The Seccomb records.
Extracts from ‘Texts Books’ of Deacon Joseph Seccombe, copied from the thirty-fourth volume of the Essex Institute Historical Collections, 1898, January to June.
FAST day January 8. 1756 (Medford) Text in the morning from Isaiah 42: 25.
This fast was appointed by reason of the surprising earthquakes which we have been visited with of late.
Aug. 7. 1757.
Timothy 2: 1 & 2.
Now this sermon was preached on account of our Governor Thomas Pownall Esqr who arrived the 3d inst.
Oct. 9th 1757.
Jeremiah 10, first part of 25 verse.
This is the first Sabbath that we kept in the new house.1
Aug. 20th 1758.
The Sabbath after we heard the joyful news of the surrender of the city of Louisbourg to the English; the text was from Jeremiah 23: 24.
Thanksgiving day Sept. 14th 1758.
Text. Psalm 115: 1. 2. 3; this Thanksgiving was appointed by Reason of the Reduction of Louisbourg.
which was surrendered up to the English July 26. [p. 10]
Fast day June 28th 1759.
This fast was appointed on account of the present expedition against Canada.
Aug. 5th This morning Mr. Turell begun the reading of the Scriptures in a new folio Bible which was ye gift of ye Hon. Isaac Royall Esqr to the church.
Sept. 9th Benjamin Francis child baptized.
Benjamin the first baptized after we had ye new silver basin and brass frame which was the gift of Mr. John Willis deceased: the basin cost a hundred and odd pounds and ye frame 9 odd.
Nov. 23.,d (Mrs. Ruth Brooks that was) and I was out bride and bridegroom.
Dec. 7th This day I am 24 years old. I. S.
Jan. 4. 1761.
Funeral Sermon for our late Sovereign Lord King George the second of blessed memory, who died at his palace at Kensington ye 25th of Oct. last.
in 77 year of his age and 34 of his Reign, His death was sudden.
March 15th Text Isaiah 42: 25, This text was chosen on account of the shock of the earthquake felt Thursday ye 12 instant at about an hour after 2 o'clock in the morning a pretty considerable shock.
(My spouce and I were at Boston).
Fast day April 22d 1761: This is the first annual fast that I ever knew to be on Wednesday it has been customary in this Province to have fasts and thanksgivings on Thursday but tomorrow is St. Georges day which may be the occasion of its being a day sooner.
Feb. 14. 1762.
This day I Joseph Seccomb and Ruth my wife openly renew our baptismal covenant and were received into the first church of Christ in Danvers by and under the Pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Peter Clark.
Aug. 26. 1764.
I put up this day a note for the death of my sister Mehitable who died yesterday was a week ye 18 instant.
Nov. 29. 1767 Sister Rebecca Hall died last Monday morning ye 23d
April 18, 1773 Mr. Thomas Seccombe (Medford) died last Thursday night ye 15th Instant of a complication of disorders Aged 62 years. [p. 11]
Sept. 18 1774.
Last week the Revd Mr. David Osgood was ordained a Pastor of ye Church in Medford.
Wednesday April 19. 1775. ‘The Troops of his Brittanick Majesty commenced Hostilities upon the People of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay a Detachment from the Regular Army at Boston went out on ye Evening of ye 18th and marchd for Concord and in their way thro Lexington which they reachd before sunrise on ye 19th they met with a Company of Militia of about 100 men mustered near the Meeting House; upon their coming up to our men they ordered them to disperse & throw down their Armes, calling them Rebels; upon which the troops huzzad and immediately one or two Officers discharged their Pistols which was instantaneously followed by the Firing of 4 or 5 of the Soldiers and then there seemed to be a general Discharge from the whole Body.
Eight of our men were killed and nine wounded In a few minutes after this action the Enemy renewed their march for Concord at which place they distroyd some of the Province Stores.
here they killed two of our Men. but our People obligd them to retreat back to Lexington where they met with Lord Percy with a large Reinforcement, however after halting awhile they retreated again and kept firing upon our men. Pillaging almost every House they Passed by breaking and distroying Doors, Windows, Glases &c. and carrying off Clothing and other valuable Effects: Burnt some houses.
It appeared to be their design to burn & destroy all before them and nothing but our vigorous Pursuit (under Providence) prevented their infernal Purposes from being put in Execution.
But the savage Barbaraties exercised upon the Bodies of our unfortunate Bretheren who fell.
is almost incredible.
Not content with shooting down the unarmed aged and infirm they disregarded the Cries of the wounded, killing them without mercy and mangling their Bodies in the most shocking manner as they retreated back to Charlestown.
We had 7 men belonging to Danvers killed & a number belong, to other Towns.
but ye Number of the Regulars was far greater.
We have the Pleasure to [p. 12] say that notwithstanding the highest Provocations given by the Enemy not one Instance of Cruelty that we heard of was committed by our victorious Militia: but listening to the Merciful Dictates of the Christian Religion they breathed higher Sentiments of Humanity.’
Essex Gazette, April 25, 1775.
Sept 24.
This day we had a Note up for the Death of Brother Ebenezer Brooks.
Feb. 25. 1776.
Old Mr. Zachariah Pool of Medford died last week suddenly.
The ‘Texts Books’ close February, 1777.
Deacon Joseph Seccomb was the son of Thomas Seccomb, for many years town clerk of Medford.
He followed in the footsteps of his father2 in keeping a record of important events.
It appears from the ‘Texts Books’ that he left Medford and took up his residence in Danvers early in the year 1762.
J. H. H.
