The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-10-07
CORRESPONDENCE.
YoRK, SEp1. 6, 1870.


p s-r - YoRx, SEPT. G, 1870.
MR. BUrLER.-Dear Sr:-In the ear
ly settlement of York (Which was prob
: ably settled rs early as 1923 or 4, from
the fact, we find that Edward Godfrey
was an inhabitant of Agamcnticus, nov
York, rs early rs 1929, and we find
grave stone In the I'd Parish, In York
of Peter. NOVEL; known rs Scotland.
dated also 1929, whose mother was, It Il
said n Sullivan, of the branch OF Gov
Sullivan and others of Massachusetts,, ant
also In Mnine). they had no churches and
of course no Sabbath schools, either II
the town or Province of Maine. IL wa.
first called Agamenticus from u noted
hill in the north of the town. and the iirs'
landmark mariners make on the coast
It was selected rs the capital OF the Prov
ince; when Thomas Gorges was appoint.
ed mayor, and fixed his residence In the
town. It's name was changed 10 Georgi'
ana, and in 1862 when the Province was
annexed to Mass. 1t received Its present
name of York. for York England. Sir
Ferdinando Gorges, an uncle OF the afore-
said. an Episcopalinn, was enjoined to es-
tablish the church OF England in this
Province. as IL In evident FROM tho fact
of the following extract of the original
Gorgcs charter: "Our will and pleasure
is that the religion now professcd In the
church of England, an ecclesiastical gov
ernmcnt now used In the same, shall be
hereafter profcssed. and with Il as much
an amount of speed rs may he, settled
i o...ll:alal 10, naI thrnuDhNlIt fha
said Province and Provinces and eve
ry of thcm." yet although 1t was so
enjoined by Sir Ferdinando. the Govern.
or or agent of the king, II docs not APP
pear that an episcopal establishment was
hardly attempted in tho Province, or IN
any church of that communion ever or
ganized in this town now know rs York,
which was incorporated rs city In 1912,
tho riginal charter being In tho archives
of the town in good preservation unre-
pcaled; so that the citizens of York can
reorganize u city government, without q
renewal of the charter, or any special
Legislative act or action whatever. Says
"Sullivan's History" the first minister
of whom any account can be given was
Mr.. Elihu Burdit of Exeter. N. H.,
| who had great influence In town, when
Il went by the name Of Agamanticus, he
became so popular that he ruled the town.
He was finely expelled from the Prov
ince for immoral conduct
In 1873 Rev. Shubal Dummer was or
daincd in the townand, 1t is said preached
his own ordination sermon, rs 1t was gen
orally the custom In ancient days, so 1t
Is said, to gather and organize church
before the settlement ofa minister which
was, history says, organized in 1862. MIR.
Dummer was shot by the Indians rs he
was mounting his horse San. 25th 1862.
His wife was taken captive but soon re-
deemed. Tho next minister was Rev.
Samuel Moody who came from Newbury,
Mass, and affer preaching about two
years was ordained Dec. ZOO. His son
Joseph Moody. Handkerchief Moody rs he
was called was the first minister ever set
tied in the Second Parish In York. Faith
er Moody's mother beinga Br,dbury and
who came hither with his cousin Wymond
Bradbury. tho origin of the branch OF
Bradbury's In York. Thomas bradbury
who came to America from Wiltshire
County England In 1884, and settled in
Salisbury Mass was agent of Sir Fernan-
do Gorges, between 1886 and 1G40, and
took tho Freemcn's oath In 80. lle settled
in Salisbury rs early rs 1910. and was Rep
rcsentatiye in the general Provincial
Court in 1861, 52. &c, 81, GO, 6l. 66, seven
wears. He having sprung from the
branch from England from n Wymond
Bradbury, whose genealOgy, we trace by
u Lithographic history. we have seen,
now In the possession Of John O. Brad
bury, esq. Saco, Me-, seven generations
in England to Thomas Bradbury above
named. Rev. Joseph Moody, or Handker-
chief Moody, accidently shot one of his
classmates while in college and was the
cause of his wearing handkerchief
over his eyes. He became so dcsponding
that he gave up preaching. He was born
| in 1901, and died in 1853 In the 53 year
of his ago. On his grave stone In the I'd
Parish in York. may DO found tho follow
ing inscription or epitaph. "Hcro lies y
body ofy Rev. Joseph Moody, Pastor OF
ylst church in York,-an excellent in
Stance of knowledge, Ingenuity, Learning
Piety, Virtue and Usefulness, was very
scryiccab,e rs n School Master. Clerk,
Register, Magistrate and afterwards rs q
minister was uncommOnly qualified and
spirited TO do good, and accordingly was
highly esteemed and greatly beloved. He
deceased March Goth 1853, eta 50. ..a3
Although this stone may moulder Into dust.
| Yet Joseph Moodys name continue must"
And near by, you will also SEQ tho fol.
lowing inscription on the Rev. Samuel
Iangton's head stone. viz "This stone il
erected to the memory Of the Rev. Samuel
Iangton, third Pastor Of the second Par
| ish in York. who was truly an evangelical
preacher, u pious, diligent, faithful minis.
ter, and kind father, much esteemed and
greatly lamented, was ordained July 2,
1855, Died Dec. 10. 1894 Act IL" Rev.
Joseph Moody's father, Rev. Samuel
Moody. or father Moody as he was called,
his name may be found engraved upon the
Corner Stone Of the Congregational meet
| ing house, In the first Parish In York,
which was built or founded In 1747. and
which Is the Sd meeting house built for
the same society or church organized as
aforesaid in 1862, the first having been
built near the sea shore where the Messrs.
Norwoods now live. the 2d near the creek
Bridge so called. where the former Par.
sonase was In which father Moody lived
and diei after n successful ministry OF AZ
years. In the graveyard near the meet.
ing house in the old church yar,l says Rev.
John Haven former Pastor Of this church
where the remains of that aged and ven
erable saint Of God Is quietly waiting With
his flock for the resurrection of the last
day. you may find the following inscription
on the stone erectedto admonish the pass
ing stranger that the mouldering ashe, Of
an ancient saint Is slumbering beneath. !"
Hero lies the Body Of the Rev. Samuel
Moo,iy. A. NJ. the jealous, faithful and
successful pastor Of the first church OF
Christ in York. He was born In New
bury. Jan. 4th 1875, graduated 1867, camo
hither May 10th 1868, ordained In Dec.
100 and died hero Nov. 18th 1747. For
his farther character read the 2d Corin-