In early New England, the most important man in town was most likely not the owner of the biggest house, the town clerk, or a selectman, but rather the minister of the town’s church. Rochester’s first two ministers, Reverends Arnold and Ruggles, both served for many conflict-free years while growing the size of the congregation to over 300 parishioners.
Upon the death of Rev. Ruggles, a recently ordained Harvard graduate, Jonathan Moore became his successor. While he had preached at Brattle Street Church Boston prior to his ordination, this was his first official position. He came to the Rochester Center Church during the lead up to the Revolutionary War. When it became time for Rochester men to march off to war, he “shouldered his musket” and joined them as chaplain to one of the companies.
The first of his ministerial years saw him providing “good services” to his congregation and during his tenure, his recordkeeping and other writing provided valuable information to the historic records.
Unfortunately, he became a minister at a time of change in the church and society. A new doctrine, the half-way Covenant, caused some disagreement among parishioners and a perceived decline in religion blamed on the French influence from the war made congregational calm less easy to come by. However, in the case of Rev. Moore (most frequently referred to as Mr. Moore in Abraham Holmes memoirs), it was more likely his personality that led to conflicts. Holmes refers to him as an impudent man and an anonymous writer in 1815 said that Moore “was a man of constitutional fearlessness of heart. The face of men in any garb had no terror for him.” This meant he was happy to argue and disagree with just about anyone. As time passed, he was more and more involved in “disputes and lawsuits with his parish”.
He openly feuded with Justice N. Ruggles. It is obvious in some of Holmes accounts how much the two men disliked each other. When a prayer was proposed for an important meeting, “Ruggles said if there must be prayer, he hoped it would not be by Mr. Moore, for he had heard so much of his praying on Sundays that he could not bear to hear him on a weekday, for that man had done more hurt in Rochester than he ever did, or ever would, or ever could do good”.
Not to be outdone when called upon to offer a prayer, Moore proceeded to offer a few opinions of Ruggles, referring to his ” depraved and wicket heart” and then led the group in prayer.
In 1789-90, it became apparent that the Rochester Church’s enrollment was declining. This was blamed on Rev. Moore by a committee studying the situation. This “brot on a violent discussion in the meeting.” Things went from bad to worse and after many, many church and committee meetings, Moore was dismissed in 1792. For quite a while after this, he refused to accept his dismissal and held competing services in his home. He also sued for back salary that he felt was due him. The suit went to court and after a lengthy trial, the jurors decided against him even though the court felt that he was in the right.
Even though he was removed from the roll of the church at that time, upon his death in 1814, he was taken back into the church. He is buried in the Rochester Center Cemetery beside his first wife.
By Connie Eshbach