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 195
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 195
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may be very true, yet it is evident that no division would have resulted but for the agitation on that fruitful source of difficulty, church music. As it was, some sixty members withdrew from the church. This secession finally organized into a "True Wesleyan" Church, and built a small chapel on Charles Street (now the Charles Street Free-Will Baptist Church), where they flourished for a while. Like similar movements elsewhere, however, it soon came to naught. Some few of those good people came back to the old church, some scattered among other de- nominations.
Rev. Jacob Stevens succeeded Mr. Mason in 1844, and labored two years. March 15, 1845, there were two hundred scholars in the Sunday-school.
Rev. Samuel Kelley came to this charge as the suc- cessor of Mr. Stevens in 1846. Mr. Kelley's two years were prosperous. The church was repaired at a cost of about $900.
Rev. Charles N. Smith followed Mr. Kelley as pastor in 1848, and continued two years. Membership, 173 in full; 41 probationers.
Rev. Justin Spaulding followed Mr. Smith in 1850, and served two years. Number of members in 1851, 180; probationers, 10; Sunday-school scholars, 228; raised for missions, $51. At the close of his second year, in 1852, members, 160, a loss of 20, probably by a needed revision of the records; probationers, 19; Sunday-school scholars, 230; raised for missions, $105; salary, $500.
Rev. J. C. Cromack came to the charge in 1852. He served two years. He had some revival, and left the church in good condition. His salary was $550, the largest ever paid up to this time. He reports at the elose of his ministry in 1854, members, 212; pro- bationers, 38; Sunday-school scholars, 240; raised for missions, $185.
Rev. Lewis Howard was Mr. Cromack's successor, coming in 1854. He served two years. He reports at the close of his second year, members, 220; proba- tioners, 6; Sunday-school scholars, 230; missionary money, $50.
Rev. F. A. Hewes was Mr. Howard's successor. He died in 1860 at South Newmarket, and was buried in our cemetery at Pine Hill. He reported at the elose of his service, members, 225; probationers, 8; total, 233; raised for missions, $71; number of Sun- day-school scholars, 233. The church was frescoed and some other repairs effected during Mr. Hewes'
Rev. Calvin Holman came to the pastorate in 1858. He served one year, and was then appointed presiding elder of Dover District. The salary was advanced to $700 this year. Members in 1859, 252; probationers, 47; total, 299, a gain of 66 during the year ; Sunday- school scholars, 375, a larger number than at any previous time ; missionary money, $73.10.
Rev. James M. Buckley came in May, 1859. He reported at the conclusion of his two years, members,
832
HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
293; probationers, 50; total, 343, a gain of 44 in two years.
Rev. Dudley P. Leavitt came in 1861, and served two years. At the close of his first year a total mem- bership of 207, 19 of them being probationers. Num- ber of scholars in Sunday-school, 310; raised for mis- sions, $115.
Mr. Leavitt was followed by Rev. Linville J. Hall, who served two years. During his terms the old vestry was abandoned, and a new and commodious chapel erected on the eastern side of the church, at a cost of more than $2000. It contained a principal room, seating some 200 persons, used for general prayer- meetings, and two fine class-rooms,
The parsonage also was removed to the site of the old vestry, and brought to face St. John Street. An addition was built on the rear, and the whole building greatly improved in capacity and convenience. He reports at the elose of his labors in 1865, 299 mem- bers and 26 probationers ; total, 325. Sunday-school scholars, 241, and 890 raised for missions.
In April, 1865, the New Hampshire Annual Con- ference held its session in the Dover Church, Bishop Ames presiding.
Rev. O. H. Jasper was appointed to the charge from this Conference. IIe served two years, con- manding the respect and confidence of the church and the community by his ability as a preacher and his faithful pastoral administration. The indebted- ness of the society for the removal of the parsonage and the building of the new chapel was liquidated. It being the occasion of the celebration of the cen- tenary (A.D. 1867) of American Methodism, the peo- ple appropriated their contributions in this direction. Mr. Jasper reports at the close of his labors, mem- bers, 250; probationers, 22; total, 272. Another sifting of the membership had evidently taken place. The Sunday-school numbered 280. The largest sum was raised for missions of any year up to this time, $300. Mr. Jasper left the church in a healthy con- dition.
Rev. James Pike was appointed presiding elder, as Mr. Manson's successor, in 1867. He served four years from that date.
Rev. R. S. Stubbs came as Mr. Jasper's successor in 1867. He had two good years. An extensive re- vival was enjoyed during his labors, which added considerable strength to the church. He reports at the close of his second year, in 1869, 259 members and 70 probationers.
Mr. Stubbs was naturally desirous of remaining a third year in our pastorate, but this arrangement did not meet the approval of the "official board," that body having taken the ground that the old rule of two years should still be the maximum limit of pastoral service in the Dover Church. Mr. Stubbs was re- moved ostensibly on this ground, and naturally there was considerable discontent among some of the people, but no serious injury resulted.
Rev. James Thurston was appointed as the successor of Mr. Stubbs in 1869. Hle remained two years. He was received with unexpected cordiality, and sustained by a strong official board and a generous people. He hopes his ministry, so pleasant to himself and family, was not without its good fruits to the church and peo- ple. He found a large list of probationers left by his predecessor,-70 in number,-but was not able with his best efforts to find many of them, or to lead a large number of those he did find to full Christian life and church-membership. Mr. Thurston's health was very poor during a part of his term of service, and failed entirely just at the close of his second year. He re- ports at the Conference of 1870, members, 310; pro- bationers, 8; Sunday-school scholars, 263; collected for all benevolent purposes, $600, $300 being for mis- sions. This was the largest sum ever yet raised for church benevolences. The salary was $1300, the same as it had been for some three or four years previous.
Rev. O. II. Jasper, D.D., was appointed presiding elder at the expiration of Mr. Pike's term in 1871. Ile served four years, having his residence in Dover.
In 1871, Rev. M. C. Brittain, who had been trans- ferred from the Baltimore Conference, was stationed at Dover. Owing to habits of intemperance, which he said he had formed in the navy, in which he had served as a chaplain, he resigned the charge at the re- quest of the official board and the presiding elder in December. Ile removed from the city soon after his resignation. The church was deeply affected with grief at this unfortunate event, but treated Mr. Brit- tain with the greatest kindness, and bore with him some time with charitable hopes of his reforma- tion, which was of no avail, notwithstanding his strong promises and feeble efforts.
By request of the Quarterly Conference, and with the general coneurrenee of the church and con- gregation, the presiding elder appointed Rev. James Thurston, who is still residing in this city, as a super- numerary minister, to assume the pastoral charge of the church. Taking charge in January, he acted as pas- tor the rest of the Conference year, preaching ocea- sionally as he was able, but supplying the pulpit by help from abroad most of the time. This sad episode in our history resulted in less harm to the society than was feared, though a source of some discouragement and a slight loss.
In 1872, Rev. C. W. Millen was appointed pastor, and reappointed in 1873. A new house for the so- ciety's use on the IIedding camp-ground was erected at a cost of $400. Mr. Millen reports at the Confer- ence of 1844, members, 290; probationers, 19; total, 309. Sunday-school scholars, 302. Mr. Millen's salary was $1500.
Rev. Wilber F. Crafts came in 1874. Numbers in church in 1875, 265; probationers, 80; total, 345; a gain of 55. Sunday-school scholars, 353. Raised for missions, $218, $41 of which was by the Women's For- | eign Mission Society.
833
DOVER.
The juvenile department of the Sunday-school was organized as a separate, though not independent branch, under the direction and care of Mrs. Crafts.
Rev. O. W. Scott came to the charge after Mr. Crafts, in 1875.
It was decided early in the first year of Mr. Scott's labors to build a new church. This enterprise was commenced in August, 1875, and the elegant struc- ture which now stands on the site of the old edifice was completed and dedicated to God by Bishop Fos- ter, Sept. 6, 1876.
The old church, which had served its purpose for fifty years, though unsuitable for the uses of the soci- ety on account of limited capacity and ill adaptation in style and convenience, was yet dear to the older members of the church, and given up with natural reluctance.
The last service in it was held on Sunday, Ang. 1, 1875. The service of the laying of the corner-stone was observed on the 2d of October, 1875, under the direction of Rev. Dr. Barrows, presiding elder of Dover District, who gave an address and laid the stone. The prayer for this service in the ritual was offered by Rev. J. Thurston. The singing was by the choir of the church, led by John S. Hayes. A large congregation attended, and the service was sol- emn and impressive. The stone contains documents giving an account of the building and demolition of the old edifice, the names of the present pastor, pre- siding elder, church officials, building committee, city papers, coins, etc., closely scaled up in a copper box.
The new church was dedicated Sept. 6, 1876. It is built of brick, with basement entirely above ground. It is 56 feet wide and 100 feet long, exclusive of the chancel and tower projections, which make its entire length about 120 feet. Its walls from the ground are 45 feet high, and the tower, which is at one corner, has a height of 140 feet. The tower con- tains a chime of nine bells, with an aggregate weight of 8600 pounds, costing about $3600. These bells are of excellent tone. This is the only chime of bells in a Methodist Church in the world, except the Metro- politan at Washington. The basement contains a complete set of church rooms. Aside from the en- tries it has a lecture-roomn, with seats for abont 600 persons ; a smaller vestry, with 175 sittings ; a library- room, opening into both these apartments, for the ac- commodation of both the adult and juvenile divisions of the Sunday-school; a completely appointed kitchen, a parlor for the ladies' circle. The organ was built by Hutchins & Plaisted, of Boston, and cost $3000. The church will seat nearly 1000 persons. The entire cost of the building with furniture is $35,700.
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Rev. Morris W. Prince was appointed as the suc- cessor of Mr. Scott, and remained till 1879. L. C. Field was pastor from 1879 to 1880; C. E. Hall, 1880 -81. In the last nine years the superintendents of the Sunday-school have been William A. . Morrill,
Emulus Thompson, Harrison Haley, James A. Horne, and E. T. Brigham.
The First Universalist Society was organized March 23, 1825, on which occasion Jonathan Locke was chairman, and J. H. Curtis, clerk. ITiram Rol- lins, N. W. Ela, Joseph Badger, and John Moore were also prominent members. This society was reor- ganized in 1837, under the name of the First Univer- salist of Dover. They have a neat house of worship, pleasantly situated in Third Street. It was erected in 1837, and dedicated December 8th same year. It cost two thousand eight hundred dollars. Rev. Rufns O. Williams was their pastor. Ile was installed May 23, 1838. Resigned his office May, 1841. A fine-toned bell was placed upon the church November, 1842, at a cost of three hundred and seventy-five dollars. It weighs one thousand three hundred and sixty-five pounds. The church was publicly recognized with appropriate services Dec. 25, 1838. Rev. Eben Francis was born in Boston, May 28, 1819. Began his labors in Dover June 6, 1841 ; ordained pastor Oct. 13, 1841 ; dismissed 1844.
His successors have been W. G. Anderson, 1845-46 ; J. G. Forman, 1847-48; Thomas J. Greenwood, 1848 -58; F. E. Hicks, 1858-61; Benjamin F. Eaton, 1862-66; E. Hewitt, 1868-70; J. Crehore, 1871-73 ; H. W. Hand, 1877-78; J. Gorton, 1878-79.
From June, 1879, there has been no public worship. The house was sold in 1874. But the organization has been preserved, and worship will soon be re- newed. A new and elegant brick church of fine architecture is being erected on Franklin Street by the munificence of Thomas W. Peirce, a former citizen of Dover, in commemoration of his parents. The building is called the "Peirce Memorial Church," and is an ornament to the city.
The First Free-Will Baptist Church. - Some time in or near the year 1824, individuals, members of Free-Will Baptist Churches in the main village and at "Upper Factory," began to assemble at the latter place for religious worship. In 1826 a revival was enjoyed.
Organized Sept. 15, 1826, with twenty-five mem- bers, at the house of Mrs. Webster, at Garrison Hill. Elder Roger Copp was moderator, and Samuel Davis served as clerk. Sept. 2, 1827, the Lord's Supper was administered for the first time by Elder E. Place. Garrison Hill school-house being too small for the assembly, they gathered under some shady oaks near by.
Meetings were held in Garrison Hill school-house, old court-house in opposite direction, in a hall in Sawyer's building on Landing, an unfinished room over the blacksmith-shop on the hill, Main Street, which took the name of "Iron Chapel," at Deacon Jenness' vestry under G. W. Wendell's house, corner of School and Main Streets, at the academy, and in many private dwellings in the village and at Upper Factory.
53
834
HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Oct. 27, 1830, steps were taken to purchase a lot and to ereet a meeting-house on (what is now known as) the corner of Chestnut and Lincoln Streets. This was accomplished at a cost of two thousand dollars, and May 20, 1832, it was dedicated ; sermon by Rev. A. Caverno. The strength and efficiency of the church was essentially in the women who worked in the factories, who, under God, were the soul of the movement in building a house of worship. In Sep- tember, 1834, the church numbered two hundred and fifty.
1838-39 was a time of severe trials, resulting in a division and the formation of a new church (now Washington Street). Under the blessing of God, a precious revival followed.
In 1843, under the labors of Elder Hiram Stevens, the church endured a severe shock from the intense excitement of Millerism, in which the pastor for a time was carried away. It soon recovered, by the help of God, from the injury received. From the unfortunate trials of 1872 and 1873, near the close of Rev. E. A. Stockman's pastorate, it has measurably recovered.
Aug. 17, 1851, the society abandoned its house of worship on Chestnut Street for a new one, remodeled at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars, on Charles Street, since which time three thousand dollars or more have been expended in vestry, repairs, and changes. The church has seen many trials, but it has also seen many precious revivals and many souls converted. Sixteen hundred have been members of the church, as near as can be ascertained by the records. Present number, three hundred and nine. Ot the original members, only three are now living, viz. : Mrs. Vieuna Wendell, William Gray, and Mrs. Dorcas Pray. The latter gave out the first appointment for a Free-Will Baptist meeting in Dover.
Between the pastorates of Stockman and Blake, Brother Louis Malvern supplied six months ; also for one year, from 1834 to 1835, Elders A. Sutton, Jona- than Woodman, Clement Finney, and others sup- plied.
The First Unitarian Society of Christians in
Dover .- The first meeting for forming this society was holden Aug. 28, 1827. The society was organ- ized on the 4th of September following.
The first meeting for public worship was holden at the court-house, November 4th of the same year, when Rev. Henry Ware, Jr., then pastor of the New Brick Church, Hanover Street, Boston, and after- wards Professor of Pulpit Eloquence in Cambridge Divinity School, officiated. The house was built of brick, seventy by eighty-three feet, in the year 1828, situated on Locust Street, opposite head of Kirkland Street, and cost twelve thousand dollars. It was dedicated, and Rev. Samuel Kirkland Lothrop or- dained Feb. 17, 1829. The dedicatory services were performed by Rev. Dr. Nichols, of Portland, and ordi- nation sermon by Rev. Dr. Parker, of Portland. The church was gathered the evening previous.
Mr. Lothrop was born in Utica, N. Y., Oct. 13, 1804, was graduated at Harvard College in 1825, re- ceived his theological education at the Theological School at Cambridge, and was approbated for the ministry August, 1828. Ile was pastor of the church and society until May, 1834. He was succeeded by Rev. Edgar Buckingham, who was ordained Dec. 30, 1835. He resigned June 17, 1839, and removed to Trenton, N. Y. Rev. John Parkman, native of Boston, Mass., graduated at Harvard College in 1831, had been settled in the ministry in Greenfield, Mass., and was installed pastor of this church and society April 22, 1840. He remained until 1849. His sue- cessors have been :
Henry F. Bond, ordained May, 1851.
Edwin M. Wheelock, ordained Jan. 27, 1857, ap- pointed chaplain, October, 1862, of the Fifteenth New Hampshire Volunteers.
Francis E. Abbot, ordained Aug. 31, 1864.
Thomas W. Brown, settled Dec. 15, 1869, left May
Pastors: Andrew T. Foss, in 1827, one year and a , 2, 1875. half; Mayhew Clark, in 1829, short time ; Nathaniel Charles A. Allen, settled Sept. 5, 1875, resigned March 30, 1879. Thurston, in 1831, about three years ; Enoch Mack, October, 1835, to May, 1837; A. D. Smith, June, 1837, W. R. G. Mellen, began labor Oct. 1, 1880. about two years; Aaron Ayer, in 1839, about two Franklin Street Baptist Church was constituted with thirteen members, and recognized in the usual - form by a council on the 23d day of April, 1828. The names of members were John Alden, Samuel Chase, John Roberts, Dorcas Alden, Charity Woodward, Hannah Wentworth, Louisa A. Ayer, John Gould, Joshua W. Bazin, William E. Lord, Mary E. Harris, Sarah Wentworth, Sarah J. Ayer. years; Hiram Stevens, in 1842, about two years; S. ' WV. Perkins, in 1844, some over one year; A. D. Smith, in 1846, three years; A. Caverno, in 1849, to April, 1852; Movers Cole, August, 1852, to May, 1855; A. Caverno, May, 1855, to May, 1856; J. M. Durgin, May, 1856, to April, 1860 ; James Rand, Oct. 14, 1860, to Sept. 29, 1867 ; John Malvern, March, 1868, to Sept. 24, 1871; E. A. Stockman, Nov. 15, 1871, to January, 1873 ; Charles E. Blake, June, 1874, to July, 1875; E. W. Ricker, February, 1876, to ' friends, and as a result of a few Sundays' stay three March, 1882; H. F. Wood, May, 1882.
Before organization, in March, 1828, Rev. Duncan Dunbar was invited to preach to this body of Baptist were baptized on profession of their faith.
Oct. 21, 1829, Brother Elijah Foster was ordained. On the same day the present church edifice was dedi- cated. The Rev. Elijah Foster continued pastor of the church till the spring of 1831, when he received and accepted a call to the pastorate of the First Bap- tist Church of Salisbury and Amesbury, Mass.
835
DOVER.
In December, 1832, Rev. Noah Hooper was elected pastor, and remained until July, 1833, when he was dismissed to become pastor of the Baptist Church of Sanbornton, N. II. At the same meeting of the dis- missal of Rev. Mr. Hooper it was also voted to call Rev. Gibbon Williams to the pastorate. He remained with the church until the summer of 1835, when he accepted the call of the church at Chester.
In November, 1835, Brother Benjamin Brierly was ordained to the work of the ministry and settled as pastor of the church. His stay was nearly two years.
In June, 1838, Brother Lucien Hayden, of Hamilton Theological Seminary, was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, and remained three years.
The successor of Rev. Mr. Hayden was Rev. A. M. Swain, who came to the pastorate of the church in November, 1842, and remained until May, 1844.
In September, 1844, Rev. Oliver Ayer became pastor of the church. He officiated six years and eight months.
Rev. L. D. Hill followed as pastor, coming to the work June 1, 1851, and remaining a little more than two years.
Rev. John Cookson succeeded him March 16, 1854. During his pastorate of one year alterations and im- provements in the house of worship to the amount of $550 were made.
Brother Warren B. Clapp, a licentiate of the Frank- lindale Church, New York, accepted a call from the church, and was ordained as its pastor May 27, 1856. He remained six years.
In August, 1862, Rev. L. D. Hill was again called to the pastorate of this church from Thomaston, Me., and officiated four years.
Deacon John Gould, for thirty-five years an office- bearer in the church, and one of its first deacons, a man greatly loved, died.
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In May, 1867, Rev. Alden Sherwin, of Brattle- boro', Vt., accepted a unanimous call to the pastorate of the church, remaining until October, 1868.
In September, 1869, Rev. William T. Chase com- menced pastoral labors with the church. After four years and two months he was dismissed to the pas- torate of the Baptist Church at Lewiston, Me.
In February, 1874, Rev. A. Bryant was chosen to the pastorate, whose stay extended over a period of a year and two months.
On the 30th of September, 1875, Brother Charles A. Towne was ordained to the work of the ministry, and was settled as pastor of the church. He was dis- missed May, 1881.
Rev. Robert L. Colwell became pastor in October, 1881.
During the first fifty years of its existence there have been added to the church 662 members, 411 of whom were baptized into its fellowship, and the re- mainder by letter and experience. Six of the four- teen pastors of the church are still living and in active service.
The year following the organization of the church the Sunday-school work was taken up, and has been engaged in ever since that time.
Roman Catholic Church .- Mass was first said in this town in the winter of 1826, by Rev. Virgil H. Barber, S.J. Among the prominent pioneer Catho- lies in Dover were William Ashcroft; John Burns, Francis G. O'Neill, Philip F. Scanlan, and William McDevitt.
Services were first held in the court-house. May ' 17, 1828, the corner-stone of the first Catholic Church was laid, and was completed and accepted in June, 1829. It cost $2800. The church was consecrated Sept. 26, 1830, by Rt. Rev. Dr. Dominick Fenwick, of Boston. The rapid growth of the church demanded a more commodious church edifice, and in 1872 the present building was completed.
The first regular pastor of the church was Rev. Father French, in 1827, who remained two years after the erection of the first church edifice, and was suc- ceeded by Rev. Father Lee, M.D., D.D. Ile remained three years, and was followed by Rev. Father Mc- Namee, M.D., D.D. Ile officiated until 1839, and was succeeded by Rev. Father Conovan, who stayed until 1855. Father MeShane came next, succeeded by Father Brady. Next came Father Niccolo, who was followed by Father Drummond, assisted by the Rev. Father Blodgett, a convert, who was given full charge of the parish before he had been here a year on account of the feebleness of Father Drummond.
Father Blodgett was one of the most able and en- terprising priests that ever presided over this parish. It was through him that the New Hampshire House property and the new Catholic cemetery was secured, and, had he lived, he would have erected upon this property one of the finest churches in the State. Father Blodgett died May 15, 1881, and was the first priest to be buried in Dover. Rev. Father Murphy succeeded, and was soon given full charge of the parish, as Father Drummond became demented, and died in October of the present year.
Father Murphy has improved the New Hampshire House property by erecting on it one of the finest parochial schools in the county ; he has also remod- eled the main building of the hotel for a nunnery. The present church is to be improved at once, at an expense of thousands of dollars. New steam-heating apparatus is to be put in, also a set of chime bells, and the church is to be frescoed by one of the best artists in that business. The parsonage has been all remodeled and extended under the supervision of Father Murphy.
St. Thomas' Church .- The first account of services in the vicinity of Dover in accordance with the doc- trine and ritual of the Protestant Episcopal Church of America is to be found in the report of Rev. Henry Blackaller to a convention held at Hopkinton, Wed- nesday, Sept. 8, 1830. Therein he reports a flourish- ing parish by the name of St. Paul's Church, Great
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