[1] History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, p. 231.
[2] In 1839 the Rev. William P. Lunt prepared and delivered before the
First Congregational Church of Quincy two most scholarly and admirable
historical discourses on the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary
of the gathering of the society. In the appendix to these discourses (p.
93) Dr. Lunt states that the earlier records of the church had never been
in the possession of either of its then ministers, the Rev. Peter Whitney
or himself; and he adds: "In a conversation with Dr. Harris, formerly the
respected pastor of Dorchester First Congregational Church, I understood
him to say that Mr. Welde, formerly pastor of what is now Braintree
Church, had these records in his possession; but when he obtained them,
and for what purpose, was not explained. They are probably now
irrecoverably lost. As curious and interesting relics of old times, their
loss must be regretted."
The extent of this loss is here stated by Dr. Lunt with great moderation.
The records in question cover the history of the Braintree church during
the whole of the theocratic period in Massachusetts; and, for reasons
which will appear in my forthcoming history of Quincy, the loss of these
records causes not only an irreparable but a most serious break, so far as
Braintree is concerned, in the discussion of one of the most interesting
of all the problems connected with the origin and development of the New
England town, and system of town-government. There is room for hope that
the missing volume may yet come to light.
[3] Proc. Mass. Hist. Soc., 2d series, vol. i. p. 239.
[4] "And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if
he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and
a publican."
[5] 3. "For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have
judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done
this deed.
4. "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together,
and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5. "To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh,
that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."
[6] Ellis, The Puritan Age in Massachusetts, 206-208.
[7] "5. To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the
flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."
[8] Trumbull's Blue Laws, True and False, p. 37.
[9] Drake's History of Middlesex County, vol. ii. p. 371.
[10] Butler's History of Groton, pp. 174, 178, 181.
[11] Hutchinson's Diary and Letters, vol. i. p. 232.
[12] Palfrey, vol. v. p. 9.
[13] A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God in the Conversion
of Many Hundred Souls, &c., 1738, pp. 8-10.
[14] The Rev. Ebenezer Gay, of Hingham.
[15] Lunt's Two Discourses, 1840, p. 48.
[16] Elliott's The New England History, vol. ii. p. 136.
[17] Narrative, pp. 4, 5.
[18] TO BUNDLE. Mr. Grose thus describes this custom: "A man and woman
lying on the same bed with their clothes on; an expedient practised in
America, on account of a scarcity of beds, where, on such occasions,
husbands and parents frequently permitted travellers to _bundle_ with
their wives and daughters." (_Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue._)
The Rev. Samuel Peters, in his "General History of Connecticut" (London,
1781), enters largely into the custom of bundling as practised there. He
says: "Notwithstanding the great modesty of the females is such, that it
would be accounted the greatest rudeness for a gentleman to speak before a
lady of a garter or leg, yet it is thought but a piece of civility to ask
her to _bundle_." The learned and pious historian endeavors to prove that
_bundling_ was not only a Christian custom, but a very polite and prudent
one.
The Rev. Andrew Barnaby, who travelled in New England in 1759-60, notices
this custom, which then prevailed. He thinks that though it may at first
"appear to be the effects of grossness of character, it will, upon deeper
research, be found to proceed from simplicity and innocence." (_Travels_,
p. 144.)
Van Corlear stopped occasionally in the villages to eat pumpkin-pies,
dance at country frolics, and _bundle_ with the Yankee lasses.
(_Knickerbocker, New York._)
Bundling is said to be practised in Wales. Whatever may have been the
custom in former times, I do not think _bundling_ is now practised
anywhere in the United States.
Mr. Masson describes a similar custom in Central Asia: "Many of the Afghan
tribes have a custom in wooing similar to what in Wales is known as
_bundling-up_, and which they term _namzat baze_. The lover presents
himself at the house of his betrothed, with a suitable gift, and in return
is allowed to pass the night with her, on the understanding that innocent
endearments are not to be exceeded." (_Journeys in Belochistan,
Afghanistan, &c._, vol. iii. p. 287.)--BARTLETT, _Dictionary of
Americanisms_.
[19] Knickerbocker's History of New York, book iii. chaps. vi., vii.
[20] Elliott's The New England History, vol. i. p. 471.
[21] Letters of Mrs. Adams, (1848,) p. 161.
[22] History, pp. 384-386.
[23] Braintree Records, pp. 480, 499, 500, 523.
[24] See, also, Proc. Mass. Hist. Soc., 2d series, vol. iv. p. 10.
[25] Letters and Journals, p. 48.
Transcriber's Notes:
Passages in italics are indicated by _italics_.
Superscripted characters are indicated by {superscript}.
The original text includes several blank spaces. These are represented by
________ in this text version.