USA > New Hampshire > The New Hampshire churches : comprising histories of the Congregational and Presbyterian churches in the state, with notices of other denominations: also containing many interesting incidents connected with the first settlement of towns > Part 15
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The religious character of this people has generally well represented the plain, honest, rough, and uncompromising spirit of John Knox, the reformer of their countrymen. They are highly conservative, and experience little injury
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ROCKINGHAM COUNTY.
from the presence or influence of fanaticism. Amid the novelties of the age, and divisions surrounding them, and while even the first church* of their colony has swerved a lit- tle, they adhere to the purity of their fathers' worship. Says the "Rustic Bard" to a friend who was writing his charac- ter: "You threaten to expose my foibles, and to point at my orthodoxy. This matter I hope you will handle with the greatest tenderness and delicacy. My orthodoxy has been handed down to me, by my progenitors, as the Urim and Thummim, held sacred by the family, ever since the Refor- mation from Popery in Scotland." This is the feeling with which the great part of this people cling to the standards of their church ; and as there is little entrance among them of a foreign population, they may long retain their worthy traits of character.
* Reference is here made to the First Church in Derry which has adopted a mixed form of church polity. [See History of that church.]
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Hillsborough County.
ANTRIM.
PRES. CHURCH .- Rev. JOHN H. BATES.
The town was incorporated March 22d, 1777, and was named after a county in Ireland. In 1820 it had a popula- tion of 1330, and in 1850, 1143. The first man who estab- lished himself as a settler here was Dea. James Aiken in 1768. Nearly four years his family was the only one in town. The town voted to request Rev. Mr. Morrison, and he was appointed by the Presbytery of Londonderry to come and visit the people, and if he found the way open, to organ- ize a church on Presbyterian principles. He accordingly gathered a church in due form in August, 1788. It embraced sixty members. The population was less than five hundred at the time. We cannot but note the extent of piety among the people and the fact that so much respect for the Chris- tian religion should pervade the inhabitants, that they would entertain harmoniously a proposition, in a town meeting, to have a Christian church established among them.
They were not successful however in securing a permanent ministry until Sept. 3d, 1800, when Rev. Walter Fullerton was ordained their bishop or pastor. His native place was Peterborough ; he was a graduate of Dartmouth in the class of 1796. He sustained the pastoral relation only four years. He settled in Hebron, N. Y., and remained a few years, and in 1815, in Maryland, deceased.
After nearly four years Rev. John M. Whiton, D.D. was duly set over the church by the Presbytery. He was born at Winchendon, Ms., Aug. 1, 1785, a son of Yale in 1805. and ordained Sept. 28, 1808. He continued in office until Jan. 1, 1853, when he resigned his charge. Seasons of spec- ial manifestation of the grace of God in revivals were enjoyed during his ministry, in the years 1816, 1827, 1831, 1836 and 1851. In 1832 thirty nine persons were added to the church as the fruit of the revival of the previous year. In 1851 thirty six were added. At the age of sixty eight Dr. Whi- ton felt the cares and labors of his parish, which extended
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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
over a large and hilly territory, too much for him to endure, and with the kindliest feelings toward his people requested to be released from his labors among them. He is now em- ployed in the neighboring town of Bennington. He stands among the fathers in the ministry, loved and honored. He is now engaged in writing the History of Presbyterianism in New England.
Rev. John H. Bates is Dr. Whiton's successor in office. He was ordained pastor-or as the Presbyterian Confession of Faith and the Sacred writers use the term as a synony- mous one-bishop of the church in Antrim, March 16th, 1853, with prospects of comfort and usefulness in his work. He has a salary of $ 500. The present number of the church is 174.
AMHERST.
The township of Amherst, originally called Souhegan West, was assigned to one hundred and twenty grantees, a majority of whom resided in Salem, Lynn, Andover, and other towns of Essex county, Ms. The first meeting of these grantees was at Salem in July 1734, and in the fol- lowing year we find that settlements had been made by fam- ilies from that vicinity. A primary object in the grants of most townships at that period was the establishment of the gospel ministry. In all the Narragansett grants, in which Souhegan West was included, was a condition "that the proprietors should settle a learned, orthodox minister within seven years." In Feb. 1738, the proprietors voted to erect a Meeting-house, forty five feet long by thirty five feet wide, which vote was carried into effect the following year. In Dec. 1738, they voted that the inhabitants receive £ 20 from the treasury " toward their having the word of God preached among them for the ensuing six months." They subsequent- ly appropriated fifty shillings to the settlers for every Sab- bath they should have preaching among them.
The church was organized on the 22d of Sept. 1741, by the adoption of a simple covenant in which they devoted them- selves to God, and promised to walk together in the obser- vance of his word and ordinances. It comprised seven persons, viz : Daniel Wilkins pastor elect, Samuel Leman, Is- rael Towne, Samuel Lampson, Caleb Stiles and Humphrey Hobbs. On the following day Rev. Daniel Wilkins was or- dained pastor of the church. Rev. Nathaniel Henchman of Lynn, Ms. was moderator of the council, and Rev. Stephen
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AMHERST.
Chase of Lynn preached the sermon. Six females were then received to church membership. Rev. Mr. Wilkins was from Middleton, in Ms. He received his education at Harvard where he was graduated in 1736. He was a man of respec- table talents, and contributed greatly to the prosperity of the town. Though the clergy in his day did not possess the influence of the early ministers of New England, yet they were regarded with great reverence and respect. In the early periods of the church, there subsisted a close connec- tion between the civil and ecclesiastical orders of the State. Various causes operated at times to diminish the influence of the Christian minister. As new settlements were made, parishes were multiplied. The means of subsistence and of knowledge to the pastors of these little flocks were necessa- rily narrow ; and they not unfrequently complained that they prophesied in sackcloth. Want of knowledge and of wealth was, consequently, want of power. Yet, with all their poverty, and the disadvantages of their situation, they possessed their full share of talents and virtue, and were therefore not to be contemned nor neglected. They remem- bered the views of those who planted New England, and if they had not the learning, they were still animated with the spirit of their predecessors. Though the civilians of that day acknowledged and revered their piety, yet they provided with a jealous eye against the increase of hierarchal rule .- So that the churches, notwithstanding their professions and boasts of independency, were actually under a kind of politi- cal control ; and on the contrary, through the influence of the clergy, "magistrates, who were annually elected, were · occasionally displaced when they were thought to have infringed upon the rights of the church." For several years after the settlement of Mr. Wilkins the inhabitants of this place experienced the day of small things. They were una- ble to contribute to his support in a manner suited to his clerical character. On this account he was sometimes pressed into services incompatible with his sacred profession. He assisted in subduing the wilderness, while he administered to the spiritual wants of his parishioners. The works of Owen, Hammond, and other distinguished divines of the seventeenth century, were to be found in his library. He died Feb. 11, 1784, in the 73d year of his age. His minis- try embraced a period of thirty eight years and a half .-- Number of admissions to the church not known. Baptisms, 240. For several of the last years of his life he was unable to perform the duties of his office on account of bodily in- firmities. Six years before the death of Mr. Wilkins, the
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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
church and town gave an invitation to Mr. John Blyden- burgh to settle as colleague pastor, offering £ 200 as a settle- ment, and an annual salary of £ 100, but the invitation was not accepted. Soon after, a call was given to Rev. Edmund Foster of Littleton, Ms., which was also unsuccessful.
In 1779, the church and town extended an invitation to Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, of Bolton, Ms. The call however was not unanimous, several circumstances existing, unfavorable to the settlement of a colleague,-the principal of which was the opposition of two distinct sections of the town, which were desirous of becoming separate parishes. Though a respectable majority was in favor of his settlement, yet there was a considerable number in the north west part of the town who entered their protest in which they declared that they should object to the settlement "of any other minister while they remained in conjunction with the town and their request not granted." This matter being adjusted, Mr. Barnard accepted the call and was ordained on the third day of March. Rev. Zabdiel Adams of Lunenburgh preached from Matthew 10: 16. Rev. Ebenezer Bridge of Chelmsford gave the charge; Rev. Daniel Emerson of Hollis expressed the fellowship of the churches. From the ordination of Rev. Mr. Barnard to the year 1816, the records of the church do not present any very remarkable transaction. During this period, two churches were formed, one in the north west part of the town, over which was ordained Rev. John Bruce, from Marlborough, Ms .; the other in the south west part of the town, which did not receive a minister till after this portion of the town was incorporated by the name of Milford.
In 1815, efforts were made toward settling a colleague with Rev. Mr. Barnard, whose parochial duties had for some considerable time been very arduous and, during the sickness of 1814,evidently impaired his health. Perceiving the import- ance of adopting measures which might lesson his labors, the inhabitants chose a committee, Sept. 18, 1815, to consult with him and ascertain upon what terms he would consent to have a colleague settle with him in the ministry. On the 30th of Oct. Mr. Barnard made a communication on the subject, through the committee, in which he thanked the town for their politeness in consulting him on a subject so closely connected with their peace and happiness. In consideration of the extent and arduousness of his professional duties coupled with diminished ability in his "wintry age ;" and having a desire that his people might be better furnished with the means of Christian edification and instruction, he expressed not only a willingness but a pleasure in relinquishing one half of his
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AMHERST.
salary when they should settle a colleague with him, who would assume his duties.
Mr. Barnard's ministry to the time of the settlement of a colleague pastor with him, embraced a period of a little more than thirty six years. During this time, 253 persons were admitted to full communion in the church, giving on an av- erage seven each year. Several others owned the covenant, as it is recorded, and had their children baptized, although they came not to the Lord's table. This practice seems to have obtained from the organization of this church, and to have continued until 1811, after which the church records are silent upon it. The number of baptisms during twenty nine years of his ministry, to wit, from March 3, 1780 to Jan. 11, 1809, was 673. He was graduated at Harvard college in 1773. He died Jan. 15, 1835, aged 84, nearly fifty five years from the time of his ordination.
In the beginning of the year 1816, the church and town gave an invitation to the Rev. Nathan Lord to settle with them in the work of the ministry, as colleague pastor with Rev. Mr. Barnard, for a salary of $700 per annum. The invitation was accepted, and Mr. Lord was ordained on the 22d of May, 1816. Rev. Dr. McFarland, of Concord, preached the sermon on the occasion. In Jan. 1826, Mr. Lord was afflicted with a violent cold, which affected his voice in such a manner that it was with difficulty that he could speak. He continued, however, to supply the desk till the last Sabbath in Feb. when his voice almost entirely failed. For more than a year he was unable to preach, and was absent much of the time on journeys for his health. He commen- ced preaching again in April, 1827, and continued his labors till May 1828, when his voice again failed. In August he was elected President of Dartmouth college ; and as it was believed he would be able to discharge the duties of that office, even if he should not regain his voice, he accepted the appointment. A council was called which resulted in the dissolution of the pastoral relation on the 22d of Nov. 1828, when he immediately entered upon the duties of his new and responsible station.
Rev. Dr. Lord's ministry continued twelve years and six months, during which time 132 were received to the church, giving an average of about 11 to each year. The greatest number received at any one time was 13-on the 14th of June 1820. The largest additions to the church were made in 1817 and 1820, being 20 in each of these years. The whole number of baptisms was 151.
The year 1824 brought with it severe trials both to the
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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
pastor and to the church in the withdrawment of several members, in order to form a Unitarian church, in connection with the society recently established, and to come under the pastoral care of the Rev. E. Q. Sewall. This separation gave rise to a controversy between the pastor, Dr. Lord, and the late C. H. Atherton, Esq., which was published in the Farmer's Cabinet. In these trials the friends of evangelical truth continued firm and united. And God brought Zion out of all her troubles and set her feet in a large place.
In January 1829 an invitation was extended to Mr. Silas Aikin of Bedford to become pastor of this church as colleague with Rev. Mr. Barnard. This invitation was accepted, and the ordination took place on the 4th of March. The sermon on that occasion was preached by Rev. Samuel Green of Boston. Dr. Church of Pelham delivered the charge. Rev. A. Richards gave the right hand of fellowship, and Rev. Mr. Nott of Nashua addressed the church. The ministry of Mr. Aikin was eminently successful. Entering upon a field which had already been cultivated with diligence, his energy and devo- tion were soon rewarded with very precious results. During his ministry the church enjoyed two seasons of revival. The first occurred in 1831, as the fruit of which sixty persons became members of the church. The second, which was of a more powerful and interesting character, occurred in 1835, and resulted in the addition of one hundred and one mem- bers to the church. Of this number, sixteen were received at one communion, fifty two at another, and twenty at an- other. The additions to the church during his ministry were two hundred and twenty, giving an average of twenty seven every year-a great increase upon the ratio of previous years. In August, 1836, the Congregational Meeting-house was moved to its present site and re-modeled. Receiving an in- vitation from the Park Street church in Boston, Mr. Aikin decided to accept it, to the great regret of his people. He was dismissed March 5th, 1837, after a ministry of eight years.
In Sept. of the same year a call was extended by the church and society to Mr. F. A. Adams, a native of New Ipswich, to settle with them as their pastor. He accepted the invitation and was ordained on the 15th of Nov. 1837. Rev. N. Lord, D.D., former pastor, preached the sermon. Rev. H. Moore, D.D. gave the charge. The ministry of Mr. Adams continued about three years. At his own request he was dismissed Sept. 24, 1840. During this period 24 persons were added to the church. After his dismission, Mr. Adams, who is an accom-
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AMHERST.
plished scholar, and fond of teaching, became the principal of Dummer Academy, Byefield, Ms.
He was succeeded by Rev. William T. Savage, a native of Bangor, Me., who was installed Feb. 4, 1841. Rev. Thomas Savage of Bedford preached the sermon. During Mr. Savage's ministry an interesting revival occurred; as the fruit of which 67 persons were added to the church. Mr. Savage was dismissed April 4, 1843, and was shortly afterward settled at Holton, then an important military station on the frontier of Maine. This rapid succession of pastors indicates the presence of disturbing causes of which the history cannot yet be written,-that phase of the Anti-slavery movement called come-out-ism was then agitating the whole region, and diversities of opinion both secular and religious had an influence with individuals beyond the intrinsic merits of the questions at issue. The salary since Dr. Aikin's dismission has been $ 700 per annum.
The present pastor, Rev. J. Gardner Davis, a native of Concord, Ms. was ordained May 22, 1844. The history of his ministry has thus far been marked by less signal indications of spiritual prosperity than that of several of his predecessors. The actual influence and importance of this church, like many others in New Hampshire, is not to be gathered from the pages of its records, but in following the personal history of the Christian men and women who have gone forth from her fellowship, to sustain and build up the cause of Christ abroad. We find the names of six, now officers of other churches in New England, that once belonged to this church. Two or three of her members have become missionaries. Three are ministers. Within a period of ten years sixty nine persons have been recommended to other churches, more than one third of whom reside out of the State. Up to 1850, twenty three students from Amherst were graduates from different colleges.
The Unitarian society settled two pastors and worship was maintained a few years. Their Meeting-house was erected in 1835. Having become feeble in numbers and dismissed their ministers, a Universalist was ordained in their house to preach to both Universalists and Unitarians. The ground was at length given up by both denominations, when the Meeting-house was purchased for the use of a small Bap- tist society which was organized some years before, and wor- shiped in a hall. A Methodist society was gathered a few years ago and a chapel erected, in which they have main- tained worship most of the time.
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156
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
BEDFORD.
PRES. CHURCH .- Rev. THOMAS SAVAGE.
The church in this town is Presbyterian. Most of the early settlers came from the north of Ireland and belonged to the same stock which settled Londonderry. "They were," as Dr. Whiton says in his history of New Hampshire, "a well principled people, frugal, hardy and industrious, and warmly attached to the Presbyterian doctrine and discipline." That such were the materials of which this church was composed, appears from the petition for a town charter, which com- mences "Your petitioners as to our particular persuasion in Christianity, are generally of the Presbyterian denomination." The date of their charter is 1750. And it was at this time the church was organized by the "Boston Presbytery."- Without delay, they turned their attention to the settlement of a stated ministry. After having given calls, unsuccessful- ly, to three different candidates, the last of whom was Rev. Dr. McClintock of Greenland, they united in Mr. Houston, as appears from the following vote in the town records : "Voted unanimously, to give Mr. John Houston a call to the work of the ministry in this town." He was born in Londonderry 1723 and was educated at Princeton, at which college he took his degree in 1753. He studied divinity in his native town, under the care of his pastor, Rev. David McGregore. He was well reputed for classical and theologi- cal learning, and settled among the people with encouraging prospects of future usefulness and happiness. He was ordained Sept. 23, 1757. The exercises on the occasion were as follows : Rev. Mr. True of Hampstead offered the prayer. Rev. Mr. Parsons of Newbury, Ms. preached from Ist Timothy, 1 : 2. Rev. D. McGregore of Londonderry gave the charge. Rev. Mr. True gave the Right Hand. We have no records of the church to which to refer during this early period of its existence. But it appears that a board of Elders was chosen ; that catechetical instruction was gener- ally attended, and that the institutions of religion were well sustained. This state of things continued, with very little to interrupt the general harmony, till the exciting period of our Revolution. It is well known that those who set them- selves against the tide of patriotic feeling, at that crisis, became very unpopular, were denominated tories, and were viewed as enemies to the country. Mr. Houston espoused this side in politics, and being constitutionally inflexible, he became a thorough and decided loyalist. This course gave
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BEDFORD.
great offence to his people. May 16, 1775, we find the fol- lowing article in the warrant for town meeting : "To see what method the town will take relating to Rev. John Houston, in these troublesome times, as we apprehend his praying and preaching to be calculated to intimidate the minds of his hearers and to weaken their hands in defence of their just rights and liberties, as there seems a plan to be laid by Parliament to destroy both." He now ceased preaching to the people, but his pastoral connection was not dissolved till 1778 as appears from the minutes of Synod. For some years after he occasionally preached, as he had opportunity, particularly in Barnet, Vt. The trials, severe as they were, through which he passed, did not crush his spirit, though they may have rendered more repulsive a tem- perament that has been said to have been stern and rigid. He no doubt felt himself injured. Had it been merely his removal as minister of the place, he could not complain, because it was no more than might have been expected in such times. But he was personally abused, and in one instance treated in a manner the most unjustifiable. He died Feb. 3, 1798, aged 75.
After the dismissal of Mr. Houston, the town was desti- tute of a settled minister for nearly thirty years. During this long period, the people hired a great many candidates and preachers, from time to time, among whom one is par- ticularly remembered, Rev. Wm. Piekle, a native of Wales, who supplied the longest period.
Sept. 5, 1804, Rev. David McGregore was ordained to the pastoral charge of the church and congregation in this town. During the long interval of decline that had passed, the cause of religion had greatly suffered. But after Mr. Mc- Gregore's settlement the religious aspect changes for the better. Elders, from time to time were added to the old Board ; church discipline was revived ; additions were yearly made to their number, and the cause of piety and benevo- lence advanced with a steady progress. In 1818, there was more than ordinary attention to religion, and on Sabbath, May 31, fourteen persons were admitted to the church .- April 17, 1825, Mr. McGregore was dismissed at his own request, bodily infirmities rendering him unable to attend to the duties of a large parish. He was born in Londonderry, being grand-nephew of Rev. David McGregore, and great grandson of Rev. James McGregore, first minister in Lon- donderry. After completing his collegiate course at Dart- mouth, 1799, he devoted himself for some time to teaching school. He was three times married, but left no children.
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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
His ordination sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Morrison of Londonderry, from Ist Timothy, 6: 20; with whom also he studied divinity. In the early part of his ministry he was absent from his people, some months, on a missionary tour in the northern part of the State. The following anec- dote is related of him during this tour. In the wild and thinly settled country near the White Mountains, he arriv- ed, on a summer evening, after a toilsome day's journey over a mountainous road, at a rude cabin in the bosom of a dark forest, and was so fatigued that he immediately retired to bed, knowing nothing of the inmates of the house. After a season of sleep, he was aroused by footsteps in the house, and by an undertone conversation between persons in an adjoining room. He listened, caught here and there a word and began to suspect that he had fallen into bad hands. Putting himself in the best attitude of defence in his power, he lay awake the rest of the night. Morning dawned and found him safe. On rising, he soon discovered that he was with a very poor but pious family, and that the undertone talk and the footsteps, which had excited his suspicions, arose from their joy at seeing a missionary, and from the preparations they had made in the night to give him in the morning the best reception their poverty would admit.
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