An American Family History

A list of Members in full Communion in 1684 at Topsfield when Parson Capen was ordained

Francis Peabody
John Reddington
Abraham Reddington, Senior
Joseph Bixby, Senior
John Gould, Senior
Thomas Baker
Deacon Thomas Perkins died May 7th 86
John Peabody
Thomas Dorman
Ephraim Dorman
Samuel Howlett
William Howlett
Isaac Cummings
John French
Isaac Estey
James How Senior
Samuel Peiley
Nehemiah Abbot
John Cummings December 7, 1685 was dismissed to Dunstable
Robert Stiles
Thomas Perkins
Daniel Hovey, Jr.

Deacon Perkin's wife (Phebe Gould)
Lieutenant (John) Gould's wife
Thomas Dorman's wife (Judith Wood)
Isaac Estey's wife (Mary Towne)
Jacob Towne's wife
Joseph Town's wife
Widow Mary Towne
Ephraim Dorman's wife
John Wilds his wife
James How's wife
Michael Dwinnell's wife
John Nichols
Daniell Bormans
Isaac Cummings
William Howletts
Abraham Reddington's wife
Joseph Bixby's wife
John Peabody's wife
Samuell Simon's wife
Robert Smith's wife
William Smith's wife
Widow Andrews
Nehemiah Abbot's wife
Widow Perley
William Watson's wife
John French's wife
John Cumming's wife

from Historical Manual of the Congregational Church of Topsfield, Massachusetts

REV. JOSEPH CAPEN, M. A.

In a long line of worthy men, eminent for godliness and scholarship, none has left a deeper impression upon the town of Topsfield than Rev. Joseph Capen, minister of the town from 1682 until his death, June 30, 1725.

Volume II, Sibley's "Harvard Graduates" is authority for the following summary. Mr. Capen was born in Dorchester December 20, 1658, the son of John Capen and his second wife, Mary (daughter of Samuel Bass of Braintree); was baptised January 2, 1659; and united with the church in Dorchester April 10, 1681.

During the following summer the people of Topsfield learned of his ability, and sought to secure him for their minister; and in town meeting September 26, 1681, voted that he might have the use of the parsonage house and land and his choice of 75£. in country pay, as corn, pork and beef, or 20 £. in silver and 45£. in country pay. He chose the latter, and was dismissed from the church in Dorchester "ye first of ye 4 82 . . .to Joyne to ye Church at Topsfield in order to his ordination of a pastor to that church." Two months later a New Haven church tried in vain to persuade him to settle in that colony.

June 11, 1684, he was ordained as successor of Jeremiah Hobart, the town having voted at a meeting May 16, 1684,

"Lliut Pebody Deacken Perkins Lliut Baker Ensigne Pebody John Houey Corpr Townes Isacke Estey Senr & John Gould Senr are Chosen to prouide for Mr Capen ordanation and the Towne and Church to pay for ye Charges thay bee out about it in such as thay Lay out Ether in Kind or eles in that as ye Law dos say is equeliant to it."

A year later the town began to fear that they were to lose their talented young pastor, and "at a lawful town meeting the fift of sapember 1685 sargen Redington Jacob towne senr and John how or ani two of them ar Chosen to acompeni mr Capen to dorchester when hee goes to viset his frendes and to bring him agane if tha Can with his frendes Consent to Contene with vs in the ministri."

Mr. Capen wisely led the minds of his people along the varied paths of knowledge, and this was appreciated, for on October 22, 1686, the town voted to request him "to prech lecters" as often as was convenient to him. By his fearless and godly wisdom the people of Topsfield were protected during the days of the witchcraft delusion; though a tradition, lingering in the annals of New England, asserts that one Sunday morning he was a little late at church because Satan was loath to depart from a maid serving in the good minister's home. But the man of God prevailed, and the demon was exorcised.

(The longest pastorate, with the exception of that of Rev. John Emerson, in the history of the church, it was also rich in influence, and resulted in 230 admissions to church membership.)

Mr. Capen married in 1684 Priscilla Appleton, daughter of John and Priscilla Glover Appleton of Ipswich. She was born December 25, 1657 and died at Topsfield, October 18, 1743.

Their children:

Priscilla, b. 1 Sept., 1685, who married 21 September, 1708, Caleb Thomas of Marshfield.

John, b. 15 June, 1687; died 26 April, 1732.

Mary, baptised 17 February, 1688-9; married 5 January, 1709-10; Thomas Baker of Topsfield.

Elizabeth, baptised 26 April, 1691 ; died 22 March, 1781; married 12 October, 1711, Simon, (b. 14 April, 1692, son of John and Sarah) Bradstreet, grandson of Gov. Bradstreet.

Joseph, baptised 6 August, 1693 ; died in infancy.

Nathaniel, born 13 July, 1695 ; died 16 February, 1749-50, unmarried.

Sarah, born 2 April, 1699; married 9 May, 1717, John Bradford of Boston.