History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917; - citizen hylbom blog

82 History of Swansea
forever for the advantage of poor children of every denomination.
A large school house erected in 1880 is called the
Potter school. He bequeathed a small farm to one of his
former slaves, in the possession of whose heirs it remained
until about 1896, when they sold out. His homestead farm and
the house in which he lived are now owned by Mrs. Macomber.
Successive Pastorates of the First Baptist Church
The immediate successor of Mr. Myles in the Swansea
pastorate was Captain Samuel Luther, a founder and early
proprietor of the town, in whose affairs he wielded great influence,
sustaining nearly every civil and military office in the
gift of his townsmen. He was ordained two years after the
death of Mr. Myles, and held the pastorate thirty-two years.
The old meeting house at North Swansea, which was familiar
to many of you, was built the year after his death, in 1717,
and stood until 1845, when it was taken down and the present
house of worship erected. Ephraim Wheaton who had been
his colleague, became his successor. He was a man of respectable
property, of influence and of power, and successful in the
ministry, adding to the church by baptism about one hundred
persons in seventeen years.
"The Church of Christ in Swansea"
The First Christian Church (See Sketch)
The distance of the church after its removal to the lower
end of New Meadow Neck, caused the residents of the central
portion of Swansea to establish religious services near Luther's
Corner, as early as 1680, four years after the death of Philip.
Organization was effected and a pastor ordained in 1693. If
this be counted a Baptist Church it was the thirteenth in
America. Its record book styles it a "Church of Christ in
Swansea. " No doctrinal tests, but only evidence of Christian
character, were required for admission. Thomas Barnes, one
of the original proprietors of the town, was chosen and ordained
pastor at the time of organization, his death closing a successful
ministry of thirteen years. His successor, Joseph
Mason, was a son of Samson Mason, who was a soldier of
Oliver Cromwell, and who on coming to America settled in
Rehoboth. Another of his sons was the first deacon of the
church. John Pierce became colleague of Joseph Mason in
1715. These two men "continued in good esteem in their offices