His other sister, Love Curtice, also lived in Boxford. During 1722 the dread small pox swept the town. In 1725 the Indian terror struck close after Dunstable had been attacked and the famous Lovewell's fight commemorated in a ballad long a favorite in New England, cost Susanna, John's oldest daughter, her fiance 21 year old Jonathan Frye. She was only 14 at the time, and although most women of the day were illiterate, Susanna wrote an elegy on the death of her lover which Francis Parkman in his "Half Century of Conflict" says: "Fryburg preserves the name of the brave young chaplain, whose memory is still cherished, in spite of his uncanonical turn for scalping. He had engaged himself to a young girl of a neighboring village, Susanna Rogers, daughter of John Rogers, minister of Boxford. It has been said that Frye's parents thought her beneath him in education and position; but this is not likely, for her father belonged to what has been called the "Brahmin caste" of New England, and, like others of his family, had, at Harvard, the best education that the country could supply. The girl herself, though only 14 years old, could make verses, such as they were; and she wrote an elegy on the death of her lover which, bating some grammatical lapses, deserves the modest praise of being no worse than many New England rhymes of that day." Susannah was later comforted by Dr. Jacob Peabody whom she met when her father moved to Leominster, and married him." [The text of the poem is in Ada Rogers' record.]
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Winnifrid C. Parkhurst, History of the First Congregational Church Boxford, Massachusetts 1702-1952, pp 16-22: Rev. John Rogers, 1708-1750 October 22, 1708, Mr. John Rogers, son of Mr. Jeremiah Rogers of Salem, was called to the local ministry at a salary of 60 pounds a year, two-thirds in money, and other one-third in corn (corn then worth half a crown a bushel); house and lot, then valued at 120 pounds, use of the Minister's Farm, and four acres hired for 20 years for the pasturage of his cow. Mr. Rogers was the eighth generation from Rev. John Rogers the English martyr at Smithfield [wrong], and it is said one of his descendants possessed the partly burned Bible which his ancestor had carried to the stake. After being boarded in Boxford for two years, Mr. Rogers married Miss Susannah Marston of Salem in 1710. They took up their residence in the minister's house which Mr. Symmes had vacated and sold the town. There their nine children were born. For some reason or other Mrs. Rogers refused to occupy the pew in which Mrs. Symmes had sat, and a new one was built by the pulpit stairs, the old one being sold by the town for 30 shillings. A year or so before, an east and a west gallery had been built, and from time to time there were petitions on record of groups of young men and women desiring to build pews at their own expense, which permissions were "voted in the Affirmative." There is a town record that the Selectmen purchased an hour glass to time Mr. Roger's sermons and it was the duty of a tithingman to set the hour glass on the pulpit when the minister began to preach. It is said the preachers would sometimes reverse the glass after an hour-long sermon and then a sigh would be heard throughout the meeting house as people tried to settle down again for an indefinite period. Times were very hard and the fluctuation of prices made Mr. Roger's salary paid in Province bills shrink so much that from time to time the town increased his salary until it reached 200 pounds and still it was entirely inadequate to make him happy or comfortable. Naturally this caused more or less friction between pastor and people, for the records are filled with votes that "passed in the Negative." Mr. Rogers "was a man honest, frank in conversation, one who held to his own opinion, and a man of power and forceable and earnest." Unhappy as the situation was, he did some very good work, baptized over 600 children and admitted 202 to church membership. . . .

. . .Mr. Rogers remained pastor until 1750, when he went to Leominster, Mass., to live with his son Rev. John Rogers, a Harvard graduate who was minister there. Considerable disagreement arose over the town's indebtedness to their former pastor because of fluctuation of money values while he was in Boxford, and the original "settlement" agreement. Five years later Mr. Rogers died, and his wife followed him in two years before negotiations could be completed. The parsonage property was deeded to the town, and a final settlement of 210 pounds was made with the Rogers' heirs. . . .

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Sibley's Harvard Graduates, Class of 1705, pp. 292-293: John Rogers, minister of Boxford, was born November 22, 1684, the son of Jeremiah and Dorcas Rogers. It is said that his birthplace was Salem, but neither there nor at Lancaster, where his parents were married, is his birth recorded. His descendants traced their line through the great Nathaniel Rogers of Ipswich, but it seems more likely to have been through Jeremiah Sr. of Dorchester and Lancaster. Jeremiah Jr. and Dorcas were humble people who, in their later years, were dependent upon the town and their son John. He was admitted to Harvard with the Class of 1705 but did not take up residence until the second quarter of sophomore year. The Corporation then awarded him the income from the Brown legacy, a scholarship which he enjoyed until graduation. His record is spotless until the quarter before Commencement when he broke window-glass to the value of 3s 3d. It was probably this John Rogers who was hired to keep the Rehoboth school for a half-year beginning five days after Commencement. The salary was to be £15 in silver. The following year the selectmen of Reading agreed "with Mr. John Rogers of Salem, to teach as followeth, viz: Reading, writing, casting accompts, and to teach them the Latin and Greek tongue, for the space of four months, commencing the fifteenth day of November." Three of his pupils, or prospective pupils, were killed by the Indians and five were carried off. In June, 1708, Thomas Symmes (A.B. 1698) gave up the Boxford pulpit. The town invited "Mr. John Rogers of Salem" to preach for four Sundays, and at the expiration of that time offered him 20s the week to continue for a quarter. Boxford, it so happened, had recently been separated from Rowley, and the duties of its inhabitants toward the Reverend Edward Payson (A.B. 1677) of Rowley, and toward other neighboring ministers from whose congregations they had been drawn, were not as yet determined. Consequently, when Boxford announced that Mr. Rogers was to be ordained on May 13, 1709, the neighboring parsons refused the necessary cooperation. Joseph Green (A.B. 1695) describes a prayer meeting which was called two weeks later to seek guidance: Mr. Rogers began, and I preached . . . & concluded P.M. Mr. Symes began, and Mr. Barnard [Thomas, A.B. 1679) preached. . . . The Church stayed and sent three men to thank us, and to desire our advice. We advised that they should not agree upon an ordination until they knew that the neighboring ministers approved Mr. Payson, and that the Church would conclude nothing with Mr. Payson's kind approbation. We advised Mr. Rogers to repair to the ministers either at Salem, or Ipswich for direction in order to his settlement. The ordination finally took place on October 19, 1709. Mr. Green recorded that it was a stormy day. "Mr. Rogers preached and prayed. Mr. Payson gave the charge. Mr. Capen [Joseph, A.B. 1677] gave the right hand of fellowship. Mr. Barnard concluded. Sang 90th Psalm. I came home late." Mr. Rogers's salary was only £60, raised to £80 in 1717 when inflation had doubled prices. He did, however, enjoy the parsonage which had been built for Thomas Symmes, and to this he brought Susanna Marston of Salem, whom he married on March 24, 1709/10. He was a liberal for his day, joining Thomas Symmes in his campaign to introduce the "popish" system of singing in parts from written notes. His one printed sermon upholds the tradition that he was a man of blunt, plain, and direct speach. Like most of his contemporaries, he believed that the earthquake of 1727 was one of God's rebukes. "The great God has sent this Earthquake that Men might fear before him; and if we will not fear him, he will send it again in more astonishing manner." Of Sunday evening he said, "For tho', in my Opinion, it be not a part of the Lord's Day, yet (it being contiguous to it) take heed you don't trifle it away by vain Chat and frothy Discourse." In 1744 the College awarded him and his classmate Gershom Rawlins of London the degree of Master of Arts, which they had failed to take with the rest of the Class in 1708. As prices increased Mr. Rogers eked out his income by keeping the town school for a year. Between the failure of the town to pay his salary and his frank remarks on the situation, affairs had reached an impasse by 1743, when he was dismissed. [From the minutes of the congregational meetings at this time obtained by Charles Bartlett Rogers in 1984, it is clear that John was not dismissed. This was not possible since once ordained he was minister until he resigned. This is the reason for the long period before he was replaced. In fact, he simply quit preaching, never in his whole life having received his full pay, and left the church up in the air. They even sent a committee to Salem to try to get a court to dismiss him but they lost their suit.] The situation may be gauged by the fact that the town did not settle another minister for fifteen years. By the terms of the contract he should have surrendered the parsonage, but holding that £1268 was due him in back salary, he retained it. When he offered to settle for three-quarters of his claim, the town still refused, and he took the matter to court. About 1750 he went to live with his son John, minister of Leominster, leaving another son entrenched in the parsonage. His refusal to share the expense of a church council to arbitrate the dispute illustrates his crisp temper: Nor do I see any reason for the poor accused to oblige himself to help the potent accusers to defray the charges of their prowess against him. Some, it may be, will say, "if you will not join with us in bearing the charges as well as the result of the council, we will have none. But, I say, where then is your zeal for purging out the old leaven, for the reclaiming or punishing the scandalous brother. But, if you had used the previous steps which our supreme Lord has prescrib'd to gain a brother, you should have seen upon due conviction his confession, free and public, enough. But seeing you love to skip or stride over to the council I am willing they should hear all those things my visible accusers lay to my charge, and if the accusations be proved by authentic, impartial, unbiased witnesses, I will bear the reproof due to me. The case went to the superior court in December, 1752, and was still unsettled when Mr. Rogers died at Leominster on August 17, 1755. His widow carried on the fight until her death on October 23, 1757, when her sons took it up and settled for £210. Of the nine children, John was graduated in 1732 and Nathaniel in 1738, while Benjamin was a non-graduate of 1736. Works He was one of those who signed the Recommendation in Thomas Symmes, Utile Dulci (Boston, 1723). The Nature and Necessity of Repentance. . . a Discourse Occasion'd by the Earthquake. Preached at Boxford, in part on the Publick Fast, Dec. 21. 1727. Boston, 1728. 78 pages. BA, LC, MHS.

Historical Collections of the Essex Institute Vol. XXXIX (1903) p. 246: Jan. 1, 1704-5, at a meeting of the selectmen: "ordr yt Jno Rogers fenr have a Note on T. Treaser for 9sh for mending ye School-houfe Windows." Vol. XLII (1906) pp. 255-256 Essex County Notarial Records: A John Rogers witnessed the will of Mr. Nathaniel Hathorne of Gosport in 1706. Vol. XXXI (1894-95) pp 2-3 Baptismal Records of the Church in Topsfield. The Rev. Mr. Rogers, of Boxford, baptized many of the children of Topsfield. The Church of Christ in Topsfield having made choice of Mr. John Emerson to be their Pastor sent Letters to Eight Churches to come and afford their assistance by yr Elders & messengers in ordaining of him to ye office of a Pastor over ym in ye Lord. accordingly on ye 27th Day of Novbr 1728 came ye Rev: Mr. John & Nathll Rogers Pastors of ye first church of CHRIST in Ipswich with their Delegates. The Revd Mr. John Rogers of Boxford. The Revd Mr. Joseph Emerson of Malden. The Revd Mr. Samll Wigglesworth of Ipswich Hamlett. The Revd Mr. Peter Clark of Salem village and The Revd Mr. Robert Ward of Wenham wth their Delegates. The solemnity began wth prayer, Mr. Wigglesworth was ye mouth of ye Congregation. Mr. Emerson of Malden preached from Mat. 4: 21-22. "And going on from thence He saw other two Brethren, James ye son of Zebedee & John his Brother, and He called yn?, and they immediately left ye ship & yr Father and followed Him." Mr. John Rogers Senr. Pastor of ye first chh: of Ipswich gave ye Charge. Mr. John Rogers of Boxford gave ye right Hand of Fellowship. . .

Vol. XXVII (1890) pp. 83-84 The Dwellings of Boxford: 40. Black Cellar. --Near the residence of B.S. Barnes, Esq., on the side of the hill in his field, about half way from his house to Mrs. Killam's, was an old cellar, of which most signs are now gone. Cooper Nat Perley, who was born in 1735 and died in 1810, said a Black family lived there, and that when he was young he "used to go up and see their girls." Later investigation has shed more light upon the history of this old place. James Black, whose wife Abigail died in 1720, he having married her about 1700, doubtless lived there from the latter date. He had sons, Edmund, James, John, Josiah and Daniel, and a daughter Abigail, who married Timothy Sessions of Andover. The son Daniel was born in 1715, and married Sarah Symonds of Boxford in 1740. Daniel owned and lived on this place. He had several children, Sarah, Jane, Lydia, Hannah, Daniel, Daniel, Jacob and Samuel. Both himself and wife were members of the church, and as long as Rev. Mr. Rogers remained here their children were baptized in the First church; after his departure the next two new members of the Black race were baptized in West Boxford, the next one in Linebrook Parish, and the last one, of whom we have any record, in West Boxford. It was these four girls that Nat Perley used to "go to see." In March, 1762, Mr. Black sold out to Jacob Perley of Boxford, and removed to Holden in Worcester County, where he settled. This was probably the Jacob Perley who removed to Chester, N.H., finally settling in Wilton, Me.
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History of Plymouth, NH by Ezra Stearns, p. 574: Rev. John Rogers, son of Jeremiah and Dorcas Rogers, b. Salem, Mass., Nov. 22, 1684, Harvard University, 1705, and settled over the church in Boxford, Mass., March 24, 1709. He m. Susannah Marston, b. April 29, 1687, dau. of Capt. Manasseh Marston, of Salem. He retired from the ministry about 17--, and lived with his children in Leominster, Mass., where he d. August 17, 1755. His widow d. in Salem, Oct. 22, 1757.
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History of Boxford by Sidney Perley, pp. 170-174: The meeting-house was accepted by the parish Dec. 10 1745. Its entire cost was about fifteen hundred pounds. The old church continued to be used until the first Sunday in January, 1747, when religious services were first held in the new meeting-house. Probably the reason of this was that no regular services were held in the parish, in consequence of the dissolution of Mr. Rogers' ministerial relation with them in 1743; after which for many years the church was kept in a complete hubbub. What the cause of Mr. Rogers' dissolution of his relation with the church was we have not been able to determine. Perhaps the sketch of the life of his son, Rev. John Rogers, jun., may throw some light upon it, although it might have been from secular causes, or he might have wished to retire from the ministry altogether, which he did. The house and land that had been first owned by Rev. Mr. Symmes had been conferred upon Mr. Rogers, under the same conditions. After his dismission, according to the agreement, he should have given up the house and land to the town; but he refused to do it, and therefore the parish were very wroth against him. They tried all possible persuasions to have him do as they wished; but he remained stubborn, and would not give in. Charges were also instituted against him, but he would not quail to them. What these charges were has not come to our notice. Mr. Rogers removed to his son's in Leominster just before 1750. After his removal several letters passed between him and the society, regarding the charges, &c., laid to him. One, dated Jan. 8, 1751, is all that we have found entire. It contains some very spicy clauses, and is withal very interesting. We insert it in full:-- "Beloved brethren: In yours of Dec. 21, 1750, you say 'we should be glad to be informed what council you esteem to be regular,' &c. I will make you glad. Such a council is one chosen, the one half by you, the other by me, according to the platform of the Word of God, and, as in such case as this, there must be a concurrence of each party; so the business of a council in general is to judge of the Christian conduct of the members or officers of a church: to receive and forgive the penitent, to eject obstinate offenders or heretics after the second admonition, they to be esteemed as heathens or publicans. Ecclesiastical council is not as a civil court about seculars, but spirituals, of a church. Not coercive by mulcts corporal or pecuniary but suasory and directive, to the unholy and profane, &c. See 1 Tim. i., 9, 10 verses, &c. I desire you may have the preeminence to choose first for you are many. I will take your leavings to fill up the council, to be held in Boxford when and where you please. But send me a letter to inform me in the affairs: what you have done. As to the charges, [charges or expenses of the council] I don't think it hard for you who are rich to bear them, but it would not be prudence for me, who have little, or nothing, to promise to pay till you pay me, &c. Nor do I see any reason for the poor accused to oblige himself to help the potent accusers to defray the charges of their prowess against him. Some, it may be, will say 'if you will not join with us in bearing the charges as well as the result of the council, we will have none.' But, I say, where then is your zeal for purging out the OLD LEAVEN, for the reclaiming or punishing the scandalous brother. But, if you had used the previous steps which our supreme Lord has prescribed to gain a brother, you should have seen upon due conviction his confession, free and public, enough. But seeing you love to skip or stride over to the council I am willing they should hear all those things my visible accusers lay to my charge, and if the accusations be proved by authentic, impartial, unbiased witnesses, I will bear the reproof due to me, for 'if the righteous smite me it shall be a kindness,' &c. They may show me my transgressions and the error of my ways more clearly and fully than I have yet known, to my further humiliation and repentance. I believe in the future judgment, about which I have more concern than any human, and know I must ere long appear before a far more awful and strict tribunal to give an account of all the thoughts, words, and actions of my whole life, my principles, motives, ends, and manner of my conduct in the sight of God and man; 'for God will bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether good or evil.' The Lord enable us to live in the exercise of repentance toward God, against whom we have sinned,--oh, how many ways, how grievously!--and that we may live in the exercise of faith on our L.J.C., [Lord Jesus Christ] by whom we receive the atonement and consequently love and new obedience and patience that we may be followers of those who through this faith and patience are now inheriting the promises, always looking to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, &c. In a word my constant prayer is, that we may be found in him, not having on our own righteousness, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Amen and amen. "Jan. 8, 1751. "P.S. Though I would pay due deference to your letter of the 21 of Dec. 1750; yet I must be excused if I say such is my dulness of apprehension that I see not the least shadow of reason to alter my opinion expressed in my letter to you of Dec. 1, 1750, concerning yours of July 10, containing your articles of charge." We cannot find that any council was held, and do not think there was. Their disagreement was continued year in and year out, neither party coming to terms. Mr. Rogers would not give up his title to the house and land until the parish paid him the balance of his salary, and the parish was as contrary the other way. The parish-clerk says, "our long perplexed and distressed circumstances" were settled in March, 1752; but the acknowledgment of settlement is dated Sept. 7, 1761. Mr. Rogers died in 1755, leaving the matter unsettled, which was continued by his widow, the executrix of his will; and after her death, which happened two years later, it was carried on by her executors, her sons John and Nathaniel Rogers of Leominster, who settled for the sum of L210, and gave a paper to the parish, of which the following is a copy, for the acknowledgment of the receipt of the money, which ended the trouble. "This may certify that we, the subscribers, John Rogers of Leominster, in the County of Worcester, in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, clerk, and Nathaniel Rogers, of the same town, county, and province, gentleman, have, as executors of the last will and testament of Susanna Rogers, late of said Leominster, deceased, received of Thomas Perley, Thomas Andrews, and Solomon Wood, a committee and agents for the First Parish in Boxford, the sum of two hundred and ten pounds, lawful money, which we acknowlege is in full for all the demands we have upon the First Parish in Boxford as executors of the will of said Susanna Rogers, or as heirs to the Rev. John Rogers, late of Leominster, deceased, formerly the pastor of the said First Parish in Boxford, respecting any contracts between the town of Boxford and the said John Rogers, originally their pastor, respecting his salary, or on account of any votes passed by the said First Parish in Boxford, touching salary, or maintenance, and the arrears of salary, or on account of any demand, real or personal, either upon the said town or First Parish in Boxford, from the beginning of the world until this day, either upon account of heirship, or executorship, to the late said John and Susanna; for which consideration we do by these presents finally acquit and discharge and covenant to indemnify the town and First Parish in Boxford of and from all demands, as well real as personal of the said John, his heris, executors, or administrators of what name or nature soever. Sealed with our seals, and dated at Leominster, September the seventh, one thousand seven hundred and sixty-one, and in the first year of his Majesty's reign. John Rogers Nathll Rogers Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of Jonathan White, Thomas Wilder Rev. Mr. Rogers was son of Jeremiah Rogers of Salem, who belonged to a family which claims the distinction of descent from "the martyr," "the first of that blessed company who suffered in the regin of Mary," and which is really entitled to the renown of having furnished to the New-Englad churches, through five generations, some of their most able, faithful, and godly ministers. One of our John's descendants has a Bible which is claimed to be the one which his ancestor bore to the stake at his execution. It is partly burnt. Felt says that Mr. Rogers' parents seem to have been in humble life and indigent condition. (Felt's Annals, p. 380.) He graduated at Harvard College in 1705, and four years afterwards was settled over the Boxford church, which was probably the only place where he was ever settled as a pastor. He married Susanna Marston of Salem, March 24, 1710 (?), who survived him two years, he dying in 1755, and she in 1757, in Leominster. Nine children were born to them, viz: . . .

. . .During the thirty-four years of Mr. Rogers' minsitry here two hundred and two persons were admitted ot the church. More persons were admitted, on a yearly average, than during the ministry of any other clergyman that was ever settled in Boxford. Mr. Rogers was very forcible in his speech, and earnest in its application to the desired end. The cause of his falling out with the church was probably his bluntness or frankness in preaching, which characteristic will always produce enemies even in the pulpit. We know of nothing against his moral or Christian character, but rather the reverse. NOTE, LATE BAPTISMAL DATE IS EVIDENCE HIS FATHER JEREMIAH WAS AGAINST INFANT BAPTISM •"Jeremiah Rogers was a wheelwright, and lived in Salem as early as 1681. fn.Jeremiah Rogers; married Abigail ____, lived on the southwest corner of Town House Square; was living 1717; children: Abigail; married Nathan Bixby of Topsfield; 2. Love, born Nov. 9, 1693; married Zachariah Curtice of Boxford Oct. 30, 1709; 3. John, baptized Jan. 1703-4; H.C.[Harvard College], 1705[admitted, not graduated - see Harvard alumni list]; minister at Boxford from 1709 to 1750; removed to Leominster; married Susanna Marston March 24, 1710; died in Leominster in 1755; had children, one of whom was Rev. John Rogers of Leominster." (Sidney Perley, A History of Salem Massachusetts, vol.3 1671-1716, Salem, Mass: Sidney Perley, 1928, p. 172, url: http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/Perley/vol3/images/p...) [Difference in marriage date, was it 1710 or 1709?] OPPOSERS OF INFANT BAPTISM ". . .and in 1676, began to make with his childr. much opposit. to inf. bapt." (A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England: K-R By James Savage, John Farmer, Orrando Perry Dexter, p. 560, url: http://books.google.com/books?id=Z0APAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA560&dq=%221676,+...) CONFIRMS BAPTISMAL DATE AND A BROTHER'S NAME p. 168: Baptisms of the First Church in Salem p. 177: Baptisms cont. 1703 Jan. 2. John Rogers of Jeremiah R. at age ["of age" or old enough to choose] (Historical collections of the Essex Institute, Volume VII, Salem: Essex Institute, 1865, url: http://books.google.com/books?id=9_kWAAAAIAAJ&vq=BAPTISMS&pg=PA177#...) p. 182: Baptisms cont. 1710 Feb. 25. Daniel of Jeremiah Rogers at age (Historical collections of the Essex Institute, Volume VII, Salem: Essex Institute, 1865, p. 182, url: http://books.google.com/books?id=9_kWAAAAIAAJ&vq=BAPTISMS&pg=PA182#...) "Rev. Mr. Rogers was son of Jeremiah Rogers of Salem, who belonged to a family which claims the distinction of decent from 'the martyr,' the first of that blessed company who suffered in the reign of Mary,' and which is really entitled to the renown of having furnished to the New-England churches, through five generations, some of their most able, faithful, and godly ministers. One of our John's descendants has a Bible which is claimed to be the one which his ancestor bore to the stake at his execution. It is partly burnt. [FALSE, SEE EXPLANATION ON JEREMIAH'S PAGE] Felt says that Mr. Rogers' parents seem to have been in humble life and indigent condition. (Felt's

• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Oct 20 2019, 13:44:29 UTC