USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Cornish > History of the town of Cornish, New Hampshire, with genealogical record, 1763-1910, Vol. I > Part 10
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These four companies of the New Hampshire Battalion returned to Concord in February, 1864, and recruited for a regi- ment to be called the
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HISTORY OF CORNISH.
First "New Hampshire Cavalry."
Cornish furnished for this regiment nineteen men. A few of these were good and true, but the greater portion being foreigners were "bounty-jumpers," and having little regard for the cause they professed to espouse, rendered but little important service, and after receiving their bounty, deserted on the first opportunity.
Following is the list and record:
Alden Barker, b. in N. H. Age 21, enl. June 29, 64, Co. E, des. at Concord, Aug. 6, 64.
Owen Barker, Co. E, b. Pomfret, Vt. Age 21, enl. June 29, 64, d. of dis. Nov. 4, 1864, at Camp Stoneman, D. C.
John Burke, b. N. H. Age 27, enl. Aug. 10, 64, des. Aug. 29, 64, at Camp Stoneman, D. C.
Ezra D. Clark, Co. A, b. N. H. Age 28, enl. Mar. 19, 64, disch. July 15, 65.
John Conley, Co. F, b. Ireland. Age 31, enl. Aug. 16, 64, des. Sept. 4, 64, at Camp Stoneman, D. C.
Patrick Conlor, b. Ireland. Age 22, enl. Aug. 10, 64, des. en route to regiment.
John Dolan, b. Canada. Age 21, enl. Aug. 11, 64, des. Aug. 27, 64, at Camp Stoneman, D. C.
Horace Dow, Co. A, b. Vt. Age 28, enl. Mar. 19, 64, disch. June 10, 65, at Washington, D. C.
Alphonso N. Dunbar, Co. C, b. N. H. Age 18, enl. Mar. 31, 64, des. Apr. 25, 65, at Concord, N. H.
Thomas I. Holbrook, Co. A. Age 26, enl. Mar. 23, 64, disch. July 15, 65.
George W. Johnson, Co. A, b. Rockingham, Vt. Age 18, enl. Mar. 9, 64. Captd. June 30, 64, at Wilson's raid on Welden R. R., Va., escaped same day, disch. July 15, 65.
James B. Kidder, Co. C. Age 19, enl. Mar. 31, 64, d. of dis. July 7, 64, on transport near City Point.
Isaac H. Kingsbury, Co. A, b. Danville, Vt. Age 28, enl. 1st from Littleton, N. H., in Co. H, 3d N. H. Vols. July 30, 61, wd. June 16, 62, at Secessionville, S. C. app. Corp. Nov. 1, 62, disch. disab. Aug. 20, 63, at Botany Bay Island, S. C., enl. 2d Mar. 19, 64, and was credited to Cornish, app. Sergt. Captd. June 30, 64, at Wilson's raid on Welden R. R., and d. of dis. and starvation at Andersonville prison, Ga., Nov. 13, 64.
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CORNISH IN THE CIVIL WAR.
James McBride, b. Ireland. Age 21, enl. Aug. 11, 64, des. same day at Camp Stoneman, D. C.
Edward Mitchell, b. Ireland. Age 21, enl. Aug. 10, 64, des. Aug. 29, 64, at Camp Stoneman, D. C.
Patrick Munroe, Co. H, b. New York. Age 22, enl. Aug. 18, 64, des. Sept. 4, 64, at Camp Stoneman, D. C.
Oliver P. Smith, b. N. H. Age 19, enl. 1st Dec. 27, 61 from- in Co. F, 5th N. H. Vols., disch. disab. June 30, 62, enl. 2d Oct. 18, 62, in Co. A, 16th N. H. Vols., transf. to Co. A, 2d N. H. Vols. Apr. 16, 63, disch. Oct. 9, 63, enl. 3d Mar. 19, 64, in Co. A, N. H. Cav., app. Corp. May 1, 64, wd. June 13, 64, at White Oak Swamp, Va., disch. July 15, 65. Credited to Cornish.
Thomas Smith, b. Ireland. Age 22, enl. Aug. 10, 64, des. Aug. 29, 64, at Camp Stoneman, D. C.
George T. Wentworth, Co. K, b. Great Falls. Age 21, enl. Mar. 19, 64, disch. July 15, 65.
Heavy Artillery.
Two companies of this branch were organized in New Hamp- shire in 1863, serving at Fort Constitution and Kittery Point. In 1864 a regiment of twelve companies was raised in the state of which these two companies became a part. It was employed chiefly in the defence of Washington, and was mustered out June 15, 1865. Eleven Cornish men served in its ranks:
Daniel E. Carroll, Co. A. Age 18, enl. Aug. 20, 64, disch. Aug. 19, 65.
John B. Chase, Co. A. Age 30, enl. Sept. 6, 64, transf. to Cos. B and L, disch. Sept. 11, 65.
Barker B. Churchill, Co. L. Age 43, enl. Aug. 29, 64, transf. to Co. B, Artificer, disch. Sept. 11, 65.
Edgar A. Churchill, Co. L. Age 18, enl. Aug. 29, 64, transf. to Co. B, June 10, 65, disch. Sept. 11, 65.
Edmund H. Cobb, Co. B. Age 42, enl. Mar. 18, 65, disch. disab. Dec. 5, 64.
Erastus O. Cole, Co. B, b. Barnard, Vt. Age 34, enl. Mar. 18, 64. disch. Sept. 11, 65.
Josiah Davis, Co. B, b. Springfield, N. H. Age 34, enl. Aug. 31, 63, app. Sergt, disch. Sept. 11, 65, as Orderly Sergt.
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HISTORY OF CORNISH.
Charles R. Leslie, Co. B. Age 19, enl. Mar. 18, 64, disch. Sept. 11,65.
Samuel Merrill, Co. A, b. Hudson, N. H. Age 43, enl. Aug. 31, 64. disch. Sept. 11, 65.
Sydney K. Richardson, Co. A. Age 18, enl. Aug. 31, 64, disch. Sept. 11, 65.
Eli B. Stearns, Co. A, b. Highgate, Vt. Age 36, enl. Aug. 8, 64, disch. Sept. 11, 65.
Sharpshooters.
There was but one man who enlisted in this service from Cornish, while some residents and natives enlisted in it elsewhere as shown later :
Oliver M. Fletcher, Co. F, 2d. Age 23, enl. Oct. 9, 61, disch. for disability, June 21, 62.
United States Navy.
Clement Antoine, b. Western Islands. Age 30, enl. Jan. 26, 65, rank, seaman, served on U. S. S. S. Ohio, d. Feb. 8, 65, in hospital at Boston.
Patrick Dawson, b. Ireland. Age 38, enl. Jan. 24, 65, rank, coal heaver, served on U. S. S. S. Ohio and Connecticut, des. from receiving ship Sept. 9, 65.
Daniel Driscoll, b. Ireland. Age 22, enl. Jan. 27, 65, rank, sea- man, served on U. S. S. S. Ohio and Wachusett, des. from latter Mar. 4, 65.
John Hayes, b. Philadelphia. Age 32, enl. Jan. 24, 65, rank, seaman, served on U. S. S. S. Ohio, Wachusett and Hartford, disch. as Coxswain from the latter Aug. 14, 68.
Charles A. Jackson. Age 20, enl. Aug. 23, 62, rank, landsman, served on U. S. S. S. Ohio, Princeton and Augusta, disch. Aug. 4,63.
Robert H. Jackson, b. N. Y. City. Age 30, enl. Jan. 24, 65, rank, landsman, served on U. S. S. S. Ohio, Sea Foam and Winnipec, d. of dis. on the latter Mar. 18, 66.
David Lambert, b. New Brunswick. Age 24, enl. Feb. 7, 65, rank, seaman, served on U. S. S. S. Ohio, Kearsarge, Tahoma and Yucca, disch. disab. from receiving ship at N. Y., May 30, 67.
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CORNISH IN THE CIVIL WAR.
James H. Mitchell, b. Kittery, Me. Age 28, enl. Jan. 24, 65, rank, ordinary seaman, served on U. S. S. S. Ohio and Wachu- sett, disch. as sail-maker's mate Jan. 8, 68.
Thomas Rodgers, b. Denmark. Age 29, enl. Feb. 6, 65, rank, seaman. Served on U. S. S. S. Ohio, Kearsarge and Frolic, disch. as quartermaster from the latter Sept. 25, 68.
William H. Smith. Age 19, enl. Mar. 4, 64. Served on U. S. S. S. Ohio and Cherokee, disch. from receiving ship at Philadelphia, Mar. 12, 65.
William Thomas, b. Barnstable. Age 25, enl. Jan. 26, 65, rank, seaman. Served on U. S. S. S. Ohio, Wachusett and Hartford, disch. Aug. 14, 68.
The following additional list of men were residents or natives of Cornish, who enlisted elsewhere and were credited to the towns where they enlisted. The names and records of a few such have already been given in connection with the branch of service named, and will be counted there in the summary.
Edward F. Chapman, b. Cornish. Age 21, enl. Aug. 22, 61, from Plainfield, 1st U. S. S. S., rank, bugler, disch. disab. Feb. 2, 62, at Washington, D. C., d. Oct. 16, 63, at Plainfield.
Levi L. Chapman, b. Cornish. Age 26, enl. Aug. 22, 61, from Plainfield, 1st U. S. S. S., rank, private, disch. Sept. 8, 64.
Beniah Colby, b. Hill, N. H. Age 55, res. Cornish, enl. Aug. 23, 61, from Franklin, wagoner, Co. H, 3d N. H., disch. disab. May 7, 62 at Edisto, S. C., enl. 2d Aug. 29, 64 Co. C, 24 V. R. C., rank, private, disch. for disab. Aug. 2, 65, at Washington, D. C.
Newell J. Ellis, b. Brandon, Vt. Age 24, res. Cornish, enl. Aug. 15, 64, in Co. G, 7th Vt., private, disch. July 14, 65.
William H. Ellis, b. Brandon, Vt. Age 30, res. Cornish, enl. Aug. 29, 62, in Co. C, 16th Vt., private, disch. Aug. 10, 63, enl. 2d Dec. 1, 63, in Co. G, 7th Vt., at Cavendish, Vt., disch. Mar. 20, 66, at Brattleboro, Vt.
Jason K. Ellis, b. Brandon, Vt. Age 21, res. Cornish, enl. Dec. 28, 63, in Co. G, 7th Vt., private. Lost at explosion of steamer N. America, Dec. 22, 64.
Warren H. Fletcher, b. Cornish. Age 23, enl. Oct. 8, 61, from Claremont in Co. G, 2d U. S. S. S., private -- enl. 2d Dec.
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HISTORY OF CORNISH.
21, 63, from Nashua, N. H., app. Corp., Jan. 1, 62., Sergt. Apr. 12, 64, 2d Lieut. Nov. 21, 64, transf. to 5th N. H. Jan. 30, 65, app. 1st Lieut Co. F, May 1, 65, assigned to Co. G, June 12, 65, disch. June 28, 65, as 2d Lieut.
Edmund Hardy, b. Cornish. Age28, enl. - --- from-rank, d. at - May 30, 63. Lewis S. Hoyt, b. Cornish. Age 32, enl. Dec. 6, 61, from Nashua, N. H., in Co. G, 2d U. S. S. S., private, disch. disab. Mar. 24, 62 at Washington, D. C.
John H. Humphrey, b. Benson, Vt. Age 25, enl. Aug. 1, 62, from Plainfield in Co. E, 9th N. H., private, disch. disab. Nov. 21, 62, at Washington, D. C., enl. 2d Aug. 31, 64, from Cornish in Co. A, 24th V. R. C., app. Commissary Sergt., July 1, 65, disch. Nov. 14, 65, at Washington, D. C.
Oliver Jackson, b. Cornish. Age 25, enl. Oct. 2, 61, from Man- chester, N. H. in Co. F, 2d U. S. S. S., private, enl. 2d Dec. 21, 63, in same reg. and Co., transf. to 5th N. H. Jan. 30, 65, assigned to Co. H, June 17, 65, disch. June 28, 65.
John S. Kenyon, b. Cornish. Age 26, res. Cornish, enl. May 31, 62, in Co. D, 9th Vt., private. Captd. and paroled Sept. 15, 62, disch. disab. Apr. 16, 63.
Charles B. Sisson, b. Fall River, Mass. Age 18, res. Cornish, enl. Oct. 11, 61, in Co. E, 1st Vt. Cav., rank, saddler. Captd. May - 62, near Winchester, Va., paroled Sept. 62, enl. 2d Dec. 28, 63, in Co. 3, 1st Vt. Cav., wd. June 13, 64, at White Oak Swamp Bridge, Va., transf. to Co. A, June 21, 65, disch. Aug. 9, 65.
William H. Sisson, b. Fall River, Mass. Age 22, res. Cornish, enl. Aug. 11, 62, in Co. F, 1st Mass. Cav., private, wd. Sept. 14, 63, at Rapidan Sta., Va., disch. Nov. 7, 64, at Boston, Mass. David Squires, b. Cornish. Age 20, res. Cornish, enl. May 31, 62, in Co. D, 9th Vt., private. Captd. and paroled Sept. 15, 62, disch. disab. May 26, 63.
William H. Smith, b. Cornish. Age 24, res. Cornish, enl. Aug. 5, 61, in 16th Mass., musician, disch. Aug. 9, 62.
Charles Tasker, b. Sullivan, N. H. Age 18, res. Cornish, enl. Sept. 3, 61, in Co. K, 4th Vt., private, transf. to Co. A, 6th U. S. Cav., Oct. 30, 62. Captd. July 3, 63, at Fairfield, Va., paroled Aug. 2, 63, disch. Sept. 7, 65, at Frederick, Md.
105
CORNISH IN THE CIVIL WAR.
During the summer and fall of 1863, the demand for recruits exceeded the supply. More men were needed than had volun- teered for the service; so the government ordered a draft to be enforced in certain military districts in several states.
The third congressional and military district of New Hamp- shire, with headquarters at West Lebanon, was ordered to furnish a certain number of men as her quota. Capt. Chester Pike was the Provost Marshal of the district during the war. Acting under the orders of Gov. J. A. Gilmore, he, with his aids, quietly enforced a draft on September 3, 1863, upon all the towns in his distriet.
The following is the list of men who were drafted from Cornish, in all thirty-seven names, between the ages of eighteen and forty- five:
Newell I. Comings
John M. Deming
George B. Walker
Samuel F. Ayers
Sumner P. Tewksbury
Albert Penniman
Frank S. Edminster
Henry C. Freeman
Frank B. Deming
Lewis Dorman
John B. Chase
William D. Lear
Edwin T. Ayers
S. W. Bryant
Henry Ayers
Eli W. White
Wm. H. Stickney
Lucian O. Williams
Albert Weld
John B. Stevens
Samuel F. Bartlett
Horace L. Bugbee
Edwin H. Smith
Philander W. Smith
Marvin J. Deming
Geo. W. Richardson
Newell J. Ellis
Charles N. Kenyon
Edward Bryant
Julius Dorman
William E. Westgate
Manson Stevens
Frank B. Chapman
Lewis F. Knights
Adolphus G. Vinton
Francis E. Freeman
Martin M. Williams
A part of these men were exempt from service by reason of physical or mental infirmities, while several others purchased a release by the payment of three hundred dollars, or by furnish- ing a substitute. The balance entered the service.
The foregoing lists probably lack completeness, yet they
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HISTORY OF CORNISH.
conform to the records as received from the state department, with a few additional names derived from other authentic sources.
The aggregate of all the foregoing lists is 202 men. Of this number 161 were credited to the town of Cornish and forty-one were credited to the towns where they enlisted. Of the 161 men credited to Cornish, several were of foreign birth and were hired as substitutes or otherwise, to replenish the ranks. A part of these proved to be "bounty-jumpers" for, after receiving their bounty, they deserted upon the first convenient opportunity, as shown by their records.
The town during this crisis was always liberal in the payment of additional bounties and in providing for the wants of families of needy soldiers. As a result the town was obliged to hire money wherever obtainable to meet the requirements of the times.
With a surplus in the treasury of $340 in 1861, the indebt- edness of the town in 1865 reached the sum of $37,000, then the war closed, so this proved to be the maximum amount of .the indebtedness of the town. This was gradually liquidated during the years that followed.
GONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, AT THE CENTER
FORMERLY METHODIST, NOW UNITARIAN
BAPTIST CHURCH, AT THE FLAT
OLD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
· TRINITY CHURCH, EPISCOPALIAN
CHAPTER VIII.
CHURCHES.
A PROMINENT feature in the character of our forefathers was, they were men and women of prayer. In every emergency the mercy-seat was their first and last resort.
"I hear the pilgrims' peaceful prayer Swelling along the silent air Amid the forest wild."
Their expectation was from God alone. They hung helpless on his arm, and poured out their fervent believing desires into his ear. Nor did they plead in vain. They had power with God. Eternity alone will fully disclose the influence of their supplica- tions.
They observed the Sabbath with great seriousness. They prepared for its approach by a seasonable adjustment of their temporal affairs. They welcomed its arrival with joy, and spent its hours in the public and private duties of religion. A sacred stillness reigned in their habitations and neighborhoods, well be- fitting the day of God, and well calculated to raise their affections and thoughts to the eternal rest of Heaven.
The Puritan element and their principles were found in all of the New England Colonies, wherever they settled, and from diaries, letters and other records still in existence, it is evident that the pioneers of Cornish thus recognized their dependence upon a Sovereign power and intelligence. They were sterling men and women, inured to toil for their daily sustenance, training their oftentimes large families as the wise man directs. Few, indeed, were the homes in which the children were not taught the Lord's Prayer, "Now I lay me," and other similar lessons as soon as their infantile lips could lisp the words.
Thus was Cornish settled under very favorable auspices, so far as regards its moral and religious status.
Coming, however, from different communities and from churches of different shades of belief, it could hardly be expected
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HISTORY OF CORNISH.
that entire harmony would continue to exist, for, as the popula- tion increased, each class or church sought to strengthen its own interests. These conditions served to separate the varying creeds, each from the other, causing more or less acrimony to exist between them.
This state of affairs had a tendency to increase the number of churches and worshiping assemblies of the town. The re- lations between these different churches, especially at the first, seemed void of that Christian fellowship, so highly commended in the sacred word. Differences of opinion, too, on doctrinal points between different members of the same church, fre- quently led to bitter disputes and withdrawals. This condi- tion of religious affairs was odious to the feelings of a large number of the citizens of the town. Their better sense sought to prevail, as is shown by the following action of the town:
On May 17, 1790, a call for a meeting of the town was issued, the chief business being to promote the religious unity of the town. The petition was as follows:
"We, whose names are hereunder written, inhabitants of the town of Cornish, do most ardently wish that some plan that is general, Catholic and Charitable may be adopted by the different Churches and the inhabitants at large to unite and form one worshiping assembly and settle the gospel ministry and ordi- nances among us for mutual good and special benefit of our fam- ilies and rising generation, and being sensible of the inability of the inhabitants of this town to support several ministers and several different worshipping assemblies, and that we are now losing all the pleasures and advantages of religious society and public worship, and depriving our dear children, and the rising age of those opportunities to cultivate morals & religion which a good and Gracious God has most evidently provided both for us and them, while we are contending, disputing, indulging and promoting separation among us, that some kind, conciliating, effectual measures may be adopted by the inhabitants of this town to unite in the call and settlement of some wise, judicious and prudent gentleman in the ministry. We do unite in a petition to the gentlemen Selectmen to warn a meeting of the inhabitants of this town, to be holden on Wednesday the second day of June (1790) at the old meeting house in this town at one o'clock P. M. then and there to act on this article:
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CHURCHES.
"To take into consideration the general matters mentioned in our petition, and see whether the inhabitants of this town will consent to propose, consider and finally to adopt any measure that may be advisable to effect as general a union in town as may be in supporting publick worship, and hereafter in calling and settling a gospel minister among us, such as that be entertaining and agreeable to the gospel in general.
(Signed)
Daniel Putnam
Samuel Putnam
William Deming
Joseph Taylor
John Vinton Stephen Child
Eleazer Jackson Benj. Comings
Abijah Tucker Seth Deming
William Chase
Nath1. Carpenter
John Morse
Benjn. Jackson
Ebenezer Deming
CORNISH, May 17, 1790.
"The town met agreeably to the above call and chose a com- mittee to reduce the petition into articles suitable for the town to act upon. The committee were :- Ithamar Chase, Caleb Chase & Lieut. Eleazer Jackson. The meeting was adjourned to June 16th inst. at which time the town again met and consid- ered the petition, and adopted measures well calculated to restore harmony among them. The committee advised, 1st, That the town recommend to the different churches to choose a committee of conference to settle the unhappy disputes existing and agree to submit, in case they do not agree, to mutual arbitration.
"2d That a 'Union Society' be formed whose purpose shall be to promote as general a union as possible among the churches and the inhabitants of the town; and that a committee be chosen to carry out these plans.
"The report of the committee was accepted, and a committee was chosen consisting of Ebenezer Deming, Lt. Eleazer Jackson and Caleb Chase, for the purpose above mentioned."
As the above record is all that can be found relative to the "Union Society," it is to be inferred that it did not become a success, well intentioned though it may have been.
As years and decades have since passed by, the different denom-
110
HISTORY OF CORNISH.
inations have assumed a more friendly attitude towards one another and not infrequently unite their efforts in a common cause.
Congregational Church.
The first settlers of the town were largely of the Congregational persuasion. As subjects of the Crown, the grantees of the town were required to lay out two hundred acres for the church of England; two hundred acres for the propagation of the gospel, and two hundred acres for the first settled minister. The pro- prietors made ample provision in grants of land for the support of the gospel ministry dissenting from the church of England. At their first meeting after the survey and division of the town into lots, they voted that "there be at least one hundred & fifty acres of good land laid out in Cornish and set apart towards supporting a dissenting minister of the gospel in said town." They also voted at a subsequent meeting "to give one thousand acres of as good land as then remained undivided, to settle and maintain a dissenting gospel minister among them."
In 1767, two years after the settlement of the town (which now numbered thirteen families), measures were first taken to settle a minister.
The reader need remember that at that early period church and state had not been divorced. The towns regarded it as their right to manage all the prudential concerns of the church; to raise the necessary funds for their support, and employ their ministers and pay them for their services. So then a minister was pastor not only of the church, but of the town.
On April 28, 1768, the town met to take action upon settling its first minister. The proposition was enthusiastically enter- tained, as the town voted unanimously to extend a call to Rev. James Wellman, of Sutton, Mass., to become its minister. Sev- eral of the families were from the same place and belonged to his congregation in Sutton. These, therefore, desired that he should become their pastor in their new settlement.
After the terms regarding his salary had been adjusted, Mr. Wellman, with his family, moved to Cornish. The citizens of Windsor, Vt., united with Cornish in this project, with the un- derstanding that he should preach in Windsor one third of the time, and that one third of his salary for the first five years
SEAT
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· WESTERN · PORCH.
·EASTERN · PORCH .
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INTERIOR VIEW OF THE OLD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH ON THE HILL-GROUND FLOOR
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INTERIOR VIEW OF THE OLD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH ON THE HILL-GALLERY
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should be raised there. A council of churches met September 29, 1768, and organized a church, called the "Congregational Church of Cornish and Windsor." At this time it consisted of ten mem- bers-six of Cornish and four of Windsor; and Mr. Wellman .
was installed as minister and pastor of the church and towns of Cornish and Windsor.
The church was formed under a covenant which consisted of the "confession of guilt and inability to do that which is acceptable to God,-the profession of their belief in the Christian religion as revealed in the scriptures,-the scriptures as the Word of God, -the acknowledgment of their obligations to glorify God by a holy and righteous life,-the consecration of themselves and their children to God, -- the engagement to walk in love together,- to maintain discipline,-to keep the Lord's Day holy, and attend upon the public worship of God,-to maintain family worship, and to train up all under their care in the paths of holiness and virtue."
Public worship was held in barns in summer, and in dwelling houses in winter, until the fall of 1773 when a meeting house was erected on the banks of the Connecticut River. The people met for public worship clad in garments of home-made cloth,- men and boys with coarse woolen hats and caps, and striped blue woolen or linen frocks and pantaloons. The women were dressed in woolen or linen gowns and checkered blue aprons. In a few instances men gathered for worship on the Sabbath with guns in their hands from fear of the attack of Indians.
Troubles of various kinds soon beset them. It was with dif- ficulty that the pastor's salary was raised. Money was very scarce. The land set apart for ministerial purposes was sold, and the avails expended at the expiration of two years. Dis- satisfaction also sprung up in the church respecting the receiving to membership those of doubtful doctrine and practice.
On account of this, six brethren withdrew from the communion, and presented to the church their reasons for so doing November, 1778. Much controversy followed, which resulted in the with- drawing brethren setting up public worship by themselves in 1779.
In the fall and winter of 1780-81, a Reverend Mr. Powers labored among the people in word and doctrine. A revival was the result. Most of the families in the eastern and northern part
112
HISTORY OF CORNISH.
of the town were affected by the revival, and many were converted, yet the dissatisfied brethren did not resume their allegiance to the church.
Reverend Mr. Wellman and church were much tried by this sep- arate worship and the sanetion given it by neighboring ministers. So the church asked the advice of the Council, December 18, 1780. The Council approved the action, and sustained the com- plaint of the church. The withdrawing brethren became more than ever dissatisfied with the condition and character of the church; and invited a convention of churches in April, 1781, to examine their grounds of complaint. The convention met and appointed another session at Lebanon in June, 1781, and sent a summons to Reverend Mr. Wellman, to appear before them. The summons was treated with a measure of contempt by Mr. Wellnian and his church. He, however, sent a message to the convention, denying its jurisdiction and refusing to appear before them, giving six reasons therefor. This evidently preju- diced the convention against Mr. Wellman and his church, as results afterwards showed.
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