Rev. Thomas Barnard DD

Description

In The Decades Following The Witch Trials Salem Began To Change & Become More Worldly During The 18th Century Salem Flourished As A. Center Of Maritime Activity Becoming An Important Port During This Period The First Church Split Several Times First To Meet The Needs Of The Growing Population In Salem Then Because Of Arguments Over Ministers Once Again The Fierce Belief In Independence & Self-Governance Asserted Itself Perhaps The Most Famous Episode Concerning Church Splits Has To Do With Rev Thomas Barnard And His Son Rev Thomas Barnard Jr., In 1772 The First Church Split Over Whom To Call As Their Next Minister One Group Wanted The Current Minister'S Son Rev Thomas Barnard Jr., Another Group Wished To Call Rev Asa Dunbar 'Later The Maternal Grandfather Of Henry David Thoreau'. Since No Agreement Could Be Reached The Church Divided Into Two The First Church Called Rev Dunbar & The Newly Formed 'North Church'In Salem Selected Rev Barnard JrAs Its First Minister In February Of 1775 The British COL Leslie Was Dispatched From Boston To Seize A. Munitions Depot In North Salem It Is Reported That Rev Barnard Upon Learning Of The British Regiment Marching Through Town Left His Pulpit During Sunday Worship And Went Down To The North Bridge In Salem Where COL Leslie And His Troops Were Standing Rev Barnard And Local Officials Negotiated With The British Officer And Brokered A. Resolution To The Conflict Permitting The Soldiers To March To The Other Side Of The River And Then Turn Around And Return To Their Ship Without 'Molesting Anything'As A. Result Local Historians Conjecture That Revolutionary War Almost Began Here In Salem Two Months Before April Of 1775 And The 'Shot Heard Round The World' In Lexington And Concord To This Day The First Church Tells The Story Of 'Leslie'S Retreat' And Keeps On Display A. Scale Model Of The First Meetinghouse Of The North Church Where Rev Barnard Served As Pastor