History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 194

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1714

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 194
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 194

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John Reyner, sixth minister, came to America in or near 1635, settled in Plymouth, Mass., in 1636, left that place in November, 1654, and settled in Dover in 1655. " He was a man of meek and humble spirit, sound in the truth, and every way irreproachable in his life and conversation." During the last few years of his life he was assisted by his son and successor, John Reyner, Ir. He died April 20, 1669, aged sixty- nine. , His will was dated April 19th, and proved June 30th, his widow Frances being executrix. He owned and bequeathed an estate in the parish of Batly, York- shire, England.

John Reyner, Jr., seventh minister, son of John Reyner, his predecessor, was born, probably, in Ply- mouth in 1643; graduated at Harvard College in 1663, and became assistant to his father about 1667. Upon his father's death he was invited, July 22, 1669, to become pastor, and continued to officiate, but was not regularly settled until July 12, 1671. He died at Dr. Belknap was distinguished for his literary at- tainments and beloved for his personal character. He was an ardent patriot in the Revolution, and by his writings and correspondence did eminent service. Braintree, Mass., Dec. 21, 1676, " of a cold and fever," says Hull. " that he took in the field among the sol- diers." His wife was Judith, daughter of Edmund Quincy, of Braintree. Of him it is said, "he pos- . He published numerous works, the best known of sessed a double portion of his father's spirit." which is his " History of New Hamsphire."

John Pike, eighth minister, was born in Salisbury, Mass., May 15, 1645; graduated at Harvard College in 1675, came to Dover "for the work of the minis- try," Nov. 1, 1678, and was settled Ang. 31, 1681. Ile was absent some of the time during his settlement here on account of the Indian wars, but he died here in the pastorate, March 10, 1709-10. His wife, Sarah, daughter of Rev. Joshua Moody, died Jan. 24, 1702-3. His will was dated March 6, 1709-10. "He was esteemed as an extraordinary preacher, and a man of true godliness."

Nicholas Sever, ninth minister, was born in Rox- bury, Mass., April 15, 1680; graduated at Harvard College in 1701, and was ordained at Dover, April 11,

on account of an almost total loss of voice. In 1716 he was appointed tutor in Harvard College, where he remained for twelve years. Not long after he was ap- pointed judge of Court of Common Pleas in Plymouth County, Mass., a station for which he proved himself eminently qualified. He died April 7, 1764.

Prior to his settlement the regular meetings of the | Sabbath had been held at Dover Neck, but Mr. Sever preached partly at Cochecho. The third meeting-house was erected on Pine Hill, about 1713, but the old one at the Neck stood until about 1720.

Jonathan Cushing, tenth minister, was born in Hingham, Mass., Dec. 20, 1690 ; graduated at Harvard | College in 1712, and was ordained pastor of this church Sept. 18, 1717 ; during most of his ministry he preached at Cochecho ; he died March 25, 1769, having had a colleague for the two years previous, He "sustained the character of a grave and sound preacher, a kind, peaceable, prudent, and judicious pastor, a wise and faithful friend." During his ministry one hundred and thirty-three were added to the church, of whom nine were by letter.

The fourth meeting-house was dedicated Dec. 13, 1758, and stood upon the site of the present house ; the former one was sold in pursuance of a vote passed Nov. 26, 1759. The parish was incorporated distinct from the town June 11, 1762.

Jeremy Belknap, D.D., eleventh minister, was born In his time extra services were held at Cochecho on the Sabbath in the winter for several years, William by the town to preach there. in Boston, Mass., June 4, 1744; graduated at Harvard College in 1762; was ordained colleague with Mr. Wentworth, an elder of the church, being employed ! Cushing, Feb. 18, 1767, and became sole pastor in 1769. Ile married Ruth Eliot, June 15, 1767. His connection ceased Sept. 11, 1786, and he was installed pastor of the Federal Street Church in Boston (after- wards Dr. Channing's) April 4, 1787; he died of a paralytic attack June 20, 1798. In his ministry here forty-three were added to the church, of whom five were by letter.

Robert Gray, twelfth minister, was born in Andover, Mass., Oct. 9, 1761, graduated at Harvard College in 1786, and was ordained over this church Feb. 28, 1787. He married, March 27, 1787, Lydia Tufts, of Charlestown, Mass. His connection as pastor ceased May 20, 1805. He preached afterwards in the west- ern part of Barrington, though he was never again settled, and died in Wolfborough, N. H., Aug. 25, 1822. During his ministry thirty-four were added to the church.

Caleb Hamilton Shearman, thirteenth minister, was born in Brimfield, Mass., in 1779; graduated at Brown University in 1803; was ordained at Dover May 6, 1807, and dismissed May 7, 1812. He left

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Dover about 1815, went to Charleston, S. C., and | Wareham, Mass., Dec. 19, 1806; graduated at Am- afterwards to New York State, where he died. Six - persons are recorded as having united with the church during his ministry.

Joseph Ward Clary, fourteenth minister, was born in Rowe, Mass., Nov. 21, 1786; graduated at Middle- bury College in 1808, received his theological educa- tion at Andover, and was ordained pastor of this . church May 7, 1812. He was dismissed, by mutual council, Aug. 6, 1828, and on the 29th of November was installed pastor at Cornish, N. H. ; he resigned his pastoral charge in 1834, and died April 13, 1835, " a good and pious man, a serious and faithful pas- tor." Mr. Clary was reinterred Dec. 19, 1835, in Pine Hill burying-ground, by desire of this church. During his ministry sixty-nine united with the church.

IFubbard Winslow, D.D., LL.D., fifteenth minis- ter, was born in Williston, Vt., Oct. 30, 1799; gradu- ated at Yale College in 1825, received his theological education at New Haven and Andover, and was or- dained pastor Dec. 4, 1828. In the midst of a prom- ising revival his health failed and he was obliged to leave the place; he was dismissed by council Nov. 30, 1831. During his ministry and previous to the settlement of his successor, one hundred and eighty were added to this church, of whom thirty-one were by letter. Mr. Winslow was installed pastor of the Bowdoin Street Church in Boston Sept. 26, 1832, and dismissed in March, 1844. He was in active service many years, especially in charge of seminaries for the liberal education of young ladies. He published various works, mainly educational. He died at Wil- liston, Vt .. Aug. 13, 1864, aged sixty-five.

David Root, sixteenth minister, was born in Pier- mont, N. 11., June 17, 1791 ; graduated at Middle- bury College in 1816; received his theological educa- tion principally under the direction of Dr. N. S. S. Beman, late of Troy, N. Y .; labored as a missionary some time in Georgia; was ordained pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sept. 4, 1819; resigned his charge in 1832, and was installed pastor of this church Feb. 6, 1833; his con- nection ceased Sept. 4, 1839. During his ministry ; here one hundred and sixty-six were added to the church, of whom thirty-nine were by letter. Mr. Root settled in Waterbury, Conn., in 1840, and after- wards at Guilford. He died in Chicago, Ill., Aug. 30, 1873, aged eighty-three.

Jeremiah Smith Young, seventeenth minister, was born in Whitestown, N. Y., Sept. 10, 1809; received his theological education at Andover, where he grad- . uated in 1839; was ordained here Nov. 20, 1839 ; his connection was dissolved September, 1843, in conse- quence of ill health, and he never afterwards settled. During his ministry one hundred and eighty united with the church, of whom thirty-four were by letter. He died in Somerville, Mass., April 26, 1861, aged fifty-two.

herst College in 1831, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1834; was ordained pastor of the Second Church in Middleboro', Mass., June 1, 1836 ; left that place in 1842; was stated supply at Norton, Mass., for three years, and was installed pastor of this church July 9, 1845. Ilis connection was terminated by a mutual council held July 6, 1852. During his pastorate fifty-eight were added to the church, of whom twenty-seven were by letter. Mr. Barrows was installed pastor of the church in Wareham, Mass., Oct. 27, 1852, and was afterwards, from 1859 to 1869, acting pastor at Plaistow, N. H. He now resides at Andover, Mass.

Benjamin Franklin Parsons, nineteenth minister, was born in Wiscasset, June 22, 1820; graduated at Bowdoin College in 1841 ; received his theological education at New York and Bangor, graduating at Bangor Theological Seminary in 1846. He was or- dained as the first minister of the Congregational Church at Watertown, Wis., Jan. 25, 1847 ; installed as first pastor of the First Church at Waukegan, Il., Nov. 1, 1848; resigned his charge in October, 1852, and was installed pastor of this church Jan. 12, 1853. He was dismissed Sept. 3, 1856, and at once became pastor of the Belknap Church in this city, from which he was dismissed Oct. 24, 1861. He is still in minis- terial service, and from November, 1874, has been acting pastor of the church in Woonsocket, R. I. ; his home is in Derry, N. H. During his ministry here forty-one were added to the church.

Elias Huntington Richardson, twentieth minister, was born in Lebanon, N. H., Aug. 11, 1827; gradu- ated at Dartmouth College in 1850, and at Andover in 1853; was ordained pastor of the church in Goff's- town, N. H., May 18, 1854; dismissed Oct. 30, 1856. He was installed over this church Dec. 10, 1856, and dismissed Dec. 10, 1863. He was settled in Provi- dence, R. I., Dee. 30, 1863, afterwards in Westfield, Mass., and in 1872 became pastor of the First Church in Hartford, Conn., where he still remains. During his ministry ninety were added to the church, and thirty by him after he was dismissed.

Avery Skinner Walker, twenty-first minister, was born in Union Square, Osage Co., N. Y., Oct. 15, 1829; graduated at Oberlin College in 1854, and at Union Theological Seminary in 1857. He was or- dained by the Third New York Preshytery, June 14, 1857, and was acting pastor at Lodi, N. Y., from 1875 to June, 1860. He was installed pastor at Roekville, Conn., Feb. 13, 1861, dismissed Sept. 20, 1864, and was installed over this church Nov. 16, 1864. He was dismissed Sept, 7, 1868, and was installed pastor at Fairhaven, Mass., from which place he removed to Gloversville, N. Y., where he is still pastor of its Presbyterian Church. Seventy were added to the church during his ministry.

George Burley Spalding, twenty-second minister, Homer Barrows, eighteenth minister, was born in ' was born in Montpelier, Vt., Aug. 11, 1835; gradu-

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DOVER.

ated at the University of Vermont in 1856, studied law at Tallahassee, Fla., entered the Union Theolog- ieal Seminary, New York City, in 1858, remaining two years, graduated at Andover Theological Semi- nary in 1861 ; was ordained and installed as minister at Vergennes, Vt., Oct. 5, 1861, dismissed Aug. 1, 1864; installed over the North (now Park) Church in Hart- ford, Conn., Sept. 28, 1864, dismissed March 23, 1869 ; installed over the First Church in Dover, N. H., Sept. 1, 1869.

Rev. Dr. Belknap says that "mention is made of persons with the title of elders from 1647 to 1662, and it appears that there were three elders, viz .: Nutter, Wentworth, and Starbuck." (They were called elders as early as 1638. and probably were chosen when the church was organized.)

Elders: Hatevil Nutter, died 1675; Edward Star- buck, left Dover 1659, and went to Nantucket ; died Dec. 4, 1690, aged eighty-six ; William Wentworth, died March 16, 1697, aged eighty-one.

Deacons : 1655, John Hall, died about 1693, aged seventy-two; 1675, John Dame, died Jan. 27, 1690;1 1717, Oct. 15, Gershom Wentworth, died Marel 2, 1731, aged eighty-two; 1717, Oct. 15, Samuel Tebbetts, died Dec. 9, 1738; 1731, March 2, John Hayes,2 died July 3, 1759, aged seventy-three; 1745, April 11, John Wood, died July 27, 1773, aged sixty-five; 1758, April 20, Shadrach Hodgdon, died Nov. 1, 1791, aged eighty-two; 1758, April 20, Daniel Ilam, deposed July 6, 1774, died 1803, aged eighty-nine; 1769, Dec. 27, Thomas Hayes, died April 7, 1774, aged fifty-nine; 1774, June 12, Ephraim Kimball, died March 19, 1792, aged sixty-six; 1780, Nov. 5, Benja- min Peirce, died Sept. 12, 1823, aged eighty; 1790, -, Ezra Green, dismissed Feb. 13, 1829, died July 25, 1847, aged one hundred and one years and twenty- seven days; 1823, -, John Wingate Hayes, left Dover 1838, died Nov. 11, 1845, aged sixty-eight; 1829, -, Peter Cushing (2), died June 6, 1874, aged seventy-eight; 1838, Dec. 30, Andrew Peirce, died Sept. 4, 1862, aged seventy-six ; 1838, Dec. 30, Edmund J. Lane; 1838, Dee. 30, Isaac A. Porter, dismissed to Belknap Church April 24, 1856, died April 15, 1860, aged eighty-one; 1858, Aug. 9, Joshua Banfield, re- moved to Hampton 1867, died March 20, 1869, aged sixty-six; 1869, Jan. 19, Nathaniel Low; 1869, Jan. 19, James H. Wheeler; 1869, Jan. 19, Alvah Moul- ton; 1874, Oct. 27, Oliver Wyatt; 1874, Oct. 27, George Quint, died Oct. 22, 1877; 1878, Jan. 15, John R. Varney, died May 2, 1882; 1878, Jan. 15, John R. Ham.

The first meeting-house was erected in 1634 or earlier, and stood near the Beck Cove, on the western slope of the Neck. The second was built on the spot where the remnant of the fortifications once around

1 No names of elders or deacons appear on the records from 1697 to 1717.

2 John Hayes, Sr., died in Dover, 1708. Deacon Johu Hayes "was first-born of the Pilgrim Fathers of the New Hampshire Hayes family."

it still remains. In 1653 it was to be "forty foote ; longe, twenty-six foote wide, sixteen foot studd, with six windows, two doores fitt for such a house, with a tile covering, and to planck all the walls, with glass and nails for it."

The order for the fortifieation was :

"4, 5 mo., 1667. It is Agried with Capt. Coffin to Build the forte about the meeting house on dover neck, on [one] hundred foot square with two Sconces of sixteen foot squre and all the timber to [be] twelfe Inches thieke and the Wall to be Eight foot hige [high ] with sells and Braces, and the selleektmen with the melletorey officers have agreed to pay him an hundred pounds in day workes at 2s 6d p day and alsoe to all persons Concerned in the workes on day to help to Rayse the work at so many on day as he shall appoynt."

The earthwork in which this timber was set is still well preserved.

This house was standing in a ruinous state in 1720. The second meeting-house was probably built little after the year 1700, for Mr. Sever, who was settled in 1711, and dismissed in 1715, preached in both houses. This house was sold in pursuance of a vote of the town, passed Nov. 26, 1759, and was taken down in 1760. It stood on Pine Hill, on land now inelosed in the burying-ground, very near its northern boundary, and a little west of north of the tomb of the Cushing family. The third meeting-house was erected in 1758, and dedicated Dec. 13, 1758, and stood where the present house stands. Feb. 16, 1829, the parish voted to sell the old meeting-house. The northern end was taken off and converted by the purchaser into a dwelling-house, and now stands on the east side of Court Street, near the brook. The remainder of the house was taken down in April. The fourth and present meeting-house was erected in 1829, dedi- eated Dee. 30, 1829, and cost about twelve thousand dollars. The parish was incorporated as a parish dis- trict from the town by an aet of the Provincial Assen- bly, passed June 11th.

Society of Friends .- The first mention we find of any Quakers in Dover, in any history, is that in 1662 three traveling sisters were whipped out of town by order of Maj. Wallerne (a copy of Maj. Walderne's order may be found in the collections of the New Hampshire Historical Society, vol. ii. p. 45). Dr. Belknap remarks in his "History of New Hamp- shire" that the Friends onee comprised a third part of the population of the town. Their numbers now are quite respectable. The first "meeting" of Friends in this town was established at Dover Neck as early as 1680, where their first meeting-house was built prior to the year 1700. It stood about half a mile north of the one built by the First Parish two hun- dred years ago, and was taken down about the year 1770. (The frame and principal materials of this house were taken across the river, and rebuilt for a Friends' Society in Kittery, now Eliot, where it now

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HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

stands.) And the one now occupied by the society in this village was erected about the same time. Pre- vious to this, however, they had a small house on Silver Street, which was built prior to 1720, for it ap- pears by their records that in December of that year they " agreed to repair their house at Cochecho." ·

This house stood where the residence of Jacob K. Pnrinton now stands. At that time they held meet- ing at Dover Neck as well as Cochecho. The first "Monthly Meeting" was set up in 1702, and their records extend back to that time. The first " Quar- terly Meeting" was established in 1708.

Methodist Episcopal Church .- In 1819 the first Methodist meetings for worship were held at a small village which then existed some two miles up the river from the present city proper, called the Upper Factory, where was a small manufacturing establish- ment.

Rev. John Lord, since a prominent minister in Maine, now deceased, seems to have visited this local- ity and preached to the people, organizing a class, and subsequently a Sunday-school. "Reformation" John Adams also visited and labored among them, as did Mr. C. G. Chase, a local preacher of excellent repu- tation, who was for many years after an influential and nseful man in this church. Thomas Greenhalgh, a calico-printer, employed at his art in the very begin- ning of what is now the Cocheco Print-Works, and an

I : 1829, Rev. Bartholomew Otheman came to English local preacher, also labored with them. The Dover as the successor of Mr. Hoyt. The number in church when Mr. Otheman left, in 1830, was two hundred and twelve.

late Solomon Gray and the late George W. Wendell, of Great Falls, both resided at the Upper Factory at this time, and were pioneers in Methodism in Dover. Father Gray was a class-leader, and probably the first in that office in this church.

Dover was erected into a distinct charge in 1823. Rev. Jotham Horton was appointed as the preacher ; admitted to the Conference in 1820. He preached al- ternately at the Upper Factory and in the old court- house at the village.

Measures were taken in 1824-Mr. Horton's second year-for the erection of a house of worship. A lot of land (that on which the present house stands) was procured of the heirs of the celebrated Maj. Richard Walderne, whose grave is in the immediate vicinity. It was donated on condition that it should be used only and always for the sacred purpose to which it was devoted. The committee appointed to conduct the enterprise conveyed the lot and buildings in due form and time by deed to the trustees of the society as a legal corporation.

ganization was formed, according to the usage of those days. The trustees were appointed by this so- ciety for many years. They were nominated by the pastor, and so far were in accordance with the disci- pline of the church. The first board of trustees were Joseph Smith, Lewis B. Tibbetts, Barnabas H. Pal- mer, Richard Walker, George Piper, George W. Edgerly, and Theodore Littlefield. Rev. Benjamin R. Hoyt, the presiding eller, acted as moderator at the meeting at which the legal society was formed.

Rev. B. R. Hoyt was appointed to "Dover and Somersworth," but confined his attention to Dover, and labored with great acceptance and success two years.

The parsonage-house was built during Mr. Hoyt's administration. It was commenced in 1828, and finished the next year. The first notice we find of the "vestry," in any document, is that a meeting of the " society" for business was held in it May 1, 1827.

In 1827 two hundred members are reported, and in 1828 only sixty-one, evidently some mistake. In 1829, when Mr. Hoyt's labors closed, the number is reported as one hundred and twenty-five.

Rev. John F. Adams was appointed presiding elder as the successor of Rev. B. R. Hoyt, when the latter came to the Dover charge in 1827. He served four years.

The Quarterly Conference records-the earliest of which in our possession is of the date of Dec. 22, 1828, with J. F. Adams as presiding elder and B. R. Hoyt preacher in charge-give no account of minis- ters' claims as estimated or paid, or other general expenses of the church. The first note of preacher's salary, then called " claim" or "estimate," I find is in 1841, when the whole amount was four hundred and fifty-six dollars.

Rev. John G. Dow was stationed at Dover, as the successor of Mr. Otheman, and served two years. The church was enlarged by the addition of sixteen and a half feet to the rear end. The vestry was also enlarged and the whole inclosure fenced. Arrange- ments were made for liquidating the debt still re- maining on the parsonage. One hundred and twenty- five persons are recorded as admitted to the church within the two years of Mr. Dow's labors. He bap- tized ninety-six persons. Membership in 1832, two hundred and seventy-four.

The church was not quite completed when Mr. Horton's term of service expired. Rev. John N. Rev. R. H. Deming came in 1832, and remained one year. Some additions were made to the church under his labors, but the records are very scanty. He He was followed by Rev. Homes Cushman. He left the charge before the close of the year. Num- ber of members reported at the end of this year, two hundred and twenty-five. Rev. Jared Perkins was Maffitt was appointed his successor. Ilis ministry, owing to his remarkable and peculiar eloquence, se- enred much attention. The church was finished and : left a membership of three hundred and thirty-six. dedicated by Rev. Ephraim Wiley, of Boston, April 28, 1825. Mr. Maffitt remained in the pastorate two Conference years. During his ministry in 1827, Janu- ary 28th, a regular "legal society" or parish or-

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the next pastor. It was during this time that the great agitation of the public mind on the slavery question began to cause considerable trouble and dis- turbance in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Perkins sympathized strongly with the growing anti- slavery sentiment of the time, and readily admitted to his church and pulpit Rev. George Storrs, who came to lecture on the sin of slavery, the "vilest that ever saw the sun." It was on such an occasion that an attempt was made to mob Mr. Storrs, when Mr. Perkins and Rev. Mr. Root, pastor of the Congre- gational Church, with other friends, led the lecturer between them safely through the raging rabble to the pastor's house. Mr. Perkins began his labors in 1833, and closed his two years in 1835. The men- bership in 1835 is reported as two hundred and twenty-five. Rev. Eleazer Smith was appointed to the charge as Mr. Perkins' successor in 1835, but by a peculiar arrangement the latter was permitted to remain in Dover a third year, and Mr. Smith served at Great Falls, to which charge Mr. Perkins had been appointed.

Rev. E. Smith became pastor in fact after Mr. Per- kins, as he had been in name for the year before. This was in 1837. Rev. Silas Greene was appointed as his successor in 1838. He labored two years with great acceptance. He returned a membership of three hundred and fourteen in 1839.

Rev. J. G. Dow was the presiding elder from the Conference of 1832 to that of 1836, and Schuyler Chamberlain succeeded him in 1837, and served till 1840.

At the Conference of 1840 Rev. E. Scott was ap- pointed pastor. Through his efforts a fine bell was placed in the church tower, and many other improve- ments were effected.

The New Hampshire Conference held its annual session in Dover in 1841. The bishop presiding was Rev. Joshua Soule, D.D.

Rev. Elijah Mason was appointed pastor next after Mr. Scott, in 1842. Ile remained two years, and was generally respected as an able and devoted minister, but these were troublous times in the country and in the church. The anti-slavery agitation and the ex- citement attendant upon the preaching of William Miller, and the predictions of the coming of Christ and the end of the world in 1843 were more or less sources of controversy and party feeling in the Dover Church.

Besides, unfortunately, just at this time there arose · service.

" no small stir" among the people on the question of ! instrumental music in the church. This last matter resulted in a very bitter controversy, and was un- doubtedly tbe real cause, if not the occasion, of the extensive secession which took place during Mr. Ma- son's second year, 1843. That the question of slavery in the church, and the policy of the church on that matter, as well as the "Second Advent" excitement, contributed their share in disaffection and alienation

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History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 194

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1714

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1714