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

Churches 113
sensibly impaired, for in less than a year afterwards there were
two hundred and ninety-eight members connected with the
church.
Soon after the dismissal of Mr. Slade the church (with
the concurrence of the congregation) made choice of Mr.
Taylor as pastor. The position was a difficult one, and it was
with some reluctance that he accepted the call. But his
ministry was highly successful. He won the esteem of the
entire community, and often officiated in the pulpits of the
various denominations in the vicinity. He remained with the
parish ten years, in which time one hundred and thirty-three
persons were added to the church.
In his youth Mr. Taylor made several voyages at sea.
He always retained an interest in the welfare of seamen, and
some time after leaving Swansea he established the Mariners'
Bethel at Providence, R. I. Mr. Taylor was born at Beverly,
Mass., in 1786, and died in Michigan in 1848. He had three
brothers who were ministers, and a sister who was a minister's
wife.
Richard Davis became pastor in November, 1830, and
discharged the duties of that office two years and six months.
He died at Milwaukee, Wis., in 1868. A few years before his
death, and a third of a century after the dissolution of his
connection with the parish, the church sent a liberal sum of
money to assist him in his old age. The church edifice now in
use was built while Mr. Davis was pastor, although it was not
ready for occupancy until the beginning of the ministry of his
successor.
Mr. Davis was succeeded by James J. Thatcher. His
ordination as pastor was the first that had occurred since 1784.
He remained with the church nearly eight years. His ministry
here was very successful, as were his subsequent labors elsewhere.
Mr. Thatcher was born in Staffordshire, England, in
1811, and died in the town of Rehoboth, Mass., in 1874. The
later years of his ministry were spent with churches of the
Baptist denomination, and at one time he was pastor of the
Baptist Church in Swansea.
In October, 1842, Isaiah Haley was ordained pastor.
Although a worthy man, his ministry with this church continued
only a few months. His death took place in 1869 in the
State of Maine.
The next pastor was Jonathan Thompson. He was born
in Vermont in 1794, and entered the ministry at an early age.
In New York State, in the course of nine years, he organized
several churches. After leaving New York he was pastor at
Fall River two years, and at Boston two. From Boston he