USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Haverhill > The history of Haverhill, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1640, to the year 1860 > Part 60
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Nor did the parent church herself escape those perplexities, - not to call them by a harsher name. Its members were taxed to support the churches of the " standing order ; " their goods were not unfrequently distrained for the payment of these taxes; their religious services were disturbed or interrupted ; the " standing clergy " forbade the pastor from preaching within parish bounds ; and in one instance, as he was delivering a lecture upon a week-day evening, in a private house, a stone was hurled at him through a window. Fortunately the missile failed to accomplish the intended purpose. '
About 1744, the law of the province was so modified, that Baptists and others were exempted from paying taxes to the " standing order," provided they filed certificates to the effect that they attended worship and paid taxes in their own denomination. The Baptists made frequent efforts toward securing a more perfect religious freedom, and were finally suc- cessful.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
On the 31st of July, 1767, the church voted unanimously to join with others in the formation of the Warren Association. In their letter upon that occasion, they state that their original number was twenty-three ; that thirty-four were added to that number by baptism, in the year 1765 ; twenty-nine in 1766; and twenty-one in 1767; thus giving them, at the date of the letter, one hundred and seven members. The Warren Associa- tion was organized September 9, 1767, by the churches in Warren R. I., Bellingham, Middleboro, and Haverhill, Mass. ; the first organization of that character ever established in New England.
At the organization of the Massachusetts forces, in 1775, Rev. Mr. Smith was appointed chaplain to the regiment of Colonel Nixon, in which were many Haverhill men. From the records of his church, under date of July 12, of that year, we find that they " voted that our Pastor shall comply with the request of Col Nixon, and supply as chaplain the quarter part of the time for the future in his regiment." Mr. Smith accepted the appointment, and served in that capacity until 1780, when he was hon- orably discharged, at his own request, and returned to the more grateful labors of his ministry at home. Though his pastoral labors had been in the meantime suspended, his pastoral connection remained unbroken.º
In February, 1793, the society received an act of incorporation, under the name of The First Baptist Society in Haverhill.
In 1796, the society made an effort to secure for themselves a share in the parsonage lands in the town, but without success. Similar efforts were made, from time to time, as late as 1818, but were alike un- successful.
In 1799, the meeting-house was thoroughly repaired and improved, and a steeple erected. Samuel White, Esq., presented the society with a fine bell for the latter, which was acknowledged by a handsome vote of thanks and a vote that the donor should be exempt from all taxes for the recent repairs.
After a faithful and successful pastorship of a little more than forty years, Mr. Smith was called to a higher field of labor. He died January 24, 1805, at the age of 68 years.
Rev. Hezekiah Smith, D.D., was born on Long Island, New York, April 21, 1737, of pious and reputable parents. He received his public educa- tion at l'rinceton College, where he graduated in 1762, and took his master's degree in 1765. After he left college, by advice of his physician he spent some time in travel, for the benefit of his health. On his arri-
° Mr. Smith's salary was £65 in 1794; £80 in 1798; £90 in 1803; and $300 in 1804.
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HISTORY OF HAVERITILL.
val at Charleston, S. C., he was ordained as an Evangelist ; after which he visited various parts of the United States; - in one year travelling more than four thousand miles, and preaching about two hundred times. He came into New England in the spring of 1764 intending to return in the fall. He preached frequently while here, and came to Haverhill to supply the pulpit at the West Parish for a time. His preaching was re- markably successful. He was endowed with a commanding presence, rare social qualities and pulpit talent, and had enjoyed the best educational advantages of his time. He preached without notes ; and his plain and practical sermons, able expositions of scripture, (in which he excelled) strong and commanding voice, and impressive manner, drew together large numbers from the neighboring parishes. When it became known that the popular preacher was a Baptist, (which fact was not at first even sus- pected) it added fresh fuel to the smouldering fires in the above parish, and the doors of the pulpit were speedily closed against him.
Mr. Smith was among the first and firmest friends of Brown University, and travelled through various parts of the country to collect monies for its benefit. At an early period he was one of its Fellows, and continued so until his death. Sensible of his talents, his theological knowledge, the excellence of his character, and its indebtedness to him for his great exer- tions in its behalf, that University, in 1797, conferred upon him the honorable degree of Doctor of Divinity.
On the day of Mr. Smith's death, his society met, and voted to pay all the expenses of the funeral, and also to provide the widow, her daughter, " and the girl," with " a suit of mourning."
During the ministry of Mr. Smith, three hundred and five persons were admitted to the church, including the original members.
In the May following the death of their first pastor, the church secured the services of Rev. William Bachelder, whose labors with the church in Berwick, Me., for some nine years previous, had been attended with signal tokens of divine favor. In September, the church gave him a call to set- tle permanently with them, which was accepted, and Mr. Bachelder was installed on the 4th of December in the same year. His salary was $600. In this office he continued with great acceptance and success until his death, which occurred April 8th. 1818, in the fifty-first year of his age, and the twenty-sixth of his ministry.º
During this time, two hundred and nine persons were admitted to the church. But few men have passed from among us whose memories are
Mr. Bachelder was born in Boston, March 25, 1768.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
more ardently cherished by the living, than is that of Mr. Bachelder. He adorned every relation in life, the civil, social and domestic. He was unwearied in the discharge of his duties, both temporal and spiritual. The Maine Literary and Theological Institution will long cherish his memory, as one of its earliest patrons and warmest advocates.
In the July following the decease of Mr. Bachelder, the Rev. George Keely came to Haverhill, and for the first time ministered to this people. He had recently arrived, with his family, from England, where, having pursued a course of theological study, under the tuition of the venerated John Ryland at the Seminary of the Baptists, in Bristol, he had been for several years successfully engaged in the ministry. On the 21st of August following, the church gave him a call to settle, which was accepted, and he was installed their pastor on the 7th of October, 1818. His salary was at first $800, and afterward $600.
In April, 1820, a plan for a permanent ministerial Fund was adopted by the society. The Fund was to be formed by quarterly contributions, donations, &c., and neither principal or interest were to be used until it amounted to $1,000, and none of the principal until it amounted to $10,000. In April, 1822, the amount of the Fund was $95.96. In Octo- ber of that year, Mrs. Sarah How made a donation to the Fund, of $1,000. October, 1823, Mrs. Anna, widow of Dr. Nathaniel Saltonstall, donated $500. . April, 1825, Mrs. Rebekah, widow of James Duncan, Esq., also donated $500. The trustees of the Fund were incorporated in 1823. The quarterly collections were discontinued in 1828. In 1830, the Fund amount- ed to $3,013,33. In 1842, about ninety-three acres of land, which was given by Mrs. Sarah How, subject to the life estate of David How, Esq., came into the possession of the trustecs. In April, 1860, the Fund amounted to $3,694,76.
In 1822, stoves were for the first time placed in the meeting-house. The same year, $25 was appropriated for the " support of the music," which appears to have been the first appropriation of the kind. In 1830, a bass-viol was purchased by the society; and in 1834, a double bass-viol was added.
Rev. Mr. Keely continued pastor of the church until April 13, 1832, when he was dismissed, upon his resignation, after a settlement of nearly fourteen years. He still continues to reside in the town, and retains his membership in the church, honored and revercd. During his ministry, one hundred and twenty-five persons were admitted to the church.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
May 26th, 1832, the church extended a call to Rev. Stephen P. Hill, in which the society joined on the 4th of June. Mr. Hill accepted in July, and was ordained on the first of the October following.
In 1833, the old meeting-house was taken down, and a new one erected in its place. A neat and appropriate building was also erected a few rods east of the new meeting-house, for a vestry. When the present church was erected, the vestry was removed a short distance directly west, to How Street, and was occupied for a primary school, until the summer of 1860, when it was removed to the rear of Washington Street, and transformed into a carpenter's shop. The hill upon which the old meeting-house stood was cut down considerably previous to the erection of the second house, and still more when the present church was built. The new meeting- house was dedicated November 8, 1833.
In the fall of 1833, Rev. Mr. Hill asked and obtained leave of absence for one year, from October 1st, on the score of impaired health. The next April, he resigned his pastorship entirely. He was subsequently, and for several years, settled in Baltimore, when he removed to Washington, D. C., where he now resides.
February 2d, 1835, Rev. Edward N. Harris received and accepted a unanimous call to settle with the church and society. He was to be allowed a part of the time until the next November, to complete his stud- ies at Andover Theological Seminary. The church at this time was un- happily distracted by divisions, and Mr. Harris was never installed as pastor. He resigned April 1, 1836.º During the four years intervening between the resignation of Rev. Mr. Keely, and the settlement of a per- manent successor, sixty persons were admitted to the church by baptism.
In July, 1836, Rev. Arthur S. Train entered upon his ministry with this society, and on the 5th of the September following, received a call to become their pastor. The invitation was accepted, and he was ordained October 20th of the same year. His salary was at first $600, but was gradually increased, until, in 1856, it was $1,200.
In July, 1848, it was voted to build a new meeting-house, and the pre- sent imposing struture was accordingly erected, at an expense of upward of $17,000.
Mr. Train continued with the church until January 1, 1860. During his ministry, three hundred and ninety-one persons were admitted to the church - two hundred and twenty-five of them by baptism. The volun-
@ Mr. Harris afterward became a Universalist, and April 19, 1838, was installed as pastor of the First Universalist Society in Methuen, Mass.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
tary contributions of the church and congregation during the same period were $20,327,41.
Rev. Arthur S. Train, D.D., is a native of Framingham, Mass., where he was born, November, 1812. He graduated at Brown University in 1833, and was subsequently Tutor in that institution until September, 1836. In June, 1859, he was unanimously elected Professor of Sacred Rhetoric and Pastoral Duties in the Newton Theological Institution. He entered upon the duties of that office in November, although his pastoral connection with the above church was not dissolved until January, 1860. During his ministry in Haverhill, Mr. Train married two hundred and seventy-seven couples.
CHRISTIAN CHURCHI.
The first meeting of those persons who afterward constituted the first Christian Church in this town, was held in Bradford, December, 1803, at the house of John Marble. Rev. Elias Smith, - who made his home in Portsmouth, where he had a church, - preached on the occasion. The following is a full copy of the records previous to April, 1805 : -
" An account of the reformation in Bradford and Haverhill, and the gathering of the Christian Church, and its proceedings .--
" December 22, 1803. A Door was opened in Bradford (by Bro. John Marble) where Elder Elias Smith Preached the Gospel the first time in Bradford. The word had some effect.
" Sept. 26, 1804. Elder Smith Preached again in Bradford. God blessed the word to the awakening of some Souls, who soon after found peace in believing.
" Nov. 27, 1804. Elder Smith Preached at Mr. Silas Plummer's, in Haverhill. A Solemn time. The word had effect on some minds.
" The Winter following, Elder Smith, Elder Abner Jones," Elder Pot- tle, & Bro. John E. Palmer, often attended meetings in Bradford and Haverhill, under whose improvement the reformation was carried on."
The following spring (April 18, 1805,) Elder Smith baptized four per- sons in Bradford, " who gave a reason of their hope to a number of Breth- ren that attended, and were considered members of the Christian Church in Portsmouth."¡ Between that date, and the organization of the church in 1806, fifty-four persons. (seventeen males, and thirty-seven females) were baptized, by Elders Smith and Jones. Of these, thirty-nine were
@ Of Charlestown.
These four persons were Samuel Heath, Sally Johnson, Betsey Kimball, and Eliza Parker.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
baptized in Bradford. The greater part of them were between the ages of twelve and twenty-five years.
The record of the formation of the church is as follows : -
" April 9th 1806. Thursday. The Church met at Mr Silas Plum- mer's in Haverhill.@ Elder Smith attended. Most of the Brethren present. This day the Brethren and Sisters in Bradford and Haverhill who had before been considered members of the Church of Christ in Ports- mouth, by the consent of the Brethren there, and their own agreement, consider themselves a Church of Christ to act in all things respecting themselves, and at the same time to be in connection with the churches in Portsmouth, Boston, Nantasket, Chebacco, and Woodstock Vermont, as all have agreed to take the New-Testament as their only rule, naming and owning the name of Christ (that is Christians) laying aside all human creeds, articles, platforms, covenants, associations, councils, and every human form of government, for the government of Christ and that only. Coppied from Bro Smith's hand."
January 31, 1807. The church met at Thomas Plummer's, in Haver- hill, when they " received Bro Palmer as a preacher of the Gospel, and consented to give him a letter of recommendation as such."
January 26, 1808. "The Brethren appointed Bro John Marble, Bro John Plummer, and Bro Daniel Buzzel, to collect the Church Records and copy them into a Book."
In the June following, a church meeting was held " to enquire into the minds of the brethren concerning Bro Frederick Plummer, whether they thought God had called him to preach the Gospel, and whether he ought to be Ordained as such." The brethren decided that it was his duty to work in the ministry, and on the 15th of the following September he was ordained. The place of ordination was the beautiful grove that stood on the east bank of Little River, near the easterly end of Walnut Street.t
For several years the meetings were held in private houses, after which a large room was obtained in the upper story of a building then belonging to George W. Ayer, and situated on the site now occupied by the Whittier Block, Merrimack Street.
The church was prosperous and united for a number of years after its organization, though its practice and defence of " religious freedom in act
" His house was situated ou Merrimack Street, in front of the present Baptist Church.
t Mr. Plummer was baptized May 2, 1805, by Rev. Elias Smith.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
and belief " brought upon it no small share of opposition, and unpopular- ity. But divisions ere long began to creep in between its members, and were soon succeeded by general coldness and indifference. The interest gradually declined until the fall of 1816, when the meetings appear to have been discontinued altogether, and the body ceased to act as a church. The last entry in the records is dated October 8th of that year. The whole number recorded as baptized previous to the latter date, is onc hun- dred and thirty-two. The church was supplied wholly by itinerant preachers during this period of its history, of whom the following names are preserved in the records : - Elders Elias Smith, Abner Jones, Henry Pottle, John E. Palmer, Samuel Rand, Frederick Plummer, Douglas Farn- ham, - Ramzey, Asa Foster. and John Capron.
In the fall of 1821, an effort was made to revive the church. A meet- ing was held, October 16th, at which Elder Jones preached, but the effort to resuscitate was unsuccessful. Matters thus remained until the winter and spring of 1823, when another effort was made, and this time with success. At a meeting in April (1823) the living members " covenanted anew, and were reorganized as a church, Elder Abner Jones being present.“ Soon after, several persons were hopefully converted. This was followed by a glorious revival, in which, we trust, about fifty were brought from darkness to light."
The meetings were now held in the " old Haynes house," so called, which stood near the corner of Emerson and Merrimack Streets. Early the next spring, (1824) the church commenced the erection of a neat brick chapel, on the west side of Washington Square, which was completed and dedicated the ensuing October. It was called the Christian Union Chapel.
In April, 1825, the church " selected Abel Nichols and George W. Ayer for Deacons, upon trial." These appear to have been the first ones chosen. t At the same time, Henry Plummer was " selected as Bishop."
June 16th, of the same year, Elder Ebenezer Robinson was " acknowl- edged as Pastor" of the church. He was engaged to preach only a part of the time, however, and continued with the society until April 2, 1827, when his connection was regularly dissolved.
August 2, 1826, Henry Plummer was regularly ordained to the work of the ministry, in the new chapel, and became the regular pastor of the church ; though, through an informality, Elder Robinson remained nomi- nally the pastor until the following April.
" The whole number was thirty-two - eight males, and twenty-four females.
+ Nichols resigned the office April 9, 1832.
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HISTORY OF HAVERIIILL.
From the re-organization, in April, 1823, to October of the same year, the desk was principally supplied by Elder Jones; and from the latter date, to the settlement of Robinson, by Elder Henry Tatem.
In December, 1829, the church "acknowledged Bro John Morse as a Deacon."
At a church meeting August 2, 1830, it was " agreed that the male members of this church form a quorum for business, without the voice of the female members, except in the receiving and excommunicating mem- bers." This, however, was not generally satisfactory, and in the January following it was " repealed."
May 3, 1832, David Evans and Oliver H. Roberts were chosen deacons ; and in the following month, " James Palmer, Samuel Greenleaf, Richard Woodman, and others, were chosen as helps in the church."
The number of worshipers had so much increased under the constant and earnest labors of Elder Plummer, that in the above year, it was found necessary to enlarge the chapel, which was accordingly done.
Elder Plummer continued the faithful and successful pastor of the church, until the spring of 1843, when his connection was dissolved, at his own request. During his pastorship, he baptized upward of three hundred and eighty persons, and thirty others were received to fellowship."
From the dismission of Mr. Plummer, in 1843, until 1856, when he again assumed the pastoral charge, the church was under the successive pastorship of Rev.'s H. P. Guilford, Pierce, - Morrison, Timothy Cole, William P. Merrill, Davis, and Martin. The only baptisms from December 31, 1843, to November 14, 1847, were three, all by Rev. Mr. Merrill, at the latter date. From this time there were none until subsequent to January, 1850. A revision of the records at the latter date found two hundred and seven members in good stand- ing. December 1, 1854, John Bond was chosen deacon.
August 3, 1856, Rev. Mr. Plummer again received a call to become the pastor of the church, which he accepted. At the same time, Oliver H. Roberts was chosen a deacon of the church. April 3, 1857, John Tenney and John Brown were chosen to the same office. A revision of the church records in 1858, showed a total of one hundred and thirty-seven members in good standing, thirty-nine of whom were males.
Mr. Plummer remained as pastor of the society until the spring of 1857. He was succeeded (August 29, 1858,) by Rev. Leonard B. Hatch,
° From the re-organization, in 1823, to the settlement of Mr. Plummer, in 1826, thirty-five persons were received by baptism, and four by letters of recommendation.
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who subsequently received a call to settle, and was ordained as their pas- tor January 5, 1859.
Soon after the settlement of Mr. Hatch, the chapel of the society was thoroughly re-modeled and repaired; and a steeple and bell added. The whole expense of the improvements was about $8,000. The church was re-dedicated May 17, 1860. The number admitted to the church between February 1, 1859, and February 1, 1861, have been thirty-four, nine of them by letter.
Mr. Hatch continued with the society until April, 1861, when he was dismissed at his own request.º
SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
About the year 1817, a few persons of the Baptist faith, - not exceed- ing fifteen in number, - residing in the extreme easterly part of the town, conceived the idea of holding regular religious services in the old school- house on the common, a little southeast of the present new school building. For this purpose, they joined in engaging the services of a Mr. Merrill, of Amesbury, a lay preacher, and from that time regular meetings were held on the Sabbath, and were well attended. Some two years afterward, Mr. Merrill was succeeded by a Mr. Westcott - also a lay preacher - who preached regularly until the latter part of 1820.
On the 31st of January, 1821, " A respectable number of the inhabi- tants in Haverhill and Amesbury, convened at Wm. Chase's; " signed the articles for a second regular Baptist society in Haverhill; and after mak- ing choice of Cutting Moody as moderator, attended prayers. Having in- voked the divine blessing upon their proceedings, they completed their organization, by choosing Wm. D. S. Chase clerk and treasurer, and Cut- ting Moody, Samuel Pillsbury, and William Chase, " a committee to pro- cure a teacher for the society, and draw orders on the treasurer." At a subsequent meeting, the society voted to raise the sum of $100 to support preaching that year. The number of persons who united in the organiza- tion of the church was eighteen. Phineas Nichols and Stephen Bayley were the first deacons.
In 1822, a meeting-house was erected, and completed in the fall of the same year .; In the year following, a steeple was added. The cost of the building was about $2,500.
" Mr. Hatch is a native of Bristol, R. I. He prepared for the ministry at Madison University, Ham- ilton, N, Y.
t The land (one-half an aere) was presented to the society, by Wm. D. S. Chase.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
In 1823, William Bowen, then a student at Waterville, Maine, sup- plicd the pulpit during his vacation, and with such acceptance, that he was invited to settle here as soon as his studies were completed. He ac- copted the call, and was ordained in the spring of 1825. He continued with the society until 1828, when he was discharged at his own request. His salary was $270 per year, with the privilege of three Sabbaths' vacation.
From the dismission of Rev. Mr. Bowen, in 1828, the society was for twelve years without a settled minister. During this time, however, sev- eral candidates received invitations to settle, " but declined. The difficulty attending the settlement of a new minister, we understand to have been the limited salary offered, and not, as is too often the reason in similar cases, the want of harmony among its members.
Happily, with the increase of years, there was a corresponding increase in the resources of the society; and in June, 1839, Rev. Isaac Wood- bury received and accepted a call to settle, at a salary of $450. Mr. Woodbury continued his labors with the society until the early part of 1842. In March, of that year, Rev. J. M. Harris accepted an invi- tation to become their pastor, and was ordained the same spring. His salary was $350. Mr. Harris remained with the society until 1848.
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