123 



resigned in 1779, and subsequently removed to Keene, N. H. 

 As his colleague (Mr. Barnard) had been a lawyer before he 

 came to Salem, so Mr. Dunbar became one after he left. He 

 practiced law in Keene — where he was popularly known as 

 "the honest lawyer" — until his death June 22d, 1787, at the 

 age of 42. He left six children. 



James Diman of the East Church. The minister of the 

 Second Parish was a native of Long Island, a graduate of Har- 

 vard College in 1730, and settled in Salem in 1737. He 

 continued his faithful service here during the protracted term 

 of 52 years. He died October 8th, 1788, at the good old age 

 of 81 years. Mr. Diman was a minister of the ancient puritan 

 stamp. He has been described as a man of grave aspect, 

 invested with the imposing dignity, rather stern, and awe- 

 inspiring, peculiar to the ministers of the age of huge wigs.' — 

 He was an extreme Calvinist in his theology and a man of 

 inflexible will. Previous to his settlement in Salem he served 

 for two years as Librarian of Harvard College. Li 1774, he 

 was chosen chaplain of the Provincial Assembly, when that 

 famous body met in this place and assumed an attitude of 

 resistance to the royal authorities. 



During the latter part of his ministry Mr. Diman had un- 

 fortunate difficulties with his society growing out of a desire of 

 the latter to settle Mr. Bentley as an associate pastor. For 

 several years no taxes were collected to pay his salary. He 

 was even requested, by vote, to " desist from officiating" — 

 which he refused to do. He was not upon speaking terms with 

 prominent members of the society. This unhappy difficulty 

 continued, with more or less bitterness, until his decease. 



Mr. Diman lived in a house, yet standing, on Hardy street, 

 adjoining the meeting house. A drawing of the latter is in 

 possession of the Marine Society. 



The only printed productions of his now extant, are, a Charge 

 at Dr. Bentley's ordination, the Right Hand of Fellowship to 

 Dr. Barnard, and a sermon on the hanging, for rape, of Bryan 

 Sheehan, on the neck, in 1772. 



Rev. Nathaniel Whittaker D. D, of the Third 

 Church. A notice of the clergy, at the period under review, 

 would be very incomplete if it did not give a prominent place 

 to the Rev. Nathaniel Whittaker, D. D., pastor of the 

 Church since known as the Tabernacle Church, then under 



