USA > Maine > Franklin County > Farmington > History of Farmington, Maine, from its First settlement to the year 1846 > Part 7
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They took the New Testament as their only rule of faith and practice, and were well agreed in its ap- plication to the Church of Christ. In 1798 the church had become so extended in territory as to render it necessary to establish three Sabbath appointments and church conferences, which were alternatley at- tended at Isaac Brown's in Wilton, and at J. F. Woods, and David Wentworth's in Farmington, for some years, which appointments were generally well at- tended by the members from each section, who gou-
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erally came through the woods on foot, by spotted lines at first, and afterwards by a poor road.
Elder Lock, who had continued to take the over- sight of the church up to near this time, although possessed of more than ordinary mind and talent, and apparently zealous in the cause of truth, perhaps never possessed that disinterested devotedness to the cause of the Redeemer necessary in a minister of the gospel, to be truly useful in the building up of the church of God. He soon attempted to create a schism in the churches by introducing a plan for forming a community of Christians, which were to have all things in common; their property to be thrown into one common stock, with himself to control, if not to possess the whole. He partially succeeded in drawing up a platform and in drawing off a few, but when his plan was more fully understood, it resulted in an entire failure, and he soon lost the confidence of the Christian public by a course of life which not only lessened his influence as a preacher of the gospel, but ended in the prostration of his moral character. His connection with the church was dissolved about 1800, and never after renewed. He died in Emb- den in 1824, aged 82.
While these troubles were in progress the church established society meetings, and regularly sustained them. Ebenezer Brown, a man of deep piety, and who possessed an acceptable gift, rendered essential service in sustaining public worship, and during this period they were sometimes visited by the Western Elders, and they had preaching occasionally from other sources.
Ebenezer Scales was ordained in Oct. 1804, and Ebenezer Brown in May following, both members of this church. The practice of preaching at this period had more of an itinerant character than at present, and produced a more general circulation of public gifts.
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The church having increased very considerably, and embracing both Farmington and Wilton, it was divided in 1807, when separate Sabbath appointments and conferences were established in each town.
Elder Benaiah Pratt was ordained on the 17th of Oct. 1807, who, with Elder Timothy Johnson, took the particular oversight of the church for some time. Isaac Perkins and Jedediah Thomas acted as deacons for the time being, and in 1814 Elisha Gay and . Isaac Perkins were set apart to that office, and in 1818 John Corbett was appointed, and Isaac Perkins was continued in office. After Dea. Corbett ceased to officiate Dea. Gay again filled the office, which he continued to fill till his death, in 1842. He was a member of the church nearly 48 years. His place has been supplied by the choice of Benj. Adams.
The years 1808 and 1809 were seasons of special revival in the church, and additions were received. From this time to 1821 was for the greatest part of the time a season of trial and discouragement, and at different periods the church suffered considerable diminution, both from the disorderly walk of its mem- bers, and from difference of opinion in those who, it is to be hoped, remained steadfast in their profession. There were, however, occasional seasons of revival and some additions.
The year 1821 was a season of more special reviv- al, and the prospects of the church seemed to bright- en, and additions were made. Eld. Pratt having re- moved, the church was supplied with occasional preaching from this time till 1834 by Elders S. and E. Hutchins, H. Chandler. S. Curtis, S. Hathern, and many others; Elder Johnson still remaining and taking the more particular oversight of the church.
In 1834 a Union protracted meeting was held, commencing on the 22nd of August, which resulted in a very extensive revival, when very considerable additions were made to the several churches. On the 22nd of September an invitation was extended to
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Elder John Chany to preach with them one half of the time and to take the oversight of the church, - a previous understanding having been had with Elder Johnson, - which invitation was accepted. During this season large accessions were made to the church at the center of the town, where, as well as in the lower part of the town, the church had for some time been increasing in numbers. For some years the Sab- bath appointments and conferences had been divided and held alternately at the center and the upper parts of the town, but from this time the meetings were held on the Sabbath altogether at the Center Villlage, mostly at the Brick School House.
In the following year, 1835, the society built the Meeting House now occupied by them, and Elder Chany soon after confined his labors wholly to this church, with which he remained till June, 1840, when, at his request, he was dismissed, and Elder Dexter Waterman took his place, but preached to the church but half the time, the remaining half be- ing taken up in Phillips. This arrangement contin- ued till the spring of 1843, when at his request, he was dismissed and was succeeded by George W. Bean, who devoted his entire labor to this church from that time to July 1845. He was ordained on the 14th of June 1843. He was succeeded by Isaac Libby, the present occupant, who commenced his la- bors in May, 1846.
Since 1834 the church has enjoyed several seasons of revival, and received additions, especially in the spring of 1843. A revival then commenced in the upper part of the town under the improvement of Rev. Jabez Talbot Gay, which soon after extended to the center, and resulted in an extensive work in which all the churches shared, and in which consid- erable additions were made to this church.
The church has suffered considerably both from re- movals and in the death of some of its most efficient
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members. It now numbers 79 members, but some 25 of that number reside out of town, and are so sit- uated as not to enjoy the privilege of associating with the church, but have not found it convenient, or have not been disposed to unite with other churches .- The whole number received has been something over two hundred and twenty-five.
110- An Extinct Freewill Baptist Church.
About the year 1813 a small church was gather- ed in the south-west part of Farmington, known as the Second Freewill Baptist Church in Farmington, which, after existing for a few years, was disbanded. A part of its members were embodied in the Chris- tian Church in that vicinity, and others united with such Freewill Baptist churches as afforded local ac- commodations. [Knowlton's Corner was the central point of this Church.]
111-Farmington Falls Freewill Baptist Church.
Another Church has since been established at Farm- ington Falls, but as it is mostly made up of members in Chesterville we shall fobear giving its particular history. David Morrill, a licensed preacher, was one of the most active members from its organization to the date of his death, which occurred Dec. 28, 1842. This Church was small at the time of its organization, and remained so for some time. They were favored with a special revival in 1841 and 1842, in which Elder Timothy Johnson took a conspicuous part, and where he removed his church relation, and where he has continued his labors the most of the time since. This Church now' numbers 28 members, and it is now nearly destitute of preaching. [After the publication . of the first edition of Judge Parker's History, this church declined till it became extinct. The present
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Farmington Falls Freewill Baptist Church is a more recent organization. ]
112-Methodists.
AT the New England Conference held at Lynn, Mass., in September of 1793, Jesse Lee, who had been the Pioneer of Methodism in New England, was appointed to travel in the then Province of Maine the ensuing year, and to form a circuit where he might think best. He preached his first sermon at Saco, Sept. 10, from Acts xiii; 41, "Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which you shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." On the 13th of Oct. following, he preached at Hallowell, and on the 15th at the house of Moses Starling, Esq., in this town, from Heb. iv; 1, " Let us therefore fear," &c. From thence he proceeded to visit nearly all the towns then settled, from the Androscoggin to the Penob- scot River. He formed a Circuit extending from Hal- lowell and Monmouth to Sandy River, and on his return to the Conference in 1794, Philip Wager and Thomas Coop were appointed to take charge of it. The first Society formed in the Province of Maine was at Monmouth, on the 1st of Nov., 1794; the 2d in Readfield, and the third in Farmington, soon af- ter. Something over a year prior to this time a re- vival had commenced on the west side of the river, and a Freewill Baptist Church was organized. The reformation , was becoming general, in every section of the country, and the new order of people seemed well prepared to assist in carrying forward the good begun work. A class was first formed on the west side of the river in the neighborhood of Mr. Gay, consisting of Jotham Smith and wife, Micah Weth- ern and wife, William Gay, John Austin and wife, and some others. Jotham Smith was appointed lead-
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er. Immediately after another class was organized on the east side of the river, in the neighborhood of Elvaton Parker, who with his wife and most of his family became members, together with Mary and Pol- ly Brown, Eleazer Pratt of New Vineyard, and Jacob Chandler, Nabby Pease, Zilpha Green, Sally Gay, Patience Butler, and some others.
Here a Sabbath appointment was established and continued for some years, at first at the dwelling house of Mr. Brown, and afterwards at that of Mr. Parker. Wm. Gay was appointed leader of this class. It continued for some few years, when it became reduced by the death of some, and the removal of others, when the class was dissolved and the remain- ing members united with those on the west side of the river, which has ever continued its operations, and perhaps has been one of the most substantial and efficient in town.
The Class at Farmington Falls was organized in 1798. Stephen Titcomb, Jonathan Knowlton, with many members of their families, John and Sarah Gower, Nathaniel Whittier, Desire Stinchfield, Ruth Whittier, and Jesse Ingham were among the first gathered in the place.
At the Conference in 1795 Enoch Mudge, and Eli- as Hull were stationed on this Circuit, which com- prized four Sabbath appointments, viz: Monmouth, Readfield, Farmington, and Livermore, together with weekly appointments in most of the towns from Mon- mouth to the upper settlements on Sandy River.
During this time a very efficient Class had been formed in Strong, consisting of William Reed, Eliab Eaton, Edward Flint, Richard Clark, and their wives, and many others. Another Class was organized at Avon, among the members of which were Joshua Soule, Moses Dudley, Ebenezer Thompson, with many of their families, and others. From this Class were soon raised up three acceptable preachers, viz: Josh- ua Soule Jr. Samuel Thompson, and Daniel Dudley,
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the former of whom is now one of the acting Bish- ops of the Episcopal Methodist Church, resident in Ohio.
This era of the Methodist Societies in Maine forms a striking contrast with the present. They not only had to contend with embarrassments incident to the formation of societies on new ground, but much of the country was little more than an unbroken wilderness. They traveled at all seasons on horseback and not unfrequently by spotted lines, experiencing all the inconveniences incident to new settlements, which seemed only to nerve them up to more zealous exer- tions for the conversion of souls, and the building up of the church.
The first Quarterly Meeting in the State was held at Monmouth, on the 23rd of June, 1795, and the first on the Sandy River in December following .- Jesse Lee was Presiding Elder, who continued in that station for some time; when he was succeeded by Joshua Taylor. Mr. Lee visited Maine in 1800, and, for the last time, in 1808. He preached his last discourse in this section at Farmington Falls, from Isaiah xxxiii; 13 ;- "Hear ye, that are afar off, what I have done: and ye that are near, acknowledge my might. " After a rehearsal of the goodness of God in the conversion of souls, and the building up and spread of the societies, witnessed by himself, he pow- erfully enforced the exhortation of Joshua to the Children of Israel, "Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and truth."
Mr. Lee was born in Prince George County, Va. He entered the traveling connection in 1782, and first visited New England in 1789. At the Conference in New York in 1790 he was ordained Deacon, and then Elder, and appointed to travel in New England. In 1791 he was appointed Presiding Elder over the first New England District. He died at Hillsborough, on Annapolis Cirenit, Dec. 12. 1816. He was a man
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well qualified to fill the station he occupied, that of an itinerant preacher. Though a plain and pungent preacher he possessed an affable disposition, and was well calculated to disarm opposition in all its forms.
The first Methodist Meeting House in this State was built in Readfield, and dedicated by Mr. Lee, on the 21st of June, 1795. In this house the first Conference was held Aug. 29, 1798, of which Fran- cis Asbury was Presiding Bishop.
The Society at Farmington Falls proceeded to build a Meeting House about 1800, -being the first in town,-where Sabbath appointments were established and continued with success for some time; but owing to various causes, the house was suffered to go to decay, and the Class became much reduced.
In 1820 a Class was organized on Porter's Hill. Osgood Eaton, Job Brooks, Wm. Russell, with their wives, and many of their families, were among the members.
In 1831 the Brick Meeting House on the west side of the river was built, mostly by the Methodist Soci- ety, where they now have preaching half the time.
Near this time a Class was organized at the Cen- ter Village, one in the eastern part of the town, one in the Holly Neighborhood, and one at Backus' Cor- ner.
This town and Vienna now form a Circuit, furnish- ing preaching alternately on the Sabbath, once in two weeks at the Brick Meeting House, once in four weeks at Farmington Falls, and at Vienna, and va- rious lectures through the week in the more remote sections of the towns.
There are now six classes in town, viz: at Farm- ington Falls, the Center Village, Mosher Neighbor- hood, Holly Class, at Backus' Corner, the West Side of the River, and Porter's Hill, numbering,-after the formation of the Protestant and Wesleyan socie- ties in 1843,-114. About 80 of this number were
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members of the church, the remainder being members of classes on trial.
Several preachers have been raised up, viz: Benj. F. Sprague, John Allen, Jabez Talbot Gay, who were successful preachers in the traveling connection, and John Gower, Joseph Russell, Jeremiah Butler, John Norton, and Moses Brown, who have acted in a local capacity.
In the society's progress very many have been the changes as to the formation and alteration of classes and circuits and districts, but the Traveling Connec- tion has always furnished preaching to a greater or less extent. The societies have been occasionally fa- vored with special revivals, among which may be noticed those of 1794 and 5, 1808 and 9, 1821, 1824, and 1843, and others of less note.
In looking back on the past we readily see that most of those who filled places of usefulness both in the ministry and membership, in the former part of that period of which we have been speaking, are gone the way of all the earth and their places are now filled by others ; while many who remain have shifted their fields of labor and usefulness, and their stations are supplied by new gifts. Among those who have labored successively for the edification of these societies, not already noticed, may be named Stebbins, Broadhead, Kibby, Heath, Stone, S. Hull, Williston, Searl, Hall, Bates, and many others, among whom ought not to be omitted the name of Eleazer Wells, who traveled in this district a number of years. It may be said 'of him as of Stephen, he was a "man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.'
When attending a Quarterly Meeting it Strong on the 13th of July, 1823, it being a time of unusual drouth, and it seeming to all human appearance that sustenance for man and beast must fail unless pre- vented by an interposition of Divine Providence,- Mr. Wells was led to exercise unusual faith in pray-
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er for assistance in that time of distress, from that God who is wont to hear and answer the prayers.of those who humbly and devoutly implore his assistance. At the close of his prayer he recommended the ob- servance of the 17th of that month as a day of fast- ing, humiliation and prayer, on account of the drouth. The day was religiously observed by many of the societies, and at its close a most refreshing rain com- menced, which resulted in again reviving the hopes of the husbandman, and enabled the earth to produce a plentiful harvest.
113-Baptists.
THE first preacher of the Baptist denomination known to have visited the Sandy River Valley was Rev. Eliphalet Smith, from Massachusetts., He was an itinerant preacher, and was engaged in a revival in what was then called Starling, now Fayette. He penetrated the then thinly settled region of country as far as this place, and attended some appoint- ments at the house of Moses Starling as early as 1792. A Church was that year organized at Fayette, being the fruits of the revival referred to. Mr. Smith was constituted its pastor.
In the course of the winter following, Oliver Bil- lings,-since known as Elder Billings,-who had been a subject of the revival, and who had united with the newly constituted church in Fayette, made a visit to Farmington. His testimony to the truths of the gos- pel carried conviction to the hearts of several in the place, which was the commencement of one of the most extensive revivals ever known in this section of the country. It continued to progress through 1793, 1794, and 1795.
Most of the early converts in this revival were baptized and gathered into a church by Elder Lock, soon after, and united with the Freewill Baptists.
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Some, howover, embraced Baptist sentiments and oc- casionally Baptist preaching was had in the town from Elders Smith, Case, Billings, and some others, but no church was organized till 1797, when a small church was gathered by Elders Case and Smith. It consisted at first of seven members.
Among the first members were, Church Brainard, Abigail Brainard, Eliphalet Bailey, Joseph Fairbanks, and ' Abel Sweet of Farmington, and Wm. Bradbury, of Chesterville. Church Brainard was chosen Deacon. The church was furnished with but little preaching, and had but small accessions for some time, so that in 1807 it consisted of nine members only.
About 1809 the place was again favored with a pretty extensive revival and an addition was made to the church of some thirteen members.
In 1810, in consequence of some internal difficul- ties, the Church was dissolved, and a new church was organized-July 20, 1810-by the assistance of a Council called from the Churches in Fayette and Jay, and which consisted of Elder Oliver Billings and five others. The Church then contained eight male, and fourteen female members. Benj. Brainard was chos- en Clerk, and Isaac Thomas Deacon. Several others united with it soon after, among whom was Eliphalet Bailey who was appointed Deacon.
From its first organization to 1821, a period of about 24 years, it received only occasional preaching by Messrs. Case, Smith, Billings, Briggs, Low, Board- man and some others. In 1816 the church was fa- vored with the labors of Elder Billings, to a consid- erable extent, which were greatly blessed to the edification of its members, and to the gathering in of a number who had not before made a public profes- sion of their faith in Christ.
In 1821 Rev. Winthrop Morse from Massachusetts became pastor. The Church had then 52 members,
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but in three years it was again left destitute of a pastor by the resignation of Mr. Morse.
Their next minister was Rev. Hezekiah Hull from Nova Scotia, who labored with the Church accepta- bly in 1828 and 1829, and some additions were made. In 1834 a number were added as the fruit of a un- ion protracted meeting held in Aug. of that year. Rev. Nathan Mayhew preached the former part of the year, and Rev. Wm. Wyman the latter part of that year and a part of the succeeding year, one half the time, to the advantage of the Church. .
Till this time the Church had been destitute of a suitable house for public worship. Their meetings were at first held in barns and dwelling houses, and subsequently in School Houses, in different neigh- borhoods, and a part of the time in what is now the Court House, which was for many years the only Meeting House in the center of the town, and which was owned by six or seven different societies. In 1835 they erected a house for worship which was completed the following season. The expense of building the house was a source of some embarrass- ment to the Church, but from which they have near- ly recovered. The Church, however, continued to sustain preaching statedly, one half or three fourths os the time, generally, till the settlement of Rev. Amaziah Joy as their pastor. He was ordained Dec. 5, 1838, and continued his labors with the Church till Feb. 8, 1840, when he was dismissed. His place was supplied by Rev. Levi B. Hathaway, whose or- dination took place June 30, 1841. They were soon left destitute again, as Mr. Hathaway closed his pas- toral relation with them on the 30th of May, 1842.
In September following the Church gave Rev. N. M. Williams a call to become their pastor for five years, which was accepted by him. Application was made to the Missionary Society for assistance in his support, which was afforded to some extent for one year. The Church continued to make provision for
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his support year by year, by subscription, that being their usual method.
In April following a union protracted meeting was held in the place, in which the Church took a part. A general revival ensued. and considerable additions were made to its numbers, as fruits of the revival, in the course of the season. Occasional additions have since been made by letter, and the Church now numbers about ninety.
Mr. Williams continued his labors with the Church till the 3rd of May, 1846, being a period of nearly four years, when he presented a letter of resignation, which was accepted, and the Church is now destitute of a pastor.
Cyrus Case, who united with the Church in 1835, was licensed to preach in 1840, and ordained as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Monmouth, in October, 1842.
114-Universalists.
THE first preacher of the Universalist denomination who visited this town, is thought to have been the Rev. Mr. Barns, and after him a Mr. Smith, and per- haps some others. In 1811 the Universalists obtain- ed an Act of Incorporation from the General Court of Massachusetts, by which they were denominated the "First Universalist Society in Farmington."
This was the first incorporated society in town, and it consisted of fifty members who principally resided in the lower part of the town. They were organized Sept. 2, 1811 by making choice of Jeremiah Stinch- field for Clerk, Benj. Weathern, Reuben Lowell, and Jeremy Wyman for Assessors, Wm. Gould for Treas- urer, and Reuben Lowell Jr. for Collector. At the same meeting, Thomas Gorden, Reuben Lowell, and Horatio G. Quincy were appointed delegates to rep- resent the society in the General Convention to be
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held at Freeport on the second Wednesday of that month. They took immediate measures to raise funds by an assessment of one hundred dollars on the polls and estates of the society, for the support of preach- ing. The Rev. Mr. Root appears to have been em- ployed for one third of the time. In 1812 the Gen- eral Convention was held at Farmington for the first time.
From that time to 1824 preaching was furnished for a part of the time only, as contracts were made from time to time; but at this time Wm. A. Drew united with them and soon after commenced preach- ing, and being a young man of talent he soon became an able speaker. He however soon removed, and has since confined his labors mostly to the County of Kennebec, where he has acted a prominent part, both as a preacher and as editor of a paper devoted to the interests of the denomination and to other useful objects.
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