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 2
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).
In June, 1722, the town was incorporated by the name of LONDONDERRY, from a city in the North of Ireland, in and near to which most of them had resided, and in which some of them had endured the hardship of a memorable siege, in contending for civil and religious liberty.
The conditions specified in the act of incorporation, and upon which it was granted, were the following-" That the proprietor of each share should build a house, settle a family, and cultivate three acres of ground, within four- years ; and that a meeting house should also be built during this period."
The charter made provision for a market-day each Wednesday, and for two fairs in the year, one to be hold- en in May, and the other in October. These fairs were of publick use and convenience, affording an opportunity to the inhabitants of this and the adjoining towns, for the exchange of commodities, and were conducted with order and propriety until the revolution. The state of society then changing-the country becoming more settled-stores being multiplicd, and the means of communication with our sea-ports facilitated ; they became of little or no use, were soon perverted, and have since proved a nuisance to the place, exhibiting scenes of vice and folly.
The inhabitants of the town had no sooner established themselves, and obtained a title to their lands, than they began, notwithstanding their embarrassed situation, such
17
was their regard to the institutions of the Gospel, to make ar- rangements for the erection of a house for publick worship, and more convenient enjoyment of Christian privileges. At a town meeting, so early as 1721, it was voted, that a meet- ing house, fifty feet in length, and forty-five feet in breadth, and so high as might be convenient for one set of galleries, should be built without delay. At the same time, a com- mittee was chosen to carry on and finish the work, which they accordingly completed in 1722. It appears, that they were, in some measure, aided in the building of this house, by Governour Wentworth, and other benevolently disposed gentlemen in and near Portsmouth.
The first sacramental occasion was held in the spring of 1720, in the open field, at which thirty-two communicants were present. The first person born and baptized in this town, was Jonathan Morrison. The first person who deceas- ed was John Clark, three years from the time of their set- tlement. Nearly as long a period elapsed before another instance of mortality occurred.
Your fathers were attentive, not only to the religious in- terests of themselves and families ; but also to the means of education. In 1723, a school house was built upon this common-it was, however, of logs, and only sixteen feet long and twelve feet wide. In 1725, it was voted, that there should be a school in each quarter of the town for six months, if suitable instructors could be procured. The number of inhabitants rapidly increased. The church soon became numerous. At a communion season in 1723, there were 160 communicants-at the next spring communion, there were 230. The first Church Session, that was organ- ized, consisted of the Rev. Mr. M'Gregore, Moderator- David Cargill, James McKeen, Samuel Moor, John Coch- ran, John Barnett, William Ayer, James Alexander, James Adams, Robert Wilson, and Robert Givan, Elders. James Reed was added in 1726.
3
18
In 1729, the town was called to experience a severe loss in the removal of the Rev. Mr. M'Gregore, their „spiritual guide and father. He possessed a robust constitution, and had enjoyed a firm and uninterrupted state of health. He was never visited with sickness until seized with that which terminated his useful life. He was attacked with a violent fever, and survived but a few days. He died, on Wednesday, March 5, 1729, and was buried on the Saturday following, with very deep and general lamentation. The Rev. Mr. Phillips, of Andover, preached his funeral sermon, from Zech. i. 5-" Your fathers, where are they ? and the proph- ets, do they live forever ?" Although the settlement, before his death, had surmounted its principal difficulties, and been greatly increased ; as at the last sacramental occasion, upon which he attended with his beloved flock, there were 375 communicants ; still his removal was very sensibly felt and lamented by his people, who loved and revered him, and whose name and memory have been, and will continue, pre- cious among their descendants. "He was," as Dr. Belknap justly observes, " a wise, affectionate, and faithful guide to them, both in civil and religious concerns." He was very active and influential in obtaining the grant of the township, and in securing its title.
It has been generally thought, that it was owing to a cor- respondence which he held with a French officer, then com- manding in Canada, and with whom he had resided at the University in Scotland, that the Indians never molested this town-although the neighbouring settlements were repeat- edly assaulted. From traditional remarks, as well as from a few manuscripts of his, which have been preserved, we are led to consider him a man of distinguished talents, both nat- ural and acquired. He evidently possessed a powerful, vigorous, and discriminating mind. His religious senti- ments were fully Calvinistick, and accorded with those which are expressed in the Summary composed by the
19
Westminster Divines. He was a man, not only of distin- guished abilities, and evangelical sentiments, but of humble and ardent piety ; peculiarly spiritual and experimental in his preaching. During his sickness, he maintained a firm, unshaken faith in the Saviour, and a lively hope of his in- terest in the promises of the Gospel. He remarked to his friends, in the immediate prospect of his death, that he trust- ed he had known Christ from the fourteenth year of his age. The Session, in noticing his removal, speak of his peaceful and triumphant death-" of his victoriously entering into the joy of his Lord." He was but 52 years of age at his decease. He left a widow and seven children. His per- sonal appearance was commanding; his stature was tall and erect ; his complexion dark ; and his countenance ex- pressive.
Immediately after the death of Mr. M'Gregore, they were supplied by the Rev. Matthew Clark, who, having received ordination in Ireland, came over as a preacher to this coun- try. At the request of the town and Session, he took the pastoral charge of the congregation; and, possessing dis- tinguished literary acquirements, he also officiated as an in- structor in some of the higher branches of education. When he came to this town, he was about 70 years of age. He had served as an officer in the army during the civil com- motions in Ireland, and was active in the defence of the city of Londonderry during the memorable siege which it en- dured. After these troubles subsided, and peace was re- stored, he quit the military service, and commenced a preacher of the Gospel. He was eccentrick in his man- ners, possessing a peculiar vein of humour; but a man of a strong mind-sound in the faith-decided and independent in his sentiments -- and bold in the defence of what he judg- ed to be correct in.doctrine or practice. In his mode of living, he was singularly temperate. He wholly abstained from all kinds of flesh, and never ate of any thing which
20
had possessed animal life. He married, for his third wife, the widow of the Rev. Mr. M'Gregore, but did not long sur- vive. He died the 25th of January, 1735, aged 76. His remains, at his particular request, were borne to the grave by those who had been his companions in arms.
As Mr. Clark was far advanced in life when he settled in this place, it was the determination of the town, when they invited him to take the pastoral charge, to obtain another Minister as soon as convenient, from Ireland, and who, should Mr. Clark be still able to officiate, would act as col- league. In 1732, the town appointed Mr. Robert Boys their commissioner, who, with the advice and in concur- rence with the Rev. Mr. M'Bride, of Belemony, in Ireland, was empowered to invite a suitable, well qualified, and rec- ommended Minister, to take the charge of them in the Lord -engaging to any one who should consent to come, £140 annually, besides the expense of transportation-and also, as a settlement, one half of a home-lot, and a hundred acre out-lot, as it was then termed.
In October, 1733, Mr. Boys returned from Ireland, with the Rev. Thomas Thompson, who, having accepted the in- vitation, had been ordained by the Presbytery of Tyron, and by that body amply recommended to this people. On his arrival, he was very cordially received by them as their Pastor. The Session, in behalf of the church and society, entered the following resolution and vote on their records in respect to him.
" The Session having seen and approved Mr. Thompson's testimonials, of not only his trials and ordination to be our Minister in the Lord, by the Presbytery of Tyron, together with a letter from said Presbytery, wherein they largely set forth their great satisfaction which they had, not only of his trials, but also of his Christian life and conversation, all which we heartlly and cheerfully accept, and receive him to be our Minister in the Lord ; promising, as God
21
shall enable us, to yield all due subjection and obedience to his ministry, and to respect him as an Ambassador of Jesus Christ, for his work sake."
Mr. Thompson was 29 years of age when he came to this country. He continued their Pastor but five years. He died, Sept. 22, 1738. He left a widow and one child. Though his ministry was short, and though not much has been preserved relative to him; yet, so far as I am able to collect, he was a man of promising talents and handsome accomplishments-easy, affable, and pleasant in his man- ners, and interesting as a publick speaker. At his decease, the town, from attachment to his family and respect to his memory, voted to bestow £70 towards the education of the infant son which he had left.
The settlement continuing to receive accessions of inhab- itants from Ireland and elsewhere ; and the more remoto parts of the town having become in some degree settled so early as 1730 ; a petition was presented at a town meeting, by sundry persons in the north-westerly part, to be set off as a parish. The petition was at this time refused ; but in 1735, the request being renewed, they obtained a vote in favour of becoming a distinct religious society. The line, then agreed upon, was the same as that which was after- wards observed and recognized by the General Court, in their act of incorporation.
It was not until February, 1739, that they were made a distinct Ecclesiastical society, and invested with parish privileges, by the General Court. About the time of their being thus set off, a meeting house was erected, on what is called the Hill, near to the old grave-yard in that society. Soon after, owing to some differences in the town and par- ish, another house for divine worship was erected, at what is termed the Aiken's Range.
In 1737, the Rev. David M'Gregore, son of the former Minister, (and who had received his literary and theological
29
education under the tuition of the Rev. Mr. Clark, his father's successor) took the pastoral charge of the West Parish. On account of some opposition in the town to his settlement, and the divisions occasioned by the ercction of another meeting house in that society, forty families from the West Parish united with the East, and attended upon Mr. Davidson's ministry, while an equal number of families from this Parish, being particularly attached to Mr. M'Greg- ore, united with the West Parish, and attended his meeting.
During Mr. Thompson's ministry in this place, the church was very considerably enlarged. At a sacramental occa- sion, in 1734, only fifteen years after the settlement of the town, there were present, including those who attended from other towns, 700 communicants-the largest number, perhaps, that ever attended at once upon this ordinance in the town.
In 1736, the Session, which had been reduced by death, was increased by the addition of John Moor, sen. John Moor, jun. Peter Douglass, Thomas Steele, Alexander Ran- kin, and Ninian Cochran, who being chosen by the Session, and approved by the congregation, were ordained to the office of ruling Elders in the church of Christ.
At a meeting of this society, Oct. 1739, a committee were appointed, to unite with the Session, in presenting a call to Mr. William Davidson, who had supplied, for a short time, as a candidate, to settle with them in the work of the Gos- pel ministry-engaging to give him £160 as a settlement, and the same sum annually as his salary. He accepted of their invitation, and was ordained their Pastor. He mar- ried the widow of the Rev. Mr. Thompson. During Mr. Davidson's ministry, vacancies in the Session were supplicd, from time to time, by the following gentlemen, viz. Abra- ham Holmes, John Alexander, Thomas Cochran, Moses Barnett, Hugh Wilson, John Moor, Samuel Morrison, James Alexander, Matthew Miller, Thomas Wilson, David Morri-
23
son, Peter Calhoon, Robert Moor, John Holmes, and Da. vid Patterson.
In 1741, an act to incorporate a new parish in the town- ship of Londonderry, by the name of WINDHAM, passed in the General Assembly of the Province. In the beginning of 1747, the Rev. William Johnston was installed the Pastor of this religious society ; and Nathaniel Hemphill, Samuel Kinkead, and John Kyle, were made ruling Elders.
In July, 1752, Mr. Johnston was dismissed from his pas- toral charge ; not, as it appears, on account of any disaf- fection among the people towards him, or of impropriety in his conduct ; but for want of support. During his minis- try, they had no house for publick worship. Their meet- ings, when the season would admit, were usually held in barns.
In 1753, a meeting house was erected in that parish, on the southerly side of Cabot's pond. The parish, on appli- cation, by their commissioner, to the Synod of New-York and Philadelphia, for a Presbyterian Minister, obtained the Rev. John Kinkead, to whom a regular call being present- ed and accepted, he was installed over them, in October, 1760. He soon after made an addition to the eldership, of the following gentlemen, viz. Messrs. John Armstrong, Samuel Campbell, David Gregg, John Morrow, Samuel Morrison, Robert Hopkins, Gawin. Armour, and John Tuffts. Though Mr. Kinkead possessed respectable talents and ac- quirements as a preacher of the Gospel, yet not maintaining a christian and ministerial deportment, being chargeable with immoralities, he soon lost the respect and confidence of his people, and was dismissed, in April, 1765.
Soon after his dismission, the church and society pre- sented a call to the Rev. Simon Williams, who was ordain- ed their Pastor,in December, 1766,by the Boston Presbytery, He continued their Minister twenty-seven years, and deceas- ed, November 10, 1793, aged 64. He was highly respect ..
24
ed and esteemed by his people, and by the neighbouring Ministers and churches. He was eminent as a scholar. He opened a private academy, which was continued a num- ber of years. Under his tuition, many young gentlemen were prepared for admission into College. Although dur- ing the latter part of his life, he was subject to a partial and occasional derangement of mind, as well as to bodily infir- mities, he still continued in the discharge of the duties of his office, with few interruptions, until his death. He died beloved by the people of his charge, who readily cast the mantle of charity over his eccentricities and frailties. Dur- ing his ministry, he ordained John Dinsmore, Robert Park, John Anderson, William Gregg, Samuel Morrison, Robert Dinsmore, and Alexander M'Coy, ruling Elders.
Immediately after the establishment of our Independence, Windham was made a distinct town, and invested with all the immunities of a free corporation. In 1798, a new meet- ing house, the one now occupied by the society, was erect- ed. The town, after having remained destitute of a settled ministry nearly twelve years, invited the Rev. Samuel Har- ris to become their Pastor, who was ordained by the Lon- donderry Presbytery, in October, 1805. Since his settle- ment, David Gregg, James Davidson, and William David- son, have been added to the Session.
The inhabitants of Windham, who are principally deriv- ed from the first planters of this town, have firmly adhered to the religious principles of their fathers-to the doctrines and forms of the Presbyterian church, as originally estab. lished in Scotland, and administered in this country. Not given to change, they have remained united, and firm sup- porters of religious institutions, and of Gospel order. Of the four Ministers, and twenty Elders, which, since their incor- poration, have been ordained in that town. but one Minister and five Elders survive.
25
The extraordinary seriousness, and attention to religion, which, in 1741, so extensively prevailed in this country- pervading New-England and most of the American Colonies -extended into this town. The Rev. Mr. M'Gregore, having visited Boston, and some other places, during this period, and having witnessed striking displays of divine grace in the conviction and hopeful conversion of multi- tudes, returned to his people greatly enlivened and deeply impressed with the subject. Having related to his congre- gation what the Lord was thus doing in our land, in the out- pouring of his Spirit, he delivered a number of very impress- ive discourses, from those words of the Apostle, Eph. v. 14. " Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give thee light." The word, thus solemnly and pungently dispensed, was blessed as the means of awaken- ing many of his people to a deep and feeling sense of their guilt and danger. Meetings for religious conference and for prayer were frequent. Young people, in the different parts of his parish, statedly met by themselves for the same purpose. A happy addition was made to the church. .
During this season of seriousness and religious attention, the celebrated Mr. Whitefield visited the town, and preach- ed to a large collection of people in the open field.
The Session of the church, in the West Parish, during the Rev.Mr.M'Gregore's ministry, consisted of the following gen- tlemen : James M'Keen, James Leslie, James Clark, James Nesmith, James Lindsley, George Duncan, John Duncan, James Taggart, John Gregg, Robert Morrison, John Hun- ter, John M'Keen, Samuel Anderson, Samuel Fisher, John Aiken, and James Reed.
In 1769, THIS house, for divine worship, was built, and dedicated to the service of God.
The inhabitants of this town, from its settlement, have, perhaps, been as patriotick and as prompt in support of our liberties, civil and religious, as any body of citizens in
26
our country. On the declaration of the French wary in 1756, in which the infant Colonies, and especially New-Eng- land, were threatened with a total extirpation, and with all the cruelties of a savage foe, this town bore its part in their defence and protection. A number of men, under the command of Capt. John Moor, an active and enterprising officer, penetrated, with much difficulty and suffering, into . Canada, and aided in the reduction of those Provinces, and their subjection to the British Crown, which put a period to the unceasing alarm and convulsion in which these Colonies were kept, by the regular and insidious attacks of the French on the one hand, and the solitary ambushments and mid- night incursions of the natives on the other.
No sooner did hostilities commence between this country and Great-Britain, at Lexington, in 1775, in consequence of a new and oppressive system of policy adopted by that na- tion towards her Colonies, and which was repugnant to ev- ery independent sentiment and feeling of the Americans, than a company of volunteers from this town, under the command of the late General Reed, on the alarm being sounded, hastened to the scene of action, took part in the battle at Bunker's Hill, and thus determinately rallied round the standard of liberty, which had been reared amidst pros- pects the most gloomy and discouraging. And during the painful and protracted struggle for Independence which en- sued, no town, probably, remained more. firmly united in op- posing the exorbitant claims of the British government-or afforded the American army a larger proportion of troops to assert our rights, and redress our wrongs. It not only furnished our country with some of her bravest and most experienced soldiers, but it gave birth to that distinguished commander, the veteran STARK, the last surviving General officer of the revolutionary army,who, with his heroick band, in the ever-memorable action at Bennington,arrested the pro- gress of the British arms, and changed the aspect of the war.
27
May 30, 1777, deceased, the Rev. David M'Gregore, aged 68. He was greatly respected, and sincerely and deeply lamented, by the affectionate people of his charge. He stood high in the publick estimation, as a preacher and as a divine. His praise was in all the surrounding churches. Few, if any, then upon the stage, were considered his supe- riours. Though not favoured with a collegiate education, yet, under the private instruction of the Rev. Mr. Clark, and by his own assiduity and application in acquiring hu- man, but especially divine knowledge, he became “ a scribe well instructed unto the kingdom of heaven," and was able at all times, and on all occasions, " to 'bring forth out of his treasure, things new and old," "rightly dividing the word, and giving to each one a portion in due season." He was well versed in the Scriptures, had a natural gift of elocu- tion, and was a zealous and engaging preacher. His pulpit talents were perhaps superiour to those of his father. His voice was full and commanding-his delivery solemn nu impressive-and his sentiments clear and evangelical. His house of worship was usually thronged. Many from neighbouring towns diligently attended upon his ministry.
He excelled not only as a preacher, but also as a Pastor -or in the discharge of parochial duties-especially that of catechising. These occasions, on which neighbourhoods, both parents and children, were collected for the purpose of catechetical instruction, were regarded by his people as particularly interesting and profitable. His powers of mind were strong and vigorous. He possessed a peculiar spirit of firmness and independence, which prevented him from shrinking from duty on account of apparent danger or dif- ficulty.4%
* The following fact has been frequently mentioned, as illustrating certain traits in his character. A gentleman in Portsmouth received a letter from: an unknown hand, threatening to burn his buildings, unless a certain sum of money was left at a particular place on the road leading from Chester to
28
Mr. M'Gregore did not survive his usefulness. He con- r tinued in the faithful and acceptable discharge of the duties of his sacred office, until removed by death. The last Sab- bath on which he preached, was a communion season. On this occasion, he manifested, during the former part of the publick exercises, his accustomed zeal and devotedness ; at length, exhausted by the effort, he sank down in his desk, and was carried out of the assembly-He however so far revived, as to return to the place of worship, and address, in publick, his people, for the last time: he died the fol- lowing Friday.
. During his short confinement, his mind was calm and re- signed. His faith in that Saviour, whom he had from time to time so fully exhibited in all his offices, was now his un- failing support. It disarmed death of its sting, and the grave of its terror. To one of his Elders, who visited him shortly before his death, he observed, referring to Christ, " I am now going, to see him as he is." Addressing some of his Christian brethren, in reference to the destitute
Portsmouth. The money was accordingly deposited, and a guard placed near, in order to arrest the person who should appear to receive it. Capt. John Mitchell, of this town, having occasion to travel that way in the night, alighted from his horse near the spot where the money was lodged. He was instantly arrested by the guard ; and notwithstanding his protestations of innocency, he was immediately conveyed to Portsmouth, and commit, ted to prison. Owing to the singular concurrence of circumstances, the - publick sentiment was so generally and so strongly excited against him, that no respectable gentleman of the bar could be induced to become his advocate at his trial. Mr. M'Gregore, convinced of his innocency, and strongly interested in his behalf, on account of his unpleasant and painful situation, resolutely undertook to conduct his cause, and to defend his character ; though at the hazard, in some measure, of his own reputation. He accordingly, by permission of the Court, took his seat at the bar : and. though not particularly versed in forms of legal justice ; yet, so powerful and convincing was his plea-with so much ability and address did he man- age his defence-that he obtained the gentleman's acquittal, in opposition to the whole current of publick opinion. His innocency was afterwards satisfactorily made known-and the offender discovered.
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.