JOHN MAXSON JR

• Death Notes
  •  John Maxson Jr. 76
    Born: 1666
    Place:
    Marr: 19 January 1687/8
    Place: Westerly, RI
    Died: 28 October 1748
    OTHERS SAY
    (1666-1747)
    Maxson, John
    Birth : 12 Oct 1666 Westerly, Washington Co, Rhode Island
    Death : 28 Oct 1747 Westerly, Washington Co, Rhode Island
              

• General Notes
  • JOHN MAXSON, SECOND.
    
    JOHN MAXSON, 2d, was the son of the venerable Elder of whose life we have just given a brief sketch. We must suppose the piety of the elder Maxson to have been the practical kind, bearing with influence upon all the relations of life. That he left the impress of his excellent character upon his children, may be inferred from the fact that two of his sons were chosen successively to follow him in the pastoral office. Of these the present subject was the first. He was born in the year 1666; and in 1687 married Judith Clarke, a sister of Joseph Clarke, Jr., one of the first settlers of Misquamicot, and a niece of Eld. John Clarke of Newport, the founder of the first church in that place. They had ten children. Judith was born in 1689, Mary in 1691, Bethiah in 1693, Elizabeth in 1695, Hannah in 1698, John in 1701, Dorothy in 1703, Susan in 1706, Joseph in 1709, Avis in 1712. They generally became members of the church, and useful citizens. Joseph and Mary died in infancy. He was an extensive land-holder in Westerly. "Maxson’s Purchase," containing 2,684 acres, belonged to a company of which he was one. He was also interested in other grants, as may be seen in the Rhode Island Collection, vol. 2, p. 218.
    
    Mr. Maxson and his wife united with the Seventh-day Baptist Church in Newport on the 30th of July, 1692, and labored efficiently and zealously in the cause in which they had enlisted. In the churches at that day, as compared with those of the present, the distinguishing trait seems to have been the earnestness with which every member entered into their duties toward one another. The church organization was to them no compact for convenience, but a union as the body of Christ, to which each member owed an imperative duty. Thus were the erring reclaimed, and the angry reconciled, and a lively element of good-will was kept up in the composition of the church.
    
    Mr. Maxson and his wife were eminent examples of this spirit from the day they became professors of the name of Christ. They were faithful attendants of the meetings of the church, and he was very frequently appointed to perform the duty of messenger, in the disciplinary measures of the church. His zeal and force of character indicating him as a leader in the congregation, he was chosen a deacon, as appears from the following extract from the church records: -
    
    "At a meeting of the church on the 9th of the 7th month, 1712, by appointment, the church taking into consideration the necessity of choosing a person to the place and office of a deacon, did make choice and mutually agree and desire that Bro. John Maxson, Jr., be the person as [page 55] aforesaid. The said Bro. Maxson did desire some time for consideration before he gave answer thereto."
    
    The careful self-examination and caution shown in the acceptance of the church offices at that period, indicates a high sense of the importance of their being filled efficiently, and a noble and desirable sense of duty towards them. The church had appointed the third day of the week before the last Sabbath of the next month for the ordination of Deacon Joseph Clarke as an elder of the church, to serve as an assistant to the senior elder; and therefore "the church, appointed the aforesaid day for the time of his giving his answer; and in case he granted their desire, then the aforesaid day to be the time of his ordination thereunto, by laying on of hands, according to the rules of God’s word." The result of his reflections appears from another extract from the church book: -
    
    "At a church meeting by appointment, the 21st of the 8th month, 1712, Bro. Joseph Clarke, Jr. was ordained elder to the church by fasting and prayer and laying on of hands of the presbytery, and Bro. John Maxson, Jr., was ordained to the office of deacon to, the church in the same solemn manner and order aforesaid."
    
    About the same time that Mr. Maxson was thus called to the service of the church as deacon, he was also called upon to improve his "gift" for the edification of the church in conjunction with several others. This invitation was however revoked soon after the ordination of Elder Clarke.
    
    In connection with the name of Dea. Maxson, there appears a transaction so illustrative of the times, that we give the notice of it as it stands on the records: -
    
    "At a meeting of the church on the 24th of January, 1713, Dea. Maxson proposed for consideration the fact that some persons in the congregation were exposed to the want of corn for their comfortable subsistence, and not being able to procure money in order to supply themselves with the same for their present want. Upon consideration thereof, the church did order that what money there was in the church treasury that could be conveniently spare (sic) should be by the deacons laid out for corn, to supply said persons at the discretion of the deacons."
    
    But the colony was visited not alone by famine, but also by the pestilence. The year 1719 was remarkable for the severe sickness that prevailed in Westerly, and many deaths occurred, among them being that of Eld. Joseph Clarke, the colleague of Eld. John Maxson, Sen., who died June the 5th. The following record is made on the occasion:
    
    "Upon the consideration of the dispensation of the Most High upon this part of the wilderness, by visiting the inhabitants of the same with [page 56] grievous sickness, and death itself, and other considerations, it was on the 13th of June, 1719, concluded that the next fourth day of the week next following be solemnized by fasting and prayer to Almighty God, that he would be pleased to stay his hand of correction, which hath been so awfully lifted up amongst us."
    
    This fast was generally observed by the church, and was followed by a revival of religion, by which many were added to the church. Immediately after, Dea. Maxson was, upon the death of Eld. Clarke, selected by the church to the office of an elder, and at the same time Thomas Hiscox was nominated. The following entry records his ordination: -
    
    "At the church meeting July 5th, 1719, at the meeting-house in Westerly, Bro. John Maxson 2d, was ordained to the place of an elder to this church, by Bro. Joseph Crandall, of Newport, by laying on of hands of Eld. Crandall, with hands of Bro. Joseph Clarke, Sen., and Bro. Peter Barker."
    
    On the death of the aged leading Elder, the next year, Eld. Maxson succeeded him as pastor, though he was himself well advanced in life, and in a measure disabled from active duties by reason of lameness so that he was not always able to attend the meetings. But though failing in body, his mind was still burning with zeal to advance the prosperity of the church of God, and insure its peace. This was sometimes no easy matter, as the district being agricultural, and the lands imperfectly laid out and defined, disputes continually arose concerning the boundaries of the possessions of the members. One such arose in which the elder was a party, and the settlement of it, as it appears in the following minute, and in the subsequent good feeling, shows the deference of the members for the authority of the church: -
    
    "WESTERLY, Sept. 20th, 1720.
    
    "Whereas, there having been some dissatisfaction between Bro. John Maxson, elder, and Bro. Thomas Hiscox, concerning the south extent of said Maxson’s lands lying eastward of the highway which runs to the mill, the said Maxson and Hiscox jointly agreeing to leave the decision of the matter to us, the subscribers, obliging themselves by their words forever to abide our determination in the premises; we having circumspectly viewed the land, and diligently inquired into all the circumstances and evidences offered to us to enlighten us in the matter, do order and determine as followeth, viz.: that the said John Maxson’s lot of land shall extend to the fence which is now standing, ranging westward from the great river to the aforesaid highway, and no farther; and that the fence as it now stands shall be his perpetual bounds of the southernmost bounds of said land; and this instrument we desire may be entered in the church records.
    
    SAMUEL BEEBEE,
    
    THOMAS RHOADS,
    
    THOMAS BURDICK, and others"
    
    [page 57] The following thanksgiving proclamation is interesting, and shows that at the age of 70 years Mr. Maxson was as strong in heart as in mind, and that, though the lamp of life was waning, that the love of God was still bright: -
    
    "NOVEMBER 20th, 1736.
    
    "Whereas, we have been wonderfully indulged by God’s providence with many unmerited blessings, and we think it but our reasonable service to render to him our tribute of praise, and notwithstanding the infirmities and troubles of many among us, yet it must be confessed, I think, that God hath dealt with us in much mercy, and in judgment. He hath shown himself to be very gracious, but in general there hath been much more cause of thankfulness and joy than of dejection and complaint. There are many reasons which occur to us for rendering praise to God, among which I think the following ought not to be forgotten, viz.: the favorable state of the distemper with us, that hath been so mortal in many parts of New England, yet with us scarce any have died; also, that the season of the year has been so favorable and plentiful; and most of all, though the harvest is plenteous, and the laborers few, yet that the Lord of the harvest has seemed to interpose in a most gracious manner by the increase of many which we hope are sincere professors of the truth of the Gospel. Therefore I have thought proper to appoint the fourth day of the week, being the 24th of Nov. inst., to be set apart as a day of thanksgiving to God for all such as are disposed thereto.
    
    JOHN MAXSON, Elder
    
    By GEORGE STILLMAN, Clerk"
    
    This occasion was well attended. None entered into the exercises of the day with more real and sincere thankfulness than did the venerable pastor. There had been a large number added to the church, and the prospect seemed pleasing to his faith. He thus continued to labor and rejoice, and as age advanced upon him, he became anxious that the order of the gospel might be perpetuated by the gifts of the church, for which purpose he proposed that set times be given to such as were inclined to improve their talent for the ministry of the word.
    
    About this time Mr. Maxson became desirous that the church should appoint a colleague or assistant for him in the performance of his official duties; and in 1739 his brother, Joseph Maxson, was appointed to the office of an elder, to assist the senior elder in the service of the church; and soon after Thomas Hiscox was also appointed to the office of an elder, to assist in the administration of the ordinances.
    
    The "New Lights," a people that made some noise in that part of New England during the latter part of Eld. Maxson’s administration, gave him some trouble by their unscrupulous denunciation of the faith which he professed and defended; but his wisdom was the more apparent from the kindness with which he treated all the aspersions cast upon him and his brethren.
    
    [page 58] The last act recorded of Eld. Maxson was assisting Eld. Joseph Maxson at the ordination of Eld. John Davis, of Shrewsbury, N.J., whither Mr. Davis had gone, with others who had been dismissed from the church at Westerly, to form a Sabbath-keeping church in that place. The ordination took place July 12th, 1746.
    
    Eld. Maxson was now approaching the verge of life. The weight of years and many infirmities pressed upon him. He could say with the apostle, "I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith," and could look with him to the crown laid up, to be conferred by the Master whom he served. He died July 1747 in the 81st year of his age.
    
    Copied from an original copy of Volume 1, No. 2, April, 1852, pp 49-58, of the Seventh-Day Baptist Memorial, a quarterly magazine, devoted to biography, history, and statistics. Published in New York, by the Seventh-Day Baptist Publishing Society, No. 9 Spruce Street.