Historical Collections, by John Warner Barber

307

WILBRAHAM.

cessor was Rev. Samuel Hopkins, who was ordained in 1720; he died in 1755, in the 36^th year of his ministry. He has the reputation of being an eminently prudent and faithful minister, though it appears that in the early part of his ministry he was suspected by some of being heterodox. A Mr. Jonathan Worthington, of Springfield, was presented by the grand jury for making such an asserttion, and was fined by the court, in 1722. Mr. Hopkins was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Lathrop, who was consecrated to the ministry here in 1756, and died on the last day of December, 1820, in the 65^th year of his ministry.

The Rev. Dr. Lathrop was a descendant of the Rev. John Lathrop, who came to New England with several sons in 1634, and was afterwards settled in Barnstable. Samuel, the youngest son of this progenitor, went to Norwich in Connecticut, and settled there; and there Joseph, his great-grandson, was born, in 1731. In his 19^th year he entered Yale college, where he was graduated in 1754. In 1756 he settled in the ministry in a parish in Springfield, Massachusetts, now the town of West Springfield, where he performed the duties of the pastoral office upwards of 60 years. On the day which concluded the 60^th year of his ministry, 25 August, 1816, he preached to a large audience, and the sermon was printed. His ministrations were still continued until the last Sabbath in March, 1818, when, on account of the infirmities of age and the imperfection of sight, he declined the public services of the Sabbath, and requested his society to provide for him an assistant or colleague; and in 1819, the 63d anniversary of his own ordination, he attended the ordination of his colleague, the Rev. William B. Sprague, and took a part in the public solemnities. Dr. Lathrop, to "an intellect of the first order," united the kindly affections. Benevolence marked his whole character. To all his other estimable qualities, he added a serenity and cheerfulness of temper, which gave to his old age a charm as rare as it was delightful. He was equally remote from the intemperate heat of enthusiasm, and that lifeless system, which excludes all exercise of the affections. He was exemplary in the observance of the duties of piety and devotion, and of the social and relative duties. As a Christian minister he was very conspicuous. To his comprehensive intellect and exalted piety was added the acquired knowledge necessary to constitute a great theologian. In his pastoral intercourse he was peculiarly attentive to the state and circumstances of his flock, and an eminent example of prudence. "He was cautious without being timid, familiar without sacrificing his dignity, condescending without abandoning what he believed to be principles of duty." In doubtful and perplexing cases of ecclesiastical concern, was reposed in his judgement. To the truly evangelical principles which he delivered to others he steadfastly adhered, and he finished his course in the faith and hope of the gospel. His occasional discourses have been extensively read and highly approved, especially the "Seasonable Warning to the Churches;" and his other works have met with an uncommonly favorable reception. Four volumes of sermons were published during his life, and a fifth volume, with a memoir of his life, has been published since his decease."-- Holme's Annals, 2d edition, published in 1829.

WILBRAHAM.

THIS town was originally a part of the ancient town of Springfield. In May, 1731, Nathaniel Hitchcock removed from Springfield, and built a house on the spot afterwards occupied by the house of Dr. Samuel F. Merrick. This was the beginning of the settlement of the town. Mr. Hitchcock and his family lived here one year alone. In 1732, Noah Alvord, with his family, removed here; and in 1733, Daniel Warner and four others, with their families, also removed here. From that period, there was a gradual increase till 1741, when the number of families increased to twen-