Rev. John Greenwood & Lydia Holmes

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Rev. John Greenwood & Lydia Holmes

Rev. John Greenwood

John was the second son born to Reverend Thomas and his wife Elizabeth (Wiswall) Greenwood. He was born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts on May 20, 1697. John graduated from Harvard College in Boston on 1717, and began his ministry on March 10, 1720. He agreed to teach school in Rehoboth for a period of six months for £12 for the first

quarter, and the second quarter at the rate of £45 per year . On November 14, 1720, the town voted

" Whereas the church of Christ in Rehoboth having made choice of Rev. Greenwood to preach the gospel amongst us for the present, the question being put whether the town would concur with the church's choice, voted by the town to raise £70 per annum til l we have a minister settled amongst us." On February 13, 1721, a vote was taken by the town inviting Mr. Greenwood to become the minister of the west part of the town which had been his father's former parish. One hundred and nineteen votes were cast in favor of the measure and only five against. On June 10,1728, Rev. John and Rev. David Turner presented petitions to the town for an increase of their salaries, stating that their present salaries were inadequate to their comfortable support, the town in answer to their petitions voted to add to Mr. Greenwood's salary £20, and to that of Mr. Turner, £30, making each of their salaries £100.

A letter from Rev. Greenwood of Rehoboth written on December 2,1757 to the first church of Christ in Rehoboth under my pastoral care,

Brethren:

Whereas, by Divine Providence, I am rendere d unable thro bodily infirmity to carry on the work of the ministry any longer, after 30 odd years labor therein, and whereas, you presented to me the town's resolutions not to grant any support for another minister here except I release my salary, ye ministering lands and quit my pastoral office;

altho, I think it not reasonable in the town to defer it, yet for peace's sake and that the gospel might not b e hindered, I release my salary from the eleventh day of March next as aforesaid and by the advice of some ministers and brethren called to advise in the affair and at the desire of this church, I do likewise promise to ask and to receive of this church a dismissal from my pastorate over them as soon as a council of churches can conveniently sit for the orderly doing of it, provided the church, particular persons, or the town, or any or all of them, will come under

obligation for my support and maintenance during my natural life to give me £20 annually to be paid one half money and the other half in specie equal to money,the first year to be paid the 11th day of March, A.D.. 1759, and so from year to year by the 11th of March sussessively during my natural life as aforesaid, and that I and my estate be not taxed toward public charges."

John Greenwood

These propositions the church and the town readily acceded to, and 40 individuals pledged themselves jointly to raise annually the support required, agreed to give yearly various sums each from £ 2 to 2 bushels of corn, or 2 bushesl of rye. He was succeeded by Rev. John Carnes, a native of Boston, MA. There was an incident reported in the "History of Salem, MA" . It mentioned that " B. Lynde is on a committee of the General Court of MA, to consider a printed sermon said to be preached at Southboro, December21, year not known, by John Greenwood, pastor of the church in Rehoboth, at the ordination of Nathan Stone as pastor of the church in Southboro, which the House greatly apprehends may have a tendency to subvert the good order of the churches and towns within this province."There is no report as to what the sermon contained or what was done about it. John died at the age of 69 and is buried in the church of Rehoboth cemetery, now known as Newman Cemetery in East Providence, Rhode Island.

Lydia Holmes

Lydia Holmes was born in Boston, Massachusetts on November 19, 1696 and baptized in the Old South Church. She was the third child of Nathaniel Holmes and his wife Sarah (Thaxter) Holmes and one of nine children, three who died young. Her family lived in the area of Boston known as the south end. Her father was a large landowner and tradesman, a joyner and brickmaker. He was interested in military affairs and took part in the expedition to Port Royal in Canada of May 12, 1707. While on this expedition, he took sick. Two years later, he passed away after a voyage to the Lee-ward Islands which he had taken to improve his health. Lydia was nine years old when her father died. Three years later, her mother married Judge John Cushing of Scituate and Hingham.

Lydia married John Greenwood, a Harvard graduate of 1717 on May 25, 1721 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts.

John had gone to Rehoboth to preach the gospel and to teach the children. Lydia had been born to a prosperous family in the the grand city of Boston. No doubt, as the wife of a minister in a small rural town, it must have been quit e a change for her. She and John raised a large family of twelve children. Several times,

Rev. Greenwood appealed to the town for an increase in his compensation to support his large family.


	Footsteps Through Time \| Home Rev. John Greenwood & Lydia Holmes \| Joseph Cole & Rebecca Allin \| John Braley & Joanna Alger Rev. John Greenwood & Lydia Holmes Rev. John Greenwood John was the second son born to Reverend Thomas and his wife Elizabeth (Wiswall) Greenwood. He was born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts on May 20, 1697. John graduated from Harvard College in Boston on 1717, and began his ministry on March 10, 1720. He agreed to teach school in Rehoboth for a period of six months for £12 for the first quarter, and the second quarter at the rate of £45 per year . On November 14, 1720, the town voted " Whereas the church of Christ in Rehoboth having made choice of Rev. Greenwood to preach the gospel amongst us for the present, the question being put whether the town would concur with the church's choice, voted by the town to raise £70 per annum til l we have a minister settled amongst us." On February 13, 1721, a vote was taken by the town inviting Mr. Greenwood to become the minister of the west part of the town which had been his father's former parish. One hundred and nineteen votes were cast in favor of the measure and only five against. On June 10,1728, Rev. John and Rev. David Turner presented petitions to the town for an increase of their salaries, stating that their present salaries were inadequate to their comfortable support, the town in answer to their petitions voted to add to Mr. Greenwood's salary £20, and to that of Mr. Turner, £30, making each of their salaries £100. A letter from Rev. Greenwood of Rehoboth written on December 2,1757 to the first church of Christ in Rehoboth under my pastoral care, Brethren: Whereas, by Divine Providence, I am rendere d unable thro bodily infirmity to carry on the work of the ministry any longer, after 30 odd years labor therein, and whereas, you presented to me the town's resolutions not to grant any support for another minister here except I release my salary, ye ministering lands and quit my pastoral office; altho, I think it not reasonable in the town to defer it, yet for peace's sake and that the gospel might not b e hindered, I release my salary from the eleventh day of March next as aforesaid and by the advice of some ministers and brethren called to advise in the affair and at the desire of this church, I do likewise promise to ask and to receive of this church a dismissal from my pastorate over them as soon as a council of churches can conveniently sit for the orderly doing of it, provided the church, particular persons, or the town, or any or all of them, will come under obligation for my support and maintenance during my natural life to give me £20 annually to be paid one half money and the other half in specie equal to money,the first year to be paid the 11th day of March, A.D.. 1759, and so from year to year by the 11th of March sussessively during my natural life as aforesaid, and that I and my estate be not taxed toward public charges." John Greenwood These propositions the church and the town readily acceded to, and 40 individuals pledged themselves jointly to raise annually the support required, agreed to give yearly various sums each from £ 2 to 2 bushels of corn, or 2 bushesl of rye. He was succeeded by Rev. John Carnes, a native of Boston, MA. There was an incident reported in the "History of Salem, MA" . It mentioned that " B. Lynde is on a committee of the General Court of MA, to consider a printed sermon said to be preached at Southboro, December21, year not known, by John Greenwood, pastor of the church in Rehoboth, at the ordination of Nathan Stone as pastor of the church in Southboro, which the House greatly apprehends may have a tendency to subvert the good order of the churches and towns within this province."There is no report as to what the sermon contained or what was done about it. John died at the age of 69 and is buried in the church of Rehoboth cemetery, now known as Newman Cemetery in East Providence, Rhode Island. Lydia Holmes Lydia Holmes was born in Boston, Massachusetts on November 19, 1696 and baptized in the Old South Church. She was the third child of Nathaniel Holmes and his wife Sarah (Thaxter) Holmes and one of nine children, three who died young. Her family lived in the area of Boston known as the south end. Her father was a large landowner and tradesman, a joyner and brickmaker. He was interested in military affairs and took part in the expedition to Port Royal in Canada of May 12, 1707. While on this expedition, he took sick. Two years later, he passed away after a voyage to the Lee-ward Islands which he had taken to improve his health. Lydia was nine years old when her father died. Three years later, her mother married Judge John Cushing of Scituate and Hingham. Lydia married John Greenwood, a Harvard graduate of 1717 on May 25, 1721 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. John had gone to Rehoboth to preach the gospel and to teach the children. Lydia had been born to a prosperous family in the the grand city of Boston. No doubt, as the wife of a minister in a small rural town, it must have been quit e a change for her. She and John raised a large family of twelve children. Several times, Rev. Greenwood appealed to the town for an increase in his compensation to support his large family.