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

104 History of Swansea
been in the ministry about thirty-eight years. His age and
the place of his burial are unknown, but he left a character
behind that will be honored as long as Palmer's River shall run.
He was succeeded by Capt. Samuel Luther, who was ordained
July 22, 1685, by Elders Emblem and Hull, of Boston. He
was a man of character and talents, and discharged with exemplary
fidelity the duties of his office for nearly thirty-two
years. He died Dec. 20, 1716, and was buried at Kickamuit.
During his ministry, probably about 1700, the meeting-house
was removed to near Myles' Bridge. Perhaps this might have
had some connection with the separation of Barrington from
Swansea, and its formation into a separate town. The church
seems to have prospered to a considerable extent during the
whole of Elder Luther's ministry. We cannot say how large
it was with certainty, probably about two hundred, scattered
in Rehoboth, Middleborough, Bellingham, Haverhill, Taunton
and what is now Warren and Somerset.
In 1704, Mr. Ephraim Wheaton became associate with
Elder Luther, and at his death sole pastor. In 1718 the church
records seem to begin. Mr. Wheaton appears to have been a
man who exerted a great and good influence on the church,
and on others also. His ministry was eminently successful,
and the church was highly prosperous. According to the
records we have, about one hundred were added to the church.
He died April 26, 1734, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, and
was buried in Rehoboth.
In 1733, April 18th, Mr. Samuel MaxweU was ordained
associate with Mr. Wheaton, and at his death became sole
pastor. He continued till April 15, 1739, when he was dismissed.
About fifty were added to the church during his
ministry.
For two or three years the church was without a pastor,
after the dismissal of their former one, when the labors of
Elder Benjamin Harrington was obtained, and he was installed
pastor Aug. 15, 1742. He was dismissed May 3, 1750.
In 1748, Mr. Jabez Wood, of Middleborough, a member of
this church, was requested to supply the pulpit. Accordingly
he suppUed three years and a half, and was ordained pastor
Sept. 5, 1751.
At the time Mr. Wood was ordained the church was
without deacons. Benjamin Cole died in 1748, and Jonathan
Kingsley in 1750. These men served in this office from 1725
till they died in old age, having executed important trusts for
the church in their day. The first notice we find of deacons
in the records is that John Thomas, Nathaniel Luther, and
Richard Harding were ordained deacons in 1718, that the two