In 1824, the Church of Christ in Dedham Second Parish was allowed to change its name to the South Church of Dedham. In Old Parish Cemetery three men are interred who were Deacons of this Church: Simon Gould, Enoch Talbot, and Dean Chickering.
Deacons were elected by their peers; they were typically older men who were well-known and respected for their honesty and faith. Although the pastor was unquestionably the leader of the congregation, the Deacons helped meet the needs of a small, but far-flung and growing parish. They might visit the sick, bring aid to the poor, or offer counsel to those facing a crisis or uncertainty.
The honored title of “Deacon” appears on the gravestone of each.
Simon Gould (1762-1823) Lot 231
Simon Gould was born on June 5, 1762 in Norfolk to Samuel and Mary Pettee Gould. On December 3, 1790, he married Hannah Sumner who was born on February 2, 1768 in Dedham, and was the daughter of George Sumner and Margaret Lewis Sumner. Simon and Hannah Gould had four children: Peggy, Simon, Lewis (who died in infancy in 1802) and Lewis, born in 1803.
Hannah Sumner Gould died on March 6, 1818 at the age of 50. On February 22, 1820, Simon Gould married Nancy Morse Fisher. It was the second marriage for each.
Deacon Gould died on January 4, 1823 of tuberculosis, just months before the title of South Church of Dedham was made official.
The slate gravestones of Simon and Hannah Gould, carved with simple urns and willow branches, were created by Coomer Soule II (1777-1861), who came from a family of stonecutters.
Enoch Talbot (1758-1833) Lot 105
Enoch Talbot was born on July 18, 1758 in Stoughton. He was one of nine children born to Ebenezer Talbot and Elizabeth Withington Talbot. As a young man, he served in the Revolutionary War in 1776.
On October 18, 1795, in Sharon, Talbot married Catherine Reynolds. Catherine was born in Wrentham on April 19, 1767 to Thomas and Katherine Randall Reynolds. Enoch and Catherine had four children: Enoch Jr., Curtis, Catherine, and Anna.
Deacon Enoch Talbot died on September 29, 1833 in South Dedham. His widow Catherine Reynolds Talbot passed away on October 13, 1842.
Dean Chickering (1788-1852) Lot 57
Dean Chickering was born on March 20, 1788 in Andover. On February 25, 1818, he married Sally Guild of Dedham. Sally Guild was the daughter of Oliver Guild, Sr. and Anna Bullard Guild.
Dean Chickering was a farmer. He and Sally Guild Chickering had two children: Sarah Ann and Dean. According to Dedham records, the infant Dean Chickering died on January 4, 1823 “by reason of premature birth, 4 days old.” On April 25, 1823, Sally Guild died “of complicated complaints” likely to do with childbirth. She was 31.
On December 14, 1825, Dean Chickering married Mary Dean, the daughter of John Dean and Millie Ellis Dean. Mary Dean had been a teacher but resigned her teaching position when she married. The couple lived in the house at the head of Hoyle Street; it became known as the “Chickering Place.” It is still standing today at the corner of Chickering Road and Walpole Street. Dean and Mary Chickering had one son, John Dean Chickering, born in 1835.
Dean Chickering died on December 20, 1852 of heart disease. His widow lived until 1897 by which time The South Church had become The First Congregational Parish of Norwood.
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