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 52
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 52
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207
Isaac Graham, 6th Regt. ; enl. Jan. 5, 1864.
Moses Anderson, Co. I, 6th Regt .; enl. Dec. 31, 1863.
William H. Muzzy, Co. I, 6th Regt .; enl. Dec. 31, 1864; absent, sick, July 17, 1805 ; uo discharge.
James O'Neil, 6th Ragt .; enl. Dec. 31, 1863.
Philip Decowen, Co. E, 7th Regt .; enl. Sept. 22, 1864.
Dennis Johnson, Co. D, 7th Regt .; enl. Sept. 8, 1864; disch. June 16, 1865.
Darius Johnson, Co. D, 7th Regt .; enl. Sept. 12, 1864; disch. June 26, 1865.
Donald Campbell, Co. E, 7th Regt .; eul. Sept. 22, 1864; disch. July 20, 1865.
George H. Fogg, Co. K, 7th Regt .; enl. Aug. 11, 1863; died April 3, 1864.
Almon M. Davis, Co. B, 8tl: Regt .; enl. Dec. 20, 1861 ; disch. July 5, 1862.
Darius D. Johnson, wagoner, Co. D, 8th Regt .; enl. Dec. 20, 1861 ; disch. April 22, 1864.
Newell O. Carr, corp., Co. D, 8th Regt .; enl. Dec. 20, 1861 ; pro. to sergt, April 22, 1862; pro. to 2d lieut. Dec. 16, 1863 ; pro, to Ist lieut. April 1, 1864; not mustered ; disch. as 2d lient. May 22, 1864.
Lyman F. Cate, Co. D, 8th Regt .; eul. Dec. 20, 1861; disch. Jan. 18, 1865.
Oliver B. Hobbs, Co. D, 8th Regt .; enl. Dec. 20, 1861 ; diech. July 5, 1862.
Harland P. Higley, Co. D, 8th Regt .; enl. Dec. 20, 1861; died Nov. 29, 1862.
George W. Kendall, Co. D, 8th Regt .; enl. Dec. 20, 1861 ; re-enl. Jan. 4, 1864, Co. A, V. Bat; disch. Oct 28, 1865
Charles A. Roberts, Co. D, 8th Regt .; enl. Dec. 20, 1861; died Nov. 2, 1862.
Charles E. Rogers, Co. D, 8th Regt .; enl. Dec. 20, 1861; died June 26, 1862.
David Stickney, Co. D, 8th Regt .; enl. Dec. 20, 1861 ; disch. Jau. 18, 1865.
Augustus H. Smith, Co. D, 8th Regt. ; enl. Dec. 26, 1861 ; died Sept. 15, 1862.
George B. Willey, Co. D, 8th Regt .; enl. Dec. 20, 1861; died Nov. 6, 1862.
David G. Kelley, sergt. Co. B, 8th Regt. Vet. Bat .; eul. Jan. 4, 1864; disch. Oct. 8, 1565.
Charles J. Simonds, 201 lieut., Co. K, 9th Regt .; enl. Nov. 1, 1864 ; pro. Ist lieut., Co. A, Feb. 1, 1865; disch. June 10, 1865.
Benjamin H. Perkins, Co. A, 9th Regt. ; enl. July 3, 1862; pro. to corp .; absent, sick, at Manchester, N. H., June 10, 1865; no discharge fur- nished.
John F. Tuttle, Co. A, 9th Ragt .; enl. July 3, 1862; wounded June 18, 1864; disch. with loss of all pay May 15, 1865,
James Sinclair, Co. A, 9th Regt .; enl. July 3, 1862; died Oct. 27, 1863. Horacs C. Bacon, capt., Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Sept. 4, 1862; disch June 11, 1864.
George N. Shepard, Ist lieut., Co. A, Ilthi Regt .; enl. Sept. 4, 1862; pro. capt. May 6, 1864, Co. I ; disch. Juns 4, 1865.
Gilman B. Johnsou, 2d lient., Co. A, 11th Regt. ; enl. Sept. 4, 1802; pro. qr -mr. April 22, 1864 ; disch. June 4, 1864.
Charles E. Bartlett, sergt., Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; pro. 2d lieut. July 25, 1864; pro. Ist lieut. Feb. 17, 1865 ; discb. June 4, 1865.
James S. Plumer, sergt., Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; died of wounds Dec. 16, 1862.
Charles E. Durant, sergt., Cu. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; died Nov. 17, 1862.
Willard Wilson, corp., Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; pro. to Bergt .; disch. May 20, 1865.
Thomas F. Caswell, corp., Co. A, 11th Ragt .; enl. Ang. 28, 1862; pro. to sergt .; died Oct. 30, 1864.
1800-1. William Plumer.
1802-3. Levi Towle.
1804. None elected.
1805-9. Daniel Coffin.
1810. Joseph Shepard.
1863. George N. Shepard.
1864-65. Benjamin S. Clifford. 1866-67. William R. Bunker. 1868-89. Thomas C. Folsom.
1870. James L. Rundlett.
1871-72. James H. Bartlett.
1873-74. Jonathan Bartlett.
1875-76. John Leddy.
1877-78 John O. Edgerley.
1793-97. Jonathan Clerk.
214
HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
John C. Harvey, corp., Co. A, 11th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; trans. to Inv. Corps, Jan. 15, 1864.'
Andrew J. Coffin, musician, Co. A, 11th Regt .; en]. Aug. 28, 1862; pro. principal musician Dec. 26, 1863; disch. June 4, 1865.
Henry S. Dnrgin, musician, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; died Ang. 15, 1863.
Ezekiel B. Brown, Co. A, 11th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; died Dec. 18, 1862.
Frank A. Bartlett, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; disch. June 4, 1865.
David A. Burnham, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; died Juue 9, 1863.
William F. Caswell, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; trans. V. R. C. March 15, 1864 ; disch. Aug. 11, 1865.
George E. Caswell, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; pro. sergt .; disch. June 4, 1865.
John F. Gear, Cu. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; disch. March 6, 1863.
-
Nelson Gillingham, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; disch. June 4, 1865.
George A. Ham, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; disch. Juue 4, 1865.
John H. Ham, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; missing in action at Wilderness, May 6, 1864.
George W. Hopkinson, Co. A, 11th Regt. ; en1. Aug. 28, 1862; trans. Inv. Corps, Sept. 30, 1863.
Albert Knight, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; disch. June 3, 1865.
John H. Kennard, Co. A, 11th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; died Nov. 22, IS62.
Jay P. Little, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Ang. 28, 1862; disch. June 4, 1865. James H. Locke, Co. A, 11th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; trans. to V. R. C. Sept. 1, 1863; disch. Aug. 27, 1865.
David N. Merden, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; diech. June 4, | Jacob Aul, enl. Sept. 2, 1863 ; credited to town ; no further record given. 1565.
George A. Miles, Co. A, 11th Regt. ; enl. Ang. 28, 1862 ; trans. to V. R. C. March 31, 1864; disch. Aug. 28, 1865.
John S. Osgood, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; pro. to corp .; disch. June 4, 1865.
Enoch Parks, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; disch. Juue 4, 1865. Charles E. Parks, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; disch. June 4, 1865,
Charles F. Purrington, Co. A, 11th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; disch. Feb. 4, 1865.
Joshua W. Purrington, Co. A, 11th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; trans. to V. R. C. Sept. 30, 1863 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1865.
John D. Purrington, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; died Dec. 14, 1862. ·
Charlee A. Shepard, Co. A, Ilth Regt .; en1. Aug. 28, 1862 ; disch. June 4, 1865.
Samuel T. Shepard, Co. A, 11th Regt. ; enl. Ang. 28, 1862; trans. to V. R. C. March 31, 1864; disch. Aug. 28, 1865.
James M. Sleeper, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; died Dec. 14, 1862.
Chandler Spinney, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; disch. June 4, 1865.
Charles F. Stickney, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; pro to corp .; killed July 12, 1863.
William C. Tarbox, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862.
Joseph P. Titcomb, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; died March 21, 1864.
Samuel D. Thurston, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; died Feb. 28, 1863.
Henry J. Thurston, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; died Oct. 12, 1863.
Jamce Thurston, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; trans. to V. R. C. Sept. 30, 1863 ; disch. Aug. 28,11865.
William H. Towle, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; disch. Feb. 16, 1863.
George W Tuttle, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; died Jan. 12, 1864.
.
Thos. F. Webb, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; died Dec. 11, 1864. John Willey, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862 ; disch. May 17, 1865. Samuel J. Willey, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; pro. to corp .; disch. June 4, 1865.
John McDonald, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. Dec. 19, 1863; trane. to 6th Regt. June 1, 1865.
Joseph Witham, Co. A, 11th Regt .; enl. March 17, 1865; trans. to 6th Regt. June 1, 1865.
George H. Chesley, Co. B, 11th Regt .; enl. Dec. 7, 1863; died July 2, 1864.
Deunis Coleman, 11th Regt .; enl. July 28, 1864.
William Johnson, 11th Regt .; enl. Dec. 19, 1863.
William Lowring, 11th Regt .; enl. July 26, 1864.
Walter S Kelley, sergt. Co. E, 15th Regt .; enl. Oct. 9, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 13, 1863.
Horace C. Puige, corp. Co. E. 15th Regt .; enl. Oct. 9, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 13, 1863.
Joseph Hennel, Co. E, 15th Regt .; enl. Oct 10, 1862.
James Richards, Co. E, 15th Regt .; enl. Oct. 10, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 13, 1863.
Alphonzo Caswell, Co. C, 18th Regt .; en1. Sept. 14, 1864; disch. June 10, 1865.
Ralph Carr, Co. D, Ist Cav. ; enl. April 22, 1864; died May 15, 1865. John Carr, Ist Cav. ; enl. April 22, 1864.
Peter Foster, let Cav .; enl. Feb. 1, 1864.
Stephen Durgin, Co. F, 2d Regt. U. S. S. S .; enl. Nov. 26, 1861.
John W. E. Robinson, Co. F, 2d Regt. U. S. S. S .; enl. Nov. 26, 1861.
Orrin West, Co. F, 2dl Regt. U. S. S. S .; enl. Nov. 26, 1861 ; re-enl. March
22, 1864; trans. to 5th Regt. Jan. 30, 1865 ; absent, sick, June 28, 1865; no discharge furnished.
Lewis T. Clark, Co. F, U. S. S. S .; enl. Jan. 5, 1864; trans. to 5th Regt. JaD. 30, 1865; disch. May 12, 1865.
Charles Fox, Co. F, U. S. S. S. ; enl. Jan. 5, 1864 : trans. to 5th Regt. Jan. 30, 1865; diech. June 9, 1865.
Matthew Burns, V. R. C ; enl. April 24, 1864; no further record given. Jeremiah Mack, Co. K, 5th Regt .; enl. Oct. 12, 1861 ; disch. March 7, 1863.
James Peacock, Co. H, 11th Regt .; enl. Dec. 5, 1863 ; trans. to V. R. C. April 17, 1865; disch. June 7, 1865.
Henry Catgrover, enl. Sept. 23, 1864; credited to town ; no further record given.
Alexander Seaver, enl. Sept. 13, 1864 ; credited to town ; no further record given.
Frank S. Tebbetts, enl. Sept. 2, 1864 ; credited to towu ; no further record given.
James Wardell, enl. Aug. 11, 1863 ; credited to town ; no further record given.
Barnard Marble, enl. Sept. 2, 1863; credited to town; no further record given.
Theodore Gresener, enl. Sept. 1, 1863 ; credited to town; no further rec- ord given.
True W. McCoy, enl. Sept. 3, 1863; credited to town ; no further record giveu.
Timothy G. Davis, enl. Aug. 19, 1864 ; credited to town ; no further rec- ord given.
Isaiah W. Purinton, enl. Sept. 2, 1864; credited to town; no further record given.
Elijah L. Purinton, enl. Oct. 4, 1864 ; credited to town ; no further rec- onl given.
John Valley, eol. Sept. 6, 1863; credited to town; no further record given.
James Seaver, eul. Oct. 26, 1864; credited to town ; no further record given.
Thomas Moran, enl. Sept. 9, 1864; credited to town; no further record given.
Michael McGuire, enl. Sept. 9, 1864 ; credited to town ; no further record given.
Elbridge G. Bean, marine; eul. Sept. 3, 1864; credited to town; no further record given.
John F. Gear, marine; enl. Sept. 3, 1864 ; credited to town ; no further record given.
James A. Johnson, marine; enl. Sept. 9, 1864; credited to town; no further record given.
John Connors, marine; enl. Sept. 9, 1864; credited to town; no further record given.
George Coy, U. S. C. T .; en1. Aug. 11, 1864 ; credited to town ; no further record given.
John Thomas, U. S. C. T. , eul. Oct. 17, 1864 ; credited to town ; no further record given.
-
1
215
EPPING.
CHAPTER XXXL.
EPPING .- ( Continued.)
ECCLESIASTICAL.
The Congregational Church-The Methodist Episcopal Church-The Hedding Camp-Meeting Association.
Congregational Church.1-When Epping, origi- nally a part of Exeter, was incorporated, Feb. 12, 1741, the parish and the town were virtually the same, and all legal business respecting the institu- tions of religion was transacted in regular town-meet- ings. According to the town records, vol. i., among the votes passed at the first town-meeting was one whereby Jonathan Norris and others " were chosen to be a committee to agree with a minister or ministers for the ensuing year." Votes are also on record " respecting the erection of a meeting-house."
On the 3d of September, 1744, it was voted that " Ensign Jonathan Rundlett" and others "be a committee to agree with a minister to preach with us." Said Rundlett was great-grandfather of our present church treasurer, Alfred T. Rundlett. Others are with us to-day whose ancestors were foremost in es- tablishing and maintaining the institutions of the gospel in the early history of the town.
The town voted, March 11, 1745, that David Law- rence and others "should be a committee to agree with a minister."
Mr. Lawrence was grandfather of Ilon. David L. Morrill, a native of this town, who was once pastor of the Congregational Church in Goffstown, afterwards U. S. senator, and in the years 1824-26 Governor of the State of New Hampshire.
Similar votes were passed in succeeding years, show- ing that the early inbabitants of this town viewed the preaching of the word as indispensable.
The following "Copy of an Epping paper," sent the writer by the "Depy Secy State, as requested by ex- Gov. B. F. Prescott," is equally expressive of the same interesting point :
" To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq" Cap- tain General and Commander in Chief in and over His Majesties Province of New Hampshire and the Honble His Majesties Council and House of Repre- sentatives for sª Province the Humble Petition of the Free Holders and inhabitants of the parish of Epping in said Province Humbly Sheweth
That your Petitioners Having with Great Labour and Expense Surmounted many Difficulties that Have Attended our first Settlement in this Place, are yet very Likely to be much Burdened by Charges Neces- sarily Coming on the Parish in order to the Settle- ment and Support of a Minister of the Gospel Buy- ing Land for a Parsonage Building a Parsonage House and a House for the Publick Worship of God all which we apprehend very Necessary to be Done
hut our own Inability together with some other Dif- ficulties have Caused these things (Necessary and Desirable as they are) to be yet unaccomplished. That there is Scarce one Fifth Part of the Land in the Parish Improved the owners of many Large tracts Living out of the Parish who are not Obliged by any Law in Force to bear any part of the Public Charges So that the Improvers and Settlers alone have Hitherto been obliged to bear not only the Burden of Taxes but to Clear and Repair the High- ways and to Maintain Several very Chargable Bridges and all this under the Troubles and Hardships of the War. That the value of the Non-Residents Lands is much Increased by the Settlements which we are making amongst them in almost all Parts of the Parish. And that the Building a Meeting House and Settlement of a Minister being Designed for the Good of the Whole Parish it is Likely that many of those owners of Lands Here who are not at Present Inhabitants may be Equal Sharers with us in the Benefits accruing therefrom.
" We do therefore Humbly Petition your Excellency and Honors to take the Premises into your Considera- tion and if it shall appear Just and Reasonable by a Law to Impower the Select Men of the Parish Aforesd to Rate all the Owners of Lands in Said Parish who are not Inhabitants in it or to Charge their Said Lands in Such Proportion and for So Long a time as to your Excellency and Honours Shall Seem Proper for the Ends aforesaid and your Petitioners Shall as in Duty bound Ever Pray ac :
" Epping March ye 30th 1747"
Signed by "Jacob Freeze Joseph Edgerly Jona- than folsom Daniel Ladd Israel Blake Jonathan Rundlett Jeremiah Prescut Thomas Burley" and thirty-five others.
"In II. of Rep. May 21st 1747 Voted -That in answer to the preceding petition all ye Lands in said Epping be subjected by an act to a Tax of two pennys a acre ₱ annum for four years next ensning for & towards ye Building a Meeting House & Settling a minister & that ye Inhabitants of sª Epping make it appear by an account to be rendered annually to ye Gen1 Assembly that ye money has been applyd for y. uses aforesaid on pain of refunding ye same.
D. Pierce Clk"
Our regular church records commence as follows: " Decm" ye 9th 1747
" The Rev. Robert Cutler was ordained to be pastor of the chh of Christ in Epping -and the first pastor-" The church is supposed to have been organized about this time. The next record is :
" The first Church meeting-
" May ye 6th 1748. The Chh met according to de sire to choose a deacon or Deacons and to consult other affairs that might be thot : necessary."
1 By Rev. J. H. Stearns.
216
HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
" After serious and earnest prayer to God for direc- tion, Jacob Freese was chosen sole Deacon." 1
Agreeably with the advice of a council, Dec. 9, 1755, Mr. Cutler asked for "a dismission from his people," which was granted Dec. 23, 1755, after a pastorate of eight years.
--
Rev. Mr. Cutler was a native of Cambridge, Mass., and a graduate of Harvard College in the class of 1741. He was settled over the church in Greenwich, | natural consequence the attendants and supporters of Mass., Feb. 16, 1760, where he died Feb. 24, 1786, aged about sixty-eight years.2
After the dismissal of Mr. Cutler the ordinances of the gospel were administered by several ministers for more than two years. Thirty-six were baptized.
Pastorate of Rev. Josiah Stearns, thirty years and four months. A paper was drawn up, May 18, 1757, addressed to Mr. Josiah Stearns, of Billerica, Mass., and signed by "freeholders and inhabitants of the parish of Epping, with the members of the church," in all one hundred and sixty-six men, urging the im- portance of his becoming their minister, and assur- ing him that they would vote him an "honorable support," and " do anything" for his "comfort and support during his ministry." As the result, Mr. Stearns " was ordained pastor of the church March 8, 1758."
The people were true to their engagement, and after his death, which occurred when he was in the fifty- seventh year of his age, after a pastorate of thirty years and four months, July 25, 1788, " the parish of Epping generously assumed all funeral charges, and voted to continue his salary to his widow for the eight remaining months of the year." (See town records. ) During his ministry ten hundred and sixty were baptized, two hundred and fifty-nine owned the covenant, and eighty-six joined in full.
During the four and a half years between the death of the last pastor and the settlement of another the pulpit was supplied by thirteen candidates. Pastorate of Rev. Peter Holt, twenty-eight years and two months, Rev. Peter Holt, born in Andover, Mass., June 12, 1763, and graduated at Harvard College, 1790, was ordained and installed pastor of this church Feb. 27, 1793. In 1803 the parish of Epping erected the most
During Mr. Holt's ministry the laws of New Hamp- shire were so altered as to leave it optional with each citizen to contribute towards the support of public worship or not. The old "parish of Epping" ceased and the "Congregational Society" took its place. Other denominations offered ministerial services for less pay, while on the part of very many there was a growing disregard of all religious observances. As a
public worship here decreased. Under these dis- couragements Mr. Holt resolved to leave this field of labor. At his urgent request bis remaining people, though ardently attached to him, united with him in calling a council, which resulted in his dismission April 25, 1821. By him eighty-nine were baptized and sixty-four received into the church. After leav- ing Epping, Mr. Holt preached in several places ac- ceptably and beneficially. He died in Greenfield, March 25, 1851, aged eighty-seven years and nine months.
Mr. Holt was of noble appearance. He was a good and honorable man and an able evangelical preacher, highly esteemed at home and abroad.
Not long ago an old letter came to light addressed to Deacon William Stearns by Hon. William Plumer, Sr., when in Washington as a member of Congress, in which he had occasion to speak of Mr. Holt as a man, and he did it in terms of high regard. It was interesting in showing how Mr. Holt was viewed by that class of minds.
After Mr. Holt left, the people were much dis- heartened. No move being made to employ a preacher, Deacon Stearns gave notice that he would go to the meeting-house and read a sermon. He pursued the usual order of worship. At his request neighboring pastors came and administered the Lord's Supper. Journeying ministers occasionally spent the Sabbath with said deacon and preached. At length he wrote to the New Ilampshire Missionary Society, and they sent a minister for several weeks. Then the people raised some money and employed one minister after another. Seven were baptized and eleven re- ceived into the church.
To Joseph I. Foot, a recent graduate of Andover commodious and finely-finished meeting-house which . Seminary, the church and society extended a call to bas ever adorned this town. become their pastor, Nov. 25, 1825 ; but he " did not Col. Seth Fogg, who died Nov. 20, 1806, left a be- quest of one hundred dollars to the selectmen of this town, the interest of which he evidently intended to to be used annually towards the support of the minis- try of this church. think the support sufficient, and declined." Nine years after he was elected to the presidency of Wash- ington College, East Tennessee. After his sudden death, by being thrown from a horse, the trustees of that institution wrote of "Rev. Joseph I. Foot, D.D., as a man of superior talents and extensive and various learning, a most able divine, accomplished writer, and lovely companion."
The selection of such a man for a minister shows the capability of this people to appreciate great worth, while it also exposes a very common evil, a disposi- tion in congregations to seek more in a minister than they ought to expect to realize.
1 Other business was transacted, among which was the adoption of a covenant, and, according to the custom of those days, a half-way cov- . enant, being for the accommodation of persons who wished to be baptized and have their children baptized, though they were not ready to be re- ceived into full fellowship.
2 At the organization of the church and during Mr. Cutler's pastorate of eight years two hundred and forty were baptized, thirty-four owned the covenant, and sixty-seven became members of the church in full fellowship.
217
EPPING.
Rev. Forest Jefferds' pastorate, five years. Mr. Jefferds was born in Wells, Me., Aug. 4, 1794, educa- ted at Bangor Theological Seminary, and ordained and installed pastor of this church Oct. 25, 1826. When settled, the contract between him and the so- ciety "ran for five years," at the close of which time he was regularly dismissed. He is spoken of as hav- ing "enjoyed the affection of his associated brethren and the confidence of our churches and congregations as a good and acceptable minister of Jesus Christ." He left a good record here, had a successful pastorate of some years in Middleton, Mass., and at length went to Boston as a city missionary, where he died June 20, 1873, aged seventy-eight years, ten months, re- spected and beloved by his numerous friends. During Mr. Jefferds' ministry here thirteen were baptized and thirteen received into the church.
Some time after Mr. Jefferds left, Rev. Samuel Utley was employed as stated supply ; after him Rev. John Le Bosquet in like manner. Three were baptized and eight received into the church.
In the summer of 1842 the former meeting-house was abandoned and a new one was built in the most compact part of the town.
Rev. Calvin Chapman, born in Bethel, Me., Nov. 8, 1814, graduated at Bowdoin College 1839, Andover Theological Seminary 1842, was ordained and in- stalled pastor of this church Dec. 8, 1842. He was regularly dismissed April 10, 1845. He was said to be "able and faithful." During Mr. Chapman's min- istry five were baptized and nineteen were received into the church.
After the dismission of Mr. Chapman the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Enoch Corser, a sound and able preacher. During his ministry, in 1846, Capt. Joseph Blake, not a member of the church, but of the society, died, leaving by will to the society about one and three-quarters acres of valuable mowing land, the in- come of which is to be annually appropriated towards the support of preaching in this church. The pulpit was also supplied a short time by a grandson of the second pastor, now Eben S. Stearns, S.T.D., chan- cellor of the University of Nashville and president of the State Normal College. Two were received into the church.
Rev. Lyman White's ministry, five years and six months. Mr. White was a native of Roxbury, a grad- uate of Dartmouth College in 1846, of Andover Semi- nary, 1849. He was employed here as stated supply Sept. 9, 1849; was soon ordained as an evangelist, and Jan. 4, 1854, was installed pastor of this church. He was regularly dismissed May 2, 1855. By those who sat under his preaching here he is spoken of as able and interesting in his pulpit performances. Both the congregation and Sabbath-school increased in numbers under his ministrations. Seven were baptized and nineteen received into the church.
Though the last ministry was prosperous, at its close the people were not ready for immediate, united,
efficient action. They had some preaching, however, and one child was baptized.
The ministry of Rev. Josiah H. Stearns, from June 16, 1857. The present minister, born in Epping, Oct. 1, 1812, a son of a former deacon of this church and grandson of a former pastor, became a member of said church Sept. 3, 1830. He graduated at Dart- mouth College 1840, Andover Theological Seminary 1843. Being under engagement with the Congrega- tional Church in Dennysville, Me., he went imme- diately to labor with them, and was ordained and installed pastor Nov. 6, 1844. He was regularly dis- missed, by advice of council, that he might labor with this church, and arrived here June 16, 1857. Having preached to his former people on the previous Sabbath, he preached to this people on the next fol- lowing.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.