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 22
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"The officers of the College while I was there, were John Wheelock, President ; Bezaleel Woodward, Professor of Natural Philosophy and Mathematics ; John Smith, Pro- fessor of Languages, and Moses Fisk, Tutor.
"It was my great object and aim, from the beginning, to qualify myself to become a preacher of the gospel. Of this I never lost sight, and of course, made all my studies subservient to it. 'To this great work I was strongly inclined, though I then had but faint conceptions of the arduousness of the labors, and the amazing responsibilities of the office at which I aspired.
"Having progressed thus far as to pass through College, my next step was to apply myself to the study of the Bible, of which I had some knowledge, and of systematic theology, of which I knew nothing. At that day there were no public Divinity schools or Theological Institutions, as at present, to which students might resort to finish their preparations for the pulpit. The custom then was for young men to study with some noted Divine, who was in the habit of instructing candidates for the ministry in Systematic Divinity, Pastoral Theology, and the various duties of the sacred office. Accordingly, immediately after leaving College, I put myself under the guidance and instruction of the late Dr. Burton of Thetford, Vt., with whom I lived and studied about three mouths. He first taught me the great outlines of Divine truth in a connected and systematic order, and gave me such other instruction respecting the study of the Bible, and the work of the ministry, as has been of great advantage to me to the present day. The assistance I received from him was good and great, and I shall ever hold his name in grateful remembrance.
" The following winter I spent in teaching school, and in aiding a young man in his preparation for College. By the way, I was the first, and he the second, that had ever obtained a public education from our native town. Being desirous of continuing my studies, as preparatory to the ministry, and to obtain the best instruction time and circumstances would
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permit, in May, 1792, I went to New Haven, Ct., and put myself under the guidance and instruction of Dr. Jonathan Edwards, late President of Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., who was then a pastor of a church in that city. With him I studied about six months, and enjoyed his accurate and· luminous instruction, when I measurably filled up his extensive system of Divinity, the outlines of which I had previously traced with Dr. Burton. These two eminent divines were the only earthly instructors in the doctrines and precepts of the gospel I ever enjoyed. With them I laid the foundation of all the knowledge of Divinity I ever possessed, and though their systems were different in some points, I never could follow either of them in all particulars ; yet, to both of them, I still feel under the greatest obligations. They taught me to read and think for myself, which I have ever done, and which has led me, in some non-essential points, to differ from them both.
" Dr. E. Griffin, late President of Williams College, was my fellow student with Dr. Edwards. We boarded, studied, wrote, slept and recited together, and at last were examined together by the Association of the Western District of the County of New Haven, on the 30th day of Oct., 1792. Dr. Edwards, and the late Dr. Trumbull, the historian of Connecticut, were the prominent members of that Associa- tion.
" Having thus finished my preparatory studies, and obtained a license to preach the gospel, agreeably to the usages of Congregational Churches, I returned to my father's, in Bed- ford, where I tarried a few days. A peculiar train of minute circumstances and events had been in operation for years, the tendency and meaning of which I did not then under- stand, but which I afterwards learned were designed by the Supreme Ruler of the world to fix my location, and bring me to the scene of my future labors and connexions in life. The events which then transpired in close dependence on each other, experimentally taught me that God, in his Provi- dence, orders and governs the world, and that his hand and agency extend to the most minute concerns of men - that he fixes the bounds of our habitation, and that not a sparrow or a hair falls to the ground without him - a truth I have never lost sight of to this day. Under this secret but controlling direction, I returned from my father's in N. H., to Oakham, in the County of Worcester, Mass., where I had kept a school
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the preceding winter, and there I delivered my first sermon in the pulpit, and in the presence of my old friend Rev. Daniel Tomlinson, on the 18th of Nov., 1792. My text was 1 Cor. i. 23,-" For we preach Christ crucified,"-which was a kind of preface or motto to my whole subsequent ministry. It has been my great aim and endeavor to preach a crucified Saviour as the only hope of a sinful world ; and how well I have done it, the great and final day will declare.
" While at Oakham, where I tarried a few days, I received an invitation to preach at Sutton, North Parish, (now Mill- bury, ) where I preached my first sermon on the second day of December following ; and here has been the place of my ministerial labors, and of my residence, ever since ; and though invited to preach in several places, as a candidate for settle- ment, I could never consent ; and the church and people here, knowing the peculiar circumstances in Providence which first brought me here, were strongly desirous that I should continue and settle among them, and therefore would not consent that I should leave them. From all that had transpired, I was fully convinced that this was the place where I should live and labor for God. It seems that he had a great work for me to do, and I must stay and do it. Owing, however, to peculiar circumstances and the state of the times, and especially to an unhappy controversy between the church and parish on one part, and Rev. Eben. Chaplin, my immediate predecessor, on the other, they delayed giving me a formal call for settlement until Jan., 1794; and for the same reason, I delayed giving them an answer for several months after. The day for my ordination was appointed on the 10th of Sept., 1794. I was then solemnly set apart by a respectable Ecclesiastical Council to the work of the gospel ministry.
" That was an important era of my life. It witnessed the attainment of the great object at which I had been aiming from the beginning, and now I had nothing before me but to go to work for God, and to fulfil the ministry I had received, which I have done with much weakness, imperfection and fear; but, through the divine assistance and blessing, not without some desirable success."
The manuscript next goes on to give an account of his labors among his people; his manner of preaching ; the revivals under his ministry, and his manner of conducting them ; his dismission, &c. He then says : -
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" Thus, after preaching to this people as a candidate and pastor for the space of thirty-eight years, and after witnessing seven distinct seasons of special revival, and after receiving nearly 400 members into the church, I was released from the stated labors of the ministry at the age of 64 years, and retired, under comfortable worldly circumstances, into the more private walks of life, consoled with the reflection that I left the church and parish in the highest state of increase, both in numbers and wealth, that I had ever known them. The church, when I was dismissed, contained 215 members, a large portion of them males.
" After about a year's rest and retirement, my health was so far restored, that I thought I could and ought to do some- thing more in the vineyard of the Lord. Accordingly, I spent a part of the three succeeding years in my native state, New Hampshire, chiefly as a missionary and supply in the Counties of Hillsborough and Sullivan, where I trust I labored not altogether in vain. Several were hopefully con- verted, and added to the church, in the places where I exercised my ministry. I was in New Hampshire during the summers of 1832 and '33, when what were called pro- tracted meetings were held in various towns and churches in that region, eight or ten of which I attended, and assisted in carrying them on."
Remarks are here made upon protracted meetings, multi- plying meetings in times of revival, sudden conversions, and other things connected with his ministry. He then remarks :
" One event of my life has afforded me no small satisfac- tion in the reflection, which is, that I was, as I believe, the first person who brought into public notice the great and glorious plan of instituting the present Board of Commission- ers of Foreign Missions. I was a member of the General Association of Massachusetts, which met at Bradford, I think in the year 1810, and was made Chairman of the Committee of Overtures. My old friend, the late venerable Dr. Spring of Newburyport, aided by the Professors at Andover, and several others, had formed and matured the grand design of instituting such a Board, with a view of the conversion of the world to Christ. The good Dr. Spring desired me to put some notice of this on my Minutes, which I did, and laid it before the Association as an article for their considera- tion and action. The Association adopted the plan, and proceeded to choose the first Board of Commissioners, in which I assisted by my voice and vote."
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DEA. JOHN HOLBROOK.
HE was born in Roxbury, and served several years in the Revolutionary War with his brother, Ebenezer, who was taken by the enemy and died in captivity. When he became prisoner, he gave John his watch, which is still owned and kept by John Holbrook, of Madison, Maine, and is a good time-keeper. John afterwards settled in what is now Brighton. He joined what was then the third Congregational Church, Cambridge, under Rev. John Foster, D. D., and was elected to the office of Deacon in that church. He once attended an ordination, as delegate from that church, in the western part of Massachusetts. On his way, he called on Rev. Dr. Abiel Holmes, of the first Church, who was to preach the sermon, and kindly offered to assist him on his way. The Doctor concluded to ride with Dr. Foster, but would be glad to have the Deacon take his baggage, and in putting it in, he repeatedly charged Dea. Holbrook, " Be sure you take care of the trunk, for it contains the cloak and the parchment."
In 1803, Dea. H. removed to Bedford, and in 1804, was added to the session of this church. In 1832, he was chosen one of the electors of President and Vice President of the United States. His death occurred suddenly, Sabbath Dec. 12, 1835. Having attended meeting, and listened to the exercises of the day with great attention, and even found the last hymn, he died, just after leaving the house of God, in his sleigh, with his wife ; being a most solemn providence, and loud call to the congregation. The text selected at his funeral, was Hebrews, xi., 21, -" By faith, Jacob, when he was a dying, worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff."
HON. JOHN ORR.
AT the age of five years, he lost both his parents, within a week of each other. The family were kept together one year under the care of Annis, then nineteen. They were then put out to different families, under the direction of their guardian, Dea. Robert Walker. John he took into his own family till he was fourteen. The Deacon adhered to the good old system of family discipline, and from him, John, (as
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he used to say himself, in advanced age,) received just the training he needed. "There was in me," said he, "by nature, a reckless daring, an obstinacy and self-will, which would not have borne the least indulgence." Several anec- dotes, related by the companions of his childhood, show the seeds of that integrity, reflection, and sound judgment, which in after life, distinguished him in the halls of legislation, mingled with that firmness, perseverance, and dauntless bravery, which placed him in the front rank of volunteers, on the field of Bennington.
After leaving the service of Dea. Walker, he spent a few years as a hired laborer, with friends in Londonderry and Bedford. About the age of nineteen, he went with some other young men, into the State of Maine, and engaged in the business of a carpenter. There he considered himself in after life, to have been in imminent danger. "The workmen. in this business," said he, " were accustomed to receive from their employers, a portion of ardent spirits at certain hours of the day. At first, I took it only to avoid singularity ; but I soon found my appetite increased, and would catch myself looking up at the sun, to see if eleven o'clock was drawing near. I was convinced that I was in danger of becoming a drunkard. I had not the wisdom or courage to break off altogether, but I determined I would have no set time for my drams. If I had not taken this resolution, no doubt I should have filled a drunkard's grave before this time."
About the age of twenty-one, he returned to Bedford, and in company with his brother Hugh, commenced the cultiva- tion of the farm left them by their father; being the same now owned and occupied by Samuel Patten. At the age of twenty-three, he bought out his brother's share of the farm, married Jane, daughter of Benjamin and Catherine Smith, built a saw and grist-mill, and engaged with great ardor in the business of improving his farm. But his business was soon interrupted by the commencement of the Revolutionary struggle. He took a very warm and decided stand in support of the liberties of his country.
He joined a company of volunteers, who in the year 1777, under the command of Gen. Stark, marched to oppose the further progress of Burgoyne's army, then stationed at Still- water. He received a Lieutenant's commission under Capt. McConnell, in Col. Stickney's regiment, and left with his company for Bennington. The following sketch was drawn
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up by himself, at the request of his son Isaac, giving a des- cription of the commencement of the battle at Bennington, and his sufferings after being wounded in the knee, which made him a cripple, and left a running sore, for life.
"On the 16th August, 1777, I was called to engage a detachment of the British, which had been sent out from Stillwater, for the purpose of securing the military stores deposited at Bennington. They had been checked in their march on the 14th, about six miles from Bennington, by the appearance of Stark's Brigade, where they cast up two breast- works, nearly half a mile apart. On the morning of the 16th, Col. Nichols, with a detachment of the volunteers, was ordered by a circuitous route, to attack the main breastwork, as soon as another detachment should attack in the rear. I was in a detachment of 200, to attack the minor breastwork, as soon as we should hear Nichols' guns. We marched from the main body, about half a mile, and then arranged ourselves in front of the breast-work about fifty or sixty rods distant, with trees and corn intervening, which prevented our seeing each other.
" About 4 o'clock, P. M., Nichols began, and the cracking of muskets was such, that imagination could see men falling by dozens. We arose and with shouts marched rapidly to the attack. In the meantime, I remembered the fate of Col. Hale, who, about two months before, was overtaken in his retreat from Ticonderoga, by the enemy, skulked in the beginning of the action, lost his standard, and was degraded. Resolving that no one should have cause to impeach me with cowardice, I marched on with the appearance of a brave soldier. When we had passed through the wood and corn- field, we came in sight of the enemy, at about fifteen rods distance. They commenced firing with muskets, at an alarming rate, so that it seemed wonderful that any of the attacking party should escape. At that time, an expression of the Prince of Orange came into my mind, 'every bullet has its billet,' and I soon found one commissioned to lay me low. After having lain fifteen or twenty minutes, one of our sergeants came and offered to take me off the ground, I told him he was unable, for I could not help myself. He said he would not leave me there, for the enemy might come and kill me. He therefore called a soldier to his assistance. They took hold of me by my arms, and attempted to carry me off; but
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the balls flew directly at us, so that I charged them to lay me down instantly, each take a hand, and stoop so low, that the flax would conceal them, and drag me on my back, into the cornfield, where I should be out of sight of the enemy. This order they obeyed, and took me to the road, where many of the wounded were collected. I was then carried to the General's quarters, where I lodged that night without rest.
" In the morning, Robert Smith came and asked a German surgeon to examine and dress my wound. He complied, and put a bandage on it ; but took no pains to reduce the fractured bones. Smith took him aside, and asked him what he thought of my case. He said 'it would have been as well if my head had been cut off, for I must die.' This opinion was not told me, until I recovered. For more than a month, I lay under the care of our regimental doctor, suffering pains which I need not attempt to describe, continually losing flesh and strength. It was the opinion of some that I could not recover, but I had a considerable flow of spirits, and was sometimes merry, so that some of my attendants thought I was deranged.
" After the departure of the Brigade, I employed a private surgeon, who had more skill, to attend me, and sometime in November, I began to feel better, and my stomach regained its proper tone for food, but the Doctor appointed my diet of light food ; this became disagreeable, for I hankered especially for hearty meat. One day I longed for pork and beans, and the desire increased and continued till evening. I did what I could by reasoning, to suppress this appetite, but in vain, and I considered myself in a situation similar to that of the Israelites in the wilderness, when their soul loathed the light food. And I feared that God had given me up to my heart's lust, to wander in councils of my own ; but in the evening I found relief, without any visible cause, which made me inexpressibly happy. February 4th, 1778, I set out on a bed in a sleigh, and arrived on the 14th, at my house, in health. I was unable to step without crutches till October following. During all this time of pain and weakness, I felt no great anxiety about the things of time, but as soon as I was able to walk without crutches, I returned to my habits of industry, and by the blessing of God on my endeavors, I have obtained a competence of the good things of time, and enjoyed as much happiness as generally falls to the lot of humanity in
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this world of changes. May the giver of all good inspire me with gratitude and prepare me for a better world; for the time of my departure is at hand. JOHN ORR."
Mr. Orr was an honor to his native town. After having filled various important offices in the town and state, he departed this life, in January, 1823, aged seventy-five, full of years and honors. His memory is held in great veneration. The following inscription appears on his gravestone in the old graveyard. "As an officer of the church, distinguished for a discriminating judgment, uncommon decision, candor and meekness. He lived and died in an unshaken, practical ad- herance to the faith once delivered to the Saints." His influ- ence was always on the side of virtue and religion ; he was active in every good enterprise ; his voice was often heard in the religious conference, and many now living, remember well the interest he gave to these occasions. In the language of one who knew him well, " He was one of nature's nobil- ity," and to him may be applied the following from the great poet : -
" He was a noble gentleman ; The general voice Sounds him for courtesy, behaviour, truth, And every fair demeanour, an example. Titles of honor add not to his fame, Who was himself an honor to the title."
HON. BENJAMIN ORR.
SON of Hon. John Orr. The following sketch is from the pen of Jacob McGaw, Esq., Bangor.
Mr. Orr was born at Bedford, Dec. 1st, 1772, and in his boyhood, expressed a desire for a public education. To have gratified this wish, would have been very pleasing to his father, but as he had seven other sons, and as his property was not large enough to do equally well for all of them, he deemed it unjust to allow Benjamin the boon he had requested. Instead of pursuing the course to which his inclination and judgment both pointed, he was apprenticed to a housewright. He served his master with fidelity some two or three years, but circumstances occurred at that time, which
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induced Mr. Orr to endeavor to be released from his appren- ticeship. A bargain was concluded by which Mr. Orr stipu- lated to pay his master a sum of money, so soon as he could earn it, instead of his unfinished term. The payment was honorably made, from the proceeds of his labors in the art to which he had been apprenticed.
Mr. Orr's thirst for a thorough literary education was so intense, as to produce the resolution that nothing short of providential interposition should prevent him from obtaining it. Animated by the hope of final success, he labored with such diligence and skill, that he was not only able to pay the money due to his former master, but also to commence a course of study, preparatory to a collegiate course. His studies, his mechanical labors, and school-teaching, were made subservient to this ultimate object, and allowed him no time for recreation. His pleasures consisted in anticipation of the future. After Mr. Orr became his own master, he first labored in the upper part of New Hampshire. There he became an occasional scholar, under Mr. Paul Langdon, an eminent teacher, who was preceptor of an academy at Frye- burg, Maine. It was poverty, alone, that made him an occa- sional scholar. But even the suspension of his studies, did not cause him to swerve from the one grand object that was always in his view, viz., eminence. It is said that some of the grandest specimens of architectural beauty existing in Maine, were produced, in part, at least, by his labor at that time.
Thus he labored and studied, enjoying the respect of all who knew him, and the admiring friendship of the few with whom at that early period of his life, he was intimate. The strength of attachment and respect of a few, who like him were poor and struggling for knowledge, was surprisingly great, and never ceased or abated, but with their earthly existence.
In August, 1796, he had fitted himself, with such aid as his other avocations permitted him to receive from his able preceptor, Mr. Langdon, to be admitted to two years advanced standing in Dartmouth College. He struggled through his first year in College, depending on his own resources, entirely. Near the close of this year, disease, induced perhaps from too severe application of all his powers to study, seized upon him, with such intensity as to give, for a time, but little hope of his recovery. In this extremity, when death was expected to
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do its work very soon upon the sick man, the Hon. John Orr, father of Benjamin, was notified of his son's condition. the tender feelings of a fond father were instantly aroused, and with his utmost speed, the father hastened, once more to see, if possible, his first-born child, and to give his parting blessing. But Infinite Wisdom and Benevolence had impor- tant labor for the suffering scholar yet to perform, and therefore he lived. So soon as the feeble but returning health of the son would permit, he returned, after an absence of nearly ten years, to his father's house, there to enjoy the fulness of his father's love, and all the fondness and kind attentions of his brothers and sisters. Here the affectionate care of darling sisters ministered to his convalescence, and his health was restored after months of confinement, so as to enable him to return to College.
At this time a new era commenced with fewer obstacles to be overcome, than had heretofore obstructed the attainment of his darling object. His father saw with what indomitable eagerness he had pressed onward in pursuit of education, and that providential interpositions had at length arrested his pro- gress, when he had arrived in full view of the goal. Parental feelings could not permit the cup of happiness and of honor to be dashed from the lips of his son, at the moment when its attainment seemed to be certain, after such long and painful struggles had been exerted and endured. The means of making such loans as would enable Mr. Orr to complete his collegiate course, were in his father's power, were offered, and gratefully accepted. In August, 1798, he received the degree of A. B., and quitted college with honorable standing as a scholar, notwithstanding the very numerous and great hindrances that were constantly occurring.
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