USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Wilton > History of the town of Wilton, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, with a genealogical register > Part 13
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The second minister of the church, Rev. Abel Fisk, was born in Pepperell, Massachusetts, in 1752. graduated at Harvard College in 1774, was ordained in Wilton November 18, 1778, and remained the pastor of the church until his death, April 21, 1802.
He was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Beede, who was born in Pop- lin, now Fremont, New Hampshire, in 1771, graduated at Harvard College in 1798, was ordained in Wilton March 2. 1803, and re- signed his charge JJanuary 15, 1829.
The services at his ordination were :
Introductory prayer by the Rev. Mr. Bullard of Pepperell. Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Emerson* of Boston, from 1 Cor. 2: 2. Ordaining prayer by the Rev. Mr. Clark of Lexington.
Charge by the Rev. Mr. Goodridge of Lyndeborough.
Right hand of fellowship by the Rev. Mr. Barnard of Amherst. Concluding prayer by the Rev. Mr. Hill of Mason.
The organization of the church was at first by a covenant, ; agreeably to the method of New England Congregationalism, not by a specific creed. The first church in Plymouth, where the Pil- grims landed, was organized in that way, and still retains its cove- nant. During Mr. Beede's ministry a creed was adopted, but sub- sequently it was dropped, and the church reverted to the original method of a covenant. This cansed dissatisfaction among some of the members, and a second Congregational church was formed July 18, 1823, holding Trinitarian views, and consisting at first of seventeen members.
Rev. Stephen A. Barnard was ordained over the First Church January 13, 1830, and resigned his office April 25, 1833. Rev. Abner D. Jones succeeded Mr. Barnard, and was ordained January 1, 1834. He was succeeded by Rev. Nathaniel Whitman, who was installed October 5, 1836, and continued pastor of the church till 1843.
* Rev. Mr. Emerson was the father of Ralph Waklo Emerson.
t See Appendix.
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The following ministers sneceeded Mr. Whitman in rapid rotation : Rev. William A. Whitwell, 1843-50 ; Rev. Seth Saltmarsh, M. D., 1851-53 : Rev. John N. Bellows, 1854-55 : Rev. Stillman Clark, 1857-63 : Rev. Levi W. Ham, 1863-64 : Rev. William B. Buxton, 1865-67; Rev. Richard Coleman, 1868-70 : Rev. Increase Sumner Lincoln, 1870-79; Rev. Charles Henry Rickards. 1880-81 : Rev. Henry Dana Dix, 1882-85. Rev. Frank L. Phalen, the present pastor, was settled in 1886.
During this period several other ministers have for a short time supplied the pulpit.
The venerable ancient meeting-house, which was built during the ministry of Mr. Livermore, and at whose raising the fatal catastrophe before related occurred, was burned December 8, 1859, in the night, soon after a children's concert given by Miss Mary Thurston. So great was the regret of the town at its loss, that a committee was chosen to investigate the matter. Their report throws much light on the history of the town, and reveals the feel- ings of the inhabitants about the destruction of the church ; but no certain conclusion was reached as to the cause of the fire, whether it was intentional or accidental, but that probably it was the work of an incendiary. The present I'nitarian Congregational church was erected in its place, and was dedicated January 10, 1861. The dedication sermon of the old church, by Rev. Jonathan Livermore, January 5, 1775, and the dedication sermon of the new church, January 10, 1861, by his grandson, Rev. Abiel Abbot Liv- ermore, were published in a pamphlet together.
TIIE UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY.
The second religious society of Wilton was established by the Universalists in 1813. It had only occasional preaching, and no settled pastor, and no meeting-house. It was customary for the members to meet in the Briek Hall, and, in later years, they had their services in the First Congregational Church. Rev. Messrs. Ballou, Skinner, Streeter and others officiated on these occasions, gathered large andiences, and proclaimed the doctrine of universal salvation, of the future holiness and happiness of the whole human race. The society has long ceased to exist, but its sentiments are widely diffused.
HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH, BY REV. GEORGE C. TROW.
The Baptist church in Wilton was constituted April 7, 1817, with eleven members : Peirce Gage, Joseph Holt, William Mansur,
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Ebenezer Chandler, William Howard, Jabez Goldsmith, Joseph Smith, Abigail Smith, Lucy Smith, Mary Goldsmith and Chloe Bales. The last survivor of these was Deacon Joseph Smith, who died March 16, 1883, aged ninety-four years and five months. He was made deacon very soon after the church was constituted, and held the office till his death. He was a man of deep piety and fully consecrated to Christ. Associated with him in the deacon's office, during most of his active life, was Deacon Timothy Gray.
The same day the church was constituted, six were added to its membership by letter, and seven by baptism ; by letter, William Goldsmith, Hannah Goldsmith, Anna Upton, Betsy Holt, Esther Holt and Sally Mansur; by baptism, William Bales, William L. Bales, Timothy Gray, John Peabody, Susannah Smith, Nancy Gray and Sally Peabody.
For some years previous to this, a few residents of Wilton had embraced Baptist principles and had united with the Baptist church in Mason. The pastor of that church, Rev. William Elliott, fre- quently visited Wilton and preached to the people assembled in pri- vate houses, the school-houses in town being closed against him. The truth, however, could not be bound ; quite a number received it gladly, and, embracing the same, became consistent Baptists.
During the winter of 1816-17, under the labors of Rev. George Evans, the Spirit was poured out. Some were converted, and the desire to have a church in Wilton, which had been for some time burning in the hearts of the faithful few, was so much strengthened that they resolved to organize a church, and did so, as above stated. The church thus constituted had no pastor for fourteen months, but was supplied a part of the time by Brother Benjamin T. Lane. Eleven were added to the church during this time. In June. 1818, Rev. Ezra Wilmoth was settled as pastor, the church then number- ing thirty-five. He baptized forty-nine. He was succeeded in February. 1823, by Rev. Beuel Lathrop, who served one year. After this for a while the church was supplied by the neighboring pastors. From February, 1823, to October, 1827, twenty-five were baptized.
In 1827 the church and society built its present meeting-house at Wilton Centre. November 7th it was dedicated, and the same day Brother Simon Fletcher was ordained. He served the church three years and baptized three persons, and was succeeded in 1830 by Brother Caleb Brown. He was ordained and served the church two years, and during the time eleven were baptized. In 1833
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Brother Harrison Strong was ordained. He served two years and baptized nine persons. He was succeeded in June, 1835, by Rev. John Cannon, who served one year and baptized seven persons. After this Rev. Ezra Wilmoth again served the church for a season and baptized seven. In August. 1838, Rev. N. W. Smith became pastor; he served eighteen months and baptized two persons. About this time fourteen members were dismissed to form a church in Lyndeborough. Thus the church in Wilton is mother as well as daughter. In June, 1840. Rev. J. T. Appleton was settled as pas- tor. He baptized twenty-nine. He was succeeded by Rev. Henry Tonkin in April, 1843, who served seven years and baptized eight persons. In 1850 Rev. Horace Eaton became pastor. who served four years and baptized eighteen. From 1854 to 1860 the church had no pastor, but during this time three were baptized. In Au- gust, 1860, Rev. Nelson B. Jones became pastor. He baptized eleven, and closed his labors in 1864. In December, 1866, Brother S. C. Fletcher was ordained as pastor, served the church seven years. and baptized forty-nine persons. In 1867 the church and society built a parsonage at Gray's corner. In 1874 Brother William Libbey was called to be pastor, and was ordained in October of that year. He baptized four, and closed his labors in March. 1877. The church at once extended a call to Rev. J. H. Lerned, who commenced his labors in May. He held the pastorate sixteen months, but his health permitted him to occupy the pulpit only a few months. Two were baptized. February 17, 1881, Brother George C. Trow was ordained and installed pastor of the church. Five were baptized up to this time, October, 1883.
The church has existed sixty-six years and has had sixteen pas- tors. It has witnessed many precious revivals. and has had baptized into its fellowship two hundred and forty-four. Four of these are. or have been, preachers of the gospel.
HISTORY OF THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. BY REV. A. E. TRACY.
The Second Congregational Church of Wilton was organized July 18, 1823. It consisted of seventeen members. five males and twelve females. It resulted from the conviction that the views and teachings of the pastor of the church of which these persons were members were not in accordance with the Bible : the chief differ- ence of opinion being in respect to the doctrine of the person of
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Christ. The new church retained the confession of faith and cove- nant of the old church, thus showing that they were not dissenters. but held firmly to the old-time creeds. Previous to the formation of the church an ecclesiastical society had been organized May 16, 1823. It consisted of those persons who afterward joined in the organization of the church and some others. Public worship was held for a time in what was known as the "Brick Hall." It was over a store at the centre of Wilton. The church was without an installed pastor until December, 1830, when Mr. William Rich- ardson of Andover Seminary was ordained and installed pastor of the Second Congregational Church of Wilton. During the more than fifty-seven years since its organization publie worship has been maintained : sometimes by the aid of a minister, often a sermon was read and other acts of worship conducted by the beloved physician, Ebenezer Rockwood, M. D.
The first meeting-house of the Second Congregational society was erected in 1829 at Wilton Centre. It was dedicated January 1, 1830. The pastorate of Rev. William Richardson continued till October 27, 1840. Rev. Humphrey Moore was then invited to become the pastor. He declined the call, but served as acting pas- tor for nearly two years. Rev. Charles Whiting, second pastor of the church, was ordained and installed January 4, 1843 : he was dismissed February 13, 1850. Soon after his removal an attempt was made to unite the two societies. This proved unsuccessful and the church again opened its house of worship.
In the summer of 1851 an invitation was given this society to re- move its place of worship to East Wilton, where there was no meet- ing-house. September 19, 1851, it was decided to accept this proposal. A house of worship was erected at once, which was dedicated June 10, 1852. From Rev. Charles Whiting's dismissal. February 13, 1850, until February 21. 1856, when Rev. Ebenezer S. Jordan was called, the church was without a settled minister. Rev. H. H. Winchester was with the church two years of this time, but declined to be settled. Mr. JJordan resigned November 1, 1859. Rev. Daniel E. Adams of Bangor Seminary was ordained and installed pastor December 5, 1860. His was the longest pas- torate the church has had, terminating May 3, 1876. Rev. J. Newton Brown commenced labor as acting pastor December 1. 1876, and served the church till August 15. 1878. The present pastor, Rev. A. E. Tracy, began his services September 1, 1879, as acting pastor, and was installed May 3, 1880. The deacons of the church
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HISTORY OF WILTON.
have been Burleigh French, chosen JJanuary 19, 1824 ; Abel Fisk, chosen September 2, 1831 : Oliver Barrett, elected September 2. 1830: Hermon Abbot and William Sheldon, elected June 6, 1852 : Charles Wilson and Asa B. Clark, chosen December 10. 1875.
Very soon after the formation of the church a Sabbath School was organized. About twenty members comprised its whole num- ber; now it includes more than 200. It very soon collected. and has ever since maintained, an interesting and useful library. The whole number connected with the church since its organization up to January 1. 1885, was 486. The membership at that date was 147. An addition of twenty pews was made to the meeting-house in 1857, and, later, an addition was made to receive the fine pipe organ. the gift of individuals to the society. In 1858 a vestry was built for social meetings : this was sold and made into a pleasant home, now occupied by N. D. Foster, Esq. The present two-story chapel was built in 1867.
The Ladies' Sewing Circle, the Mistletoe Band and the Young People's Christian Endeavor Society are among the benevolent or- ganizations of this church.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.
Rev. William Richardson, first pastor of the Second Congregation- al church. was born in Gilmanton. New Hampshire, March 4, 1801, graduated at Andover Seminary in 1830, was ordained pastor De- cember 15. 1830. He was pastor of this church from 1830 to 1840. acting pastor at Lyndeborough from 1840 to 1841, and pastor at Deering, New Hampshire, from 1842 to 1846. His eyes failed him and he lived in Manchester, New Hampshire. from 1846 until his death there September 6, 1869. His wife, Olive Tilton of Gilman- ton, is still living. She is a lady of superior qualities.
Rev. Charles Whiting, the second pastor of the church, was born in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire. July 23. 1813. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1839, and at Andover Seminary in 1842. Hle was ordained January 11, 1842. was pastor of this church from 1843 to 1850, and acting pastor from 1850 to 1851. He was settled in Fayetteville, Illinois, from 1851 till his death, May 8, 1855. His wife, Sarah Wyman of Greenfield, New Hampshire, survived him, but is now dead.
Rev. Ebenezer S. JJordan, third pastor of the church. was a na- tive of Maine. as was his wife. He was a graduate of Bowdoin College and of Bangor Seminary, and for a time a resident licen-
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tiate at Andover. He was ordained at Wilton, December 17, 1857. and dismissed December 5, 1860. He is now settled at Brownfield, Maine, where he has been pastor since 1874.
Rev. Daniel E. Adams was born in Camden, Maine, in 1832. He graduated at Bangor Seminary in 1860, was installed pastor in Wil- ton December 5, 1860, and was dismissed May 3, 1876. He went directly to Ashburnham. Massachusetts, as acting pastor, and from there to Southboro', Massachusetts. His wife, Ellen F. Kings- bury, of Keene, New Hampshire, died in May, 1882. He was mar- ried in February, 1884, to Miss Marion E. Center of Wilton.
Rev. Alfred E. Tracy was born in West Brookfield, Massachu- setts, July 2, 1845, graduated at Amherst College in 1869, and at Andover Seminary in 1872. He was ordained and installed at Har- vard, Massachusetts, September 4, 1872, was dismissed in Septem- ber, 1874, and was pastor at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, from 1874 to 1878. Ile supplied the church at Wilton in June, 1879, com- menced as acting pastor September 1, 1879, and was installed May 13, 1880. Ilis wife is Kate S. Harwood, born in Bennington, Ver- mont ; her home at the time of their marriage was North Spring- field, Missouri.
HISTORY OF THE LIBERAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH, BY REV. 1. SUMNER LINCOLN.
This church was organized in the East village of this town, two miles from the Centre. in 1869. Its church edifice was erected and dedicated the same year. It contains the usual modern improve- ments, including a vestry in the basement, a lecture-room, a Sun- day-school room, a ladies' parlor and a kitchen with all its needful accompaniments ; also a furnace, a fine organ and a bell. Its site is very fine, being in every respect one of the best in town. The whole cost about ten thousand dollars. In the organized platform of this church, the words " church " and " society" are used in the same sense.
The following articles are contained in the platform of fellowship :
ARTICLE I. We, whose names are signed beneath. unite ourselves in a Christian Church and Fellowship for our own religious improvement, and as a means of usefulness to others.
ARTICLE H. We thus declare and claim to bo members of the great union of all Christian disciples of which Jesus Christ is the living Head. by the will of God.
ARTICLE III. Receiving Jesus as our divinely-given Teacher and Guide. and earnestly seeking to have in us a measure of the Spirit that was in
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Him. we pledge ourselves to follow the truth. as it shall be made known to our minds, both in belief and in life.
ARTICLE IV. We will co-operate by contributing of our time. interest and means in sustaining the institution of religion. and in all Christian work that shall be undertaken by this Union.
ARTICLE V. Any person may become a member of this Union by signing this form of association. no objection being made by those al- ready members.
The preceding is an extract from the records of the society.
Names of settled ministers : Aubrey M. Pendleton. from March, 1869. to 1875 : Charles Il. Tindell, from April. 1877. to November. 1878; James J. Twiss from November. 1879, to April, 1884. Frank L. Phalen was ordained in 1886 and is the present pastor. Several others have preached here as supplies for a limited time during the past sixteen years. . The salaries hitherto paid to ministers by the society average about one thousand dollars per annamı.
The audience room of the church has sittings for three hundred. The society is now free from debt, and has a good amount of pe- enmiary ability. though its membership is not large.
HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. BY REV. EDMUND E. BUCKLE.
The first Catholic service ever held in Wilton was in 1867 by Rev. Father O'Donnell. then residing in Nasha. The entire Cath- olic population at that time was seventeen families. At this period there was already a small Catholic Church in Milford, where services were held regularly once a month by Rev. Father O'Donnell. In 1879 Rev. P. Holohan was placed in charge of the Catholic popu- lation of Milford, Wilton and Greenville, then Mason village. Fa- ther Holohan resided in Milford. From that time Catholic services were held in Wilton twice a month. In four years the Catholic population of Wilton trebled itself. In 1877 Rev. E. E. Buckle was appointed to the above mission. Father Holohan going to Keene. In the autumn of 1881 a Catholic Church was built in Wilton by Rev. E. E. Buckle, who took up his residence there. The Catholic population at this day is about five hundred souls .*
BELLS.
The first church bell in Wilton was proeured by subscription and donated to the town on certain conditions. The town erected a
* This number includes some of the inhabitants of Pine Valley in Milford, a manufact- uring hamlet .- [S. Putnam.
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TOLERATION ACT.
tower at the east end of the old meeting-house in which it was hung in the antumn of 1832. After the meeting-house was burned in 1869. what could be saved of the metal was, by vote of the town. with other metal to make the weight equal to the old bell, recast and hung on the new Town House, now Citizens' Hall, and still hangs there. When the Second Congregational society built their church at East Wilton, they put a bell on it, which after a few vears was cracked, and was replaced by a new one, which is still sound and in use. When the Unitarian Church at East Wilton was built, a bell was procured by subscription ; Dr. Fleeman and the Messrs. Whitings were among the largest subscribers. The bell on the Town House was the gift of Dr. F. M. Pevey.
Thus there have been erected. first and last, eight houses of pub- lie worship in town. Probably at least fifty ministers have officiat- ed in these churches as pastors during the one hundred and fifty years of the existence of the town. A generous endowment was extended at the ontset by the wise and far-seeing proprietors to encourage Christian institutions here. Much has been expended since from year to year. The treasury of the Lord has not lacked either the rich man's offerings or the widow's mite. Once the means for supporting religious institutions were raised by taxation, and when there was but one church, as was the fact for many years, all contributed to the common established Congregational Church, the favorite New England method of church government. The minis- ter was settled and paid by the town, but when the people began to wince at the burden. they were for a time still taxed, but were al- lowed to choose to what church service, Baptist, Congregational or Universalist, etc .. their money should be appropriated. Still later, the support of each religious society was left to the voluntary con- tributions of its members, as is explained in the following passage. copied from L. A. Morrison's History of Windham. New Hamp- shire :
The year 1819 was an eventful one in the religious history of the state. A new order of things was established in regard to the support of re- ligious institutions. In the progress of events and advancement of public opinion, and as an expression of public opinion. the ‘ Toleration Act " was passed by the Legislature of that year, and approved by the govern- or July 1. 1819. The publie mind had long been in a troubled condition under the compulsory support of the ministry. The two important pro- visions of this law are here given :
"Provided, that no person shall be compelled to join or support. or be
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HISTORY OF WILTON.
classed with, or associated to. any congregation. church or religious so- ciety. without his consent first had and obtained.
"Provided. also, if any person shall choose to separate himself from such society or association to which he may belong, and shall leave a written notice thereof with the clerk of such society or association, he shall thereupon be no longer liable for any future expenses which may be incurred by said society or association."
This act put an end to taxing an unwilling people by the town for the support of the church. It stopped those endless bickering's between churches and towns. and the amount contributed for public worship was not diminished.
We have given, so far as we could obtain them, the facts relating to the several religious organizations of Wilton. But the real his- tory of the churches, the spiritual life of the church of Christ in this town, cannot be given here. It must be read in the lives and char- acters of many men and women,, the living and the dead. We must call to mind the benefits which this administration of the Christian religion under its various beliefs and forms has afforded in moulding the characters and lives of the young men and women of the town as they have gone out into the world. Who shall com- pute how many temptations it has armed them to meet and over- come? How many motives it has given them to lead a righteous, holy and useful life ! What ideals of noble conduct and benevolent action it has set before them ! What sorrows it has comforted, and what hopes of another and immortal life it has inspired. When we think of all these things we are ready to say. God bless all the churches of our town, and of our common country. May they all work together in the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace ! May they help to hasten forward the coming of the kingdom of God on earth, and make the great republie of America the joy and glory of the whole earth .*
* See Appendix Il.
CHAPTER XIV.
SCHOOLS, SUNDAY SCHOOLS, COLLEGE GRADUATES, PROFES- SIONAL MEN, AUTHORS AND INVENTORS.
One of the earliest interests, to which the emigrants to this then forest wilderness paid an earnest attention, was that of the educa- tion of their children. Next to religion, for the free exercise of which the Pilgrims and Puritan fathers had left their homes in the old world, stood the institution of the free school. Martin Luther, the Reformer, is said to have been the originator of the plan of the untaxed publie school, supported by the public treasury, open to all, without money and without price. Parish schools and public schools had existed before those of New England, but not to our knowledge could their privileges be enjoyed withont the payment of a certain small tuition. The original grantors of Wilton gave one share ont of forty-six. or two hundred and forty acres, to help support free schools. The land was sold June 1, 1769, and the in- terest of the money, which amounted to £5 9s. 52d., lawful money. was devoted to the support of the schools. In 1784 and thereafter the school fund amounted to £67 16s., equal to $226.00. The in- terest on this, and on the Literary Fund given by the state, is de- voted to the support of free schools. In 1839, $600 were applied to the schools. There were at that time nine school districts and ten school houses. Now there are ten school districts, eleven school houses and a room finished in the Town House for the High School. The average length of the summer schools is ten weeks. and of the winter schools ten weeks. In former years the winter schools were usually taught by male, and the summer schools by female, teachers, but at present most of the schools, summer and winter, are taught by women. The branches usually taught are reading, writing, spelling, history, arithmetic, grammar. algebra. geometry, natural philosophy and physiology. Sometimes the lan- guages are added, and, it may be, other studies. The Bible is usually
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