DORR, Rev. Joseph

Other Events and Attributes:

• _COLOR: 11
• Graduation: 1711, Cambridge, MA
• Occupation: Between 1716 and 1768, Mendon, MA; Pastor, First Church of Mendon

Notes:

Copy of old Letter, Mary Rawson second daughter of Rev. Grindall Rawson born June 22, 1699, m arried April 9, 1724, to Rev. Joseph Dorr her father's successor in the m inistry at Mendon. He graduated at Harvard College 1711. Settled in M endon 1716, died March 9, 1768 in 79th year of his age. His epitaph in forms us that he was endued with good sense, his temper was mild and pl acid, he excelled in the virtues if meekness, patience, temperance, sob riety, gravity, benevolence, and charity- was a good scholar advances D ivine and exemplary Christian. JOSEPH DORR Joseph Dorr, second minister of Mendon, MA., was one of the younger chi ldren of Edward and Elizabeth (Hawley) Dorr of Roxbury. The father has b een called "the Reverend" but there is no evidence that he was anything m ore than a respected citizen and a member of the church of Roxbury. Jo seph did not take up residence at the College until the beginning of th e sophomore year of his Class. He achieved neither honors nor notable c ensures although he was fined in every quarter of his junior year. Per haps this fairly good record can be laid to Joseph Sewall (A.D. 1707), a n older student, who recorded in his diary: "God helped me to perform w hat (If I Mistake not I have attempted once & Again, i.e..,) To Speak t o Dorr of his Soul's concern to exhort him earnestly to give himself to C hrist." Dorr took his first degree in due course, but got into difficu lties when he came up for the M.A. three years later. He submitted an a ffirmative answer to the Question, " An Essential Rerun sint aeternae?" t he religious implications of which do not seem to have troubled the col lege authorities. But over in Boston Judge Sewall was distressed, and t ook the matter in his parson, Ebenezer Pemberton (A. B. 1691). Mr. Pemberton seemed to approve of it. When he did not explain it t o my satisfaction; He said, I have for got my Philosophy. Upon my ment ioning Divinity, He said, There was nothing of Divinity in it. This he s poke with an air of displeasure. I came away, Meeting Mr. Remington (J onathan, A. B. 1696) in the street I told him of it, and desired him to s peak to the president; and by Mr. Higginson next day I received a kind l etter from the President with a Master's Thesis in it corrected as it n ow stands. And the Question stands on the printed sheet as the affirmative of , " An Novitas essendi sit de ratione Creations?" As there is no evide nce that Dorr tool part in the exercises, he probably not asked to writ e a new essay. That same year, 1714 found Mr. Dorr keeping the school at Andover. D espite his Question he aimed to enter the ministry, and accepted an inv itation to preach at Mendon. There were troublesome Quakers in Mendon, b ut they were at least not addicted to scalping as were the Indians who t errified Andover schoolmasters. The young preacher satisfied the churc h members, and at the town meeting of February 9, 1715/16, it was " pro posed to the Town to Bring in their votes for Their Concurrence in the C hurch's choice of Rev. Joseph Dorr to Be Their Pastor, which was accord ingly Don and voted to be the Town's Minister." Two weeks later he and t he town fathers came to an agreement on the terms. Imprimis. That they will give him for a yearly salary The Sum of s eventy-five pounds per annum, after the first year & the first year sev enty pounds To be paid in money... 2nd. That they will give for Settlement or Encouragement the sum o f One hundred and sixty pounds, One hundred pounds in money... and Sixt y pounds to be paid in Labor & materials for and towards the building o f him an house amongst us... The ordination took place on February 25, 1716. It was not until April 9, 1724, that Mr. Dorr obtained a mistress f or his new house in the person of Mary, a daughter of his predecessor, t he Reverend Grindall Rawson, A. B. 1678. She was a happy choice, for " S he filled up the measure of her days with religion and devotion... was a t ender, courteous, affable and obliging disposition; confined not to her o ffices of kindness and respect to her family ... was such a friend as l oveth at all times, expressed by a constant series of doing good to all i n their varying circumstances." The Dorr's had four or five children, d epending on whether Katherine and Elizabeth were twins or a mistake in t he record. The only son, Joseph, was graduated in 1752. Mary became hi s wife of the Reverend Moses Taft (A. B. 1751), and Susannah, the secon d wife of Reverend Amariah Frost (A. B. 1740). While an increasing family and inflation were burdening the parson 's purse, the freeing of the Quakers and the Baptists from the necessit y of contributing to his salary and the separation from the church of M endon of what are now the First Churches of Bellingham, Uxbridge, Upton , Milford, and Blackstone were making it difficult for the church to me ets his needs. they did, however, from time to time take special contr ibutions and voter him supplementary sums sometimes as large as the sal ary itself. In general, he kept the affections of his parishioners by s uch acts of kindness as petitioning to the court for leniency for a lad y of the congregation who had violated the seventh commandment. It may Justly be Supposed that as the End of the law which is refo rmation is fully answered with respect to her with out the Execution of i t. These are therefore to Desire that She may with her Judges find as m uch Clemency and favour as can Consist with the Law. Mr. Dorr has been called a New-Light because he signed the Testimo ny and Advice of July 7, 1743, but his experiences during the Great Awa kening suggest that he was not New-Light enough for a large minority of h is congregation. Although his " temper was mild and placid," and " He e xcelled in the virtues of meekness, patience, temperance, sobriety, gra vity, benevolence, and charity," he was in some sort of ecclesiastical d ifficulty and appealing for advice to the Worcester association of mini sters in October, 1740. That the dissatisfied members of his congregat ion took a like step is shown by a resolution which he offered in the t own meeting of March 2, 1741. Gentleman, In as much as an opposing party in this Town have Obtained a j udgement of a Council Against the Minister of the Town, without a Trial , Relating to his administration viz: - of a Council Chosen by them Sel ves in so private a manner that the pastor of the Church had No Copy of t he Letters Missive until after the Letters were Sent out to the Churche s - If you judge that the Minister of this Town Ought to be defended ag ainst Such Proceedings and you will defend him Signify it by Lifting up y our hands. Gentlemen, if you will choose three persons as a Committee chosen b y the Church, or by that part of it that adheres to the Pastor to advis e and concur with them in the choice of a Council, if they shall think f it, to judge of the Result of the late Council Chosen by the opposite p arty here by lifting up your hands. The Parson retained the support of a majority, but " a great numbe r " of the dissatisfied appealed to the General Court on the grounds t hat Mr. Dorr would not abide by the results of their council and would d o nothing " to give the Petitioners reasonable satisfaction." As a con sequence the parish of mill River, later the town of Milford, was set u p. the strict theology of the new covenant suggests that the division w as not simply geographical. There was , however, no doubt cast upon Mr . Dorr. He was a man... of singular virtue, sobriety and temperance, a M an of good learning, polemical, political and divine, a father to his f amily, flock, and ministers, in the Vicinity: a faithful Minister ... a s trict adherent to the doctrines of grace ... (He) highly recommended th e examination of candidates, for the work of he ministry; preventive (i f possible) of the introduction of men unsound in the faith into the mi nistry, a great friend to our English Liberties, was much concerned for t he peace and good order of the Churches. ... It was in an effort to further these ends that he joined in the ga thering of the Mendon association of ministers, of which he was the fir st moderator. Through all these years Mr. Dorr carried on the entire work of the m inistry of Mendon without assistance than a few sermons from schoolmast er Samuel Terry (A. b. 1710) at a time when the parson was sick. Final ly, in April, 1767, the parish sent a committee to ask the old minister o n what terms he would retire. He replied: I have Duly Considered the S ame and accordingly Propose as follows, viz. Considering the difficulty y ou Labor under and to preserve peace a among your and to enable and enc ourage your to proceed with Unanimity and Cheerfulness to the Settlemen t of another Gospel minister, I find in myself a freedom to accept of t he Sum of Thirteen Pounds, Six Shillings and Eight pence, Lawful Money, A nnually, During my Natural Life, tho at the same time, as my Worldly Es tate is small, Labor dear and I am unable by reason of my great age and I nfirmities to manage my affairs to advantage, I am apprehensive that sa id sum will fall short of a Necessary Support, yet Considering the Long T erm of years I have Labored among you in the Gospel of Christ, I am Per suaded, my Brethren, you will not See me suffer Extreme want. On March 9, 1768, before the parish had called another minister un der this agreement, Mr. Dorr died, then being in the fifty-second year o f his service and the seventy-ninth of his age. His widow followed him o n April 9, 1776.

Joseph married RAWSON, Mary on 9 Apr 1724 in Mendon, MA. Mary was born on 22 Jun 1699 in Mendon, MA; died on 9 Apr 1776 in Mendon, MA; was buried in Mendon, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Appointed: Selectman and Assessor
• Possessions: Roxbury, MA; Pew No. 9 In the Gallary
• _COLOR: 6
• Freeman's Oath: 22 Jul 1674, Pemiquad, ME
• Misc: 14 Nov 1680, Boston, MA; Church Member
• Appointed: 2 Mar 1701/2, Roxbury, MA; Tithing Man
• Possessions: May 1707, Roxbury, MA; Former Estate of Rev. Samuel Danforth
• Appointed: Between 7 Mar 1708 and 1709, Roxbury, MA; Council of one to determine the location of the West meeting house.
• Appointed: 22 May 1712, Roxbury, MA; Viewer and Sealer of molds for making bricks
• Appointed: Between Nov 1714 and 1715, Roxbury, MA; Make report on highway for lots in 3rd allotment in Roxbury
• Appointed: 30 Sep 1715, Roxbury, MA; The same as the 11 Mar., 1715 adds Dorchester Brook as a boundry between Dorchester and Roxbury
• Misc: 30 Apr 1716, Roxbury, MA; Received Four Shillings for the services mentioned above.
• Appointed: 22 May 1716, Roxbury, MA; Chose as a committee to seat the meeting house
• Appointed: Mar 1717, Roxbury, MA; Committee member
• Appointed: Between 17 Mar 1719 and 1720, Roxbury, MA; Auditor
• Appointed: Between 6 Mar 1720 and 1721, Roxbury, MA; Selectman and Assessor
• Appointed: Between 5 Mar 1721 and 1722, Roxbury, MA; Selectman and Assessor
• Appointed: 24 Oct 1721, Roxbury, MA; Moderator
• Appointed: Between 12 Mar 1722 and 1723, Roxbury, MA; Selectman and Assessor
• Appointed: Between 1 Mar 1724 and 1725, Roxbury, MA; Fence Viewer
• Appointed: Between 5 Mar 1724 and 1725; Help in obtaining suitable assistance in the work of the ministry.
• Will: 10 Apr 1733, Roxbury, MA

Notes:

Edward came to America from the western part of England near the Welsh l ine. Some sources state that his father, Joseph, came over with him; b ut Edward was the first Dorr to marry and have children in America.
The Rawson Family Memorial (Mary Rawson married Joseph Dorr, one of Edw ard's sons) states as follows: "When the colony of MA Bay or ganized the County of Devon at Pemaquid, near the mouth of the Kennebec i n Maine, Edward Dorr was there and with other inhabitants took the oath o f fidelity on July 22, 1674" He subsequently removed to Boston, perhap s because of King Philip's War, which broke out in 1675, placing that r emote settlement in great peril.
Abstract of Pemaquid Records.-
"July 22, 1674. Attended a court held at Pemaquid, Edward Dorr 'took t he oath of fidelity."

Abstract from History of Second Church of Boston, page 242,-
"1680. Nov 14 Edward Dorr
1681 July 19 S. Dorr admitted to the church." (S. D orr is sister Dorr)

In Dec. 1677, Edward Dorr of Boston purchased a piece of land for 50 Po unds currency, "near the new meeting house at the north end of South Bo ston", more than 40 years afterward, Edward Dorr sold the same property t hen described as "near the old north meeting house for 250 Pounds curre ncy.
In 1683, He purchased land and house in Roxbury and in this deed is nam ed as "of Roxbury".
Between 1677 and 1683, Edward purchased several acres of land in Roxbur y in the vicinity of what later became Washington and High Streets. On a p ortion of this estate, he built a dwelling house, mill house and tanner y, the last of which he gave to his son, Ebenezer, at the time of the l atter's marriage in 1710. An unofficial record in the family of Lester M oses Dorr of Boston indicates that Edward owned at one time a part of w hat became Boston Common. He became prominent in the civil and ecclesi astical affairs of Roxbury, was elected a selectman and held offices of i mportance and trust. At his death in 1734 he was buried at the Eliot B urying Ground Cemetery.
Humble to petition His Excellency the Governor and the Honorable Counci l or if it could be, the General Court to appoint a committee to hear w hat may be said both by the East and West of this Town and settle and d etermine the place where the meeting house for the west end shall stand . Capt. Ruggles, Capt. Stephen Williams and Mr. Edward Dorr.
Edward Dorr founded a vigorous family whose numerous branches have flou rished and multiplied, spreading over the entire United States and into f oreign lands.

Edward married HAWLEY, Elizabeth in 1679 in Boston, MA. Elizabeth (daughter of HAWLEY, Lieut. Thomas and HARBOTTLE, Dorothy) was born on 27 Jun 1656 in Roxbury, MA; was christened on 29 Jun 1656 in Roxbury, MA; died on 7 Dec 1719 in Roxbury, MA; was buried in Roxbury, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _COLOR: 6
• Possessions: Aft 21 Apr 1676, Roxbury, MA; six acres

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Notes:

An early settler at Roxbury, NA, he was in Capt. Cowell's Company of Dr agoons and was killed in the Sudbury fight during King Philip's War.

FindaGrave:
GRID=37874864

Thomas married HARBOTTLE, Dorothy on 2 Feb 1652 in Roxbury, MA. Dorothy (daughter of HARBOTTLE, William and BEALLE, Alles) was born in 1619 in Kippax, Yorkshire, England; died on 28 Jan 1699 in Roxbury, MA; was buried on 15 Feb 1699 in Roxbury, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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Notes:

He was one of the Pioneers of Stratford CT.

Samuel married Elizabeth before 1603. Elizabeth was born about 1582 in Parwich, Derbyshire, England; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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William married BEALLE, Alles before 1619. Alles was born about 1595 in Kippax, Yorkshire, England; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 3