USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Harpswell > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 36
USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Brunswick > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 36
USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Topsham > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 36
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"JUDAH CHASE. ROBERT DUNNING.
DAVID DUNNING.
ANDREW DUNNING.
WILLIAM STANWOOD.
SAMUEL STANWOOD.
JOIIN DUNLAP.
WILLIAM STANWOOD, 2D.
WILLIAM SPEAR.
STEPHEN SKOLFIELD.
SAMUEL DUNLAP.
WILLIAM WOODSIDE. JOIIN SWETT.
DANIEL WOODSIDE, JR. ANTHONY WOODSIDE.
JAMES CARY.
JAMES ELLIOTT.
DAVID DUNNING, JR.
WILLIAM STANWOOD, 3D."
[1762.] At a meeting of the church, held Monday, November 15, it was -
Voted. " That all such as desire admittance into full Communion with the Church, shall privately signify their desire to the minister. and [make a statement of their religious] views, after which the min- ister shall propound them to the Church at least a week before the Sacrament, that if any of the Communicants have anything to object, they may have time so to do before the Sacrament, which objection is to be made to the Deacons, who shall before Sacrament day acquaint the minister of it, that the minister may have time to inform the per- son. but if no objections appear, the minister shall proceed to admit the person." Also, "That the sacrament of the Lord's Supper be administered once in two months in the winter, beginning the first Sabbath of December, and once in six weeks in the summer months."
[1763.] On May 12, the church voted, " That the contribution be continued at both ends of the town in order to purchase utensils for this church.
SAMUEL STANWOOD, JR. SAMUEL STANWOOD, 3D. LEWIS SIMPSON.
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
" To purchase four flagons, eight tankards, twelve cups, four dishes, two tablecloths, and two napkins for the use of this church.
" That Aaron Hinkley and Deacon Dunning take charge of the contribution, and see the articles purchased as soon as may be.
" That Deacon Clark and Deacon Samuel Stanwood take an account of the money collected at the west meeting-house, and Dea- con Snow and Deacon Whitney take account of the money collected at the east meeting-house, before delivered into the hands of Deacon Dunning and Mr. Hinkley."
It is difficult to understand the necessity for this vote to purchase flagons, etc., because (if there is no mistake in the date inscribed upon them) two flagons, three plates, and four cups were presented to the church in 1737 by Benjamin Larrabee and John Minot. They are now in the possession of Professor A. S. Packard.
At this same meeting of the church, it was " voted to sing Tate and Brady's version with the hymns annexed thereto, composed by Isaac Watts. D. D." Mr. Aaron Hinkley declined serving as deacon, and was excused.
[1764.] This year an individual who desired baptism for his two children was obliged to make a public confession of his criminal inti- macy with Ann Conner, who subsequently committed suicide.
[1765.] September 8, the church met and voted to have a covenant drawn up and signed by each member.
The following is found on the cover of one of the old records : -
"October 1765 The people in Brunswick began to quarrel with their minister, John Miller, headed by William Woodside Senior."
[1766.] On May 9, a church meeting was held to consider this " quarrel" ; and at an adjourned meeting, held May 22, the church voted that Mr. Woodside should apologize to the pastor He refused to do so, and the church then voted that " Mr. Miller's Character stood fair in the eye of the church."
[1767.] May 13, William Woodside was suspended until he con- fessed his fault to the church and pastor. .
[1768.] July 29. At a meeting of the church on this day objec- tion was offered to the baptism of a child of Thomas Thompson, " on account of said Thomas standing up and reading the Psalm in the public worship of God." The child was, however, baptized. At a meeting on September 6, William Woodside, Senior, openly asked the forgiveness of the church and the pastor, as to his past misconduct, and was received again into the church. A number of the members were also reconciled to each other at this meeting, an uncommon spirit
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ECCLESIASTICAL IIISTORY OF BRUNSWICK.
of forgiveness prevailing, and the members appearing to be " of one heart and of one mind." At this meeting Mr. Miller openly declared himself to be the pastor of a church on the Congregational plan.
[1770.] In May, 1770. the church records show that the members had been led to consider the decline of religion ; and accordingly a day of fasting and prayer was appointed " to implore pardon of God, and his aid and help." The day was seriously observed. After public services the church met, confessions were made, alienations and differences composed, and tokens appeared of a reviving spiritual influence among the Christian portion of the community.
[1771.] The question whether the church should be Congrega- tional or Presbyterian in form came up this year. A meeting was held at the west meeting-house, which the members of the east end did not attend. Subsequently a meeting was held at the east end which was attended by both parties. The next day some of the members at the east end met at Captain Thompson's, without notifying the other members. To reconcile the difficulties a meeting was held on [1772] June 16, and the following agreement was drawn up and signed : -
" In the first place we propose that this Church and the Discipline thereof be governed agreeable to the Congregational Constitution and platform of the churches in New England - excepting the adminis- tration of the ordinance of Baptism and the Lord's supper to be administered agreeable to the custom of the Presbyterian Churches, and to have only one preparation day before each sacrament.
" Consented to by me, " JOHN MILLER.
" DAVID DUNNING AARON HINKLEY SAMUEL CLARK JAMES THOMPSON
Church SAMUEL STANWOOD
Committee.
ISAAC SNOW THOMAS SKOLFIELD
" Voted and accepted in Church.
"N. B. It is to be understood by the Pastor and the Church that the above writing was drawn up and executed in consequence of all differences and uneasiness that did subsist between the Pastor and Church, and the same were adjusted and settled in an amicable manner."
[1774.] At a meeting of the church, on May 16, at the west meeting-house, the above vote having caused some uneasiness, and
24
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
some of the members at the east end of the town not being disposed to comply with it, it was voted that the sacrament might be adminis- tered at the west meeting-house from the long table, the communi- cants sitting around it or in the body-pews as they might see fit ; and that it might be administered at the east meeting-house in the Con- gregational form. The ordinance of baptism to be administered in either form as persons might choose.
[1785.] At a meeting held on September 13, the church consid- ered the matter of lay exhorters, who were becoming quite common in town. No action was taken, however, as some of the church evi- dently favored such persons.
[1786.] At a meeting held April 17, the subject of chosing ruling elders was brought forward, and it was voted not to choose any. The church then considered in regard to the new mode of singing adopted at the east end of the town, and it was voted that the psalms and hymns should be read by the deacons, i. e., line by line, until all had had time to furnish themselves with books. Charles Thomas was chosen chorister at the east end, and John Dunning at the west end of the town, with liberty to appoint their own assistants.
At a meeting held July 5, there was a pretty warm discussion in regard to the mode of singing. After a while the discussion turned upon the question whether the church was Congregational or Presby- terian. The meeting closed without settling the point.
[1790.] At a meeting held in March, there being no minister, Stanwood Dunning was chosen permanent moderator. Several per- sons being asked why they had absented themselves from church meetings. etc., one replied, " because there was no order in the church "; another, that he could not sit down to the Lord's table with a certain member; and others answered that " they had joined the Baptists."
[1793.] December 18 the church voted a call to Reverend Mr. Coffin, and that the twenty-third of January be set for his ordination.
[1794.] January 22, the council for the ordination met. It con- sisted of Daniel Little, Kennebunk ; Paul Coffin, Buxton ; Thomas Brown, Stroudwater ; Alfred Johnston, Freeport; Samuel Eaton, Harpswell; Jonathan Ellis, Topsham ; and the usual lay delegates. The ordaining services were performed the next day in the west meet- ing-house.
The minutes of only two church meetings are recorded during the whole of Mr. Coffin's pastorate. May 10 of this year it was voted that there should be four communions a year. June 26 it was voted
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK.
"that candidates for the baptism of their first child should be pro- pounded as such one fortnight, that if there should be any objections made, they may be made in season to the minister that he may act accordingly."
On July 21, 1808, the new meeting house, which had been built by subscription, was given to and accepted by the parish, the north gal- lery being reserved for the use of the students of Bowdoin College. that institution having contributed funds towards its erection. After- ward, in the present building. the south gallery was substituted in lieu of the north.
On February 8, 1810, the parish extended an invitation to Reverend John Bartlett to settle over them. The call was not, however, accepted. On the twenty-first of April, of this year, the parish voted to petition the Court of Common Pleas for a remission of the fine that had been imposed npon them " for not being supplied with preaching."
Since 1802 there had been no settled minister over them and a por- tion of the time no preaching, though during this time Presidents McKeen and Appleton often officiated.
On April 2, 1811, the parish voted " to appoint a suitable person to care for the meeting-house, sweep the same, and ring the bell." This is the first allusion to any bell in town and this bell was undoubtedly the one on the college chapel. In October, 1824, however, the parish authorized a bell to be put in the tower of the meeting-house, and it was done shortly after. This, the first parish bell. was bought by subscription, and cost about five hundred dollars.1 "The college paid fifty dollars towards its purchase, on condition that the parish would give them the right to use both it and the meeting-honse, for literary exercises on Commencement week and at other times for special pur- poses, upon ten days' notice being given.
In 1817 the question of heating the meeting-house came up. and on the eighteenth of January the parish voted to grant permission to have stoves put in. This was probably not done, though, at this time, for in 1824 the matter again came up and was referred to a committee, who reported it inexpedient to use stoves. In November, 1838, the parish authorized the assessors " to adopt the plan used in Reverend Mr. Ellingwood's church, in Bath."
In 1819. John Schwartkin, of Holland, was allowed to partake of the communion without a letter of recommendation, because he was a stranger in a foreign country.
1 .It all events, the subscriptions amounted to a trifle orer this xum.
372
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
In Reverend Mr. Mead's reply to a call of the church, in 18 2, he made it a condition of his acceptance that he should have the right to dissolve the connection with the church whenever the compensation he received failed to amount to seven hundred dollars a year.
His ordination services were held. this year and were as follows : introductory prayer, by Reverend Mr. Mittimore, of Falmouth ; sermon, by Reverend Doctor Payson, of Portland ; consecrating prayer, by Reverend Mr. Gillet, of Hallowell ; charge, by Reverend Doctor Packard, of Wiscasset ; right hand of fellowship, by Reverend Mr. Smith, of Portland ; address to the people, by Reverend Mr. Ellingwood, of Bath ; closing prayer, by Reverend Mr. Pomeroy, of Gorham.
Mr. Mead was dismissed, at his own request, in July, 1829. On the fifth of that month lie preached his farewell discourse, which was printed by request, and a copy of which is preserved in the library of the Maine Historical Society. During his ministry a creed and cov- enant were adopted by the church and a church library started, to which the books of the Brunswick Female Humane Society were added.
About this time the attention of the parish was directed to the question of the ownership and boundaries of the meeting-house lot. The fencing of this lot and the legal contest connected therewith is mentioned in another connection.
In November, 1829, Reverend George E. Adams was invited to become the pastor of this parish. Ilaving already been ordained, although without a charge, he was installed Tuesday, December 29. The installation services were as follows : -
Introductory prayer, by Reverend Seneca White, of Bath ; sermon, by Dr. Tyler. of Portland ; installing prayer, by Dr. H. Packard, of Wiscasset ; charge, by Reverend Asa Mead, of Gorham ; right hand of fellowship, by Reverend Jacob C. Goss, of Topsham ; address to the church and to the people, by Reverend Benjamin Tappan, of Augusta ; coneluding prayer, by Reverend William Mittimore, of Falmouth.
On November 27, 1834, Thanksgiving day, the meeting-house, hav- ing been repaired and somewhat altered, was dedicated anew.
In 1835 the parish voted to receive an organ, in trust, for the church. Two years later the debt due upon this organ was assumed by the parish. On May 16, 1840, a motion was made in parish meet- ing to pay the organist fifty dollars. This motion produced an ani- mated discussion. One individual remarked, " I don't wish to wound the feelings of any one. I have felt very unpleasant ever since the
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK.
organ came into the meeting-lionse. It is not acceptable to God. It is very offensive. It begins to make a noise after the hymn is read, - before they begin to sing. It has a very immoral tendency. It keeps our minds from other things." No objection to the motion was made by any one else, and the amount was therefore voted.
In 1812 a new bell was part in the tover in place of the old one. which had been cracked in consequence of ringing a fire alarm on the seventeenth of December of the previous year. The cost of this new bell was about one hundred and fifty dollars, and the sum was raised by subscription.
On February 15, 1845, the parish voted to have a new meeting- honse built, and to dispose of the old one. Work was at once com- menced on it, and it was finished early the next year. Its cost was $13.101.68. It was dedicated on March 18, 1846. The public exer- cises were as follows : A voluntary on the organ ; an anthem by the choir ; reading of Scripture by Reverend Ray Palmer, of Bath ; prayer, by Reverend Jonathan Clement, of Topsham ; hymn, by Reverend John O. Fisk. of Bath ; sermon, by the pastor, Reverend George E. Adams ; prayer, by Reverend John W. Chickering, of Portland ; hymn, by Reverend E. G. Parsons, of Freeport ; benediction, by Reverend James Drummond, of Lewiston.
Doctor Adams closed his ministry in August, 1870. When he went to Brunswick he was called from the Professorship of Sacred Rhetoric, in the Bangor Theological Seminary, and by experience and culture seemed unusually well endowed for the work of the ministry, which, with uninterrupted unanimity, was continued forty-one years. " With perhaps as few trials as have fallen to the lot of any of his contempo- raries. he was permitted to witness repeated special manifestations of the Divine favor, and a large increase of the church and of the society. Having come to it when it was comparatively weak, he closed his long service when it had become one of the strong societies of the State. When at last, after an unusually prolonged pastorate, at his own request, moved to it by an inviting call to Orange, New Jersey, he asked to be released from this ministry, he received a united and costly testimonial from his whole people of their affectionate and grateful esteem and affection." 1
Notwithstanding Doctor Adams's resignation was accepted by the parish, his formal connection therewith was never severed by any act of council, and he died the legal pastor of the society.
1 Church Manual.
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
In December, 1870, Reverend Ezra II. Byington (University of Vermont, 1852) was invited to supply the pulpit, and on January 10, 1871, he received a quite unanimous call to settle. He accepted and has remained to the present time, but no formal settlement has yet occurred.
To this history of the church and society we add a brief notice of their Sabbath school.
The following sketch of the origin and early history of the Sab- bath school is obtained from the church manual. The particulars were obtained from a private journal of the late Deacon John Perry, for many years an active and efficient member and officer of the church : - ยท
" In the winter of 1811-12 an account of a Sabbath school in England, in a newspaper, suggested to Mr. Perry the idea of attempt- ing the same agency for good in this community. He consulted the minister, Reverend Mr. Bailey, and President Appleton, about the expediency of such a movement and the proper method of conducting it. They favored the project, but were not informed of the way in which such schools were managed. They, however, thought that nothing but reading of a religious character should be allowed. To the inquiry whether small children, abecedarians, should be admitted, after deliberation of some days, they decided in favor of it, on the ground that unless such children were taught to read, they could never read the Scriptures. Mr. Perry then, May, 1812, gathered some eighteen of his own and neighbors' children in the red school- house, School Street, during the hour before morning service. After the hour was spent, most of his school accompanied him to the church. The school was opened by Scripture reading and prayer ; lessons were recited in the Bible and primer. Those that could read, read in the Bible at least once, and the portion read he explained as he best could. That first season, closing in October, passed without an assistant or a visitor ; and so his service of love continued until in 1816. Mr. David Starret, a student in college (1819), was secured as an assistant, and more interest was taken in this humble work. President Appleton exhibited decided interest in the movement. At his suggestion, several of the church and parish met in 1817 to con- sider its claims. and the first formal organization of a Sabbath school, as an element in the work of the church, was made. A superintend- ent was chosen, teachers were appointed, wider interest awakened, and the institution permanently established."
According to another account with which we have been favored,
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ECCLESIASTICAL IIISTORY OF BRUNSWICK.
" the first school of this kind was opened early in 1816, in the cloth- room of the factory, by Mr. Jacob Abbott, Mr Bourne, and Mr. Edwards, the credit of suggesting it belonging to the former gentle- man. Deacon John Perry and several other gentlemen were invited to act as teachers. As the cold weather came on, the school was moved to the school-house near Miss Narcissa Stone's, and David Starrett and a Mr. Vance were the teachers. After a while it was moved to the red school-house." The writer of the above was con- nected with this school from its formation until 1826, and says that if one. was formed earlier it certainly died out, as there was none in town when this school was formed, in 1816.
The following is a list of the settled pastors of the church, and of the deacons and members prior to the present century : -
PASTORS.
Reverend Robert Dunlap, 1747-1760 ; Reverend John Miller, 1762- 1788 ; Reverend Ebenezer Coffin, 1794-1802 ; Reverend Winthrop Bailey, 1811-1814 ; Reverend Asa Mead, 1822-1829 ; Reverend George Eliashib Adams, 1829-1870; Reverend Ezra Byington, 1871.
DE.ICONS.
Samuel Stanwood, David Dunning, Samuel Clark, Isaac Snow.
MEMBERS.
(This list of members is supposed to be quite imperfect, but it includes all the names which can be found in the records.)
LIST IN THE HANDWRITING OF REVEREND JJOHN MILLER, WHO WAS ORDAINED NOVEMBER 3. 1762. - John Miller. pastor ; John Orr, Mair Point ; Samuel Stanwood, deacon ; Ebenezer Stanwood, died July 18, 1772 ; Thomas Adams, recommended to the church in Scotland, July, 1765 ; William Ross ; David Dunning, deacon ; William Simp- son ; Samnel Clark, deacon ; James Hewey ; Robert Given ; John Given ; Thomas Skolfield : John Gatchell, Senior ; Isaac Snow, dea- con ; Peter Coombs, died Jannary, 1768; Peter Coombs, Junior ; Aaron Hinkley ; James Thompson, renounced the church ; Alexander Thompson ; James Curtis, received May, 1763 ; Samuel Whitney, deacon, dismissed to a church to be gathered at St. John's River. eastward ; Reverend Robert Dunlap ; Enoch Danforth, received May, 1763. from church in Arundel ; Benjamin Stone; George Hayden, or Headon, or Haddean, received September, 1765 ; Joseph Snow, received September, 1765 ; William Wilson, received December, 1762 ;
.
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
Samuel Snow, son of Deacon S., received October, 1765 ; Robin Mil- ler (colored man) ; Robert Dunning. received May, 1772; Allen : Andrew Dunning, deacon, received July, 1772 ; William Cot- ton ; Daniel Browne, received July, 1772 ; Thomas Pennell ; Susan- nah Orr; Hannah Moody, removed to Falmouth ; Hannah Minot, Catherine Smart, removed to Penobscot ; Jane Rutherford, removed to Georges, eastward ; Eliza Stanwood, wife of William; Jane Stan- wood ; John Smart ; 1 John Minot ; 2 Jane Dunlap, wife of Reverend Robert : Mary Spear, wife of Robert; Elizabeth Ross, wife of Wil- liam ; Mary Dunning ; Hannah Harward ; Agnes Simpson. wife of William : Martha Clark, wife of Samuel; Anna Given ; Mary Skol- field, wife of Thomas : Mary Snow, daughter of Deacon S., received October. 1765 ; Mary Whitney, wife of Deacon S. W., dismissed to St. John's River, October, 1765 ; Sarah Gray, received September, 1765 ; Dorothy Gray, received September. 1765 ; Thompson ; Thomp- son ; Hinkley ; Ham ; Elizabeth Hayden, wife of G., received Sep- tember, 1762; Dorcas Danforth, wife of E., received May, 1763; Sarah Gray ; Mary Snow ; Sarah Dunning, wife of Robert, received July, 1772 ; Mary Hunt; Margaret Miller, wife of Reverend John ; Elizabeth Dunning, wife of Andrew, received July, 1772; Mrs. Wil- liam Cotton, received July, 1772 ; Mrs. Daniel Browne, received July, 1772 ; Alice Pennell, wife of Thomas, died 1839 ; Sarah Cary. Total number of members, seventy-two.
The following names are found in a list of those admitted to the church during Mr. Miller's ministry, which are not found in the preceding one. This list is apparently also in Mr. Miller's handwriting.
Daniel Hunt, James Elliot, William Dunning, Ephraim Hunt, Samuel Dunlap, Joseph Morse, Joseph Haley, Janett Hunt, wife of Daniel, Ruth Elliot, wife of James : all received April 20, 1783.
A LIST OF MEMBERS WHO SIGNED A CHURCH DOCUMENT WHICH IS WITHOUT DATE, BUT IS AT LEAST AS LATE AS 1783. AS IT INCLUDES THREE NAMES ADMITTED IN 1783. - Judah Chase ; Robert Dunning ; William Stanwood ; Samuel Stanwood, Junior ; Samuel Stanwood, 3d ; Lewis Simpson ; Stephen Skolfield ; William Woodside ; Daniel Woodside, Junior ; Anthony Woodside ; David Dunning ; David Dunning, Junior ; Andrew Dunning ; Samuel Stanwood ; John Dunlap ; William Stan- wood, 2d ; William Spear ; Samuel Dunlap ; Jolin Swett; James Cary ; William Stanwood, 3d.
1 Pejepscot Papers, 5, p. 311, et seq.
2 Ibid.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK.
In a list of church members during the ministry of Reverend Eben- ezer Coffin and subsequently, the following are not found in previous lists : -
William Owen : Patrick Kincaid, deacon, July, 1800 ; Tobias Still ; James Curtis. deacon. removed to Lisbon ; Mary Owen ; Sarah Given ; Martha Ross ; Mrs. Eunice Harding : Mrs. Hannah Lunt, received August, 1795 ; Jeremiah Minot, received August, 1796 ; Jane Dunlap, received August, 1796 ; Mrs. Goss, received May, 1801.
On account of the former connection of the First Parish with the town, an account is here inserted of the
PARISII FUND.
The origin of the fund was this: The meeting-house, which was built in 1806, was built by individuals with the understanding that the pews should be sold at auction, and that all that was paid over the amount needed to reimburse the builders was to go to the parish as a ministerial fund, only the interest of which was to be available for parish purposes. This fund could be added to by donations and other- wise, but the principal was not to be used. In 1816 the overplus of the town Commons - one hundred and ninety-seven acres - was set off to the parish and was afterwards sold to Mr. John Given. The proceeds of the sale were added to this fund. This overplus of the Commons was the amount of land over the one thousand acres, which by the proprietor's deed of 1783 was to go to the First Parish. It was not the .. ministerial lot " of one hundred acres laid out by the proprietors in 1741. What became of the proceeds of the sale of the latter, we do not know. It may have been expended in building the first two meeting-houses. It formed no part of the parish fund. This fund is said at one time to have amounted to $5.000 or more. At first it was loaned to individuals, and some of the loans were lost by the parties dying insolvent. Afterwards the trustees of the fund bought some thirty or more pews in the meeting-house, and loaned the balance of the funds to the parish. By bad management this fund has dwindled away, and nothing now remains but a small lot of land back of the church.
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