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Abigail and the Parson’s Rose of 1744

On May 26, 1741, the Worthy Mr. Noah Mirick (Merrick) accepted his nomination as the first minister of the fourth precinct of Springfield, a place called “Springfield Mountain” in the Outward Commons. He was born in West Springfield on August 6, 1711, and was the son of James and Sarah (Hitchcock) Mirick.


Noah Merrick, while attending Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut, was a boarder of Reverend Phineas Fiske of Haddam, Connecticut. There he met his daughter; Abigail who was born on August 14, 1718. He and Abigail would become good friends. In 1731, Noah and his friend, Chiliab Brainerd were among the young men who graduated from Yale College. Noah studied further in theology under the direction of Reverend Phineas Fiske, who was one of the early tutors and founders of Yale College. It is said that he was responsible for the settlement of the college in New Haven instead of Saybrook.

Reverend Noah Merrick assumed his official role as the first minister, which was accomplished on June 24, 1741, the same day the church was organized. The ordaining council was to have taken place under a large oak tree in the yard of Daniel Warner’s house (area of 576 Main Street). On this morning a rude pulpit of rough boards was constructed, and a few seats of boards and logs were arranged around it to accommodate the people. Unfortunately, the weather was not clear with the sky hidden by clouds. As the morning went into day the weather became severe with an approaching storm. As the rain started, the people hurriedly adjourned the service to Nathaniel Warriner’s barn (599 Main Street). There, the ordination services were performed.


Reverend Noah Merrick’s two good friends from his college days, Abigail Fiske and Reverend Chiliab Brainerd married about 1736, in Connecticut. Chiliab also became a minister just like Noah. The two had one daughter together, Abigail who was born in 1738. On January 1, 1739, Reverend Chiliab Brainerd Died in Glastonbury, Connecticut. He was only 31 years old.

At a meeting held on May 4, 1742, the vote was made to build Reverend Noah Merrick’s house on Wigwam Hill, part of the Over Plus Land in the middle division (1347 Tinkham Road). After much disagreement, the final location of the Meeting House was voted on March 15, 1748. Construction took place soon after and the new Meeting House was used later that year. The site was just southwest of Reverend Noah Merrick’s home. From 1741 to the time the new Meeting House was used, Nathaniel Hitchcock’s home (603 Main Street) was used for precinct meetings and public worship.


Arrow indicates location of the Meeting House and Reverend Noah Merrick's home
Back door stoop of Reverend Merrick's home. Now located at the Old Meeting House Museum's garden

In October of 1744, Reverend Noah Merrick married his good friend’s wife, Widow Abigail (Fisk) Brainerd of Haddam, Connecticut. His personal account book shows the expenses of several trips to Haddam between 1741 and 1744.


Reverend Noah Merrick's personal account book

On their journey on horseback to his parish, she carried some rose bush slips from her old family home and set them out by their new home on Wigwam Hill. She gave many slips to the neighbors, family, and friends. Many of the homes in the Outward Commons had these rose bushes growing, it was quite common. Abigail was well known for these roses. The 1963 writing of the Wilbraham History Book by Charles L. Merrick states “Descendants of the Parson’s Rose are still found flourishing on land once owned by the parson”. One can only imagine if that is true today. We have discovered two locations that have descendants of the original Parson's Rose, one being at the Old Meeting House and the other, at the United Church, both located on Main Street. There is a strong possibility they exist in other areas of town today, especially on properties that were once owned by the many generations of the Merricks, which are scattered all over town. Research has found that the rose in question is a Damask Roses. These roses have graced the world since ancient times. As one of the oldest rose varieties, the Damask has given birth to thousands of new varieties while maintaining its unique heritage. The Damask is a shrub rose, typically known for its sprawling growth habits. It can reach up to 7 feet in height. Damask blooms are held on open airy branches and are almost always clear pink in color. The elongated and pointed foliage is grayish-green and downy on the underside. World-renowned for its fine fragrance and perfume production.


Abigail and Noah had seven children together. Abigail's six-year-old daughter, Abigail, from her previous marriage, was also part of the Merrick family, having eight children in total. The seven children are listed below:


Noah Merrick 1745-1762. Died of drowning at age 16 Cambridge,

Massachusetts Colony, British Colonial America. while attending Harvard

College.

Sarah Merrick 1747-1814

Chileab Brainerd Merrick 1749-1833

Samuel Fisk Merrick 1751-1836

Lydia Merrick 1753-1834

Pliny Merrick 1755-1814

Lucy Merrick 1757-1757

Reverend Noah Merrick died on December 22, 1776, in the 36th year of his ministry. He was laid to rest on Christmas Day at the Burying Yard (Adam’s Cemetery). His wife Abigail lived until she was 89 years old. She died on September 12, 1807, and is buried alongside her husband Noah.


The grave of Reverend Noah Merrick and his wife Abigail, Adams Cemetery


Chauncy E. Peck wrote the history of Wilbraham for the 150th anniversary, in 1913. As a child, he heard the story of the Parson’s Rose, which was told to him by his great-aunt, who in her youth was a near neighbor of Mrs. Merrick. He had long forgotten about this story until about 1904 when a lady of this town handed one of his family a bouquet of roses, and indicating a few of the blossoms she said, “Those are the Parson’s Rose.” Chauncy then wrote a poem of thirty-three verses, with the title of “Parson’s Rose,” which was published about the same time. A few of the verses are written below, as stated “a true Wilbraham story."


Chauncey E. Peck

It was said in 1904, that a slip from the Parson's Rose bush is growing by Mrs. Merrick's grave, set there by her granddaughter of the fourth generation.



THE PARSON’S ROSE


Far, far away, in the dear old days,

The almost forgotten days of yore,

A maiden stood at the meeting place

Of the streamlet with the river's shore.


Her heart was his who was riding down

From the precinct where he preached God's will.

To bear her a bride, from Haddam town,

To his parish home on Wigwam Hill.


On stores of clothing and linen, long

She had wrought her love in thoughtful ways;

The wheel and shuttle had sung their song

In her happy home through the summer days.

*****

A horseman riding since break of day

Over the hills and under the lea,

On woodland trail and the King's highway,

With a happy song in his heart rode he.

*****

So the lover came on his own good steed.

At evening came as the sun went down.

Came in a day, for he rode with speed,

To marry his bride in Haddam town.


As the evening shadows grew apace,

And the soaring swallow sought his mate,

And the full moon showed its welcome face,

She met him there at her father's gate.


The minister came, the same good man

Whose hand was laid on her baby head;

With the Lord's baptism, her life began,

And as oft since then, a prayer was said.

*****

A rose bush grew by her father's door,

A wide-spread bush, bearing wealth of bloom;

It had blossomed there from days of yore,

And filled the house with a sweet perfume.


From it, she took a generous store

Of slips to plant by her new home's ways,

They would call to mind forevermore,

The old home life of her girlhood days.

*****

The sun was painting the eastern sky

With the rose-red hue of breaking day,

As they rode at morn, the trail to try,

Of forest path and the King's highway.

*****

On her own horse she the loved slips bore

Throughout that ride on the hunter's trail,

With her own hands set them by the door

Of the parish house above the vale.

*****

She gave to all from her generous store,

To all who came and a rootlet chose,

Till the slips were set by many a door,

And came to be called "The Parson's Rose."

*****

The seasons came and the swift years sped,

But the roses bloomed around her door,

With a fragrance sweet as when she wed

In the scarce remember days of yore.

*****

The Parson and bride they fell asleep,

A century since on Wigwam Hill,

But treasured slips, with blossoms sweet,

Of "The Parson's Rose," we find them still.


Bloom on, fair roses from Haddam town,

And stir our hearts with the old home love,

Days await us when deeds we have done,

Will all be counted somewhere above.

*****

So may some of the deeds we have wrought,

When our day of life draws near its close,

Bring to our minds as fragrant a thought,

As the young bride planting the old home rose.


Letter from Reverend Noah Merrick

Reverend Noah Merrick's journal
The tankard / chalice were either a wedding or ordination present or perhaps a combination of both.
Reverend Noah Merrick's Silver Shoe Buckle

In collaboration with the Wilbraham Candle Company, The Parson's Rose, part of the Historical Collection, has been launched and you can purchase one of these unique candles through their website, https://www.wilbrahamcandle.com/product-page/jar-candle-the-parson-s-rose


Also please visit Merrick's Farm on Main Street for the "BEST" corn, vegetables, and flowers, at the stand this summer. Family-owned and operated since 1741. https://www.merrickfarmwilbraham.com/


Thank you for supporting local businesses.





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