Chapter 5 - The First Church
Section IV - The Jonathan Mills Affair
The arrival of the first and only settled Puritan minister in Bellingham's history was badly timed.
The General Court, until 1728, required every person to pay his taxes to his town. If the Town supported a minister, as all were required to do, that minister and any church costs were paid from the Town's treasury. A Baptist or Quaker were required to pay the same as a Puritan believer.
In 1728, that changed. Under certain conditions, a Baptist or Quaker could be excused his "ministerial" taxes. For the Bellingham church, this legislation was the beginning of its end. With a large percentage of Baptists, the Town would have a difficult time living up to its ministerial obligations. There would be several schemes to overcome this handicap, but none worked. In 1727 forty eight families were taxed, in 1734, only 28 were required to pay ministerial taxes.
"In 1728 a law was passed that Anabaptists and Quakers should not be taxed to support the town churches, provided they attend their own church and live within five miles of it."
The succeeding years saw the General Court ease the qualifying grounds to such a degree that the town meetings were divided into Regular Town Meetings for all citizens (male landholders only) and Ministerial Town Meetings for those who paid ministerial taxes.
January 24, 1727, Jacob Bartlett, David Cook, Josiah Cook and Joseph Scott in jail in Boston petitioned the General Court for release "because their consciences do not allow them to pay the town tax for the support of the minister." They were released to appear in court the next May, but no further record of the case can be found."
After Sturgeon, the search continued. By November 1726 the Town had settled on Reverend Jonathan Mills. The November 2 meeting set the terms:
"At said meeting Chosen Minister for the Town of Bellingham the Reverend Mr Jonathan Mills."
"At said meeting voted that the town Give Mr Jonathan Mills seventy five Pounds pr year for his present yearly Sallery and in case that the Rev. Mr Jonathan Mills Shall and Do accept of the Towns offers and settle with us as aforesaid that then the Town Do ad to Mr Millses sallery five pounds more, When there shall be ten familyes more setled in the town, and when there shall be ten familyes more setled in the town which will amount to Twenty familyes more then is already settled in the Town then to give Mr Mills ten pounds more which will make his Salery ninety pounds pr year (anually) so long as he Shall preach the Gospel among us."
"At sd Meeting voted that the town Give to Mr Mills Eighty pounds for Encouragements in order to his Settlement."
"Att said meeting voted that the town make a Quarterly contribution and give Sd Mr Mills over and above his yearly salery."
"Voted that if the Revd Mr Mills Shall and do accept of the Towns offore and settle with us as above said his yearly salery Shall be paid the one half to him by the first Day of May and the other half by the first Day of November and this to be Done yearly after he hath taken office and his Eighty pounds for encouragement the one half to be paid to him the said Mr Mills within the first year & the other half within the second year after Settlement."
The correspondence between Mills and the Town is interesting in its effusive politeness. Mills wanted help in working whatever land he was given and apparently the townspeople were willing.
December 27, 1726
"To the Inhabbettants of the town of Bellingham
Gentlemen:
It having Pleased the glorius Lord Jesus Christ the head of the Church, whoever lives to Inrich and edifie it with every good and perfect Gift from above, and who knows the hearts of all Men to Dispose your hearts of Late to make such a free and unanemous election of me, to be over you in the Lord, I would herein Very gratefully acknowledge the Smiles of heaven upon mee, and Return you my most hearty thanks for the Generous expression of your Love & Kindnes towards me. I have taken the whole affair into my most Serious consideration and with suteable reflection upon mine own Insufficiency for so great an undertakeing, in Humble confidence of the Divine Conduct and Prefence with me in Deliberateing upon it and with the concurring advice of the abliest judges, I am come to a resolution to accept of the Call you have given me to the work of the gospel Ministry among you and I Shall very Chearfully give up my self to the service of the Gospel amongst you in an humble Dependence upon yepromised prefence of our Redeemer with me and the assitance of the Divine Spirit in the faithfull Discharge thereof And withall promiseing myself that you will hereafter make such further provisions for me as your abilities shall alow off and my Circumstances shall require and that you will continue it so Long as I shall continue your Minister. I would just Take leave to recomend to your consideration the unmanuredness of the land and Trust you will not be against puting help in hand in that respect. Which I conclude you will Readily make a Suteable provision of for me thus Recommending you to the conduct of the great Sheapard of Sheep and beseeching you to joyn with me in Most fervent addresses to almight god for his Direction and Blessing upon me in this Important affair.
"I subscribe myself Gentlemen your most Sincere Servant in the Service of the gospel."
Jonathan Mills
Dated December ye 27th 1726"
January 10, 1727
"At a meeting it was queried whether the Town concur with Mr Millses answer to his call and it was voted in the formative. At said meeting voted that the Last Wednesday of February next Ensuing be apointed for the ordaination of Mr Mills."
January 10, 1727
"To Mr Jonathan Mills Reverend Sir:
these are to certifie you that the Town has Readyly and heartialy Concurred with your answer and acceptance of your call and give you many Thanks for your kind acceptance and very handsom and generous Treatment and have accordingly Left it with the Clerk to enter it upon Reccord.
January 10th, 1726/7 John Tompson Moderator."
Rev. Mills (1703-1773) was born in Braintree. At the age of twenty he graduated from Harvard and spent the next few years preaching at various churches as a guest preacher.
Mills' ordination in February 1727 is unrecorded. Similar events of the time were presided over by a prominent minister of the area (preferably Boston). It was a time for prayer as well as joy for the Town.
Mills was well received in the beginning. In May 1728, the Town Meeting voted "
..... that Mr Mills should have west pwe and that thare should be a place cut through the wall on ye north side of sd pwe and a casement made thare and ye Door of Said pwe haged for Mr Mills use for his family so long as he shall remain the towns minister."
The honeymoon did not seem to last for a very long time. By August of 1728 the citizens voted against cutting the doorway. He could have his pew but if he wanted a door, he would have to make it himself.The ministerial lot laid out in 1725 was duly turned over to Mills and his family and in 1730, the Proprietors
"laid out for Mr Jonathan Mills four acres forth Division of land in Bellingham laid--joyning to his other land bounded southerly on sd land east on part on his other land part on the land of Nathan Aldiss forty eight rod to a maple tree markt -- being the northeast corner thence runing west 8 dgrs South sixty rod to his other land it being a three cornered peace of land containing nine acers five acers alowed for bad land laid out by Thomas White Survayer
John Darling, John Thomson Commitee"
Bellingham was not able, or did not wish to pay the Minister all that was due. By 1732, the Town Meeting refused to pay his salary.
"Voted that seventy five pounds be raised to pay Mr Mills sallery at the above said meeting voted in ye negative relating to Mr Mills Sallery that is behind at the present."
Rather than pay him in 1734 the Town Meeting "Voted that the town give Mr Jonathan Mills the money that was dwe to the town from the men that was cared to prisen by Frances Inman if the above Mr Mills can git et." Reverend Mills ability to collect this largesse is not recorded.
The religious division of the Town made it difficult to collect the money the Town voted. With a majority or near majority of the citizenry of the Baptist or Quaker faith, it was even difficult to vote the money, despite the split Town Meetings.
The Puritans needed to expand their base. In 1733 annexation of land from other towns was first proposed.
"....a pitision be prefered to the general Cort for a part of Wrantham to be laid to the town of Bellingham and a part of Mendon to be laid to Bellingham if the genaral Cort will grant it. At the above said meeting voted that the money that is Dwe to Mr Jonathan Mills by rates be pitisioned for in the above said pitision at the same meeting. Voted that John Holbrook is to manage the above said petission at Cort." How far this particular idea went was not recorded.
The exemption of Baptists and Quakers, begun in 1728, was easier to accomplish by 1734. Mills believed the growth in the Town should entitle him to additional compensation. The Town "Tried by vot wether the town would grant MrMills the five pounds by reson of addison of the ten families more in number accordding to Mr Mills Call and found it not so and past in the negative..."
The count of families was controversial. The debate must have continued through that year, for in December the town meeting voted to record by name the families present in 1726 and in 1734.
"Voted that the number of families in this town the same year that Mr Mills was ordained Should be put upon record that was taxed in the town in the year 1726. The names are as follows: Nicholus Cook, Cornelias Darling, Zuriel Hall, Capt John Darling, Samuel Darling, Ebenezer Darling, Richard Blood, Banfield Capron, Josiah Cook, Nicholus Cook juner, Jacob Bartlet, Nathanel Jillson, Joseph Scott, Silvanies Scott, Frances Inman, Henery Slie, Edward Hunt, Samuel Staples, Roburd Staples, Thomas Staples, Benjaman Thompson, Richard Darling, John Thompson, John Corbett Sener, Peter Holbrook, Eliphelet Holbrook, John Holbrook, Joseph Holbrook, Eliezear Partridge, John Marsh, William Hayward, Jonathan Hayward, Cornelius Darling, Pelatiah Smith, Jonathan Cutler, Thomas Burch, John Thompson juner, Daniel Corbett, Oliver Hayward, John Rockwood, Jonathan Thompson, Joseph Thompson, Ebnezear Thompson, Eleazer Thompson, David Daniels, Isaac Thayer, David Darling, Ebenezear Thayer."
"The names of the fammilies taxed to Mr Jonathan Mills in year 1734 is as follows: Capt John Darling, John Corbett, William Hayward juner, Eliphelet Holbrook, John Holbrook, Oliver Hayward, Joseph Thompson, Joseph Wight Sener, Jonathan Thayer, Ebenezer Thayer, Ebenezear Thompson, Joshua Andrews, Joseph Partridge, Cornelies Darling, Walsingham Chilson, Calib Philips, Calib Philips juner, Zuriel Hall, Richard Blood, Nicholas Cook, Noah Cook, Ebenezear Darling, Banfeald Capron, Samuel Hunt, John Pilsbary, Frances Inman, Abner Bartlit, Daniel Corbett."
The key to the count is in the wording "taxed to Mr. Jonathan Mills". Many citizens known to be living in the Town are not listed, including several elected officials. The Town grew, the members of the church did not and more important, those charged ministerial taxes shrank.
The Town was split on this issue. The December meeting had to establish a committee of three to regulate "the Desturbences in the town, among us and the Community."
"About the year 1736, a difficulty commenced between the church and the minister, respecting the propriety of choosing Ruling Elders. ["These officers are mentioned in the Bible as chosen by a local church to have authority overit, and they are the characteristic feature of the Presbyterian Church to this day. They have no duties that cannot be performed by the minister, deacons or united members of the church as well, and their authority sometimes became a source of dispute and trouble. The churches here never all agreed to choose them, and the office was called obselete even in 1680. Still the nearest Congregational Church to this one, at West Medway, chose elders from 1753 to 1768.] The church was strenuous in favour of having such officers, and Mr. Mills was equally strenuous against them. .........it appears that Mr. Mills, contrary to the wishes of the church, refused to lead them to the choice of Ruling Elders. For this procedure he gave two reasons - first, that they were unscriptural - and, secondly, that they were inconsistent with his authority. The church, however, proceeded without his concurrence to choose them. This produced aan open rupture, and was the source of much bad feeling and much bad conduct. A council was called by the major part of the church, and another by the minister and his adherents. These both met on the same day. After several ineffectual attempts to unite them, they proceeded to form separate results. One was in favour of the minister; and the other advised the church to rescind what they had done' and endeavour to induce Mr. Mills to unite with them in choosing the officers they so much desired; and if this could not be effected, to go on without his concurrence. The church proceeded according to the result of their council, but the Minister could not be induced to join them. The consequence was, the difference became greater, and at length arose to such a height, that in 1738 the town and church united in calling a council to dismiss Mr. Mills. This council, though very small, advised to dismiss him, and it was done accordingly. He, not acknowledging the authority of this council, still continued to consider himself the minister of the town, and proceeded to preach as before. A committee was chosen by the town to procure preaching, and given in special charge to guard the meeting-house, in order to keep Mr. Mills from entering the pulpit. Tradition says that they faithfully executed their trust, and that he retired to his own house and preached. Thus the difficulty continued to increase, till at length a majority of the church excluded him from his membership with them."
April 10, 1738
"Voted and Concurred with the vote of the Major part of the Church in the said town of Bellingham which have by their vote on the Seventeenth Day of March 1737/8 Dismissed and removed the Revnd Mr Jonathan Mills from all office power in said Church agreeable with the Result of the Late venerable Counsel which sate at the House of John Corbett in said Bellingham on the fifteenth Day of February last and also voted to dismiss the said Mr Jonathan Mills from being the minister of the Said Town of Bellingham and from preaching any Longer in the meetinghouse in said Town and also voted to dismiss the said Mr Jonathan Mills Salary from the above said tenth Day of Apriel and also voted not to support or mantain the Said Mr Jonathan Mills as a minister of said Town any longer and also voted to choues a Committe rto Joyn with a committe of the Said Church in order to diliver the votes of the said meeting to the said Mr Jonathan Millson Efect the afore said Dismissions and also Chouse a Committe (viz) Samuel Darling, John Corbett, Joseph Holbrook"
Mills' supporters protested:
April 10, 1738
"Bellingham Apriel the 10th 1738 We the subscribers protest and Declare against the Erregualer proceadeing of the meetting on Said Day above mentioned for sundry reassons which wee are Ready to give it in Wrighteing under our hands."
Oliver Hayward, James Smith, Walsingham Chilson, Joshua Andrews, Robert Smith
Mills continued to preach to his disciples. Services were held in the meeting house by both groups. Finally he had to give in to the greater numbers arrayed against him. Despite his supporters protest, the Town meeting on May 8, 1738:
"Voted to Chouse a Committe to provide a minister to preach the gospel in the meeting house in the said Town of Bellingham and Chose a Committee of five men. The Committee Chouse are Daniel Corbett, John Holbrook, John Metcalf, John Corbett, Samuel Darling. And then voted to order the said Comtt to take all Lawfull measures to Hender any Disorder in our said meeting house on the Sabath Day."
Again came a protest:
"Bellingham Apriel ye 19th 1738 persuant to a warrant which the Selectmen of ye town of Bellingham signed for ye assembling ye sd town to gather to Chuse a Committe to Call a minister to preach the Gospell in sd Town seven of ye sd town on ye eighte of May then voted to Chouse a moderator in order to manage sd affares and then Chose a Committe we the subscribers knowing that we have a minister all ready setled who duly attend the preacheing of gospel In this town and findeing that this pretencense is not for the Intrest of Religion and that thare meeting is Eregularer and not agreeable with the ye Law do proteste against there whole proceadings in witness whareof we have subscribed our names."
Oliver Hayward, Walsingham Chilson, Joshua Andrews, James Smith
Again it was ignored.
During 1738, the affair continued to wind down. There was discussion between the parties and in January 1739, the Town received a letter from Mills.
The letter shown was dated January 24, 1738, but from its content and the town meeting events indicated, it is evident that January 24, 1739 of the new calendar was then intended date.
"Boston January 24th, 1738. Receiv'd of Messrs John Thompson, John Holbrook, Samuel Darling & John Corbett of Bellingham a Promissary Notre for Eighty Five Pounds of the above Date Payable ye 24th April next ensuing which when paid will be in full of all Demands I have against Said Town as their minister, & do acknowledge my self Discharged from said Ministerial office & promise henceforward not to excercise, keep up, or maintain any private Preaching among them, & to do my Endeavor to promote a cristian union among the Inhabitants of sd Town."
Jonathan Mills
test Jn Fayerweather
John Fisher
"At a Meeting of the Selectmen of Bellingham att the House of John Corbet in Said Town on the 26th Day of June 1739. Ordered that the Discharge Mr Mills Gave the Selectmen & the said Town of Bellingham Bearing Date Janry 24, 1738 be entered on the Town Book & that John Holbrook keep the origenal."
John Holbrook
Joseph Holbrook Selectmen
Daniel Corbett of
Samuel Darling Bellingham
John Corbett
A town meeting in February 1739 voted the 80£. The Affair Mills was not over.
In 1739 Mills sold his homestead of 50 acres for 675£. The next year the property sold again for 700£. The years invested by Mills in Bellingham had a good financial return.
Mills was obviously a bitter man at the treatment he received. He moved to Boston and in 1743 entered a complaint with the General Court against the town for failing to procure preaching according to the law. The Town paid a fine.