USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Brookline > History of Brookline, formerly Raby, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire : with tables of family records and genealogies > Part 26
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
In Brookline, as everywhere else in New England, the people were divided in their opinions as to the righteousness of the impending conflict. This division of sentiment was shared in by the members of the local churches, whose members naturally shared in the views of the political party to which each happened to belong.
To this division in political sentiments was owing the existence of a strong faction of citizens who were opposed to the preaching in the pulpit of what they termed political sermons. That is to say, sermons which ad- vocated the crushing out of the Rebellion as a matter of patriotism. Such a state of affairs made it unpleasant for clergymen whose sense of duty prompted them to speak openly and frankly against what they conceived to be evil, under whatever guise it existed,
But Mr. Copp proved himself to be a Christian and a patriot with the courage of his convictions. As a pastor he was a faithful and fearless preacher of the truths of Christianity, as he understood them. As a shepherd, he admonished, encouraged and guided his little flock in their intercourse with their fellow Christians so that during his pastorate the relations existing between the two churches were peaceful and, on the whole, harmonious; and as a patriot, he was equally frank and fearless in his advocacy not only of the right but also of the duty on the part of the Government to punish traitors to its laws.
During his pastorate, the church erected its present house of worship on the east side of Main street in the village.
Biographical Sketch of Rev. Henry B. Copp.
REV. HENRY B. COPP was born in Piermont, Dec. 25, 1833. He is a son of Joseph M. Copp, born in Warren in 1801, and Harriet H. Brown, born in Cavendish, Vt., in 1810. His parents were farmers and excellent Christian people. When he was about twelve years of age, his father moved from Piermont to Warren, where, for a short time, he resid- ed in a log cabin. In 1846, his father, tired of trying to support his family on the precarious income derived from a farm in the back- REV. HENRY B. COPP woods, removed from Warren to Nashua, then a place of some six thousand inhabitants. In Nashua he worked to help support the family, selling newspapers and doing such other work as came to hand. During this period his labors occupied his time to the
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
extent that he found but little opportunity to attend the public schools. Nevertheless, being of a studious disposition, he devoted his leisure hours to study at home; and so diligently did he apply himself that when the Nashua High School was opened to the public he was able to enter it as a student most excellently well prepared for his work. After leaving the high school, he attended for a short time Crosby's Academy in Nashua. From his boyhood days Mr. Copp had been actuated by a desire of some day becoming a minister of the gospel; and it was with that end in view that he had attended both the high school and the academy, hoping that eventually he might be able to complete his education by a college course and thus fit himself for the responsible position to which he aspired. But like many another aspiring lad, his dreams of a college education were destined never to be realized. While he was yet a student in the high schools, circumstances were such that he was compelled to engage in teaching, not only between terms, but also during some terms, in order to procure pecuniary means to support himself. One winter while teaching in Hudson he was stricken with a severe attack of bleeding from the throat and lungs, which gave symptoms of being permanent in its nature. This incident caused him to give up his idea of entering college; and eventu- ally he entered as a student the Methodist Theological School which was then located in Concord, but which at the present time constitutes a part of Boston University. He had been a member of the school but a short time when a return of his old complaint compelled him to leave the insti- tution and to abandon, temporarily at least, his studies. He returned to his home in Nashua. This was in the fall of 1858. In the early winter of that year he received from the Methodist Episcopal Church in Brookline an invitation to occupy for a few Sundays its pulpit which was then vacant. He accepted the invitation and filled the position to the entire satisfaction of the people until the following spring; when he was engaged by the church as its regular pastor; a position which he held until the expiration of his term of service, under the rules then governing the Methodist Church.
Mr. Copp went from Brookline to the Methodist Episcopal Church in Rindge. During the last half century, in addition to Brookline and Rindge, he has been a pastor in the following places: Auburn, Chester, Seabrook, Newmarket, Exeter, Amesbury, Salisbury, and Merrimackport in Massachusetts; also Laconia, Lisbon, Londonderry, Milford, Kingston, Hampton, Epping, West Rindge, Peterborough and Derry Village.
Mr. Copp is well known in many parts of the state, where his reputa- tion as an able, faithful and eloquent preacher of the gospel and a patriotic
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and conscientious citizen is firmly and securely established. He is a brother of Col. E. J. Copp of Nashua, now, and for many years past, reg- ister of probate for Hillsborough County, and author of "The History of The Third New Hampshire Volunteer Regiment" in the War of the Re- bellion, and Capt. C. D. Copp, late of Clinton, Mass., deceased; both war veterans. At the present time (1913) Mr. Copp is residing in Derry where, although he is in his eighty-first year, he is still engaged in his regular work of the ministry, preaching regularly in Derry Village.
Mr. Copp married for his first wife Miss Almira E. Plumer of Lon- donderry. She died in 1896. In 1901 he married for his second wife Mrs. Laura Luella Pond of Manchester, who is still living. No children by either marriage.
Names, Order of Succession of Instalment, and Duration of Term of Service of the Clergymen Succeeding Rev. Henry B. Copp as Pastors of the Church.
Rev. George C. Thomas,
April, 1862, to April, 1863.
Rev. George F. Eaton,
April, 1863, to April, 1866.
Rev. Charles H. Chase,
April, 1866, to April, 1869.
Rev. Lorenzo Draper,
April, 1869, to April, 1871.
Rev. Albert F. Baxter,
April, 1871, to April, 1873.
Rev. William E. Bennett,
April, 1873, to April, 1876.
Rev. William H. Stuart,
April, 1876, to April, 1878.
Rev. Irad Taggart,
April, 1878, to April 25, 1881.
Rev. Joseph W. Presby,
April 25, 1881, to April 23, 1883.
Rev. John H. Hillman,
April 23, 1883, to April 26, 1886.
Rev. Amos B. Russell,
April 2, 1886, to May 5, 1887.
Rev. Eugene N. Thrasher and Rev. F. A. Zimmerman, May 5,1887, to 1888.
Rev. George N. Bryant,
May 5, 1888, to April 13, 1891.
Rev. Herbert F. Quimby,
May 3,1891, to 1892.
Rev. J. C. C. Evans and A. B. Russell,
1892, to 1893.
Rev. William T. Boultonhouse,
April 20, 1893, to 1895.
Rev. Irad Taggart,
April, 1895, to 1896.
Rev. Arthur M. Shattuck,
April 12, 1896, to April 10, 1898.
Rev. Walter Woodyard,
April 24, 1898, to 1899.
Rev. Herbert J. Foote,
April 1899, to April, 1902.
Rev. W. E. Covell,
April, 1902, to April 19, 1903.
Rev. William G. Babcock,
April 26, 1903, to April 4, 1904.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
Rev. Charles W. Dockrill,
April 17, 1904, to April 4, 1905.
John Bard, student,
1905, to Sept., 1905. 1905, to Sept. 8, 1906.
Henry B. Mansell, student,
Walter F. Whitney, student,
April 22, 1906, to April 10, 1907.
T. Ross Hicks, student,
April 28, 1907, to April, 1908.
April 10, 1908, to April, 1909.
James N. Seaver, student,
1910, to April, 1912.
John Beard, student,
April, 1912, to
1913.
Rev. Charles W. Dockrill,
1914,
The Building of the Methodist Episcopal Meeting-house.
Almost from the date of its organization in 1852, the members of the church began to lay plans for building a new meeting-house. The first five years, however, passed away with little or no encouragement for the immediate realization of their plans, and the prospect of their fulfillment appeared to be as far off as in the beginning.
But in 1858, during the pastorship of Rev. Henry B. Copp, the church was materially strengthened in numbers and in wealth by the addition to its membership of twelve of the number of those who had withdrawn from their connection with the local Congregational Church in 1855, at the time, or soon after, the Rev. Daniel Goodwin severed his connection with the same. Under the stimulus of this addition to its strength, the plans of the church for building a new meeting-house received a fresh Impetus. Preparations for building the house were immediately begun and, as rapidly as possible, carried forward towards completion. In this preliminary work Rev. Mr. Copp, the pastor, labored tirelessly and zealously.
The money necessary for building the house was raised by subscrip- tions from the members of the church and the citizens generally. The land upon which the house stands was conveyed to the society and church by Joseph C. Tucker by his deed dated April 27, 1859. The considera- tion for the deed was two hundred and fifty dollars ($250). By the terms of the deed the land conveyed was to be used-"To build thereon a house of worship" "to be used for that purpose and no other." And it was conditioned further:
"That whenever said premises ceases to be used and occupied for the above specified purpose for the term of three years said land shall revert back to said Tucker or his heirs free and clear of all encumbrances."
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D. Howard Hickey, student,
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
The house was completed and occupied for the first time in the summer of 1859. The dedicatory sermon was preached by the Rev. Sulli- van Holman, of Nashua. Rev. A. F. Bailey, of Townsend, offered the dedicatory prayer.
Its interior arrangements, which were modeled after those of the Congregational meeting-house, have remained practically unchanged up to the present time (1914).
Soon after the house was completed, Asa Seaver, Mrs. Louisa Spauld- ing, Orman F. Shattuck, Asher Shattuck, John S. Daniels, Henry B. Stiles and Jonas Kendall presented the church and society with a reed organ, which was installed in the choir loft. This organ remained in use until 1869, when it was superseded by a five octave double reed Esty in- strument, the cost of which was paid by popular subscription. The pipe organ which is in use at the present time was installed in position Sept. 21, 1886. It was purchased of Isaac W. Butler, by whom it was made. Its cost was four hundred and forty-five dollars, which was met by money raised for the purpose by popular subscription.
The bell which hangs in the tower of the house was installed in its position in 1873. Its weight is 1260 pounds. Its original cost was six hundred and twenty-eight dollars. It was paid for with money raised by popular subscription. It was rung for the first time, July 4, 1873.
For the first five years from the date of its organization in 1852, the growth of the church in membership and in material prosperity was slow but steady.
In 1858, six years after its organization, its membership had in- creased to thirty-four in number, and it had accumulated a Sunday-school library of two hundred and forty-two volumes. At the quarterly confer- ence of that year Levi Smith received a license as a local preacher.
For the twenty years immediately following the completion of its meeting-house, in 1859, the church continued to increase in numbers and in strength. During this period, under the pastorate of Rev. Charles H. Chase, in 1866-68, it became entirely free from the burden of indebted- ness to which it had been subjected, to a greater or less extent, since its organization.
In 1872, under the pastorate of Rev. William Bennett, the church reached the height of its prosperity. It had a membership of fifty-two in number, and fifteen probationists. Its Sunday-school contained ninety scholars. Its library consisted of 500 volumes, and its real estate was valued at four thousand dollars. From 1876 to the latter part of the eighties, the church and society continued to remain in a prosperous
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
condition. Although during that entire period the membership of both was, on the whole, gradually decreasing; the decrease being caused by the deaths of some of the oldest and most influential members, and by the removal from town of others, the vacancies caused by the deaths and removals of whom failed to be filled as rapidly as they were made.
Another cause for this decrease in membership is, also, undoubtedly, to be found in the fact that during that period the population of the town was slowly decreasing, and by this decrease in population the opportuni- ties for an increase in church membership were correspondingly diminished.
In 1907, during the pastorate of Rev. Walter F. Whitney, the exte- rior and interior of the church underwent extensive repairs; and in the same year Orville D. Fessenden presented the church and society with the beautiful pulpit which at the present time adorns the interior of its house of worship.
In 1908, the church was the recipient of a handsome silver com- munion service; the gift of George Haven Abbott, who presented the same in memory of his mother, Theresa Seaver Abbott.
Fiftieth Anniversary of the Church.
On the 11th day of November, 1909, this church observed the fiftieth anniversary of the building of its house of worship. The following account of the exercises attendant upon the celebration is taken from a news- paper in which it was printed at the time.
"The church was beautifully decorated with laurel wreaths. An arch of evergreen and laurel was suspended above the platform, upon which in figures and letters of gold was inscribed '1859-Welcome-1909'.
"The platform and pulpit were adorned with laurel, ferns and large yellow chrysanthemums. The afternoon exercises consisted of an organ voluntary, Mrs. Emma Valedge; hymn, 'Our Lord, Our Faith, Our Bap- tism,' choir; Apostle's Creed, congregation; reading, ninety-fifth Psalm, the Rev. T. Rose Hicks, of Nashua; prayer, the Rev. Herbert J. Foote, of Sunapee; solo, "The Celestial City,' Mrs. Jennie Boutelle; welcome, the Rev. D. H. Hickey; anthem, 'How Excellent is Thy Name,' Mrs. Phoebe Jenness Randall and choir; reminiscences of the church, the Rev. Henry B. Copp, of West Derry; church history, the Rev. George H. Hardy, of Ashburnham.
"Communion was administered very impressively by the district superintendent, the Rev. R. T. Wolcott; hymn, "The Solid Rock'; bene- diction.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
"At 5.30 o'clock a banquet was served at the Congregational vestry, under the supervision of Mrs. Ellen S, Swett, assisted by Mrs. Clinton D. Gilson and Mrs. Stanley, nearly one hundred partaking.
The evening serivce which began at 7.30 o'clock was as follows: Organ voluntary, Mrs. Emma Valedge; hymn, 'How Firm a Foundation'; Scripture reading, the Rev. Warren L. Noyes; prayer, the Rev. Walter F. Whitney of Hillsborough; anthem, 'How Lovely is Zion,' choir; ad- dress, 'Mission and Evangelism,' by the Rev. R. T. Wolcott, which was strong, thoughtful and inspiring, the speaker earnestly advocating personal evangelism, urging the preachers of the gospel to be men among men, to come in personal contact with them; solo, "The Holy City,' Delbert Porter.
"Remarks replete with happiness and good cheer were given by the Revs. H. J. Foote, Walter F. Whitney, T. Ross Hicks and Albert F. Baxter and James A. Merrill of Nashua. The benediction was pronounced by Rev. R. T. Wolcott.
"The entire services were of unusual interest and enjoyed by all in attendance.
"Among those from out of town were the Rev. and Mrs. R. T. Wolcott, the Rev. Henry B. Copp, West Derry; the Rev. and Mrs. Herbert J. Foote, the Rev. and Mrs. Walter F. Whitney, Hillsborough; the Rev. George H. Hardy, Ashburnham; the Rev. Albert Baxter, the Rev. and Mrs. T. Ross Hicks, Nashua; Rev. and Mrs. D. H. Hickey, Mr. and Mrs. Augustus Lovejoy, Ayer, Mass .; Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Hall, Nashua; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dunbar, Sandown; Mrs. May Kline Pingree, John Kline, Fitchburg, Mass .; James A. Merrill, Nashua."
At the present time, 1914, the church has a membership of about twenty souls. It is free from debt and has a fund, derived from gifts and legacies, of twenty-five hundred dollars. Its members are zealous, earnest and hopeful; and are looking forward to a future of usefulness resulting from the upbuilding of God's work in their midst.
Boards of Trustees of the Church and Society, 1859-1912.
April 4, 1859, the church appointed its first board of trustees, as follows: Calvin R. Shedd, Jonas Kendall, Asher Shattuck, Dr. Jonathan C. Shat- tuck, Samuel Gilson, Sr., Asa Betterly, and Benjamin Kendall.
This board remained practically unchanged until 1864-65, when several of its members dropped out and Luther McDonald, John Shedd, Nathaniel B. Hutchingson and Nathaniel Vickery were appointed in their places.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
From 1865 to 1877 new members were appointed and, at various times, installed in the board as follows: 1871, Ichabod F. Lund; 1872, Orman F. Shattuck; 1874, Albert W. Corey, Charles P. Hall and David S. Fessen- den; 1875, J. Ransom Bean, Jackson Rideout and George S. Hull.
In 1877 the board was reorganized; all of its old members were dropped, and a new board appointed, consisting of the following named members: Henry G. Shattuck, Lorenzo Draper, Jr., George H. Nye, George Peacock, Mrs. Margaret Vickery, and Mrs. Eliza J. Kendall. This board remained unchanged until 1884, when the name of Jeremiah B. Needham was added to the list of members.
From 1884 to 1890 new members were added to the board from time to time as follows: 1887, George E. Stiles; 1889, Daniel McKensie; 1890, William Jenness.
Following are the boards of trustees as constituted from 1891 to 1912, inclusive, so far as the same are obtainable.
1891.
Henry G. Shattuck, Orman F. Shattuck, David S. Fessenden, Jere- miah Needham, Asa Seaver, George H. Nye, George A. Peacock.
1892.
Henry G. Shattuck, Orman F. Shattuck, David S. Fessenden, Jere- miah Needham, Asa Seaver, George H. Nye, Geo. A. Peacock.
1893.
George H. Nye, Orman F. Shattuck, David S. Fessenden, Henry G. Shattuck, Jeremiah Needham, Asa Seaver.
Records from 1894 to 1907, inclusive, are missing.
1908.
Henry G. Shattuck, David S. Fessenden, Orville D. Fessenden, Morton Campbell, Mrs. Imogene Dunbar, Mrs. Ellen S. Swett, George H. Nye.
1909.
Henry G. Shattuck, David S. Fessenden, Orville D. Fessenden, Morton Campbell, Mrs. Imogene Dunbar, Mrs. Ellen S. Swett, George H. Nye.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
1910.
Henry G. Shattuck, David S. Fessenden, Orville D. Fessenden, Morton Campbell, Mrs. Imogene Dunbar, Mrs. Ellen S. Swett, George H. Nye.
1911.
Henry G. Shattuck, David S. Fessenden, Orville D. Fessenden, Morton Campbell, Mrs. Imogene Dunbar, Mrs. Ellen S. Swett, George H. Nye, Herbert S. Corey.
1912.
Henry G. Shattuck, David S. Fessenden, Orville D. Fessenden, Morton Campbell, Mrs. Imogene Dunbar, Mrs. Ellen S. Swett, George H. Nye, Herbert S. Corey.
Gifts, Devises and Bequests to the Church and Society.
The Joseph C. Tucker Gift.
The gift, in 1859, by Joseph C. Tucker to the church and society of the lot of land upon which the meeting-house is located has already been mentioned in a prior page in this chapter.
The Calvin R. Shedd Devise.
In 1874, under the terms of the will of Calvin R. Shedd, of this town, the church and society came into possession and conditional ownership of a parsonage. The clause in the will by which this devise was estab- lished reads as follows-"To the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Society in said Brookline in trust the lot of land with the dwelling house and buildings thereon situate in said Brookline conveyed to me by widow Sawtelle and now occupied as a parsonage in connection with said church and society as such parsonage forever. If however after the pay- ment of my debts and expenses of administration my estate shall not be sufficient in the judgement of my Executors to secure to my said wife her comfortable support and maintenance, as aforesaid without taking the rent and income that may be derived from said parsonage premises towards her support and maintenance, then the said devise and bequest to said Trustees is not to take effect until the death or marriage of my said wife; but whenever this devise or bequest may take effect whether at my decease or at the decease or marriage of my said wife it is upon the condi- tion that the premises so devised shall be used as a parsonage in connec- tion with said church and society; but with power to said Trustees to sell and convey said premises whenever in their opinion it may be for the
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
interest of said Church and Society to exchange their parsonage for one in a different place and to invest the proceeds in the purchase of other premises to be so used for a parsonage and whenever the said Methodist Episcopal Church shall cease to maintain its organization in connection with a church having occasion to make use of such parsonage then the said devise shall be void and the said estate shall be disposed of as a part of the rest and residue of my Estate, as next hereinafter provided."
The James N. Tucker Bequest.
In 1881, the Methodist Episcopal Church and society, and the Con- gregational Church and society became beneficiaries under the will of James Noble Tucker, of Townsend, Mass., a native of this town, in the sum of one thousand dollars each.
The terms of this bequest, which constituted the 16th clause of the will, were as follows:
"I give and bequeath to both of the Religious Societies, namely the Congregational Society and the Methodist Episcopal Society in Brook- line, New Hampshire, One thousand dollars each; that is to say, the income on said Bequests shall be paid yearly to said Societies equally for the support of preaching, as long as both Societies keep up preaching, provided should either of said Societies fail to support preaching then and in that case the whole of the income on both bequests shall be paid to the Society supporting preaching, and the said income shall not be used for any other purpose. And I order my trustees to invest in some safe securities all the above Bequests named to Religious Societies that the income may be paid to said Societies as above provided."
Nov. 7, 1882, Orman F. Shattuck was appointed as the first trustee. of the James N. Tucker Fund; a position which he held until his death. He was succeeded as trustee by George H. Nye, who continues to hold the office at the present time (1914).
The Wilkes W. Corey Bequest.
At the decease of Wilkes W. Corey in 1882, under the terms of his will, the church and society became beneficiaries in the sum of one hundred dollars from his estate.
The Albert W. Corey Memorial Fund.
In 1907, the widow and heirs-at-law of Albert W. Corey, a native of and life-long resident in this town, and throughout his life a firm friend of
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BROOKLINE
this church, in honor of his memory, presented the church and society with one thousand dollars in trust, the same to be known as the Albert W. Corey Memorial Fund. The deed of trust ran to Henry G. Shattuck, George H. Nye, Morton Campbell, Orville D. Fessenden, David S. Fes- senden, and Charles S. Dunbar, trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Brookline. The conditions under which the trust was created, and upon the performance of which its perpetuity depends, are set forth in the instrument creating the trust as follows:
"To be invested in proper and safe securities or other interest bearing investments in the name of and for the benefit of said church.
"To use and apply the income from said investment of said sum for the preaching of the gospel annually.
"The trust herein created shall continue indefinitely as above set forth as regards the use of said income, and the principal shall remain forever intact unless the present edifice used for church purposes shall be destroyed by fire, in which event the said principal may then be used if necessary to aid in the reconstruction of said church edifice.
"If the said trustees or their successors shall decide not to re- construct said church or for any reason the said church shall be discon- tinued or services therein abandoned definitely, then the said sum of $1000. shall revert to the party of the first part to be divided in the pro- portions of one-half to the said widow and one-half to the other members of said party of the first part, their respective heirs or assigns.
"In case of suspension of regular services in said church for six con- tinuous months, then this trust shall be terminated and the said sum of one thousand dollars shall revert and be divided as above set forth."
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