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 16
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Mr. McGregore made himself very useful after his dismis- sion, as an instructor of youth. He encouraged many to get an education, who owe to his benevolent interest in their welfare much of their subsequent success in life. He was a man of fine social qualities, and often made himself very entertaining, by his powers of conversation. In 1831, he removed to Falmouth, Me., where he engaged in promoting the interests of learning and religion, and where he died very suddenly, Oct. 18, 1845, aged 74.
July 5, 1826, Rev. Thomas Savage was installed pastor of the church and congregation by the Londonderry Presby- tery. Rev. Dr. Whiton of Antrim preached from Luke 9 : 60-"But go thou and preach the kingdom of God."- He had been ordained to the work of the ministry, without pastoral charge, by the Presbytery of Mississippi, August, 1822, and preached two years at Baton Rouge, La. He was born in Boston, Sept. 2, 1793. He completed his colle- giate course at Harvard, in 1813, and having pursued the study of theology for some time at Cambridge, he finished his preparation under the care of the Mississippi Presbytery, 1822. He has been twice married and has five children.
This church has had various seasons of refreshing, in which additions have been made to it. The year 1831 was
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memorable for revivals throughout the land. This church partook largely of the influence, and in September of that year, ninety one united with the church at one communion. In subsequent periods, there have been seasons of religious interest, by which the church has been strengthened and enlarged. During the last thirty years there have been add- ed by letter and profession three hundred and fifty members. Some have gone from this church to do good in various sec- tions of the country and the world. In the work of foreign missions, in the ministry at home, and in the western fields ; among the Indians of our country, and among the sable children of Africa, laborers have gone forth, who, we trust, will meet their reward in heaven. Of male members of the church, eight have been ministers of the gospel, and of female members, twelve have married clergymen, of whom three have been on foreign missions.
With regard to the religious character of its people, it may be said that, from the first, they have been distinguish- ed for their attachment to religious institutions. The first settlers were under the necessity, for some time, of attend- ing public worship at Londonderry. They performed the journey on foot, and generally carried one or two children a distance of twelve miles. The following circumstance has been handed down, illustrative of the general regard for the sanctuary. Rev. Mr. Houston had a neighbor with whom he was not always on the best terms. One Saturday they met and had some sharp, unneighborly talk together about their fences and cattle. Some townsmen were present and heard their altercation. On the next day (Sabbath) Mr. R., the neighbor, was punctually at meeting. Some of the persons who had witnessed the contest on the day before, looked astonished and said, "Mr. R-we thought you would not be at meeting to-day to hear your neighbor Houston preach, after having such a quarrel with him." Said Mr. R., "I'd have ye to know, if I did quarrel with my neighbor Houston yesterday, I did not quarrel with the gospel."
Various causes have operated of late, to diminish the church in number, such as emigration to the west-removal to manufacturing towns-deaths, and the absence of any special religious interest ; but there is a general state of har- mony, and on the whole, encouraging prospects for the future. The present number of the church is one hundred and fifty, seven having been added the past year. Popula- tion in 1820, 1375 ; in 1850, 1906.
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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
BENNINGTON.
Rev. J. WHITON, D.D.
Incorporated Dec. 15, 1842, it had a population of 153 in 1820, and 541 in 1850. In 1839 on the sixth day of July, there was a church organized. Until 1841 the church was supplied by Rev. Ebenezer Coleman. Rev. Albert Manson was ordained pastor of the church Nov. 3d, 1841. He was a native of St. Armands, Canada East. He was a lawyer before entering the ministry. He graduated at Gilmanton Theo. Seminary. His labors were blessed to the building up of the church which increased to nearly seventy members under his ministry. He was dismissed at his own request in May 1850, was pastor a few years at Rochester, Vt., but has since removed to Iowa.
Rev. C. N. Ransom followed in the work of the ministry, and continued until the spring of 1853, when he removed to Westbrook, Maine, where he was employed in the ministe- rial work. From the time of his departure, Rev. John M Whiton, D.D. has ministered to the church, which now num- bers forty members. And happy is the church that loves and sustains the teachings of a minister of Christ who has the garnered fund of nearly half a century of experience in dealing with the souls of men, and who must esteem him- self, every Sabbath, uttering his dying counsels in relation to the way of life eternal. May Simeon's vision be the joy of this aged father in our Zion, ere he departs from mortal scenes.
BROOKLINE.«
The Congregational church in Brookline was organized Dec. 10, 1795, composed of fifteen members. The first pas- tor of the church was Rev. Lemuel Wadsworth, who was ordained Oct. 11, 1797. Prior to this date there had been occasional preaching in the place, small sums having been raised by the town from time to time for that purpose. The early settlers of the town being few in numbers and limited in means, and unable to support the gospel statedly among themselves, were some of them at least possessed of moral worth, and were in the habit of going a distance from five to ten miles regularly to the neighboring towns of Hollis and
* Sketch by Rev. D. Goodwin, late pastor.
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Pepperell to worship God on the Sabbath. A principal part of the original settlers were the Scotch Irish, who here, as elsewhere, proved valuable members of society and of the church. Arrangements were made as early as the year 1787 to build a Meeting-house, yet owing to their scanty means it was not completed till about the time of Mr. Wadsworth's settlement.
The conditions of his settlement were, that he was to re- ceive £ 150 as a settlement to be paid in three annual instal- ments, £60 as an annual salary for three years, and £70 after that time. Mr. Wadsworth was born at Stoughton, Ms., March 9th, 1769 ; graduated at Brown college in Prov- idence, 1793. He secured and maintained the confidence of his people, and remained in office till Nov. 25th, 1817, when he was removed by death, aged forty eight. During his ministry nineteen were admitted to the church, and seventy four persons, all infants save three, were baptized. After his death the church was destitute of a pastor for more than nine years, during which time a certain Dr. Warren was employed to supply the pulpit. He remained two years, preaching and practicing medicine. He produced much excitement, and numbers were received into the church without examination and without covenant, which, with the disorderly conduct of the man, made the church much trouble, when by the advice of neighboring pastors, the church adopted the measure, in 1821, of a renewal of covenant, no longer recognizing as members those who refused to subscribe the covenant.
The second pastor of the church was Rev. Jacob Holt, a native of Andover, Ms., born 1780, graduated at Dartmouth 1803, who was ordained Jan. 31, 1827, and resigned in 1831. After leaving this place, he resided in Ipswich, where he died two or three years since. Not long after Mr. Holt's labors closed, a series of meetings was held in this place by the neighboring pastors, and, as the happy results, thirty four were received into the church the next year (1832.)
After some temporary supplies, Rev. Henry E. Eastman was invited to preach as a candidate, and was ordained Dec. 9th, 1835, and remained about two years. He recently died at the West in the employ of the American Home Mission- ary Society. Before Mr. Eastman left, a majority in the town, being opposed to orthodox principles, took the Meet- ing-house away from the church and society, and employed a Christian preacher to supply the pulpit by the year with the intention that he would exchange with Unitarians and Universalists. The next season the church and society held their meetings at three school houses in rotation, supplied
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by Rev. E. Hill of Mason ; and with commendable zeal and promptness the same season built them a new Meeting- house, which was dedicated by appropriate services, Feb. 27, 1839, and on the same day Rev. Daniel Goodwin, having received a call and settlement, was ordained. Mr. Goodwin, a native of Londonderry, was born Jan. 25th, 1809, gradu- ated at Dartmouth 1835, and at Andover 1838. Since his ordination forty eight persons have been added to the church, 27 by profession, and 21 by letter. Fifty six have re- ceived the ordinance of baptism, sixteen adults and forty infants. Mr. Goodwin was dismissed in 1855. It is impos- sible to tell how many have been connected with this church. The records are very imperfect. The present number is sev- enty five. The church has for quite a number of years been aided by the N. H. M. S., and weekly prayer meetings and the monthly concert are sustained. A small Christian church was formed here in 1837 or 1838, which for a year or two had constant preaching. That, having become nearly extinct was succeeded by a Methodist, organized in 1852; since which time they have had preaching in the old Meeting-house. They have some fifteen members. We have one young man in college studying for the ministry. Years distinguished by revivals, 1851, and 1842.
DEERING.
Rev. JAMES W. PERKINS.
Deering is a post-township in Hillsborough county. The first permanent settlement was made in 1765, and it was incorporated in 1772, receiving its name from Gov. John Wentworth in honor of his wife, whose name before mar- riage was Frances Deering. Its population at the last census was 890. The character of the first settlers of this town had been formed under the influence of gospel institutions, as they were held and sustained in Londonderry, Chester and Amherst. They were therefore favorably disposed to a reg- ular orthodox ministry. But as the settlement of the town advanced, other and opposing elements began to operate .- Hence but little money was raised annually for many years for ministerial labors ; and four or six Sabbaths preaching were all that were enjoyed yearly for some fourteen years from the first settlement of the town ; and these few relig- ious services were held in private houses and barns. In 1779, the town passed a vote " to settle a minister at a con-
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venient season." But no minister was presented with a call to settle among them for ten years subsequent to this vote. And the first movement on record in respect to building a house of worship was not made until 1780, fifteen years after the first settlement of the town. Nothing decisive, however, was done in the matter until 1786, when the town voted to build a house 55 feet long, 45 feet wide, two stories high, with a convenient porch at each end. But the frame of this proposed house was not erected for nearly two years, and two years more elapsed before the pews were built and the house put in a suitable condition for religious meetings.
The first church in town was organized in 1789, by Rev. Solomon Moore of New Boston and Rev. Jonathan Barns of Hillsborough, and adopted the Congregational form of gov- ernment. It was constituted of nine persons, all males, five by letters from other churches and four by profession. In the same month in which the church was formed, the town voted to extend a call to Rev. Mr. Gillet " to settle with them in the capacity of a gospel minister ;" proposing to give him £ 90 as a settlement, and to pay him an annual sal- ary of £ 65. Whether the church as such united in this call is not known. Mr. Gillet, however, did not accept of the call, and the church and town were nearly two years without a minister. The form of church government was then changed to Presbyterian ; and the same year the town voted to give the Rev. Daniel Merrill a call ; but there being but a majority of two, the call was either not presented, or if presented, answered in the negative. The church did not acquiesce in this call. Mr. Merrill was employed to preach for a time, and either during his labors or shortly after they ceased, there was unusual attention to religion, inasmuch as fifty persons in the course of twelve or eighteen months united with the church, most of whom were heads of fami- lies. They were examined and propounded previous to their admission. After five years experience under the Presbyte- rian form of government, the church resumed the original Congregational form. This was done because it appeared to the church, " that it would be the means of promoting peace and harmony in town." Shortly after, in 1798, the church extended a call to the Rev. Christopher Page to set- tle among them, granting " him the liberty to baptize on the half way covenant, so called. In this call the town united, and voted Mr. Page a salary of £ 70 and 25 cords of wood, or £ 80 exclusive of wood, at his option. Mr. Page supplied the pulpit for a time, but did not accept the call. The year after Mr. Page left, the town voted to assess $ 100 " to hire
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preaching," and the year following $ 150 for the same pur- pose. Whether this money was expended for preaching or not, does not appear from the church or town records. After Mr. Page left, till 1800, the town did not enjoy the blessing of a preached gospel for a large proportion of the time. In this year Mr. David Long received a call to settle, and did not accept, but preached for a few months. In 1801, the Rev. Mr. Sleigh was invited by the town to become their minister ; but the church was opposed to his settlement, believing him to be "unsound in his doctrinal views, and without those natural and acquired abilities which were requisite to accomplish him for the work of the gospel min- istry." But the majority of the town were determined on effecting his settlement ; accordingly through the agency of certain ministers, another church was formed, and Mr. Sleigh was installed. He was dismissed at his own request in 1807, and the church over which he was installed soon became extinct. The old orthodox church, during this time, had occasional preaching and the administration of the Lord's supper, and some additions were made to it. From this period up to 1819, when the " Toleration Act" was passed by the Legislature, the town raised small sums of money yearly to "hire preaching." During the same time, the church and that portion of the people sympathizing with them, enjoyed preaching a part of the time, and the Lord's Supper was administered once or twice each year. Of those who labored here, was Rev. James Richards, afterwards a Foreign missionary. Rev. Jabez Fisher then supplied their pulpit some four or five years, and a revival of religion to some extent was enjoyed. At one time, fifteen were admitted to the church by profession. From the close of Mr. Fisher's labors there were only irregular and inter- rupted supplies up to 1829.
In 1829, the Rev. Eber Child was installed pastor of this church, and a new and convenient house of worship was built. At his own request Mr. Child was dismissed Feb. 27, 1834. During his ministry there was some special inter- est on the subject of religion, and twelve persons were added to the church. In the autumn of 1835 the Rev. Peter Holt commenced his labors here, and closed them in 1840 .- There were some added to the church by profession under his ministry. In 1843 the Rev. William Richardson was installed. He was dismissed in 1847 at his own request, made in consequence of an affection of his eyes. Some con- versions and additions were made to the church during his ministry. The Rev. Edmund Burt then labored here as
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FRANCESTOWN.
stated supply about two years. The three following years the Rev. William Gale acted as stated supply. During his ministry and in a measure by his perseverance, an Academy was established, which has already been highly beneficial to the young.
The Rev. James W. Perkins is the present acting pastor. His ministry here commenced June 1854. The records of the church in its early days are very imperfect, but it is known that in those days, particularly, infant baptism was practiced almost without exception. But two candidates for the ministry have been furnished from this church. Rev. Thomas A. Merrill, D.D. late of Middlebury, Vt., an emi- nent and godly man, was one of the baptized children of this church. The whole number of members of the church from its organization is 179. Present number 36. Salary of the pastor is $ 400. Less than one half of the population is embraced within the limits of this parish ; and the average attendance at their house of worship is only about 100. Sev- eral things have operated greatly to the disadvantage of this church. The most powerful of these have been, the absence of a permanent ministry, the early influence of leading men who were opposed to the orthodox system of religion, and the geography of the town,-the central portion, where the house of worship has from the first been located, being sepa- rated by formidable hills from many of the inhabitants, who have been better convened at houses of worship in adjoining towns. Judging from church and town records, there is more readiness to contribute to the support of the gospel now, than forty years ago, and much less open wickedness. The temperance reformation has already done much to pro- mote the morality and temporal interests of the town.
FRANCESTOWN.
Rev. LATHROP TAYLOR.
Many of the first inhabitants of this town were church members when they immigrated, but had no church organi- zation. The settlement of the town commenced in 1761, by persons from Londonderry, and from Dedham, Ms. and its vicinity ; the former were Presbyterians, the latter were Con- gregationalists ; the former were Scotch Irish, the latter were English. In 1783 the number of inhabitants was 500; in 1790 it arose to 980. The town was named in honor of the wife of Governor Wentworth. Jan. 27th, 1773, that portion
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of the first inhabitants known as the English Society, were organized into a Congregational church by Rev. Samuel Cot- ton of Litchfield, and the Rev. Daniel Wilkins of Amherst. They were declared by them to be a regular church of Christ, and the covenant which they adopted was signed by twelve men. At the same time six women were received into full communion, constituting a church of eighteen members. The church adopted no Confession of Faith until the year 1811. At the same time there existed in town the Presby- terian Scotch Society. When it was organized is not known.
Seventeen years elapsed before the settlement of a pastor. The town, however, employed ministers at different times to preach during a part of each year. July 2d, 1772, in less than one month after the act of town incorporation was passed, the town voted £ 51 lawful money for preaching, and to pay the cost of incorporation. A committee was chosen to carry this vote into effect, and a private house agreed upon as the place for holding meetings for the first three months. At the same meetings, the town appointed a com- mittee " to center the town and to pitch upon a place for a Meeting-house as near the center as the grounds will admit of." The following month the town contracted for building a Meeting-house. The next year, Aug. 5th, 1773, the town voted to give Rev. Wm. Balch a call to settle in the minis- try, according to Presbyterian rules. He declined this call, but preaching was still enjoyed. The project of building a Meeting-house was annually considered, but the house was not erected till 1775, and was not covered until 1778, nor finished until 1787. This enterprise was retarded by the demands laid upon the people by the war of the Revolution. In 1779 Rev. Mr. Estabrooks was employed to preach. The next year he was invited to settle. A ministerial lot was purchased, and other provision made for his temporal sup- port ; but he refused settlement. Efforts were subsequently made to settle Rev. Robert Annan, and Rev. Nathaniel Howe, but they were not successful. Jan. 11th, 1790, the town gave Mr. Moses Bradford a call to settle either as a Presbyterian or Congregational minister as he might prefer. To this there was but one dissenting vote. He accepted the call. He was a Congregationalist in heart and in theory ; he was therefore settled according to Congregational usage, Sept. 8th, 1790.
Before his settlement certain matters were taken up and acted upon, at the instance of Mr. Bradford, preparatory to his usefulness in the church and among the people. The church voted to receive any of the present half way covenant
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members who desired it into full communion, and henceforth to abolish that mode of admitting members. The church also voted to receive all those Presbyterians into full com- munion who had cooperated in calling Mr. Bradford, and all those who were in full communion with their own church, on condition of their submission to the church covenant and discipline, and that the ordinances should be administered statedly according to the directory of the Presbyterian Con- fession of Faith. The Presbyterians voted to come into the church on these terms ; and thus all the professors of relig- ion in town were united in the same Congregational church. Rev. Ebenezer Bradford, father of the pastor elect, of Old Rowley, Ms., preached the sermon from Rev. 2: 10. During the seventeen years previous to the settlement of a minister, eighty four persons had been added to the church. Mr. Bradford had the whole town for his parish, numbering 980 souls. No other denomination was in the field ; none en- tered it during his ministry. He was a thorough Calvinist in his theology. All his religious opinions and principles of action were the result of patient and thorough investigation, and he maintained them with masterly arguments. He was a lucid and instructive preacher in public and in the families of his charge ; and he carried with him in his views the mass of the people. Under his ministry there were frequent sea- sons of special interest ; and some of them were of great power. He continued the pastor of the church thirty seven years. During his pastorate three hundred and thirty seven persons were admitted to church membership, an average of nine each year; seventy nine were received in 1812, and in the following year twenty eight. Before his settlement the ordinance of baptism had been administered to two hundred and seventy one infants. In his ministry he baptized nine hundred and fifty children. The very able and scriptural Confession of Faith maintained by the church, also impor- tant rules and regulations for governing the church and pre- serving sound doctrine, were prepared and adopted under his care and were mainly his own composition. His ministry was eminently a happy and prosperous one until near its close. His intellectual faculties began to decay earlier in / life than is common to most men. Difficulties arose that disturbed his peace, and he was urged to retire from his office. March 31st, 1826, sixty persons having formed them- selves into a " Calvinistic Congregational society," protested against being taxed for his support. His ministry terminated Jan. 1st, 1827. The town paid him $1000 to relinquish his claims on it for support. He remained in Francestown a
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few years, occasionally preaching to destitute churches. He then removed to Sunderland, Ms., where he died.
Nov. 7th, 1827, Mr. Austin Richards, of Plainfield, Ms., was ordained and settled as pastor of the church. His set- tlement was effected by the Congregational church and soci- ety, the town no longer bearing the responsibility of the sup- port of the gospel. The ordination sermon was preached by Rev. Nathan Lord, D.D., then of Amherst. Mr. Richards remained here nine years, and the church enjoyed great pros- perity and heartily cooperated with other Christians in pro- moting the various objects of religious benevolence. Oct. 20th, 1831, the following resolution was unanimously adopted by the church: "Resolved that no person shall hereafter be permitted to become a member of this church, without having first agreed to abstain from the use of dis- tilled spirits except as a medicine, and to use all suitable means to discourage the use of it in others." This resolu- tion, it is believed, defines the position of most of the church- es in the State at the present time. Some of the most pow- erful revivals of religion the church has ever enjoyed occurred during this ministry. Sore trials at length befel Mr. Rich- ards by reason of difficulties that arose in the church. He was influenced by these, as well as by a call from Olive St. church, Nashua, to ask a dismission, which took place March 10th, 1836. During his ministry three hundred and twenty persons united with the church, and all but twenty seven of these by profession. In 1828 the number that professed religion was one hundred and twenty two ; in 1831, sixty two; and in 1832, forty three persons. During these nine years two hundred and fifty three children were baptized.
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