USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Harpswell > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 42
USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Brunswick > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 42
USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Topsham > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 42
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
[1837.] In July, 1837, Reverend Thomas N. Lord commenced preaching to this society and was ordained in August. He was invited at a joint meeting of the church and society held in the Court House in January, 1837. His salary was five hundred dollars per annum. The council for his ordination met August 7.
The services were held on the next day and were as follows : -
Singing by the choir ; prayer, by Reverend Ray Palmer, 2d church, Bath ; singing by the choir ; sermon, by Reverend David Thurston, Winthrop ; consecrating prayer, by Reverend Josiah T. Hawes, Edge- comb ; charge to pastor, by Reverend Jacob C. Goss, Woolwich ; singing by choir ; right hand of fellowship, by Reverend George E. Adams, Brunswick ; address to church and people, by Reverend Tim- othy Davis, Litchfield ; concluding prayer, by Professor Smyth, Bow- doin College ; benediction, by the pastor.
[1841.] At a meeting held September 21, 1841, the church passed the following resolutions : -
1 The present edifice.
430
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
" Resolved, that we have entire confidence in the ability and piety of our pastor, and that the welfare of this church and the interests of religion in this place demand that the connection be continued.
" Resolved, that in the opinion of this church, Reverend Mr. Lord has faithfully preached the gospel, and the church is willing to sustain him." The foregoing resolutions evidently indicate the existence of some dissatisfaction in the society, though not in the church.
At a joint meeting of the church and society, held July 2, 1842, Mr. Lord in a verbal communication requested to have the connection severed between himself and the society, on account chiefly of the state of his health, but partly on account of some disaffection which he thought existed. The meeting voted that Major Nahum Perkins and Matthew Patten be a committee to settle up the affairs of the society ; " that John Barron, Alfred Perkins, and Samuel Douglass be a com- mittee to take charge of the meeting-house, ring the bell, settle with the minister, etc.
" That Deacon Sprague, Nahum Perkins, Given Jameson, and Alfred S. Perkins be a committee to consult with Reverend Mr. Lord concerning his request."
[1842.] On July 5, 1842, this committee reported that Mr. Lord still wished to dissolve his connection with them, and the church and society accordingly gave their assent and voted to call an ecclesiasti- cal council. On July 12 the council met, and after long deliberation agreed by a very small majority to sever the connection.
At a church meeting, held September 18 of this year, the standing committee of the church was instructed to make an agreement with Reverend Daniel Sewall to supply the pulpit for that year, commen- cing July 1, 1842, and ending July 1, 1843. He had already preached five Sabbaths.
[1843.] Between October 2, 1842, and August 5, 1843, the slavery question began to be discussed in the church, and caused some disaffection. One member was refused a letter of recommen- dation to a church of which the members were slave-owners, and sev- eral resolutions against slavery were passed, which so offended a number of the members that they absented themselves from church meetings for some time.
[1844.] At a meeting held May 16, 1844, complaint was made against several persons that they had withdrawn from the communion and had embraced " unscriptural and erroneous doctrines," having accepted the views of the Second Adventists. A committee was appointed to visit and argue the matter with them, but their argu-
431
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF TOPSIIAM.
ments had no effect, and these individuals were excommunicated about a month later.
On July 14 of this year a letter was received from the acting pas- tor, Reverend David Sewall, urging the church to settle a perma- nent minister. Isaac L. Cook, Deacon Willis Sprague, and Samuel Jameson were chosen a committee " to ascertain if a sufficient sum could be raised to secure a minister."
[1845-6.] In August, 1845, the church extended an invitation to Reverend Jonathan Clement, of Chester, New Hampshire, to preach to them as a candidate for settlement, and on September 5, 1846, the church voted, "To concur with the parish in extending a call to the Reverend Jonathan Clement to become pastor over the church." He accepted, and was installed February 1, 1847.
[1852.] May 13, 1852, Reverend Mr. Clement and his wife were dismissed from this church, and recommended to the Congregational Church in Woodstock, Vermont, where he had received a call to settle. During Mr. Clement's pastorate the church was prosperous, and nothi- ing appears on the records save a few cases of discipline not neces- sary to be mentioned.
From the time of the dismission of 'Mr. Clement until his successor was installed, the pulpit was supplied by Professor Alpheus S. Pack- ard, of Bowdoin College.
In December, 1852. a call was extended to Reverend John Wilde, of Falmouth, and a council was called for his installation.
[1853.] This council met January 4, 1853, and the following services were held : -
Prayer, by Reverend P. F. Barnard ; sermon, by Reverend William Warren ; installing prayer, by Reverend J. W. Turner; charge to pastor, by Reverend J. W. Ellingwood ; right hand of fellowship, by Reverend George E. Adams, D. D. ; address to people, by Rev- erend J. O. Fisk ; concluding prayer, by Reverend E. Whittlesey ; benediction, by the pastor.
[1854.] On August 19, 1854, a letter was received from Mr. Wilde asking to have a council called to act upon his request for a dissolution of the pastoral relation, the reason of his request be- ing the inadequacy of his salary. In compliance with this request the church, August 21, voted to call a council. This council met shortly afterwards, and dissolved the relation between the pastor and church.
[1856.] After Mr. Wilde left, Reverend James M. Palmer supplied the pulpit for one year. He was followed by Reverend J. Q. Peabody,
432
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL.
of Ipswich, Mass., who supplied till October, 1856, when he accepted a call to settle at Fryeburg.
In December, 1856, Reverend Daniel F. Potter, of Union, was invited to preach for a few Sabbaths. He was then invited to settle, but declined, agreeing, however, to preach to the society during their mutual pleasure.
[1865-6.] June 3, 1865, Mr. Potter notified the church that on account of ill-health he should be unable to preach any more. Between this date and June. 1866, the desk was supplied by Professors Pack- ard and Sewall, of Bowdoin College, and by Reverend Elijah Kellogg, of Boston.
[1868.] During the year 1868 a new and handsome spire was erected on the meeting-house, and the whole building was remodelled.
[1869-1875.] On February 4, 1869, the building was rededicated. The services of the occasion were as follows : -
Invocation, by Reverend Mr. Bryant, of the Baptist Church ; read- ing of Scriptures, by Reverend Mr. Potter ; sermon, by Professor Jotham S. Sewall, of Bowdoin College ; dedicatory prayer, by Rev- erend Doctor Adams, of Brunswick ; hymn, prayer, and benediction, by Reverend Mr. Smith, of the Free Baptist Church, Topsham.
From the records of this church the following facts have been gleaned : -
The number admitted to the church up to 1821 was 66 up to 1874 was
22
263
Whole number admitted on confession .
66
by letter
25
49
66 suspended
5
66
66 excommunicated
.
6
66
66 who died up to 1874
. 92
The number of infants baptized between October, 1833, and July, 1871, was thirty-four, - twenty-two boys and twelve girls.
The number of members in 1874 was one hundred and twelve, of which the males numbered seventy-eight and the females one hundred and eighty-five. Reverend Nahun W. Grover has preached for this society since the fall of 1875.
THE UNITARIAN SOCIETY.
Previous to the formation of the Orthodox Congregational Society, in 1836, the First Parish had ceased to hold meetings as such. A
238
dismissed
433
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM.
majority of the owners of pews in the second meeting-house of the First Parish being Unitarians, meetings were held in the meeting- house for many years, which were conducted by Unitarian preachers.
The first preacher of this denomination who ever conducted relig- ious services here is thought to have been a Reverend Mr. Greeley, who preached on one occasion in the old east meeting-house. He was afterwards a deacon of Doctor Channing's church, in Boston.
[1836-1838.] Reverend H. Edes preached in town on December 11, 1836, whether for more than one Sunday is not known. He was followed by Reverend Mr. Russell, Reverend J. O. Day, Reverend Mr. Crafts, and Reverend G. M. Rice. The engagement of the latter commenced in August, 1837, and ended August 25, 1839.
[1839.] On the date last mentioned Reverend Amos D. Wheeler, then of Standish, preached on an exchange with Mr. Rice. The same evening a committee of the " subscribers for the support of Unitarian preaching " invited him to take charge of the pulpit for the term of three years, that being the unexpired portion of the time for which their subscriptions had been made. The committee consisted of the following persons : -
Humphrey Purinton, William Frost, Benjamin Hasey, Gardner Green, Charles Thompson, John Coburn, and John S. Cushing.
The invitation was accepted, and he removed to Topsham with his family on the twenty-sixth day of October of that year, having in the mean time preached there two or three times.
From fear of losing their rights as members of the First Parish, this society refrained from asking for an Act of Incorporation, neither was any church formally constituted by council, according to Congregational usage.
The pastor, however, did collect together into a church such as were willing to sign the following covenant : -
"'One is your Master even Christ, and all ye are brethren.' - Matthew xxiii, 8.
"' One shall say, I am the Lord's, and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob, and another shall subscribe with his own hand unto the Lord.' -- Isaiah xliv, 5.
" We whose names are hereunto annexed, receiving the Bible as the rule of our faith and practice, do hereby associate for our mutual improvement in truth and holiness, as the disciples of Christ. And we declare it to be our sincere desire and purpose, as far as lieth in us, to walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord 28
434
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
blameless, and to cherish and maintain towards all Christians 'the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.'"
From the pastor's records the following names of the communi- cants are obtained. The date at which they joined the church is not given : -
Jolin Coburn, Nathaniel Dunning, John S. Cushing, Joseph N. Dunning, Amos D. Wheeler, Charles H. Wheeler, Javan H. Hall, Mr. Bicknell, Joshua Young, John M. Goodwin, George N. Richard- son, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Fitch, Mr. Moreton, John D. Coburn, Saralı E. Purinton, Sarah C. Cushing, Isabella M. Dunning, Delia A. Dunning, Mary W. Green, Mary A. Green, Mary Thompson, Harriet N. Houghton, Louisa A. Wheeler, Mary B. H. Wheeler, Annie E. Thompson, Sarah A. Thompson, Hannah Rogers, Mrs. Coburn, Mrs. Dunning, Mrs. N. Walker, Mrs. H. Purinton, Mrs. Sarah Thompson, Miss Palmer, Miss Webb, Mrs. Shaw, Elizabeth W. Purinton, Pen- thea S. Hall. Many of these members belonged in Brunswick, and some of the males were students in college.
During the pastorate of Reverend Doctor Wheeler in this town the average attendance at meeting was about one hundred. The building, having been erected for the accommodation of the whole town, was of course too large for any one of the four societies which then existed in the town, and consequently the attendance at the Unitarian services always appeared smaller than it really was. Although small in num- bers, it had, however, its full share of the intelligence and pecuniary ability of the community.
[1850.] At the expiration of a little more than ten years from the settlement of their last pastor, arrangements were made to unite the two "liberal " societies of Brunswick and Topsham. The arrangements were completed and went into effect in November, 1850.
[1853.] In 1853 the " proprietors of the Unitarian Meeting-House in Topsham " obtained authority from the legislature to sell it. It was accordingly sold, and in December of that year taken down and removed to a ship-yard at Middle Bays, owned by Robert Pennell, Jr., and others, where it was erected into a boarding-house.
The ministerial fund of the First Parish came into the hands of the pew-holders of the Unitarian Society. It amounted in 1836 to seven hundred and thirty-six dollars and sixty-one cents. This sum was in the hands of various individuals, who gave their notes for the several amounts in their possession. After the transference of the preaching to Brunswick, these notes were unintentionally allowed to become out-
435
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM.
lawed, and the fund has thus become lost beyond recovery, some of the parties owing the money having died.
Nothing, therefore, now remains in Topsham to remind one of the old First Parish Society except the graveyard attached to the old first meeting-house.
CHURCH AND SOCIETY OF THE SECOND ADVENTISTS.
About the year 1843 an individual by the name of Starkweather came to town, and preached the peculiar views of this society in the Free- Will Baptist Meeting-House. He was succeeded by several others of the followers of " Joe Miller," and quite a number of converts were made. some coming from nearly all the churches. A society was formed and regular meetings were held on Saturday. The society owned no place of worship, but were accustomed to meet at the houses of members. About the year 1844 a paper was issued for a short time by this society. It was devoted exclusively to the dissemination of their religious views. Several predictions were made. as to the second coming of the Messiah, and on at least one occasion prepara- tions were made for the event. The society gradually dwindled away, though meetings of its members were held each Saturday until about 1852.
OTHER DENOMINATIONS.
No other religious society was ever formed in this town. but other denominations have occasionally had preaching here for a short time, - the Universalists in the Court House in 1841,1 and the Methodists and Episcopalians, and perhaps others, at other times.
1 A. D. Wheeler's Diary.
436
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSIIAM, AND HARPSWELL.
CHAPTER XIV.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL.
THE early settlers of Harpswell belonged, for the most part, either to the Congregational or to the Church of England denomination.1 There were, however, amongst them a few Quakers, who set up a monthly meeting about the year 1751. The inhabitants at first contributed to the support of preaching in the First Parish of North Yarmouth, as it appears from the records of that town that on April 16, 1744, the town excused the inhabitants of Merriconeag from paying the minis- ter's rate for that year. In 1751 Merriconeag became a parish, styled the Second Parish in North Yarmouth, and from this time, if not before, voluntarily employed a minister of their own. The first was Reverend Richard Pateshall, a graduate of Harvard College. He preached for two or three years, but was not permanently settled. He was succeeded by Reverend Mr. Packard, who preached only for a short time.
[1753.] In 1753 a church was formed and Reverend Elisha Eaton was settled. The council that met to ordain him assembled at the house of Lieutenant Eaton, it being the only house in town, at that date, that had plastered rooms.2
[1758-9.] In 1758 and 1759 the meeting-house on Merriconeag Neck was built, though it was not entirely completed for many years. This building will be more particularly described in another chapter.
In 1758 the town voted that " the Selectmen should proportion the preaching on the Island according to the Rates they pay, and to loose an equal proportion of the time that is deficient." Also to pay four shillings for each Sabbath to the persons who conveyed Mr. Eaton to the Island.
On May 19, 1759, the town voted that Mr. Eaton should preach "in the meeting-house for the future, except foul weather prevents." The selectmen were authorized to hire persons to convey him to the
1 Kellogg, MS. Lecture.
2 Ibid.
437
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL.
Island. In 1760 the town voted that the people on the Island should be taxed in proportion to the amount of preaching they had. These votes show clearly that Mr. Eaton, thus early, was accustomed to preach on Sebascodigan Island, as well as on the Neck. But little is known concerning the affairs of this church during the ten or eleven years' pastorate of Mr. Eaton ; no records have been found, and even our knowledge of its existence at that time, as an organized church, is traditional. What Mr. Eaton's salary was is not known with cer- tainty. In 1758 the town raised for that purpose sixty-five pounds, in 1760 seventy pounds, and in 1762 seventy-five pounds.
[1764.] Reverend Elisha Eaton died on Sunday morning, April 22, 1764, aged sixty-two years. On May 22 a committee was chosen to supply the pulpit with a minister. The town also at this meeting voted £37 7s. to defray Mr. Eaton's funeral expenses, and " to give the widow of the Deceased Rev'd Mr. Eaton a Decent sute of mourning."
On July 3d of this year the town voted to pay William Modg- ridge eight shillings, for making Mr. Eaton's coffin, and to pay a Mr. Babb five shillings for assisting in making the coffin and digging the grave.
On July 17th the town voted to give Reverend Samuel Eaton, the son of their former pastor, an invitation to settle with them, the vote having been unanimous on the part of the church and congregation. It was also voted to give him £120 as a settlement and to pay £40 a year until the settlement was paid. £66 13s. 4d. was also voted as his yearly salary. Benjamin Jaques and Nathaniel Purinton were chosen to represent the town in the committee chosen by the church to deliver the invitation.
At a meeting of the town, held August 27, it was voted that the " minister should go to the Island called Great Island, fifteen Sab- baths a year, yearly, allowing each day that is appointed by sd Minis- ter to be one of sd fifteen days, and the Minister to go when he pleases till the fifteen days each year are completed."
The town, at this meeting, also voted to fix upon a place for a meeting-house on the Great Island.
For some reason the invitation voted to Mr. Eaton seems to have been unsatisfactory, and accordingly it was renewed by both the town and the church, at a meeting held on the nineteenth of September.
At this latter meeting a committee was chosen to make the arrange- ments for his ordination. He was ordained the following October.
[1765.] In May, 1765, the town voted an appropriation of £206
438
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
6s. 11d., old tenor, to defray the charges attendant upon this ordi- nation.
No further action appears to have been taken by the town in regard to ecclesiastical matters for some years, and no parish or church records have been found of an earlier date than the year 1770.
The first church records of Harpswell that are to be found begin with a church meeting, held August 2, 1770, on Sebascodigan Island, at which Isaac Snow was chosen deacon.
At a subsequent church meeting, October 24, 1770, the following preamble and votes were passed : -
" We that thro' God's Goodness, have been combin'd, & are still continued a Chh. of his, having heretofore consented unto the Cove- nant of Grace, according to the gracious Terms whereof, we have made Choice of the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son & Spirit as our God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ as the glorious Mediator, upon whose Fullness of Merit & Power we rely, as well to be strengthened for the Duties, as to be invested with ye Blessings of that well ordered Covenant ; being withall sensible yt our Justification by Faith in the Righteousness of him who is a Saviour and Surety for us, does very strongly oblidge us to close with all the Commands of God, as holy, just & good, and as those Rules, in Conformity to which, alone, our Peace can be lengthened out : yt its our Duty to walk circumspectly, not as Fools but as wise, redeeming the Time, because the Days are evil, and calling to Mind ye sinfull Miscarriages of some Professors, who are Spots in our Feasts of Charity, and our Duty to Watch over ym for their good ; and considering further that the Doors of the.Chh. do not by God's Appointment stand so wide open, yt all sorts of Per- sous good & bad may freely enter in at their pleasure ; yt the Eunuch of Ethiopia was examin'd by Philip ; yt the Angle of the Chh. of Ephesus is commended for trying such as said they were Apostles, and were not ; and yt twelve Angles were set at ye Gates of ye Temple, lest such as were ceremonially unclean should enter thereinto, (2 Chron. 23, 19. Mat. 13, 25, & 22, 12. Acts 8, 37. Rev. 2, 2, & 21, 12,) Have accordingly conveined at a Chh. Meeting, at the Meeting House duly notified by the Pastor, this 24 Octº. 1770, and made the following Resolves : -
" The Rev. Samuel Eaton Moderator.
"1. Voted, that it is the Intention of this Chli. according to the best of their knowledge, to adhere closely to ye sacred Scripture for their Guide, and to the Rules therein contained for their mode of Dis-
439
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL.
cipline, and to come into no Resolves, for which they have not a divine Warrant.
"2. Voted, yt it would be a great evil in us, if we should not accord" to ye best of our Capacity, attend & support ye Institutions of God in the Midst of us, & that Chh. Discipline wch he has commanded in his Word, that there may be Nothing wanting thereunto.
"3. Voted, yt it is the Opinion of this Chh. yt the receiving into Chh. Communion, or wt is called owning the Covenant, those persons who live prayerless in their Families, is a scandal to our holy Religion. Therefore,
"4. Voted. yt this Chh. will not for ye future receive into Chh. Communion. or what is called owning the Covenant, those persons who live prayerless in their Families.
"5. Voted, yt it is the Opinion of this Chh. yt maliciously to make. or injuriously to spread abroad any false Report, or Reports to ye Injury of the Innocent, is detestable in the sight of God, & ought to be so to us. Therefore,
".6. Voted. yt if any chh. Member or p'sons in Covenant, shall maliciously make, or injuriously spread abroad any false Report, or Reports, to the Injury of the Innocent, he or she, upon Conviction by the Mouth of two or three witnesses, shall be lyable to ye censure of this Church, as those who sin, are to be rebuked before all.
". 7. Voted, yt if any Chh. Member, absent him or herself from the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper, in its stated administration, he or she, shall be accounted in the eye of the Chh. as a disorderly Walker, & guilty of the Breach of his or her Covenant Obligations.
.. 8. Voted, yt it is the Opinion of this chh. that the Custom of young People, of bothi sexes, getting together in the Night, in those Companies for Mirth & Jollity, Fiddling and Dancing yt they call Frolicks, so spending the Time together till late in the Night, in their Jollity, to the neglect of family Prayer, and violating all Order, is a sin detestable in the siglit of God, & ought to be so to us. There- fore,
" 9. Voted, yt if any chh. Member, or Members, or p'sons in Covenant, shall assemble at those places, where such things are, or allow of the same in their Houses sh" come under the censure of this Chh. so far as to be debarr'd Chh. priviledges, til they give Scripture Satisfaction.
" 10. Voted, yt it is the Opinion of this Chh. yt Churches ought to preserve Communion one with another, because yy are all united unto Christ, not only as a mistical, but as a political Head : Therefore
440
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL.
"11. Voted, yt this Chh. will not hold Communion wth the Mem- ber of another regular Chh. who is und the Censure or Suspension of yt Chh. til he or she gives that Satisfaction agreeble to Scripture, & as practiced by the Chh8 in N. England.
" 12. Voted, yt Mess's Edwd Cuningham, Benja Jaques, and - Jacob Blake, be a Committee for the Neck, and Jolin Snow & Nath Purington for the Island called great Sebaseodigin, to inspeet ye walk of Professors, and enquire into Reports if any there may be, and accordingly make Report to the Pastor.
" 13. Voted, yt it is the Opinion of this Chh. yt for Profes- sors unnecessarily to frequent a Tavern on the Lords Day there to spend some part of it needlessly drinking spirituous Liquor, is a sin detestable in the sight of God, and ought to be so to us, Therefore,
" 14. Voted, yt if any Professor shall unnecessarily frequent any Tavern on the Lord's Day, or there repair with a view needlessly to drink spirituous Liquor, or shall at any Time be guilty of Drunkeness, or drinking to excess, he or she shall come und" the Censure of this Church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.