History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 17

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1520

USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 17
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 17

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).

Thia Moonment ia

in memory of

SAMUEL BRADLEY,

JONATHAN BRADLEY,

OBADIAH PETERS,

JOHN BEAN AND

JOHN LUFKIN,

Who were massacred Aug. 11, 1746,

by the Indiana.

Erected, 1837, by Richard Bradley, son

of the Hon. Joho Bradley, and

grandson of Samuel Bradley."

CHAPTER II. CONCORD-(Continued).

ECCLESIASTICAL IIISTORY.

First Congregational Church-South Congregational Church-Congrega- tional Church, East Concord-Congregational Church, West Concord -Congregational Church, Penacook-Unitarian Church-St. Paul's Church-Universaliat Church-First Methodist Episcopal Church- Baker Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church-Methodist Church, Pen- acook-First Baptist Church-Pleasant Street Baptist Church-Free- Will Baptist Church- Baptist Church, Penacook-St. John the Evau- gelist Roman Catholic Church-Catholic Church, Penacook.

First Congregational Church.1-The history of the First Congregational Church in Concord runs parallel with that of the town. At a meeting in Andover, Mass., February 8, 1726, the proprietors of the town voted to build a block-house, which should serve the double purpose of a fort and a meeting- house. The first public assembly in the township was one for public worship, held May 15, 1726, and composed of a committee of the General Court, sur- veyors and some of the proprietors who had arrived two days before. Rev. Enoch Coffin led the service in their camp. Early in 1727 the first family moved into town and Rev. Bezaleel Toppan was employed to preach one year.

Rev. Messrs. Toppan and Coffin, both proprietors of the town, were employed to preach till October 14, 1730, when it was resolved to establish a permanent ministry. Rev. Timothy Walker was at once called to be the minister of the town. A council met No- vember 18, 1730, in a small log building "in this remote part of the wilderness," and organized a church of nine members, and Rev. Timothy Walker was installed its pastor.

The church was orthodox and stable in its faith, and during the ministry of Mr. Walker-fifty-two years-it was united and prosperous. Strong in the confidence and affection of the people, the pastor actively opposed anything that threatened division in the church or the town. It is not possible to state accurately the growth of the church during this period, as the records are incomplete. No continnous record is found after 1736, and the names of those who owned the covenant are gathered, only in part, from entries made in his diary. The names of only one hundred and twenty-seven who united with the church are known, though many more must have been received, for at the pastor's death one hundred and twenty members were living.

Rev. Timothy Walker was a native of Woburn, Mass., and was graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1725, His salary at settlement was one hundred pounds, to increase forty shillings per annum till it reached one hundred and twenty pounds; also the use of parsonage. He died suddenly, Sunday morning, September 1, 1782, aged seventy-seven years.

1 By Rev. F. D. Ayer.

HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

The deep impress of this early ministry has never been effaced, and the influence of Mr. Walker, to a large degree, decided the moral tone and habits of the town. For more than half a century his clear convictions and bold utterances directed the thought of the early settlers. He served the town as well as the church. His wise counsel and judicious action in relation to every matter of public interest were of great benefit to the people and made him their leader. Three times he visited England as agent for the town to confirm its endangered rights, and was enabled to make secure forever the claims and privi- leges of the settlers.

Nearly seven years now passed without a stated ministry. Rev. Israel Evans was called by both the church and the town to settle as minister September 1, 1788, and was installed pastor July 1, 1789. His ministry continued eight years. No records of the church for this period can be found. There were one hundred and twenty-four members of the church at the close of this ministry.

Mr. Evans was a native of Pennsylvania, and was graduated at Princeton College, 1772. He was or- dained chaplain in the United States army at Phila- delphia in 1776. He resigned his pastorate July 1, 1797, but resided in town till his death, at the age of sixty years, March 9, 1807.

The church, without delay, chose to the pastorate Rev. Asa McFarland, and the town concurring in the choice, he was installed March 7, 1798.

The growth of the church was, from this time, rapid and steady. Seasons of deep religious interest blessed it, and four hundred and twenty-nine were added to the membership. His ministry continued twenty-seven years aud closed March 23, 1825.

Rev. Asa McFarland, D.D., was born in Worcester, Mass., April 19, 1769. He was graduated at Dart- mouth College in 1793. He died, by paralysis, Sun- day morning, February 18, 1827, in the fifty-eighth year of his age. He possessed a vigorous mind, was sound in judgment and diligent in action. His perso- nal character and position secured to him a wide influ- ence in the State, and eighteen discourses, delivered by him on public occasions, were published.

The council which dismissed Dr. McFarland, March 23, 1825, installed as his successor Rev. Nathaniel Bouton. Bible classes and Sunday-schools were organized in different parts of the town, and the assembly of the people in the single place of worship was large and united in spirit.

In connection with the meeting of the General Association of New Hampshire in 1831, a deep work of grace began. Soon the whole people felt its power and more than a hundred were added to the church. In the following years "protracted meetings" were frequently held and always useful. Large accessions were received in 1834, 1836, 1842 and 1843. During the forty-two years of Dr. Bouton's ministry seven hundred and seventy-two were added to the church.

For years the church grew with the town, but in 1833 it was called to a new experience. The very prosperity and growth of the town, the religious habits of the people, the great spiritual harvests that had been gathered made necessary the provision of new and other accommodations for worship.

The residents of the West Parish, living on an average nearly five miles from the meeting-house, decided that they ought to seek greater conveniences for worship and build a house unto the Lord. A house was built and eighty-eight members of this church were dismissed and organized into the West Parish Church, April 22, 1833.

The old house was soon full again and the church membership five hundred and thirty-nine. The vil- lage growing towards the south, the brethren thus located erected a church edifice and sixty-seven members were dismissed. Bearing with them letters and the love and prayer of the mother-church, these were organized into the South Church February 1, 1837.

March 30, 1842, forty-four members having been dismissed, were organized into the East Church.

All these were dismissed and the churches organ- ized, prompted by love to Christ and His cause, and the mother-church gave many of her devoted and useful members with regret at the parting, but every one with her blessing. True were the words of the pastor, that "the church history of New England does not furnish a parallel to this experience of three churches going out from a single church within ten years without so much as a ripple of discord."

Besides these losses, a large number was dismissed to the churches of other denominations which were organized here, and thus began to be realized the change that had come over the community, as from one great congregation, gathered weekly at the same place from all parts of the town, there were now different congregations, and the people were no longer one assembly in the delightful service of worship. All this had affected the strength and relations of the church, but in harmony and under the favor of God it went on prospering and continued to be a positive and aggressive power for good.

Rev. Dr. Bouton resigned his pastorate at his forty- second anniversary, March 23, 1867. He did this under the conviction that the changes in the people and in all about the church might be met best by a change in its ministry, and that he might accept another office. His love to the people, as their love to him, was unabated. Few men have been permitted to fill a pastorate so happy and useful as was this; few have transmitted one to a successor under such a wealth of affection as, from this whole city, had been won by the years of faithful Christian labor.

Rev. Nathaniel Bouton, a native of Norwalk, Conn., was graduated at Yale College in 1821. Not only was he a faithful minister, but a citizen of valued influence, who bore for more than a genera-

CONCORD.

tion an active part in all that advanced the weal of the people, both at home and abroad.

He was a friend of learning and its institutions, and performed an amount of intellectual work that alone would have marked his long life as busy. Thirty-four of his sermons and addresses were published, and many articles written for periodicals. In 1856 he published the "History of Concord." Five other vol- umes are from his pen. He was appointed to the office of State historian in 1866. To the duties of this office he devoted himself with fidelity and zeal for eleven years, and compiled ten volumes of the Provincial and State Papers.

In the ecclesiastical bodies of the State and the benevolent organizations of the land he bore an active part. Industry, fidelity, system were his. With the completion of his historical work his labor seemed done. He attended church service on the fifty-third anniversary of his settlement, but was una- ble to preach, as had been his annual custom. He died June 6, 1878, aged seventy-nine years.

Soon after the resignation of Dr. Bouton a call to this pastorate was extended to Rev. Franklin D. Ayer, a native of St. Johnsbury, Vt., a graduate of Dartmouth College, 1856, and of Andover Theological Seminary, 1859. He was installed pastor by the council that dismissed Rev. N. Bouton, D.D., Sep- tember 12, 1867.

The church, so long used to the ways of the vener- able pastor, welcomed the new one, and have labored unitedly with him. The church has been blessed with seasons of revival, and during the present pas- torate two hundred have been added to the church, making the total number uniting to the present time, one thousand six hundred and fifty-three.

The one hundred and fiftieth anniversary was observed November 18, 1880. Historical Discourse, by Rev. F. D. Ayer ; History and Description of our Four Meeting-Houses, by Hon. Joseph B. Walker ; History of the Sunday-School, by John C. Thorn; History of Music, by William G. Carter, M.D.

This church has taken a positive and decided part in all the great moral reforms of the past years. It has lived in peace at home, in hearty fellowship and co-operation with churches of other denominations, and has exerted, both in this community and the State, a controlling influence. From its location, its pastors and its efficient membership have had much to do with the ecclesiastical gatherings and the benev- olent societies of the State and the land. It has borne its full share in the great benevolent enter- prises of the day, and its contributions have been constant and generous.

It has given to benevolent objects during the past fifty years $48,000, for the support of worship not less than $85,000, and more than $80,000 for houses of worship and parsonage.

The Sunday-school was organized in 1818, and has always been well attended.

The houses of worship demand a separate notice. The first meeting-house was built of logs in 1727, and was occupied twenty-seven years. The second was that so long known as the "Old North." The main body of the house was built in 1751. In 1783 it was com- pleted with porches and spire, and in 1802 enlarged so as to furnish sittings for twelve hundred people, and a bell was placed in the tower. Central in its location, it was for a long time the only place for public worship in town, and was used by this church for ninety years. It served the State also. In this house the Convention of 1778 met "to form a perma- nent plan of government for the State." The first time the Legislature met in Concord, March 13, 1782, it assembled in this house, and not less than fifteen sessions of the General Court was held here. Here, with religious services, in 1784, the new State Consti- tution was first introduced ; and here, too, in June, 1788, the Federal Constitution was adopted, by which New Hampshire became one of the States of the Union. This being the ninth State to adopt the Con- stitution, that vote made it binding upon the United States. Many of the political gatherings, historic in the State, were held in this house. After another church was built, 1842, this was used by the Method- ist Biblical Institute till 1866. When it was de- stroyed by fire, on the night of November 28, 1870, there passed from sight the church building which had associated with it more of marked and precious history than with any other in the State.

As the church was about leaving the "Old North" as a house of worship, it was voted to invite all the churches formed from this to unite in a special religious service. These farewell services were held Thursday and Friday, October 27 and 28, 1842. On Friday afternoon, after a sermon by the pastor, about five hundred and fifty communicants of the four churches sat down at the table of the Lord. "It was a season of tender and affectionate interest. Many wept at the thought of separation from the place where they and their fathers had worshiped."

So happy was the effect of this meeting that the next year one of like character was held in the New North Church on November 18th. Since that time an annual meeting of the Congregational Churches in Concord has been held, and the meetings have been precious seasons of Christian union and fellowship.

The third house of worship, situated on the corner of Main aud Washington Streets, was dedicated No- vember 23, 1842. It was enlarged in 1848, and de- stroyed by fire June 29, 1873. A chapel was erected in 1858, and enlarged in 1868.

The fourth and present house of worship was erected on the site of the third, and dedicated March 1, 1876. It was paid for as built, and is a beautiful and com- modious church building. The total cost of it was $50,883.36. A new chapel, connecting with the church, was completed and opened with appropriate services January 20, 1884.

HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

In grateful memory of the relation of his parents and family to this church, William Abbott, Esq., gave two thousand five hundred dollars towards the erec- tion of this building, which is called " Abbott Me- morial Chapel," and the people promptly added to this sum five thousand dollars more, which com- pleted it.

The present officers of the church are : Pastor, Rev. Franklin D. Ayer, installed September 12, 1867; Deacons, John Ballard, Edward A. Moulton, Andrew S. Smith, Robert G. Morrison.

The things to be noted in this history of more than one hundred and fifty years are : 1. That there have been but five pastors, and that all but the surviving one have died and been buried among this people. The church has not been without a pastor for an hour since 1798. 2. The church has lived in peace and grown. It has never had a serious misunderstanding or called for the advice of council on account of diffi- culty. It has called but one council for sixty years. 3. It has paid its bills as it went on, and kept free from debt. 4. " The Lord hath been mindful of us."

South Congregational Church .- The first meeting of individuals for the purpose of forming a religious society was held at the house of Mr. Asaph Evans, May 9, 1835. Samnel Fletcher was chairman and Amos Wood secretary. At this meeting a committee was appointed, who purchased a lot of land at the corner of Main and Pleasant Streets, for twelve hundred dollars, as the site for a meeting-house. At an ad- journed meeting it was voted to form a religious body, to be known as the "South Congregational Society." Also a constitution and by-laws had been prepared, and a committee of seven had been procured, who were to build the church edifice. On the 1st day of August, 1835, the constitution and by-laws were adopted, and thirty names were signed thereto as members of the new society.

In the summer of 1836 a new church building was erected on the lot purchased for that purpose by the committee of seven. It was of wood, seventy-seven by sixty-four feet, with two stores and a vestry on the first floor, with the church edifice on the second floor, and cost, with the land, about ten thousand dollars. The house was dedicated on the 1st day of February, 1837, in the afternoon. The pews were sold in the afternoon. In the evening of the 1st day of February, 1837, the South Congregational Church was organized with sixty-seven members, all from the First Congregational Church in Concord, as follows :

Thomas Chadbourne, Clarissa [Green] Chadbourne (Thomas), Joho B. Chandler, Sarah Chandler (Timothy) Ruth [Wilson] Chickering (El- liott), Abigail Clement (Joshna), Esther W. Currier (Ira H.), M. A. H. Estabrook (Wm. W.), Asaph Evaos, Almira B. Evans (Asaph), Samuel Evans, Sarah C. Evans (Samnel), Samuel Evana, Jr., Henry Farley, Mary T. [Farley] Colburn, Martha O. Farrand, William Fisk, Margaret C. Fisk (William), Samuel Fletcher, Naocy B. Fletcher (Sanmel), Ruth W. Fletcher, Eliza M. Fletcher (Daniel H.), Lydia French (Theodore), Hannah Gould (Nathan), Georgo Hutchins, Sarah R. [Tucker] Hutchins (George), Betsy Hoit (William), Charlotte M. [Hurd] Davidson, George Kent, Lucia A. Keot (George), David Kimball, Elizabeth E. Kimball,

(David), Mary Ann Kimball, Faony A. Low (Joseph), Grace G. Low (William), Clarissa J. [Chase] McFarland (Asa), Mary Mills (Charles), Emily Moore (J. W.), Asa Morrill, John Niles, Olive Niles (John), Betsy [Robinson] Osgood (David), Caleb Parker, Abigail D. Parker (Caleb), Lucy Robinson (Josiah), Mercy G. Robinson, Benjamin Rolfe, Sarah H. [Sargent] Pillsbury (Parker), Samuel Shute, M. H. Tenney (David), Roswell W. Turoer, Elijah Tuttle, Haonab S. Tuttle (Elijah), Zurviah Tuttle (Jesse C.), Mary J. [Tuttle] Tarlton (John), Sarah S. Tuttle, Nathaniel G. Upham, Eliza W. [Buroham] Upham (Nathaniel G.), Han- nah Upham (Ephraim), Philip Watson, Mary W. Watson (Philip), Susao Weeks (John), James Weeks, Mary L. Weeka (James), Sarah S. Wilson (Thomaa), Amos Wood, Louisa W. Wood (Amos).

In March, 1837, the church and society extended a call to Rev. Daniel J. Noyes, then tutor in Dartmouth College, to become pastor. This invitation was ac- cepted, and Mr. Noyes, a graduate of Dartmouth and of Andover Theological Seminary, was ordained and installed May 3, 1837,-sermon by Rev. Dr. Bouton, of the North Church. Mr. Noyes had a very successful pastorate of twelve and a half years, to November, 1849, when he resigned to accept a profes- sorship in Dartmouth College.

Rev. Henry E. Parker, of Keene, who was then preaching at Eastport, Me., commenced his pastorate in April, 1850, but was not installed until May 14, 1851,-sermon by Rev. Nathan Lord, D.D., president of Dartmouth College. In 1857 the meeting-house was repaired and improved, but in 1859 (June 12th) it was totally consumed by fire, with no insurance. Public services were held in Phoenix Hall until No- vember, 1860. After much discussion, the society purchased the property on Pleasant Street, many years occupied by the Hon. William A. Kent, as the site for their new house of worship. A building com- mittee was appointed, and work was commenced on the foundations in the fall of 1859. The corner-stone was laid, with appropriate exercises, May 3, 1860, and the house was completed and dedicated Novem- ber 27, 1860. The house, land, furnaces, stoves and bell cost twenty-four thousand five hundred and forty-five dollars. Mr. Parker's pastorate of nearly sixteen years was attended by the most salutary results. He had leave of absence on two occasions, --- from June, 1861, to August, 1862, when he was chaplain of the Second New Hampshire Volunteers, and from September, 1865, to February, 1866, when he went on a European excursion. He resigned while abroad, and a council held in March, 1866, after his return, dissolved his relation with the church and society.

There was no installed pastor of the church from March, 1866, to January, 1869. Rev. William F. V. Bartlett, of Brooklyn, N. Y., was called, and accepted conditionally ; but his health failing, he was not in- stalled, though he preached for more than a year, up to May, 1867. In 1868 an invitation was extended to Rev. Mr. Hamilton, of North Andover, Mass., and a little later to Rev. John V. Hilton, of North Bridge- water, Mass., both of whom declined.

But the society was not inactive in the mean time. The house of worship, as first constructed, had no galleries. In 1867 all the slips were occupied, and

CONCORD.

there seemed to be a call for more room. To provide this additional space, the plan of erecting galleries was suggested. The consent of the society being ob- tained, galleries containing forty slips were built by twenty-five gentlemen, members of the society known as the Gallery Association. There was no organ in the church until 1868, but in the summer of that year the society purchased the one now used, at an expense of four thousand dollars. About twelve hundred dollars more was expended in repairs and improvements on the house and chapel.

In December, 1868, the church and society ex- tended a call to Rev. Silas L. Blake, of Pepperell, Mass., to become pastor. This call was accepted, and the services of the pastor-elect commenced the first Sabbath of January, 1869. He was installed on the 27th of the same month, the sermon being de- livered by the Rev. Professor Park, of Andover Theo- logical Seminary. Mr. Blake's pastorate of nearly nine years proved very successful. Sunday, February 4, 1877, was observed as the fortieth anniversary of the formation of the church. In the morning the pastor preached a sermon giving an historical sketch of the material growth and prosperity of the church and society, and in the afternoon he gave a history of the spiritual growth and progress of the church during these forty years. In the morning he was as- sisted by Rev. Dr. Noyes, of Hanover, the first pastor, and Rev. Dr. Bouton, of Concord ; and in the after- noon Rev. Mr. Ayer, of the North Church, Concord, was also present, and assisted. In the evening Dr. Noyes and Dr. Bouton occupied the time in most in- teresting and profitable personal reminiscences. The house was crowded, and the occasion was one of great interest. In the fall of 1877 Mr. Blake, having re- ceived a call to become pastor of a church in Cleve- land, Ohio, resigned, and he was dismissed by council October 14, 1877.

Rev. Dr. Wallace, of Manchester, was employed to preach regularly in the church for some six months after Mr. Blake's departure, and continued until another pastor was called. At the close of his services the church passed resolutions expressive of their deep appreciation of his faithful services, and of their affectionate personal regard.

In the spring of 1878 the church and society in- vited the Rev. Charles E. Harrington, of Lancaster, N. H., to become their pastor, which call was ac- cepted. He began his labors in March, and was in- stalled by council April 18, 1878, Professor William M. Barbour, D.D., of Yale College, preaching the sermon.

April 19, 1882, Brother Franklin Evans gave the church two hundred dollars " as a nucleus for a fund" to aid the needy members of the church and congregation. This was in memory of his late wife, Mrs. Sarah E. Evans. The church took action on this subject, and the result was that a society was formed of the members of the church, known as the

South Church Relief Society, for the purpose of accumulating a fund, the income of which should be applied to the aforesaid charitable object.

Mr. Harrington's pastorate, although short, was a profitable one. He resigned his charge as pastor, and was dismissed by council August 31, 1882.

Rev. William H. Hubbard, of Merrimack, Mass., was called to be pastor in the spring of 1883, which call was accepted, and he was installed June 4, 1883, Rev. William J. Tucker, D.D., of Andover Theologi- cal Seminary, preaching the sermon. His resignation has been accepted to take effect September 30, 1885.

In October, 1883, the National Council of Congre- gational Churches for the United States was holden in the South Congregational Church in Concord, the North Church uniting in making the arrangements and in entertaining the delegates. The council con- tinned nearly a week. The meetings, day and even- ing, were well attended, and were very interesting and profitable.

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 17

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1520

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1520