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Subject: [MAFRANKL] COLBURN, Jonas, Descendants of
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 10:48:56 EST

First Generation
1. Jonas COLBURN was born on 25 Oct 1789 in Dracut, Middlesex,
Massachusetts. He died in 1860 in Chicopee, Hampden, Massachusetts. History
of the First Congregational Church of Leverett, Mass., 1774 - 1979, by Ruth
and Edward L. Field, Sr., Edited by Dorothy Stockwell and Annette Gibavic.
Private Printing, Leverett, Mass. pgs. 24 - 25.
Rev. Jonas Colburn, the fourth pastor, was born in Dracut, Mass., Oct. 25,
1789, graduated at Middlebury College 1817, studied theology at Andover, was
licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Londonderry and was settled in
Leverett Jan. 21, 1824.
According to Rev. David Eastman: "Mr. Colburn was a good sermonizer, a
sound preacher, a kind and obliging neighbor and much esteemed by his
ministerial brethren. His mild and kind demeanor under all circumstance
bound the people to him by strong ties of friendship and love. Mr. Colburn
died at the home of his son in Chicopee in 1860." After leaving Leverett, he
was installed as pastor at Stoneham, Aug. 1, 1832.
Some time in 1823 the present parsonage came into the possession of the
Congregational Society, although the deed was not recorded until 1827.
Samuel Gould who, as near as can be determined, built the house in 1799, was
drowned in 1822. His widow, Catherine Gould, together with a daughter
Elizabeth Stockwell agreed to sell the property to the Congregational
Society. This consisted of 18 acres of land with the house and barn, and 17
acres of pasture land diagonally across the road and covering the land
starting at what is now the edge of the Field Library land and running up
Shutesbury Road as far as the edge of the property line between 15 and number
39 Shutesbury Road.
On Nov. 10, 1823 the church and society concurred in giving Rev. Jonas
Colburn a call to settle in Leverett with this stipulation: "that, whenever
two-thirds of the voters belonging to the Congregational Society in Leverett
are desirous that Mr. Colburn should be dismissed, the connexion may be
dissolved by giving him six months notice, also that, if Mr. Colburn desire a
dissolution of his ministerial connexion, the connexion may be dissolved by
his giving six months notice to the Society." It was also voted to pay Mr.
Colburn $325 per year, to be paid semi-annually, the first payment to be made
in six months from the ordination. It was also voted that in addition to the
above salary Mr. Colburn have the use of the parsonage "now in the hands of
the Society" the same to be put in repair and kept in repair at the expense
of the Society.
Mr. Colburn accepted the call with the provision that the Society provide
25 cords of wood annually in addition to his salary.
At an Ecclesiastical Council convened at the house of Silvanus Field, Jan.
20, 1824, for the purpose of ordaining Mr. Jonas Colburn to the work of the
Gospel ministry, there were present the pastors and delegates from six
churches. A committee of the church presented a paper expressing a call to
Mr. Colburn, also papers from the committee of the society signifying their
concurrence in the call of the church and making provision for his support.
The answer from Mr. Colburn wash shown and then a careful examination with
respect to Mr. Colburn's church membership, license to preach, doctrinal and
experimental knowledge of religion, his views in entering the Ministry was
made. The Council was satisfied and voted unanimously to proceed to the
ordination the following morning at 11 o'clock.
For the ordination Jan. 21, 1824, the following pastors were assigned as
follows:
Rev. Mr. Lemuel Bates of Whately, the introductory prayer.
Rev. Mr. Benjamin Rice of South Deerfield, consecrating prayer.
Rev. Mr. James Taylor, Sunderland, the charge.
Rev. Mr. Nathan Perkins of 2nd Church, Amherst, the sermon.
Rev. Mr. Alpheus Harding, New Salem, the concluding prayer.
Records were poorly kept by both the Church and Society during Mr.
Colburn's ministry. Dec. 2, 1824, the Church stopped after meeting and, as
the church covenant and articles of faith were not to be found, voted to
adopt the articles of faith and the Covenant of the Church in Sunderland.
Other records consist mainly of 60 baptisms, 37 admissions, either by letter
or profession of faith, and 14 dismissals to other churches.
That Mr. Colburn was well thought of, however, is evidenced by the fact
that his name was frequently mentioned in town records as being on various
committees, especially as a member of the school board.
March 3, 1831, there is evidence of some difficulty developing. Mr. Joshua
Hobart, Otis Bradford and John Woodbury were appointed to "wait on Mr.
Colburn and report at next meeting." At the adjourned meeting a committee
consisting of John Woodbury, Giles Hubbard and Otis Bradford was appointed to
inquire into the expediency of complying with a proposition made by Mr.
Colburn and also to settle any difficulty which may exist between any member
of the Society and Mr. Colburn. Unfortunately there is no further record as
to what the difficulty consisted of or what the proposition was.
March 20, 1832, the Society voted to concur with the Church in their choice
of the members of the council to act at the dismission of Rev. Mr. Colburn.
It was also voted the collectors raise the money due Mr. Colburn and if it is
raised to settle with him. With no further explanation in the records of
either the Society or the Church, Mr. Colburn was dismissed April 4, 1832.

Jonas COLBURN and Wife were married. Wife died in Amherst, Hampshire,
Massachusetts. History of the First Congregational Church of Leverett,
Mass., 1774 - 1979, by Ruth and Edward L. Field, Sr., Edited by Dorothy
Stockwell and Annette Gibavic. Private Printing, Leverett, Mass. p. 24.
Mrs. Colburn, a woman of strong mind and great force of character, died at
Amherst.

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