USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Exeter > Men and things of Exeter. Sketches from the history of an old New Hampshire town > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
66
show that this is problematical, at least.
A second application made to the Gen- eral Assembly, in 1755, for the incorpor- ation of a new parish was successful ; and the following named persons were the same year assessed as members thereof : Jonathan Ambrose, Nathaniel Ladd,
Joseph Akers, Josiah Barker, John Bowden, Edward Colcord, Wadly Cram, Thomas Dean, John Dean,
Josiah Ladd,
Ellas Ladd,
Thomas Lord,
Robert Light,
John Leavitt,
Jonathan Lord,
Edmund Looge,
Samuel Dollof, Abner Dollof, Joseph Dollof,
John Phillips,
Nathaniel Foisom,
Thomas Piper,
Jeremiah Folsom, Peter Gilman, Samuel Gilman,
John Robinson,
Peter Robinson,
Benjamin Rogers,
John Gilman, Jr., Mary Gilman,
Richard Smith,
Nehemiah Gilman, Josiah Gilman,
Nicholas Smith,
Richard Smith, Jr.,
Joseph Swazey,
Samuel Smith, Joseph Stacy,
Joseph Smith,
Benjamin Thing,
David Thing,
Stephen Thing,
James Thurstin,
Abner Thurstin,
John Looge, Jr.,
Jonathan Young.
The same year a mutual council was agreed upon by both churches, for the purpose of attempting a reconciliation of the differences which existed between them ; but without avail. Each society chose to pursue its own course.
Rev. Mr. Rogers remained the minis- ter of the new parish until his death, December 19, 1785. For thirty-seven years he labored with piety and zeal for the good of his people, and in his decease it was said "they sustained the loss of a faithful minister, and his children that of a kind and tender father." His pa- rishioners, in token of their respect for his memory, voted to bear the expense of his funeral.
Samuel Gilman, Jr., Trueworthy Gilman, Summersbe Gilman, Daniel Gilman, 3d, Nicholas Gilman, John Hains,
Stephen Palmer,
Daniel Gilman,
Theophilus Smith,
William Harris, Dudley James, Jonathan Judkins, John Lord,
Joseph Mudgett,
Thomas Nealey,
67
After the death of Mr. Rogers, the new parish was without a settled minister for nearly seven years. In 1787 and the two subsequent years, this parish united with the other in defraying the expenses of supporting the ministry. It may inter- est some readers to know who bore the charges of religious worship in Exe- ter, almost a hundred years ago, and we therefore transcribe from an official pa- per the following list of those "who con- tributed for the support of a minister for the year 1788;" nineteen of the persons therein mentioned belonging to the new. and the remainder to the old parish.
John Phillips,
Jeremiah Leavitt,
Nathaniel Folsom,
Joseph Swazey,
Samuel Folsom,
James Burley
Gideon Lamson,
Benjamin Conner,
Nathaniel Gilman,
Isaac Currier.
Joseph Tilton,
Jacob Pearson,
Eliphalet Hale,
Simeon Ladd,
Ephraim Robinson,
Samuel Chamberlain.
Trueworthy Gilman,
John Thompson,
Benjamin Boardman,
Moses Jewett,
Oliver Peabody,
Edmund Pearson,
Samuel Hobart, Dudley Odlin,
Samnel Dutch, Josiah Folsom,
James Leavitt, William Hale, Abraham Sanborn,
David Boardman,
Josiah Barker, Joseph Cram,
Francis Mason,
James Hackett,
Joseph Lamson,
Samuel Gilman,
James Folsom,
Thomas Dean,
Nathaniel Parker, Daniel Tilton,
Ward C. Dean,
Benjamin C. Gilman,
Isaac Williams,
Nathaniel Gordon,
J. Gilman, Jr., Woodbridge Odlin,
James Gilman, James Thurston,
Samuel Brooks.
It was greatly hoped at that time, when both societies were without ministers, that a permanent re-union could be ef- fected between them; but though a more cordial understanding was estab- lished than had before existed, they still retained their distinct organizations.
In 1790, the second parish voted to invite Rev. Samuel Austin of New Haven, who
Josialı Robinson,
Nathaniel Giddings,
Daniel Jones,
Josiah Gilman, Jr.,
George Odiorne,
John Dean,
Eliphalet Gilman,
Benjamin Smith,
68
had repeatedly officiated in their pulpit, to settle with them, but he did not accept. Not long after, however, they were so fortunate as to secure for their minister Rov. Joseph Brown, who was installed over them November 20, 1792. He was a native of Chester, in England, and ed- ucated at Lady Huntington's Seminary. He remained in Exeter but five years, being dismissed at his own request, in 1797, but his ministrations appear to have been quite successful. The parish voted him a present of $50, at his departure.
The new society, being now without a pastor, gradually declined in numbers and interest, and several of the more influen- tial members of the church sought the communion of their brethren of the other parish. The society organization, however, was kept np, and religious ser- vices were held with more or less fre- quency. At length, about 1813, several of the former members having returned, a new impulse appeared to be given to the society, and stated worship was re- sumed with regularity. Rev. Hosea Hil- dreth, a resident of the town and a teach- er in the Academy, was employed to sup- ply the pulpit, which he did till Rev. Isaac Hurd began his ministrations.
Mr. Hurd was installed as the pastor, September 11, 1817. He was born in Charlestown, Mass., received his theo- logical education in Edinburgh, and first preached in London. Upon his return to this country he was settled for a time in Lynn, Mass. When he came to Exeter he found but a small and feeble church, but under his faithful and judicious care it speedily increased in strength and numbers. In 1823, the society had be-
.
69
come of sufficient size and ability to build a new meeting-house which is still standing in the south-eastern end of the Academy enclosure, and substantially unchanged, except that its length was in- creased by the addition of about fifteen feet, in the year 1863.
After a harmonious and successful min- istry of nearly thirty years, Mr. Hurd proposed to the society to settle a col- league with him, generously relinquish- ing all claim for pecuniary compensation thereafter. The society, gratefully ac- knowledging his faithful and efficient la- bors, and assuring him of their unwav- ering affection, assented to the proposal, and in pursuance thereof Rev. Samuel D. Dexter was ordained as colleague pastor, December 2, 1847. He was a native of Boston, Mass., and a graduate of Harvard College, and his personal and religious character were such as to give him a strong hold upon the people, but his la- bors were cut short by his death, April 20, 1850, at the early age of twenty-four years. And six years later, October 4, 1856, Rev. Isaac Hurd, D. D., at a good old age, beloved, respected and honored for his amiable character, his christian virtues and his faithful labors, passed from earth.
Rev. Asa D. Mann was installed as colleague in the place of Mr. Dexter, No- vember 19, 1851. Mr. Mann was born in Randolph, Mass., was a graduate of Am- herst College, and had been settled in Hardwick, Mass., before he came to Ex- eter. After a little less than six years' service here, he was dismissed from his charge, July 8, 1857.
He was succeeded by Rev. Orpheus T.
70
Lanphear, who was installed February 2, 1858, and dismissed in February, 1864. Rev. John W. Chickering, Jr., was his successor, his installation taking place September 5, 1865, and his dismission July 18, 1870. Rev. Messrs. Mann and Lanphear are still engaged in the work of the ministry, and Rev. Mr. Chickering is a professor in the Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at Washington.
The eighth and present pastor of the new society is Rev. George E. Street, who was installed March 30, 1871.
XIII
THE BAPTIST SOCIETY.
A Baptist church was organized in Exeter October 17, 1800, consisting of ten members ; and a society was formed the next spring, by voluntary subscription. Meetings for religious worship were thenceforward held regularly on the Lord's day, though the limited number and means of the society enabled them at first to have preaching but a part of the time. Rev. Messrs. William Hooper, John Peak, Samuel Shepard and other well known ministers of their denomina- tion lent them occasional aid at this ear- ly period. They first used to meet at the house of Harvey Colcord ; afterwards at the Centre school house. In 1805 they built and dedicated their first meeting house, which was situated on Spring street.
In 1806 Mr. Barnabas Bates preached for them during several months ; and in the spring of 1809 Rev. Ebenezer L. Boyd became their preacher and labored
71
with them for two years with encourag- ing results. In 1814 and the two succeed- ing years, Rev. Charles O. Kimball and Rev. James McGregore supplied their pulpit a part of the time.
In the year 1817 a Sabbath school was first commenced in connection with the Society, which has ever since been con- tinued. The first teacher was the now venerable Dea. John F. Moses, who for half a century, with little interruption, held the position of superintendent.
Their first settled minister was Rev. Ferdinand Ellis, who took the position in June, 1818, and occupied it until Sep- tember, 1828. In the autumn of the lat- ter year Rev. John Newton Brown was settled over the church, and so continued until February, 1833. Rev. John Cannan succeeded him, being ordained May 29, 1833, and remained until February 16, 1834. Rev. J. N. Brown was again invit- ed to the pastorate in 1834, which he fill- ed until he was dismissed in April, 1838. More than two years then elapsed before another minister was settled, during about one-half of which period the pulpit was regularly supplied by Rev. J. G. Naylor.
In November, 1840, the church gave an invitation to Rev. Noah Hooper, Jr., to become their minister, which heaccepted, and continued with them from Decem- ber 1 of that year until July 20, 1845. It was nearly three years after this, before a successor was settled, Mr. T. H. Archi- bald, licentiate, preaching about one year of the time. In the spring of 1848, Rev. Elijah J. Harris was settled as the pastor, and was dismissed from his charge April 7, 1850. Rev. James French accepted the
72
call of the church in January, 1851, and was settled over them until January 1, 1853. After his dismission, Rev. Mr. Russell supplied the desk for a time. Rev. Franklin Merriam was the next settled minister, who was installed in September, 1854, and dismissed in No- vember, 1856. He was succeeded by Rev. James J. Peck, whose pastorate com- menced in February, 1857, aud continued until April, 1861.
On the first of July, 1861, Rev. Noah Hooper was solicited to assume the pas- toral charge for the second time, and ac- cepted the call. He continued his min- istrations until the autumn of 1871, when he was dismissed at his repeated request. Rev. Joseph N. Chase was next invited to become the pastor, and was received into that connection January 16, 1872, and still continues in it. The meeting house on Water street, in which the society now worship, was built in the years 1833 and 1834.
In December, 1854, some twenty-two members withdrew from the Water street church and formed themselves into a new society. They first held their meet- ings in a hall on Water street, until they built a meeting house, on Elm street, which was dedicated October 1, 1856. Up to about this time, Rev. J. B. Lane supplied them with preaching. Shortly after they removed to the new house, Rev. T. H. Archibald was settled over them as their minister. His pastorate continued not far from two years. For some time after his dismission, the pul- pit was supplied by students from the Newton Theological Institution, and af- terwards by Rev. Mr. Mayhew. About
73
1862, Rev. Charles Newhall was installed as the pastor, and continued in the office some eight years. In 1871 the two socie- ties resolved to re-unite, the Elm street organization was given up, and its mem- bers merged again into the Water street society.
.
-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.