History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 18

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 18
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 18

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The interest of the Gallery Association has now been purchased by the society, so that now the society owns all those pews, and many others in the body of the house.

For nearly twenty years past the pew-holders have voted to assess a tax upon the pews to defray the larger part of the expense of supporting the gospel, but at their annual meeting in January, 1885, they refused to assess any tax upon the pews, so that hereafter all moneys for the support of the gospel must be raised by subscription until some better way can be devised.

Present membership of church, three hundred and eighty-four.

DEACONS.

Samuel Fletcher, elected May 25, 1837.

John Niles, elected May 25, 1837.

Amos Wood elected August 15, 1839.

David Kimball, elected March 3, 1842.

Epps Burnham, elected August 31, 1843.

Nathaniel Evans, elected August 31, 1843.

Asa McFarland, elected August 31, 1843.

Caleb Parker, elected August 31, 1843.

Joseph French, elected July 18, 1850.

George B. Chandler, elected November 4, 1852.

Greenough McQnesten, elected October 29, 1857.

Levi Liscom, elected December 31, 1837.

Hazen Pickering, elected December 30, 1863.

George G. Sanborn, elected December 30, 1863.

William H. Allison, elected July 5, 1872.

Charles W. Harvey, elected July 5, 1872.

Charles Kimball, elected Jannary 28, 1875.

Albert S. Hammond, elected May 5, 1876.

Frank Coffin, elected January 31, 1879.

lIenry A. Mann, elected January 25, 1884.

William A Stone, elected February 8, 1884.

The South Congregational Church, Concord, has sustained a Mission Sunday-school near Richardson's Mills, about five miles east of the city, since 1870, a period of fifteen years, contributing some one hun- dred dollars per year, besides supplying them with teachers and a superintendent. It is called the Me- morial Sabbath-School. This school is in a prosper-

HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

ous condition, having an average of about one hundred members. There is a Union Church con- nected with this Sabbath-school, which was formed some ten or twelve years ago. The church has always been small, and numbers only about from twelve to fifteen members.

Congregational Church, East Concord,-This church was organized March 30, 1842, with forty-two members. Its history is thus related by Dr. Bouton :

In the year 1841 a new house for public worship was erected on the east side of the Merrimack River, principally by members of the First Congregational Church and Society there residing. In March, 1842, a request was presented to the First Church, signed by forty-four members residing in that part of the town, requesting letters of dismission and recommen- dation, for the purpose of being organized into a new church, which request was granted. The East Con- gregational Church was organized by a council of neighboring churches on the 30th of March, 1842, and Rev. Timothy Morgan, from the Theological Seminary at Gilmanton, was engaged to supply the pulpit. Mr. Morgan continued his labors about a year. Rev. Hiram Freeman was next invited to settle, and was ordained September 27, 1843, and was dismissed in June, 1845. March 24, 1847, Rev. Win- throp Fifield was installed pastor. Mr. Fifield con- tinued his services about three years. June 25, 1851, Rev. Henry A. Kendall was installed pastor, who continued until May 1, 1858. His successors as pas- tors and acting pastors have been as follows : Revs. E. O. Jones, A. O. Baker, Norton Smith, George Smith, H. R. Hawes, A. Burnham, W. G. Schoppe, C. L. Tappan, A. F. Dunnels and James T. Pyke. The latter was installed pastor October 16, 1874.

Congregational Church, West Concord .- The first church edifice was completed and dedicated January 15, 1833. The building was of wood, sixty-three by forty-three feet, with a projection of three feet in front, and cost two thousand dollars.

The formal organization of the church occurred April 22, 1833. with eighty-nine members dismissed from the North Congregational Church for the pur- pose. On the same day Rev. Asa P. Tenney was installed pastor and so continued until his death, March 1, 1867, a term of thirty-three years and eight months. During his pastorate three hundred and eleven were added to the church. His salary ever remained at four hundred and fifty dollars per year. After the death of Mr. Tenney the pulpit was supplied for one year by Rev. Dr. Bouton.

Mr. Hiram B. Putnam supplied the pulpit from August 9, 1868; was installed October 28, 1868; re- signed and dismissed December 15, 1873.

Rev. Irving D. Adkinson supplied the pulpit from March 1, 1874; was installed May 6, 1874, and con- tinued until his death, February 25, 1875.

Mr. John W. Colwell supplied the pulpit from June, 1875; was ordained September 22, 1875; in-

stalled February 28, 1877; dismissed April, 1879, and during his pastorate fifty-seven were added to the church.

Rev. Cyrus M. Perry supplied the pulpit as acting pastor from July, 1879, to July, 1882.

Mr. Charles B. Strong was ordained as pastor Sep- tember 6, 1882; resigned July 13, 1884, and dismissed March 30, 1885.

The church is at present (April, 1885) supplied by C. H. Roper, of Andover Theological Seminary.

DEACONS .- Abiel Rolfe, from 1833 until his death, in 1840; held the same office in North Church pre- viously, from 1811 to 1833. Ira Rowell, from 1833 to 1875 ; resigned on account of extreme feebleness ; died 1876 ; held same office in North Church previously, from 1829 to 1833. H. Runnels, from 1840 until his death, in 1859. From 1859 until 1875, Deacon Rowell was the only deacon. Stephen Carleton, from 1876 until his death, in 1884. Edward S. Barrett, from 1876 to present time. Cyrus Runnels, from 1876 to present time.

This first church was burned September 21, 1879, after having been thoroughly repaired, at a cost of fiteen hundred dollars. A new church was imme- diately commenced, built of granite and cost fifteen thousand dollars, and was dedicated June 14, 1871.

Penacook Congregational Church. - The Con- gregational Church in Penacook was organized No- vember 6, 1850. Rev. Mr. Knight and other ministers were employed as preachers till 1857, when Rev. Albert William Fiske was installed pastor May 20th, and re- mained in that relation till October 16th, 1836.

The second pastor, Rev. William R. Jewett, was installed September 16, 1863, and dismissed Septem- ber 10, 1874.

The third pastor, Rev. Marvin D. Bisbee, was installed September 10, 1874; dismissed April 10, 1877.

Rev. John H. Larry was installed December 21, 1882; dismissed May 15, 1883.

In 1876, Hon. John Kimball and Benjamin A. Kimball presented a bell to this church, which bears the following inscription :

" MEMORIAL BELL : PRESENTED TO THE CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY IN FISHERVILLE, N. H., JULY 4TH, 1876, BY JOHN AND BENJAMIN AMES KIMBALL, SONS OF THE LATE BENJAMIN KIMBALL OF BOSCAWEN. Let him that heareth say, Come."

Benjamin Kimball, whose name is inscribed thereon, was a native of Canterbury, born December 27, 1794, and remaining most of the time on the old home- stead, with his father, until he was about twenty-five years old. He resided for a time in Northfield, whence, in the spring of 1824, he removed with his family to Boscawen, and settled on High Street.

CONCORD.

Being inclined to mechanical rather than agri- cultural pursuits, and having made the acquaintance of Mr. John Clark - sometimes called "Boston John"-while at work on the new State-House in Concord, and other places, resolved to abandon his farm, and devote more of his time to mechanical labor. In 1824 he was employed by the late Nathaniel Rolfe to build a saw-mill on the site now occupied by Mr. Blanchard's Excelsior Factory, which was the only saw-mill ever erected on that spot.

It was here that he became acquainted with, and saw the advantages of, the great water-power on the Contoocook River. His means were small, but after the failure of Mr. Varney, who had commenced to improve the water-power here by building the upper dam, he sold his farm, and in the winter of 1829-30 bought of Hon. Jeremiah Mason, agent for the United States Bank, the property owned by Mr. Varney, which comprised all the water-power formerly and now owned by the Contoocook Company, the farm of Captain John Sawyer and the dwelling-house and lands now owned by the heirs of the late Ephraim Plummer and others.

He removed here with his family in November, 1830, and commenced immediately to make further improvement of the water-power by erecting a dam and building a grist-mill, which was successfully ac- complished at the close of the next year. He was a member of the Congregational Church at Boscawen Plain, and always took an active part in all that was essential to the general and religious welfare of the town. He died July 21, 1834, aged thirty-nine.

Unitarian Church.1-Early in the year 1827 several citizens of the town, who were dissatisfied with the Calvinistic doctrine preached in the churches of the place, met together, and, after consultation with each other, on the 4th day of April of that year, associated themselves together, agreeably to the laws of the State, under the name and title of the Second Congregational Society in Concord.

The formal organization took place, as we learn from the records, on the 8th day of August, 1827, at which time Richard Bartlett, Moses Eastman, Wil- liam Kent, Sampson Bullard, Stephen Brown, John Leach, Woodbury Brown, William M. Virgin, Elijah Mansur, Joseph Manahan, Washington Williams, James Wilcomb, Joseph C. West, Timothy Chandler, Benjamin Grover and William Francis met at the court-room in the old town-house, and organized by the election of Major Timothy Chandler as chairman, and William Kent clerk. Moses Eastman, Richard Bartlett and Jacob B. Moore were chosen a com- mittee to prepare by-laws and regulations for the society, and report at some subsequent meeting.

" Voted unanimously, That this society assume the powers and privileges of a corporation, under and

pursuant to an act of the Legislature passed July 3, 1827, entitled ' An act empowering religious associa- tions to assume and exercise corporate powers.'"

The clerk was directed to give public notice of the formation of the society, in the usual form. At an adjourned meeting, held August 25, 1827, a code of by-laws was reported by the committee chosen to pre- pare them, and accepted. At an adjourned meeting, held September 4, 1827, Moses Eastman, William Kent and Stephen Brown were elected a prudential committee, and Captain Jeremiah Pritchard treasurer. Thus the organization of the society was completed.

It being deemed desirable to secure preaching of the liberal faith so far as the means of the society would allow, Colonel William Kent visited Ports- mouth, and arranged with Rev. Dr. Parker, of that place, to come to Concord and preach two Sundays during the session of the Legislature in June. The use of the Representatives' Hall was secured for the services, and there, on the 17th day of June, 1827, was preached the first professedly Unitarian sermon ever delivered in Concord. The services (says Colonel Kent) were highly appreciated, and the audience was highly respectable in numbers. Dr. Parker preached at the same place on the following Sabbath.

A wish being expressed to hear more of the liberal preaching, Colonel Kent visited Boston, and secured the services of several pastors of Unitarian Churches in that city and the adjacent towns for a Sunday each, the court-room being secured as a place of meeting. Rev. Dr. Barrett, of Boston, commenced under this arrangement July 8, 1827, and was followed by Rev. Messrs. Gannett, Pierpont, Tuckerman, Whitman and Ware. Messrs. Christopher T. Thayer, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Moses G. Thomas then preached with reference to settlement.

April 3, 1828, the society voted to raise three hun- dred dollars, by tax on the members, for the support of preaching the ensuing year. Rev. Moses G. Thomas was ordained pastor February 25, 1829. On the same day, previous to the ordination, a church consisting of eight members was formed.

A minister having been secured, the want of a permanent place of worship was felt. To encourage the effort to erect a church, Hon. William A. Kent proposed, if a sum of money sufficient for its erection could be raised, to donate a piece of land to the society on which to build it.

After a thorough canvass, three thousand dollars, just one-half of the amount needed, was secured,-a liberal subscription for those times in a society few in numbers and of limited pecuniary means. In this emergency, Colonel William Kent was dispatched to Boston to solicit aid from the wealthy friends of the cause in that place. Spending a fortnight in the work, he succeeded, to his great satisfaction, in raising the amount required. This being done, measures were at once adopted to secure the accomplishment of the object so much desired.

1 Condensed from an able historical address prepared by Daniel F. Secomb.

HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

John Leach, Esq., a member of the society, was employed as master-builder, and under his direction the work went rapidly forward. The corner-stone was laid May 2, 1829, with appropriate services, and on the 11th of November following the church was dedicated " to the worship of the one living and true God." On this occasion the introductory prayer was offered by Rev. Ralph Waldo Emerson, the dedi- catory prayer by Rev. Mr. Parkman, and a discourse was delivered by the pastor, Rev. Moses G. Thomas.

The house thus dedicated stood on the spot occu- pied by the present edifice. After doing service as a place of religious worship for the space of nearly twenty-five years, it was destroyed by fire on the evening of November 2, 1854.

Measures were at once taken to replace the church edifice. Plans having been procured, the services of Henry M. Moore, as builder, were secured. The foundation was laid under the direction of Luther Roby, Esq., and the work went forward. In eighteen months, lacking one day, from the time of the fire, the new house was completed and dedicated.

January 14, 1834, " Voted, That the sum of seven hundred dollars annually be raised by the society for the next five years."

April 1, 1834, Jefferson Noyes was chosen li- brarian.

April 4, 1837, Simon Brown, since Lieutenant- Governor of Massachusetts, was elected clerk of the society, in place of Colonel William Kent, who had filled the office from its first organization. Mr. Brown left town shortly after, and at the annual meeting, held in April, 1838, Colonel Kent was again elected, serving until April 15, 1841. At the same meeting, " Voted, That R. H. Sherburne be requested to take a seat in the gallery a few Sundays, and apply a corrective to the boys." "Voted, That Mr. Thomas be released from his duties to the society for the term of four Sabbaths for the year 1837, at such time as he may desire, and that the society supply the desk during said term."

Mr. Thomas resigned January 28, 1844.

May 15, 1844 .- At a special meeting held this day, " Voled, That the society are so well pleased with Rev. Mr. Tilden, of Norton, Mass., as a preacher, as to en- gage him to supply the desk for three or six months ;" and the standing committee were directed to visit him and secure his services for the coming month of June.

April 1, 1845, an article having appeared in the Congregational Journal, entitled " Parkerism in Con- cord," reflecting somewhat severely on the opinions held and preached by Mr. Tilden, a series of resolu- tions expressing the confidence of the society in him as a preacher was introduced by Lewis Downing, Esq., and passed by a unanimous vote.

April 25, 1845, the prudential committee were authorized to procure the services of Rev. Mr. Tilden for one year from the 1st of July next.

April 7, 1846, Mr. Tilden having expressed a wish to terminate his connection with the society at the end of his present engagement, the society, believing that a misapprehension existed on his part in regard to the true state of feeling existing towards him, Voted unanimously, that it is their earnest desire that his resignation be withdrawn, and that he continue with them for the coming year."

Rev. Mr. Tilden's services as pastor, which com- menced in 1844, of the society closed July 1, 1847. He was never formally installed.

From this time forward, for more than two years, the desk was filled by various clergymen, Rev. Mr. Putnam officiating for several months, by temporary engagements.

Mr. Augustus Woodbury was ordained August 1, 1849.

July 27, 1851, "Voted, That an alteration be made in the gallery," and a committee was appointed to raise the money necessary to defray the expense of the same. At the same time, "Voted, That Mr. Wood- bury's salary be increased to eight hundred dollars per annum." Mr. Woodbury's connection with the society closed August 1, 1853.

Rev. Artemas B. Muzzey was installed March 29, 1854 The pastorate of Mr. Muzzey occurred during a time of trial to the society,-the destruction of the church edifice in the month of November following his settlement, and the building of the present one taxing their resources severely. But in all their efforts they met with the cheerful and hearty co-oper- ation of the pastor and the members of his family, whose services deserve a lasting and grateful remem- brance.

October 18, 1857, the prudential committee were authorized to invite Mr. Silas Farrington to preach to the society for one year; and the invitation being accepted, he was ordained early in the month of December following.

October 3, 1858, Mr. Farrington was requested to continue his services another year.

October 5, 1858, a legacy left the society by the late Timothy Walker, Esq., of twenty-one shares of stock in the Northern Railroad corporation, was accepted, and Benjamin Grover was appointed agent to receive and manage the same.

April 25, 1859, the society voted that the treas- urer be directed to sell and convey the railroad stock left the society by the late Timothy Walker, Esq., and invest the proceeds in the purchase of pews num- bered 21, 23, 30, 56, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71 and 73, in the church, the same to be owned by the society, and the rents received therefor to be appropriated annually to the support of preaching, agreeably to the provisions of the will of Mr. Walker.

December 25, 1859, Mr. Farrington was requested to continue as pastor another year.

November 25, 1860, Mr. Farrington resigned the office of pastor, the resignation to take effect January

CONCORD.

1, 1861, and his resignation was accepted by the soci- ety at a meeting held December 2, 1860.

For some time after the withdrawal of Mr. Farring- ton the desk was filled by such supplies as could be obtained, Rev. Liberty Billings among the number, who, without formal installation, officiated as minister for about two years, until, having received an appoint- ment as chaplain in the Fourth Regiment New Hamp- shire Volunteers, he resigned, and the desk was again left to be supplied by candidates.

December 27, 1863, Rev. T. J. Mumford received an invitation to take the pastoral charge, which he declined.

February 7, 1864, Rev. Junius L. Hatch was in- vited to become the minister of the society, which invi- tation was accepted, and he was installed in the month of June following.

June 24, 1865, difficulties having arisen between Mr. Hatch and the society, it was voted that the rela- tion existing between them be at once terminated, and the committee were directed to notify the minister of this action of the society.

January 23, 1866, the society voted that Rev. J. F. Lovering be invited to become their pastor, which invitation he accepted. The formal services of instal- lation took place February 27, 1866.

Mr. Lovering's labors with the society closed April 1, 1875, after having continued nine years. At that time the society voted him the use of the parsonage for the term of three months, free of rent. The resig- nation of Mr. Lovering opened the way for the employment of temporary supplies and candidates for a long time.

January 24, 1876, “ Voted, That the committee be instructed to extend an invitation to Rev. W. G. Todd to become the pastor for one year." The call was accepted, and Mr. Todd entered upon the duties of his office without any formal introduction. During this season the church was repainted, and some neces- sary repairs were made.

March 1, 1877, Mr. Todd retired.

November 24, 1877, an invitation was extended to Rev. Samuel C. Beane, of Salem, Mass., to assume the pastoral care of the society. The invitation was accepted, and the services of installation took place January 9, 1878, and he is the present pastor.

The church organized February 25, 1829, and re- ceived gradual accessions to the number of its mem - bers, from the first of whom, Miss Ellen Louisa Tucker, afterwards Mrs. Ralph Waldo Emerson, it received a present of a set of vessels for the commun- ion service.

On the 19th day of July, 1829, the first communion service was observed, prior to which, as we learn from the records, Brother William Kent was elected dea- con, and accepted the office. Although his resignation was once offered, its acceptance was refused by the church, and he remains to this day its senior deacon. His services in the formation of the society and

church entitle him to the grateful regard of the pres- ent members.

A Sunday-school connected with the society was organized by Colonel William Kent and others prior to the building of the first church edifice. Colonel Kent was for a long time its superintendent.

The Concord Female Benevolent Association was formed by ladies of the society, January 5, 1835, for the purpose of doing something towards relieving the wants and multiplying the comforts of the indi- gent and suffering members of the community.

Of the good done by these organizations, those who have been taught, and those whose wants have been relieved by them, can bear witness. Of the ladies who planned them, and by whose exertions they have been sustained, it may be truly said, their works praise them.

By the will of Lewis Downing, Esq., dated Decem- ber 27, 1872, the society after his death became, after deducting some small legacies, the recipient of one- sixth of the income of his estate annually, the same to be appropriated to the support of the preaching of the Christian religion as taught by the late Dr. Chan- ning,-the amount of the legacy being increased from time to time as the deaths of his children should occur, until at last the society should receive the income of two-thirds of the estate ; the balance, over two thousand dollars annually, to be devoted to the support of a minister-at-large of the Channing-Unita- rian faith, and in aiding and strengthening feeble societies of that faith in the State of New Hampshire.

St. Paul's Church.1-The first meeting of individ- uals friendly to the organization of the Protestant Episcopal Society was held at the house of Albe Cady, on the 5th of January, 1817. At this meeting the basis of an organization was presented by a commit- tee appointed for the purpose, which was subscribed by thirteen gentlemen, among whom were the Hon. Samuel Green, Albe Cady, the Hon. Isaac Hill and John West, Jr. They gave the organization the name of St. Thomas' Chapel. On the 24th of March, 1818, Rev. Charles Burroughs was chosen rector. It does not appear whether or not Mr. Borroughs ac- cepted the rectorship. He, however, frequently offi- ciated here, giving to the new parish whatever of service he could bestow in connection with his minis- trations in St. John's Church, Portsmouth, of which he was rector, and in many ways, by advice and in- fluence, contributed greatly to encourage and sustain the infant parish in Concord.

During 1817 and the three succeeding years the Rev. Messrs. Andrews, Searle, Herbert and Marshall hield occasional services here, but the greater part of the time the services were conducted by lay readers. In April, 1821, the Rev. John L. Blake was cho- sen rector, and for more than two years officiated

1 Condensed from an historical sketch prepared by Hon. Horace A. Brown, in 1884.

HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

here, at the same time serving St. Andrew's Church, Hopkinton.

For a part of the first year after the formation of the parish the services were held in Masonic Hall, over the Concord Bank, the present location of the First National Bank. Subsequently the town hall was oc- cupied by the parish as a place of worship for about two years. Afterwards the services were held in a commodious hall, fitted up by Hon. Isaac Hill, in the upper part of a store occupying the present site of the opera-house.

This hall was used during the week by the Rev. Mr. Blake as a school-room.

Several ineffectual attempts were made during these years to build a church. As far back as 1819 a subscription was commenced for this purpose. The cost of the edifice was not to exceed six thousand dollars, and one-half of this sum was subscribed by twelve individuals. In the spring of 1823 the Rev. Mr. Blake resigned the rectorship and removed from town, and for about twelve years services of our church were only occasionally held in Concord, Rev. Moses . B. Chase, of Hopkinton, now and then sup- plying a single service.

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 18

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