The Days of His Life--Excerpts from Journals and Other Records #2

(In which we discover the fate of Lydia Clay from the last post.)

Originally published in "A Look Back" in the Friendly Visitor Newsletter of the Congregational Church, compiled by Church Historian Marilyn Whittlesey

Sept 3 this day the following sentence of excommunication was delivered against Mrs. Rachel Woods. At a meeting of the Brethren of the church on the last of the last month, the case of Mrs. Rachel Woods, under a charge of having spoken profanely was renewed & brought forward; when in consequences of an exhibition of unchristian like temper in presence of the church at a former meeting, and for a slighting the fellowship and authority of the church and neglecting to attend when called upon. It was voted that she should be excluded from the communion and fellowship of this church and that the sentence should be this day declared. Mrs. Rachel Woods is therefore for the reasons above named, declared to be excluded from the fellowship and communion of this church; no more at present to be considered as a member that body of which Christ is the head To this painful step we have been led, by a desire that Christ may be honored, the religion ever prosper freed from scandal, and the subject of this sensor led to repentance. She is cast out for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. May it please God to give her unfeigned repentance, to sanctify her by his spirit, and to make her in time to come thro rich grace, an ornament to that religion upon which her conduct has brought a measure of reproach. May we all faithfully watch and pray that we may not enter into temptation or may be secured and delivered when tempted. Amen.

Sept 4 at a meeting of the Brethren of the church at the meeting houses: Voted That Mrs. Lydia Clay in consequence of having lied in an aggravated manner in presence of several members of the church and of having refused to attend with the church, when notified be excluded from the fellowship and communion of the church. Vote That the sentence be declared

Oct 17 Sentence of excommunication this day was declared against Mrs. Lydia Clay.

Oct 15 & Oct 19 Miss Ruth Hinkley & Joshua Horton, Jr. late members of the Baptist church received publicly to the fellowship of this, with one exception to the 13 article of the confession of faith that relates to infant baptism.

Dec 7 voted to assess 12 ½ cents on each resident communicant for the supply of the communion the ensuing year. Voted that Deacon P. Parker prepare a statement of the reasons of his driving horses lately on the Lord’s Day and of his disapprobation of doing it without its being a matter of necessity. J. Fisher, Pastor.

The Earliest Photograph of The Fisher House

 This photograph is dated 1888, and is the earliest known photographic image of the Fisher Farm, showing buildings long demolished.  The picture is invaluable to us for the many things it tells us about the Fisher  House and grounds, showing long vanished buildings.  Seated in the foreground, from left to right are Jonathan Fisher's son Willard, Willard's daughter Augusta and her brother Frederick, the last of the family to occupy the homestead, and Sarah Hinckley, daughter of Jonathan Fisher's daughter Mary Stevens, grandmother of Fisher Memorial founder Ethelwynne Hinckley.

Behind them is the 1814 portion of the house, with dark trim, as it probably was in JF's day.  On the doorstep are large exotic seashells, once a common tradition throughout Blue Hill. To the left of the house is the pear tree, identified as a 'St. Germain' pear on Fisher's 1821 orchard plan.  The pear tree still flourishes and bears fruit today, a living link to Parson Fisher.  Growing on the house is a vine, identified as a Hop vine. To the immediate right is a carriage shed, attached to the rear, which was added in the mid 19th century by Willard.  Next to that, in the center of the photograph, is the Wood House/Hog Cote, designed and built by JF.  Attached to its ridge pole can be seen a martin house, which was a miniature copy of the main house. The building on the left was Fisher's lumber house and workshop, housing his massive lathe, and was probably the barn in which the sons slept in summer.  Young cedar hedges replace the picket fence of Parson Fisher's time.