USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Brookline > History of Brookline, formerly Raby, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire : with tables of family records and genealogies > Part 20
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The only minister of record who preached here during this period was the Rev. John Wythe.
Meanwhile, the building of the meeting-house was substantially com- pleted, the last appropriation for that purpose-sixty pounds-having been made in May, 1792.
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There was, as yet, no regularly organized church in town; but there were a considerable number of professing Christians, some of whom, at least, were actively engaged in doing the Master's work.
Organization of the Congregational Church.
Dec. 10, 1795, fifteen of the town's citizens united to form the Con- gregational church existing here at the present time. The names of these original members of the church are as follows:
Benjamin Farley,
Samuel Farley,
Ezekiel Proctor,
Lucy Farley,
Joshua Smith,
Rebekah Campbell,
Clark Brown,
Hannah Shattuck,
Ephraim Sawtell,
Abigail Sawtell,
Eleazer Gilson,
Hannah Gilson,
Joshua Emerson,
Lydia Emerson.
Joshua Smith, Jr.
On the day of the church's organization, Eleazer Gilson and Joshua Emerson were elected as its first deacons; and on the same day it entered up its first record as follows:
"Dec. 10, 1795; This day was the church of our Lord Jesus Christ in Raby embodied after the Congregational order."
Covenant of the Church.
The members subscribed to the following covenant:
"We, whose names are hereunto enjoined, do covenant with the Lord and with one another, solemnly binding ourselves in the presence of God and His people, that we will, by divine assistance, walk after the Lord in all his ways, as he hath revealed them in his holy word.
1st. We avouch the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to be one God, and give up ourselves and children to be His people.
2ndly. We give up ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, as our Prophet, Priest and King; relying on his word for instruction, his merits for justi- fication, and his power and grace for assistance, protection and salvation.
3dly. We engage by divine assistance to walk together in the spirit of love, watching over one another with humility and fear, avoiding every occasion of offence, and reasonably admonishing, and in weakness restoring such as may be overtaken in a fault.
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4thly. We engage to watch and pray that we so cause our light to shine before men that they, seeing our good works, may glorify our Father who is in heaven, and the peace and prosperity of Jerusalem, and to sub- mit to the Gospel discipline of the church.
5thly. We engage to submit ourselves to the Congregational order and discipline of Christ's house, and to the lawful ordinance of man for the Lord's sake.
6thly. We engage to give up our infant offspring to God in baptism, and to bring up those committed to our care, in the nurture and admoni- tion of the Lord; setting an example of piety before them, both in public and in private.
All these things we engage in the sincerity of our hearts, this tenth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five."
For more than a year after the organization of the church both it and the town continued to be without a settled pastor; although there is reason to believe that during the latter part of that period the Rev. Lemuel Wadsworth was, so far at least as the church was concerned, officiating in that capacity.
On the 21st day of November, 1796, the church voted unanimously to give Rev. Lemuel Wadsworth a call to become its pastor, and at the same time instructed its moderator to invite the town to join with the church in the call. This "call" by the church could, under the circum- stances, be construed in no other way than as an expression of its mem- bers' confidence in the reverend gentleman's qualifications for the position; a recommendation on their part which might serve to guide their fellow- citizens in their selection of a minister, for the support of whoin each would have to bear his proportionate share of taxation, and in whose ministra- trations each and all were entitled to participate equally.
The Town's Call and Settlement of the Rev. Lemuel Wadsworth.
On the 7th day of December, 1796, a little over a year after the organization of the church, the citizens in town meeting assembled, voted -"To give the Rev. Lemuel Wadsworth a call to settle as a gospel minis- ter"; and chose William Green, Clark Brown, Ephraim Sawtell, Joseph Emerson and Eleazer Gilson as a committee-"To consult with Mr. Wads- worth and see if he is disposed to settle in the ministry." This committee attended to its duties and, at the same meeting, reported a favorable answer from Mr. Wadsworth. Upon receiving the committee's report, the meeting proceeded to elect the following named citizens as a commit-
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tee-"To arrange upon the terms of his settlement and salary, i. e., Wil- liam Green, Ephraim Sawtell, Joseph Emerson, Isaac Shattuck, Swallow Tucker, James Campbell, James McIntosh, Randel McDonald and Eleazer Gilson." At an adjourned meeting, on the following day, the committee reported, and its report was accepted, as follows:
Rev. Mr. Wadsworth's Settlement:
Voted-"To give the Rev. Lemuel Wadsworth for a Settlement as a gospel minister in this town the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds one- third thereof at or before the first day of Nov. 1797, one third thereof at or before the first day of Nov. 1798, and the other third thereof at or before the first day of Nov. 1799." It was also unanimously voted- "That said Wadsworth's salary take place at the time of his ordination and that the town pay him sixty pounds yearly as a salary until the first of Nov. 1799 and after the last mentioned date seventy pounds yearly during his being a gospel minister in this town"; also voted-"That Mr. Wadsworth return about the first day of April next to give his answer."
Mr. Wadsworth undoubtedly did "return" and agree to the foregoing offer of settlement. For May 22, following, the town appointed Isaac Shattuck, Ephraim Sawtell and William Green as a committee-"To con- sult with him concerning his ordination"; which, as it was finally arranged, occurred Oct. 11, 1797.
Ordination of Rev. Lemuel Wadsworth.
A full account of the services attendant upon the ordination of Mr. Wadsworth would doubtless be very interesting reading. But, alas, such an account is impossible. Relative to it tradition, even, is silent; and the records of the town furnish little or no information. The only entries on the records of the church relative to it are recorded under the dates of September 7th and 8th, respectively. By these records it appears that an invitation to join in the ordination exercises was extended by the Brook- line church to the churches in Hollis, Pepperell, Mass., Townsend, Mass., Mason, New Ipswich, Wilton, Milford, Canton, Mass., Stoughton, Mass., Groton, Mass., and Amherst.
As to the part taken by the town in that important event in its his- tory, the following excerpts from its records furnish the only attainable information :
"Aug. 28, 1897, voted: That Mr. Asher Spaulding provide for the Council at the ordination in the following manner-that for the supper sixteen cents each on said ordination day and for all other meals seventeen
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cents each and for horses eleven cents each and for all the liquors lemons and shugar at the common retail prices." It was also voted: "That the selectmen and Esquire (Benjamin) Farley adjust Mr. Spaulding's account respecting the above entertainment"; also-"That R. M. McDonald, Joseph Tucker, Eli Sawtell and Daniel Spaulding be a committee to take care of the meeting-house on said ordination day."
In addition to the foregoing, the following entries copied from the pages of an ancient order book of the town, undoubtedly refer to the ordination exercises:
"Feb. 17, 1798, Paid Asher Spaulding in full for nales and brandy delivered to the committee for building the stage for ordination seventy two cents."
"March 5; Asher Spaulding in full for providing for the council $33."
As to the duties of the foregoing named committees, according to the traditions prevailing among the old people of fifty years ago, they were well performed. The committee on building the stage, by the-it is to be hoped-judicious use of the "nales" and "brandy," succeeded in erect- ing a platform which sufficed for the occasion; and the committee on entertainment provided a sumptuous ordination dinner; which, according to one tradition, was served at the dwelling house of Swallow Tucker, on "the plain" and was lacking in neither-"liquors, lemons or shugar," -- and under the influence of which, some, at least, of the partakers became spiritously elevated to the degree that their spirituality, for the time being, passed under a cloud.
Mr. Wadsworth at the time of his ordination was in the 29th year of his age, and just out of college.
Immediately after his ordination, he moved into the house which to the day of his death he continued to occupy as a parsonage. This house was located on the southerly side of the highway leading westerly from the old meeting-house to the "Pond bridge," and at a point about half way between the meeting-house and the bridge. The house disappeared many years ago; but its cellar hole is still in evidence, and may be iden- tified by a large elm tree which grows out of its depths; and, also, by a clump of lilacs, which, having survived the flights of years, still flourish on its borders and with each returning spring pay fragrant tribute to the memory of its former occupant.
Mr. Wadsworth's pastorate covered a period of about twenty years; during which the town's population increased from about 400 in 1797, to about 550 in 1817, and the church is said to have been strengthened by the addition of nineteen new members.
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As to Mr. Wadsworth's personal appearance, the writer in his boy- hood days often heard his mother, who during the latter part of his min- istry was a girl in her teens, describe him as a man of short stature and large body; light complexioned, and full face with pleasant features; polite and courteous in his manner and very social in his habits.
She well remembered seeing him on many occasions at her father's house, when engaged in making his pastoral calls; during which, as was then the custom, the decanter of spirits was invariably produced and its contents sampled by him before his departure. She said, too, that it was no unusual event for him to drop in on the young people at their social gatherings, and even at their dancing parties; where, in the pauses of the music, during which the young men bearing waiters loaded with liquid refreshments circulated among the dancers, he would help himself to a glass of brandy and, having drank the same, depart with a courteous bow and a hearty "good night."
Mr. Wadsworth died at Brookline on the 25th day of November, 1818; leaving a widow surviving him, but no children. His funeral, which was largely attended, occurred in the old meeting-house on the 27th day of that month. The funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. Ebenezer Hill of Mason. The sermon was afterwards printed; and, from a copy of the same which, fortunately has been preserved through the passing years, the following excerpt, containing a brief sketch of Mr. Wadsworth's life, and a brother clergyman's estimation of his character and abilities, has been taken. Mr. Hill said:
"The REV. LEMUEL WADSWORTH was born of respectable parents at Stoughton, Massachusetts, March 9th, 1769. In the early part of his life he had no more advantages of education than were common, at that time, to all classes of people. His circumstances did not allow him to follow his strong inclination to obtain a collegiate education, until his time was his own. Then under many forbidding circumstances and embarrassments, he applied himself to study with resolution. With little charitable aid, principally by his own exertions, he maintained him- self when fitting for college, and through the course of his studies. While a member of college he conducted himself with such regularity, sobriety, meekness, unassuming manners, and close application, as to gain the es- teem of the officers and of his fellow students. At the age of twenty-four years he graduated at Brown College in Providence, in the year 1793 and, without delay, applied himself to the study of divinity. He soon became a candidate for the gospel ministry, the object for which he labored to
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qualify himself. Divine Providence directed him to this place and, after preaching a suitable time for the people to be acquainted with his gifts, a church being formed, he received the almost unanimous call of the church and town to settle with them as their minister. Their call he accepted, and was ordained Oct. 11, 1797. From that time he continued to labor among them and to enjoy, in a degree very remarkable at this day, the high esteem of his people until suddenly removed by death on the 25th instant.
It was in the milder virtues, humility, gentleness, condescension, filial piety, brotherly love and Christian kindness, Mr. Wadsworth shone with distinguished brightness. He was exemplary in his life, and a pat- tern of Christian forbearance and forgiveness. He always appeared con- tented with the allotments of Divine Providence, for he did not seek great things for himself here. Philanthropy and kindness were congenial to his heart. He was at all times ready with whatever he possessed, to admin- ister relief to the distressed, and comfort to his friends, and all men were his friends. Not only was the law of kindness on his lips, but all who had occasion for it experienced his kindness. His liberality to the poor was extended to the utmost of, if not beyond, his ability. And even the vicious he sought to reclaim rather by kindness than by severity. His filial piety and brotherly affection shone brightly in his tender care and liberal support of an aged mother and a helpless sister, to the close of their lives. His brethren in the ministry he loved, and, diffident of himself, and mod- est in his manners, he in honor preferred others to himself. On every occasion they experienced the kindness of his heart.
For several of the last years of his life he was exercised with many bodily infirmities, but not so as often, or for a long time, to take him off from his stated labors. His increasing infirmities and disorders he viewed with calmness as harbingers of early death. His pains he bore with firm- ness of mind and with patience and resignation, as coming from the hand of God. As the time of his departure evidently approached, his hopes were strong and full of immortality. * While he manifested a readiness to depart, his only hope was in a crucified Savior. He said: 'I have coveted no man's silver or gold, I have labored with my hands to supply my necessities, and I have had a little to give to the poor, and I gave it cheerfully. But I have no merit. I have endeavored to convince others that there is salvation for sinners only in Christ. I have no other hope and I desire no other way.' * * * Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.' "
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Mr. Wadsworth was buried in the Pond cemetery. On the 10th day of March, 1818, the town voted to erect a tombstone over his grave, and chose as a committee for that purpose, Eli Sawtell, Deacon Eleazer Gilson and Benjamin Shattuck. Under the supervision of this committee, the tombstone was subsequently prepared and placed in position by Luther Hubbard, at a cost of forty-five pounds and sixteen shillings. It is located in the front part of the cemetery near the entrance gate, and consists of an oblong block of hewn granite with a slab of slate stone lying flat upon its upper surface. The slate stone slab bears the following inscription :
"This Monument is Erected to the Memory of Rev. Lemuel Wads- worth, the first Minister of the Gospel in Brookline."
He was born in Stoughton, Mass., March 9, 1769, and ordained pastor of the church in this place Oct. 11, 1797. He performed the work of a gospel minister twenty years. Living in harmony with the people of his charge, being highly esteemed for his ministerial labors, for meekness, humility, gentleness and brotherly kindness. He departed this life Nov. 23, 1817, in full hope of a glorious immortality, through Jesus the Lamb of God, in whom he trusted and in whom he labored to persuade others to trust, as the only Saviour of Sinners. "Mark the perfect man and behold the upright. For the end of that man is peace. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, and their memory is blessed."
Several years after Mr. Wadsworth's death, his widow, Abigail Wads- worth, was united in marriage with Lieut. Ephraim Sawtell. During her married life with Mr. Sawtell they resided in the old Capt. Robert Seaver house on the north highway to Milford, the same being at the present time owned and occupied as his home by George F. Shattuck. Mrs. Sawtell survived her husband for many years, dying at an advanced age in the fifties.
For twenty successive Sundays after the death of Mr. Wadsworth, the pulpit was occupied by ministers hired by Mrs. Wadsworth. Among those thus hired were the Rev. Jesse Parker, Rev. John Barrett, and Rev. Samuel Dix of Townsend, Mass.
At the March town meeting of the year 1818 there was an article in the warrant relative to giving Mr. Barrett a call, but it was passed over. However, it was voted to raise one hundred and fifty dollars for preaching, and Ensign Bailey and Randel McDonald were elected a committee- "To lay out the same."
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The "Reverend" Doctor (?) William Warren.
Soon after the date of the foregoing vote the townspeople were agree- ably surprised by the advent in their midst of a stranger who answered to the name of William Warren, announced himself as a physician by profes- sion, and signified his intention of opening an office in town, which he did. Where he originated and from whence he came to Brookline are questions which to this day have remained unanswered. Indeed, for what little information we have relative to his career in town, until toward the very last of it, we are indebted solely to tradition. But, whoever he was, he came here as a pilgrim and a stranger and the citizens took him in. Af- terwards, he took them in.
Being a man of good address, courteous and polite in his manners, and possessed of a knowledge of medicine which, however superficial it may have been, he had the tact or good fortune to use discreetly, he soon acquired a local reputation as an excellent physician. Nor was he less successful in establishing the reputation of being a consistent Christian, which he professed to be. He was a regular attendant at religious meet- ings, where his pious demeanor, ready command of language, and fluency of speech soon won the approval of the elders, and undoubtedly suggested to them the idea of engaging him to fill the then vacant pulpit. This idea was carried into effect; and thus it happened that in but a very short time after his arrival he was serving his fellow citizens in the dual ca- pacity of medical adviser and spiritual shepherd; a state of affairs which appears to have been satisfactory to all parties concerned. For a while this arrangement worked well, and everything moved on harmoniously. The "doctor" labored assiduously, exhibiting equal skill in cutting, slash- ing, plastering, purging and bleeding his patient's mortal parts, and sooth- ing, comforting, and instructing their immortal parts; and his patients, of both parts, in turn tumbled over each other in their zeal to employ and pay him for his services.
But, as after events proved, Mr. Warren, notwithstanding his pious pretensions, was really a wolf in sheep's clothing, a bold, bad man. Like many another successful rogue before him, however, he couldn't stand prosperity. After a while, feeling secure in the strength of his hold upon the respect and confidence of the citizens, he began to exhibit liis true colors. Gradually it leaked out that he was a gay Lothario-a typical Don Juan, and most scandalous stories concerning him began to be cir- culated. These stories increased in magnitude and number until they involved in their meshes half the families in town, and threatened to be
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the causes of a series of divorce cases which would have swamped the county courts. Matters at last came to such a pitch that the citizens were forced to take action.
At a town meeting holden Sept. 18, 1820, the warrant contained the following article-"To see if the town will discharge Dr. William Warren from any further ministerial services and pay him for what service he has done to this time, or act anything on said article that the town may think proper." After a heated discussion and after the taking of several ballots, which showed considerable dissimilarity of opinion among the voters, the article was finally carried, and the selectmen were authorized-"To notify Dr. Warren that he is dismissed from any further ministerial services after this time." The selectmen dismissed him and, subsequently, he was paid the amount due him for services rendered-not by the town, however, as appears by the following record :
"Jan. 30th, 1821"; article in the warrant: "To see if the town will unite in forming a society in said town for the support of the ministry providing that those that brought in certificates not to pay Dr. Warren for his services as a preacher will pay their proportional part with those who have paid to Dr. Warren, which sum is to be annexed and laid out in having a gospel minister."
In response to the foregoing article, the citizens voted to join such a society as was suggested by it.
The foregoing is the last record which mentions the name of Dr. William Warren. He probably shook from his feet the dust of Brookline and departed for more congenial surroundings. But the evil effects of his "ministry" upon the community and church were not effaced for many a year. The little church was greatly demoralized; and although imme- diately after his departure the old meeting-house became the scene of a series of religious gatherings at which both the laymen and pastors the neighboring churches volunteered their services and, with the members of the home church, labored earnestly and zealously to inspire them and the citizens with renewed zeal and enthusiasm in religious affairs, their efforts were comparatively fruitless of results.
For the four following years the town was without the services of a pastor.
In the meantime, in 1821, certain of the citizens who were in their religious beliefs of the "Christian" persuasion, made a movement towards the establishment in town of a church of that denomination. To that end they endeavored to obtain the use of the meeting-house for holding their meetings. After some opposition, they succeeded, on the 30th day
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of January, 1821, in obtaining from the citizens the following vote-"To let the Christian Society have the privilege of the meeting-house if they bring a minister of good credit." The words "minister of good credit" in this vote are especially noticeable. The people did not want any more Doctor Warrens. To what extent the "Christians" at this time availed themselves of the said "privilege" is now unknown; as are, also, the names of those who were active in the movement. But it was the first religious society other than the Congregationalists to obtain the privilege of occupying the meeting-house.
In 1822 and 1823 the Rev. Jesse Parker, the Rev. Leonard Jewett and the Rev. Samuel H. Tolman each occasionally preached in town. Of the three foregoing mentioned clergymen, the writer has been unsuc- cessful in his search for information relative to the Rev. Jesse Parker.
Rev. Leonard Jewett was a native of Hollis where, at that time, he was residing and, being in poor health, occasionally supplying pulpits in the neighboring towns. In 1833 he accepted a call to the Congregational Church in Temple, where he was ordained March 6 of that year. July 25, 1844, he resigned his charge in Temple and returned to Hollis, where he died Feb. 16, 1862.
Rev. Samuel H. Tolman was born in Dorchester, Mass., April 30, 1781. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1806; studied for the min- istry, and was ordained at Shirley, Mass. At the time of his supplying the pulpit in Brookline, he was preaching, probably, either in Dunstable, Mass., or in South Merrimack. He died at Atkinson, N. H., April 2, 1856.
The Pastorate of Rev. Jacob Holt. 1
By the year 1825 the community had so far recovered from the dis- astrous effects of the "ministry" of "Dr." Warren that it began to give serious consideration to the question of settling another minister. At a meeting of the citizens holden on the 20th day of April, the selectmen were instructed to confer with the Rev. Jacob Holt-"Respecting preach- ing or act anything respecting the same as they may think best."
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