USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Londonderry > A century sermon : delivered in the East-Parish Meeting House, Londonderry, New Hampshire, April 22, 1819, in commemoration of the first settlement of the town. Containing, a sketch of the history of the town from its earliest settlement > Part 1
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No. 4393.23
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PUBLIC LIBRARY
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tents ._ 1. Century sermon, Londonderry, hampshire, april 22. Containing a sketch history of the town from its earliest set- nt. By Edward L. Parker. Concord. 1819 . 44 Sketch of the ecclesiastical history of ich. a discourse in two parts , delivered, nber 1820. By David J. Kimball. Haver- mass. 1823. 44 Kv.
rewell sermon upon leaving the old meel. house in Cambridge, Dec. 1, 1833. [Sermon e dedication of the new house of the First Sh. ] By William Newell. Cambridge: 1834 ._ 4. Centennial address at Upton, mas 25. By Benjamin Wood. Boston : 1835.30. only days of the church in the Helderberg Sermons, in Rensselaerville, n. y. april 24, 184 we death of Samuel Fuller: By Samuel Fulle over 1843. 52pp. - 6. Wrentham jubilee. on June 12. 1849, by Elisha Fish on the fif anniversary of his ordination. With an ap x. Boston: 1850. 64 pp .- 7. History of Coventry ns county, Vermont. By Pliny H. White. sburgh: 1850. 61, vilpp. - 8. History of the first yterian church, South Bergen, N. J. Serman rch b. by Edward W. French. New York: 1864 .- 9. The reformed Dutch church in William h. Historical discourse. nov. 4, by Ellert . Porter
new york: 1866. 28+pp. - 10. Sermon C. 07 anniversary of the new London Baptistas. tion. By S. Graves. New London: 1867. 35-61 11. The garrison houses of york, me. By G Henry Preble. Boston: 1844. [Reprinted fr The n. C. Historical and Genealogical regu July, 1874.18 pr. Plate.
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CATALOGUED BY
REVISED BY
MEMORANDA.
Londondury Sentity Furono unvaso
DParku.
da. Elliot Moodboard.
Ho.
REV. MR. PARKER'S
CENTURY SERMON,
COMMEMORATING
The first Settlement of Londonderry,
DELIVERED
APRIL 22, 1819.
A
CENTURY SERMON,
DELIVERED
IN THE EAST-PARISH MEETING HOUSE,
LONDONDERRY, NEW-HAMPSHIRE,
APRIL 22, 1819,
IN COMMEMORATION OF
The first Settlement of the Town.
CONTAINING,
A SKETCH
OF
THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN
FROM
ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT,
4393.23
BY EDWARD L. PARKER, Pastor of the East-Parish in Londonderry.
PRINTED BY GEORGE HOUGH, CONCORD, 1819.
REV. EDWARD L. PARKER --
ŠIR,
The undersigned Committees of Arrangement of the East and West Parishes in Londonderry, in behalf of said Parishes, request, for publication, a copy of your interesting DISCOURSE, delivered this day in the East Meeting House, in commemoration of the expiration of ONE CENTURY from the settlement of the town.
PETER PATTERSON,
JAMES THOM, JOHN CLARK,
STEPHEN REYNOLDS,
HENRY TAYLOR,
Committee of the East Parish.
JOHN FISHER, Committee
ROBERT PATTERSON, of the JOHN PINKERTON, WestPartsh
Londonderry, April 22, 1819.
LONDONDERRY, JULY 15, 1819.
GENTLEMEN,
Agreeably to your polite request, a copy of the Sermon, delivered in commemoration of the settlement of this town, and containing a Sketch of its History during the Century now closed, is respectfully committed to you for publication.
E. L. PARKER.
Messrs. Peter Patterson, James Thom, John Clark, Stephen Reynolds, Henry Taylor, John Fisher, Robert Patter- son, and John Pinkerton.
SERMON.
DEUTERONOMY XXXII. 7.
Remember the days of old ; consider the years of many gen- erations : ask thy father, and he will shew thee ; thy elders, and they will tell thee."
THE works of the Lord, and the dispensations of his providence, are great, and sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. They have, from age to age, employed the thoughts, and excited the gratitude and praise, of good men.
" I will remember," says one, " the works of the Lord : surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will medi- tate also of all thy works, and talk of thy doings."
In looking back to former ages, and recalling events which are past, we may not only greatly enlarge our minds, but find arguments to strengthen our faith in the divine government, and motives to greater zeal and fidelity in his service. Hence Moses, adverting to the wonders which the Lord had wrought for his people-to the many divine interpositions in their favour-to their deliverance from Egyptian servitude, and to their protection and support in the wilderness-directed the Israelites to apply, each to his father, and to the elders, for instruction concerning those things which existed in the days of old, and the years of preceding generations. " Remember," says he, " the days of old; consider the years of many generations : ask
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thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee."
What is here enjoined upon God's ancient people, may, with almost equal propriety, be urged upon us.
The duty of recalling and considering the past events of divine providence, in relation to ourselves and to our fa- thers, not only approves itself to reason, but is enforced by divine authority. On special occasions, it is peculiarly proper. Such an occasion now presents. One hundred years have rolled away, since your fathers first set foot upon this ground. One century ago, on this day, they pitched their tents in this place, then a dreary wilderness, the abode of savage beasts and uncivilized men.
Although nothing very peculiar has distinguished this town, in the commencement and progress of its settlement, from that of others ; yet many of the events, which have here taken place, justly merit our consideration. These events, by being better known, will be more strongly felt. -Scenes in which our fathers were concerned, though common, impart an interest and excite a feeling in us. The association is natural and strong .-- Impressed with these considerations, allow me to call your attention to a Sketch of the History of this town from its earlies settlement; and may it serve to excite in our hearts those feelings of grati- tude and affection, so justly due to the God of our fathers.
The first settlers of this town were the descendants of a colony, which emigrated from Argylshire, in Scotland, and settled in the north of Ireland, in the province of UI- ster, about the middle of the seventeenth century .* Ad- hering firmly to the doctrines and discipline of the Presby- terian church, they partook largely in the sufferings which were endured by the Protestants in that unhappy country, during the persecutions in the reign of Charles I. and James II. until William ascended the British throne. Although
* See Belknap's History of New-Hampshire.
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by this revolution, and the subjugation of the Popish par- ty, peace was restored to that Island, and a toleration of religious sentiments allowed ; still the dissenters from the Church of England experienced many embarrassments. They were indeed permitted to maintain their own forms of worship unmolested ; still they were compelled to aid in supporting a minister of the established religion. A tenth of their increase was rigorously exacted .-- They also held their lands and tenements, by lease, and not as the propri- etors of the soil.
Being thus burdened with rents and tythes, and ardently desiring the full enjoyment of civil and religious liberty, this people were led to contemplate a settlement in this land, where they might be free from these burdens. To this, we are informed, they were also greatly induced, by the favourable report which they received of this country, from one Holmes, a young man, son of a clergyman, who had been here. Influenced by his representations of the civil and religious privileges which were here enjoyed, his father, with three other Presbyterian ministers, James M'Gregore, William Cornwell, and William Boyd, with a large number of their congregations, resolved on a remov- al. Having converted their substance into money, they immediately embarked, in five ships, for America. About one hundred families arrived at Boston, August 4, 1718. Twenty families more, in one of the vessels, landed at Casco-Bay, now Portland. Among this latter number were the families who commenced this settlement.
On disembarking in this new country, in which they werc to seek a residence for themselves and their descendants, they assembled on the shore, and united in solemn acts of devotion, and with peculiar sensations sang the 137th Psalm, in which, with the Jews by the rivers of Babylon, they could also say, as they remembered the land of their- nativity, where they, with their fathers, had often worship-
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ped, " How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land ?">
This company of emigrants immediately petitioned the General Court of Massachusetts for a tract of land suitable for a township. The Court readily granted their request, and gave them leave to select a settlement, six miles square, in any of the unappropriated lands to the eastward. After exploring the country along the eastern shore, and finding no place that suited them there, sixteen of the families hearing of this tract of land, then called Nutfield, and find- ing that it was not appropriated, determined here to take up their grant ; while the others, who had embarked with them for America, dispersed themselves, on their arrival, into various parts of the country. They accordingly, as soon as the spring opened, left Casco-Bay, where they had suffered much during the winter, through scarcity of pro- visions and the want of suitable accommodations, and ar- rived at Haverhill on the second day of April, 1719 .- Leaving here their families, the men immediately came up, examined the spot on which they were about to commence their settlement, and built a few huts near the brook, which they termed West-running Brook, and which still retains the name. Three remaining to guard their ten s, the rest re- turned to Haverhill to bring on their families.
This company had no sooner selected a spot for a town- ship, than, in order to secure the full enjoyment of gospel ordinances, which was one principal object of their remov- al, and also to promote their settlement, they presented a call to the Rev. James M'Gregore, under whose ministry some of them had sat in Ireland, now to become their Pastor. He was then at Dracut, where he had passed the winter, after his arrival, in preaching and instructing. For his sup- port, they obligated themselves to pay him annually, be- sides the grant of certain lands, twenty shillings, currency in that day, out of every lot in the town. In compliance
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With their request, he met them here, on their arrival, the eleventh day of April, O. S. 1719.
On meeting them for the first time after they had left. their native Isle, in this then dreary and uncultivated spot, he made an affectionate and impressive address in view of their undertaking ; reminding them of their gracious pres- ervation while crossing the deep, and exhorting them to re- newed confidence in God, and devotedness to his service. The next day, April 12th, he delivered, under a large oak, on the east side of the pond, the first discourse ever preach- ed in this town, from the prophecy of Isaiah, xxxii. 2 .- " And a man shall be as a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest ; as rivers of water in a dry place ; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." Then for the first time did this wilderness and solitary place, over which the savage tribes had for centuries roamed, resound with the voice of prayer and praise, and echo to the sound of the gospel. This able, faithful, and spiritual minister of Christ, together with his flock, devoutly eyed and acknowl- edged the divine hand in their removal and settlement-ad- hering to the inspired direction, " In all thy ways, acknowl- edge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
From a manuscript of his, I find, that on embarking for this country, he preached to his people from those very appropriate words of Moses, when interceding with the Lord, in behalf of Israel, for his presence and protection in their march to the promised land, recorded, Exodus xxxiii. 15 .- " And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence." Having illustrated the doctrinal sentiment suggested by the passage, that saints earnestly desire God's presence with them in all their movements, he, in the application of his subject, notices the reasons of their removal to America .-- That it was to avoid oppression and cruel bondage ; to shun persecution and designed ruin ; to withdraw from the communion of idolaters, and to have an
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opportunity of worshipping God according to the dictates of conscience, and the rules of his inspired Word. This discourse, on leaving their native country, must have pro- duced very solemn and suitable reflections.
Although Mr. M'Gregore met with them on their arrival here, and assisted them in selecting a spot most suitable on which to commence their settlement ; yet he did not accept of their call, and take the pastoral charge of the people, until some time in May. On this occasion, he preached from Ezekiel xxxvii. 26 .- " Moreover, I will make a cov- enant of peace with them ; it shall be an everlasting cov- enant with them: and I will plant them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them forever- more." Having shewn from this passage, that it is the Lord who placeth a people in a land, multiplieth them therein, and placeth his sanctuary among them, and affords them the ordinances of religion ; he devoutly reminded his brethren, in the improvement of his discourse, that they should acknowledge the providence of God in their settle- ments since they came into the world ; that they should live by faith in what was before them ; pray earnestly, that God would place and bless them-be firmly united one with another, and walk in the fear of God, and keep his charge.
I notice these discourses, delivered on occasions so in- teresting, not only as specimens of the piety and ability of their author, but also to shew that the removal and settle- ment of your fathers was a subject of devout and prayerful consideration ; that they sought the divine guidance, and gratefully acknowledged the divine hand in all their deliv- erances and successes.
Those who first removed here, were, James M'Kecn, John Barnett, Archibald Clendenin, John Mitchell, - Sterrett, James Anderson, Randel Alexander, James Gregg, James Clark, James Nesmith, Allen Anderson, Robert
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Wier, John Morrison, Samuel Allison, Thomas Steele, and John Stuart. They were men principally in the middle age of life, robust, persevering, and adventurous; such as were well suited to encounter the toils, and endure the hardships and self-denials of commencing a new settlement.
Through habits of temperance and industry, and under the blessing of God, they attained to an advanced period of life. They lived to see many of their descendants settled around them ; and the forest, into which they had pene- trated, converted into a fruitful field. The mean age of thirteen, of whom we have any record, was 79 years ; six of this number attained to nearly 90 years ; while two sur- passed it. The eldest of this company, John Morrison, lived to the age of 97 years. Their descendants were nu- merous. Many of them early removed from this town, and commenced settlements still farther west. A number of the towns in New-Hampshire, and some in Vermont, were principally planted by emigrants from this town. Of these sixteen families, we find descendants of twelve, still inhab- itants of the town ; and some of them, after the lapse of a hundred years, occupying the inheritances of their fathers, which have never been alienated.
They were a peculiarly industrious and frugal, yet pub- lick-spirited, people, and proved a valuable acquisition to the province into which they had removed, contributing very considerably to its benefit, by their arts and their in- dustry. They introduced the art of manufacturing linen of a superiour quality, the materials of which they brought with them. Their spinning-wheels, turned by the foot, and which are now of so general use, were the first that were brought into the country. They also introduced the cul- ture of potatoes, which are now so highly valued and so extensively cultivated. Owing perhaps to the difference in their language, habits, and modes of life, from those of their English neighbours, prejudices were early and unreason-
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ably imbibed by some against them, and many things rel- ative to their manners and practices falsely reported, Their character as a people was perhaps as moral, as re" ligious, and as respectable, as almost any other settlement commenced in New-England.
The settlers of this town were of Scotch origin, and re- tained the national trait, and are not, therefore, to be blended in their character with the original inhabitants of Ireland, who are of Celtic origin, and speak a dialect of the Celtic tongue, called Erse, or Gaelic. Between the native Irish, and the Scotch who settled in Ireland, there is almost as great a difference in character, as to religion, morals, in- telligence, and dialect, as exists between them and the English,
The Scotch, as a nation, are by no means inferiour to their southern neighbours. Though in their manners plain, frugal, frank, and somewhat rough ; yet they possess a greater vivacity, and quickness of parts-propensities more social, and stronger sensibilities of all kinds. They are distinguished for their hospitality, their valour, firmness, and fidelity. No people display more faithful and affec- tionate attachment to those who have conciliated their good will ; and few nations have given more undeniable proofs of genius, adapted to scientifick and literary pursuits ; or that have supported a higher degree of moral and political respectability.
Such were the national traits which characterized this company of strangers, and which have, in a good. degree, been retained by their posterity. Many of their descend_ ants, in the several professions, and the various walks of publick and private life, have sustained fair and excellent characters, and filled some of the highest offices, either lit- erary, civil, or military, in the country. We may name those who sustained high military stations in the American army-who have been members of Congress-who have
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presided in our Seminaries of Learning-who have filled seats in our Council and Senate-and who have sustained the Chief Magistracy of the State; besides a number of eminent and distinguished Ministers of the Gospel.
In order to enjoy the advantages of neighbourhood, and be thereby more secure against the assaults of the natives in case of hostilities, the first families, who arrived, planted themselves on either side of the brook before mentioned ; and agreed that their home-lots should be but thirty perches broad, fronting the brook, and the same breadth to be con- tinued on a south and north line until it made up sixty acres; thus forming what is termed the double range- The first season, they cultivated a field in common, and which is now known by the name of the Common-Field. Their buildings were of logs, and covered with bark. The first framed house erected in the town, was for the Rev. Mr. M'Gregore, and is yet standing in good repair .*
They were soon followed by many of their countrymen who had emigrated with them to America, so that, before the close of the year, the number of families was consider- ably increased. Being industrious and frugal in their hab- "its of life, and highly favoured with the institutions of the gospel, they very soon became a thriving, wealthy, and respectable settlement.
In securing a title to their lands, owing to the unsettled state of the country they experienced some embarrass- ments. They at first supposed that their township fell within the then Province of Massachusetts Bay, and there- fore applied to the General Court for the confirmation of their former grant ; but the Court declared that they were not under their jurisdiction. They therefore, in September, 1719, petitioned the Court of New-Hampshire for an act of incorporation, and town privileges. The Lieutenant- Governor declined making them a grant in the King's name,
" Now occupied by John Morrison, Esq.
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as the land was then in dispute between the Crown and Al. len's heirs ; but by advice of Council, gave them a protec- tion, and extended to them the benefit of the law ; appoint- ing James M'Keen, a man of probity, ability, and intelli- gence, and who appears to have been active and influential in the settlement of the town, a Justice of the Peace, and Robert Weir, a Sheriff.
Though they now enjoyed the protection of government, yet they were unwilling to possess themselves of lands, once the undisputed property of the aborigines, without a fair purchase of their right. " Being informed, that Col. John Wheelwright, of Wells, had the best Indian title to this tract of country, derived from his ancestors, and supposing this to be valid in a moral view, they followed the exam- ple of the first settlers of New-England, and deputed a com- mittee, consisting of Rev. Mr. M'Gregore and Samuel Graves, to wait upon Col. Wheelwright, who obtained of him a deed of ten miles square, in virtue of a grant, dated May 17, 1629, and approved by the then existing Author- ities, made to his grand-father, a minister of the gospel, and others named in said grant, by sundry Indian Sagimores, with the consent of the whole tribe of Indians between the rivers Merrimack and Piscataqua." In consideration of this deed, Col. Wheelwright and Governor Wentworth were to hold certain lots of land in the town.
The Government of New-Hampshire, apprized of the strength and benefit which the then Province would derive from this company of strangers, were particularly attentive to them, and did what they could to patronize and encoure age them ; particularly the Lieutenant-Governor, Went- worth, who thereby merited and received their gratitude and esteem, as appears from the following record, entered upon their town book :
" The people of Nutfield do acknowledge with gratitude the obligations they are under to the Hon. John Wente
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worth, Esq. Lieutenant-Governour of New-Hampshire. They remember, with pleasure, that his Honour, on all occasions, shewed a great deal of civility and real kindness to them, being strangers in the country ; and cherished the small beginnings of their settlement, and defended them from the encroachment and violence of such as, upon un- just grounds, would disturb their settlement; and always gave them a favourable ear, and easy access to the govern- ment ; and procured justice for them, and established order, and promoted peace and good government amongst them ; giving them always the most wholesome and seasonable ad- vice, both with respect to the purity and liberty of the gos- pel, and the management of their secular concerns ; and put arms and ammunition into their hands, to defend them from the fears and dangers of the Indians; and contributed lib- erally, by his influence and example, to the building of a house for the worship of God : so that, under God, we own him for the patron and guardian of our settlement, and erect this monument of gratitude to the name and family of WENTWORTH, to be had in the greatest veneration by the present generation, and the latest posterity."
Some persons in Haverhill and the adjoining towns, who claimed these lands by virtue of a deed of about twenty years date, from John, an Indian Sagimore, gave them at first some disturbance; but having obtained what they judged a superiour title, and enjoying the protection of government, they went on with their plantation, receiving frequent additions of their countrymen, as well as others.
It is related, that soon after they began their settlement, a party from Haverhill, headed by one Herriman, came up armed, in order forcibly to expel them. On making known their design, they were requested to desist, and wait until after the delivery of a lecture, upon which they were going to attend. The party consented. Soon the little company of settlers assembled around the trunk of a large
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tree, which was used by Mr. M'Gregore as his pulpit. The assailants retiring at a short distance, observed their re- ligious exercises ; and, struck with the firm, resolute, and undaunted appearance of the people, their solemnity and devotion, and particularly with the eloquent and impressive discourse delivered on the occasion, they relinquished their hostile design ; Herriman remarking to his company, “ It is in vain for us to attempt to disturb this people; we shall not succeed ; for God is evidently among them."
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