USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > New Boston > History of New Boston, New Hampshire > Part 9
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James Ferson, Jr., Thomas Wilson, William Blair, John Mc- Allister, Anamias McAllister, Archabald McAllister, Robert White, John Burns, Robert Livingston, Nathaniel Cochran, William Livingston, John Gordon."
The call thus given to Mr. Moor by individuals was subse- quently adopted and confirmed by a vote of the town at a legal meeting. But, though this was given Aug. 25, 1767, it was not accepted until July 1, 1768, although he had been with this people more than six months before the call was given. Rea- sons for so long a delay is hinted at by those who think that love is omnipotent in controlling men's decisions. Tradition has it that Mr. Moor would not agree to settle here until he could gain the consent of a fair lady to share with him the pri- vations and hardships incident to a settlement in what was then called, in Londonderry, "The Woods." It will be remembered that Mr. Moor spent some months at Londonderry before com- ing to New Boston, and there the softer passions were fanned into a flame by the charming graces of Miss Ann Davidson, daughter of Rev. William Davidson. She was not indifferent to his solicitations, but desired that a different field might be presented to him, more in accordance with her ·ambition and cultivated manners. She had been educated at Schenectady, N. Y., and Boston, Mass., and had been reared in an intelligent community ; for Londonderry was " no mean city." She had already sent out several colonies, and raised up not a few " mighty men of valor," and men wise to expound the "law of the Lord," and to frame constitutions for states and the nation. And it is not strange that Miss Davidson, who was much young- er than he, refused at first to "go with the man." But Mr. Moor believed in " the perseverance " of good men, and re- newed and redoubled his efforts to win the hand of one whose lofty bearing and noble spirit promised to make him a happy man, amid " the difficulties of the way ; " and Mr. Robert White, afterwards Deacon, with whom he had boarded since his arrival, proposed that Deacon Thomas Cochran go to Londonderry, to confer with the " damsel," and carry a " elus- ter of the grapes of Eschol," and magnify the goodliness of the land to which they desired her to come. At length, in the month of June, 1768, Thomas Cochran and his " blessed wife
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Jenny, saddled their asses," and tracked their way to " Derry Town," on the important mission of aiding their minister to ob- tain a wife, and visiting their friends. They accomplished their object, and Mr. Moor, having thereby "conquered prejudices," with a joyful heart " undertook the cure of souls " in New Bos- ton. The people had their hearts set upon Mr. Moor's remain- ing with them, and did all in their power to prepare the way. In drawing the ministry lots, no one chanced to be very near the centre of the town. Lot 61, in the western part of the town, was a ministry lot, which the town voted to exchange for lot 53, which had been drawn for a school lot, and this last was in the southern part of the town, more than two miles from the meeting-house. It was here, in the neighborhood of several very early settlements, that they proposed their pastor should have his dwelling, and towards the clearing of which, and the erection of buildings, they promised material aid. The town had been a little impatient under his long delay to answer their call, as is evident from the following vote, taken in connection with what had before transpired : - " March 7, 1768, Voted, Thomas Cochran, James Ferson, Thomas Quigely, Daniel Mc- Millen, and William Clark, committee to treat with Rev. Solo- mon Moor, in regard to his settling in New Boston ; and in case the said Moor will not stay, to provide preaching some other way for the present year." But August 15, 1768, the town " Voted, that Robert White provide entertainment for ministers at the instalment of Rev. Mr. Moor, and bring in his charge to the town," and Mr. Moor was installed Sept. 6, 1768, as the minister of the town, with prospects of permanent usefulness. The occasion was one of great interest. Ample provisions were made for the entertainment of strangers. The day at first promised to be unpropitious; but at length the threatening clouds passed away, and every path was trod by the multitude that sought to witness the installation of the first minister in New Boston. It is believed that the Rev. David McGregor, of Londonderry, preached the installing sermon, and the Rev. William Davidson gave the charge to the pastor.
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ORGANIZATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
There are no records to show the time of the gathering of the Presbyterian Church. It is generally believed, however, that it was organized the same day the Rev. Mr. Moor was installed, Sept. 6, 1768 ; though there are reasons to suppose that it had an earlier origin. Thomas Cochran and Archibald McMillen are called " Deacons" prior to Mr. Moor's installation, in the records of the Proprietors, while there is no reason to believe that they had been Deacons in any church before coming to this town. Mr. Farmer, the well-known statistician, gave 1768 as the origin of the church, and the Rev. Dr. Whiton, of Antrim, concurs with him. But we think neither of them had access to the records to which we have alluded, and that they fixed on that date because no positive record could be found, and that date must be sufficiently late to render it certain that the church did at that time exist. But it is hardly to be credited that a people so religious and so highly prizing the ordinances of religion as the first settlers of New Boston, while they were having more or less of preaching every year, should neglect to or- ganize themselves into a church, or that such excellent pastors as those of the churches of Londonderry, and other towns, who had sent their members into this new settlement, should neglect to gather them within the enclosure of church relations, for a period of twenty-eight years. It is known that ministers of the towns whence the settlers came, were accustomed to perform more or less of labor in this town gratuitously every year, thus caring for the scattered members of their flocks. Hence, we are of the opinion that the church in New Boston was organized much earlier than 1768, though the precise time cannot be known. The session of the church in 1768 was thus consti- tuted : Mr. Moor, Pastor ; Thomas Cochran, James Ferson, John Smith, Archibald McMillen, Jesse Christie, and Robert White, Deacons. Thus, strengthened by the cooperation and counsels of good men, in the session and in the church, Mr. Moor girded himself for the labor of converting the wilderness into a fruitful field. And, to aid him still further in his work, he led to the hymeneal altar, July 16, 1770, Miss Ann David- son, of Londonderry, then only twenty years old. The bride's
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father performed the marriage service, and Mr. Moor and his wife accompanied by a large number of her friends, started for New Boston, each riding a spirited steed, and were met on the way by large numbers of their parishioners, who gave them a cordial greeting, and escorted them to their new home, where old men and women, young men and maidens were assembled for a most generous " house-warming." The excitement was intense at their arrival, and strong arms of loving Scotch women bore their minister's wife from the saddle to her chamber, and from thence, in the same manner, she descended to the reception- room. Ample provision was made for a joyous festival, and the swift hours of evening but too soon fled amid scenes deemed appropriate to the event.
During the war of the Revolution, many patriots distrusted the loyalty of Mr. Moor to their cause, and were less cordial toward him and his wife, but there was no serious interruption in his relation to the people. In due time that prejudice passed away ; and, amid efforts to advance the cause of education, to promote peace between contending parties and angry indi- viduals, he successfully preached the gospel and blessed the people. He introduced large numbers to the ordinances of baptism and the supper, though the church enjoyed no special revivals during his ministry. Mr. Moor was Calvanistic in his doctrinal views and teachings, though not of the most rigid sort. He has been charged with being an Armenian by not a few in later years ; but we think without any good reason. Mr. Moor was a man of great moderation, and yet greater charity. He lived in times very different from the present, and was lax in discipline, and allowed some practices which would not now be tolerated. But there seems to be no reliable evidence that he had any sympathy with Armenianism. He was always in cor- dial sympathy with his ministerial brethren, and always wel- comed to their pulpits by their people, while his own church and people cherished for him profound respect. He lived and died greatly beloved by his flock. His death occurred May 28, 1803, aged 67, after a ministry of thirty-four years and four months. His death was occasioned by a severe cold, which ter- minated in congestion of the lungs. He was fully sensible of death's approach, and spoke freely of his departure to those
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who saw him, expressing great attachment to his people, and deep anxiety for them, as they were now to be left as sheep with- out a shepherd. After exorting them to strive to perpetuate peace, and cultivate mutal forbearance, he seems to have been able to trust them in the hands of his Master, saying, " The Lord will keep you, and give you another pastor more faithful than I have been." Thus the good man blessed his household and his people, and fell asleep, a rich smile long rest- ing upon his countenance. His funeral was attended at the meeting-house, May 31, by a large concourse of people from all parts of the town, and from neighboring communities, when a solemn and affecting discourse was delivered by the Rev. Dr. William Morrison, of Londonderry, from the text, Job xxx. 23, "For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living."
Mrs. Moor survived her husband many years, living where he died, with some of her children and grandchildren about her, making herself useful to them and others. She retained her faculties to the last, fond of society, indulging in sprightly conversation and occasional repartees. She had been a faithful wife, looking well to her household, and putting her hand to the distaff. She died Nov. 22, 1842, aged 96 years, more than thirty-eight years after the death of her husband, in a good old age, greatly lamented by a large circle of kindred and friends. Her husband praised her while he lived, and his successor in the ministry praised her when she was dead. To her cordial sympathy and encouragment Mr. Bradford acknowledged him- self greatly indebted. She became to him a mother, and loved and prayed for him until the last, never omitting an opportu- nity to cheer him when despondent, or to ininister to his comfort, or contribute to his usefulness. And her kindness never failed to be appreciated by the great heart of that man of God. To the dignity, intelligence, and Christian deportment of Mrs. Moor may be traced in no small degree the excellences which characterized the generation of women who were brought within the range of her influence, and which are not wanting in their successors.
The children of Mr. Moor were : Mary, born Aug. 27, 1771; Witter Davidson, born May 16, 1773; Frances, born April 22,
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1775; An, born March 8, 1778; John, born Oct. 17, 1782 .; and Elizabeth Cummings, born Sept. 30, 1784.
Mary married Samuel Cochran, of Londonderry, and at her deathi left three children, Frances, Nancy, and Solomon.
Witter was killed by the falling of a tree when a child.
Frances married Capt. John Smith, of Goffstown, for many years a distinguished school-teacher, and subsequently a mer- chant. Mrs. Smith died May 7, 1807, and he Nov. 11, 1851, their children being, Alfred, who married Elizabeth Howard, of Temple, and lives in Goffstown, having eight children ; Alfred ; Ann Elizabeth; John Witter ; Abby Frances, Nancy Moor ; Jane Harris; and Solomon Moor, now in the first New Hamp- shire Battery.
Witter, son of Frances, died young. So also Solomon Moor and Nancy Moor, and Frances Moor became the wife of Dea. Joseph Hadley, of Goffstown.
Ann, daughter of Rev. S. Moor, died unmarried, Nov. 23, 1859, aged 81.
John, son of Rev. S. Moor, married Mehitable Ray, of Mount Vernon, and their children are, Solomon, living in Washington, D. C .; James Ray, living in Amherst ; Sabrina Ray, who became the wife of Daniel Campbell, Esq .; Frances Smith, who became the wife of Alfred E. Cochran, and soon died ; John Hamilton, living in Washington, D. C .; Eliza Ann, who became the wife of Samuel Leach, her children being Emily Frances, Samuel Mitchell, Sarah Danforth, Sabrina Campbell, James Ray, Mehit- able Mead, and Solomon Moor.
Mehitable Ray, daughter of John Moor, became the wife of Frank Mead, and lives in Littleton, Mass.
Nancy, John Moor's daughter, married Dalton Clark, and lives in Davenport, Iowa.
George Rodney, son of John Moor, lives in Manchester.
Mr. John Moor's second wife was Mrs. Martha Morrison, daughter of David Sprague, of Bedford, and their children are Frances and Ellen. Mr. Moor died Oct. 28, 1862, aged 80.
Elizabeth Cummings was married by Rev. Mr. Bradford to James McCurdy, March, 1813, and lives in New Boston ; her children, being Solomon Moor ; Witter Smith, living in Law- rence, Kansas ; John, now in California ; James, now on the homestead ; Jesse, in Quitman, Miss., and Ann Elizabeth.
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REV. EPHRAIM PUTNAM BRADFORD.
After the death of Mr. Moor, the pulpit was gratuitously supplied in favor of the widow of the late pastor, for several months, by clergymen in the vicinity. Among those who are remembered to have given a Sabbath each, are Goodridge of Lyndeborough, Burnap of Merrimac, Barnard of Amherst, Morrison of Londonderry, Miles of Temple, Bruce of Mount Vernon, Bradford of Francestown, Paige of Hancock, Clark of Greenfield, Dunbar of Peterborough, Fullerton of Antrim, Morril of Goffstown, Moore of Milford, Becde of Wilton, Brown of Londonderry, Dana of Newburyport, Sleigh of Deering, and Clayford of Wearc.
The town, at a legal meeting Aug. 18, 1803, appointed Dea. William McNeil, Jacob Hooper, and Ninian Clark a committee to supply the pulpit " after the ministers have supplied their tours." It would seem that in the early part of 1804 the Rev. Mr. Harris supplied the pulpit for a time, and the town voted him a call, May 27, 1804, which he did not accept, having engaged to preach at Windham for a certain number of months. But the hope of obtaining him was not abandoned. Accord- ingly, in July of this year, the town instructed their committee to hire Mr. Harris for two months. He seems to have given satisfaction to a majority, and a call was voted him with a salary of $400, Sept. 3 ; and in December the time was voted for his ordination, he having accepted the call. Seven ministers were invited by the town to constitute a council to ordain him, consisting of Harris of Dunbarton, Bradford, Bruce, Barnard, Miles, Colly, and Morrison. Dec. 13, 1804, at a legal meeting, it was " Voted, that the Hon. Council meet at Mr. John Good- hue's Tuesday next, at ten of the clock, forenoon, and that this meeting stand adjourned to that time." The council met, but great opposition to the settlement of Mr. Harris manifested itself, and it was deemed inexpedient to ordain him. Mr. Harris was an estimable man, but was thought by an influen- tial minority to be inadequate to the demands of the people. Perhaps his doctrinal views seemed too rigid, - especially did his rejection of the "half-way covenant " offend some who would otherwise have been favorably disposed to his settlement.
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Mr. Harris subsequently settled in Windham, and proved him- self a faithful and successful minister of Christ.
At the annual meeting of the town, March 18, 1805, Capt. Ephraim Jones, Lieut. Samuel Gregg, and Robert Clark, were appointed a committee to supply the pulpit ; and they invited Ephraim P. Bradford to preach as a candidate for settlement. He was the son of Capt. John Bradford of Milford, afterwards of Hancock, a member of the Baptist church, but of enlarged and liberal sentiments, availing himself of every occasion to partake of the Lord's Supper, whenever his son administered the ordinance. Mr. Bradford fitted for College at Amherst and Andover, Mass., and graduated at Harvard University in 1803, with a high reputation for scholarship. He had Payson and several others for his classmates, who in subsequent years attained great eminence. After teaching for a time, he studied theology with the justly celebrated Dr. Lathrop of West Spring- field, Mass., and having been licensed to preach in 1804, at West Springfield, he came to New Boston in the latter part of May, 1805. He seems to have made a favorable impression at his coming; and Aug. 24, 1805, the town instructed their committee " to hire Mr. Bradford two months longer as a can- didate." Nov. 11, 1805, the town voted to give him a call to settle with them, pledging him a salary of four hundred dollars per annum, " and four hundred dollars as settlement." Capt. Ephraim Jones, Maj. Crombie, Dr. Luke Lincoln, Robert Clark, and Capt. John Cochran, were appointed to prepare and present the following call : -
We, the Congregation of New Boston, being on sufficient grounds well satisfied with the ministerial qualifications of you, Mr. Ephraim P. Bradford, and having good hopes from our past experience of your labors, that your ministrations in the gospel will be profitable to our spiritual interests, do carnestly call and desire you to undertake the pastoral office in said Congre- gation, promising you in the discharge of your duty all proper support, encouragement, and obedience in the Lord.
And, that you may be free from worldly cares and avocations, we hereby promise and engage to pay you the sum of four hundred dollars, in regular annual payments, during the time of your being and continuing the regular Pastor of this Church, reserving to the use of the town all ministerial rights and privileges. And should it please God that you should settle among us, for your further encouragement, we hereby promise, engage, and oblige
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ourselves to pay you the sum of four hundred dollars as a donation or settling money, the one-half' to be paid to you in three months after you shall have taken the pastoral office in said Congregation ; the other in nine months as aforesaid.
In testimony whereof, we have respectively subscribed our names in behalf of the town of New Boston, this twenty-seventh day of November, 1805.
EPHRAIM JONES, ROBERT CLARK, WILLIAM CROMBIE, LUKE LINCOLN, JOHN CROMBIE, JR.,
Committee chosen by the Congregation of New Boston to sign and pre- sent the call.
At the same time the call was voted, the town appointed a day for fasting and prayer, with reference to the settlement of Mr. Bradford. And, what may seem not a little strange to us, agrecably to an article in their warrant, the town " Voted Dea. William McNeil, Robert Patterson, Jr., Robert Campbell, Thomas Cochran, Robert Clark, James Ferson, Capt. John Cochran, Thomas Smith, Jr., and Geary Whiting, be Deacons in the Presbyterian Church of Christ in this town." It would seem that several of these men did not consent to be " quali- fied." The church meantime was not indifferent nor inactive. At a meeting of the church, held Jan. 14, 1805, Daniel Dane was chosen Moderator, and Robert Clark, Church Clerk; and a committee, consisting of Ninian Clark, Daniel Dane, and Josiah Warren, were appointed "to examine the old records respecting the church-standing," and to report at an adjourned meeting. But this committee reported that no records of the church could be found, nor have any been found to this day. The church voted, " to stand upon 'the same footing they for- merly have ; " " that the Clerk make a record of the then existing members ; " and a day for fasting and prayer " be appointed before the town present their call to Mr. Ephraim P. Bradford."
The following is a catalogue of the existing members of the Church in the town of New Boston, the 28th October, 1805 : Madam Moor, Dea. Jesse Cristy, Dea. Robert White, his wife Mary White, Dea. Wmn. MeNeil, Rachel McNeil Allen Moor, James Willson, Mary Willson, James Crombie, Jane Crombie, Wm. Clark, Ninian Clark, John Cochran, Elizabeth Cochran, Peter Cochran, Mary Cochran, James Caldwell, Martha Caldwell, Robert Patterson, Margaret Patter- son, Robert Patterson, Jr., Susanna Patterson, Daniel Dane, Sarah Dane, Isaac
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· Peabody, Mary Peabody, Robert Campbell, Elizabeth Campbell, Wm. Kelso, Agnes Kelso, Daniel Kelso, Mary Kelso, James Ferson, Mary Ferson, Josiah Warren, Jane Warren, Wm. Campbell, Ann Campbell, James Willson, Jr., Jennet Willson, James Gregg, Jennet Gregg, Jacob Hooper, James Cochran, Elizabeth Cochran, John Henery, Mrs. Henery, John Livingston, Wm. Baird, Jane Baird, James Cairns, Mary Cairns, Thomas Smith, Jr., Esther Smith, Robert Boyd, Mary Boyd, John Gordon, Jennet Gordon, Samuel Stickney, Mrs. Stickney, Thomas Mullet, Mrs. Mullet, Isaac Peabody, Jr., Mary Pea- body, Robert Cochran, Sarah Cochran, James McMillen, Mrs. McMillen, Alexander McCollom, Mary McCollom, Elijah Cochran, Jemima Cochran, Samuel Gregg, Mrs. Gregg, Joseph Cochran, Margarett Cochran, Geary Whiting, Nabby Whiting, Thomas Cochran, Margaret Cochran, Robert Clark, Annis Clark, John Cochran, Jr., Frances Cochran, Robert Crombie, Mary Crombie, Thomas Moor, Mary Ann Moor, Robert Cristy, Mrs. Sarah Cristy, widow Ann Smith, widow Jennet Cochran, widow Lydia Dodge, widow McLaughlin, widow Mary McMillen, widow Alexander, widow Joanna Dodge, widow Mary Hogg, Christiana Donovan, Hannah Ferson, Lydia Pat- terson, old widow Beard, Rebeccah Cristy, Gizza McNeil, Samuel Abbot, Joseph Leach, Jr., Mary Leach, Wm. Clark, Jr., Abagail Clark, Mary Liv- ingston.
At a meeting of the church, Jan. 13, 1806, it was " Voted, to take the yeas and nays on the subject whether the church thought it expedient that Mr. Bradford should answer his call in the affirmative or in the negative," when thirty-two voted in the affirmative, and two in the negative. The two who voted against Mr. Bradford were Daniel Dane and Jacob Hooper, having some fears of his orthodoxy ; but they soon became his most faithful friends. At the same meeting it was "Voted, that if Mr. Bradford should settle over this Church, that he would settle agreeably to the Presbyterian order." And the town, Feb. 10, 1806, agreeably to an article in their warrant, " Voted, to acquiesce with the Church in settling Mr. Bradford in the Presbyterian mode." The way being thus prepared, Mr. Bradford submitted the following reply to the call of the town, bearing date Nov. 27, 1805, but not delivered until Feb. 10, 1806 : -
BRETHREN, -
I now proceed to communicate to you, the church and congregation of New Boston, my answer to the call presented by you to me to settle with you as your religious instructor. The connection which you have invited me to form with you is highly important. I have deliberated long and seriously upon the subject, have consulted the opinions and taken the advice of as many
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of the people in the town as my other duties would allow me to see, on the subject. I have not neglected to ask the direction of Him who is the Father of light, and without whose guidance we should be miserable indeed. It can be of no service, to you or myself, to remain any longer in suspense on this interesting subject. With the expression of my gratitude for the favorable opinion you have manifested of me, I do accept your call to settle with you, as your religious instructor. In forming this determination, I have not been unmindful of the responsibility I now take upon myself. On this occasion I cannot avoid looking forward to the solemn hour when I must answer to the Judge of the quick and dead, for the manner in which I perform the duties which will devolve on me. You, likewise, my brethren, must be answerable for the manner in which you shall perform your duty as hearers. I am willing to live with you as a brother, to participate and rejoice with you in prosperity, and to suffer with you in adversity. You will extend your charity to my imperfections, knowing that I am, like yourselves, a frail creature. In forming your opinion of my professional performances, you will consider my inexpe- rience in my profession ; should it please God to continue my life and health, I hope through his assistance to perform the duties of my profession better than I can be expected to do at present.
My fervent prayer to God is that you may be built up in the most holy faith ; that you may long experience how good and how pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity ; and that you may finally be reunited, through the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, in those mansions of happiness and rest which He has gone to prepare for all those that love his appearing.
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