History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 76

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1200

USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 76
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 76

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472

HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

nent. In January, 1782, New Hampshire ordered a thousand men into Cheshire County to support its civil officers; her Governor issued a proclamation ordering the people in the re- volting towns within forty days to go before some New Hampshire magistrate and sign an acknowledgment that the jurisdiction of New Hampshire extended to the Connecticut River. The Vermont government was equally active in maintaining her claims. The New Hampshire General Assembly had passed, August, 1781, an act obliging each town to provide monthly in- stallments of beef and rum for the use of the Continental army.

Westmoreland, in common with the other re- volting towns, refused to pay the tax, upon the ground of non-recognition of New Hampshire authority. In consequence, a warrant was is- sued and served upon the town for the tax; the town voted not to pay it, and thereupon was fined, but so great was the feeling against the State that Colonel Reuben Alexander, who was ordered to raise the body of his regiment and march them to the execution of the act, was ap- palled by the clamor of the people to an extent that he feared to comply with his orders, and so reported. One Samuel King, a prominent Chesterfield revolter, having been arrested was followed to Keene by numerous parties, inelud - ing a party from Westmoreland under Captain Carlisle, who succeeded January 1, 1782, in rescuing the prisoner from the New Hampshire sheriff.

On the same day General Washington wrote a letter to Governor Chittendon, informing him that it would be an indispensable preliminary of the admission of Vermont into the Union to relinquish its extension of territory, intimating that a refusal to accede to this request would be considered an act of enmity to the United States government, requiring the coercion by military power. On the 23d of February fol- lowing, the Assembly of Vermont, in session at Bennington, voted to accept the boundary as prescribed by Congress, on the line of the west-

ern bank of the Connecticut River, and to re- linquish all claims to any territory east of said river. This ended the conflict. The disaffected towns quietly returned to their former State allegiance. For this concession Vermont ex- pected to be speedily admitted to the Union, but its hopes were deferred for nine years, dur- ing which time the humorists named her the " Future State." Thus the secession movement of the New Hampshire towns ended. And now as we look back over the long vista of the years and view the circumstances attending those stir- ring times, and as we weigh the character of the men therein engaged, as we consider that Westmoreland in common with her sister towns was of Massachusetts birth, whose infancy re- ceived her fostering protection ; and when we view upon the other hand the cold negligence of New Hampshire, to care for children confided to her guardianship, by royal decree, upon her demand; we cannot wonder at the feeling that there was shown to exist, an honest belief, that they were free to elect another government, that New Hampshire had no claim to their alle- giance, and they so acted in the direction of es- tablishing a firm and stable government for the people on both sides of the river.

CHAPTER IV.

WESTMORELAND-(Continued).

ECCLESIASTICAL.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, KNOWN IN LATER TIMES AS THE UNITED CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

As has been stated in another chapter the citi- zens of Westmoreland, Putney and Westminster united in building a fort upon the Great Meadow in Putney. Here in times of peril the scattered settlers of these towns resorted for safety from Indian forages. Here they held their first religious services under the ministration of Rev. Andrew Gardner, who preached there for nearly three years. He had previously ocenpied the

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WESTMORELAND.

position of chaplain and chirurgeon at Fort Dummer. He was noted for his quaintness and eccentricity. It is related that upon a certain special occasion, at Fort Dummer, in view of disastrous events following Indian forages that were preceded invariably with surprise, he preached from the Revelation of St. John iii. 3 : " If, therefore, thou shalt not watch I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." May 4, 1762, the proprietors of the town having met at the house of Thomas Chamberlain, voted " to build a meeting-house and to Set it on ye hill by Daniel Hows [Northeast corner of the Cole Cemetery-ED.] to build it fifty feet long, forty feet wide and twenty feet post." A committee of five (5), with Josiah Willard as chairman, were chosen to superintend its erection. August 26, 1763, the town voted " to raise the sum of one pound, sterling money, on each original right in said town, to be laid out toward finishing the meeting-house, to be assessed in ye following manner,-five shillings on each house lot, mea- dow lot, Pitch and after rights." September 26, 1764, nine members from other churches signed the first church covenant. This was on the fast previous to the ordination of Rev. William Goddard, which was held on the 7th day of November following. These members were William Goddard, pastor-elect, member of ye first church at Newtown ; Thomas Chamberlain, church at Newtown; Joshua Warner, church at Harvard; Amos Davis, church at Peters- ham ; Samuel Minot, church at Chelmsford ; Robert Thompson, church at Reading; Benja- min Pierce, church at Attleborough ; Abner How, church at Amherst; Joseph Pierce, church at Wilmington." The council which ordained Rev. Mr. Goddard as the first settled minister in Westmoreland, consisted of Rev. Joseph Buckminster, Rutland, Mass .; Rev. Bulkley Platt, Charlestown ; Rev. Clement Sumner, Keene ; Rev. Samuel Hedge, Warwick ; Rev. Joseph Sumner, Shrewsbury. At this council six members presented their letters, two

desired to be admitted, thus constituting eight members beside their pastor. During the three years following twenty were admitted by letter and fifteen by profession, two were dismissed to the church at Westminster, and perhaps one or two had died, so that at the close of the year 1767 there were forty members.

On the 17th of August, 1775, another council was convened, consisting of the pastors and delegates of the churches of Cornish, Walpole, Charlestown and Claremont agreeably to letters missive from the church and people joined by the pastors " to consider and give advice upon some matters of grievance subsisting between said pastor and people." The result was to dismiss Mr. Goddard. The town by vote concurring. It seems as though Mr. Goddard had served the church faithfully and wisely for eleven years. The grievance consisted of his " un- soundness " on account of adopting " the half- way covenant," an ism originating in North- ampton, Mass., early in this century. This doctrine was simply that " all persons of correct sentiments and sober life might profess religion and have their children baptized, though they did not come to the Lord's table. Possibly other differences arose. It was a time when political feeling ran high. The lines were closely drawn, and Mr. Goddard did not fully agree with the patriot party, in refusing to sign the " Test Oath." During the year 1776 the contest arose respecting a new location for the church. This society, the only one in town at the time, was composed mostly of Baptists and Orthodox ; the former were located in the northerly and easterly portions of the town, the Orthodox in the southerly and westerly por- tions : naturally the Baptists were in favor of retaining the old location.

Those living in the east parish had, a short time previous, organized and held meetings, as will be seen elsewhere.

The Orthodox were determined for a more southerly location. They composed the stronger party, but their pathway to success was far from

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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

being strewn with " flowery ease." March 13, 1776, the town chose a committee consisting of Deacon Jonathan Cole, Captain Joseph Burt, Amos Pierce, Ebenezer Brittin and Captain Daniel Pierce, to make a new location. This was reported " to be on the top of the hill south of Mr. Job Chamberlain's at the corner where the road turns easterly that leads to Lieutenant Stone's," and the present location of the Park Hill Church Following Mr. Goddard came Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, who preached on pro- bation for about one year. April 14, 1777, the town voted " to give Mr. Barnard a call to settle in the work of the ministry in this town," and chose a committee, of which Jonathan Cole was chairman, to draft proposals. These were presented to the town at a meeting held May 13, 1777, and accepted. There was a settle- ment of £150, a salary of £66 138. 4d., to be in- creased £5 yearly until it reached £80; if the families that paid rates should increase to one hundred, then he was to receive £10 more or £90, which sum was to remain his salary, in current money of the State. Farm- produce at this time was the standard of value, and this salary was computed on the basis of the following prices, viz. : Wool, 28. 2d. (@ lb .; wheat, 6s .; rye, 4s .; corn, 3s. ; flax, 1s .; pork that weighs ten score and up- ward, 43d. The year 1777 was one of constant alarms from the threatened invasion of Bur- goyne and his army. Repeated calls came from the Vermont Committee of Safety for militia to repel the enemy. It was responded to with alacrity and so all was commotion. For a time, church affairs retired into the background and especially so the matter of the removal of the church building. The year 1778 wit- nessed the commencement of a struggle origi- nating from the unfortunate geography of the town in not having any one point adapted for a centre that was acceptable to the whole town. So the years bear witness of the lamentable fact of an indication to pull down, rather than to build up. To a large degree the church has

been made to carry the load of sectional jeal- ousy. November 10, 1778, the town voted "to move the church to the place prefixed for it." This vote was reconsidered on December 5th following. Then came a warm discussion rela- tive to the amount of respective ownership of the now separate societies of the Baptists and Orthodox, resulting in a public sale of the church on the first Monday of January, 1779. The Baptists bid it off for seventy pounds. But this sale proved without avail, as the town voted, February 14th, "to reconsider all that had been done relative to the sale of the meeting- house." It also voted " to submit the whole matter to a disinterested committee to be se- lected by both societies, to be paid by the town, to consist of five persons, whose award should be binding upon all." Benjamin Bellows, Amos Babcock, Abraham Smith, Lemuel Holmes and Jesse Clark were selected for a committee, with Colonel Bellows for its chairman. This con- mittee was directed to meet March 3, 1779. Isaac Butterfield provided for them at an ex- pense of £7 168., he being an inn-keeper at the time. A committee of six, consisting of Archelaus Temple, George Aldrich, Benjamin Pierce, Ephraim Stone, Joseph Wilbore and Daniel How, were to present the case before the committee of arbitration. Their award in brief was, " to appraise the house at one hun- dred and forty pounds, that the Orthodox So- ciety should have it, and that the Baptists should be paid their proportion of this sum, ac- cording to their valuation in said town for tax- ation, to be paid as soon as the next crop of grain becomes marchantable." Once more the town voted, August 12, 1779, to move the meeting-house, raising one thousand pounds to defray the expense thereof. Isaac Chamber- lain, Nathan Franklin, Waitstill Scott, John Cole and Reuben Kendall were chosen a com- mitee, to superintend its removal. This com- mittee acted promptly, and aided by " bees," made popular by a gift of a barrel of rum from Major Keep, an interested man for its re-

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WESTMORELAND.

moval they were numerously attended and the work of removal was quickly consummated.

On the 16th day of September, 1779, the first meeting was held therein. Upon this site the building stands to-day ; it has withstood the buffetings of many angry storms both from within and without, but still stands a faithful sentinel overlooking a large extent of country. It cost to move and fit up the building the sum of £2388 118. 6d., of which the sum of £514 188. 6d. accrued from sale of " pew ground."

In addition thereto, there was considerable contributed by way of donation. This sum seems large, but we are to bear in mind that the currency at this time, known as Continental money, was depreciated in value ; it afterwards became worthless.

As originally constructed, it was simply a plain building, without steeple or porch. Upon the new site, it took to itself, porches upon the east and west sides, with entrance upon the south side. Broad aisles and high-suspended galleries extended around the three sides of it. The pulpit was elevated and reached by winding stairs, over which was suspended a sounding- board, surmounted by a dove, cleverly carved from wood. In front and beneath the pulpit were the deacon's benches. The wall-pews were elevated above the body, and all had high backs, with spindle tops and railing on top. The seats were hung upon hinges ; these were raised in time of prayer, during which all must stand, and the clatter of falling seats at its close made no slight noise. This house was thoroughly well finished, bearing witness to the skillful handiwork of Steward Esty. This house remained in this form until 1827, when an addition of twenty feet was put on in front, the porches removed and a steeple erected. These porches were made into dwelling-houses. In 1853 it was worked over into its present form. About 1779 Rev. Mr. Barnard termi- nated his pastorate. Early in this year Rev. John Millens preached upon probation accept- ably, it would appear, as the town voted to give

him an invitation to settle, but he declined to accept. During the latter portion of this year . Rev. Daniel Farrington preached. For a few years there was no regular pastor ; sundry itin- erant preachers supplied the pulpit ; among them was Rev. Beniah Hudson. November 8, 1784, an invitation was extended to Rev. Joseph Davis. He did not see fit to settle, but supplied the pulpit for nearly two years. Mr. Davis was an ordained minister, considerably advanced in years, and lived in Holden, Mass. He was noted for being an expert penman, and the records kept by him are in beautiful handwrit- ing. The year 1785 witnessed the beginning of a long and acrimonious struggle over the ministerial tax. So far it had been raised by the town, and went to the support of Orthodox preaching entirely ; persons of other persuasions, notably the Baptists, complained loudly of its in- justice, as well as illegality. After being submit- ted to divers committees of arbitration withont snecess it was finally adjusted by raising the tax independent of the town. Following Mr. Davis came Rev. Mr. Lawrence, who preached a short time on probation. During the two years be- ginning in 1788, Rev. Mr. Mills preached a part of the time. He was followed by Rev. Allen Pratt, who was ordained October 6, 1790. Mr. Pratt was a graduate of Harvard College, of the class of 1785. His salary was to be one hundred pounds yearly, "to be paid { in cash and 2 in grass-fed beef at 168. 8d. per ewt., or in grain ; wheat 48. 8d., rye 38. 4d., corn 2s. 8d. per bushel."

For nearly thirty-eight years Mr. Pratt offi- ciated as pastor of this church. Under his minis- try 273 joined the church. He baptized 289 persons, married 419 couples, and during his ministry 1043 died. In the winter of 1821-22 the church experienced the greatest revival within its history, the fruits of which was an increase of 80 to its membership, and 94 were baptized. January 1, 1828, Mr. Pratt having asked for a dismissal, a council was convened at his house, which granted his request. The same day a

476

HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

new house having been erected at the South village was dedicated ; a new society of eleven members was formed, a call was given Mr. Pratt to become its pastor, it was accepted and all confirmed in one evening by the same council. He remained with the new society until 1837; after this he only occasionally officiated in the pulpit. It will be seen that his pastorate in this town extended over the long period of forty-seven years. Nor should we wish for further evidence to convince us that " Priest Pratt " was truly a remarkable man. In the early summer-time, from his cherished home, as the morning dews were kissing the bright green grass and the happy birds were warbling their songs of praise, as the morning sun was gilding the eastern hill- tops with golden light, his spirit took its up- ward flight. His work on earth was finished. He was buried in his chosen spot, which he had selected, inclosed and donated to the town for a cemetery, overlooking much of the field of his life's work. His tombstone records the date June 5, 1843. " He lived respected and died lamented."

Rev. Otis C. Whiton, a graduate of Dart- mouth in 1815, followed Mr. Pratt as pastor of the First Church, commencing the Sabbath fol- lowing Mr. Pratt's dismissal. He was installed May 21, 1828, and was dismissed at his own re- quest January 1, 1833. He died at Harrisville October 17, 1845. From 1833 Rev. Ebenezer Chase preached two years. Under his ministry the church membership was largely increased. The two churches united in supporting the same minister, holding services in each house alter- nately until the house at the South village was destroyed by fire. In 1835 Rev. Clark Perry is found laboring here. Then came Rev. Thomas Riggs. He was installed December 30, 1835, and dismissed June 17, 1839. During the year 1840 Rev. Alanson Alvord supplied the pulpit. June 16, 1841, Rev. Robt. W. Fuller was ordained and was dismissed January 11, 1843, nearly fifty members were added to the church

under his ministration. Rev. George W. Ash was ordained October 25, 1843, and dismissed March 11, 1846. Rev. Stephen Rodgers com- menced preaching August 6, 1846. For a time the society flourished, a parsonage was purchased, the church building was remodeled, but a day of trial was near; a portion of its members, mostly living in the south part of the town, withdrew and formed a new society at the South village. For a time it was war, bitter and unrelenting. Its effects were lasting and withering. We hasten, for we are on dangerous ground. Mr. Rodgers was dismissed in 1857. Following Mr. Rodgers came Rev. Charles Greenwood, who was ordained pastor November 5, 1857 ; dismissed January 27, 1859. Rev. Kiah B. Glidden commeneed preaching January 29, 1860, was ordained to the ministry June 19, 1860, and re- mained till January 29, 1863. Rev. Solomon Bixby was acting pastor from February, 1863, to February, 1868. For the year ensuing Rev. Edward F. Abbott supplied the pulpit- 1868-69. For some years thereafter there was no regular preaching. In September, 1873, both churches united in employing as acting pastor Rev. C. K. Hoyt, then a recent graduate of the Auburn Theological School; he remained until May, 10, 1874. November 19, 1874, both churches formally consolidated in a single organ- ization. Rev. Charles N. Flanders, an An- dover graduate, was ordained as påstor Decem- ber 29, 1874, and was dismissed November 4, 1878. He was followed by Rev. F. J. Grimes in 1879, who was the acting pastor for nearly three years. Rev. Roswell Foster supplied the pulpit in 1884-85.

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- A society was organized under the above name May, 1852. The same year it built a house for public worship at the South village. This house was dedicated December 22, 1852. On the following Sabbath Rev. Robert W. Fuller commenced preaching in the new house. A church organization was instituted at an eccle- siastical council held December 26, 1852. This

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WESTMORELAND.

church was formed from sixteen members who had withdrawn from the old church and two others. The first meeting of this church was held February 9, 1853. Ou the 15th of the same month Abraham How and Gilman White were elected deacons; they had held previously the same position in the old church. This church was admitted into the Cheshire Confer- ence of Churches June 14, 1854. January 7, 1856, Mr. Fuller resigned his pastorship. Rev. Oscar Bissell followed him, his ordination oc- curring May 14, 1856; he was dismissed April 28, 1861. For two years thereafter Rev. E. B. Bassett was the acting pastor, commencing April 14, 1862. From May, 1864, to May, 1869, Rev. William Claggett was acting pastor. From the autumn of 1869 to September, 1873, Rev. Thomas L. Fowler supplied the pulpit. In 1873 this society joined the old society in holding services in their respective houses alter- nately, employing the same pastor, and have continued this relation to the present time.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH .- A Baptist society was formed in East Westmoreland as early as 1771. Rev. Ebenezer Baily was ordained its first pastor, November 30, 1773. The members of this society mainly came from Middleborough, Mass., and were members of its first church. The first church building erected by this society was doubtless an unpretentious affair, and stood upon the opposite side of the common from school- house No. 2. January 3, 1789, this society voted to build a new house and to locate it west of the old house, and adjacent to the old site. This house was thoroughly built, and was completed October, 1790. Elder Baily's pas- torate was eminently a successful one. It ex- tended over thirty years. During his ministry this society was strong and influential.

The following is the petition for the incorpo- ration of a Baptist society, addressed to the Gen- eral Court June 4, 1800 :

"Humbly Shew Your Petitioners, Inhabitants of the Towns of Westmoreland, Walpole, Surry and Keene, Professors of Religion by the Denomination of Baptists-That for many years last past they have

assembled together for public Worship as a Baptist Society : and, for the more orderly and regular man- agement of the same-pray that they, with such others as may hereafter be admitted as members, may be incorporated into a religious Society to be called and known by the name of the FIRST BAPTIST SO- CIETY IN WESTMORELAND with sufficient power and authority to support and Settle a minister-to build and repair meeting Houses and to raise and Collect taxes for those purposes-To warn and hold meetings and to choose all proper officers for transact- ing and managing the Concerns of said Society and to make by Laws for regulating the same, provided the same are not contrary to the Constitution and Laws of the State-and for Liberty to bring in a Bill accord- ingly-Or, that the Honourable Court would make such Order on the premises as to them shall seem meet-and as in duty bound pray

" Caleb Aldrich Jr Dudley Thomas

Wm Brettun Daniel Wilber

Sammuel Robbins Paul Clark

John Brown

Ephraim Brown

Asa Hancock

Joseph Whitney

Noah Fuller Jr Stephen Bowker

Eben' Wright

John White

Chever Fowler Levi Hancock

John Chamberlain Benj& Leonard

John Chamberlain Jr Jonathan Wilber

Levi Ware Oliver Wright

Oliver Smith Jabez Straton

Nehemiah Brown

Philip Britton

Cyrus Staples

Benjamin Merryfield

Joshua Fuller Benjamin Carpenter

John Snow Elijah A. Hall

Amos Brown Zephaniah Leach Jr

Samuel Woodward

William Aldrich

Jona Winchester

Rufus Smith

Seth Bretun

Joshua Hall"

John Paul

Nine of these petitioners were inhabitants of Surry.

December 10, 1800, this society was incorpo- rated by legislative enactment, by the name of the First Baptist Society in Westmoreland. In 1810 Elder Nathan Leonard came from Sutton, Mass., and preached nearly four years. He is represented to have been an able pulpit orator and a smart business man. In June, 1818, Elder Simeon Chamberlain was ordained, but completed his pastorate before the close of the year. January, 1821, found Elder Hosea Trum-

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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

bull first preaching to this society, over which he was ordained May 26, 1822. February 26, 1826, Benjamin Dean, Jr., was ordained at Swanzey as an evangelist, and accepted a call to labor with this society. For many years there was no preaching, except by itinerants. An act having passed the Legislature in 1848 relat- ing to the sale of meeting-houses in cases where they had not been occupied for the space of two years, led the way to a vote of the proprictors to sell this house about 1852. It was purchased by a union association, and removed and rebuilt into the present house at East Westmoreland. John B. Osborn was the contractor; the con- tract-price was $1000, with the old house and some contributions of labor. This house was built, and is now owned as a union house. Each denomination is entitled to the occupaney of the house in proportion to their respective ownership. Here, for many years, Rev. Jchiel Claflin has labored faithfully, and with deserv- ing credit. At the present time Rev. N. D. Parsons conducts one service weekly under Bap- tist auspices. In this house Rev. Mr. Bruce conduets one service weekly at the present time under the Christian creed auspiees.

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History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 76

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1200

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1200