131 



Rev. R. B. Nicholls. But when the Revolution came on the 

 prosperity of the church received a disastrous check. The Epis- 

 copal clergymen throughout the country were suspected of Tory- 

 ism, because they declined to omit the prayers for the royal au- 

 thorities. Indeed, Dr. Parker, of Boston, and Mr. McGilchrist, 

 Avere the only two Episcopal clergymen who did not fly from 

 their parishes, to England, or other colonies, when the war 

 broke out. The church in Salem dwindled away, and public 

 worship was finally suspended. Mr. McGilchrist was exposed 

 10 various trials and troubles during the war, so excited was 

 the popular feeling. The church edifice itself was assailed. — 

 Stones were sometimes thrown into the windows while worship- 

 pers were assembled. The boys used to "go and rock the 

 tory church" as a- diversion. 



Mr. McGilchrist died in Salem, before the close of the war, 

 April 19, 1780, in the 78th year of his age and 34th of his 

 ministry here. Judge Samuel Curwen, who knew him well, 

 speaks of him in his Journal as a person of " singular integrity 

 of character, undisembled virtue, and a friendly heart." Dr. 

 E. A. Holyoke, his intimate friend and executor, wrote, that 

 " he was esteemed by all who were really acquainted with 

 his character as a gentleman of learning, integrity, charity, 

 virtue, and purity." 



By his will Mr. McGilchrist bequeathed the amount of sala- 

 ry due him from the Society for Propagating the Gospel, and 

 also his share of " the contribution for the unhappy sufferers 

 in America" unto the Worthy Society. He manumitted his 

 negro-servant Flora, gave his books to his successors in the 

 ministry, and the balance of his estate to Dr. Holyoke. 



Robert Boucher Nichols. He was connected with the 

 Episcopal Church as an assistant minister from 1771 until 

 December, 1774, when, being a royalist, he fled to Halifax. — 

 He was employed in Salem by subscription, forty-seven persons 

 agreeing to give certain sums per week, varying from /o?/r- 

 pence to one shilling, to compensate him. But little is known 

 of him. He is spoken of by tradition as "an eloquent and 

 popular preacher." He was a native of the West Indies. — 

 After his flight from Salem, he served as Chaplain in the 

 British Army. Subsequently he was Dean of Middleham, in 

 England. In 1787, he addressed an eloquent letter against 

 Slavery and the Slave Trade to the Committee for the suppres- 

 sion of the Slave Trade (Granville Sharpe, chairman) of which 

 several editions were published in London. 



