USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Henniker > History of the town of Henniker, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, from the date of the Canada grant by the province of Massachusetts, in 1735, to 1880 with a genealogical register of the families of Henniker > Part 10
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The town had preaching occasionally, but made no further attempt to settle a minister in opposition to Mr. Sawyer ; and in a short time nearly all of those who were church mem- bers came to attend Mr. Sawyer's meeting. Meetings were held in the meeting-house, in school-houses, and in barns. The church began to increase in numbers and in strength. Many obstacles were overcome; and many who had been enemies became friends. Mr. Sawyer proved a very able and acceptable minister, and pressed forward amidst many discouragements, preaching the word, and visiting from house to house as he found opportunity. He treated all, whether friend or foe, with the same courtesy, and won many friends by his exemplary conduct and his daily walk.
In 1803, the church, being without a regular place in which to hold their meetings, resolved to erect another meeting-house. A committee was chosen to consider the matter, who, after due deliberation, made a report to the church and society connected with it. The spot chosen for it to stand upon was a little westerly from the present resi- dence of Hiram Rice. Upon this spot work was commenced in this year, and during the summer of 1804 it was suffi- ciently finished to hold meetings in occasionally, although it was not completed so as to be occupied wholly until 1805. During this time, meetings were held occasionally in the town's meeting-house. This house was dedicated in 1805,
123
NEW MEETING-HOUSE.
although there is no record of the same. This house was about the length of the town's meeting-house without the porches, and about the same width, and two stories in height. There was a porch on the south end, facing the street, surmounted with a low belfry, the first one seen in this town. There were three doors for entrance,-one in the porch, and one each side of it. The pews were built square, with the seats turning upon hinges, and other- wise ornamented much like the town's meeting-house, save the "sounding-board." The pulpit was in the north end, having in front of it the "elders' seats," and in front of them the deacons' seats. A little table let down in the elders' seat, upon which the symbols used at Communions were al- ways placed. From the entry, stairs led up right and left to an entry above, thence through a door to the pews above, extending around three sides of the building, save the room for the " singing-seats," the seats of both pews and singing- seats being hung upon hinges.
From the top of the deck of the belfry, a post, some six feet in height, was raised and made fast, the top of which was surmounted with a large wooden ball, some twelve inches in diameter, and gilded after the ball was in position. Mr. Swallow, one of the workmen upon the building, stood upon it with one foot, and turned completely around, much to the delight of a large number of spectators who saw it from the ground.
In this house Mr. Sawyer continued to preach until April 9, 1826, when he preached his farewell discourse, from Ist Corinthians, 3d chapter, 9th verse,-" For we are all laborers together with God." He was dismissed March 29, 1826, by a council. There is no record of the churches of which this council was composed.
March 19, 1819, the following notice was posted in the porch of the meeting-house, at one or more public places in town, and printed in the Farmers' Cabinet, published at Amherst, April 1, 1819.
I24
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
Calvinistic Society in Henniker.
Notice is hereby given, that Daniel Rice, Ephraim Goss, Francis Bowman, John Proctor, Samuel Wadsworth, Joshua Darling, Nathaniel Cogswell, and others, members of the old Calvinistic Society in Henniker, have organized themselves into a Religious society under the act of the Legislature passed at their June Session, 1818, entitled an act in amendment of an act, entitled an act for regulating towns and the choice of Town Officers, and have assumed the name of The Calvinistic Soci- ety. By order of the Society,
Edward Whitman, Clerk.
Soon after this, some of the old settlers, together with some of later date, formed a society styling themselves the " Congregational Society of Henniker." . They made quite an effort to hire and settle a minister, but Mr. Sawyer's pop- ularity was so great that the necessity for another minister did not really exist. The society continued to hold meet- ings occasionally, and in 1826 they united with the Calvin- istic society in extending an invitation to Rev. Jacob Scales, of Colchester, Ct., who accepted the call, and was ordained by a council consisting of pastors and delegates from the churches in Dunbarton, Andover, Mass., Boscawen (Ist and 2d churches), Pembroke, Hopkinton, Hillsborough, Ac- worth, Antrim, Bradford, Claremont, and Concord, Jan. 17, 1827. It is doubtful if an abler council than this ever con- vened in New Hampshire. Revs. Walter Harris, Eben- ezer Price, Burnham, Hatch, Lawton, Whiton, Page, Nye, and Nathaniel Bouton, then just commencing his ministry in Concord, were some of the first preachers of the denomina- tion in the state. Added to them was the Rev. Justin Ed- wards, of Andover, Mass., who preached the sermon.
The day was a bitter cold one, and Mr. Edwards preached the sermon with woollen mittens on his hands. There was no fire in the meeting-house yet, save what was in the little foot-stoves. It is said that the people suffered severely from the effects of the cold, and nothing but the glowing words, as they fell from the eloquent lips of Dr. Edwards, kept the large congregation together.
125
DEDICATION OF MEETING-HOUSE.
At the installation of Mr. Scales, Rev. J. M. Whiton, of Antrim, made the opening prayer; Rev. Jonathan Nye, of Claremont, the installing prayer ; charge by Rev. Walter Harris, of Dunbarton ; right hand of fellowship, by Rev. Nathaniel Bouton, of Concord ; address to the church, by Rev. Abraham Burnham, of Pembroke ; concluding prayer, by Rev. Ebenezer Price, of Boscawen. At a meeting of this council, the day previous to the installation, they passed the following resolution :
Whereas, intoxicating liquors have in several cases been dis- pensed with at the entertainment of ecclesiastical councils, and it is understood that the Committee of Arrangements in this place intend to pursue a similar course, this Council would ex- press their cordial approbation of it and their earnest desire that as laudable a practice may become universal.
For two or three years Mr. Scales preached alternately at the old meeting-house and at the new one, when all finally attended one church. The church continued to prosper un- der Mr. Scales's preaching, when, on the night of Aug. 23, 1833, the church was burned to the ground.
For the year following, the church wandered from house to school-house, having preaching but a portion of the time. Measures were soon taken to erect another meeting-house, work upon which was commenced early in the spring of 1834. It was dedicated Aug. 27, 1844, the sermon being preached by Mr. Scales, from Psalms, 93d chapter, 5th verse. The order of exercises at the dedication was as follows:
Ist. Music. "Glory be to God on High."
2ª. Invocation and Reading of the Scriptures.
3ª. Music. Hymn 141, Select Tune, Old Hundred. 4th. Prayer.
5th. Original Hymn, composed for the occasion, also the music.
Great God, whose awful presence fills the skies, Before whose throne eternal anthems rise,-
Oh ! deign thy gracious presence to bestow, And dwell in this frail tenement below.
Long may Thy saints here worship and adore Thee ; And trembling sinners humbly bow before Thee.
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
Long from this desk may humble prayer arise, And from this choir our song salute the skies ; Here may Thy truth like heavenly dew distil, These hallowed seats our children's children fill. Here let thy Spirit take a watchful station, Thy word dispensed, be blest to our salvation.
This sacred desk, these seats and aisles, the choir, These walls and roof, the vestry and the spire,- What now they are, whate'er they yet may be, Ourselves, our all, we consecrate to Thee;
From Thy rich stores be ample means provided,
And by thy wisdom, all our counsels guided.
Here may the Holy Spirit from above, Seal many trophies of redeeming love,
And the fair page of heavenly record be Eternal proof of souls born here to Thee.
Long may Thy saints here worship and adore Thee, And trembling sinners humbly bow before Thee.
These words and music were composed by Dr. Nathan San- born.
7th. Consecrating Prayer.
8th. Music. "O Thou, from whose all forming hand."
9th. Address to the church and the people.
Ioth. Music. "Strike the Cymbal."
IIth. Benediction.
The choir was under the direction of Col. Imri Woods.
The house was furnished with a bell, which was raised to its position the day the building was raised, May 8, 1834,- its tongue pealing out glad tidings to the assembled mul- titude, the larger part of whom had never seen one before,- and a clock, built by Mr. Morrill, of Boscawen, and an organ-the whole costing nearly or quite $5,000. Shortly after the church was burned, a new Communion service was received, costing $39, accompanied by the following letter :
Boston, Nov. 8, 1833.
Rev. and Dear Sir. I have sent a set of Communion ware by Lieut Gibson, which I wish you to present to Church under your Pastoral Care, as an expression of the sympathy which I feel in their affliction and a token of regard both to them and yourself. I trust the Lord will overrule your loss for his own glory and the best interest of the church.
Respectfully & affectionately yours,
John C. Proctor.
127
NEW MINISTER.
This letter was addressed to Mr. Scales. The service was accepted by the church with a great deal of gratitude.
The church was built by Mr. Abbott, of Boscawen. The pews were sold at auction after they were completed. Some alterations have been made inside of the church, but save those it remains substantially the same as when erected. The fine stone steps, which have been an ornament to it for so many years, were taken from the ledge on the Horace Tucker farm, in the east part of the town, by William Smith.
A council was called to consider the propriety of dismiss- ing Mr. Scales, January 2, 1839, consisting of the pastors and delegates from the churches at Pembroke, Concord, Hillsborough, Antrim, Warner, and Bradford, and a delegate from Hopkinton. The council, after an exhaustive hearing, decided that the connection between Mr. Scales and the church should be dissolved March 1, 1839. At that time Mr. Scales preached his farewell discourse, from 2d Cor., 13: II. The sermon was printed, by desire of the church.
Rev. Nathaniel A. Keyes then preached as a candidate. A strong effort was made to settle him, but he gave a neg- ative answer.
Rev. Mr. Delano preached a few Sundays as a candidate, but he did not receive a call.
At a meeting held October 28, 1839, the church and socie- ty, on motion of Hon. Joshua Darling, voted, nineteen yeas to two nays, to invite Rev. David Andrews to become their pastor, but he gave a negative answer.
Rev. Mr. Batchelder then preached a few Sabbaths. A call was given him, but he declined it.
April 6, 1840, Rev. Timothy G. Brainard, who had sup- plied the pulpit for several Sabbaths, received a call, which he declined.
The Rev. Thomas Kidder, of Windsor, Vt., also received a call, July 25th of the same year, to become their pastor, which call he declined.
October 19th, of the same year, Rev. Solomon J. Tracy received a call, which he also declined.
I28
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
July 12, 1841, Rev. Eden B. Foster, of Hanover, N. H., received a unanimous call to become their pastor, which call he accepted. He was ordained August 17, 1841, the coun- cil consisting of pastors and delegates from the churches at Hopkinton, Pembroke, Antrim, Warner, Concord (North and South), Salisbury, Hillsborough Bridge, Concord (West), Concord and Putney, Vt. The sermon was preached by Rev. Amos Foster, of Putney, Vt., an uncle of the pastor-elect. The charge was given by the venerable Rev. Abraham Burn- ham, of Pembroke. Mr. Foster continued as pastor until January 7, 1847, when he was dismissed, at his own request, by a council consisting of the pastors and delegates from the churches at Concord (West), Hillsborough, and Hills- borough Bridge.
In April following, Rev. N. A. Keyes was given a unan- imous call, which he declined.
Rev. Richard T. Searle received a call, October 4, 1847, which he accepted. He was installed December 1, 1847. The council consisted of the pastors and delegates from the churches at Concord (North, South, and West), Danvers, Mass., Hillsborough Bridge, and Warner. Rev. Daniel J. Noyes, of the South church, Concord, preached the sermon. Rev. Dr. Bouton made the address to the people. February 1, 1850, Mr. Searle presented a letter to the church and society, asking for a dismissal, which request was granted, March 20th of the same year, by a council.
January 6, 1851, Rev. Joseph M. R. Eaton, of Fitchburg, Mass., received a call, which was accepted. He was installed February 26, 1851, by a council from the churches of Hills- borough Bridge, Concord (North), Hillsborough Centre, Fitchburg, Mass., and Hopkinton. Rev. E. W. Bullard, of Fitchburg, preached the sermon ; Dr. Bouton addressed the people. Mr. Eaton asked a dismission, May 14, 1868. A council of the pastors and delegates from the churches at Hillsborough Bridge, Hillsborough Centre (delegate), Hop- kinton (delegate), Warner, and North Yarmouth, Me., met,
129
MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHURCH.
June 2, 1868, which dissolved the connection, and the church was once more without a pastor.
July 21, 1870, Rev. Stephen S. Morrill received a call to settle with them, which was accepted. He was installed Thursday, September I, of the same year. The council consisted of the pastors and delegates from the churches at Concord (North, South, and West), Hillsborough Bridge (delegate), Hopkinton, Warner, and Webster. The sermon was delivered by Rev. F. D. Ayer, of the Concord North church; charge to the pastor by Rev. Edward Buxton, of Webster ; address to the people by Rev. S. L. Blake, of the Concord South church. Mr. Morrill was dismissed, August 18, 1873.
Rev. George H. Mors, of Townsend, Mass., commenced preaching November 21, 1873, and ceased July 30, 1876.
Rev. John H. Hoffman commenced preaching June 10, 1877. He was ordained August 27th of the same year, and installed June 7, 1878.
Previous to the ordination of Mr. Sawyer, only fifty-five persons are known to have been members of this church. During the twenty-four years of his ministry, one hundred and sixteen were added to the church. Sixteen became members within one year after his ordination. In 1816, twenty-six were added, and in 1824, sixteen more. Quite a number of those added during the earlier part of his minis- try were residents of Warner, Bradford, and Hillsborough, there being no Congregational church at that time in those towns. As churches were established in those places, these persons withdrew their membership from the church here.
January 17, 1827, when Mr. Scales was installed, there were on the records the names of ninety-six persons, sup- posed to be living, who had not removed their relation. Of that number, between twenty and thirty were non-resident, and but little was known of them. During Mr. Scales's ministry, two hundred and twenty-seven were added to the church; and when his connection with the church was
130
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
dissolved, there were upon its records the names of two hundred and thirty-five, all but about twenty of whom were residents of the town. During Mr. Foster's ministry, thirty were added; during Mr. Searle's, six; during Mr. Eaton's, seventy-eight ; and during Mr. Morrill's, to February, 1872, twenty-one.
The following is a summary of the church to January 10, 1877:
PASTORS.
Rev. Jacob Rice, ordained June 7, 1769 ; dismissed Feb. 20, 1782.
Rev. Moses Sawyer, ordained May 26, 1802 ; dismissed Mar. 29, 1826.
Rev. Jacob Scales, installed Jan. 17, 1827; dismissed Mar. 1, 1839. Rev. Eden B. Foster, ordained Aug. 17, 1841 ; dismissed Jan. 7, 1847. Rev. Richard T. Searle, installed Nov. 30, '1847; dismissed Mar. 20, 1850.
Rev. J. M. R. Eaton, installed Feb. 25, 1851; dismissed June 2, 1868. Rev. S. S. Morrill, installed Sept. 1, 1870 ; dismissed -, 1873.
Rev. John H. Hoffman, installed Aug. 27, 1877.
DEACONS.
Ebenezer Harthorn, chosen June 7, 1769; died Feb. 5, 1814.
William Presbury, chosen June 7, 1769; died -- - -.
David Clough, chosen July 23, 1802 ; died Jan. 2, 1819.
Daniel Rice, chosen July 23, 1802 ; died Jan. 15, 1821.
William C. Woodbury, chosen July 16, 1817; resigned Nov. 19, 1822. George Connor, chosen July 16, 1817 ; excommunicated Jan. 23, 1830. Nathaniel Cogswell, chosen Nov. 18, 1822; died July 17, 1836.
Josiah Childs, chosen Dec. 5, 1831 ; died Feb. 1, 1863.
Oliver Pillsbury, chosen Dec. 5, 1831 ; died Feb. 27, 1857.
Horace Childs, chosen Feb. 19, 1855.
Worcester Harthorn, chosen Feb. 19, 1855.
Number of pastors 8
deacons II
original members 15
Whole number of members . 541
Number removed by dismission 145
excommunication. 38
death
207
Present membership .. 151
Membership Jan. 1, 1880 176
I31
ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCIL.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
Shortly after the close of the Revolution, a Baptist church was formed in this town, and was considered a branch of the Baptist church of Sutton. Although small in numbers they maintained public worship upon the Sabbath for several years, holding their meetings at private houses and in school-houses. They prospered for a while, but the church finally became extinct as a church, although many of its members still adhered to their faith. There is no record of the first members of this church.
Pursuant to letters missive from several persons of this town, who were still adherents of this faith, an ecclesiastical council convened, Feb. 23, 1832, at the house of Moses Hoyt, to consider the expediency of forming another Bap- tist church in Henniker. The council consisted of the fol- lowing named persons :
Rev. Enoch T. Winter, Dea. Joseph Marshall, and Ezekiel Dodge, from the Baptist church at Bradford; Rev. Michael Carlton and Trueworthy Blaisdell, from the church at Hop- kinton ; Rev. Stephen Pillsbury and Dea. Benj. Farrar, of the church at Sutton ; Dea. J. Kelley and C. Noyes, from the church at Newport; Dea. David Everett, Joseph Colby, Jonathan Greeley, and Samuel Greenwood, from the church at New London ; Dea. Fisher Gay and Gardner Gay, from the church at Hillsborough; and G. W. Ashby and F. Jacobs, also of Bradford.
The council organized by the choice of Rev. Stephen Pillsbury as moderator, and Rev. Enoch T. Winter as clerk. Letters were then read from several Baptist churches, rec- ommending several persons as suitable, in faith and profes- sion, to be organized into a church.
The church at Hillsborough recommended Moses Hoyt and his wife, Betsey Hoyt; Abijah Hildreth, Jr., and his wife, Betsey Hildreth ; and Hannah Colby ;- the church in Weare recommended Ephraim Morrill and Betsey Emory ;-
I32
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
the church in Mason recommended Abijah Hildreth, and his wife, Hannah Hildreth ;- the church at Woburn, Mass., recommended Mrs. Louisa Bacon.
These ten persons were then organized and embodied as a branch of the Baptist church of Bradford, with the privi- lege of choosing their own officers, keeping their own rec- ords, disciplining their own members, and receiving addi- tions to their number. When any of the members attended the administration of the Sacrament at Bradford, they were to. be considered equal with the members residing at Brad- ford.
In the afternoon of this day the church was embodied, Rev. Mr. Winter preaching the sermon and giving the charge to the members. This church adopted, as an expression of their views and doctrines, the articles of faith adopted by the New Hampshire Baptist State Convention, held about that time.
The first deacon of the church was Moses Hoyt, and the first clerk Abijah Hildreth, Jr. The church was quite pros- perous, receiving an addition of twelve persons beside the original ten, during the first year of its existence.
In September of 1833, the church asked to be dismissed from the church at Bradford, that it might be known as the Baptist church of this town. The request was granted, and the following persons composed the new church :
Ephraim Morrill,
Betsey Hildreth,
Abijah Hidreth,
Hannah Colby,
Moses Hoyt,
Louisa Bacon,
Benjamin Hoyt,
Phebe Harriman,
Abijah Hildreth, Jr.,
Sophia Preston,
Smith Morgan,
Betsey J. Hoyt,
Amos Ray,
Lois Colby,
Isaac F. Colby,
Mercy Colby,
Hannah Hildreth,
Martha Smith,
Betsey Hoyt,
Helena Dodge,
Betsey Emory,
Susan Kirk,
I33
THE BRICK CHURCH.
Fanny Chase,
Achsah Goss,
Harriet Colby,
Betsey Colby,
Hannah Woods,
Hannah Perry,
Betsey Rice,
Betsey Sprague,
Jennett Morgan,
Elizabeth Lovejoy,
Mary Whitman,
Hannah Hoyt.
Rev. Enoch T. Winter was duly installed as pastor of the church at this time, which position he occupied until 1838, when he severed his connection with the church and re- moved from town, much to the regret of a large majority of his church, and the citizens of the town generally.
In 1834 the church erected the neat and commodious building known as the "brick church," and now owned and occupied by the Methodist society. The church was built under the direction of a building committee, and was raised May 1, 1834. Mr. Flanders, of Hopkinton, was master- builder. For several years after its erection it was well filled upon the Sabbath, and the church was quite prosper- ous.
Upon the retirement of Mr. Winter, Rev. Jairus E. Strong became pastor of the church until 1839, when he removed to Lebanon, Me. Rev. Mr. Jones of Bennington, Rev. Dr. Cummings and Rev. Mr. Worth of Concord, with others, occupied the pulpit for some time.
The next settled pastor of the church was Rev. John Pea- cock, who was invited to become its pastor March 1, 1843. Mr. Peacock came to town the February previous.
Rev. John Peacock was the son of William Peacock, Jr., of Amherst, where he was born May 3, 1804. He was an evangelist, and labored in a good many of the towns in this state, much to the acceptance of those with whom he la- bored. Twenty-one persons united with his church whilst he was the pastor. He says of them,-"These were mostly active members, and some of them men of good judgment and some property, which made this a valuable accession to the church."
I34
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
Mr. Peacock remained but a short time, and was succeed- ed by Rev. David G. Mason, a graduate from New Hamp- ton ; and so well pleased was the church with him and his labors, that they soon invited him to receive ordination and become their pastor. With this wish he complied, and was ordained May 15, 1845. Mr. Mason remained until 1847, when his connection with the church was dissolved, and he moved from town. He was the last minister the church had.
It is not for me to give the causes that led to the extinc- tion of this church, for the larger part of its members have finished their earthly work, and we prefer to cover their deeds with the broad mantle of charity, "which suffereth long and is not puffed up."
This was at one time one of the most efficient of the churches of this denomination in the central part of the state ; and on July 27, 1836, it entertained, in an excellent manner, the clergymen composing the "Baptist Quarterly Ministers' Meeting" for central New Hampshire, composed of some of the ablest preachers of the denomination in the state.
Statistics of the church, so far as can be ascertained from its imperfect records :
Whole number of members to Jan. 1, 1839. .. 71
Withdrawn I
Excommunicated 2
Died
9 Dismissed .31
Number admitted after Jan. 1, 1839, until the church ceased
to exist. 29
Total number of members .100
Of this number, less than a dozen are now residing in this town. The deacons of this church were Moses Hoyt, Abijah Hildreth, Silas Colby.
135
FIRST METHODIST MEETING.
METHODIST.
Rev. John Wesley, the eminent divine of England, being considered the father of the extensive revival that prevailed throughout the world during the latter part of the last cen- tury, determined to send ministers to this country, and for this purpose ordained, in 1784, three regular clergymen, and sent them over. Preferring the Episcopal mode of church government to any other, he set apart Rev. Thomas Coke, a presbyter of the Church of England, for the episcopal office, and directed him to set apart Rev. Francis Asbury for the same office. At this time there were already several organ- izations of the Methodists in various parts of the country ; and a Methodist conference was held in Baltimore, at which Messrs. Coke and Asbury were received as their bishops. This was the foundation of the denomination in this country.
Their creed differs but little in word from that of other evangelical denominations, though more full and explicit in some things, and may be summed up in the following words, by which the members of the "United Society of Europe" (the first Methodist society in the world) bound themselves together :
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