USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Hampton Falls > History of Hampton Falls, N.H., Volume II > Part 5
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salary of fifty pounds lawful money, or forty-two pounds, and eight cords of good merchantable wood. This probably meant hard wood. Indian corn was to be received at three and six pence per bushel; pork at four pence per pound; beef at two and a half pence. The buildings and outside fences were to be kept in re- pair as usual, the land to be free from taxes. Mr. Langdon ac- cepted the call, taking forty-two pounds and the eight cords of wood.
The following is Dr. Langdon's letter of acceptance:
"I have seriously attended to the foregoing call to devote my labors in the ministry of the gospel to the service of this parish and notwithstanding some discouragements which have appeared in my way and the earnest applications made to me by some other parishes, where there was a prospect of a peaceable and comfort- able settlement, I cannot but apprehend it to be my duty to com- ply with the call of this parish considering the unhappy divided state they have been in for so many years past, and hoping I am not mistaken in judging it a call from God by the intimation of his Providence. I do hereby declare my acceptance of their call, and relying upon the gracious assistance of our Lord Jesus Christ, I shall make it my constant care and labor to fulfill the duties of the gospel ministry in this place to the utmost of my ability so long as God shall continue me among this people.
"Samuel Langdon, D.D.
"Hampton Falls, Jan. 7th, 1781."
Up to this time (1780) the town has been spoken of as the parish of Hampton Falls and not the town of Hampton Falls.
In 1787 Dr. Langdon asked for more salary but no vote appears to have been taken in the matter. The same year he was chosen a delegate to attend the convention at Exeter to adopt the Con- stitution of the United States. In 1789, voted ten pounds in- crease to Dr. Langdon's salary.
In 1795 a committee was appointed to judge of Dr. Langdon's salary as agreed to at the time of his settlement. In 1781 he commenced his labors as pastor of the church in Hampton Falls, where he spent the residue of his days in peaceful usefulness, a blessing to the people of his charge and happy in enjoyment of their affection and respect. In his religious sentiments he claimed to be a Calvinist and a trinitarian. While living here he had the misfortune to break a leg, and later in life, when he had become too infirm to ascend to the high pulpit, he conducted the church service while standing in the deacons' pew. He was venerated
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and esteemed by the people of his charge, and retained their con- fidence until the close of his life. Tradition says his sermons were quite lengthy, the sun being well down in winter before the afternoon meeting closed. His sermons were written but de- livered from memory without notes. He would occasionally ex- amine his manuscript with a reading glass. His time in the minis- try here was peaceful. The animosities which caused so much trouble during the ministry of his predecessors had in a measure subsided, but were never wholly overcome.
The first mention upon the record of a committee to inspect schools was in 1794 when Dr. Langdon was chosen as such com- mittee.
When it had been decided to occupy and fortify Bunker Hill in Charlestown in 1775, three Massachusetts regiments and two hundred men as a fatigue party were detailed for the purpose. They were drawn up on Cambridge common where they listened to a fervent prayer offered by Dr. Langdon, at that time presi- dent of Harvard College, who blessed them and bade them god- speed in their efforts to achieve American independence.
He does not appear to have been very methodical, or to have given much attention to details, as the records were much neg- lected during his ministry, and imperfectly kept. His successor, Rev. Jacob Abbot, collected the names of sixty-seven persons who had been baptized by him, but were not recorded. Five others were recorded in their proper place. During his ministry forty were admitted to the church or owned the covenant, eleven were admitted to full communion. Dr. Langdon gave his library to the church for the use of its ministers in Hampton Falls. Soon after his death Jeremiah Lane, Esq., was appointed clerk and these books were placed in his keeping. May 20, 1826, Levi Lane, Esq., was chosen clerk and was requested to take charge of the books given by Dr. Langdon. These books became somewhat scattered. What could be found are now in the town library. Some of them are in Latin, and at the present time would not be considered of very great value except for their antiquity, as great progress has been made along these lines since Dr. Langdon's time. There are some sixty or seventy volumes in the library.
Dr. Langdon did some literary work and his publications were numerous. A Thanksgiving sermon, preached at his parish in Portsmouth in 1759, on the anniversary of the birthday of King
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George, the 2d, was entitled, "Joy and gratitude to God for the long life of a good king." Also a sermon on the "Conquest of Quebec" from the 21st Psalm is said to have been one of the best occasional discourses extant. While living in Hampton Falls he compiled and published a book of which the following is the title page: "Observations on the revelation of Jesus Christ to St. John which comprehended the most approved sentiments of the celebrated Mr. Mede, Mr. Lowman, Bishop Newton, and other noted writers on this book, and which cast much additional light on the most obscure prophecies, especially those which point out the times of the rise and fall of Anti-Christ."
This book was in two parts, containing, part first, general obser- vations on prophesy, the form order and style of the revelations, the monitory vision. Part second, the prophetic visions which are distinguished into five prophecies, each of which is subdivided into several scenes. By Samuel Langdon, D. D., minister of the church in Hampton Falls, in the state of New Hampshire. The views expressed in this book appear to have been those generally entertained by the Congregational denomination of that period, and were presented in an able and interesting manner. This book was bound in leather and contained three hundred and thirty-seven pages. A copy of this book was presented to the Hampton Falls Public Library by Mrs. J. Emmons Brown in 1897.
Rev. Samuel Langdon was born in Boston in 1722, of respect- able but not opulent parents. He early showed marks of genius which he improved by diligent application to study while a pupil in the North Grammar School. Here he laid the foundation of his future learning. His amiable disposition procured him many friends who assisted him in procuring an education at Harvard College where he was graduated in 1740. He went to Ports- mouth soon after and had charge of the grammar school. His government and discipline in school were severe. But as the children improved under his instruction he very generally met the approval of their parents. In 1745 he was appointed chaplain of Col. Meserves regiment and was present at the capture of Louis- burg. After his return he was invited to preach as assistant to Mr. Fitch, whom he succeeded in the ministry in 1747. Dele- gates were sent to his ordination from the Hampton Falls church. He continued at Portsmouth until 1774, when he was chosen by the corporation of Harvard College as president of that institu-
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tion. After due consideration he accepted the appointment. His parish was strongly attached to him and consented to the separation very reluctantly. The connection between them was dissolved on the 9th of October, 1774.
Dr. Langdon's situation at Cambridge soon became unpleasant. Some of the most respectable officers of that institution conceived a strong prejudice against him and he was not treated with that respect which his character deserved. He resigned his office in 1780 and the following January was installed over the church at Hampton Falls where he spent the residue of his days in peace and usefulness, a blessing to the poeple of his charge and happy in the enjoyment of their affection and respect. During the period of the Revolutionary War and the unhappy divisions in the church vital religion had suffered a great relapse in the parish. During Dr. Langdon's ministry a great improvement was made in relig- ious interest and the tone of the community was elevated.
Dr. Langdon protracted a map of New Hampshire, in company with Colonel Blanchard, which was published in 1761 and in- scribed to the Hon. Charles Townsend, secretary of war. In re- turn for this compliment, the secretary obtained for Mr. Langdon a degree of Doctor of Divinity from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. On the formation of the Academy of Arts in Massa- chusetts, he became a member. He professed to be a trinitar an and a Calvinist. In politics he was zealously attached to the cause of his country. He was the first minister to occupy the parsonage house which had been purchased near the new meeting house, which had been bought from Jonathan Perkins. When the old meeting house was abandoned the lower parsonage was sold. The house and buildings were sold to Nathaniel Healey. The five acres opposite the Weare homestead appear to have been sold to Meshech Weare and became a part of his homestead. There is no record of what disposition was made of the flats (thatch ground). The house, which Dr. Langdon occupied, continued during most of its existence to be occupied by clergymen of dif- ferent denominations. Rev. Mr. Bridge was living there at the time it was destroyed by fire in 1858, when the church records were burned.
Dr. Langdon was said to have advised the parish to employ Rev. Jacob Abbot to be his successor, who appears to have preached here occasionally before Dr. Langdon's death.
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Dr. Langdon died November 27, 1797, at the age of seventy- five years. He was buried in the cemetery on the cross road. This yard was laid out in 1781 as a parish cemetery for the new meeting house. His grave is marked by an ordinary black tomb- stone, not in keeping with what should mark the final resting place of one who had been a president of Harvard University. Efforts have been made at different times to induce the manage- ment of the college to erect a more suitable monument to his memory. The stone at the head of his grave bears the following inscription: "Here lies the remains of Rev. Samuel Langdon, D. D., Late pastor of Hampton Falls, President of Cambridge University. His extensive knowledge, hospitality, catholicism, patriotism and piety obtained and preserved the esteem, respect, admiration and love of the people of his charge, and of his numer- ous aquaintances in this and the neighboring states, through a. life of great usefulness to mankind which ended Nov. 29, 1797, Æ 75 years."
January 17, 1798, two months after Dr. Langdon's death, was observed as a day of fasting and prayer. Rev. Messrs. Rowland, Shaw, Thurston and Miltimore came there to conduct the service.
In 1791 it was put to vote to see if the town would pay the build- ing committee who built the new meeting house any compensa- tion for this service. This was voted in the negative. Pew privileges were sold in the new meeting house until the demand exceeded the supply. It was difficult to get the town to vote any repairs upon the meeting house. It was shingled in part in 1829. Wood from the parsonage was sold to defray the expense.
In April, 1798, a call was extended to Mr. Jacob Abbot to settle in the gospel ministry, with the use of the parsonage and two hundred dollars salary. This offer was declined.
In May the parish voted to give Mr. Abbot three hundred silver dollars, the use of the parsonage, and to keep the buildings and outside fences in repair, and to cut and haul ten cords of wood to the door. This offer was accepted by Mr. Abbot in a long letter dated June 2, 1798. This is the first instance where the federal currency is mentioned in payment of demands against the parish.
Mr. Abbot accepted in the following letter to the church and congregation of Hampton Falls:
"Gentlemen: I have calmly and seriously considered the invi- tation you have extended me to settle among you in the work of
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the ministry and the proposals you have made for my support and encouragement. Feeling a confidence that your engagements will punctually be fulfilled, and that while I labor among you in spiritual things you will fully impart to me so much of your carnal things as is necessary that I may give myself unto the work wherunto you have called me relying on your candor and that grace which is promised to and sufficient for all Christs faithful ministers-I do now accept your proposals and am ready and willing to take the pastoral charge of the flock of Christ, and de- vote myself to the ministry among you. The distance from my friends is such that to visit them may oblige me to leave you desti- tute. Circumstances also may occur as to make it my duty to preach to a vacant parish. You will not think it unreasonable if I want the customary vacation of two Sabbaths annually for this purpose. You are sensible gentlemen from the short time I have been in the study of divinity that my knowledge of it must be small. To be obliged to preach two discourses weekly and attend other parochial duties must continue it so, and preclude in a great measure future improvement as well as present. A compliance with the direction of the apostle to give attendance to reading, you will therefore freely grant me the indulgence of availing my- self, of the assistance of others in frequent exchanges. Your past kindness and candor toward me while they excite the liveliest gratitude, encourage me to hope for their continuance in future. The confidence you have so unitedly placed in me by inviting me to an office in the discharging the duties of which your dearest interests are concerned, shall call forth every exertion on my part, that your expectations may not be disappointed. You are sensi- ble the work of a minister is arduous, and difficult. Let me then entreat your fervant and continued prayers that I may be en- abled to be faithful to God to you and my own soul. That the God of peace may be with you and continue and strengthen your union and growth in grace so to demean myself, and preach the gospel, and you to hear and live, that when time with us shall be no more we may reap the reward of the faithful service is the fervant prayer of your sincere friend and humble servant.
"Jacob Abbot.
"Hampton Falls June 2d 1798."
Mr. Abbot appears to have been preaching some time as a sup- ply before receiving a call. He was ordained pastor of the Church of Christ in Hampton Falls, having been received upon his dis- mission from the church in Wilton. The ordination took place August 15, 1798. Rev. W. F. Rowland of Exeter made the first prayer; Rev. Mr. Fisk of Wilton, with whom Mr. Abbot appears to have studied theology, preached the sermon which is given in full in the history of Hampton Falls; Rev. Mr. Miltimore of
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Stratham made the consecrating prayer; Rev. Mr. Haven of Portsmouth gave the charge; Rev. Mr. Appleton of Hampton gave the right hand of fellowship; Rev. Mr. Abbott of Haverhill made the concluding prayer. There is a very full account of Mr. Abbot's ordination given in the history of Hampton Falls.
Mr. Abbot began his ministry under very favorable auspices. But the harmony of the parish was soon disturbed by the Baptist movement of which one Elias Smith was a prominent leader. Unsoundness of doctrine was urged against Mr. Abbot as an ex- cuse and a pretext for leaving his meeting, Mr. Abbot being classed with those called Arminians. One person asked for dismission in 1803. Six years later twenty persons had formed themselves into a Baptist society and were excused from their ministerial rates, and the support of the parish ministry.
The withdrawal of so many from paying their ministerial rates, because they were Baptists and from other causes, soon had an injurious effect on the parish church, making it difficult to raise and pay Mr. Abbot's salary. He appreciated the situation. At a number of different times he proposed resigning his pastorate, but was in each case persuaded not to do so. On June 29, 1809, Mr. Abbot proposed leaving the place and resigning his pastorate, proposals having been made to him by the trustees of Dummer Academy, Newbury, Mass., to become preceptor of that institu- tion. He considered that it would be burdensome to the parish to continue his salary in consequence of so many having with- drawn from the active support of the church to become Baptists and from other causes, who refused to contribute to his support. He consulted the church and in consequence an ecclesiastical coun- cil was convened to consider the matter. The council was com- posed of the following pastors and churches: Dr. Buckminster of Portsmouth, Porter of Rye, Holt of Epping, Rowland of Exeter, Shaw of Kensington, French of North Hampton, and Webster of Hampton. The council met July 26 and at an adjourned meet- ing August 8 reported and advised Mr. Abbot to remain. The difficulties of raising his salary continued during the remainder of his ministry. Mr. Abbot's connection with the town ceased by his own request. He asked a dismission from the pastoral office in the church October 16, 1827, which the church voted on the 18th of November. This action was approved by a council called for the purpose, of which Rev. Huntington Porter of Rye
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was moderator, and Rev. Ephrium Abbott of Greenland was scribe. Mr. Abbot's ministry continued about twenty-nine years, during which time 148 persons were baptized; 124 marriages were solemnized; from 1800 to 1811, 12 persons made a profession of religion upon the half way covenant, but did not become com- municants.
From the facts which have been gathered it is believed that the ordinances of the church were much less strictly observed during the ministry of Mr. Abbot than in the earlier history of the church, under his predecessors. During the latter part of Mr. Abbot's ministry he had become a Unitarian which after a time led to a separation from those who adhered to the old doctrines. In 1822 his salary was a little over three hundred dollars per year. Mr. Abbot was chairman of the school committee from 1801 till 1807, which appears to have been all the secular office he held during his residence here.
Mr. Abbot, during his pastorate, occupied the parsonage house which had been occupied by Dr. Langdon, his predecessor. He and his family were much liked for their social qualities and their removal from the town was much regretted. He founded the Social Library which was kept at his house, which was the first library ever in the town and which continued in existence for more than fifty years. He was much interested in agriculture, and cultivated the parsonage lands successfully, his methods being much in advance of the times. He introduced some new kinds of fruit and was the first to practice grafting apple and other fruit trees in the town.
While living here he often had in his family young men under his teaching who were fitting for Harvard College, or those who had been conditioned, or suspended for a time. In this way he was enabled to add to his income, as his salary was not sufficient to support his large family. Among those under his tuition was Prof. John White Webster who was hung in Boston in 1850 for the murder of Dr. Parkman. Webster had a bad reputation while he was a member of Mr. Abbot's family.
Rev. Jacob Abbot was born in Wilton, N. H., January 7, 1768. . He graduated from Harvard in 1792; was ordained at Hampton Falls August 15, 1798; married Martha, daughter of Rev. Eben- ezer and Martha Thayer of Hampton in 1802. He met his death November 2, 1834, by drowning. Mrs. Abbot survived her hus-
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band and died in 1843. Rev. Jacob Abbot was a lineal descend- ant of George Abbot who settled in Andover, Mass., about 1643. He spelled his name with one t, two t's continued until the fourth generation, when some dropped the final t; Rev. Jacob Abbot spelled by the latter method, with one t.
In his latter days Mr. Abbot became a Unitarian. Some of his sermons were solemn, pungent and evangelical. His talents were respectable. As a man he was esteemed and beloved.
After his dismission from Hampton Falls he removed to Wind- ham where he purchased a valuable farm and spent the remainder of his days. There appears to have been a Unitarian society in Windham at that time to which Mr. Abbot had been preaching for some little time, and at the time of his death he had engaged to supply preaching for the ensuing year.
Mr. Abbot was the last of the parish ministers settled by the town. The town ministry continued for more than one hundred years. The town was very fortunate in the choice of its ministers. All of them were graduates of Harvard College, and were men of more than average ability, and were well abreast of the times in which they lived, and were competent to lead the people forward, and were a living example of the advantage of an educated minis- try. All of them, with the exception of Dr. Langdon, appear never to have been settled in any other pastorate. The remains of four of them repose in our cemeteries. The first three had no children. Of Dr. Langdon's family we have no knowledge. Mr. Wingate had five children and his descendants are now numerous. Mr. Abbot had a large family.
The circumstances of Mr. Abbot's death are given in a note to his funeral sermon which was published, and which was as follows:
"Rev. Jacob Abbot, Captain Dinsmore, two sons of the former, and two sons-in-law of the latter, were returning in the afternoon from public worship across a pond between the meeting house and their dwellings, when, having nearly reached the shore, the boat admitted water to such a degree as to be nearly filled. In the alarm of the moment the boys sprang from the boat and by this · action the boat was upset. The boys could swim and reached the shore in safety. The men could not swim. Mr. Abbot and Cap- tain Dinsmore were drowned. It was with the utmost difficulty that Mr. Ebenezer Abbot, one of the sons, escaped. Mr. Abbot was thus suddenly calld to exchange worlds, November 2, 1834, at the age of sixty-six."
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He was buried the Wednesday following. Rev. Nathaniel Gage of Haverhill, Mass., Unitarian, preached from the words: "There is but a step between me and death." Mr. Abbot was a member of the Unitarian church in Windham.
On May 14, 1802, it was resolved, where persons have con- ducted or shall conduct themselves unbecoming their Christian professions and solemn covenant engagements, that "it is the duty of the members of the church that we will individually as opportunity offers endeavor by private exhortation, persuasion, reproof in the spirit of meekness and charity to convince and re- form them and not suffer sin upon our brethren." This appears to apply to those who had left the church and became Baptists.
On December 15, 1803, Mr. William Brown requested to be dismissed from the church (probably to join the Baptists). The church voted not to dismiss him. On December 18, a committee was appointed to converse with him for his neglect of the Lord's table, and to inquire respecting his intention of being rebap- tized, and to warn him against it. Mr. Brown said he did not consider that Mr. Abbot preached the gospel, and objected to several things which the pastor had said in public. This appears to have been the beginning of the Baptist movement in the town.
In 1804 others were found in the Baptist error; in 1805 the difficulties with the Baptists increased; in 1808 twenty-one persons, calling themselves the Baptist Society, petitioned for a parish meeting to be exempted from paying tax to support the town minister. The selectmen refused to call the meeting, and a meeting was called by Thomas Leavitt, Esq., when the request of the Baptists was voted in the negative. After this a suit was commenced by the Baptists to become exempt; and appears to have been decided in their favor for in 1809 the Baptists were exempted from paying for the support of the town ministry.
In 1818 the legislature passed what was known as the Tolera- tion Act, which exempted all property from ministerial rates assessed by the town. This made the churches dependent upon voluntary centributions for support. No one was compelled to pay for the support of any church unless he chose to do so. This same thing had been accomplished in Massachusetts by an act in 1795. All of these things worked against the parish church and hastened the end.
June 16, 1812, letters missive were received by the church to 5
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HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS
attend the ordination of Rev. Joseph W. Dow at Tyringham, Mass. Owing to the distance it was voted not to comply, but it was voted to dismiss Mr. Dow from this church and recom- mend him to the church in Tyringham. Mr. Dow was the son of Maj. Joseph Dow and a grandson of Governor Weare. He graduated from Harvard in 1805, and died in 1833. Tyringham is situated in Berkshire County, Mass., and adjoins Stockbridge. In the election of 1911 but thirty-five votes were cast in the town.
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