Lucius R. Paige, History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877, with a genealogical register

1 John Bridge became a deacon of the church here.

2 Mrs. Shepard lived only a fortnight after this “settlement in peace” seemed to be secured by the organization of the church. She was doubtless the first female admitted as a member of the newly constituted body. Her husband left on record an affecting account of her admission and her “unspeakable joy,” which was quoted and preserved by Rev. Cotton Mather, in a Sermon entitled The Temple Opening (1709), pp. 30, 31: “Another passage must be from our celebrated Shepard, who in a manuscript which I have in my hands relates the gathering of the church at Cambridge quickly after his coming into New England, and the condition of his own virtuous consort, at that time very near her death of consumption. The relation has these words in it: ‘It pleased the Lord to join us into church-fellowship. After the day was ended, we came to her chamber, she being unable to come unto us. And because we feared her end was not far off we did solemnly ask her if she was desirous to be a member with us; which she expressing, and so entering into covenant with us, we thereupon all took her by the hand and received her as become one with us, having had full trial and experience of her faith and life before. At this time and by this means the Lord did not only show us the worth of this ordinance, but gave us a seal of his accepting of us and of his presence with us that day; for the Lord hereby filled her heart with such unspeakable joy and assurance of God's love, that she said to us she had now enough; and we were afraid her feeble body would have at that time fallen under the weight of her joy. . . . . And thus, a fortnight almost before her death unto her departure, in the midst of most bitter afflictions and anguishes, her peace continued.’ ”