USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 170
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 170
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Stephen Berry, sergt. Euoch Burnham, sergt.
Benjamin lloyt, corp. James Coleman, corp. Anthony N. Rollings, drum'r.
Privat. s.
Samuel Richards.
Charles Ricker. Anos Place.
Amos Spencer.
Julın Richards.
Amos Hayes, Abraham Morrison.
The following were in Col. Nathan Hall's regiment, Capt. Benjamin Titcomb's company :
George Downing, 19 years of age. Samuel Forst, 21 years of age.
Jonathan Downing, 30 years of age. Samuel Ryon, 25 years of age.
Joseph Pearl, 17 years of age. Thomas Shaw, 24 years of age.
Julın Garlitt, 18 years of age.
Benjamin Nute, of Rochester, was afterwards a lieutenant in the cont- pany, and Joshua Merrow ensign. Merrow was subsequently promoteil to lieutenant.
The following were in Capt. F. M. Bell's company :
Daniel Cork, 20 years of age. Daniel Rogers, Jr., 30 years of ago.
Daniel Watson, 23 years of age. Wm. Palmer, 19 years of age.
Eben. Cltestley, 23 years of age. Timothy Ricker, 19 years of age.
Enoch Wingate, 24 years of nge. Edward Rollings, 21 years of age.
Joshua Place, 16 years of age. George lleard, 19 years of age. Paul Pearl, 28 years of age.
Thos. Chamberlain, 19 years of age. Daniel Wingate, 22 years of age.
Simeon Pearl, 17 years of age.
Company uxknown .- Heary Durgia, Samuel Alley, Jonathan Doe, Daniel Alley, and Amos Place.
The following were in Capt. Daniel McDuffee's company, and were at Stillwater and Saratoga:
Daniel McDuffce, capt. ; eal. Sept. 8, 1777; disch. Dec. 15, 1777. David Leighton, ens. ; enl. Sept. 8, 1777 ; disch Dec. 15, 1777. Peter Glitliten, sergt. ; ent. Sept 8, 1777; died Nov. 18, 1777. Solomon Clark, capt .; ent. Sept. 8, 1777; disch. Dec. 15, 1777. Jonathan Ellis, capt. ; eul. Sept. 8, 1777 ; disch. Dec. 15, 1777. Eben Twombly, drummer: enl. Sept. 8, 1777 ; disch. Dec. 15, 1777. James Wentworth, enl. Sept. 8, 1777; disch. Dec. 15, 1777. Jolin McDuffee, eul. Sept. 8, 1777 ; disch. Dec. 15, 1777. Enoch Hayes, eul. Sept. 8, 1777 ; alisch. Dec. 15, 1777. Tobias Ricker, enl. Sept. 8, 1777 ; disch. Dec. 15, 1777. Jobn Richards, enl. Sept. 8, 1777; disch. Dec. 15, 1777. Joseph Richards, enl. Sept. 8, 1777 ; disch. Dec. 15, 1777. John Allen, enl. Sept. 8, 1777 ; disch. Dec. 15, 1777. Amos Spencer, enl. Sept. 8, 1777 ; disch. Dec. 15, 1777. Jonathan Dame, enl. Sept. 8, 1777; died Nov. 16, 1777. Dudley Pike, enl. Sept. 8, 1777; disch. Nov. 30, 1777. Meses Rawlins, enl. Sept. 8, 1777; disch. Nov. 30, 1777. Joseph Wingate, enl. Sept. 8, 1777 ; ilisch. Dec. 15, 1777. Nicholas Wentworth, ent. Sept. 8, 1777; disch. Nov. 30, 1777. Amos Hayes, enl. Sept. 8, 1777; disch. Nov. 30, 1777. Rich Furbur, eul. Sept. 8, 1777 ; disch. Dec: 15, 1777. Win. McNeal, enl. Sept. 8, 1777.
Jubn Stanton, enl. Sept. 8, 1777.
Daniel Cook. Samuel Goodwin. George Heard. John Rogers. Amos Place. Jobn Bickford. Mesheck Heard. Ebenezer Courson. Jolın McDuffeo. Joseph Berry.
John Marden, sergt. John Woodman, corp. James Wentworth, corp. Jonathan French, corp. Benjamin Taylor, corp.
Ichabod Rawlins, drummer. Sammuel Place, fifer.
Isaac Libby.
Moses Rollings.
720
HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Jobn Nute, enl. Sept. 8, 1777.
Joseph Thompson, enl. Sept. 8, 1777.
Iolın Bickford, enl. Sept. 8, 1777. Stephen Starboard, enl. Sept. 8, 1777.
In 1778 nineteen men were furnished by this town for service in Rhode Island, and in 1779 five more men were enlisted for the same purpose. The names of the latter who served six months were Tobias Ricker, Samuel Rollins, Thomas Carter, P. Stevens, and Isaae Hatch.
Thus far our attention has been confined almost ex- elnsively to the fortunes of the militia companies or volunteers raised for special service. The names of those who served in the Continental army are now given, with the history and fate of each man, so far as can be gathered from the rolls and documents in existence.
Joslma Merrill, ensign ; enl. April 2, 1777 ; pro. lient. July 12, 1780. Joshua Place, enl. May 1, 1777. for three years ; dird Ang. 7, 1777. Simeon Pearl, enl. April 20, 1777, for three years; died Feb. 10, 1778. Panl Pearl, enl. April 20, 1777, for three years ; killed Oct. 7, 1777.
George Ileard ( Hurd), en). May 1, 1777, for three years; missing at Ticon- deruga July 7, 1877.
John Garland, ent. May 10, 1777, for three years; disch. May 17, 1780. Samuel Foss, enl. June 4, 1777, for three years; died Sept. 6, 1778.
George Downing, eul. Nov. 15, 1777, for the war ; pro. to corp. and sergt. ; was in service May 13, 1782.
Jona Downing, en). Nov. 15, 1776, for the war; pro. to sergt .- maj .; was in the service May 13, 1782.
Thomas Chamberlain, enl. May 10, 1777; disch. May 10, 1780.
Ebenezer Chesley, enl. May 1, 1777; missing July 7, 1777.
Daniel Cook, enl. May 10, 1777; was in the service May 13, 1782; was one of Washington's guard in 1770.
Timothy Ricker, en1. May 1, 1777 ; disch. May 1, 1780; member of Wash- ingt in's gnard in 1779.
Daniel Alley, corp .; eul. Nov. 11, 1776, for the war ; in service May 13, 1782.
Moses Rollings, enl. Nov. 13, 1776, for the war ; corporal ; killed Oct 13, 1777.
Daniel Watson, enl. May 1, 1777; disch. May 1. 1780.
William Palmer, enl. May 1, 1777 ; disch, May 1, 1780.
Ephraim Ham, enl. April 10, 1777; dich. May 1, 1780.
Ichabod Ham, enl. Aug. 15, 1779; drummer; was in service May 13, 1782.
John Rogers, ent. Oct. 13, 1779; corporal; was in service May 13, 1782.
Enoch Wiugate, eul. May 1. 1777 ; disch. May 1, 17:0; died Aug. 4, 1828.
Daniel Wingate, enl. May 10, 1777; disch. May 10, 1780.
Joseph Pearl, enl. May 1, 1777; was in service May 13, 1782.
Joseph Ricker, enl. Oct. 15, 1779; was in service May 13, 1782
Matthias Welch, enl. February, 1777; in service May 13, 1782. Daniel Cook, Jr., en1. April 10, 1780 ; in service May 13, 1782. Samuel Rollins, enl. Feb. 28, 1781 ; in service May 13, 1782.
Samuel Ryan, ent. Jone, 1777.
Edward Rollins, onl. May, 1777.
Henry Durgin. Jonathan Due.
Samuel Alley. Amos Place.
Thomas Shaw, enl. Jan. 3, 1777 ; in service May 13, 1782.
Robert Ellis, en). Aug. 17, 1780; in service May 13, 1782.
Richard Cook, enl. July 15, 1779; died Oct. 8, 1881. The regimental accounts show that he died Oct. 8, 1781, yet the selectmen claimed him as still in the service May 13, 1782.
Daniel Rogers, Jr., enl. May 11, 1777; died July 2, 1877.
Ebenezer Allen, en1. April 15, 1780; was in service May 13, 1782.
Daniel Sargent, enl. April 9, 1780; disch. Dec. 31, 1781.
James Ilow
James Chesley
Wm McNeal
Jabez Dame
Aaron Ham
W'm Allen
Rich Place
Solomon Drown, enl. May 10, 1781.
Wm. C. Peavey, enl. May 18, 1782.
Jonathan Ellis, en1. May 18, 1782.
Peter Cook, enì. September, 1779, for one year.
Ephraim Alley, of Rochester, enl. for one year for Madbury.
Casar Wingate, a negro, onl. June 6, 1781 ; was in service May 13, 1782.
He was Capt. Ham's slave, and received the name of Wingate from living a part of the time at Judge Wingate's, on the Chestont Ilill read.
There were also many who served their country upon the seas in privateering vessels. Among these were Benjamin Calber, Timothy and Joseph Roberts, and Isaac Hunson. They served with the gallant Paul Jones. With them was George Roberts, of Mid- dleton. Benjamin served also in the army. He died in 1830, aged seventy-six. George sailed in 1778 from Portsmouth in the " Ranger."
Test Association .- The following, in 1776, engaged and promised that they would to the utmost of their power, at the risk of their lives, their fortunes, with arms oppose the British fleets and armies :
Ebenezer Tebbett
W'm MeDuffee
Samuel Farbur
John Ham
Benj Forbur
Ebenezer Ricker
R. Palmer Thos Roberts
Daniel Wingate
Samuel Alley
Wm -Evans
Daniel Garland
W'm Chamberlain
Enoch Hvitt
Richard Furbur
Benj Fost Jr
Benj Rollins
John Trickey
Thos Plummer
John Trickey Jr
Daniel Watson
James French
Richard Wentworth
John Ham, Jr
Avery Hall
Joseph Knight
Wentworth Hayes
James Chamberlain
Isaac Libbey
William Knight
Mark Hartford
Hunking Colebroth
Jacob Hanson
James Rogers
James Foster
James Il. Tertins
Benj Fost
Samuel Chamberlain
E. Coleman
James Downs
Dedarah Garland
Ichabod Hayes
B. French
Nathl Watson
Stephen Barry
Samuel Twombley
Abner Dame
James Wentworth
Stephen Jenkins
Daniel Rogers
Samuel Nuts
John Woodman
E. Wentworth
Julin Brewster
James Jackson
Daniel Kimball
James Deering
Jos Dame
Ichabod Rollins
Jus Haven
Moses Hayes
Isanc Wentworth
W'm Jenness Jr
Josiah Main
Juhn Knowles
Panl Libbey
E Chesley
John Beargin
S. Perkins Jr
Timothy Roberts.
Jos Plummer
Samuel Plummer
Joua Pinkham
Lemmel Bickford
Jona Richards
Wm Trickey
Jolin Richards .
Daniel Hayes
Thos Furber
Ephraim Wentworth
Jona Morrison
Richard Walker
Joseph Pags
David French
Aaron Jenniss
Thos llam
Simon French
Ilenry Tebbets
David Jennis
Thos Peevey
Wm Hodgden Solomon Drown
Joshua Pearl
Edward Lock
Jobu Plummer
Chas Knight
.
Otis Alley, ent. April 6, 1781 ; in service May 13, 1782. IIenry Smith, eul. May 1, 1781 ; in service May 13, 1782. Ahner Coffin, enl. May 1, 1782.
Meses Hammett
John Cook - Josiah Fulsom
727
ROCHESTER.
David Leighton Samuel Jones
D. Pearl
T. Whitehouse
Moses Ilorn
Elijah Varney
Moses Hayes, Jr Nathl Watson Jr Jona Twombly
Ilenry Allard E. Ham
Robert Walker
B. Plummer
John Heard
Z. Dame
Caleb Waterman
Josiah Wentworth
Benj Twombly Renken Wentworth
Jonathan Nutter
Peter lloru
E. Horn
Muses Downs
Thos Drew
N. Wentworth
W'm Jennis James Know les
E. Wentworth
W'm Ham
Jos Jones
S. Perkins
Alex Ilodgdon
S. Merrow
John Hammett
G. Willand
Jona Bickford
S. Merrow Jr.
S. Twombly Jr
James Horn
E. Tebbetts
John Richards Sr.
Jas Rogers Jr
A. Morrison
Benj Hayes
Daniel Page
Jos Walker
Jusbna Downing
Ithamer Seavey
John Nute
E. Garland.
M. Jennis
James McDuffee
John Jeuness
Samuel Robinson
Paul Jennis
Rich Nutter
John Place
Joseph Walker Jr
Rich Furbur Jr
Eb'r Place
Jos Thompson
Reuben . Heard Jr
Beuj Ilvitt
Reuben Heard
Thos Brown
Moses Roberts
Moses Brown
Gershom Downs
C. Jackson
L. Richardson Beuj. Cupps
E. Place Jr
Geo Placo
Abraham Cook
Jona Ham
Edmund Tebbetts
Samuel Drown
Juslina Cossen
Jos Hayes
Sammel Wingate Jr
Sumnel Seavey
Thos Brown
" The following persons refuse to sign the annexed association :
James Allen
John Wither:11
Ichabod Cossen
Morris Elliss ,
Thos Trickey
Soloman Clark
Samuel Wingate
I'm Ellis
Joseph Heard
Benj Heard
Tristam Heard
N. Garland
Benj Bickford
Abraham Pearl
Jonathan Hodgdon
Sinnuel Downing
Jona Elliss
Joshua Knight
Ei'd Varuey
S. Wentworth
Benj. Denne
Daniel Jeuness
" The undernamed persons are of the Society of Friends, and do not choose to sign :
Elijah Pettetts
Elijuh Pettetts Jr
John Pettetts
Ezekiel Pettetts
Jos Pettetts
Muzzy Gunlı
David Pettetts
Rubt Petietts
M. Varney
David Varney
Moses Varney
Moses Varney Jr
Moses Austin
Ebenezer Varney
John Clonttan
Thos Cloutman
Jona Dane
Isaac Twombly
Benj Meeder
Nath Meeder
Jona Meeder
Jos Meeder
" By order of the Committee,
"EBN'E I'ETTETTS CZ%.
" Rochester I5th Oct 1776,
"a true coppy"
Hon. John Plumer, Lieut .- Col. John McDuffee, Deacon James Knowles, and Dr. James Howe were prominent citizens of the town during the Revolu- tionary period.
Hon. John Plumer was the first magistrate in the town. He was appointed by the British Governor a judge of the Court of Common Pleas when that court was organized in 1773. He was reappointed in 1776, when an independent State government was first es- tablished. He retained the office till his voluntary resignation in 1795, at which time he was chief justice.
Lieut .- Col. John McDuffee was born in 1724; was a lieutenant in the French and English wars; was at the capture of Louisburg in 1758, and commanded a detachment of men under Gen. Wolfe at the siege of Quebec. He served in the Revolutionary army from the battle of Bunker Hill till 1778, being part of the time brigade commissary. He was the first repre- sentative of the town, being chosen to the Provincial Assembly in 1762; also a member of the State Legis- lature in 1782. Was six years a State senator, being part of that time "senior senator," or chairman. Died Oct. 15, 1817, aged ninety years.
Deacon James Knowles came to Rochester in 1749. Held many town offices ; was a member of many of the conventions that fostered the spirit of the Revo- lution ; was six years a member of the Legislature. For forty years he was a deacon of the church. He was universally trusted and respected, and spent a large portion of his long life in useful and unambi- tions public service.
Dr. James Howe was one of six brothers who served their country in the Revolution from the battle of Bunker Hill till the close of the war. Dr. Howe was surgeon's mate in Col. Long's regiment, and was one of the sufferers in the Canada expedition in 1777. He was three years a representative in the Legislature, and was distinguished for his natural talent and his great benevolence ..
CHAPTER CX.
ROCHESTER .- (Continued.)
First Congregational Church-The First Free-Will Baptist Church-The Friends-The Second Free-Will Baptist Church-The East Rochester and Simth Lebanon Free-Will Baptist Church-The Rochester Free- Will Baut st Church-The Umversalist Church-The Methodist Epis- eopul Church-Distinguished Men-Population-Rochester Bank- Rochester National Bank-The Norway Plains Savings-Bank-The Rochester Savings-Bank-Physicians-Humane Lodge, No. 28, F. and A. M .- Kennedy Lodge, I. O. of O. F .- Manufactures-Schools -The Bochester Academy-Post-offices-The Rochester Courier-The Anti-Monopolist and Local Record-The Social Library-Representa- tives-Town Clerks.
First Congregational Church. - The town of Rochester was incorporated and a charter granted in 1722. One of the conditions of the charter was that
Jos Tucker
Jos Drown
Jos Jiles
Alex Hodydon
John Randall
Zelmion Davis
Job Clements C. Jenkins
723
IIISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
the proprietors build a meeting-honse within four years. Indian wars prevented any settlement in the town for six years, and the condition was not fulfilled. In 1730 it was voted to build a meeting-house, forty feet long, thirty feet wide, and eighteen feet stud, to be well framed and inclosed. The house was built in 1731, on Havens' Hill.
In 1776, this house having become dilapidated and in danger of being blown down by the wind, it was proposed that a new one be built; but, on account of the war, it was delayed until 1780; then a new church was built upon "The Common." This house re- mained unpainted, and for years had neither steeple or bell. It had galleries on three sides. Many of pews were high square boxes. The middle of the house was provided with free benches.
In 1842 this house was moved from "The Com- mon" to the corner of Main and Liberty Streets. It was then renovated, and a vestry was added below. In 1868 it was enlarged and remodeled at an expense of eight thousand five hundred dollars. In 1876 re- pairs were again made on the interior of the house, and it is now a pleasant and commodious honse of worship.
The following is a list of the pastors from 1737 to 1883:
Amos Main graduated at Harvard College in 1729; was called to be the settled minister of this town May 9, 1737 ; died April 5, 1760, aged fifty-one ; was pas- tor of this church twenty-three years.
Samuel Hill graduated at Harvard College in 1735 ; was installed pastor of this church Nov. 19, 1760; died April 19, 1764; was stated supply and pastor of this church about four years.
Avery Hall graduated at Yale College in 1759; was installed pastor of this church Oct. 15, 1766; re- signed April 10, 1775; was pastor of this church eight and a half years; died at Wakefield, Aug. 5, 1820, aged eighty-two.
Joseph Haven graduated at Harvard College in 1775 ; was installed pastor of this church Jan. 10, 1776 ; died Jan. 27, 1825, aged seventy-seven ; was pastor of this church forty-nine years. .
Thomas C. Upham graduated at Dartmouth College in 1818, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1821 ; was installed colleague pastor with Mr. Haven July 16, 1823 ; resigned to accept a professorship at Bowdoin College, May 29, 1825 ; was pastor of this church two years ; died April, 1872.
Isaac Willey graduated at Dartmouth College in 1822, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1825; was installed pastor of this church Jan. 17, 1826; re- signed Oct. 22, 1834; was stated supply and pastor of this church nine years.
Edward Cleaveland graduated at Yale College in 1832, and Yale Theological Seminary in 1835; was installed pastor of this church Jan. 11, 1837 ; resigned Oet. 30, 1837; was stated supply and pastor of this church one ycar.
Francis V. Pike graduated at Yale College, Sept. 14, 1831, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1834; was installed pastor of this church Feb. 20, 1839; resigned Sept. 20, 1841; was pastor of this church about two and a half years; died at New- buryport, Mass., Sept. 4, 1843.
John E. Farwell graduated at Amherst College in 1836, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1839; was installed pastor of this church Aug. 15, 1843; resigned June 22, 1852; was pastor of this church about nine years ; died Dec. 24, 1858.
George Spaulding became acting pastor of this church in August, 1852; resigned in August, 1853; was acting pastor of this church one year.
J. C. Seagrave was installed pastor of this church May 25, 1854; resigned Dec. 26, 1855; was stated supply and pastor of this charch two years.
James M. Palmer graduated at Waterville College in 1847, and at Bangor Theological Seminary in 1853; became acting pastor of this church May 1, 1858; was installed April 26, 1859; resigned July 14, 1864; was acting pastor and pastor of this church about six years.
Prescott Fay graduated at Amherst College in 1852, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1855; be- came acting pastor of this church May 4, 1865; re- signed Angust, 1867 ; was acting pastor of this church two years and three months.
A. F. Marsh graduated at Bangor Theological Sein- inary in 1867; was installed pastor of this church Oct. 31, 1867 ; resigned Oct. 11, 1870; was pastor of this church three years.
Ilarvey M. Stone graduated at Bangor Theological Seminary in 1847 ; was installed pastor of this church May 18, 1871; resigned Jan. 28, 1875; was stated supply and pastor of this church four years.
A. J. Quick graduated at Williams College in 1860, and at Union Theological Seminary in 1863 ; became pastor-elect of this church Oct. 1, 1875.
Present acting pastor, IF. S. Kimball.
List of deacons : Stephen Berry, elected November, 1737, died 1762.
Joseph Walker, elected November, 1737.
James Knowles, elected November, 1761, died 1802.
William Chamberlin, elected September, 1778, re- signed 1783.
Samuel Chamberlin, elected March, 1783, died Jan- uary, 1807.
Samnel Plumer, elected March, 1783.
William Trickey, elected July, 1806.
Nathaniel Hayes, elected October, 1823.
Samnel Allen, elected January, 1825.
Benjamin Barker, elected December, 1834, died December, 1873.
Samuel Stackpole, elected May, 1844.
Thomas Brown, elected in 1859.
Franklin McDuffee, elected December, 1872.
Charles W. Brown, elected December, 1872.
729
ROCHESTER,
A. J. Whittemore, elected July, 1882. Henry M. Plumer, elected July, 1882.
The First Free-Will Baptist Society was organ- ized March 19, 1825, at the house of Enoch Tibbetts. A church was organized at the house of John York, April 15, 1829, when seventeen persons received the right hand of fellowship. Conference meetings were held monthly at private dwellings for several years. From 1833 to 1838 no records are found. In the lat- ter year the church reorganized and was divided into several branches, each branch to have the privilege of holding monthly meetings, In 1840 a meeting-house was built and dedicated at Gonic. The first quarterly meeting in Rochester was held at the court-house in 1839, August 10th. In 1842, Rev. D. Swett was chosen first pastor of the church. In 1864 a powerful revival attended the labors of Rev. W. T. Smith. The society in 1873-74 made extensive repairs on their meeting- house, expending nearly three thousand dollars, mak- ing it a very neat and attractive church edifice. Rev. W. S. Packard is their present pastor.
Friends .- The first record we find is from the Monthly Meeting in Dover,-" 23d 9th mo., 1751. The Friends at Rochester have liberty to keep a meeting there till the last of the 1st month next." This permission was renewed from time to time for short periods only, usually about a month. In 1777 the same liberty was granted during the pleasure of the Monthly Meeting. In 1776 there were twenty- two adult male Friends who declined to join the Test Association. In 1781 the advice of the Monthly Meeting was given to the Friends of Rochester, on their asking for it, to build a meeting-house. The house was built on the Dover road, near Judge Dame's. It was afterwards taken down and the ma- terial used for a new house near Gonic, from which place it has since been removed to its present loca- tion. The Monthly Meetings were held in Rochester as early as 1820, and perhaps earlier. A meeting- house was built at Meaderborough some time pre- vious to 1805. In 1823 there were reported to be twenty families belonging to one meeting and fifteen families to the other. In 1838 a collection of books for a library was commenced.
The Second Free-Will Baptist Society was or- ganized in 1846 with about sixty persons, and a con- stitution adopted.
The East Rochester and South Lebanon Free- Will Society was organized June I, 1865, and Rev. Isaac Hyatt became pastor. The church edifice was built soon after at a cost of six thousand dollars. Rev. R. McDonald is its present pastor.
-
--
The Walnut Grove Free-Will Baptist Society have a neat meeting-house on the Salmon Falls road, erected in 1867. They have continued their meetings and Sabbath-school and sustain preaching most of the time, Rev. E. True being their present pastor.
The Rochester Village Free-Will Baptist Church was organized in October, 1871, consisting of sixteen
members. Rev. Ezekiel True was chosen its first pastor. They have sustained preaching to the present time. The present number of church-members is eighty- three; the Sabbath-school numbers one hundred and ninety-three. They have no meeting-house, but have purchased a lot and contemplate building a church edifice as soon as they can do so without inenrring a debt. Rev. E. P. Moulton is their present pastor.
The first session of the New Hampshire Yearly Meeting of Free-Will Baptists ever held in this town was convened with this church in June, 1882, which was very fully attended and interesting, the Congre- gationalists kindly giving the use of their church for the occasion,
The Adventists hold service in the town ; also the Catholics. The latter have a house of worship. Rev. Louis M. Wilde is the present pastor.
The First Universalist Church in Rochester was organized March 27, 1841, with the following members: Benjamin Hayes, Edward Tibbetts, Paul Libbey, William Jackson, Silas Wentworth, Jonathan J. Henderson, Jacob J. Garland, James M. Garland, Joel Varney, Lemuel B. Ham, and James II. Place. The congregation worships in McDuffee Hall.
The first minister was Rev. R. O. Williams, in 1841. His successors have been as follows: Eben Francis, 1842; George G. Strickland in 1843 and 1845; Wil- liam Cilley and E. Coffin in 1844; E. II. Lake in 1847-48; Thomas J. Greenwood in 1850, 1855, and 1856; A. A. Miner in 1850; Rev. Mr. Pettee in 1852; Rev. Mr. Hicks in 1859; and in 1862, Revs. Mr. Eaton and Patterson.
From the organization to 1865 the society had to be content with occasional preaching, only one of the above-named preaching at all regular, viz., Rev. E. H. Lake, who supplied with preaching every other Sabbath during the suminers of 1847 and 1848.
After the year 1865, owing to deaths and removals of those who had been instrumental in keeping the society alive, it ceased to hold meetings until August, 1877, when a reorganization was effected, and by the aid at first of the New Hampshire Convention it began to hold services monthly, meetings being supplied by the Convention with preachers, among whom were the Revs. E. L. Conger, James Gorton, Mr. Ralph, of Columbus, Ohio; Mr. Powers, of Vermont; G. L. Demarest and L. F. Mckinney, of Manchester ; E. M. Grant, W. S. Vail, Benton Smith, George W. Quinby, Dr. Sawyer, of Boston; Mr. Spalding, of Peabody ; W. S. Perkins and H. W. Smith, of Tuft's College. In 1879 and 1880 services were held each Sabbath, and in September, 1880, a call was given to Rev. H. W. Smith to settle with us perma- nently. The call was accepted, and he began his labors Oct. 1, 1880, and is the present pastor. The church holds worship in McDuffee Hall.
Methodist Episcopal Church.1-Rev. Warren Ban-
. 1 By John S. Parsons.
730
HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
ister and Rev. Ebenezer Blake were the first Meth- the practice of medicine in connection with his work as pastor. Of his success in either direction but little is known, although he is spoken of as a strong preacher. Rev. John F. Adams was preacher in charge during 1819 and 1820. He labored faithfully odist ministers who preached in Rochester. The first sermon was preached in a school-house in 1807, on what is now called the main road. There were at first preaching services once in four weeks on week evenings. There being no visible fruit following the 'and successfully. In 1820 he was given Rev. S. Nor- Jabors of the two above-mentioned ministers, they de- termined, after one more trial, to abandon Rochester for some more promising field. In the mean time, however, three persons professed religion, and the meetings were continued. The first class-meeting was organized about sunrise at the residence of Paul Place. In 1808, Rev. L. Bates and Rev. E. F. Newell were appointed preachers in charge of the Tuftonbor- ough Circuit, and continued to hold meetings in this town. The first Quarterly Conference held in Roches- ter met at the house of Paul Place. This year C. Dame opened his house on the Plains for preaching. The growth of the society was such that in the course of the year it became necessary to organize a second class-meeting. Rev. H. Field and Rev. A. Taylor were stationed on the Tuftonborough circuit in 1809. Mr. Field devoted most of his time to this section. During Mr. Field's ministry the court-house was opened for preaching, and very large congregations attended the services. In 1810 Rochester became a separate appointment under the name of "Norway Plains," and Rev. H. Field was returned as the pas- tor. About this time a little opposition was organized to the Methodists. A great crowd came together for the purpose of mobbing the preacher. Mr. Field selected Thomas Wentworth and David McDaniels as guards, and went as usual to meet his appointment. His enemies, seeing that he was not to be intimidated by threats, failed to carry their design into execution. Rev. L. Frost was the preacher in charge in 1811. At the close of his pastorate we have the first record of membership now to be found. The church at this time consisted of ninety-one members. Rev. A. Clark was appointed pastor in 1812. No marked religious interest was manifest this year; the membership, however, increased to one hundred and eight. About this time we find a commencement made in the mat- ter of financial records. In 1813, Rev. J. Samborn was appointed pastor. He was a young man of marked ability. His labors were crowned with suc- cess. Rev. H. Morey was the preacher in charge in 1814.
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