History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737 : being statistics compiled on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, May 15, 1900, Part 29

Author: Bedford (N.H. : Town)
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Concord, N. H. : The Rumford Printing Co.
Number of Pages: 1202

USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Bedford > History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737 : being statistics compiled on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, May 15, 1900 > Part 29

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Presbytery then condemned their paper as irregular & propofsed if they or any of them had any Greivance or cause of Complaint and would give it in a Regular way that they would come any time Either stated or pro re nata and Enquire into the affair. & if they did not like their judgement they should have the oppertunity of an appeal or Refferance to the Synod of Philadelphia. Now this being the case as may appear by the Presbyterys Records our people are wholy inexcusable in their un- lawful seperations & ought not to be Encouraged as Malecontents. Jt it true seper- ations may be allowed where there are just and Real causes but where there are no proper offences given they are wholy unjustifiable & tho you make a plea of have- ing them and us before you face to face yet you must consider you are no Compe- tent judges in the affair. First you Receive them in away as we complain Contrary to the Laws of God & Excellent Rules of our Constitution & then you would have us before you to know whether you do Right or not & be sure everybody knows you will not condemn your selves if Pofsible. Besides we mean not to bring our people before the Barr of any jurisdiction so as to Exasperate them more against us if they can pofsibly be Reclaimed any other way. We would be Glad to use the most Chris- tian Methods to bring them again to their Duty so that we may live in peace and unity together but all is ineffectual so long as they are indulged in away that setts them against us. We very much admire what you can propofse by Encourageing people from this and other towns where they live too far off to go to hear you. and

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HISTORY OF BEDFORD.

The news of the Lexington battle, April 19th, 1775, spread through the land. All New England was in arms, and thousands moving towards the scene of action. The next year independence was de- clared, and the declaration was received with acclamation. 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 vari- ous causes, still adhered to the parent state. Persons of this descrip- tion were 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 consti- tutionally inflexible, became a thorough and decided Loyalist. In taking this step he placed himself in direct opposition to the prevail- ing spirit of the town, and in his public ministrations, as well as pri- vate 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 relation to these matters.

1 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

can have no benefit of Ministerial Visitations Catchising or keeping Fast days. Be- sides you cannot pray for them as the people of your care and charge. They are not given to you as such. but are under the care and charge of other Watchmen there- fore your Encourageing them away from their proper fold leaves them to wander in the wide world in those Respects. Jn all these Respects you will plainly see that we are not encroaching the Rights of any but only Vindicating our own Right and Cause. or Rather the Rights of Christs spiritual Kingdom in the world so far as is Commited to our care and trust. & tho we may be Ridiculed & Refflected on by some yet none are to be blamed but commended for Vindicating their own proper Rights. & as we desire not to Jntermedle with or Jnvade the Rights of any in these Respects so we would be glad not to be intermedeled with or invaded. & tho we are connected togither in the jurisdiction of the same Presbytery yet let us not set up alter against Alter so as to weaken one anothers hands but Reather endeavour as far as we can to strengthen one another in the great work of the Gospel and Exercise of Church Government & Discipline. We think if every one of us look well to our own proper charges we will have enough to do att home without going abroad. We are very loath to enter into a Quarrel with you. would Rather forgive all thats past both to you and our people & live in peace for the future. But if by Disregarding these Representations you lay us under the Disagreeable necefsity of appealing to the world in these respects. you cannot blame us for so doing. but we rather hope you will see it both your Duty and Jntrest to comply with our just & Reasonable Request Especialy as it is one with the scriptures & Acts of Afsembly and thereby so far give help to the prosperity of Zion

Signed pr order pr john Houston Modr james Little sefs: Clerk

Bedford Sepbr ye 20: 1768

The foregoing is a true Coppy of what Mr Houston and his Sefsion Delivered to Mr Davidson and his Sefsion to be Communicated Coppyd july 10th and 11th 1769 pr Matthw Patten

(Copy of a manuscript found among the papers of the late Judge James W. Sav- age, son of Rev. Thomas Savage.)

1 June 15, 1775, they voted his dismission.

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and preaching to be calculated to intimidate the minds of his hear- ers, 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.

May 16, 1775, voted that what Mr. Houston gives is not satisfac- tory to this body. Voted that the meeting house doors be shut against Mr. John Houston until he comes to a sense of his duty and behaves himself to the satisfaction of the town and tha the shall have no salary from the town until he behaves himself as above-the above votes were all nem con : by us the subscribers-

James Gillmore, William Moor, Jacob McQuaid, Samuel Morrison, Samuel Patterson, James Smith, John Little, Patrick Flyng, Hugh Campbell, George Hogg, Samuel Gordon, George Cowan, John McAlaster, Whitefield Gillmore, James McAlaster, James Steel, John Moore, Jun., James Wallace, D. Robert Walker, William Caldwell, Nathan Shedd, James Aiken, Zachariah Chandler, Stephen French, Matthew McDuffee, John Aiken, Robert Burns, James Mathies, John Wallace, Esq., Adam Dickey, John O'Neil, Capt. Samuel Pat- ten, Capt. Daniel Moor, Lieut. Samuel Vose, Maj. John Goffe, John Bell, James Caldwell, James Walker, L. Thomas McLoughlin, Will- iam Barnes, Matthew Patten, E. James Patterson, Valet Sullavan, Richrd McAllester.

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. Hous- ton, any farther than as to his political opinions in which he proba- bly 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 vindicating 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 par- ticular, 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 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

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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 dis- posal 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 meantime 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 content 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 defense thus closes :

Suffer ministers, then, to go on praying earnestly for all 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

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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.

Warrant for town meeting March 27, 1778 :

Article 4. Whereas Col. Daniel Moor, Lieut. John Orr and Mr. John Bell has been chosen a Committee to Treat with the Presbytery concerning Mr. John Houston To see if the Town will Impower the men already chosen or choose others in their rooms to call a Presbyt- ery and to bring Mr. Houston to a Trial and to see if they will Dismiss him in a Presbyterian Form and any other thing that the town will think proper to act upon. Voted to chuse a Committee to send to the Presbytery. Voted that this committee (viz) Lieut. John Orr, Mr. John Bell and Mr. John Aiken is hereby Impowered to apply to the Presbytery to have the Rev'd John Houston Brought to Trial in a Presbyterian Form and Dismissed.

Mr. Houston's dismission did not take place, or rather his pas- toral 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 congrega- tion.

SIMON WILLIAMS, Synod Clerk.

October 1st, 1778.

After this Mr. Houston occasionally preached 1 as he had oppor- tunity in this state, and in Vermont. Rev. Silas McKeen of Brad- ford, 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

1As Presbyterians, however they recognized the fact that he was still pastor of the church (the fact of dismissal by the town not being sufficient according to Presby- terian practice to terminate the pastoral relation). It had been the practice in former years to vote him a certain number of Sabbaths to himself, ranging from four to ten, so at the meeting of March 27, 1776, they voted him the whole year to his own use. In the meantime, they requested him to join with them in their applica- tion to Presbytery for a dissolution of the pastoral relation and a committee was appointed for that purpose.

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HISTORY OF BEDFORD.

than might have been expected in such times. But it is painful to add that he was 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,1 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 of 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 ecclesiastical standing through all the difficulties. We find the following minute in the records of the As- sociate Presbytery :

At a meeting in Peterborough, March 2d, 1785, The Rev'd John Houston applying to this Presbytery for a union with them, and pro- ducing a good certificate from his former Presbytery, it was unani- mously 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, Longlane, now Federal street, Boston, that Mr. Houston frequently attended , meetings of Presbytery held there.2 It is said Mr. Houston took quite an interest in the instruc- tion of youth, and at a time when schools were very rare instructed

1 He was ridden on a rail as far as Captain Kelleys on the Mast road.

? He had stood out in defence of his views to the point of surrendering his pastoral charge and losing his standing in the Synod. But now being left free to act accord- ing to his own will, he appeared before the authorities of the state and took the oath of allegiance, of which the following is a copy :

State of New ) Hampshire { In Committee of Safety, October 28th, 1778.

This may certify all persons that the Rev. John Houston has taken the oath of allegiance and fidelity to this, and the United States of America.

Attest: M. WEARE, Chairman.

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the neighboring boys at his house on evenings, in reading, arithme- tic, etc., 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 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 Revolu- tionary 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 3, 1798, aged seventy-five. His wife died July 4, of the same year, aged seventy-two. Both were buried in the old graveyard, where suitable gravestones mark the place of their interment.1

After the dismissal of Mr. Houston the town was destitute of a settled minister from 1778 until 1804, a period of twenty-six 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. By singular prudence the town voted on the 26th day of March, 1777, "That the committee of safety be the committee to hire preaching the ensuing year."

At the town meeting of March 26, 1777, there was an article :

To see if the town will vote to pay the Rev. George Gilmore for two days that he preached and Mr. Taggart for one day that he preached in Bedford. Voted the town will pay.

It was also voted July 3, 1779, "To raise money to pay Mr. James Miltimore for the preaching in the town the last year."

At this meeting also there was the following :

As for sometime past the Sabbath has been greatly prophaned by

1 There is extant a letter, from which we quote the following, referring to Mr. Houston: "He left Sam'l two, Robert and John $1 each by his will, which they design to break. If they do, it will be more than any man could do in his lifetime."

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the persons travelling with burthens upon the same, when there is no necessity for it. To see whither the town will not try to provide some remedy for the future.

But the town voted not to act.

March 29, 1780. It was "voted to pay Mr. John Lane for two Sabbath days' preaching in the town of Bedford last fall."

March 27, 1782. John Moore, John Aiken, and Robert Alex- ander were a committee to procure preaching the ensuing year, and it was "voted to hire 20 Sabbath days' preaching, the present year."

April 6, 1785. It was "voted to raise 50 £ to hire preaching the present year."

After this for two or three years the pulpit was " supplied " by Rev. Mr. Pickles, whose ministry requires a passing notice. But little is known of his early history. He was a native of Wales, and after arriving in this country appears to have resided in or near Philadel- phia. He came to this town some time about 1787, and excited great attention by his power of preaching. He preached in both Bedford and Londonderry on alternate Sundays. His wife, who was said to be a most estimable lady, soon joined him from Phila- delphia. Mr. Pickles was unfortunately one of those men who have warm friends and inveterate enemies. He was accordingly the occasion of serious divisions in the town, some being warmly in his favor and others as much against him. We find that John Orr, Robert Alexander, Joseph Walker, James Nesmith, James Martin, John Wallace, and Robert Matthews called a meeting of the quali- fied voters of the town to be held at the meeting-house November 27, 1789, "To see if it is their desire that Mr. William Pickles should continue to preach any longer in this town." Pursuant to this call, town-meeting was held, but the article relating to Mr. Pickles was dismissed. To this action some of the citizens filed a protest petitioning relief from taxation for his support. After vari- ous meetings and protests, they could not obtain the desired relief. Whereupon, March 7, 1790, it was voted "To invite the Rev Mr. Pickles to preach out the money to be raised excepting the tax of such as shall enter their protest against the hiring of Mr. Pickles by the last day of this instant." The words from "excepting to instant," inclusive, were by a subsequent vote reconsidered and stricken out. As a result we find the following protest :

Bedford, March 7, 1790 " Whereas the inhabitants of the town of Bedford, this day in legal town meeting passed a vote in the words following, viz. 'Voted to invite the Rev. Mr. Pickles to preach out

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the money to be raised excepting the taxes of such as shall enter their protest against the hiring of Mr. Pickles by the last day of this instant ' from which vote we the subscribers do disent for the fol- lowing reasons; because the said Mr. Pickles, since he first came to Bedford, has been disorderly in using spirituous liquors to excess, in using oprobrius language and that his behavior in several instances has been such that modesty forbids particular description. Impressed with a sense of the divine command 2 Thessalonians 1: 6, viz. 'Now we command you bretheren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh dis- orderly' and verse 11 of the same chapter 'Note that man and have no company with him that he may be ashamed.' We do therefore hereby publicly protest against the proceedings of the town in employing or countenancing the said Mr. Pickles as a public teacher any longer as it is directly against the command of Christ by his apostle, in the foregoing text, and we do request that we may not be taxed to support a man as a teacher of the gospel who by his practice proves to us that he is not a christian in reality because it is a perversion of that liberty in the defence of which America lately sacrificed much blood and treasure and is against the constitu- tion of this state. Signed

Matthew Miller John Gardner John Houston, Jun.

William Barnes

Asa Barnes John Richardson

John Wallace, Jun.

Joseph Wallace Jesse Worcester

John Barnes William Moore

John Aiken

John Houston

John Orr

James Moore

James Houston Robert Alexander

Robert Houston

Hugh Riddle

Sam'l Moore

This was followed by another protest :

Bedford January 1 1791, Whereas the inhabitants of the town of Bedford this day in legal town meeting passed two votes in the words following, viz. " Voted to hire Mr. Pickles to preach after his time is out that he is engaged for at present." "Voted that Mr. Pickles be hired to preach out the remainder of the pew money if any there be after the meeting house is finished." From which votes we the subscribers, inhabitants of said Bedford, do dissent for the following reasons : for that whereas 22 legal voters of the inhab- itants of said Bedford by their protest entered the 31st of March last passed, did charge the said Mr. Pickles as having been guilty of several species of intemperance inconsistent with the character of a gospel minister, which charge or accusation is founded upon known facts ; and whereas he the said Mr. Pickles is not connected with, nor acknowledges the authority of any Presbytery or Associations of Ministers by whom he may or might be examined and tryed for any of his moral conduct, we do protest against the proceedings of the town as contained in the above recorded votes and pray that

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HISTORY OF BEDFORD.

interest may not be taken from us to support a teacher of such char- acter and who does not belong to any regular ecclesiastical society. Signed,

William Moore John Houston 3rd Asa Barnes

John Houston, Jun John Wallace, Jun.

Phineas Aiken

William Barnes Robert Houston James Moore

John Aiken Jun. George Orr William Cook

James Campbell

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History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737 : being statistics compiled on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, May 15, 1900, Part 29

Author: Bedford (N.H. : Town) Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Concord, N. H. : The Rumford Printing Co. Number of Pages: 1202

Author: Bedford (N.H. : Town)
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Concord, N. H. : The Rumford Printing Co.
Number of Pages: 1202