USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Bedford > History of Bedford, New-Hampshire, being statistics, compiled on the occasion of the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town; May 19th, 1850 > Part 13
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March 28th, 1753. " Voted, Unanimously, to present a call for Mr. Alexander McDowell, to the Rev'd Presbytery, for the work of the ministry in this town."
Oct. 1st, 1754. " Voted, To give Mr. Samuel Mcclintock a call to the work of the ministry in the town of Bedford."
May 31st, 1756, " Voted, Unanimously, to revive their former call to Mr. Sam'l McClintock to the work of the ministry in this town."
Rev. Mr., afterwards Dr. McClintock was settled. at Greenland, in this state, and for many years was an able and faithful minister. Rev. Mr. Bouton, in his discourse, entitled "Fathers of the New Hampshire Ministry," mentions Dr. McClintock as "among the New Hampshire pastors, who, more or less, had divinity students." His ministry continued forty-eight years. The day before he died, he said, "that his entire dependence and hope was on that Gospel which he had preached to others." He was a graduate of Princeton College, N. J., 1751 ; received degree of A. M. at Harvard, and that of D. D., at Yale College, 1791. He died, 1804.
In the next effort to settle a minister they were successful.
Aug. 5, 1756. We find the following in the town records. " Voted, Unanimously, to give Mr. John Houston a call to the work of the ministry in this town."
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Mr. Houston was born in Londonderry, 1723, and it was stated to the writer of this notice, by an aged lady of the name of Houston, still living in this town, that his oldest brother was the third male child born in Londonderry. He was educated at Princeton, N. J., at which College he took his degree, 1753. He studied divinity in his native town, with Rev. David McGregor, of Londonderry. Mr. Houston was well-reputed for classical and theological learning, and settled among the people with encouraging prospects of con- tinued usefulness and happiness. By virtue of being the first settled minister of the place, he was entitled to certain lands reserved for that purpose in the settlement of the township, some of which still remains in possession of his descendants. The following is the provision made by the town for the support of Mr. Houston.
Aug. 7th, 1756. " Voted, To give Mr. John Houston, equal to 40 pounds Sterling, in old Tenor, as the law shall find the rate of Dollars, or Sterling Money, for his yearly stipend, if he is our ordained minister. And that what num- ber of Sabbath-days, annually, we shall think ourselves not able to pay them, he shall have to his own use and disposal, deducted out of the aforesaid sum in proportion, (viz. : ) Apportioning the whole of the aforesaid sum equally among the whole number of Sabbath-days in a year, and those Sabbath-days which shall be so set off to him by the town annually, the town shall be freed from paying to him for them, and shall only pay according to the aforesaid propor- tion for what number of Sabbath-days we shall keep of his time. And that what number of Sabbath-days the town shall vote, annually, to have of his time, them they shall have at the same rate of proportion, or the whole of his time when the town shall see meet."
According to these conditions, we find the town every year passed a vote, that he should have so many Sabbaths, some- times ten or fifteen, more or less, as the inhabitants might decide, for his use and disposal, until, at a period of great dissatisfaction, as we shall see, they voted him the whole of the year. On the 28th Sept., 1757, Rev. John Houston was ordained to the work of the ministry in this town. The ministers who took part in the services of the ordination, were the following, according to Matthew Patten's Journal, in which we find the following record : - " Rev'd Mr. True, of
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Hampstead offered the prayer; Rev'd Mr. Parsons,* of New- bury, preached from 1 Tim. i., 2, -' According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust ;' Rev'd D. McGregor, of Londonderry, gave the charge ; Rev'd Mr. True gave the right hand of fellowship ; and Rev'd Mr. White, of Gloucester, concluded by prayer." From this jonrnal, we learn that Mr. Houston's text, the first Sabbath after ordination, was, -"Fear not little flock; it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom ; " very appropriate ; as it must have been a small church and congre- gation in the midst of a wilderness. The first board of Elders, which was probably chosen about this time, consisted of James Little, James Gilmoor, Benj. Smith, William Moor, and James Moor. +
Among a small parcel of MSS. Sermons, found among Mr. Houston's papers, was an outline of a discourse delivered on occasion of the ordination of Elders, probably this very board. He must have been a young man at the time, as it would be impossible for any but young eyes to decipher the characters, which are very small, on a very scanty piece of paper. As nothing from Mr. Houston's pen, has been preserved in print, it may be interesting to the curious, to look at this specimen of his composition, especially as it shows his sentiments as to the duties of ruling elders. The text is from Titus, i, 5, - "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee." The Sermon is thus divided : -
1st. Show the Divine right of ruling elders ;
2d. Qualifications of ruling elders ;
3d. Duties incumbent on them ;
Ath. Application.
* Of Mr. Parsons, the following anecdote is related. He was at times, very passionate, but when the first impulse was over, no man could be more peni- tent. On one occasion, a bill was presented him for payment, which at first struck him as exorbitant, and he angrily refused. No sooner, however, had the claimant returned to his place of business, than Mr. Parsons entered, and the following dialogue ensued : -
" Have you seen Mr. Parsons this morning ?"
"Yes, certainly, I saw you at your house, and presented your bill."
" It wasn't Mr. Parsons, it was the devil. I'll settle the bill !"
t There were Elders before this, - as there was an Elder John Orr, who died, 1753.
.
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Passing over the first two, he devoted himself to the third, viz. : Duties of Elders. " These," he says, " are too many to be enumerated. But the main and principal part of their duty and office is to rule and govern the church. To this end, you are to join together, in conjunction with the Pastor, and then you make us a Judicatory of the Lord Jesus Christ ; so that whatsoever you bind or loose on earth, shall be bound or loosed in heaven.
" Your office also, according to our Constitution, gives you right to sit and vote in the superior judicatories of the church, from the lowest to the highest. It it also the business and duty of your order, to watch over the moral behavior of your fellow-christians. And as it is part of the duty of all Christians, to exhort daily, and to love as Brethren, so it is something peculiar to your order, to visit the fatherless and widow, and be ready to give counsel and advice in all difficult matters, to prevent angry debates and heal divisions. You are to reprove, rebuke and exhort, to stand and shut the door of the church against scandalous professors, and open the door to those who are qualified.
"APPLICATION. First, - Hence we see the excellency and glory of the gospel dispensation, wherein life and immortality are brought to light.
" Second, - Hence we see the necessity of proper judica- tories in church matters, to settle controversies, otherwise there would be confusion. Though some object to giving away their rights, yet we know no rights that conflict with the order of God's house. [Call the names of the elders elect.] You have, in a free, open meeting, been elected to the office of ruling elders, and after taking time to consider, you have seen it your duty to accept. You are now to be set apart for that office. You are to engage in an office to which there is little of a temporal nature to induce you ; an office, honorable, but apt to be the mark of banter, ridicule, and profane drollery. You profess to adhere to the essential doctrines of the Old and New Testament, the only rule of faith and practice as particularly set forth in the confession of faith ; and further, you profess, as far as you know your own heart, you now undertake this office, not with a view to honor or a name in the world, nor with a design to lord it over God's heritage, or any similar design whatsoever, but with a single purpose, to strengthen the hands of your breth- ren, and contribute your mite, to advance the interests of
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Christ's kingdom in the world. And to this end, you do engage to apply yourselves to a faithful discharge of the duties of your office, as briefly hinted at : let me exhort you to think often of your solemn engagements, and to apply yourselves to the duties of your temporal calling as Christians ; so to the duties of your peculiar office, and let these be backed by a prayerful and exemplary study to be just and upright, to be inoffensive and modest, savory and holy in your conversation. Think that the least wrong step, or incautious conduct, will be noticed in you. Some will be spiteful and wicked enough to make a handle of it. Walk wisely towards them that are without. Know how you ought to behave yourselves in His house, the church of the living God, - the pillar and ground of the truth.
" Brethren of the Congregation, - You see these men, whom your choice has raised to the office of Elders. You have heard a summary of their duties and obligations. Suffer the word of exhortation. Be exhorted to receive them in love, yield them that respect and submission, to which by their office, they are entitled. Be subject to them in disci- pline. Permit them to rule over you as their duties require."
Such is the outline, given with verbal accuracy, of what was probably an interesting sermon, on an extraordinary occasion. But the paper that contains the whole, would scarcely cover the palm of the hand, owing in part probably to the scarcity of paper at that day. It is probable the sermon occupied much time in the delivery, as they were accustomed to long sermons. An old lady from Scotland, said that "in her country, the sermons were two hours and a half long, but had now come to be only one hour and a half, and she feared what the world was coming to."
We have no records of the Church to which to refer during this early period of its existence. It enjoyed the stated ministrations of the gospel, and seems to have grown in strength and prosperity. The pastor devoted himself from year to year to the laborious duties of his solemn calling. Among his old papers was found one giving a long catalogue of names, with this heading, all in his own hand-writing : " A List of persons supposed to be qualified for being Cate- chised in Bedford, Jan'y 10th, 1758." On this list are several hundred names, classed apparently by families ; among which we find the names still familiar to us, of Moor, Walker, Patten, Orr, Wallace, Barr, Riddel, Aiken; and other names
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not now among us, as Boies, Little, Taggart, Gile, McDowell, Scobey, &c. Catechistical instruction was then, no doubt, faithfully attended to, with the exception of few, if any, families.
In 1758, we find on the town records a petition of which the following is the commencement : - " We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the town of Merrimack, being of the Presby- terian persuasion. And whereas we cannot enjoy the privilege of the public worship of God in our own town, according to our own persuasion, nor any where else at present, so convenient as at Bedford, under the ministry of Rev. John Houston, therefore, &c." Acting on this petition, the town " Voted, - That the inhabitants of Merrimac who pay rates to the support of the gospel in Bedford, have so many Sabbath-days of our Rev'd Pastor's time, for public worship to be held at John Burns' as they pay in proportion with us, toward his annual salary for the present year, if our Rev'd Pastor be willing."
Nothing appears but that Mr. Houston was happy and successful in his parochial relations, until about 1768, when there appears to have been some grievances, and symptoms of dissatisfaction. On the one hand the minister and elders complained of it as a grievance, that "a number of persons, members of the church, on pretence of occasional commun- ion at Londonderry, broke off from the use and improvement of common and special ordinances at home ; " and on the other hand, certain members of the church and congregation complained, among other things, that the minister maintained that " what he and the deacons did, was above being inquired into ; and for prosecuting to the Presbytery, some of those who have endeavored to enquire into the reason of some conduct of the deacons." But no open rupture appears to have occurred between the minister and people, until the exciting period of the Revolution. The news of the Lex- ington battle, 19th April, 1775, spread through the land. All New England was in arms, and thousands moving towards the scene of action. The next year, Independence was declared, and the declaration was received with acclama- tion. In this state of things, those who set themselves against the tide of patriotic feeling, became very unpopular. Perfect unanimity could hardly be expected in so complete a revolution. Many individuals, from various causes, still adhered to the parent state .. Persons of this description were
19
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denominated tories, and enemies to their country, and some of them became so obnoxious to the people, that without the semblance of authority, they were seized by force, and subjected to personal abuse, in a manner unjustifiable.
Mr. Houston took the unpopular side in politics, and being constitutionally inflexible, became a thorough and decided loyalist. In taking this step, he placed himself in direct oppo- sition to the prevailing spirit of the town, and in his public ministrations, as well as private conversation, gave great offence to his people. But we can best gather a correct view of these troubles, by examining the votes of the town in rela- tion to these matters.
May 16, 1775, we find the following article in the warrant for town-meeting. "To see what method the town will take relating to Rev'd John Houston, in these troublesome times, as we apprehend his praying and preaching to be calculated to intimidate the minds of his hearers, and to weaken their hands in defence of their just rights and liberties, as there seems a plan to be laid by Parliament to destroy both."
June 15th, 1775. They voted his dismission.
As the excitement of those times has passed away, and these things have become matter of sober history, it may not be amiss to give this vote, as being now a mere matter of curiosity. It is a transcript of the spirit of those exciting times, and though expressed in decided language, it does not involve the character of Mr. Houston, any farther than as to his political opinions, in which he probably was entirely conscientious, though in adopting them, he differed from his people, and from the great majority of the clergy of New England, who were friendly to the Revolution. The vote runs thus : - " Whereas, we find that the Rev'd Mr. John Houston, after a great deal of tenderness and pains taken with him, both in public and private, and toward him, relating to his speeches, frequently made both in public and private, against the rights and privileges of America, and his vindi- cating of King and Parliament in their present proceedings against the Americans ; and having not been able hitherto to bring him to a sense of his error, and he has thereby rendered himself despised by people in general, and by us in particular, and that he has endeavored to intimidate us against main- taining the just rights of America : Therefore, we think it not our duty as men or Christians, to have him preach any
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longer with us as our minister. Therefore, Voted, That he, (viz.) Rev'd John Houston, preach no more in Bedford until the last day of March next, and that he have 36 Sabbath-days more to his own use and disposal, viz., from the 16th of May, last, to the last day of March next, more than the 9 Sabbath-days voted to his own use and disposal at our last March meeting ; and that the town be freed from paying him anything for the said 36 Sabbath-days, agreeably to the vote of the town he settled with us on."
The above vote was passed unanimously. In the mean- time, Mr. Houston was not silent. He made a communication to the town, of which the following extracts will give a correct impression.
"To the people of Bedford, met or convened at the meeting-house, on Tuesday afternoon, May 16, 1775. Sirs : - As I have been desired by some of our people to give in writing, my thoughts and sentiments about the times, I would observe that my mind for some considerable time past, has been in pain or anxiety for my country. I plainly foresaw, not by the spirit of prophecy, but by the moral reason and nature of things, high measures in opposition to the laws of commerce and trade, that mobs and riots would increase our calamity. And though our opposition some years ago, succeeded in the repeal of the Stamp Act, yet I was afraid some of our late measures of opposition would have a contrary effect. And could I bear a sincere regard for the welfare of my Country, and see the storms gathering thick every way, and not be perplexed therewith. 'Tis true, nevertheless, I thought it my duty not to intermeddle much in the disputes of civil policy, nor be strenuous in the present debate between Great Britain and her colonies, but contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. And accordingly I do not remember I ever dipped into the merits of the present dispute, in any of my public discourses ; and whoever may think that when I prayed that we might all have the pathway of God and duty made plain and open to us in every respect, and we enabled to acquiesce therein, according to the will of God; or in other words that we might all return to God and duty, from whom we have deeply revolted, I meant thereby Lord North's duties or taxes, I can truly say I had no such thought; these are phrases to which
I have been long used." * *
* This defence thus closes : " Suffer ministers, then, to go on praying earnestly for all
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men, according to the will of God, and to blow the trumpet in Zion, Shewing unto God's Israel their sins, the procuring curse of God's judgments, that we may all repent and turn from them unto God, as the only way we know his judgments can be averted. Surely our doing so here cannot intimidate the minds of our men gone into the war, but rather we may help them thereby, in our earnest prayer to God for them. Suffer ministers, also, to be guided and directed by the leadings and teachings of the unerring word and spirit of God, in all their public prayers, and to hear or receive the word at God's mouth, and warn his people from him, and not from the leadings or dictates of any person living. That we may all be directed in the way of God and duty in every respect, and kept in the same by the almighty power of God, through faith unto salvation, is the earnest desire and prayer of your careful pastor, JOHN HOUSTON."
Mr. Houston's dismission did not take place, or rather his pastoral connection was not ecclesiastically dissolved, till 1778, as appears by the following minute :
" Whereas, there appears to be a dissatisfaction among the people of Bedford, relative to Rev'd Mr. Houston, whereby he is not likely to be useful among them in the ministry, by the consent of both parties, this Synod do dissolve his pastoral relation to said congregation.
SIMON WILLIAMS, Synod Clerk.
October 1st, 1778."
After this, Mr. Houston occasionally preached as he had opportunity, in this State, and in Vermont. Rev. Silas McKeen, of Bradford, Vt., mentioned to the present minister of Bedford, that he was baptized in infancy by Mr. Houston, in one of his excursions into the state of Vermont. He spoke of the impression made on him when a boy by Mr. Houston's appearance on horseback : a tall, solemn-looking man, with a wig of the fashion of that day. The trials, severe as they were, through which he was called to pass, did not crush his spirit, though they may have rendered more repulsive a temperament that has been said to have been stern and rigid. He no doubt felt himself injured. Had it been merely his removal as minister of the place, he could not complain, because it was no more than might have been expected in such times. But it is painful to add that he was
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personally abused ; and as tradition relates, was on a certain night taken away from his family with violence, conveyed in an insulting manner out of town, and returned home again in safety, as the leaders of the party had pledged themselves to his wife, when they took him away. But the whole country was greatly excited. It was confined to no class of people. Lieut. James Moor related the following anecdote. Rev. Mr. Emerson of Pepperell, of strong revolutionary feelings, as might be expected from one who resided in the same town with the commander at Bunker Hill, was passing through Bedford, and called to pass the night with Mr. Houston. Finding what his sentiments were, and seeing too that he made use of tea, at that time a very unpatriotic beverage, he declined sitting down at the same table, and had one provided in another room; and even then would not unite in asking a blessing. Mr. Houston retained his ecclesi- astical standing, through all the difficulties. We find the following minute in the records of the Associate Presbytery.
" At a meeting in Peterborough, March 2d, 1785, The Rev'd John Houston applying to this Presbytery for a union with them, and producing a good certificate from his former Presbytery, it was unanimously agreed that this Presbytery admit Rev'd John Houston as a corresponding member."
By way of explanation, it should be stated that in 1775, the " Boston Presbytery" was divided into three bodies, viz., the Eastern Presbytery, or Presbytery of Salem ; the Middle Presbytery, or Presbytery of Londonderry ; and the Western, or Presbytery of Palmer. It was to the latter that the church in Bedford belonged, and Mr. Houston removed his relation from that, to the Presbytery of Londonderry. I find also on = referring to the records of the Presbyterian church, Long- lane, now Federal street, Boston, that Mr. Houston frequently attended meetings of Presbytery held there. It is said Mr. Houston took quite an interest in the instruction of youth, and at a time when schools were very rare, instructed the neighboring boys at his house on evenings, in reading, arithmetic, &c., for which they felt under great obligations to him in after years. He interested himself in children in his better days, loved to encourage them, and was pleased with an apt reply to any question. On one occasion, it is said, he went into a neighbor's field, after dinner on a summer's day, and found a little son of the owner at work. " Where is your father ?" "He is lying down, taking his
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rest." " Why should you work and slave yourself, while he is taking his ease ?" He pressed the little boy awhile in this way : - at last the boy looked up, and said, -" Sir, he took care of me, when I could n't help myself, and now I ought to do something for him." The ready reply so pleased the old gentleman, that he frequently alluded to it afterwards.
Mr. Houston was united in marriage to Anna, daughter of Robert and Sarah Peebles, by whom he had Samuel, Robert, John, Sarah and Anna. Samuel joined the army and engaged in the Revolutionary war. Sarah was the second wife of Hon. John Orr, and Anna became the wife of Mr. Hugh Riddle. Mr. Houston had three grandsons that were educated at Yale College.
Rev. John Houston died February 3d, 1798, aged 75. His wife died July 4th, of the same year, aged 72. Both were buried in the old grave-yard where suitable gravestones mark the place of their interment.
After the dismissal of Mr. Houston, the town was desti- tute of a settled minister for nearly thirty years. The people were supplied with preaching by various ministers, but with a single exception, not by any one individual for any length of time. As might be expected in such a state of things, the ordinances were neglected, divisions came in, and the inter- ests of piety suffered a decline. It is a maxim universally true, that if a people would enjoy the blessing of God, and promote the best interests of themselves and their children, it behoves them to sustain the regular institutions of religion.
"During the long period of nearly thirty years," writes the late Rev. Mr. Goffe, of Millbury, Mass., in a letter to the present pastor, " the people hired a great many candidates and preachers, from time to time, but I do not remember that they ever gave one a call to settle with them. In the mean- time, the cause of religion ran very low, the church was diminished and scattered, professors lived like other men, and it was scarcely known who they were, only when they came from time to time to the communion-table. As to spirituality in religion, it was scarcely to be found; and here I would say, with deep emotion, that I never knew a revival of religion in town until of late years; and though I hope some souls were born of God, yet they were few and far between."
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