USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > Durham > History of Durham, Maine, with genealogical notes > Part 6
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
interest in Methodism was awakened. Dea. True's house stood a few rods south of the brick house built by Hiram Drinkwater at Methodist Corner. Glidden was a minister of rare promise. Rev. Ebenezer Blake, native of Durham, thus wrote of him: "He was one of the best young men I ever knew. I have often observed him while in prayer, in the congregation, the tears rolling from his eyes and dropping from his face. He literally wore himself out in less than three years. He died of consumption in 1806, and was buried in Chester, N. H., where no tablet marks his resting place."
August 4th and 5th 1804 a Quarterly Meeting was held in Durham, continuing till the next Wednesday night. The tradition of this has been current for a century. It is called the "great revival." Timothy Merritt took the place of the Presiding Elder. He was afterwards editor of Zion's Herald and one of the foremost men in New England Methodism. The meeting on the Sabbath was held in a grove back of where the church at Methodist Corner now stands. The population for miles around was assembled. Mr. Merritt, standing upon a cart for a pulpit preached with wonderful power from Amos vii:2, "By whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small." The sermon was followed with an exhortation by Daniel Dudley, the circuit preacher that year, and a fervent prayer by James Lewis. We are indebted to Rev. Charles W. Morse, who was pastor of the Methodist church in Durham in 1830, for the following descrip- tion : "The people were overwhelmed with emotion and many fell to the ground. There was earnest praying, and there were loud cries in every direction, through the congregation. The preachers and brethren spent the afternoon in praying for anxious seekers. The excitement was so intense, that the administration of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, usual on Sunday afternoon of the Quarterly meeting, was necessarily deferred.
A woman who was in the congregation, disgusted with the excitement, declared it to be "the work of Satan" and said she "would stay there no longer." She mounted her horse and rode away, but she had proceeded but a short distance, when she was overpowered and fell from her horse, as dead. She was carried into a house by Christian friends. When she could speak, they found she was "under conviction." The friends prayed for her, and she soon "found the Lord."
56
HISTORY OF DURHAM
The meeting was continued till Wednesday night; the sacrament being administered Wednesday afternoon. This extraordinary Quarterly meeting resulted in a gracious revival, in which over one hundred were converted and received into the Methodist church. Among these were: George Ferguson, William Jones, John Tyler, Daniel Harwood, Abel True, Samuel True, John Hatch, Richard Doane, Jacob Randall, and their wives. Of the Congregationalists who joined the Methodists at that time were Dea. Daniel Harmon and wife, Dea. William True and wife (the parents of Rev. Charles K. True, afterwards professor in Wesleyan University).
This religious awakening was denounced as fanaticism by the Congregationalist pastor; but the revival went on and brought into the Methodist church the principal families of that community ; and the place became prominent in the early history of Methodism in the State. Ever since that time, this neighborhood has borne the name of "Methodist Corner."
There is no official record of the early members of the church. The Town Records supply the names of such as presented a certificate of membership in order to escape taxation for the support of the Congregational church. They are :
1812, James Wilbur, Nathaniel Merrill, James Nichols; Oliver Stoddard, Abel Stoddard, Apollos Jordan, Samuel Nichols, Simeon Farr, John Wilbur, Zebulon York, Joseph Sylvester, John Fifield, Joshua Snow, Ebenezer Snow, Jacob Harris, Wni. Parker, Daniel Gross, Thomas Ficket, Benj. Hunnewell, John Staples, Jonathan Libby, Thomas Larrabee, Andrew Hunnewell, Samuel Goodwin, Isaac Libby, Joseph Osgood and John Dain of Lisbon.
1813. Obed Read, John Stackpole, Jr., Samuel Jones, Reuben Roberts, O. Israel Fifield, John Farr.
1815, Peter Sanbon, Amos Parker, Nathaniel Parker, Wm. Larrabee.
1816, Rufus Ricker, Alfred Wood, James Gerrish, 2d, Nathaniel Gerrish, John Robinson, Lemuel Nichols, Richard Dyer.
The following Class paper gives the names of still earlier members. In those days no one was admitted to Class meeting without a similar paper.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
COPY OF DURHAM CLASS PAPER, NO. 2.
"Joshua Soule, presiding elder. Robert Hayes, James Spaulding, John W. Hardy, Circuit Preachers. Woe to the idle shepherds.
N. B. Every Friday last preceeding the Q. M., is to be observed as a day of fasting and prayer."
Durham, July 12 1809.
Baptised
F.
Names.
M.
David
Dudley
66
Eleanor
Dudley
16
Richard
Doane
Mary
Doane
Edward
Doane
Doane
F.
Lemuel
Roberts
66
Nabby
Roberts
66
6!
F.
Thomas
Roberts
..
66
Joanna
Turner
66
66
Betsey
York
S.
66
Susanna
Roberts
66
Daniel
Roberts
Enoch
Davis
M.
Sally
Davis
16
Mariam
Brown
66
66
Reuben
Roberts
S.
Luther
Plummer
66
:6
F.
Hannah
Plummer
Susanna
Roberts
W.
66
Ezekiel
Turner
M.
Submit
Roberts
Sarah
The earliest baptisms recorded were Dec. 24 1809. Joshua Soule, afterwards Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, administered the rite to David Ferguson and John H. Davis. In 18II Rev. J. W. Hardy baptized Nancy Newell, Abigail Roberts, Asa Mitchell, Abigail Goodwin, Betsey Goodwin, Sally Goodwin, Sally Doane, Sally Roberts, Judith Currier, Abigail Sanborn, Adults; and William Frost, child of William and Rebecca Fickett, and Daniel Harmon, child of Daniel and Polly Harmon.
The Methodist Society in Durham and Pownal was incorporated March 1, 1810, by an act of the Mass. Legislature. The house of worship was erected before that date and probably
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
as early as 1804. This was reconstructed and greatly improved in 1867, during the pastorate of that devout and cultured gentleman, Rev. William Stout, now a member of the New Jersey Conference. Many remember the edifice as it formerly was, with galleries on the sides and rear, small windows, high pulpit and pew-doors.
In 1806 Durham Circuit was formed. Its limits have varied from time to time, but once included Pownal, Danville, Lisbon, Litchfield, Wales, Freeport, with classes in regions beyond. In 1849 Durham was made a charge by itself. North Pownal is now connected with it. Preachers lived in the saddle and boarded around. In the Steward's account for 1809 are found the following "disbursements :" "Expense $2.12; J. Soule, $3.00; J. W. Hardy, $8.62 ; J. Spaulding, $1.05; R. Hays, $6.16; L. Sargent, $2.45; total $23.40." In 1815 is this account, "Distributions, O. Beal $11.08 ; R. Hays, 47.80 ; J. Paine, $23.90; Expense, $7.00; total, $90.00." Some grateful preacher has written the following comment, appended to the last record, "Lord fulfill thy promise to the benevolent. Amen."
The society rapidly increased. In 1806 the membership numbered 101. In 1808 it had grown to 327 on the circuit. In 1832 there were 425 members and in 1842 there is the largest enrollment, 527. Then was the revival under the leadership of Revs. J. Thwing and E. F. Blake. Their united salaries were $374.
The following record appears on the old books of the Society. " Quarterly Meeting held at Durham on the Camp Ground Aug. 1831." Some are still living who remember attending the camp meetings held for several years, at the usual season, in the woods on the farm of James Strout, about a mile above S. W. Bend. The tents were numerous and the crowds were great. There was much loud shouting and joyful singing, with some excitement and disturbance.
Dr. David B. Strout should be credited for the following reminiscences, cited from an article in the Atlas of Androscoggin County, written by Josiah H. Williams :
"I well remember the solemn bearing of clergymen in those days. It secmed to us children that some awful presence was approaching whenever one appeared, and we would steal away into some safe retreat. Nor was this feeling of restraint shared
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
by the children alone, everybody stood in awe of the minister. Among the early Methodist preachers was an old gray-headed man of medium size, with frame strong and firmly knit together, who was a terror to evil doers, or all those he thought in error. With many he bore the reputation of a blackguard. Some of his own church complained of his treatment of those who had the misfortune to differ with him. A committee was finally chosen from among huis parishioners and adherents to visit him, and, if possible, induce him to be more lenient towards his opponents, but the old gentleman assured them that all his clubs were aimed at the devil, and if any man chose to place himself between him and his mark, he must run the risk of being hit. This explanation seemed to be satisfactory to the committee, who retired leaving him master of his position. His name was Fogg, familiarly and extensively known as "Daddy Fogg." Among the early Methodist itinerant preachers was James Weston. He was a man of small stature, but scholarly, and very precise in his language, and a man of very fair ability. He was also a zealous temperance man, and as he witnessed the ravages of this evil. both in and outside of the church, he resolved to do what he could to stay its progress. After preaching an able sermon upon the subject, he invited his church to meet him on an evening then fixed for the purpose of taking into consideration the importance of forming a temperance organization. They were not long in concluding to second his efforts in that direction ; consequently a pledge was drawn up, and a committee chosen from among the brethren to circulate it for signatures. At this period, in all or nearly all the stores rum was sold. A few days after the pledge had been drawn up Mr. Weston entered one of the stores and saw a Methodist brother, by the name of Doane, just in the act of raising a glass of rum to his lips. The Rev. W. cried out, "Stop, stop Brother D., has not Brother Warren said anything to you about drinking?" Mr. D. who was troubled with an impediment in his speech said, "Ye-ye-yes, ev-very ti- time I see hi-im he asks me to tre-treat him."
The New England Conference held its annual session at Methodist Corner in 1814, beginning June 2. Bishop Mc- Kendree presided. Rev. Reuben Hubbard was secretary. History has preserved no account of this Conference except the usual brief minutes.
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
BAPTIST CHURCH.
Previous to 1838 the few scattered Baptists of Durham found affiliation with Baptist Societies organized in neighboring towns. The names of such as did so are recovered from the Town Records. Their certificates of membership were recorded so that they might avoid being taxed for the "established church" of Parson Herrick. The earliest mentioned were in 1794, Stephen Weston, Samuel York and Joseph York. These were members of the Baptist church in Lewiston. In 1810 Elijah Macomber, Isaac Lambert and Thomas Proctor belonged to the Baptist church in Pejepscot, or Danville. The meetings were held in private houses and school houses till 1840, when the "Union church" now so called was built about a mile from the River, on the road to Danville Corner. Magnus Ridlon and Samuel Robinson were members of this church in 1816. Elisha Stetson, Daniel Lambert, Samuel Roberts, John Ellis, Barnabas Strout and Reuben Weston belonged to the Baptist church in Freeport in 1812. Secomb Jordan had his membership in Brunswick in 1812 and Thomas Waterhouse in New Gloucester in 1810.
In 1835 the Union church at S. W. Bend was built, and Aug. 8, 1835 the Baptist church of Durham was organized with twenty-two members, viz. Deacon Isaac Lambert, James Wagg, Jeremiah Dingley, Joel Morse, William Dingley, Isaac Lambert, Mary Lambert, Eliza Macomber, Isabel Jones, Dorothy Blethen, Hannah Richardson, Harriet Lambert, Julia Ann Blethen, Betsey Bowie, Mary Mitchell, Lucy Lambert, Maria Dingley, Abigail Blethen, Sally Morse, Mary Barstow, Joel Farrow, and Mariam Downer. Of this number the late Deacon William Dingley was the last to join the church triumphant.
The services of organization were as follows: Rev. J. W. Atkins of the Methodist Episcopal church offered prayer. Sermon by Rev. E. R. Warren of Topsham. Right hand of fellowship by Rev. R. C. Starr of New Gloucester. Address to the church by Rev. Shimuel Owen. Prayer by Rev. Noah Hooper of Minot. Isaac Lambert was then ordained Deacon and many still testify that he was a faithful and pious officer of the Church, worthily followed in office by his neighbor, Deacon William Dingley, whose services as Sunday School Supt. and leader of neighborhood prayer-meetings are gratefully remembered by
-
UNION CHURCH.
REV. MOSES HANSCOM.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
many. A former resident of Durham recently told me that these were the two best men he ever knew.
In 1840 Rev. Noalı Hooper was chosen pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. Moses Hanscom in 1842, who was ordained in Danville April 12 of that year. He built a house on the hill at S. W. Bend, next to that of Ralph Hascall, in 1843. Moved to Bowdoinham in 1857. Rev. Moses Hanscom was son of Moses and Mary Hanscom of Danville, born 10 May 1808. He served as pastor of churches in Durham, Bowdoinham, Brooklin, Nobleboro and Friendship. From 1880 he lived with a son at Auburn and died there Dec. 1890. His first wife was Mary Vickery, by whom there were children, William Allen, Ruel W., Moses C., and Sarah. His second wife was Elvira Snow of Brunswick. Their children were Rebecca S., Edwin W., Mary L., Frank B., Elvira D., and Eliza G. The long pastorate of Mr. Hanscom at Durham endeared him to many of the inhab- itants, who will be glad to see his face in print. He was success- ful in his ministry and a zealous promoter of the cause of temperance. Rev. Mr. Gurney preached for some time in Durham and Rev. George Tucker lived here several years. The church which once numbered sixty members gradually dwindled till in 1887 it was dropped from the roll of the Baptist association.
UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
The Universalists had occasional preaching in School Houses before 1840. In that year a church was built at S. W. Bend on the right hand just as the road turns to Freeport. It was served by Rev. Leander Hussey, L. P. Rand, and I. C. Knowlton. The last was in Durham 1845-50. There was only occasional preaching thereafter. I remember the church only for the temperance and political rallies and School exhibitions held in it. It was burned in 186 -.
FREE BAPTIST CHURCH.
Elder Benjamin Randall held meetings in Lisbon in 1780, in which some from Durham were converted, and a church was gathered, made up of inhabitants from both sides of the river. In 1790 a Free Baptist church was organized on the Durham side by Elders E. Stinchfield and Christopher Tracy. A record of baptisms kept by Elder Stinchfield contains the following names
62
HISTORY OF DURHAM
of persons baptized in Durham : Aug. 21, 1801, Samuel Tracy, Judith Tracy, Mary Beal. Nov. 21, 1802, Wm. Beal, Elizabeth Tracy. July 10, 1802, Wm. Blake, Jr. May 20, 1805, Nabby Tracy, George Littlefield, Polly Littlefield, Dorothy Tracy. May 21, 1805, Samuel Tracy, Christopher Tracy, Wm. Crabtree, Nabby Littlefield. Aug. 22, 1805, James Blethen, Increase Blethen, Anna Orr, Submit York, Ruby Young, Hannah Wilbur. Aug. 24, 1806, Hannah Graffam. Sept. 21, 1806, John Wilbur, Polly Adams. Sept. 22, 1806, Daniel Sutherland, Esther Tracy. The church became weak, and June 13, 1829 it was reorganized by Elder George Lamb. At that time it had twelve members, Elijah Littlefield, Daniel Gould, Henry Plummer, Christopher Tracy, Abram Metcalf, John Robinson, John Blethen, Mary Getchell, Margaret Tracy, Jane Gould, Lovina Tracy, Elizabeth Tracy. Meetings were held at the "Cedar School House," near the river, and at the Brick School House. In 1840 there was a great religious awakening in Durham, and the membership of this church increased to seventy. They began to talk about a Meeting House. It was built and dedicated Nov. 20, 1845. The sermon, at the dedication, was preached by Elder Daniel Jackson. The cost of this "Brick Church," near "Plummer's Mill," (anciently Gerrish's Mill) was about $1000, of which sum Elder Henry Plummer contributed $550. The church prospered for several years, but grew weak by deaths and removals, till in 1855 it ceased to hold regular meetings. It has had occasional services since and has been put in a good state of repair.
FRIENDS.
Nearly all the settlers in the southern part of the town were Friends. They came from Harpswell, N. Yarmouth and Dover, N. H. Their names were Estes, Douglas, Jones, Varney, Pinkham, Collins, Webber, Tuttle, etc. With others of like faith from the northern part of Brunswick they established religious service in the house of Joseph Estes as early as 1775. Thus they are the oldest religious society of Durham, and there has been no "Lord's Day" since the date mentioned without a religious service.
The house of Joseph Estes, long known as the "Hawkes House " because occupied by Nathan Hawkes, was an historic landmark. It was burned in 1894. It was a one-story house
1
=
=
FREE BAPTIST CHURCH.
L
FRIENDS' MEETING-HOUSE.
63
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
with a two-story porch, and was occupied in its latest history as a blacksmith shop by N. O. Jones.
A Meeting House was erected on the site of the present one. This was burned Sept. 1829, and the Society worshiped again in the "Hawkes House," till the brick edifice was erected the same year. Their Church Records were destroyed in 1852 by the burning of the house of Lemuel Jones, the Society Clerk.
The yearly Meetings held here have been of great interest, attracting large audiences and speakers of national reputation. The Friends of Durham have been a quiet, industrious, honest and devout people. This Society numbered 257 in 1890.
MINISTERS BORN IN DURHAM.
A brief biographical sketch of the ministers reared in this town may fittingly form a part of its ecclesiastical history. It is questioned whether any other town of no greater population can name so long a list of its natives devoted to the work of the Christian ministry. It speaks well for the religious character of its early population. No rumor has been heard by the writer that the ministerial character of any one in the following list was ever called in question. They have been a body of able, consecrated and successful workmen, and some have made a reputation for themselves and town in home and foreign fields of labor. The list is believed to be complete, though it has been impossible to get biographical details in several cases.
REV. SAMUEL NEWELL, youngest son of Ebenezer and Catherine (Richards) Newell, was born in Royalsborough 25 July 1785. He early thirsted for an education, and thought that if he could reach his grandfather in Newton, he might find a way to secure it. At the age of fifteen he took some shirts, handkerchiefs and stockings in a bandana and went on foot to Portland, to take ship to Boston. An aged relative, the Rev. W. C. Richards, gives the following account of him.
"As he was standing about the wharf, a ship captain asked him what he would like. "To get up to Boston. I have a grandfather at Newton Oak Hill and want to see him." " Well," said the captain, "I am going to start for Boston in a half hour's time and I will take you along with me, and if you will wait on me I will give you a free passage." "I thank you,"
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
.
said the boy. The captain's home was Roxbury Hill, some three miles on the way to Newton. Samuel stopped with him over night. He loved the boy and was ready to do for him. When evening came, the captain's friends came in to welcome him home. He introduced the boy to them and told them, "I brought this boy, who walked from Durham to Portland, on his way to his grandfather's at Newton. He wants to get an education, but has no means. His own mother died when he was three years old : when he was six years old he had a step-mother and now his father is dead. He has five brothers and two sisters." "My brothers and sisters are all kind and obedient to our step-mother," said Samuel, "she works hard, we all help her, but we are poor. I am very anxious for an education. I have nothing in the world but the clothes I have on and this little package and thirty-nine cents." The captain said, " Gentlemen, this recital stirs my heart. I will put down $200, for this boy's benefit. What say you?" Two subscribed $150, each, and the old Roxbury School Master, being present and in tears, shouted, "I will be good for $300." The boy burst into tears. The School Master said, " I will have you ready for Harvard as soon as I can, so cheer up. " The boy exclaimed, "I thank you a thousand times." He was in a few hours at his grandfather's and found a welcome reception and made his mother's birth-place his home. He soon entered the Latin School at Roxbury and in three years entered Harvard, from which he was graduated with honor in 1807. He had a call to the Principalship of Lynn Academy, where he did good work and received good pay. Now feeling the burden of his ministerial and missionary call, he entered Andover Theological Seminary, where he became intimate with Adoniram Judson. At a great missionary meeting at Bradford he met for the first time Harriet Atwood and fell in love with her. Adoniram was fortunate enough to meet Ann Hazzeltine at the same meeting. They both found the delight of their eyes and the joy of the hearts there, already prepared to give them their hearts and their hands in the great work of life which the young men had chosen."
Another account says that he lived for a time in the family of Judge Lowell and afterward with Mr. Ralph Smith. After graduating from Andover in 1810 he studied Medicine at Philadelphia. He was one of the signers of the memorandum
REV. SAMUEL NEWELL.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
from the students at Andover, dated 27 July 1810, that led to the organization of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and was one of the first four who offered themselves to that Society for missionary service. He married Harriet Atwood and they sailed for India 19 Feb. 1812. On his arrival the Bengal Government ordered him to leave the country. He went to the Isle of France, where his wife died 30 Nov. 1812. He afterward published the "Life and Writings of Mrs. Harriet Newell." He went to Ceylon and thence in 1817 to Bombay. He wrote with the Rev. Gordon Hall "The Conversion of the World or the Claims of Six Hundred Millions." He is described as a man of excellent abilities and profound piety. His second wife was Philomelia Thurston of Elmira, N. Y., who went to India to marry him. They had a daughter IIarriet, who married a Mr. Hart and died in Georgia about 1890, leaving one son. Samuel Newell died in Bombay, India, 30 March 1821, as noble a man as has been born in Durhanı.
REV. O. ISRAEL BAGLEY NEWELL was born 5 April 1794, labored on his father's farm in Durham during the sum- mer, and for six successive years taught school in winter before he was of age. Having fitted himself for college in the midst of all this work, he entered as a Sophomore. In college he was confessedly the foremost man of his class. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1819. Next came two years of theological study in the Andover school ; then on the island of Nantucket he had charge of an academy one year. In 1822 he was appointed principal of the "Kimball Union Academy" in Plainfield, N. H. To this work he devoted himself with earnestness and success. During his thirteen years at Plainfield he gave instruction to twelve hundred young persons and fitted about two hundred for college. This employment, for which he was so well fitted and which he loved, he was compelled through ill health to give up. He returned to his native town and became again a farmer. Here he lived until his death in 1846. During all this period of teaching and farming he was also a preacher, averaging, it is thought, a sermon each week. And these sermons "were well studied, well arranged, clear, instructive, and affecting." All this, which seems a task for the highest physical and mental
E
66
HISTORY OF DURHAM
energy, was accomplished by a man who suffered long and much from feeble health. "He was a man of marked character. His intellect was clear, discriminating, well trained. He had great decision, perseverance, and energy. All his movements were characterized by remarkable punctuality and precision. He did not suffer himself to be borne along passively by the tide of circumstances ; he always knew what he was doing and why he was doing it. He was distinguished for scrupulous veracity, unbending integrity, and transparent frankness. His piety was of a uniform, well-balanced, healthful character." He married (1824) Ester M. Whittlesey of Cornish, N. H. They had no children. By will he bequeathed $600 to the American Educa- tional Society for the benefit of poor students in Bowdoin College, and gave the residue of his estate to the Congregational Society in Durham .- History of Bowdoin College, page 213.
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