History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 152

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1168

USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire > Part 152

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

At a town-meeting, August 11th, a vote was passed to concur with the church in a call to Mr. John H. Church. " Voted, To give Mr. John H. Church as a settlement, within one year from the time of his or- dination, five hundred dollars." "Voted, To give Mr. John H1. Church, as salary, three hundred and thirty-three dollars, thirty-three eents and one-third of a cent annually, so long as he shall supply the desk, with this qualification of the last clause (viz.), that he relinquish no part of his salary, although he should be sick and unable to supply the desk for six months at any one time; that should he be unable to supply the desk longer than six months at any one time, his salary cease till he does supply the desk."

Mr. Church was ordained October 31, 1798. Rev. Dr. Baekus, of Somers, Conn., preached the sermon. The pastorate that had been vacant six years and seven days was filled. The unhappy division and controversy about the ministry ceased. A long and successful pastorate was commenced. An important element in this division was theological. But other elements entered into it, and these were kept active by a partisan spirit, and this was intensified by every disturbing breeze of personal or social feeling; and the one thing that saved the town from a permanent division into religious sects, neither of which would have been able to sustain religious institutions, was the large number of level-headed, far-seeing men, who, comprehending the misfortune of such an issue, steadied and held things until the time of union came. There were such men in each party. The introduction of Mr. Church to the town was in a way to pacify and prepossess in his favor. He was really the candidate of the party the least in sympathy with his theological sentiments. Mr. Church was invited to preach in Pelham at the suggestion of William M. Richardson, afterward chief justice of New Hamp- shire. Mr. Richardson was his class-mate in college, and knew him to be a fine scholar and of sterling character. Mr. Church was born in Rutland, Mass., March 17, 1772. He graduated at Harvard in 1797. He studied theology with Dr. Backus, of Somers, Conn. He married Thankful Weston, of Rutland, May 7, 1799. She died April 11, 1806, aged thirty- one years. In 1807 he married Hannah Farnham, of 41

Newburyport, Mass., who died July 9, 1837, aged fifty-nine years.

Dr. Church was one of the ablest clergymen of his time. He held important ecclesiastical positions. He was actively engaged in all the missionary, phil- anthropie and educational works of that time. He was for many years a trustee of Pinkerton Academy, at Derry ; of Dartmouth College from 1820 till his death ; of Phillips Academy, at Andover, from 1826 till his death. He was an associate of the professors of Andover Theological Seminary. He took a promi- nent part in all the theological discussions of that period, and was considered high authority. He was argumentative rather than persuasive. His logic was irresistible. He was hyper-calvinistic in doctrine. There grew up under his ministry men and women of strong mind, marked intelligence and character. The financial standing of the town at this time was the best of any in the State. It had more taxable property and a higher rate of assessment, according to the number of its inhabitants, than any other town in the State. The interest the town took in Mr. Church is indicated by a vote passed in 1806, the year that the first Mrs. Church died,-" To give Mr. Church two hundred dollars to assist him in defraying his late extra expenses."

Mr. Church had such dignity in his bearing as in- spired fear. Children shunned him, were afraid of him ; but he was, nevertheless, interested in the young, and all who yielded to that interest found him helpful. He received the degree of A.M. from Dart- mouth College in 1813, and D.D. from Williams College in 1823. The town system of settlement and support of the ministry, that existed in New England in its early history, and was adhered to in Pelham for eighty-eight years, had come to be supplanted by the voluntary system. In the early history of the town there were those who objected to supporting preaching not in accordance with their sectarian preference. As early as 1763, Ebenezer Richardson petitioned the selectmen "that he might not be taxed for the sup- port of the gospel, as he was a Baptist, and in full communion with a Baptist Church in Boston." This number had been increasing during all the years. The fact that this system was in force in Pelham longer than in most of the towns of New Hampshire and Massachusetts indicates the stability of the people. The contract between Dr. Church and the town was terminated by mutual consent December 17, 1834, having existed thirty-six years, one month and fifteen days, and the town never failed to pay him his salary.

In May, 1832, at a meeting legally called for the formation of a religious society of the Congregational order, such a society was organized under the name of the First Congregational Society in Pelham. Its first legal meeting was held July 4th; but it does not appear to have raised money till after the termina- tion of the contract of the town with Mr. Church.

636

HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

In the year 1835, on account of failing health, Dr. Church resigned his pastoral charge. On the 30th of September he was dismissed, and the same council ordained Mr. John Keep. The pastorate of Dr.

different men had held the office of deacon. There has always been a Deacon Gage, a lineal descendant of one or the other of two brothers, Amos and Daniel, that were among the first settlers of the town. Amos Church was thirty-seven years, wanting one day. He . Gage and Daniel Hutchinson filled the office till their continued to reside in town till his death, June 12, 1840, at the age of sixty-eight. He was buried, as were his two predecessors, in the old burying-ground at the Centre. It is a matter of interest that the first three pastorates should have reached so near the con- clusion of the first century of the corporate existence of the town, and the first three ministers, when they rested from their labors, should sleep with their people. During the ministry of Dr. Church one hundred and ninety-nine came into the church.

Mr. Keep was dismissed October 13, 1841,-a pastor- ate of six years, one month and thirteen days. Forty- three came into the church under his ministry.

It is a matter of interest that from the settlement of Mr. Hobbs to the dismissal of Mr. Keep, a period of ninety years, there had always been a gospel minister in town. Mr. Moody came during the sick- ness of Mr. Hobbs, and was in town when Mr. Church came.

Rev. Cyrus W. Allen was settled February 1, 1843, and dismissed May 12, 1847.

June 21, 1848, the Rev. Eden B. Foster was settled, and dismissed January 13, 1853. Mr. Foster was a man of rare culture, a most interesting and fervid preacher. It was with great reluctance and sorrow that the church and society relinquished him. Mr. Foster received his doctorate from Williams College. It is a noticeable coincidence that the two Pelham pastors honored with a doctorate should have re- ceived them from the same college.

August 30, 1854, Rev. Charles Rockwell was in- stalled as pastor. He was a man of ability, but not adapted to this people, and, by the advice of an ecclesiastical council, was dismissed June 20, 1855.

The brevity of the previous pastorates, and espe- cially the unfortunate experience in the last, created some discouragement and hesitancy about the settle- ment of another minister. During the next six years the church was served by acting pastors. The Rev. John E. Farwell supplied from November, 1855, to March, 1858, and the Rev. William F. Herrick from September, 1858, to April, 1861. October 30, 1861, the present pastor, Rev. Augustus Berry, was settled. As an indication of the spirit of benevolence in the church and congregation, there has been given to mis- sions and other causes of Christian benevolence, in the last twenty-three years, twelve thousand dollars.

Thus has the town, from the date of its incorpora- tion, sustained the gospel ministry. Only sixteen of the one hundred and thirty-four years, since the organization of the church, has it been without a settled pastor, and never without preaching.

Deacons .- To the year 1882, one hundred and thirty years from the election of Deacon Amos Gage, eight

decease,-Deacon Hutchinson, May 9, 1785, and Deacon Gage, September 8, 1792. Then Abel Gage, a son of Deacon Amos Gage, and Benjamin Barker were elected deacons. They resigned in 1835, and Daniel Gage, a grandson of Daniel Gage, the brother of Amos Gage, and Jeremiah Tyler were elected deacons. In 1853, Deacon Gage died and Deacon Tyler resigned, and Daniel T. Gage, a son of the last Deacon Gage, and Charles Stiles were elected dea- cons. Deacon Stiles died in May, 1882. He was succeeded by Eliphelet F. Woods, who died in No- vember of this year, and was succeeded in the office by Samuel Kelley.

REFORMED METHODIST AND FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH .- Near the commencement of the present century the Methodists commenced to labor among the inhabitants of the northeast section of the town, called Gage Hill, and the adjacent portion of Salem. Meetings were held in school-houses and private dwellings. Among their preachers was the Rev. Joseph Snelling, who, with his family, resided in that section of the town some years. By the uni- versal estimate, he was an eminently devout and good man. In his autobiography he speaks of the diffi- eulty he encountered in introducing Methodism into Pelhanı. His converts either united with the Con- gregationalists or went out of town to other denomi- nations. At length he succeeded in forming a small society of Methodists, and prejudice was so far re- moved that they built a meeting-house that the Methodists were to occupy a part of the time, and he says, "I was invited to preach the dedication sermon, and continued to preach there a part of the time while I lived in Pelham." This house was probably built about 1820. It was small, located near the Salem line, and subsequently remodeled for a dwell- ing-house, and occupied as a parsonage. It is now owned by the Rev. Tobias Foss. This house was built with the understanding that the different re- ligious sects represented by the proprietors should occupy it their respective shares of the time.

There was great embarrassment in finishing this house. At length Mr. Robert Bradford took the job and received his pay in pews, so that he came to be the chief proprietor.

There does not seem to have been any church or- ganization till 1842. In this year, after a revival under the labors of Rev. L. Harrington, there was a Reformed Methodist Church, of thirteen members, organized,-Robert Bradford, Mehitable Bradford, Abner Kittridge, Mary Kittridge, Joseph Gage, Na- than Gage, Mehitable Gage, Simon B. Webster, Relief J. Webster, Olive Gage, Charles Butler, Nathaniel Chase, Sarah Kittridge.

637

PELHAM.

The Rev. Isaac Dunham became their pastor. Under the lead of Mr. Dunham, in 1844, a larger meeting-house was built. After a pastorate of some five years Mr. Dunham was succeeded by Rev. John M. Durgin, a Free-Will Baptist. Mr. Durgin was a man of many fine qualities. There was a rich vein of humor in his make-up. Many of his bright say- ings are still quoted. He taught school in connec- tion with his ministry and is pleasantly remembered by his pupils. He was succeeded, in 1858, by Rev. T. P. Moulton. At this time the church was admitted to the Boston Quarterly Meeting of Free-Will Bap- tists, and received the name of the Free-Will Baptist Church of Pelham and Salem. Mr. Moulton was succeeded, in 1856, by Rev. Tobias Foss. He was succeeded, in 1859, by Rev. S. M. Weeks, who left in the spring of 1861. For a few years there was no stated preaching. In 1867, Mr. Foss returned to town, and by his efforts preaching was resumed. In January, 1868, Rev. N. C. Lathrop became pastor, and remained till April, 1870. In 1872, Rev. Jonathan Woodman became pastor; but the strength of this church and society had been seriously impaired by the formation of churches at Salem Depot and the removal of families influential in the support of public worship. Mr. Woodman rendered most valuable service for a few years ; but his age- nearly eighty-and calls of duty elsewhere led him to resign the charge. There was a fitness that a re- ligious organization that had been productive of so much good should have terminated its mission with the labors of such a noble Christian man as Elder Jonathan Woodman.

EPISCOPAL METHODIST .- In 1859-60 there was a deep religious interest in connection with the labors of Rev. Matthew M. Parkhurst, who was boarding in the town for the recuperation of his health. Some of the converts, with others who had a preference for the Methodists, applied to Conference for a minister, and a church was constituted. The preachers who successively served them were Rev. Albert N. Fisher, Rev. Amos B. Russell, Rev. Charles Newell. Mr. Newell left for another field in the latter part of 1863. The friends did not deem it expedient to have an- other appointment. The membership of the church was transferred to the church in Methuen, quite a portion of whom have since connected themselves with the Congregational Church by letter.

MEETING-HOUSES .- At a town-meeting September 3, 1746, " it was voted to build a meeting-house in the centre of Land in this town, or the most con- venient place." October 27th the report of the com- mittee to find the centre was accepted, and the previous vote re-enacted with the specification, " the house to be twenty-eight feet in length and twenty-four feet in width." But the location was not satisfactory, for November 19th it was voted "to choose three good men from out of town to come and state a place for a meeting-house." Captain Henry Baldwin, Ensign

William Richardson, Daniel Gage, Amos Richardson and Hezekiah Hamblet were chosen a committee " to carry on the work in building the meeting-house," and the sum of twelve pounds, old tenor, was voted to defray the charge of said house. This house must have been a rude structure. March 6, 1748, " Voted, to buy the Nottingham West Meeting-House of Mr. Merrill."

April 10, 1749, a committee was chosen to take down the meeting-house and bring it to Pelham by a work-rate of twenty shillings per day, and any who were delinquent in work were, if warned, to pay twenty shillings, old tenor, for every day ofdelinquency. " £120, old tenor, were voted to defray the charges in this business," and the town " Voted, to set the meet- ing-house 18 rods from where the meeting-house now stands."

But notwithstanding these decisive votes, nothing was done ; for, October 2, 1751, it was voted to bring the meeting-house to Pelham and " set it up." After passing and rescinding several votes, it was finally agreed " to set the house on the two acres of land that Mr. Furgerson had negotiated with the town about." This was probably near where the new meeting-house stands. October 16th it was voted "to board and shingle the meeting-house with convenient speed," and also that any one might furnish material "at reasonable rates,-" indicating that the house was moved and an earnest effort was being made to get it in readiness for worship the coming winter. There was a work-rate at fifteen shillings per day, old tenor.

November 6, 1752, it was voted "to allow pew- grounds in the meeting-house, on the lower floor, round the walls, to thirteen highest payers on the list being inhabitants of the town. They were to build for the town a handsome or decent pulpit, with a canopy over it ; also a deacon's seat." The men were to obligate themselves to sit in these pews with their families till they were filled, and if they did not in- cline to take these pews, then the next highest in their course to take them. It was also voted "to grant four pews more in the two hind seats on the lower floor of said meeting-house, men and women side, to four men, the highest according to the above said votes ; " " provided they will make three doors to said meeting-house, and to hang them with good iron hinges and latches, decently, and be durable doors, made of good boards," and a committee was chosen " to see when the said pulpit and deacon's seat and doors are to be made and completed."

September 27, 1753, the town voted to raise three hundred pounds, old tenor, for the committee to use in finishing the meeting-house; also that they should take the money then in the collector's hands. They were authorized to buy a box of glass " to glaze the meeting-house," and to build the body seats; also " to take out the middle post on the back side of the meeting-house in order to build a handsome pulpit and provide for handsome pillars for said house."

638

HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

This house was used as the meeting-house till 1785, when the present town-house was built. Everything in its finish must have been very plain. It had no comforts. The seats were hard. There was nothing to soften the light or mitigate the heat of the sum- mer's sun. Nor was there anything to relieve the cheerlessness and cold of winter. And still the whole population came together in winter and summer and remained through the protracted services. There can be no question but this was an influential factor in the formation of the institutions of the town.

The following is copied from the record-books of the builders of the present town-house.

"February 10, 1785.

" At A meeting of a Number of the Inhabitants of the Town of Pel- ham, they Agreed to Build a Meeting-House in Pelham by Proprietors. Voted that the following Articals Should be ofered to the inhabitants of the Town of Pelham to see who would sign for building sd House, viz. : " We, the subscribers, being sensible of the unhappy situation we are in at Present with Regard to a Comfortable and decent Place for Publick worship, and the Meeting-house, in our Opinion, is not worth repairing, we hereby manifest our desire to Build a Meeting-house by subscription, and wish that every man that is a well-wisher to the Cause of Religion and the Credit of the Town would Subscribe what they will give towards Building a New Meeting-house, and, as soon as a Sufficient Sum shall be Subscribed, Call a Proprietors' meeting and Conclude on what Method we will take for Building the same."

At a town-meeting, June 7, 1785, it was voted "to give liberty to set a meeting-house on the com- mon near the old meeting-house, which meeting- house is now prepairing for building by propri- etorship." This house was not finished for some years, but was probably soon used for public wor- ship and town-meetings, as, May 27, 1789, it was voted to sell the old meeting-house "at public vendue, in such a way and manner as shall be thought most likely to fetch its full value, in order to pay the town debts with the same," and a committee was appointed for this purpose.

It is a tradition that the year 1785 was remarkable for the depth of snow, and that the timber for the frame of this meeting-house was cut in April, and the snow was so hard that the timber was hanled over stone walls and other kinds of fence. About this time there was a meeting-house built by the " Pole Parish," and situated in front of the David Cutter house. In the town records this is designated as the Little Meeting-House, and the proprietors' meeting- house as the Great Meeting-House. Upon the dismis- sal of Mr. Moody and the union of the two parishes, the town purchased the meeting-houses.

March 26, 1793, it was " Voted, To sell the Little Meeting-House and the land where it stands." James Gibson, Esq., Joshua Atwood, Josiah Gage, Esq., were chosen a committee to make the sale; but they did not sell it, as, December 22, 1794, it was voted to sell the Little Meeting-House. This house is said to have been moved to the spot where the parsonage now stands, and used for a store, with a hall over the store. Deacon Jeremiah Tyler owned it many years. He traded in the store. The hall was known as Tyler's !

Hall, and was used for singing-schools and religious meetings.

January 7, 1793, it was " Voted, That the propri- etors of the old meeting-house should receive their full pay when the pews are sold,"-viz., the pews in the new meeting-house. " Voted, To choose a com- mittee of five persons to make a settlement between the parishes,-Messrs. Jacob Butler, Jr., Nehemiah Butler, Captain Eliphelet Hardy, Lieutenant Thomas Spofford, Lieutenant John Ferguson." " Voted, To choose a committee to see what method is best to be taken towards finishing the meeting-house, and bring in their report next meeting." The committee were "Dr. Aaron Grosvenor, Lieutenant John Ferguson, James Gibson, Esq." But the finishing of the Great Meeting-House hangs. There are many propositions, but none on which a majority agree. The subject was brought before town-meetings in July, 1793, and in August, 1794, and in each instance dismissed. But, December 22, 1794, " Voted, To finish the inside of the meeting-house in the manner prescribed by the committee chosen for that purpose." " Voted, To sell the pews in said meeting-house at public vendue." " Voted, To sell the finishing of said meeting-house at public sale." " Voted, That said meeting-house shall be finished by the 1st day of Novembor next." There is a spirit of determination in these votes that assures something will be done. But though the purpose is to have no set-back, the plan is to be changed. Janu- ary 19, 1795, these votes were reconsidered. Then it was " Voted, That Captain Jesse Smith be a committee, with full power to receive money and finish the meet- ing-house by the 1st day of November next." Also " Voted, That Lieutenant John Ferguson be an assistant committee with Captain Jesse Smith for finishing the meeting-house."

This action was final ; Captain Smith and Lieuten- ant Ferguson were the men to execute it, and the job of ten years' lingering and uncertainty is completed by them in a single season and at the specified time. At this same town-meeting the selectmen ordered the sale of the pews.

December 8th, the account of the committee to finish the meeting-house was received, and they were allowed five shillings per day for their services.

March 7, 1796, " Voted, that the money which was left in finishing the meeting- house shall be loaned to keep the meeting-house in repair." " Voted, that Amos Moody, Esq., Captain Asa Richardson, be a committee to take said money and make the best use of it they can for the advantage of the town." But though the house, with its square pews and high galleries, was considered finished, there were improvements proposed from time to time. March 5, 1797, " Voted, to purchase a eushion for the pulpit and a curtain for the pulpit windows, to build a cupboard in the lower part of the pulpit and to lay some gravel by the un- derpining of the meeting-house." March, 1803, the town voted not to purchase a bell and build a steeple.

639

PELHAM.

July 2, 1804, voted not to build a portico over the front door. September, 1805, the town again voted not to build a portico. In October of this year, " Voted, not to build a belfry and steeple to the east end of their meeting-house." These votes indicate that there was a minority of public-spirited, progres- sive men in town.

In presenting the growth and development of the town, it is necessary to thus sketch the history of the meeting-house; for it was about the meeting-house that the New England town grew, and the history of a New England town cannot be written without the recognition of this central fact.

There are in the records a few plain, homely things that are very suggestive. They have a sweet touch of nature and charm by their simple beauty. In the study of the history of the town, the first meeting- house, the meeting-house bought of Mr. Merrill, the house moved from Nottingham West, the old meeting- house, must be kept continually in view. Every- thing associated with that house reveals some feature in the life and character of the early inhabitants. Little incidents connected with it mirror those plain and frugal homes. In some thought for it, some pro- vision for its care, the subtle, golden chain of faith is traced, that steadied their lives heavenward. In such items as the following there is a resurrection of the past, and scenes of one hundred and forty years ago appear vivid and fresh as the life of this day : "March ye 1, 1756, voted Jabesh Gage £10, old tenor, for boarding workman at the meeting-house." " Voted, Amos Richardson 01-15-0, old tenor, forsweeping the meeting-house." "Chose Joseph Butler, Levi Hil- drith, John Butler, James Gilmore and Amos Gage for seating the meeting-house." " Voted, to leave it to the committee to dignity the seats as they see fit."

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 152

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1168

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1168