USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Portsmouth > An account of the several religious societies in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, from their first establishment and of the ministers of each, to the first of January, 1805 > Part 2
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It is hardly probable that there would have been such an unhappy misunderstanding in the town, were it not for the ad- vantage, which, as some thought unfairly, the north end gained over the south, relative to the globe. However, it is certain the patronage of the glebe, or the right of presentation, according to the original grant, was to be in the " parishion- " ers, or greater part of them, forever ;" so that, if the vote for placing the new meeting house, on the spot, where it now stands, were in all respects fairly obtained, the inhabitants, at the south end of the town, had no reason to complain, seeing they chose to forego the privilege of their part of the glebet rather than be under the necessity of walking a few rods fur- ther to attend publick worship.
When Mr. Emerson came to preach in the old meeting house, it gave dissatisfaction to Mr. Rogers and his church, insomuch that they made attempts for calling a council to ad- vise upon the subject. Whether any council ever met and, if it did, what was the result, is unknown.
The reverend Nathanael Rogersi was son of John Rogers,
pre i lent
. Town records.
i Ti is glebe land, which would now be of great value, was mostly dis- posed of. at long leases, many years ago, for a trifling consideration.
# App. note D.
-
17
in Portsmouth, New-Hampshire.
president of Harvard College, and was born at Ipswich, 22 February, 1669. He was graduated at Cambridge, in 1687, and died, 3 October, 1723, and was interred, as was his suc- cessor also, in the ancient burial ground, usually called the Point of Graves. The slate, which was let into his monu- mental stone, and upon which his epitaph was written, is not to be found. The late president Stiles, when a preacher in this town, copied off the inscription, which by that mean, has been preserved and is here subjoined, as the best eulogium in the power of the compiler to offer the Historical Society.
Hic sepelitur reverendus Nathanael Rogers, A. M. Jesu Christi minister fidelis ; prospiâ studiis evangeliis devotâ oriundus ; ingenio, eruditione, integritate, moribusque suavissimis valde ornatus ; benevolentiæe, fidei, pietatis - exemplar illustre ; theologia consultissimus ; concionator præclarus ecclesia pastor vigilantissimus ; natus est Jpsvici, 7 mo. kalendas Martii, MDCLXIX. In Jesu sinum cfflavit animam 5to. nonas Octobris, MDCCXXIII. זכר צדיק לברכה:
Mr. Rogers kept a record of his baptisms, admissions into the church, and marriages ; but, as some part has been lost, the number of neither can be determined. He was repeatedly solicited to publish some of his sermons, but ever declined.
The reverend Jabez Fitch succeeded Mr. Rogers. His church records, if he kept any, are supposed to be lost. The time of his installation is unknown.
Being a resident* at Cambridge, he was invited, in the lat- ter part of 1702, by the antient parish of Ipswich, to settle as colleague * Letter from Reverend Levi Frisbie to the author. C
1
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Account of the Religious Societies
colleague with reverend . John Rogers. He was, according- ly, ordained in the course of the following year.
On the 13 of December, 1723, soon after the vacancy at Portsmouth, he withdrew* from his pastoral office at Ipswich, on account of the incompetency of his support, and was pro- bably established here, in a short time after. The people of his former charge were displeased at his leaving them ; yet, such appears to have been their regard, they repeatedly exert- ed themselves for his return. It is not certain that his remov- al was ever sanctioned by the voice of an ecclesiastical coun- cil. Pecuniary diferences, between him and the people of Swing Ipswich, were not finally adjusted till 22 September, 1726, hand and then by way of arbitration.
He was bornt at Norwich in Connecticut, in April, 1672, and was the fourth son. by a second marriage, of reverend James Fitch. He was graduated at Harvard College, in 1694, and was both a tutor and a fellow of that seminary. From this circumstance it may be conjectured that he was a gentle- man of distinguished talents and learning ; and, especially, as he was called to a settlement at Ipswich, which, at that period, was one of the principal parishes in the country, and had been furnished with a series of ministers of the first reputation. He died of a nervous fever, 22 November, 1746, in the 75 year of his age, after a pious and useful ministry in Portsmouth of more than 20 years' continuance.
He had a taste for historical researches and made a collec- tion of facts, relative to New-Hampshire, of which doctor Belknap availed himself, when writing upon this state, and for which he has given credit.
Four sermons are extant, which Mr. Fitch published while at Portsmouth. The first, from Psalm xxviii. 5. was occasion- ed by the great earthquake, which happened, 29 October, 1727. The second was preached in Gosport, on one of the Isles of Shoals, 26 July, 1732, at the ordination of rever- end John Tucke, from these words, " I will make you fishers of men ;" Matthew, iv. 19. The other two, from Jeremiah siv. S, 9. were designed to lead people to a religious improve- ment of the throat distemper, which prevailed in 1795 and 6. He also published an account of that fatal disorder, as it ap- pearcd,
. See note in the preceding page.
t App. note E.
Chewith
--
-
--
3
19
in Portsmouth, New-Hampshire.
peared, in Newhampshire, for fourteen months prior to 26 Ju- ly, 1736.
The north Parish, 6 November, 1745, invited Mr. Sam- uel Langdon, he having been the grammar school master in Portsmouth, to assist Mr. Fitch. It was stipulated that he should have liberty to continue his school, so long as the aged minister should be able to perform the duties of his station, and then become his successor in office.
Mr. Langdon was not ordained till 4 February, 1747. At this time the number of communicants, in the church commit- ted to his care, exceeded one hundred and sixty.
Being invited to take the oversight of Harvard College, his ministry in this town ceased, 9 October, 1774. . In 1780, he resigned the presidency of that institution and, once more, en- tered on the milder task of teaching a church of Christ. He was installed at Hamptonfalls, 18 January, 1781. His exten- sive knowledge, hospitality, patriotism, and piety secured to him, in this calm retreat, the affection and respect of the peo- ple of his charge and of his numerous acquaintance. He de- parted this life, 29 November, 1797, having nearly completed the 75 year of his age.
He was a native* of Boston and became a graduate of Har- vard College, in 1740. He received the degree of doctor of divinity from the university of Aberdeen, in Scotland, and was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sci- ences.
'The following is a list of the doctor's publications. Possi- bly some are omitted. 1. A sermon, from Jeremiah xxiii. 28, 29, delivered in Greenland, 3 November, 1756, at the or- dination of the late reverend Samuel Macclintock, D. D. 2. Joy and gratitude to God for the long life of a good king and the conquest of Quebec, a thanksgiving sermon, preached at Portsmouth, 10 November, 1759, from the 13 first verses of Psalm xxi. 3. An impartial examination of Mr. Robert San- deman's letters on Theron and Aspasio, printed in 1765. 4. A summary of christian faith and practice, drawn up, princi- pally, in scripture language, printed in 1768. 5. A sermon, from Micah iv. 5. on the coincidence of natural with revealed religion, delivered at the Dudleian lecture, in Cambridge, 1 November, 1775. 6. A sermon, from 1 Thessalonians, ii. 13,
preached
* App. note F.
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Account of the Religious Societies
preached in Dublin, New-Hampshire, at the ordination of reverend Edward Sprague, 12 November, 1777. 7. A ser- mon, from Ecclesiastes, vii. 1, delivered in Cambridge, 9 May, 1779, occasioned by the death of professor Winthrop. 8. A sermon from Deuteronomy, iv. 5, 6, 7, 8, preached at Con- cord, at the annual New-Hampshire election, 5 Junc, 1788. 9. Observations on the revelations of Jesus Christ to saint John. 8vo. p. 337, printed in 1791. 10. A discourse, from 1 Tim- othy, iii. 14, 15, delivered in Portsmouth, before the Piscata- qua Association, 26 January, 1792. 11. Corrections of some great mistakes committed by reverend John Cosens Og- den, printed in 1792. 12. Remarks on the leading senti- ments of reverend doctor Hopkins' system of doctrines, in a letter to a friend, printed in April, 1794. In 1761, colo- nel Joseph Blanchard and doctor Langdon, having taken great pains to prepare, published a map of New-Hampshire, which they inscribed to honourable Charles Townsend, esquire, his majesty's secretary at war and one of the privy council.
The late doctor Stiles* preached his first sermon in the north parish, 6 April, 1777, and agreed to remove to Ports- mouth and carry on the work of the ministry, for one year, or till he should return to his flock in Newport. He, according- y, on the 29 of May following, brought his family to this place, and staid till the summer of the next year, when he repaired to New-Haven, having been previously chosen president of Yale College. From the benefit of his instructions and example, and from the acquaintance, which the people formed with him, during his continuance here, his name will long be mentioned with respect, in this part of the country.
In 1776, reverend David Macclure, D. D. now settled at East Windsor, in Connecticut, had an invitation, which he did not accept, to take the pastoral care of this church and con- gregation.
Reverend Joseph Buckminster, D. D. was ordained, 27 January, 1779. The baptisms from that time to the pre- sent, amount to nearly eight hundred, and the admissions into his church, in the same period, to seventy-five. From the re- cords of Samuel Penhallow, esquire, who has been clerk of the north church, ever since June, 1757, the number of baptisms, from
Church records.
21
in Portsmouth, New-Hampshire.
from that date to this, is sixteen hundred and sixty-seven, and the admissions one hundred and sixty-one.
Haines, Fletcher, Keais, and Morse were deacons, in this town, at an early period. Since the time of Mr. Rogers the following is a list of those, who have filled the office of deacon in the north church. Captain Tobios Langdon, Samuel Hart, Thomas Peirce, Thomas Peirce, son to the former, Samuel Sherburne, Samuel Penhallow, esquire, William Parker, esquire, father of the late bishop Parker of Boston, Daniel Lunt, Elisha Hill, Ammi Ruhamah Hall, and Job Harris. The two last and deacon Penhallow are still living.
The plate belonging to this church consists in six cups of antique form, dated 1705 ; a christening bason, dated 1714 ; a tankard, given, in 1764, by Mrs. Mary Gambling, widow of honourable Benjamin Gambling, esquire; and two large Aagons, the silver for making which was given by Thomas Wibird, esquire, who died 12 November, 1765, in the 59 year of his age.«
SOUTH PARISH NOT INCORPORATED.
It has already been suggested that a part of the inhabitants of Portsmouth, at the time a majority repaired to the new, or north meeting house, in 1713, chose to continue the assem- bling of themselves together, for publick worship, at the an- tient building near Pickerin's dam.
Rev. John Emerson was invited, 24 May, 1703,t to set- tle in the ministry at Newcastle, where he was soon after or- dained by reverend messieurs John Cotton, John Pike, and John Clark. In 1712, for what reasons the author of this work has not been able to ascertain, his pastoral relation was dissolved. Having, for some time, preached in the old mect- ing house, in Portsmouth, he was installed there, 28 March, 1715. Rev. Christopher Toppan, į in presence of reverend Caleb Cushing and Theophilus Cotton, gave him the custom- ary charge.
Mr. Emerson was a native of Ipswich and received the honours of Harvard College, where he was educated, in 1689. He very providentially escapedit with his life, 27 June, the same
* North parish incorporated 1791. t Newcastle records.
1. Emerson's records.
#! Belknap's New-Hampshire.
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Account of the Religious Societies
same year, by declining, though strongly urged, to lodge at the house of major Waldron, in Dover, on the fatal night, when the Indians wreaked their vengeance on the unsuspecting inhabitants of that place. He crossed the Atlantick, in 1708, spent some time in the city of London, and was handsomely noticed by queen Ann. He died, on the 21 of June, 1732, in the 62 year of his age, and was interred in the Cotton burial ground.
The old meeting house was constantly used, during the life of Mr. Emerson ; but, soon after his death, was converted into a dwelling house. In 1731, the present south meeting house was built. After it was raised, Mr. Emerson made a prayer upon a stage, fixed in the frame for the occasion, and it is still recollected, by the aged, that he particularly gave thanks, that no accident had happened in preparing, and putting the frame together. This was the last publick exercise he performed.
During his ministry, in Portsmouth, he baptized seven hun- dred and sixty-two, and received into his church one hundred and twenty-four. Forty of these were added in course of a year after the great earthquake of 1727. Mr. Emerson took care to cherish a becoming remembrance of that alarming providence by preaching an occasional discourse, ever after, on the evening of the 29 of October. It is to be regretted that none of his sermons were published, as they would, no doubt, have done honour to his memory. He is said to have been an agree- able companion and a faithful preacher of the gospel. *
Rev. William Shurtleff was ordained at Newcastle, in 1712. He was invited, upon the death, to become the successor, of Mr. Emerson. He was, accordingly, installed in the south parish of Portsmouth, 21 February, 1733.
Mr. Shurtlefft was a native of Plymouth, in Massachusetts, and was numbered among the graduates of Harvard College, in 1707. He left this world for a better, 9 May, 1747. His remains, as were those of Mr. Strong, were deposited under the communion table of his church. No stone has been e- rected to his memory. His name, however, will long be mentioned with respect, for his uncommon meekness and pa- tience under great trials and for distinguished piety as well, as pastoral fidelity. During his ministry in this place, he bap- tized more, than seven hundred, and admitted one hundred and
* App. note G.
i App. note H.
23
in Portsmouth, New-Hampshire.
and thirty communicants. He was a great friend and promo- ter of the revival of religion, which became so general about the time of 1742. In the course of this year, he had sixty- three added to his church. *
Mr. Shurtleff published, 1. A sermon, from Galatians ii. 2, . which he preached in the parish of Rye in Newcastle, 14 Sep- tember, 1726, at the ordination of reverend Nathanael Morril. 2. A sermon from Psalm cxvi. 3, 4, 5, delivered at Newcas- tle, 1 January, 1727, in commemoration of the sufferings, preservation, and deliverance of a company of mariners, some years before, shipwrecked on Boon Island ; with an address to hon. John Wentworth, esq. 3. A sermon, from Revela- tions ii. 1, preached at North Hill, in Hampton, 31 October, 1739, at the ordination of reverend Nathanael Gookin. 4. A sermon, from Luke xxiii. 42, occasioned by the execution of Sarah Simpson and Penelope Kenny, t and in the hearing of the former, delivered 27 December, 1739. This sermon is preceded by an address to the reader, of which Mr. Fitch was the author. 5. A sermon, from Romans x. I, preached in Boston, 18 September, 1741, at a monthly evening lecture. 6. An account of the revival of religion at Portsmouth, pub- lished in the 22 and 48 numbers of the Christian History for 1743.
After the decease of Mr. Shurtleff, several candidates were employed in the South Parish. Of those, who officiated the longest, were Mr. Samuel Moody, the late preceptor of Dum- mer Academy ; the late John Phillips, LL.D. the munificent founder of the Academy at Exeter ; and reverend Daniel Little, the late esteemed pastor of the church at Kennebunk, in the town of Wells.
Reverend Job Strong was ordained, 28 Junc, 1749. Hc was a native of Northamptont, in Massachusetts, and was graduated at Yale College, in 1747. It is much to the honour of this young Melancthon, that he was one, of the two, par- ticularly recommended by the pious David Brainerd to the commissioners at Boston, as a promising character for mis- sionary
* Shurtleff's records.
t These were the first executions in the state of New-Hampshire.
# App. note I.
§ See Brainerd's Life.
!
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Account of the Religious Societies
sionary labours among the Indians. He sat out for Ohono- quaugo* the last of 1747 ; but, having reached Schoharic, he. was taken unwell, and stopped four days' journey short of the place of destination. However, he spent about six months on this tour, and returned so full of the expectation of future usefulness among the poor natives of the wilderness, that he was determined, having put his hand to the plough, not to look back. The people of Portsmouth had heard an excellent account of Mr. Strong, and delegated Matthew Livermore and Henry Sherburne, esquires, to Northampton, to invite him to this place. Mr. Edwards, supposing him to be raised up in providence to water the seed, which Brainerd had suc- cessfully sown, was unwilling he should go to Portsmouth, but upon the express condition, that he should shortly resume his missionary labours. The gentlemen, who went after him, were obliged to promise Mr. Edwards, that they would not use their influence for his establishment in this place. How- ever, though they kept their word, the people here soon gave Mr. Strong an invitation to settle with them. He gave a negative answer, and went to the commissioners in order to receive directions, as to his further services among the abo- rigines ; but, his health was so impaired, they were fearful of his inability for the task, and relinquished their claim to him. The call at Portsmouth was renewed and accepted ; but the people had opportunity to rejoice in his light only for a little while. He died after a short and painful illness, on Monday, 30 September, 1751, at about the age of 27. His baptisms were one hundred and four, and his admissions cleven.
The author of this work has seen no publication from his pen, except a letter, preserved in Brainerd's life, addressed to his parents, which, in some measure, cvinces the piety of his heart, and the interest he took in the religious welfare of the poor Indian tribes.
Reverend Samuel Haven, D.D. the present seniour min- ister of the South Parish in Portsmouth, was ordained, 6 May, 1752. At the time of his settlement, the church consisted of two hundred members. The baptisms, from the period of doctor Haven's establishment, to 1 January, 1805, amount to about
* Information from rev. Gideon Hawley, who was a missionary also among the Indians.
25
in Portsmouth, New-Hampshire.
about two thousand, and the admissions to two hundred and thirty.
Rev. Timothy Alden, junior, was ordained collegiate pas- tor, 20 November, 1799.
The following is a list of those, who have officiated as dea- cons in this church, so far as can readily be determined. Richard Shortridge, James Sherburne, captain Mark Lang. don, Daniel Jackson, Isaac Williams, John Marshall, John Noble, Nadab Moses, John Marshall, son of the former of that name, Jonathan Locke, and Solomon Cotton. The three last are still living.
The plate belonging to the south church consists in six an- tient cups, without date ; a christening bason, the fruit of a bequest, made by captain George Walker, in 1740; and a tankard given by Mrs. Mary Shurtleff, widow of the minister before mentioned.
Deacon Noble, who died 19 October, 1801, aged 67, gave the income of tu o shares in the Piscataqua bridge to a helpless grand daughter, and, after her deccase, to the poor of the parish forever. *
EPISCOPAL SOCIETY INCORPORATED, 1792.
About the year 1732, some gentlemen, who were fond of the mode of worship practised in the church of England, con- tributed to the erection of a building for the purpose. Mr. Thomlinsonf was greatly instrumental in procuring aid in England for completing and furnishing it. The consecration of this edifice, which was originally called Queen's chapel, but now Saint John's church, took place in 1734.
Rev. Arthur Browne, t a native of Drogheda, in Ireland, became the first incumbent, in 1736. He was educated; at Trinity College in Dublin, and received the degree of master of arts, 29 July, 1729. He was ordained by the bishop of London
-
* The south meeting-house is an important land mark for mariners coming into Piscataqua harbour. The steeple was struck with light- ning, 7 May, 1759, and was greatly injured. A particular narrative of the effects was written by doctor Haven, and was published in Fowle's New-Hampshire Gazette, number 136. It was also struck once before. + Belknap's New-Hampshire. # App. note K.
- § Letter from rev. Asa M'Farland, who obtained the substance of this paragraph from Mrs. Roche.
26
Account of the Religious Societie's
London for a society in Providence, Rhode-Island, whither he repaired, and tarried till his removal for this place. He spent the remainder of his days, as a missionary, with the episcopal church in Portsmouth, and died, soon after Mrs. Browne, in 1773, having just entered his 74th year.
His character is respectfully given in the following quotation from a ictter* addressed by the bereaved church, 2 July, 1773, to the secretary of the society for propagating the gos- pel in foreign parts. "Good conduct, a most noble and be- nevolent disposition, excellent preaching, sound doctrines, and good oratory were qualifications regularly exhibited and ever conspicuous in our late faithful divine."
He published, 1. A sermon from Proverbs xxii. 6, deliv- cred 27 December, 1739, the day appointed for the execution of Penelope Kenny. 2. A sermon from Proverbs xxiv. 21, on the folly and perjury of the rebellion in Scotland, prcached at Portsmouth, 23 February, 1746. 3. A sermon from Isiah i. 20, delivered on the annual fast, 6 May, 1757. 4. A sermon, on the doctrine of election, from 1 Peter, i. 2, preached at Portsmouth, 1757. 5. Remarks on doctor May- hew's Incidental Reflections, by a son of the church of Eng- land, printed in 1.763, are supposed to have been written by Mr. Browne.
After the death of this gentleman, the episcopal church was for many years neglected, having only transient supplies.
Rev. John Cosens Ogden, a native of New-Jersey, and or- dained by bishop Seabury, became his successor, in Decem- ber, 1786. He was a preacher of popular talents, but too great a bigot for this age of catholicism. Some imprudences, which were more the fault of his head, than of his heart, oc- casioned dissatisfaction in the minds of his people, so that he found it expedient to leave them, in 1793. He afterwards, at times, showed symptoms of a mental derangement, and is said to have died suddenly at Chestertown, Maryland, in 1800.1
Hi, publications, which the author has seen, are, 1. A ser- mon from Nehemiah v. 19, delivered in Concord, New- II .mpshire, at the annual election, in June, 1790. 2. A ser- mon from 1 Corinthians i. 10, preached in Nottingham, 7 September, 1790, before the Columbian Lodge. 3. An address delivered at the opening of Mr. Benjamin Dearborn's academy
* Church files.
t App. note L.
27
in Portsmouth, New-Hampshire.
academy in Portsmouth, on Easter Monday, 1791. 4. Let- ters occasioned by the publication of an epistolary correspon- dence, which had been carried on between him and the late doctor M'Clintock.
Rev. Joseph Willard, the present rector of Saint John's church, was ordained deacon, in the city of Nen - York, 22 February, 1795, and priest, on the 24 of the same month, by right rev. Samuel Provost, D. D. His baptisms amount to nearly four hundred.
1
1
. Many valuable donations have in times past been made to this church, which, from one cause and another, have been lost. The plate, at present belonging to it, consists in two large fla- gons, a christening bason, a cup, and a salver, with the royal stamp, said to have been presented by the queen of England, at an early period of the church, in honour of whom it was cal- led, originally, Queen's Chapel ; and a cup given by captain Christopher Rymes, in 1736.
The late Theodore Atkinson, esquire, gave two hundred pounds sterling, the interest of which is laid out in bread, which is distributed, every sabbath, among the poor of the church, agreeably to an article in his will.
An elegantly printed bible, from the Clarendon press, was presented, in 1793, by Arthur Browne, * esquire, representa- tive in parliament for the university of Dublin, in Ireland, to this church, in token of his affection and respect for a con- gregation of which his grandfather was formerly pastor.
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