USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Hampton Falls > History of the town of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire : from the time of the first settlement within its borders, 1640 until 1900 > Part 9
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May 24 1884 Rev. Joseph Boardman Closed his labors. His record was very brief-One dismission and four deaths are about all. Warren II. Batchelder chosen Clerk.
Sept. 7 Rev. Joseph Kimball of Andover Mass commenced his labor as a stated supply.
1885 3 have been admitted to membership this year
Dec. 31 1886 Services have been held during the year. Communion Omitted
Dec. 31 1887 Several members were dismissed to membership in other places.
Dec. 31 1888 Two members received-The Church received a legacy of $500.00 by will of Daniel Merrill late of South Hampton and a mem- ber of 'is church
Dec. 31 1889 Four admitted to membership this year.
Dec. 31 1890 Three admitted to membership-Dec. 4, Lucy, widow of Daniel Merrill, died aged 80-Largest attendance on Sabbath 119- Smallest 39 .- Average during the year 84.8
May 12 1891 David F. Batchelder & Nathaniel Blatchford chosen Deacons-Henry S. Jackson-Supt of Sabbath School Voted that the Committee to Examine Candidates shall consist of the Pastor -- Dea- cons & Mr. Henry S. Jackson.
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HISTORY OF CHURCH AND PARISII.
June 21 Voted that Rev. Joseph Kimball hold the position of acting pastor of this Church, and that we ratify that relation from the commencement of his labors with us .- Nathaniel Blatchford re- signed the office of Deacon & Warren Howard Batchelder was chosen to fill the vacancy-Eleven admitted to membership during the year
Dec. 31 Largest attendance 148. Smallest 18. Average during the year 95.
Dec. 31 1892 Nathaniel Blatchford died this year aged 62. Largest attendance 150 .- Smallest 29 .- Average 98. The Communion Services have been observed during the year During the year the Church has been removed back from the roads. The additional land which has been purchased, has greatly improved the appearance of the Church, making ample space around the house. A line of horse sheds has also been built .- While the repairs were going on church services were held in Academy hall.
Jan. 31 1893 Services were held with four of the neighboring churches with the assistance of Rev. S. K. Anderson Evangelist.
Mar. 10 House rededicated-Rev. S. R. Aldrich of Rye preached the sermon other parts taken by neighboring ministers Rev. Bernard Copping of Groveland Mass. gave an address in the evening.
May 25 The Rockingham County Temperance Association met at this church-morning and afternoon
Dec. 31 6 members admitted. 2 dismissed-Largest attendance 300 at union service on April 2nd-Smallest 39 average 103.6 Com- munion observed regularly during the year.
Sept. 26 1894 The thirty third annual meeting of the East Rocking- ham Bible Society was held here.
Oct. 11 The Piscataqna Association met here.
Dec 31 Largest attendance 200, smallest 22 average 92.2 Communion held regularly during the year.
May 5, 1895 Individual communion cups having been procured were used for the first time today.
Dec. 31 4 members have been admitted this year. Largest attend- ance 152 .- Smallest 21. Average 83.8 Pastoral calls 323. Communion held regularly during the year
Dec. 31 1896 Largest attendance 113, smallest 26-average 76.98 Pastoral Calls 322. Communion service regular during the year.
1897 One received and one dismissed
July 29 Deacon Emery Batehelder died aged 84. He had been a member of this church since its organization and active in a' ' church work, exhibiting in a consistent Christian walk and conversation. the evidences of a warm and sincere attachment to the faith which he professed
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HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
CHRISTIAN BAPTIST CHURCH.
Early in the present century, or about 1800, there were in many places those who from some cause had become dissatisfied with the management and teachings of the parish churches, who left the old churches and established places of worship of their own under a different name. The societies thus formed called themselves Bap- tist, although their methods and practice were radically different from those of the Baptist church of the present time. As the name indicates, they believed in baptism by immersion. The new churches which came into existence at that time were supported by voluntary contributions, while those who supported them were still taxed for the support of the parish minister settled by the town. Those who left the old church in this town joined with others from Hampton, Kensington, and Seabrook, and formed a new society called the Christian Baptist. Mr. William Brown was one of the most active and earnest promoters of the new church, and aeted as its clerk for more than thirty years after its formation, until the society built its new house, when Mr. Brown left and became identi- fied with the Calvin Baptist society. We give here some extracts from his record:
In the beginning of the year 1805 we held our meeting on the Lord's day at our brother John Pike's house. This being inconvenient, we have agreed with Mr. Aaron Wells for a house to worship God in, and paid the rent in part. But four of the windows were broken in one night, and said Wells forbid our meeting in said house. We then removed our meeting to the Widow Anna Brown's house in Hampton Falls. We then agreed from time to time when we met, to build a meeting house, also that our brother William Brown should take the account of the materials for building and keep an account of the same.
The house of John Pike, where the meeting was first held, is the house now owned and occupied by Emmons B. Towle. The house has been enlarged since that time. Mr. Aaron Wells, who rented them the house, lived where Newell W. Healey now lives. The Widow Anna Brown's house was the vacant house owned by George C. Brown next to his residence. Mrs. Brown was the mother of William Brown, Jacob Brown, Zephaniah Brown, Mary Brown, and Mrs. Thomas Moulton, all of whom became prominent in the management of the Christian Baptist church. Mrs. Brown was the widow of Nathan Brown. She and her husband were
WILLIAM BROWN.
1769-1856. He organ zea the Christian Bapt st Society in 1 805, was a lay preacher and its princ pal sup- porter for 30 years. Afterwards affiliated with the Baptist Society,
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HISTORY OF CHURCH AND PARISH.
admitted to Hampton Falls church in 1253. At this time Mrs. Brown was an invalid and not able to go away from home, and was probably glad to be able to attend religious services. She died in 1811.
We, namely William Brown, John Lamprey of Kensington & Theo- dore Coffin of Hampton to be equal in the charges of building said meeting house and John Pike agreed to help in building according to his ability. We also agreed to receive what others will help for said building and all that help build said house shall own and possess in Said house-AAnd we four bretheren also to own said house with them in proportion to what we do to the same. Friday 2Sth of June 1805, we raised our meeting house in Hampton Falls near Mr. Aaron Mer- rill's house.
From the account given the house cost about $360. John Lam- prey contributed $94.35. Theodore Coffin. $96.42, William Brown, $91.89. John Pike. $12.25; the remainder was contributed by thir- teen others in small sums. The church stood between the Creigh- ton house and the hill south of the town house. It was about thirty feet square, and had a four-sided roof, coming to a point in the center, with a heavy coving at the eaves. The room was about twelve feet to the ceiling, and was unpainted. After it ceased to be used as a church it was sold to Richard C. Marsh, removed to Kenny brook, and used as a blacksmith shop. It was afterward taken down and the material used to build the black- smith shop at gravelly ridge in Salisbury occupied by Mr. Trues- dale. Sometime in 1806 William Brown and Theodore Coffin bought a tankard and two cups for the communion service, sharing the expense equally.
We met in said meeting house for the worship of our God in the latter part of the year 1805. From that time until January 1807. And each person gave to the support of preaching as appeared right in his own eyes to said preaching. Jan. 13th 1807. We had a meeting for the society to arrange their matters, we then agreed first, that William Brown should continue to keep the records of the societies affairs. 2ndly To have a contribution for the support of preaching the gospel and said money to be kept by William Brown, and to be given by him to such preachers as Mr. Jonathan Fellows, Mr. Theodore Coffin & William Brown shall think it duty to bestow the money on, collected from time to time by contribution, agreeable to their direc- tion how much to give each minister who shall preach for the breth- eren and society.
7
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HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
The collections were taken up two or three times each year. It does not appear from the record that the money raised and paid each year for preaching exceeded fifty dollars. After the passage of the toleration act in 1818, this society received their proportion of the rent of the parsonage property. The preachers received in a majority of cases one dollar per Sabbath for their services. Elder True of Salisbury preached more than any one else. Elders Rand, Leavitt, Farnham, and others are mentioned as supplies, but it was the exception that any one received more than one dollar per Sabbath.
In 1812 the bretheren agreed to furnish preachers the ensuing year by the will of God as follows, William Brown to provide two Lord's day, Jacob Brown 2 days, Zephaniah Brown 2, Thomas Moulton 2, Theodore Coffin 2, Abraham Drake 1, John Brown 1, Joseph Melcher 1, John Pike 1, Sewell Pike 1, Jeremiah Dow 1, Jona. Eaton 1.
When any of these supplies preached it was entered on the rec- ord who it was and who provided for him, which meant, in addition to paying him, food and lodging if necessary. As an example of these entries:
June 30th Bro True preached Brother Jacob Brown provided for him.
Under date of June 6, 1815, is the following entry:
June 6th, 7th-Sth-9th-10th Very cold it froze ice four nights out of five, it froze yarn and a pair of stockings stiff.
This system of providing preachers continued for a number of years. The Sabbaths not provided for in this manner were paid for out of the contributions and money received from the rent of the parsonage. A great number were baptized and taken into the church from this and the adjoining towns. From Hampton, the Coffins and Drakes; from Kensington, the Shaws, Browns, and many others; from Seabrook. the number was very large. The church exercised discipline over its members, as from time to time we find a record of the church voting to withdraw from certain per- sons who had given offense by not conforming to the rule of the Gospel. In 1817 the brethren agreed "that all society men shall be disowned after this year who never go to meeting nor any of their families if they are well." There appears never to have been any minister ordained over this church as long as it occupied the
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HISTORY OF CHURCH AND PARISH.
little meeting-house. Mr. William Brown seems to have been the manager and master spirit as long as meetings were held in that house.
July 16, 1808, Elder Ebenezer Leavitt was ordained at Hampton Falls to preach in the denomination, but not over any particular church. As the church was too small to accommodate the large number who came, the ceremony was performed outside, in the orchard on the hill in JJacob Brown's pasture. Tradition says that there were a large number in attendance. The hill has since been called. Ordination hill. Under the parish system of church man- agement, the minister's salary, and all expense for maintaining preaching, was paid by the town, by a tax assessed upon the property of the whole town, and raised in the same manner as other taxes. After this church was formed its supporters were still taxed for the maintenance of the parish church, which caused dis- satisfaction, and efforts were made to have the town release them from paying minister tax after supporting their own meeting. This request was denied for a time and considerable feeling was mani- fested in the matter upon both sides. A number of times efforts were made to have the town exempt them from paying any minister tax, but it was always voted in the negative. In 1808 we find the following call for a town meeting:
To Thomas Leavitt one of the justices of the peace in and for the County of Rockingham and state of New Hampshire Humbly Showeth that your petitioners, that they have petitioned the Selectmen of Hampton Falls in Said County to call a meeting of all the legal voters of Hampton Falls for the purpose following Viz. 1st To choose a moderator to govern said meeting
ond To see if the said meeting will agree to discharge the Congre- gational minister tax standing against the Baptist society
3d To see if the meeting will agree that the inhabitants each of them have liberty to attend any society they like best, and pay their minister tax where they attend only.
4th To pass any vote relating to ministerial matters the meeting may think proper-And they have refused to do so. Therfore your petitioners humbly pray. your Hon. to direct a warrant to the Con- stable of said Hampton Falls for the purpose above written Hampton Falls April Sth 1808.
Nathan Brown Zephaniah Brown Thomas Moulton John Brown
Dudley Dodge Toppan Chase Billy Dodge Jacob Brown
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HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
James Green
Caleb Pike
Jacob Green
John H. Dodge
Jona. Fifield
Josiah Pike
Jereh Gove Jr
Nathan Robie
Isaac Dodge
John Pike
Isaac Brown
William Brown
This meeting was called by Billy Dodge, constable, and held April 25, 1808. The second and third articles were passed in the negative.
At a legal meeting, held on the 11th of June, 1808, it was voted to choose an agent or agents to defend the cause commenced against Jeremiah Blake, Moses Wells, and Jonathan Cram by William Brown, Nathan Robie, Jacob Green, and Thomas Leavitt for min- ister tax in the year 1806. It was voted that Jeremiah Blake, Theophilus Sanborn, and Joseph Perkins be the agents. Jacob Brown, John Brown, and Thomas Moulton dissented against the last two votes.
It would appear from the following vote that the suit commenced against the town above mentioned had been decided in favor of those bringing suit, for in 1809 it was "voted not to tax the Baptists who shall present certificates before assessment is made the pres- ent year for their minister tax." Similar votes were passed in the years following, until the toleration act was passed in 1818 by the legislature, which allowed every one to pay his minister tax where he saw fit, leaving it a voluntary matter where and how much any person should contribute toward the support of religious meetings, and which practically ended the town system. The same thing practically was accomplished in Massachusetts in 1994.
The following is the constitution adopted by the society:
We the undersigned agree to unite ourselves together as a church of God and take the Scriptures as our rule of faith and practice-We agree to watch for each others spiritual good to admonish each other in love and use all possible exertions for building up each other in our most holy faith A elerk shall be chosen by the church whose duty it shall be to keep a faithful record of all important transactions, To register the names of members received, removed by death withdrawn from, dismissed and rejected-Deeming it the duty of churches to assemble in conference. We agree to meet on the first Saturday of each month, or present a reasonable excuse, and this shall be called a church conference in which all the members shall give a relation of the state of their minds-We deem it our duty and will use all proper means to have the Lord's supper administered once each month. We
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HISTORY OF CHURCH AND PARISH.
agree to choose a committee of five persons annually whose duty it shall be to oversee the spiritual affairs of the church. New members shall be received after giving a reason of hope by a vote of the church at any regular church meeting. Elders baptizing without the knowl- edge of the church shall be deemed or considered subjects of ad- monition.
This constitution was accepted April 27, 1833.
Names of the brethren and sisters in the First Christian Baptist Church in Hampton Falls in 1833: William Brown, Mary Brown, Thomas Moulton and wife, Zephaniah Brown and wife, Jacob Brown and wife, Thomas Brown and wife, Nathan Moulton and wife, Anna Roby, Abigail Green, Lucy Roby, Widow Janvrin, Sarah Moulton, Ann H. Moulton, Ezekiel Gove and wife, Joseph Moulton and wife, Charles Gove, Phebe Nason, Samuel Brown and wife, Charles Brown, Eliza Brown, Nancy Green, Reuben Hardy and wife, Naney Griffin, John True's wife, Hulda Chase, Polly Brown, Nathan Pike's wife, John Gove, Abigial Chase, Sarah Towle, Caleb Towle's wife, Mary A. Towle, Charles Hardy and wife, Daniel Pevear's wife, Samuel Pevear, Lydia Hardy, John Brown's wife of Seabrook, Henry Eaton's wife, Seabrook, Miles Evans and wife, Seabrook, Charles Ramsdel and wife, Seabrook, Mary Tilton, Caroline Tilton, Jacob A. Tilton, Nathaniel D. Tilton, all of Exeter.
The following was approved March 11, 1833:
That the First Christian Baptist Society build a house for Said Society-The name of the house shall be known, as the First Christian Baptist Meeting house. That any person shall have a right to purchase a pew or pews at the auction of pews whether they belong to the Society or not .- That the pew holders shall have a right to sell or dispose of their pews as they think proper at any time. That the pew holders shall keep the house in repair after the house is completed and dedicated and the repairs shall be determined by the pew holders, and how much and what is necessary. Each pew shall be entitled to one vote-That the house shall be governed by the said society as it may respect occu- pying said house. But if there shall be any difficulty arise in said society as it respects occupying said house it shall be decided by the church within said house.
October 3, 1835, William Brown, who had been clerk since the formation of the society, and its most active and zealous member, withdrew from the church and united with the Calvin Baptist society. Thomas Brown was chosen clerk and continued in that office until his death in May. 1868. From that time to the present John J. Brown has been elerk.
.. -
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HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
The new meeting-house was built in 1835 and dedicated soon after. Elder Mark Fernald preached the dedication sermon. The building committee. or those who furnished the money, were Jacob Brown, Zephaniah Brown, and Thomas Moulton. When the house was completed they sold what pews there was any demand for, and kept the remainder. The undisposed portion of the pews are still owned by their descendants, and have never been divided or disposed of by them.
Rev. Daniel P. Pike, a native of this town, was probably the first minister ever ordained as pastor over this church, although there is no record of his ordination. He baptized several persons in the years 1837 and 1838. After leaving here Mr. Pike removed to Newburyport, where he organized a large society. He was an ardent temperance and philanthropic worker. He continued there until his death a few years since.
Rev. Thomas F. Barry was ordained March 20, 1839, and was its pastor for a year or two.
April 14, 1841, Rev. George M. Payne was ordained as pastor. He preached at this time about three years. He preached here again for a time in 1862 and 1863, and at various other times. He came here often to attend funerals of members of the church and others until the time of his death. about 1882. He has been held in fond remembrance by the society as a respected and beloved pastor.
Jeremiah W. Marsh was ordained pastor April 28, 1853, and con- tinned for a short time.
Revs. James Pierce and A. B. Reed preached as supplies for a year or two.
Rev. Charles P. Smith was ordained pastor December 1, 1858. From that time until 1826 the preaching was by supplies.
February 6, 18:6, Rev. Joseph H. Graves was chosen pastor of the church and continued for two or three years.
In 1886 Rev. A. H. Martin supplied, and for a year or two after. During his ministry the house was repaired and remodeled inside after the modern methods.
For several years past there have been no regular services held in this church. Occasionally meetings have been held for a few months at a time. The membership of the church has been growing smaller for many years, until at present there are but few remaining of what once was a strong and vigorous church. Upon the sale of
ELDER GEORGE MOORE PAINE. Pastor of the Christian Baptist Church.
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HISTORY OF CHURCH AND PARISII.
the parsonage property this society received $120.16 for its share, which sum is still intact, the interest only having been used for the support of preaching.
Among those who preached at different times as supplies, but were not regularly settled, may be mentioned Elders Warren Lin- coln, George Pierce, Moses Polly, Tibbets, Hinckley, Asa Merrill, and Julius C. Blodgett.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
There were a large number who withdrew from the old church in this town early in the present century and established a church which was called Baptist. But this so-called Baptist church, while having some similarity, differed essentially in doctrine, methods, and church government from those called Baptist at the present time. Many of the seceders from the old church became known as Christian Baptists, in other cases as Freewill Baptists, and still others were called Calvin Baptists, but which are now known sim- ply as Baptists. It was from these who were known as Calvin Bap- tists that the church in Hampton Falls has grown. Several from this town who had professed the Calvinistic faith had held meet- ings from time to time, and had become affiliated with the Baptist church at Exeter.
In 1828 eight persons, all named Dodge, were dismissed from the church at Exeter, to constitute what was then known as the Baptist Church of Seabrook and Hampton Falls. These, with a few persons from Seabrook, constituted themselves into a Baptist church at the house of Richard Dodge on the evening of October 28, 1828, and invited Rev. T. P. Ropes to become their pastor. On the afternoon of December 2, at the house of Richard Dodge, the church was recognized and delegates from the neighboring Baptist churches installed the Rev. Mr. Ropes as their pastor. These services were held in the old meeting-honse in Seabrook, built by the Presbyte- rians. Rev. Baron Stow, then of Portsmouth, afterwards settled in Boston, preached upon this occasion, and presented the church with a Bible which was in constant use until it was destroyed in the Academy fire in 1875. Mary and Nancy Dodge presented them with a communion service which is still in use.
From the fall of 1828 until the autumn of 1834 they continued to worship in the old meeting-house in Seabrook. After this they
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HISTORY OF HAMPTON FALLS.
met in the new Academy building at Hampton Falls, until the erec- tion and completion of the new meeting-house.
This house was opened for service in September, 1836. Its di- mensions were forty and one half feet by sixty-five feet, and its cost $2.117.58. The building committee were William Brown, Richard Dodge, Joseph H. Weare, Aaron M. Gove, and George H. Dodge.
In 1859 the house was repaired and improved at an expense of $2,000. The house was slated, and the tower replaced by a spire; the high gallery was taken down, the pulpit lowered, the walls frescoed, the floor carpeted, and the pews upholstered. The com- mittee under whose supervision this work was done were George H. Dodge, John W. Dodge, and Nathan Brown.
About 1892 the meeting-house was moved back and raised up and a vestry built under it. Horse-sheds were erected, which are a great comfort to the horses. Mrs. John W. Dodge presented the church with a bell in memory of her late husband.
In 1894 John T. Brown, Esq., of Newburyport presented the town with a town clock, which was placed upon the church tower.
Mr. Ropes continued his pastorate from September, 1828, until April, 1830. He was a strong temperance advocate at a time when many ministers continued the use of intoxicating drinks. For the next three years the church was supplied by candidates, among them Rev. J. W. Poland. In 1836 the church was reported as a strictly temperance church.
Rev. Samuel Cook was pastor from May, 1835. to April, 1838. During his ministry the membership more than doubled. Mr. Cook was afterwards chaplain of the New Hampshire state prison.
Rev. Otis Wing came next for two years. Quite a number were added during his term. There were baptisms on eight successive Sabbaths. Mr. Wing's last settlement was at Newton Junction, where he died in 1897, aged ninety-nine years. At the time of his death he was the oldest known Baptist minister.
Rev. Messrs. Stearns and Briggs, who were each of them at times principals of the academy, supplied until 1843.
In November, 1843, Rev. Zebulon Jones commenced upon the longest pastorate yet enjoyed by the church. which terminated in 1851. Twenty-six members were added during Mr. Jones's min- istry.
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