USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Kingston > Historical address on the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the gathering of the Congregational Church, Kingston, N. H.: Sept. 28, 1875 > Part 2
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- Mr. Peter Coffin, (I. 1,) who preached as candidate at Kingston, after the death of Rev. Ward Clark, was ordained pastor at East Kingston, when the church was organized, and dismissed in 1772, after a pastorate of nearly thirty-three years.
In 1750, thirty-one persons were dismissed to the church in Brent- wood.
In November, 1759, ten were dismissed to organize a church in San- down, of which Rev. Josiah Cotton, (I. 2.) was the first pastor.
In the settlement of Salisbury, in 1749-then called Stevenstown-a large draft of men was made from Kingston. It is stated that fifty- four of the fifty-seven grantees, belonged to Kingston ; that is, I presume, from the town as originally bounded. One of the settlers was Ebenezer Webster, who went there in 1763, grandson of Ebenezer Webster, of Hampton, one of the grantees of Kingston, who came here in 1700. He was the father of Hon. Daniel Webster, the surnames of some of whose ancestors, as Judkins, Bachelder, Eastman, French and Severance, have here a familiar sound,
Dr. Joseph Bartlett went from Kingston,-where he married Hannah, daughter of Lieut. Samuel Colcord,-to Salisbury, the birth-place of their son, Hon. Ichabod Bartlett.
Other towns also, as they were opened for settlement, received fami- lies from Kingston.
Danville, first called Hawke, was set off from Kingston, as a distinct town, February 22, 1760. Mr. John Page, (I. 3,) was ordained pastor at Danville, December 21, 1763, and died there January 29, 1783, thus closing a ministry of more than nineteen years.
During the ministry of Mr. Seccombe, which continued until his death, September 15, 1760,-a period of nearly twenty-three years, there were received to the church, three hundred and thirty-eight mem- bers. The number of baptisms was twelve hundred and fifty-seven. There were but seven months of this time in which some did not receive this ordinance.
By a plan formally indorsed by a Synod which met in 1662, and adop- ted by many New England churches, persons of reputable character owned the church covenant and had their children baptized, without be- ing received into full communion. This practice, known as the " Half- way covenant," (G.) was long in use here.
We find in the record of baptisms, April 8, 1744, " Coffee, negro ser-
Rev. Samuel Colcord Bartlett, D. D. Pres. of Dartmouth Col. (1877) is of this stock.
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vant of Ebenezer Stevens. Esq." Among births on the town book, are recorded those of Dinah Black, November, 1752, and Cæsar Black, Au- gust 17, 1754,-servants of Ebenezer Stevens, son of the foregoing. (E. 11.)
Slavery was at that time tolerated by public opinion in New England, though the original seizure of negroes in Africa was generally condemn- ed. Occasionally contemporaries of Mr. Seccombe among the clergy, were slave owners, as Parsons of Newbury, and Edwards of Northamp- ton, Mass., and Walker of Concord, N. H. Here in Kingston, Peter, a black fellow-servant of Dr. Josiah Bartlett-was credited to the town's quota as a soldier of the Revolution-1782.
But, at the time of the Revolution, opposition to the curse of human slavery, took an earnest and emphatic form, as a most natural sequence of discussion of the principles of human freedom.
I have not the data for clearly defining the attitude of Mr. Seccombe toward the great revival-1740, and after.
I think, however, that it was favorable. Some ministers of that day gave public expression to their sentiments conjointly on either side. So far as I know, Mr. Seccombe's name is not found associated with such manifestoes.
There was a " Ministers' meeting," partly in Massachusetts and part- ly in New Hampshire, which joined with another contiguous in Massa- chusetts. in 1745, in a letter to the Associated Ministers of Boston and Charlestown, desiring them not to admit Whitefield into their pulpits. Among signatures to this letter are found those of Coffin of East Kings- ton, and Fogg of Kensington. It seems to me that if Mr. Seccombe had been in sympathy with their views he would have united with them.
It may be mentioned also that the Boston ministers, for whom Mr. Seccombe appears to have had the strongest personal regard,-Dr. Sew- all, and his colleague, Rev. Thomas Prince, and Dr. Colman,-were de- cided and earnest friends of the Revival.
After the death of Mr. Seccombe, nearly two years intervened before the settlement of his successor, during which time sixty-one persons were baptized.
February 8, 1762. The town gave a call to Mr. Amos Toppan, (B.5) to be their minister. He was ordained August 18. Great preparations were made for the occasion, and a liberal entertainment furnished at the
* Query. Howmany of the signers of the Dec. of Indepen deser ware slave owner? Stephen Hopkins b. in that hast of Providence R.I. which is now the town of Scituate, man- united his slaves before 1776,
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expense of the town. Mr. Toppan was pastor nearly nine years, until his death, June 23, 1771.
During his pastorate, twenty-five were admitted to the church, and sixty-five baptized.
After Mr. Toppan's death, the church remained vacant about five years and a half, during which time there were fifty-two baptisms.
About six months after the death of Mr. Toppan, the town voted to hire Mr. Stephen Peabody to preach. A year later, January 18, 1773, voted a call to Mr. Nathaniel Niles. Twenty voters dissented. Same year, April 20, refused a call to Mr. Lancaster, (Rev. Stephen Lancas- ter.) July 15, voted a call to Joshua Noyes. Dec. 30, 1773, voted a call to Moses Everett. Twenty-three dissented and he declined. Octo- ber 6, 1774, voted to give Joseph Appleton (K. 5) a call. Twenty-six dissented and he declined. The chief reason for this dissent was not probably objection to the candidates personally. A change had begun to come over the town. Its original homogeneity in attachment to one religious denomination was broken. In the latter part of Mr. Seccombe's pastorate, in 1757, for the first time, a few Baptists and Quakers refused to pay taxes for the minister's support. Still there were but very few belonging to other organizations than the " standing order." There was, however, developed a feeling against raising money by the town for preaching, sufficiently strong to discourage candidates from accepting offers for settlement.
It may be noted that Mr. Everett was ordained minister of Dorches- ter, Mass., just one hundred and one years ago, to-day.
In 1776, the town gave a call to Mr. Elihu Thayer, (B. 6,) who was ordained December 18, of that year. After he come here the people were not long in discovering that he was a man of extraordinary merit, and he gained at the first a very high place in their respect and confi- dence, which he held to the close of his life.
His ministry here was attended with difficulties though not such as to disturb the harmony of his personal relations with the people.
By the demoralizing influence of the war of the Revolution, forms of skepticism, already introduced, acquired a fearful impetus. The anxie- ties, hardships, and moral temptations of this contest also turned many minds aside from attention to divine truth. The general prosperity of this and other towns around, including religious interests, was very much impaired. Other denominations made some attempts to work here
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but it was a time of religious declension and decay of regard for the or- dinances of the gospel.
Dr. Thayer died April 3, 1812, completing a ministry here of more than thirty-five years. One hundred and twenty-one persons were bap- tized during this time, and thirty-six added to the church.
Dr. Thayer's friend, Rev. J. H. Church, D. D., of Pelham, preached his funeral discourse, in which is presented a statement of the leading points in his character and history. There is a marked appropriateness in the text which was selected for the occasion. It is from the prophecy of Ezekiel, chap. 33, v. 33 : "THEN SHALL THEY KNOW THAT A PROPHET HATH BEEN AMONG THEM." It is noteworthy that the public reading from a volume of Dr. Thayer's sermons, published after his death, became to some of his flock a most precious means of grace, who hearing after his decease the words which the devoted pastor spake while he was yet with them, were hopefully converted to Christ.
Some months after the death of Dr. Thayer, Mr. Hervey Wilbur, (B. 7,) came to Kingston, not having at that time received ordination. He engaged zealously in the work of the gospel, and initiated some im- portant measures for religious improvement ; among these the establish_ ment of a catechetical society. He appears to have been here at least as early as the first part of the year 1813, but I do not know how many months were included in this service. I anticipate the order of time to add that according to a statement in the Minutes of the Rockingham County Conference, 1851, he preached here a year or more before the settlement of Mr. Turner. His son, H. B. Wilbur, M. D., of Syracuse, N. Y., writes that he was settled at Wendell, Mass., directly after leav- ing Kingston. The date of his ordination at Wendell, is Jan. 1, 1817.
In the year 1813, the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowl- edge, turned its attention to towns in Rockingham and Strafford coun- ties, where churches once flourishing had become greatly reduced in numbers and influence.
Inquiry respecting Kingston, showed that there were eighty-two fami- lies whose preferences were for the Congregational denomination, and forty-seven for the Baptists, Universalists and Methodists.
The Methodist society was organized in 1801, but at this time had very little activity. The Baptists and Universalists had here, I think, no formal organization. 3 Harvey Bachus Wilbur, M. D., Suferin- tendent of the New York State I don't as- your from its foundation, died at the asylum May 1, 1883, aged 63. Born in Windell, man. aug .? 20,1820, Glad, ambert cal, 1838,
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The Congregational Church had twenty members, the aged Deacon Stevens being the only surviving male member. (E. 13.)
Still, there was cheering evidence that the good seed sown by Dr. Thayer, was not lost.
Under the direction of the society which has been named, Rev. Thom- as Holt visited Kingston. and reported,-Sabbath, September 12, 1813,- large audiences, profound and deep solemnity, several admissions to the church, and several baptisms.
Rev. Ephraim Abbot and Rev. Isaac Jones performed short missions under the same direction.
In the Spring of 1814, Mr. Federal Burt came here for three months, but was to include in his labors some service in East Kingston, Hawke and Sandown.
In this time, he preached fifty sermons in Kingston, to attentive, sol- emn and increasing assemblies, besides delivering four funeral discourses ; and conducted expository meetings, eight meetings of a catechetical society of thirty members, religious reading meetings, visited schools and sick persons, and made family visits.
Rev. Timothy Flint performed a short mission here in the Autumn, and reported all the audiences in this town as full, attentive and solemn His commission for the early part of the year 1815, also included ser- vice here. Rev. Jonathan Homer also was sent here on a similar mission.
The next name in this connection is that of Rev. John Turner, (B. 8,) who had been similarly employed, with great acceptance, in towns in Maine, and in the neighborhood of Lake Winnipiseogee in this State.
'It is recorded in the transactions of the Society, that he " While at Kingston gave so encouraging an account of his reception, with such grateful expressions of obligation from a committee of the place, that the directors voted a grant of $60 annually for five years, provided he should become settled in the ministry at Kingston, and continue in office that term of time, on condition of his performing six weeks mis- sionary service annually in the vicinity of Kingston under the direction of the Society."
Up to this time, since the death of Dr. Thayer, there had been thirty- two persons admitted to the church ; twenty-four of whom were received within the first eighteen months. The number of baptisms was thirteen.
Rev. John Turner, like his predecessors, received a call to settle from the town, and was installed pastor January 1, 1818. Certain voters,
Born Reading, Muss., 1780, d. 1840, ministr at Lunenburg, Man, Wrote on the West Is referred to as authority in aucunt aboriginal mound building
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who were opposed to this proceeding, sent to the Council a written re- monstrance against it. (H.)
After Mr. Turner's settlement, the authorities of the town refused to pav the whole of the income of the parsonage property for the Congre- gational society. It was contended that other denominations ought to have a share. The same view was at length taken of the use of the meeting-house as a place of public worship.
A law-suit ensued. The Court decided that the legacy of the first minister, Rev. Ward Clark, left " to the beloved people of his charge," belonged to the whole town. Since then the income of the whole par- sonage property has been divided among the different denominations, according to the will expressed, annually, by the several tax-payers. (H. end.)
I cannot in a few paragraphs give any adequate account of the strife of those days.
The principal leaders against the Congregationalists were not mem- bers of any church, but wished to have different preaching. They ap- pear not to have been very particular about the denomination.
On one Sunday for which they had hired a man not a Congregational- ist who was without a pastoral charge, with the intention of having him take possession of the pulpit, Mr. Turner · began the services first from a pew ; and, as no one would take the responsibility of putting him down, he concluded before the other minister conducted service.
A Congregational deacon was fined on a charge of forcibly entering the house on a Sunday morning, and not paying the fine, was imprison- ed for thirty days. There was great bitterness of party spirit.
Mr. Turner is said to have been a man of prepossessing personal ap- pearance, an impressive speaker, a man of courage and steadfastness in maintaining his sentiments. He was dismissed May 1, 1823, closing a pastorate of five years and four months.
'Thirteen were received by him to the church here, and forty-seven baptized.
The Congregational meeting-house, now standing, was built in the year 1825. The present is the semi-centennial year of this edifice.
A Society was then organized, and the next pastor, Mr. Ora Pear- son, (B. 9,) was settled by the church and society. Rev. Ira Ingra- ham, of Bradford, Mass., preached the sermon at his ordination March 7, 1827. Aid in sustaining the gospel was sought and obtained
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from the society that had already been so helpful to this church. The observance of the Monthly Concert is reported in 1828. In 1829, the favorable influence of the Sabbath School library and of tracts is men- tioned. Allusion is also made to the organization of a Temperance Society of fifteen members. It is remarked-" This number may seem small, yet it is considered encouraging as it includes the two physicians of the place. But the evil it is designed to remove is far from being expelled, though somewhat diminished."
The next year he reports the signatures of nearly a hundred mem- bers ; also monthly distribution of tracts in Kingston and East Kings- ton. : In May, 1832, a cheering report is furnished of religious pro- gress, increase in benevolent contributions, new interest in bible study, large accessions to the church, gain in the cause of temperance, &c.
February, 1832, a unanimous vote of gratitude for seasonable aid · granted for the five years past by the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, was passed.
In this year 1832, the second meeting-house, having stood for one hun- dred years, was taken down, by order of the town.
Mr. Pearson labored diligently and prayerfully to promote the moral improvement and the eternal interests of his people.
He was diffident in conversation ; yet he habitually improved oppor- tunities to speak a word in season to individuals and to families for the religion of the gospel.
Rev. Jacob Cummings, a most competent judge in such matters, spoke of him to me as an excellent biblical scholar.
The enterprise of building a parsonage was successfully accomplished while he was here, although he did not remain to occupy it. This home for the pastor and family has been of great service. It ought to be well considered how much such an investment is worth to this religious society.
A council, called January 9, 1834, very reluctantly acquiesced in Mr. Pearson's request for a dismission, after which he supplied the pulpit till March, or seven years from the time of his settlement.
The record for this time shows, admissions to the church, eighty-two. Baptisms eighty-six.
Rev. D. D. Tappan preached here the summer of 1834, and the Rev. O. A. Taylor, the summer of 1835.
Rev. Andrew Goven, (B. 10,) preached here as stated supply about
Govan
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three years-1835-8. For a part of this period of service aid was furn- ished this church by the New Hampshire Missionary Society.
Rev. James Hobart preached here for a while in the year 1838.
Mr. Josiah L. Case, (B. 11,) was ordained pastor here, October 17, 1839. He preached one Sabbath after his ordination when the church celebrated the Lord's Supper. He attended one funeral, was taken sick of a fever, and died November 15, aged thirty-one years. He had been in Kingston some months and gained a warm place in the hearts of the people.
In intervals, when the church was without a pastor, the venerable Rev. Jonathan Ward, who lived at Brentwood, sometimes rendered gra- tuitous service.
Mr. George W. W. Thompson, (B. 12,) was ordained pastor of this church, April 29, 1840. When he had been pastor about two years, he felt that the state of his health required a change of location, and in the summer of 1842 he went to Massachusetts. He was dismissed Au- gust 29, 1843. In the year 1841, the meeting-house was repaired and enlarged.
Rev. Samuel Mason, (B. 13,) preached here as stated supply three years from July 18, 1843, to July, 1846.
In 1847, some aid was furnished this church in supporting the gospel, by the New Hampshire Missionary Society, but the following year the church became independent of such assistance.
Mr. James Fletcher, (B. 14,) afterwards pastor in North Danvers, Mass., served the church a year or more, 1847-8, as stated supply.
Rev. John Smith, (B. 15,) was installed pastor of this church, July 25, 1848. Mr. S. came here from Wilton, Conn. He was for a time pastor of the First Church in Exeter, where, under his ministry, many united with the church. He was a gentleman of urbane manners and large experience. He remained here but little more than two years, be- ing dismissed September 18, 1850.
Rev. Charles Willey, (B. 16,) followed Mr. Smith, being engaged as stated supply. He came in 1851, and remained one year.
The next settled pastor, (B. 17,) was he who has now the privilege of addressing you. Coming here in the summer of 1854, he was ordained February 14, 1855.
In July, 1867, about twelve years and four months from the date of his ordination, the pastor relinquished the supply of the pulpit, and
* Grandfather, Ed. Independent, New York.
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subsequently sent in a formal resignation with the view of being regu- larly dismissed when a Council should be called for the settlement of his successor, which was done at that time.
These years of my abode here, when, for me and mine, I could heart- ily say, " I DWELL AMONG MINE OWN PEOPLE,"* are filled with grateful memories. But it was during this time that the dark heavy cloud of the great rebellion, hung for four years over our stricken land, and then by the mercy of God passed away. our
For the first four of these twelve years the church was self-support- ing, then received aid from the New Hampshire Missionary Society for three years, then for the remaining five years was independent.
Rev. Solomon Bixby, (B. 18,) began his labors here as stated supply February 1, 1868. The church again came on the list of aided churches, but during first year of Mr. Bixby's service here it expended nearly $800 on the meeting-house and parsonage.
Mr. B. remained here until December 20, 1874.
Rev. Jacob Chapman, (B. 19,) was installed pastor of the church June 7, 1872. He was formerly well acquainted with the people, preached here the first quarter of the year 1843, and about five years later received a call to settle as pastor, when other engagements preven- ted his acceptance.
The number is not large, yet from time to time, men who were either natives of Kingston, or members of the church, have become pastors of Congregational churches. (K. 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 18, 21, 22, 32.)
Men of the other learned professions have been also members of this church and congregation, besides instructors in colleges, academies, &c., or occupying in the service of the public important civil and military positions. (K. includes some.)
Some from these classes of men belonging both here and elsewhere, have here found companions in life. (e. g. Three under B., thirteen under K., and others.)
Reverting to the time while I was yet with you, I remember as the oldest member of the church, Mrs. Elizabeth Sanborn, widow of Deacon John Q. Sanborn. (E. 17.) She became hopefully pious at the age of sixteen years, and died in 1859, when she was nearly ninety-five years of age.
*2 Kings, 4 : 13.
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Next in age was Deacon Robert Smith, (E. 18,) long a very active and capable member of the church and society. I have been informed that he was as vigorous at seventy as the most men at fifty. Even in extreme old age his memory was remarkable. He had voted in every election of President, including that of Lincoln, in 1860, excepting that of Washington's first term, which occurred a few months before he be. came of age. He was born April 12, 1768, and died November 30, 1861. The days of his pilgrimage were ninety-three years and more than seven months.
Oct 1, 1862, Deacon Isaac Sanborn, (E. 21,) died, his age being near- ly sixty-nine. Great was his delight in and large his understanding of the divine themes of the gospel of the grace of God.
Fathers and mothers in Israel passed away, but the harvest of death was not confined to these limits. Some of the younger members left us also. And when the war came, our tears were mingled in the universal mourning. What precious lives from among us were laid on the altar of sacrifice for our country.
(e. g. E. 20, 21, 23, each, end. K. 33 and 33 end.)
And since the close of my ministry among you, how often has the messenger come and called away the trusted and the loved.
Deacon Magoon, (E. 23,) remained with you till last year, when he, having "SERVED HIS OWN GENERATION BY THE WILL OF GOD FELL ON SLEEP."*
Faithful helpers, both men and women, that were with us, are not here now.
Honored citizens have left the councils of freemen. Where are some who lifted up their voices in the service of song, in the house of the Lord ?
Such changes, it is true, are to be expected in the common lot ; yet we would not be unmindful on this rare occasion of the lessons which they are suited to impress upon our minds and hearts.
One hundred and fifty years are numbered in the past history of this church. God has preserved for it a place and given it a work to do. Thank God and take courage.
*Acts 13: 36.
APPENDIX.
-
A.
HYMN.
(Written specially for this occasion by FRANK BARTLETT PATTEN.)
We meet that day to honor, Thrice fifty years gone by, In which our pious fathers Their church's need supply. The day in which the Pastor First came among us here- To speak in words of warning- To speak in words of cheer.
Like Israel's latter Temple, Assailed by savage foes, In hardship and in conflict Our church's walls uprose : A two-fold warfare waging With foes without-within-
The wilderness-the savage- The banded powers of sin !
Our fathers knew the blessings '1 he Gospel's light conveys- For safety, honor, welfare Abide beneath its rays. The Nations that ohey not The Prophet's words have doom'd : "Those Nations shall be wasted- Yea, utterly consumed."
We thank Thee for the Pastors, Who, in unbroken line, Have led our supplications, And taught Thy word divine!
Let not that line be broken- Let not that worship end- From this, Thy temple, ever Let prayer and praise ascend.
B.
NOTICES OF MINISTERS OF THE TOWN AND PASTORS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND OF STATED PREACHERS NOT INSTALLED HIERE.
1. BENJAMIN CHOATE, A. M., was a son of Sergt. John Choate, of Ipswich, Chebacco Par- ish, Mass., probably the youngest, b. 1680, grad. Harv. C. 1703. He went to Deerfick, Mass., garrison, Nov., 1704, and was there in 1706. June 12, 1707, m. Abigail Burnum. They had several children, but none of them outlived their parents. After he ceased to be the Town's minister, he was sometimes employed as school-master, and was often Moderator in Town meetings. With the church which was formed in Kingston, he never became connected. He died Nov. 26, 1753, aged 73. Mrs. C. died Jan. 9, 1776, aged 85.
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