History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 65

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 65
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 65

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In July, 1776, a call was given to Rev. Isaac Mans- field, who was then serving as a chaplain in the Con- tinental army, to settle over the first church and society. The reply was favorable, and Mr. Mansfield was ordained Oct. 9, 1776, Rev. Mr. Thayer, of Kings- ton, preaching the sermon on the occasion, Rev. Mr. Fogg, of Kensington, delivering the charge, and Rev. Mr. Webster, of Salisbury, giving the right band of fellowship. Mr. Mansfield was a native of Marblehead, Mass., a graduate of Harvard College, and a man of good capacity, and we have his own authority for saying that during the greater part of his pastorate here of nearly eleven years his situa- tion was pleasant and his people well united. But some imprudences on his part at last weakened the ties between them, and he was dismissed at his own

32 22 25

Capt. Jonathan Wadleigh,

James Leavitt,

Lieut. John Robinson, 20

9 Samuel Gilman,

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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

request, made according to an agreement with the parish, Sept. 18, 1787.

Nearly three years elapsed after Mr. Mansfield's dismission before a successor was obtained. Rev. Mr. Tappan ( who was afterwards Professor of Divinity at Cambridge ) received a call, but, because it was not unanimous, declined it.

In January, 1790, an invitation was given to Rev. William F. Rowland to become the pastor, and an annual salary of "four hundred Spanish milled Rev. Swift Byington, the present minister of this society, was installed June 2, 1871. He is the six- teenth in order of those who have been settled as spiritual guides over the First Church in Exeter. dollars" was voted him. Mr. Rowland accepted the call, and was ordained June 2, 1790. Rev. Messrs. McClintock, of Greenland, Thacher, of Boston, Lang- don, of Hampton Falls, and Morse, of Charlestown, The Second Congregational Church .- The mem- bers of the original parish who seceded from it in 1743 and united to form a new society proceeded in the same or the following year to build a house of wor- ship. It was sitnated on the lot where Mrs. W. V. performed the various services of ordination. Mr. Rowland was a native of Plainfield, Conn., and a grad- uate of Dartmouth College. He ministered to this congregation for thirty-eight years, and was dismissed at his own request, Dec. 5, 1828. He was a worthy , Cobb's house now stands, and was a building of two man, of good abilities and fervent piety. The re- mainder of his life he passed in Exeter, and died in 1843 at the age of eighty-two years.

The next permanent occupant of the pulpit was Rev. John Smith, a native of Wethersfield, Conn., and a graduate of Yale College. He was installed March 12, 1829; Rev. Mr. Bouton, of Concord, Rev. : Mr. Miltimore, of Newbury, and Rev. Mr. Hurd, of the Second Church in Exeter, assisting in the cere- mony. His ministry was a harmonious and success- ful one, and he was dismissed at his own request, Feb. 14, 1838.

He was followed by Rev. William Williams, who was installed May 31st in the same year. Mr. Williams' stay was short, as, on account of difficulties which arose, he resigned his office Oct. 1, 1842. He subsequently entered the medical profession.

Rev. Joy H. Fairchild, a native of Guilford, Coun., was the next minister, his installation occurring Sept. 20, 1843. His connection was a very brief one, as he tendered his resignation June 18, 1844. The pro- tracted controversies which arose respecting a charge of incontinence at the place of his prior settlement, which was preferred against him, may well be per- mitted at this day to pass into oblivion.

Rev. Roswell D. Hitchcock next succeeded to the desk of this church, and was ordained Nov. 19, 1845. He remained until July 7, 1852, when he was dis- missed at his own request. He is now a distinguished professor in the Union Theological Seminary, in New York City.

His successor was Rev. William D. Hitchcock, who was installed Oct. 5, 1853. His ministry commenced with most auspicious prospects, which were termi- nated in a single year by his death, Nov. 23, 1854.

It was not until June 19, 1856, that Rev. Nathaniel Lasell, the next succeeding minister, was installed. After a service of three years he asked for his dismis- sion, which was granted June 12, 1859. He was sub- sequently employed in the profession of teaching.

Rev. Elias Nason, a native of Newburyport, and a graduate of Brown University, was installed Nov. 22, 1860, and was dismissed at his own desire, May 30, 1865. He has since lived in Billerica, Mass., and is well known for his antiquarian tastes and writings.

Rev. John O. Barrows, who was installed Dec. 5, 1866, received his dismission Oet. 6, 1869, which he had requested that he might enter upon foreign mis- sion service in Asia.

stories and respectable capacity. It stood parallel with the street, and on the western end was a goodly steeple, surmounted with a vane. The pulpit was on the side opposite the front door, and a gallery ran round the other three sides. It was this meeting- house in which Whitefield essayed to preach on the day before his death, when it was found all too small to contain his thronging auditors, and he was com- pelled to address them in the open air, on the oppo- site side of the way.

The seceders naturally wished to be exonerated from paying taxes for the support of the old parish when they ceased to worship there, but the law of that day was against them, and though the town was repeatedly urged to relieve them from the burden the majority would never cousent to do so. A petition to the General Assembly of the province for setting off a new parish was opposed by the town and failed. But the society struggled on, and in 1746 made an unsuccessful attempt to procure Rev. Samuel Buel to become their minister, and in 1747. invited Mr. John Phillips, one of their own number, and afterwards the founder of the Phillips Academy, to act as their pastor, but he declined on the ground of his inability to perform all the duties of the clerical office. There- upon they extended a call to Rev. Daniel Rogers, who accepted it, and was settled over them Aug. 31, 1747. He was a son of Rev. Johu Rogers, of Ipswich, Mass., and a graduate of Harvard College, where he had also passed some years as a tutor. It has been supposed that his family was directly descended from John Rogers, the Smithfield martyr, but later researches show that this is problematical at least,

A second application, made to the General Assem- bly in 1755, for the incorporation of a new parish was successful, and the following-named persons were the same year assessed as members thereof: Jonathan Ambrose, Joseph Akers, Josiah Barker, John Bowden, Edward Colcord, Wadly Cram, Thomas Dean, John Dean, Samuel Dollof, Abner Dollof, Joseph Dollof,

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Nathaniel Folsom, Jeremiah Folsom, Peter Gilman, It was greatly hoped at that time, when both so- Samuel Gilman, Daniel Gilman, John Gilman, Jr., ' cieties were without ministers, that a permanent re- Mary Gilman, Nehemiah Gilman, Josiah Gilman, union could be effected between them; but though a more cordial understanding was established than had before existed, they still retained their distinct or- ganizations. Samuel Gilman, Jr., Trueworthy Gilman, Summersbe Gilman, Daniel Gilman (3), Nicholas Gilman, John Hains, William Harris, Dudley James, Jonathan Judkins, John Lord, John Looge, Jr., Nathaniel Ladd, Josiah Ladd, Elias Ladd, Thomas Lord, Rob- ert Light, John Leavitt, Jonathan Lord, Edmund Looge, Joseph Mudgett, Thomas Nealey, John Phil- lips, Thomas Piper, Stephen Palmer, John Robinson, Peter Robinson, Benjamin Rogers, Theophilus Smith, Richard Smith, Nicholas Smith, Richard Smith, Jr., Joseph Swazey, Samuel Smith, Joseph Stacy, Joseph Smith, Benjamin Thing, David Thing, Stephen Thing, James Thurstin, Abner Thurstin, Jonathan Young.

The same year a mutual council was agreed upon by both churches for the purpose of attempting a reconciliation of the differences which existed be- tween them, but without avail.

Rev. Mr. Rogers remained the minister of the new parish until his death, Dec. 19, 1785. For thirty- seven years he labored with piety and zeal for the good of his people, and in his decease it was said " they sustained the loss of a faithful minister, and his children that of a kind and tender father." His parishioners, in token of their respect for his memory, voted to bear the expense of his funeral.

After the death of Mr. Rogers, the new parish was without a settled minister for nearly seven years. In 1787 and the two subsequent years this parish united with the other in defraying the expenses of support- ing the ministry. It may interest some readers to know who bore the charges of religious worship in Exeter almost a hundred years ago, and we therefore transcribe from an official paper the following list of those " who contributed for the support of a minister for the year 1788," nineteen of the persons therein mentioned belonging to the new, and the remainder to the old parish : John Phillips, Nathaniel Folsom, Samuel Folsom, Gideon Lamson, Nathaniel Gilman, Joseph Tilton, Eliphalet Hale, Ephraim Robinson, Trueworthy Gilman, Benjamin Boardman, Oliver Peabody, Samuel Hobart, Dudley Odlin, Benjamin Smith, Josiah Robinson, James Leavitt, William Hale, Abraham Sanborn, Josiah Barker, Joseph Cram, James Hackett, Samuel Gilman, Thomas Dean, John Dean, Ward C. Dean, Isaac Williams, Nathaniel

Gordon, James Gilman, James Thurston, Jeremiah Leavitt, Joseph Swazey, James Burley, Benjamin Conner, Isaac Currier, Jacob Pearson, Simeon Ladd, Samuel Chamberlain, John Thompson, Moses Jewett, Edmund Pearson, Eliphalet Gilman, Samuel Dutch, Josiah Folsom, Nathaniel Giddings, Daniel Jones, Josiah Gilman, Jr., David Boardman, George Odi- orne, Francis Mason, Joseph Lamson, James Folsom, Nathaniel Parker, Daniel Tilton, Benjamin C. Gil- man, J. Gilman, Jr., Woodbridge Odlin, Samuel Brooks.

In 1790 the second parish voted to invite Rev. Sam- uel Austin, of New Haven, who had repeatedly offi- ciated in their pulpit, to settle with them, but he did not accept. Not long after, however, they were so fortunate as to secure for their minister Rev. Joseph Brown, who was installed over them Nov. 20, 1792. He was a native of Chester, in England, and edu- cated at Lady Huntingdon's Seminary. He remained in Exeter but five years, being dismissed at his own request in 1797, but his ministrations appear to have been quite successful. The parish voted him a pres- ent of fifty dollars at his departure.

The new society, being now without a pastor, gradu- ally declined in numbers and interest, and several of the more influential members of the church sought the communion of their brethren of the other parish. The society organization, however, was kept up, and religious services were held with more or less fre- quency. At length, about 1813, several of the former members having returned; a new impulse appeared to be given to the society, and stated worship was re- sumed with regularity. Rev. Hosea Hildreth, a resi- dent of the town and a teacher in the academy, was employed to supply the pulpit, which he did till Rev. Isaae Hurd began his ministrations.

Mr. Hurd was installed as the pastor, Sept. 11, 1817. He was born in Charlestown, Mass., received his theo- logical education in Edinburgh, and first preached in London. Upon his return to this country he was set- tled for a time in Lynn, Mass. When he came to Exeter he found but a small and feeble church, but under his faithful and judicious care it speedily in- creased in strength and numbers. In 1823 the society had become of sufficient size and ability to build a new meeting-house, which is still standing in the southeastern end of the academy inclosure, and sub- stantially unchanged, except that its length was in- creased by the addition of about fifteen feet in the year 1863.

After a harmonious and successful ministry of nearly thirty years, Mr. Hurd proposed to the society to set- tle a colleague with him, generously relinquishing all claim for pecuniary compensation thereafter. The society, gratefully acknowledging his faithful and effi- cient labors and assuring him of their unwavering affection, assented to the proposal, and in pursuance thereof Rev. Samuel D. Dexter was ordained as col- league pastor Dec. 2, 1847. IIe was a native of Bos- ton, Mass., and a graduate of Harvard College, and his personal and religious character were such as to give him a strong hold upon the people, but his labors were cut short by his death, April 20, 1850, at the early age of twenty-four years. And six years later,

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Oct. 4, 1856, Rev. Isaac Hurd, D.D., at a good old age, beloved, respected, and honored for his amiable character, his Christian virtues, and his faithful labors, passed from earth.

Rev. Asa D. Mann was installed as colleague in the place of Mr. Dexter, Nov. 19, 1851. Mr. Mann was born in Randolph, Mass., was a graduate of Amherst College, and had been settled in Hardwick, Mass., before he came to Exeter. After a little less than six years' service here he was dismissed from his charge, July 8, 1857.

He was succeeded by Rev. Orpheus T. Lanphear, who was installed Feb. 2, 1858, and dismissed in Feb- ruary, 1864. Rev. John W. Chickering, Jr., was his successor, his installation taking place Sept. 5, 1865, and bis dismission July 18, 1870. Rev. Messrs. Mann and Lanphear are still engaged in the work of the ministry, and Rev. Mr. Chickering is a professor in Washington.

The eighth and present pastor of the new society is Rev. George E. Street, who was installed March 30, 1871.

The Baptist Church .- A Baptist Church was or- ganized in Exeter, Oct. 17, 1800, consisting of ten members, and a society was formed the next spring by voluntary subscription. Meetings for religious worship were thenceforward held regularly on the Lord's day, though the limited number aud means of the society enabled them at first to have preaching but a part of the time. Rev. Messrs. William Hooper, John Peak, Samuel Shepard, and other well-known ministers of their denomination lent them occasional aid at this early period. They first used to meet at the house of Harvey Colcord, afterwards at the Centre school-house. In 1805 they built and dedicated their first meeting-house, which was situated on Spring Street.

In 1806, Mr. Barnabas Bates preached for them during several months, and in the spring of 1809, Rev. Ebenezer L. Boyd became their preacher and labored with them for two years with encouraging re- sults. In 1814 and the two succeeding years, Rev. Charles O. Kimball and Rev. James McGregore sup- plied their pulpit a part of the time.

In the year 1817 a Sabbath school was first com- menced in connection with the society, which has ever since been continued. The first teacher was the now venerable Deacon John F. Moses, who for half a cen- tury, with little interruption, held the position of superintendent.

Their first settled minister was Rev. Ferdinand Ellis, who took the position in June, 1818, and occu- pied it until September, 1828. In the autumn of the latter year Rev. John Newton Brown was settled over the church, and so continued until February, 1833. Rev. John Cannan succeeded him, being ordained May 29, 1833, and remained until Feb. 16, 1834. Rev. J. N. Brown was again invited to the pastorate in

1834, which he filled until he was dismissed in April, 1838. More than two years then elapsed before an- other minister was settled, during about one-half of which period the pulpit was regularly supplied by Rev. J. G. Naylor.

In November, 1840, the church gave an invitation to Rev. Noah Hooper, Jr., to become their minister, which he accepted, and continued with them from Dec. 1st of that year until July 20, 1845. It was nearly three years after this before a successor was settled, Mr. T. H. Archibald, licentiate, preaching about one year of the time. In the spring of 1848, Rev. Elijah J. Harris was settled as the pastor, and was dismissed from his charge April 7, 1850. Rev. James French accepted the call of the church in Jan- uary, 1851, and was settled over them until Jan. I, 1853. After his dismission, Rev. Mr. Russell supplied the desk for a time. Rev. Franklin Merriam was the

the Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at , next settled minister, who was installed in September, 1854, and dismissed in November, 1856. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. James J. Peek, whose pastorate com- menced in February, 1857, and continued until April, 186I.

On the Ist of July, 1861, Rev. Noah Hooper was solicited to assume the pastoral charge for the second time, and accepted the call. He continued his min- istrations until the autumn of 1871, when he was dis- missed at his repeated request. Rev. Joseph N. Chase was next invited to become the pastor, and was re- ceived into that connection Jan. 16, 1872, and still continues in it. The meeting-house on Water Street, in which the society now worship, was built in the years 1833 and 1834.

In December, 1854, some twenty-two members with- drew from the Water Street church and formed them- selves into a new society. They first held their meet- ings in a ball on Water Street, until they built a meeting-house, on Elm Street, which was dedicated Oct. I, 1856. Up to about this time Rev. J. B. Lane supplied them with preaching. Shortly after they removed to the new house, Rev. T. H. Archibald was settled over them as their minister. His pastorate continued not far from two years. For some time after his dismission, the pulpit was supplied hy stu- dents from the Newton Theological Institution, and afterwards by Rev. Mr. Mayhew. About 1862, Rev. Charles Newhall was installed as the pastor, and cou- tinued in the office some eight years. In 1871 the two societies resolved to re-unite, the Elm Street or- ganization was given up, and its members merged again into the Water Street society.

Methodist Episcopal Church.1-There was a Methodist meeting sustained here as early as 1832. In 1834 a church was built, and the society prospered until the church numbered about one hundred and eighty members. In 1841-42 the question of slavery and other discordant clements caused a division in

1 Contributed by Rev. J. W. Walker.

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the church, which finally resulted in disorganization. In 1867, at the request of a few earnest Methodists, Rev. C. W. Millen, a student in the Theological In- stitute at Concord, N. II., came to Exeter and or- ganized the Methodist Episcopal Church. There were twenty-five members at first, and they worshiped in Mission Hall. After a few weeks Rev. Mr. Millen's duties called him elsewhere. He was followed by Rev. J. D. Folsom. The congregation steadily in- creased under each pastor, until in 1869 the society purchased the Unitarian Church, at a cost of four thousand dollars.

To date nine pastors have preached to the people the word of life, namely : C. W. Millen, J. D. Folsom, J. Pike, H. B. Copp, S. E. Quimby, S. C. Farnham, J. H. Haines, M. Howard, and J. W. Walker.

The Conference minutes of 1881 show a church membership of one hundred and thirty-five members. In the Sunday-school there are twenty-two officers and one hundred and sixty members.

Episcopal Church.1-The first service of the Epis- copal Church in Exeter was held in the town hall by the Rev. F. D. Huntington, D.D., rector of Emmanuel Church, Boston, in July, 1865. The first parish meet- ing took place the September of the same year, and the first confirmation in November.

The Rev. Dr. Cushman took charge in October, 1865, and his connection ceased April 24, 1866.

The Rev. James Haughton entered on the rector- ship Trinity Sunday 1866.

The sum of four hundred and forty-five dollars was raised by the Rev. Henry A. Neely, D.D., assistant minister of Trinity Church, and officiating at Trinity Chapel, New York. By the efforts of Miss Caroline E. Harris and other ladies, the handsome sum of four thousand dollars was added to the above. By the exertions of the rector, the Rev. James Haugh- ton, eight thousand dollars was munificently added to this by contributions from various places to defray the expenses of a tasteful and convenient church of wood on Eliott Street. A memorial window was placed in the west end by Miss C. E. Harris. The church was finished at Christmas, 1867. A bell was given, the joint gift of the Rev. Professor Huntington, of Hartford, Conn., the Rev. Henry A. Coit, D.D., of St. Paul's School, and the rector, Rev. James Haugh- ton. The consecration office was performed by the Right Rev. Bishop Henry A. Neely, of Maine.

In September, 1868, the Rev. James Haughton re- signed the rectorship. From October to April the parish had no settled clergyman, and was supplied by various ministers from Boston through the energy and skillful management of Miss Caroline E. Harris. In April, 1869, the Rev. L. P. Parker, D.D., entered on the duties of the rectorship. After two years of loving service he resigned, and from that time until July, 1872, the parish had no settled minister.

In 1872 the Rev. Henry Ferguson entered on the duties of this rectorship, remaining until March, 1878, when he was succeeded by the Rev. G. B. Morgan, the present rector.

Roman Catholic Church.2-The first mass was said in Exeter at the house of Daniel Fenton in the fall of 1849, by Rev. J. O'Donnell, of Lawrence, Mass. Father O'Donnell was succeeded by Rev. John Mc- Donald, of Haverhill, who commenced to make reg- ular monthly visits to Exeter and Newmarket. At this time mass was said in a loft over a blacksmith- shop on Spring Street. The Rev. Father Canovan, of Portsmouth, succeeded Father MeDonald, mass being said in the Methodist Church building, which then stood on Centre Street.

The first resident pastor was the Rev. Father Pa- reché, and in succession the parish had been governed by the Rev. Fathers O'Hara, Walch, O'Brien, Egan, and Lucey. Present pastor, Rev. J. R. Power.

The present brick church was built during the pas- torate of Rev. Michael Lucey, at a cost of about ten thousand dollars. The Catholic population is about five hundred. South Newmarket and Epping are at present attended from Exeter, and form but one parish.

At South Newmarket there is a new church just finished at a cost of about seven thousand dollars. At Epping it is contemplated to commence the erec- tion of a church.

The First Unitarian Society 3 was organized June, 1854, by the union of the members of the extinct Universalist Society and a number of Unitarians from the Second Congregational Society. The old Univer- salist Church was reopened, and Rev. Jonathan Cole became the first settled pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. J. C. Learned, September, 1862. A new church building was erected in 1867-68. It is of wood, in the pointed Gothic style, but modified to meet the re- quirements of the material.

Mr. Learned was succeeded by Mr. Edward Crown- inshield in September, 1870, whose ministry was ter- minated the following year on account of ill health. He was succeeded by Rev. Benjamin F. MeDaniel, the present pastor, May 1, 1872. In 1875 a parsonage was built on the church lot. The society has made other improvements in its property, has no debt, and enjoys a fair degree of prosperity.

Advent Church .- Advent meetings have been held in this town for the last thirty years or more, and five years ago the church was organized and the following officers chosen : Charles Haley, clerk ; George T. Sticy, treasurer; G. T. Stacy and Joseph Haley, deacons ; G. T. Stacy and I. E. Safford, committee on preaching. Twenty-one united with the church at its organiza- tion, and about the same number attend the meetings whose names are not recorded but who are in full fellow - ship with the church, the whole number making about

2 By Rev. J. R. Power. 3 By Rev. Benjamin F. McDaniel.

1 By Rev. G. B. Morgan.

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fifty. The church has no regular pastor. It worships in a very neat and convenient chapel, which will seat about one hundred and fifty persons, owned by the society and free from debt. As a people they are look- ing for the speedy coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

· EXETER .- ( Continued.)

THE PUBLISHING INTEREST.

The First Printing-Office-Other Publishing Firms-The First News- paper-The New Hampshire Gazette-The Exeter Chronicle-The American Herald of Liberty-The Freeman's Oracle or New Hamp- shire Advertiser-The Political Banquet and Farmers' Feast-The Constitution-The Watchman-The Rockingham Gazette-The Ilive -Something New-The Exeter News-Letter-The Christian Journal- The Granite State Democrat-The Granite Pillar and New Hampshire Temperance Advocate-The Factory Girl and Ladies' Garland-The Squamscott Fountain-The Factory Girls' Album and Operatives' Advocate-The Olive-Leaf-The American Ballot and Rockingham County Intelligencer-The Exeter Gazette-The Protest.

THE first printing-office in Exeter was opened by Robert Luist Fowle, a nephew and former partner of Daniel Fowle, who introduced the "art of arts" into New Hampshire, at Portsmouth, in 1756. In the differences of opinion which arose respecting the rights of the colonies immediately prior to the Revo- lution, the uncle and nephew, it is said, were found upon opposite sides, and the result was a dissolution of business connections in 1774. Robert, who fa- vored the ministerial party, procured the printing materials which had belonged to Furbur, of Ports- mouth, and removed with them to Exeter, where he established himself in business the same year.

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History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 65

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