USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Gilsum > History of the town of Gilsum, New Hampshire, from 1752 to 1879 > Part 18
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Antipas Maynard, Benjamin Thompson, Daniel Converse, Israel Loveland, John Borden, Selden Borden, John Withington.
As appears from the names in records of subsequent meetings there were others that after- wards joined, but their names are not signed to the Constitution. The first year, thirty dollars was raised for preaching, which was paid to seven different individuals for 15 days' preaching at the " north school house in Sullivan." Jan. 14, 1808, a Council was convened in Sullivan, (whether at the School House, or at a private house the records do not state,) " In pursuance to letters missive from the Baptist Brethren in Sullivan and Gilsum." The churches in Alstead, Dublin and Swanzey were the only ones represented. Elder William M'Culler of Swanzey was
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GILSUM.
chosen Moderator, and Brother Charles Cummings of Dublin, Clerk. The Council procceded to organize the " Sullivan Baptist Church." The names of the original members cannot now be distinguished from those who afterwards joined. Almost no records were kept till 1831, or if kept, have not been preserved. Oct. 9, 1809, Daniel Converse was chosen Deacon. March 15, 1810, the Church gave a call to Charles Cummings, " to take upon you the office of Eider or Evangelist or an Itinerant Preacher but at the same time to take the care of this Chh." A Council was called to meet Oct. 23, and the ordination took place on the 24th. Elder Cummings seems to have supplied the church for nearly twenty years. The sum raised each year for the support of preaching was from $35 to $60, to secure preaching half the time. The services were in the north school house, the center school house, and the Meeting House, when they could get it. As in other places, the Meeting House belonged to the town, and was for a long period divided among the different denominations according to their proportion of taxes. The latter part of this period they also secured a Hall at Sullivan Center.
In 1840, the Constitution of the Society was revised, and of the twenty who became members from that time, the following belonged;to Gilsum : -
Stephen Foster, Jr., Hartley Thurston, David Randall, Timothy Dort, Winsor Gleason, George W. Foster, and Jesse Dart.
In 1839 and 1840, the Society raised $150 on condition of having preaching all the time. The sums subsequently raised, varied from $30 to $85 till 1849, after which no money was raised by vote, only by subscription. There was a vote each year, however, appropriating " a part or all of our fund money for the support of the gospel." What this fund money was, I have been unable to find out. For the last few years the Society is called " the First Baptist Society of Sullivan and Gilsum," though there is no record of a vote to make the change. The last Society meeting was " at Jesse Dart's in Gilsum," Jan. 3, 1859, at which only ordinary routine business was recorded.
Sept. 14, 1836, the Church " Voted to give Brother Arnold Kingsbury a call to ordination & settlement over Sullivan & Nelson Church in connection." He was accordingly ordained by a Council Nov. 2, 1836, Rev. John Woodbury of Swanzey being Moderator, and Rev. Frederick Page of Hancock, Scribe.
Aug. 25, 1839, the Church " Voted to give Bro. D. P. French a call to ordination as an Evangelist." A Council representing fourteen churches was convened and the ordination took place Sept. 4, 1839. Rev. David Gage of Washington was Moderator and Rev. John Peacock of Keene, Scribe. The sermon was preached by Rev. John Woodbury of Hancock.
In 1841, Rev. Sem Pierce was employed and remained for about two years.
Somewhere about 1848, the records fail to show when, this Church and Society held its meetings in the Methodist Meeting House at Gilsum. Rev. Henry Archibald was their pastor. Rev. John Peacock, an evangelist, labored here in the winter of 1852-3. The Society became small and unable to sustain preaching. The last Church record is the following : -
Gilsum Aug. 15-61.
Met at Brother Goodhues [in Alstead] 2 Choes Bro. Rawson Moderator S Foster Clerk protem 3 Chose S Foster Commitee to look after the Church property now belonging to the church and dipose of it at his discre- sion for any worthy Baptist Church or to the cause of domestic Missions
4 Voted to adopt the following Preamble and resolutions
Whereas in view of the changes in our circumstances & the many obstacles in the way of our further honor- able & useful existence as a church, it has become our settled conviction that our organization should cease, there- fore,
Resolved That, when proper letters of dismission shall have been provided all our members in regular standing upon which they may unite with neighboring sister churches, - this church be disbanded, its organised existence ceasing.
Resolved That the Clerk be directed to furnish such letters in behalf of the church.
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CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Gilsum members of this church, so far as the records show, have been the following, - in order of record : -
Daniel Converse, Selden Borden, Antipas Maynard, Stephen Foster, Jr., Luther Hemenway, Luther Hemen- way, Jr., Solon W. Eaton, Otis Ammidon, Francis Bolster, Ephraim Howe, Francis Howe, Asbury Howe, Asa Howe, John Q. A. Ware, Jesse Dart, George W. Foster, Henry Archibald, David Randall, Elizabeth Maynard, Delilah Converse, Finis Hemenway, Betsey Banks, Lucena G. Thompson, Nancy B. Foster, Cynthia Hemen- way, Phila Corey, Susan Farrar, Julia H. Dort, Mrs. E. Howe, Mary Towne, Mary Ann Bolster, Olive Bolster, Maria T. Dart, Susanna Farrar, Mary Isham, Mary Farrar, Luthera P. Randall, David Randall, A. Jackson Thurston, Timothy Dort, Hartley Thurston, Windsor Gleason, Jr., Lydia Thompson, Fanny Livermore, Martha A. Livermore, Angelia M. Gleason.
UNIVERSALISTS.
There has never been any church of this order in Gilsum. The doctrine was brought here about the beginning of the Century. Rev. Zebulon Streeter of Surry was one of the most prominent Universalist preachers in this and the neighboring towns. When the Meeting House was divided, the Universalists claimed their share of the time. There has been but little preach- ing, otherwise than occasional funerals in families devoted to this belief. The most active and efficient disseminator of this doctrine was the wife of Major Bill. Whatever Universalism has existed in Gilsum to this day, is probably due more to her influence than to all other causes com- bined. At the present time, though perhaps no member of a Universalist Church can be found here, yet many if asked of their belief would probably call themselves Universalists.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The entire lack of records renders the available history of this Church exceedingly meagre. The following sketch has been picked up here and there, but has been mainly furnished by Elder A. J. Howard : -
The doctrines of this Church were first introduced to Gilsum by Elders E. B. Rollins and John Smith, two young men who came to Gilsum in 1818, and held meetings in private dwellings and school houses. " A reformation followed their labors, the outgrowth of which was the organization of the Christian Church." The exact date of its organization is not known. Can- didates for membership were expected to relate " their religious experience and give evidence of leading a new life." They were then baptized, "taking the Scriptures as their only creed, believing that ' all Scripture is given by inspiration of God,' being 'able to make wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.' There was not a uniformity of belief, eaclı individual interpreting scripture according to his own understanding, fellowship being based on Christian character. This view was then deemed dangerous and unwise, and met with much opposition." The doctrines taught were looked upon by other denominations " as little less than heresy," and some " deemed it duty to discountenance their teachings in every form."
In 1835, and again in 1837, protracted meetings were held at the Old Mceting House, and in the Boarding House Hall. The principal speakers were Elder Rollins and Rachel Hosmer. daughter of Dr. Hosmer. Elder Rollins remained here several years and re-organized the church not entirely to the satisfaction of some of the old members.
" The history of this Church is about what must be expected of any feeble church without a house to worship in, and without means to support preaching, sometimes trying to live, and then so near dead that hardly any signs of life remained, one after another having passed away, till the Church lost its visibility." Of the surviving members a few remain without any partic- ular church connection, but most have joined other churches, several coming to the Congregational Church, when they found the conditions of membership had become such as to involve no sac- rifice of conscientious principle in so doing. (Page 116.)
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GILSUM.
The principal preachers of the Christian Church in Gilsum have been the following : -
Elder Edward B. Rollins was originally from Andover. "He entered the Christian ministry in 1815, and traveled and preached in twenty-three States of the Union, also in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Canada, and delivered more than fourteen thonsand public addresses. He was editor of 'The Vermont Ininary,' Randolph, Vt., 1826 ; and ' The Green Mountain Eagle,' Wilmington, Vt., 1850. He was also in the service of his country in the war of 1812."
He believed he was called to the gospel ministry and went forth into the world, and preached that men should repent and turn to God. IIe was a man of noble personal appearance, with strong intellectual powers, and a good voice, having much power in the gift of song. Ile was an able debater thoroughly versed in the scriptures, they being to him the foundation of all religious truth. His solemn appeals were made in scripture language, and being accompanied by the Spirit, moved the hearts of those that heard.
Elder John Smith was a son of Samuel Smith. (Chap. 36.) " He was spoken of as a devoted minister of Christ," and died somewhere in New York, leaving four sons. Elder Jacob B. Burnham lived in Walpole, where he married Betsey Dickey, - preached here at times, but never resided in Gilsum. Elder Josiah Knight preached here for a time, when he was a young man residing at Dea. James Mark's. . Elder Seth Allen resided in Marlow and preached here after Elder Knight left. Elder Ira R. Pettengill also resided in Marlow and supplied the Church here for a time. Elder Jared Greene lived at Dea. James Mark's, and his wife taught school. Elder Bennett Palmer lived here two or three years. He afterwards went to Marlow and was chosen Representative to the Legislature. Elder Amos Stevens was here when a young man and lived at Dea. Brigham's. He removed to Ohio. Elder Daniel Winchester was from Westmoreland. He lived here about four years, and removed to Vermont. He came back in 1842, and introduced the teachings of Elder Miller. Elder Charles E. Baker was a farmer here for about twelve years, and preached for this church, as opportunity offered. He removed to Concord and afterwards to Massachusetts, where he died. Elder John Spaulding was here with Elder Hendee, and worked at awl-making for Elder Hemenway.
Elder Jehiel. P. Hendee was a native of Randolph, Vt., and a wheelwright by trade. He had only a common-school education, but having some natural gifts as a speaker, he was encouraged by his brethren in the Christian Church to enter the ministry. He accordingly became a preacher, and as such was a member of the Christian Conference but was never ordained. From 1831 to 1833 he resided in Stowe, Vt., where he published the " Christian Summary." He soon after went to Middlesex, Vt., and in 1835 came to Gilsum and remained about three years. He then removed to Morrisville, Vt., and afterwards to Lowell, Mass., returning to Morrisville in 1845, where he died at the comparatively early age of 45.
Though never ordained or permanently located as pastor of a church, he frequently preached with acceptance in the various towns of his residence. "He was a very upright man, - had good abilities as a writer and minister, - was an excellent debater, and was an abolitionist from the start of that party, and was also a thorough and strong temperance man and advocate."
(For Elders Hudson, Hemenway, and Howard, see Chaps. 36-7-8.)
In the absence of records the following list of Gilsum members of the Christian Church is as nearly complete as memory will admit : -
Aaron Brigham and Charlotte his wife, William Campbell and Nancy his wife, Simon Carpenter and Anna his wife, David Chapin, Fanny Chapin, Joseph M. Chapin and Dimmis his wife, Justus Chapin (afterwards Dea- con) and Annis his wife, Martha Chapin, Rebecca Chapin, Huldah Clark, Jonathan Clark and Delilah his wife, Joseph Clark and Rizpah his wife, Mercy Clark, Polly Clark, Samuel Clark and Sally his wife, Ira Emerson Com- stock, William E. Comstock, Abram Converse, Daniel Converse and Ruth his wife, Deliverance Converse, Polly Converse, Rosanna Converse, Sally Converse, David Dean, Moses Farnsworth, Mason Guillow and Ormacinda his wife, Artemas P. Hemenway, Luther Hemenway and Finis his wife, Josiah Hendee, Andalusia Howard, Andrew J. Howard and Rizpah his wife, Harriet P. Howard, Mary Catherine Howard, Thomas Howard and Pamela his wife, Betsey Isham, Polly Isham, Rebecca Isham, Esther Loveland, Syrena E. Loveland, Chilion Mack, Capt. Solo- mon Mack and Esther his wife, Solomon Mack, Jr., and Adeline liis wife, Betsey Mark, James Mark (afterwards
.
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MORMONS.
Deacon) and Lois his wife, Louisa Mark, Luther W. Mark and Mary his wife, Orinda wife of Waldo May, Asa Nash (afterwards Deacon,) David Smith and Lucy his wife, Samuel Smith, Benjamin Thompson and Anna his wife, Hannah Thompson, John Thompson and Sally his wife, Julia Thompson, Lydia Thompson, Polly Thompson, Jon- athan Twining and Eliza A. his wife, Elijah Ware, Mary wife of David Ware, Samuel White and Abigail his wife, Abigail White, and Lucy Whitney. Of these 84 about twenty are supposed to be living.
MORMONS, OR LATTER DAY SAINTS.
The fact that Lucy Mack, the mother of Joseph Smith, was a native of Gilsum, and that her brother and his family resided here, was undoubtedly the principal cause of the introduction of Mormonism into Gilsum. In 1836, Joseph Smith, Sen., father of " the prophet," and his brother John, visited their relatives in Gilsum, and vainly endeavored to convert them to their new doctrines. In 1841, Elders E. P. Maginn and Austin Cowles came and held a protracted meeting in the old Meeting House. They received 16 converts from this and the neighboring towns. A church was organized, called " Gilsum Branch of Latter Day Saints." The exact date of organization is not known. The first record is dated " Tuesday Morning 8 Oclock A. M. October 1842." Meetings were held in the following years at Dort's Hall and various other places, with considerable success. The Elders seem to have been itinerant. The following Elders are named in the records, as being here, during the history of " Gilsum Branch " : E. P. Maginn, Austin Cowles, Ormus Bates, Luther Reed, Charles A. Adams, and Jesse C. Little. The records are evidently incomplete. The first recorded choice of President of the Gilsum Branch is that of Elder Adams, Ap. 30, 1843. Chilion Mack was the only Clerk. In August following, Elder Little was chosen President, and apparently continued in office as long as the " Gilsum Branch " retained its organization. After five or six years this Branch got into quar- rels in matters of discipline. The cause is not clear in the record, but old members say it was connected mainly with the subject of intemperance. The records of the new Branch intimate that the trouble was an unwillingness on the part of some, to submit to the church authorities. In 1849, Elder Joseph Grover, recommended by the " Twelve Apostles," came to Gilsum, and after holding meetings and investigating the troubles, organized a new Branch,
at the dwelling House of Solomon Mack, Jr., May 26, 1849. After some appropriate remarks by Elder Grover Showing the importance of saints being united and living in love and felowship with each other that our faith may be strengthened, and that we instruct one another in priciples of Righteousnss as we shall obtain information through the means prepared of God for that purpose even through his Servents posessing the Priest- hood and the Revelations which are or shall be given for the benifit of the Saints in the Last Days
That such Love and union does not exist in the Gilsum Branch is plain and obvious to every thinking mind and contention is calculated to destroy the Saints Therefore it is not wisdom to introduce new members into a branch full of contention And as there are meinbers that do not belong to any Branchi we will Organise a branch to be Called tlie Cheshire County Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
To be subject to the propper Authority of said Church at all times
The following persons were then Organised as a branch under the above name
Joseph Grover and his wife Rebecca D Grover Willard S Cady and wife Abigail M Cady by appointing Joseph Grover President and Willard S Cady Clerk
Recommended that we pray for the Constituted Authority of said Church uphold and sustain them for where the Priesthood and records with a majority of the Church goes there is the true Church Therefore we discountenance all Apostacy from the Presidency and Council of said Church
we will uphold the Chorum of the Twelve Apostles and all the Chorums of the church
We will hold ourselves ready at all times to Abide by the council and instruction of the above named Authority And that all shall be united for union is our moto Peace our theame the Glory of God and Salvation of Man our object
May the Blessings of Heaven and Earth Attend us is our Prayer in the name of Jesus, Amen
JOSEPH GROVER President
WILLARD S CADY Clerk
A part of these original members, and some received soon after, were those who had been excluded from the Gilsum Branch. Having been duly organized, they speedily retaliated, at a
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Conference held in Dort's Hall, July 21 and 22, 1849, by cutting off the remaining members of Gilsum Branch. At this conference much was said about sustaining the authority of the church, and the ostensible reason for the exclusion of these members was for "rejecting authority, and quiriling, for slander and abusing the authority of the church and for apostacy, &c. &c." Elder Solomon Mack was chosen President, which office he held as long as any organ- ization was sustained. This Branch seems to have been very inactive as there are almost no records till Ang. 21, 1855, when the Branch was " ReOrganized by Martin H. and E. M. Peck." Solomon Mack was re-elected President, and Jolin Young, Clerk. In 1856, Benjamin H. Horton was chosen Clerk and no other has since been chosen. In 1857, the Branch was visited by " Elder Wm. H. Branch on a Mission from Utah to the State of New Hampshire," who re-bap- tized most of the members. The remaining records consist mainly of visits by various messen- gers from Utah, and baptisms, re-baptisms, and ordinations.
The resident members of the Gilsum Branch as shown by the records in order of joining, were the following : -
Daniel Converse, Edna Beckwith, William Barns [Barron,] Solomon Mack, Jr., Rebecka Davis, Dolly Con- verse, Lucy Gates, Cynthia Barron, Martha Metcalf, Rebecca Chapin, David Adams, Sophia Foster, Nancy B. Foster, Allice Adams, Joanna Beckwith, William Campbell, Alvali Foster, Nancy Hendee, Susan Gates, Stephen Foster, Chilion Mack, Zenas D. Metcalf, Kimbal Metcalf, Sally Loveland, Finice Guillow, Luther S. Hemming- way, Alvira Hemmingway, Nancy Campbell, Hemon Gates, Abigail Davis, Elisha Foster, Betsey Foster, Adaline Mack, Hannah Mack, Eliza G. Nash, Zerua Guillow, Asa Nash, Paul Farnsworth, Israel Loveland, Sally Murphy, Fanny Hendee, Lydia Foster, and Bethany Barron.
The original members of the Cheshire Co. Branch were : -
Joseph Grover, Rebecca D. Grover, Willard S. Cady, Abigail M Cady, Solomon Mack, Jr., and Adaline K. Mack.
Of those not members of the Gilsum Branch, the following are recorded : -
Lorena Howard, John H. A. Young, Elisha Nash, George S. Howard, Deliverance Nash, J. W. Pierce, Benj. H. Horton, Andrew I. Gates, Ellen Gates, Lucy Gates, and John Dustin.
Under the re-organization of 1857, there were only eiglit resident members, with no new names. Some other of our citizens are reported to have been baptized by Elder Mack, but these are all that the records show.
We find also the record of the following ordinations of Gilsum men : --
At Walpole Ap. 13, 1844, William Campbell and Luther S. Hemmenway. At Peterboro', July 13 or 14, 1844, " Under the hands of Elder's Brigham Young & Orson Pratt," Solomon Mack, Zenas D. Metcalf, Stephen Foster, Elisha Foster, Alvah Foster, Chilion Mack, and Asa Nash. July 1 1857, Heman Gates, by William Walker and Solomon Mack. At Philadelphia, Penn. Dec. 25, 1856 Solomon Mack was ordained to the High Priesthood, by Elders John Taylor and N. H. Felt.
No meetings have been held for a long time, and most of these members have apparently fallen away from Mormonism, some to other churches, and some to no church. It is impossible to say how many quietly retain their faith in the Mormon church. Elder Mack is the only one who openly maintains the doctrine at present. John H. A. Young and his wife Edna, William Campbell and his wife Nancy, Luther S. Hemmenway and his wife Elvira, went to join the body of the faithful at Utah. Several of them perished on the way. Elder Solomon Mack went as far as Kansas, but his family not being willing to go with him, lie returned home.
MILLERISM.
The first preaching of this doctrine in Gilsum was in October, 1842, by Elder Daniel Winchester. As is well known, the day on which the world was to come to an end was set in April, 1843. Meetings were. held almost every night through the winter. There was great excitement among a certain class in the community, and many baptisms took place. No list of those embracing this delusion can now be given. Nor would it be desirable. Finding them-
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selves deceived, not many could be again cajoled by the fixing of another day. The excesses of disorder, and squandering of property authentically reported in many other places did not, however, reach Gilsum to any considerable extent. It is not known that any here continued their belief for more than a year or two. Alden Greene was a devoted Seventh Day Adventist. SPIRITUALISTS.
There never has been any organization of this belief in Gilsum. There are, however, a few holding its doctrines, and there have been occasional sittings, and " spiritual manifestations," to the satisfaction of the believers.
CHAPTER XXI.
SCHOOLS.
"There stands in every country town A school house and a church, The parson with his awful frown, And he who wields the birch."
WHO was the first to " wield the birch " in Gilsum cannot now be told. All the school history prior to 1790, remains in oblivion. There can be no doubt, however, that schools were maintained here long before that time. They were at first held in private houses. The winter school was considered of principal importance, and was always taught by a man. The celebrity of a " master " depended largely on his being able to " thrash the big boys." Every boy went to school till he was of age, and sometimes longer ; so that there were generally, in those days of large families, from six to twenty full grown young men in the school. Successfully to manage these was no light task. Only the younger children attended the summer school, all that were large enough being kept at work in the house and field.
Rachel Bill, the oldest child of Maj. Bill, and afterwards the wife of William Baxter, was a famous " school ma'am," having been employed with great success in Gilsum, Keene and Sullivan, nearly every summer from 1787 to 1800. The certificate of which the following is a copy, is in possession of her grand-nephew, George Hammond : -
These may certify whom it may concern That haveing examined Miss Rachel Bill concerning her qualifications for a Schooldame cannot but judge her a person qualified for that business and as such do hereby reccommend her wherever a door shall be opened for her improvement .
Gilsum may 30th 1794
Clement Sumner
Silvanus Hayward was a prominent teacher in this and the neighboring towns for many years. Obadiah Root, nephew of Mrs. Major Bill, was another of the early " school masters." " Squire Hammond " was eminent as a teacher for many years. Somewhat later, " Squire Pease," and " Capt. Lord Mack " were successful pedagogues. Others, perhaps equally prom- inent, are too numerous to mention. No doubt many anecdotes of those early school days might have been preserved that would add interest to this volume. But they are mostly for- gotten now.
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