Meantime a new company arrived from England, under the leadership of Rev. Thomas Shepard, who purchased the houses and lands of their predecessors, and organized a new church even
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and imprisonment, for his nonconformity, had now fled into Holland.
To enjoy the privilege of such a pastor, they were willing to migrate to any part of the world.
No sooner, therefore, was he driven from them, than they turned their eyes towards New England.
They hoped that, if comfortable settlements could be made in this part of America, they might obtain him for their pastor.
Immediately after their settlement at Newtown, they expressed their earnest desires to Mr. Hooker, that he would come over into New England, and take the pastoral charge of them.
At their desire, he left Holland; and, having obtained Mr. Samuel Stone, a lecturer at Torcester, in Northamptonshire, for an assistant in the ministry, took his passage for America, and arrived at Boston September 4, 1633. . . . . Mr. Hooker, on his arrival at Boston, proceeded to Newtown, where he was received with open arms by an affectionate and pious people.
He was now chosen pastor, and Mr. Stone teacher, of the people at Newtown; and on the 11th of October, 1633, after solemn fasting and prayer, they were ordained to their respective offices.”
1 Under this date, Winthrop says,— “A fast at Newtown, where Mr. Hooker was chosen pastor, and Mr. Stone teacher, in such manner as before at Boston.”
2 As he says nothing concerning the organization of the Church at that time, it would seem probable that it had been constituted previously, but at what precise date does not appear.
From the same authority we learn the name of the Ruling Elder of this church, in September, 1634: “At this court, Mr. Goodwin, a very reverend and godly man, being the elder of the congregation of Newtown, having in heat of argument, used some unreverend speech to one of the assistants, and being reproved for the same in the open court, did gravely and humbly acknowledge his fault, &c.”
3 In 1636, the Church with its officers removed to Hartford, Connecticut, as related in chapter IV., and thenceforth ceased all visible connection with Cambridge.4
1 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc., VII. 12.
3 Ibid., i. 142. Elder William Goodwin, eminent in the State as well as in the Church, died at Farmington, Conn., March 11, 1672-3.
4 Mr. Hooker, that “bright and shining light,” died July 7, 1647. Though renowned “in both Englands” for his gifts and graces, his Christian humility was conspicuous at the hour of death. As related by Mather, “when one that stood weeping by the bed side said unto him, ‘Sir, you are going to receive the reward of all your labors,’ he replied, ‘Brother, I am going to receive mercy.’ ” The pious, learned, and witty Mr. Stone died July 20, 1663.
Boston. Houghton and Mifflin. 1877.
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