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 18
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Without funds for the support of the gospel, and weak- ened by frequent dismissions to churches in all parts of the country, this church is struggling forward, animated by the hope of having some small share in the labors and victories of the Redeemer's kingdom.
HANCOCK.
Rev. ASAHEL BIGELOW.
This town was first settled in 1765; it was incorporated in 1779. June 19, 1788, members of various churches, residing in the town, met to consider the expediency of being organized as a church, and agreed to take measures for that purpose. In pursuance of this agreement a council
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was convened on the 28th day of August, 1788, and proceed- ed to constitute a church consisting of ten male and seven female members. Thirty one persons united with the church, after its organization, before the settlement of a pastor.
October 5, 1790, the church invited Mr. Reed Paige to become their pastor. Mr. Paige signified his acceptance of this invitation, and was ordained Sept. 20, 1791. Rev. Mr. Paige died July 22, 1816, in the 5Ist year of his age, having been pastor of the church twenty four years and ten months. He was thoroughly evangelical in sentiment, and an able preacher. During his ministry 148 persons were added to the church. The most received in any one year was 21 in 1816, the year of his death. There were 281 children baptized, and eight adults. "He was justly esteemed a learned, pious, able and faithful minister ; a good citizen, an honest and upright man ; a firm patriot, and zealous and able advocate of his country's rights, which very much endear- ed him to the people of his charge, who frequently elected him to represent the town in the State legislature, of which he was a member at the time of his death." Love of country in a minister was at that day no reproach. After the death of Rev. Mr. Paige the church remained without a pastor six years and five months. During this time sixty five children were baptized, and eight adults, and 31 persons were added to the church.
Nov. 4, 1822 Mr. Archibald Burgess was invited to become pastor of the church, and was ordained Dec. 25, 1822. Mr. Burgess retained the pastoral office until Dec. 18, 1849, at which time he was dismissed at his own request "on account of physical inability to discharge his ministerial duties." He died Feb. 7, 1850, at the age of 60 years, having been pastor of the church twenty seven years. He was sound in sentiment and was a faithful and successful preacher. Under his ministry the church enjoyed several seasons of refreshing, the most important of which occurred in 1831 and in 1838. As fruits of the former upwards of 100 persons were received into the church, and 46 as fruits of the latter. During the ministry of Rev. Mr. Burgess 314 persons were added to the church, and 310 children and 29 adults were baptized.
March 19, 1850, three months after the dismission of Rev. Mr. Burgess, the present pastor of the church, Rev. Asahel Bigelow, was invited to settle with the church and people, and was installed May 15, 1850. Since that time 46 persons have been received into the church, and thirteen children and eight adults have been baptized. The year 1854 was
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marked by gentle effusions of the Holy Spirit, in consequence of which twenty five were added to the church. The whole number of persons that have belonged to the church, from its commencement, is 587. Mrs. Susannah Gates, one of the original members of the church, survives, but the rest are fallen asleep. The whole number of children baptized is 604, and the whole number of adults is 45. The whole number of persons now belonging to the church is 202. It pays a salary of $500. Three individuals from this church have entered the ministry, viz. Daniel Brown, Samuel W. Clark, and Daniel Goodhue. The church has taken an interest in the various benevolent enterprises of the day, and it is believed has been among the foremost in sustaining them by pecuniary contributions.
This church, from its beginning, has stood firm as an evangelical church, and, to promote its prosperity, has seldom resorted to other than the ordinary means of grace. Nor has it been given to change in regard to the ministry, having had but three pastors since its organization, two of whom sleep among those to whom they ministered while liv- ing, and the third yet remains.
HILLSBOROUGH.
The following facts are mainly drawn from Smith's " An- nals of Hillsborough." The first settlement here was com- menced in 1741, by a company of men from the vicinity of Boston. Soon after furnishing themselves with log cabins, the settlers proceeded to erect a framed Meeting-house and parsonage. In 1744 the war between England and France broke out, and Hillsborough, being then a frontier settlement, was much exposed to the attacks of the Indians. The inhab- itants therefore thought it advisable to leave this place, and seek safety elsewhere. During this absence their dwellings and Meeting-house were destroyed. This was in 1746. A second settlement was commenced in 1762. The settlers were of the Puritan faith, and Congregational order. The Rev. Messrs. Houston of Bedford and Colton of Litchfield, often visited and preached among them, and, on Oct. 12, 1769, organized a church. In 1772 the town was incorpo- rated. For fifteen years, after the second settlement, public worship during summer was held in a barn, and in winter in a dwelling house. Col. Hill gave ten acres in the center of the town for public purposes. He also gave for the first
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settled minister, a lot of between two and three hundred acres. In 1772, the church and town extended a call to Mr. Jonathan Barnes, to settle with them as their minister. Mr. Barnes was ordained in a barn, Nov. 25th, 1772. He con- tinued his pastoral relation until Oct. 19th, 1803. In the preceding summer, he was struck by lightning from his horse, which produced a paralysis from which he never recovered. He died Aug. 3d, 1805, aged 56. He was a man of respec- table talents. His influence was good in maintaining order and peace in town. His religious sentiments were consid- ered Arminian, yet he was of a catholic spirit, kind and con- ciliating. About two years after the death of Mr. Barnes, the pulpit was vacant, and several candidates were employed.
In June, 1805, the town concurred with the church in in- viting Mr. Stephen Chapin to settle with them, offering him a salary of $400, and four Sabbaths for himself. He ac- cepted the call, and was ordained June 18th, 1805. Dr. Emmons of Franklin, Ms., with whom Mr. Chapin studied theology, preached the ordination sermon, from Acts 20: 21. Through Mr. Chapin's agency the church underwent an im- portant change as to doctrine and practice,-the half way covenant was abandoned, and vital and experimental religion was insisted on as essential to church membership. His plain, direct, and faithful preaching awakened so much op- position that he was dismissed May 10th, 1808. [See Mont Vernon.] His ministry, though short and troubled, formed a decided crisis for evangelical piety in this town. Its influ- ence is still felt. During his ministry 38 were added to the church.
After an interval of about three years, the church invited Mr. Seth Chapin to become their pastor. In this invitation the town concurred, and he was ordained Jan. 1st, 1812. His ministry was not distinguished by any thing noticeable. He became embarrassed with debts, and was dismissed June 26th, 1816. After Mr. Chapin's removal the pulpit was vacant for several years. Several ministers supplied, among whom was Rev. Jonathan McGee.
Rev. John Lawton commenced preaching here in 1820, and was installed Nov. 9th, 1821. He continued his minis- try here until April 22d, 1834, when he was dismissed at his own request. Until the settlement of Mr. Lawton, the town had always concurred with the church, had voted the salary, and raised it by tax. The town now declined to vote a sal- ary, and the ministry has ever since been sustained by volun- tary subscription. During Mr. Lawton's ministry several revivals were enjoyed,-the most considerable was in 1827.
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While he was pastor 152 were added to the church. Imme- diately after Mr. Lawton's dismission Milton Ward was employed to preach, and on July 23d, 1834, he was ordained as pastor. In about a year, his views of church government were changed, he became an Episcopalian, was dismissed Nov. 10th, 1835. After Mr. Ward left, Rev. Seth Farns- worth supplied the desk about a year, and was installed Nov. 23d, 1836. His ministry was eminently successful and happy, though short. On March 26th, 1837, he died very suddenly of a lung fever. While he ministered here, a Meet- ing-house was erected at the Bridge village, the most impor- tant section of the town, with the understanding that he was to preach alternately in each place. The church and congre- gation felt his loss exceedingly, and he is still remembered with great affection. His death was eminently happy. "O my God," said he in his dying moments, "how sweet, how sweet are the employments of heaven." After an interval of apparent unconsciousness, he lifted up his eyes and said, "Ò my friends, I thought I was in glory, I have just come from the world of bliss. What happiness, what unspeakable happiness to sing with angels." With many such expres- sions on his lips, he passed over Jordan. In the following July Rev. Samuel G. Tenney commenced preaching, and was installed July 4th, 1838.
We have now reached a period when the church was di- vided into two, and shall finish the sketch of them under their present names.
[ Sketch thus far by Rev. J. Cummings.]
HILLSBOROUGH CENTER.
Rev. S. H. PARTRIDGE.
Mr. Tenney was dismissed in 1839, when the other church was formed, with a view of being its pastor, as it arose in the village where he resided. Rev. E. Cleaveland, Rev. B. M. Bailey and Rev. Henry White, each supplied the old church, or church at the Center, a short time in 1839. Feb. 1840, Rev. G. W. Adams entered this field and was installed Oct. 21st, 1840. He was dismissed Jan. 17th, 1844. Rev. S. H. Tolman and Rev. Mr. Jones supplied the people a part of the year 1844.
Rev. Elihu T. Rowe was ordained pastor of the church, May 29, 1845, with prospects of great usefulness, but his health failed. He was dismissed Nov. 30, 1847. He is now a popular teacher in the Academy at Meriden. Rev. Rob- ert Page supplied the desk from Aug. 1847 till May 1851. Mr. C. C. Durgin, licentiate, preached to the church from
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HILLSBOROUGH.
May 1851 to May 1852. Rev. Mr. Jones, a returned mis- sionary, supplied a few weeks in the summer of 1852. Rev. H. O. Howland and Rev. James W. Perkins, each supplied the people for a time.
Rev. Samuel H. Partridge commenced his labors with the church, Sept. 26, 1852, was ordained pastor May 10, 1853, and is the present pastor of the church. A parsonage was commenced here in the early part of 1843, and completed in 1845 at an expense of $980. It is a comfortable and con- venient house, owned by individuals in shares of $25 each.
Such was the religious interest in the place, during Rev. Stephen Chapin's ministry from 1805 to 1808, that 38 were added to the church during that period, many of them by profession. During Rev. John Lawton's ministry several seasons of religious interest were enjoyed which brought con- siderable numbers into the church. In 1827-8 a very pow- erful revival of religion was enjoyed; 1830, 1838 and 1841 were also seasons of revival. Since that time there have been occasional conversions and additions to the church, but no extensive interest.
The number of persons baptized cannot now be ascertain- ed ; but, with very few exceptions, the members of the church have dedicated their children to God in baptism, and still continue to adhere firmly to the principles of Congregation- alism in this matter. The present number of church going people in the parish, which includes not far from one-third of the territory of the town, is about 200. From 100 to 150 are present in the sanctuary on the Sabbath. The high- est number of members in the church, since 1839, was after the revival in 1841, when there were 106 members. Death and removal, with few additions, have diminished the num- ber to 70.
The following is a copy of a statement made to the town by Mr. Barnes, respecting his salary :- "In the year 1772 your Pastor settled with you in this town in the work of the ministry-when the town promised to give him £ 30 by way of settlement and £ 30 salary annually for the first four years and £35 for the next four years, and so increasing, that when there should be 110 families it should be £ 66 13s and 4d-in the year 1775 the war commenced and Paper money was emitted, which soon began to depreciate and the depre- ciation was so rappid that in may 1777, your Pastor gave the whole of his salary for one sucking Calf-the next year he gave the whole for a small store pig in the month of Sep- tember,-the next year viz : 1779 the number of families had increased so as to bring his salary to £50. at the close
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of that year, having no glass in the meeting house your pas- tor offered the town one years' salary provided the town would glaze the said house, which was complyed with so far as to glaze it in part-by this time more than three 4ths sum of his settlement was gone-before the close of another year paper money was quite dead, Silver was circulating instead thereof at such a rate as to take 100 Dollars to purchase a yok of oxen. there has not been six years in the whole time since the contract was made that your Pastor has reallised an adequate value aggreeable to the contract. your Pastor has never asked for any consideration, being willing to try to scrabble along with the people while they were in low circumstances." The town indemnified him for his loss.
Two aged men, members of the church, state that in youth they were urged to unite with the church, when they had no evidence themselves of having been regenerated, and that, in discussing the question they argued against it and the pastor for it. Facts of this kind which have not yet entirely faded from the memory of the living, go far to show that Arminianism was to be found here, in the earlier part of the church's history, blended with and finally superseded by the theology of the orthodox Congregational churches of New England. Two only of the pastors of this church have lived and died with their people. The grave of Rev. Jonathan Barnes is directly beneath the place which he occupied in life-the desk of the first Meeting-house built in this town, which was completed in 1779, and was taken down previous to his death. Rev. John Lawton also was buried among his people, and not only his grave but his influence is to be found here to this day.
HILLSBOROUGH BRIDGE.
Rev. JACOB CUMMINGS.
On May 29, 1839, a separate church was formed at the Bridge village, of those who could be better convened there. The separation was in good fellowship and faith. The num- ber forming the new church was about seventy, while more than one hundred were left with the old church. Mr. Ten- ney was not installed over the new church, though he con- tinued to preach to it until the spring of 1843, when he removed to Wardsboro', Vt. In July of that year, Rev. Jacob Cummings began to preach, and was installed Nov. 15, 1843, and yet remains with them. Through failures in busi- ness, deaths and removals, the church has diminished to sixty five, though frequent additions have been made. The congre-
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HOLLIS.
gation also has decreased in number and pecuniary ability. There are a few Baptists and Methodists in town. There are some deists and atheists of the Abner Kneeland stamp, and a few followers of Theodore Parker. With regard to attend- ance at meetings ; though we now have four or five meetings every Sabbath, yet probably not so many are now found in public worship as used to attend forty years ago, when they had but one place of meeting. Of the 1800 inhabi- tants, probably not more than 600 are found at religious meetings on the Sabbath, exeept on some very special occa- sion. Infant baptism is very generally practiced by the Congregational church.
HOLLIS.
Rev. P. B. DAY.
The first settlement in the town of Hollis, then a part of Dunstable, and supposed to be in Massachusetts, was made in the fall of 1730 by Peter Powers. In 1739 the settlers, to the number of 20, petitioned the General Court of Massa- chusetts to be made a parish, or precinct. A grant was obtained bearing date Dec. 28, 1739, under the name of the "West Precinct of Dunstable." The first Meeting-house was erected in 1741, near the site of the present house of worship; and five years after, April 20, 1746, the town was incorporated by the General Court of New Hampshire, it having been previously settled that the "West Precinct of Dunstable" was within the boundary of this State.
No records exist to show when the church was organized, though it is supposed that it must have been sometime previous to the settlement of the first minister, Rev. Daniel Emerson, which took place April 20, 1743. Two years after his settlement, there were eleven male members. Mr. Emerson was born in Reading, Ms. May 20, 1716, and was graduated at Harvard 1739. He retained the sole pastorate of the church till Nov. 27, 1793, a period of more than fifty years, and was senior pastor till the time of his death Sept. 30, 1801. He died at the age of 85, having sustained the pastoral relation fifty eight years. He was a popular and suc- cessful preacher, and much esteemed by his people. For a short time during the French war, he was Chaplain at Crown Point. No record is found of the number of persons admitted to the church during his ministry, but, it was stated to the pastor of the church in 1838 by one of the oldest church
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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
members in town, that there was a general revival in 1766 -one of lesser magnitude in 1772-a general one in 1781, and many conversions during the years 1788 and 1789. At the time when a colleague was ordained, there were 200 members in the church, and not far from 1500 inhabitants in town.
Rev. Eli Smith, who was born in Belchertown, Ms. Sept. 17, 1759, and graduated at Brown university 1792, was ordained as junior pastor with Mr. Emerson, Nov. 27, 1793. Mr. Smith .was a man of strong natural talents, a firm and energetic defender of the truth, and a successful pastor. During his pastorate of a little more than thirty seven years, between 400 and 500 persons were admitted to the church. In a little more than six years 100 members made a profession of their faith. But the great revival of his ministry was in the years 1801 and 1802. At that time 142 united with the church ; and 30 more became hopefully pious, most of whom subsequently made a profession. In 1811 there was another revival, and 30 or 40 were added to the church; in 1817 there was still another, and about 50 were made subjects of renewing grace. Mr. Smith was dismissed in Feb. 1831, and died at Hollis, May 12, 1847.
Rev. David Perry was installed pastor of the church, Feb. 23, 1831. Several revivals occurred under his ministration, and, as the result of eleven years labor, not far from 150 were admitted to the church by letter and profession. He was dismissed at his own request June 13, 1842.
Aug. 30, 1843, Mr. James Aikin was ordained pastor, which office he retained about five years, and was dismissed, after admitting about 60 to the church, July 3d, 1848. March 21, 1849, Mr. Matthew D. Gordon was ordained pastor, and dismissed on account of ill health June 7, 1852 ; 11 persons were admitted to the church during his ministry. He died at Hoosic Falls, N. Y. Aug. 21, 1853.
July 7, 1852, Rev. P. B. Day was installed pastor, and still holds the office ; 57 have united with the church under his ministration. The present number in the church is about 180, 20 less than it contained in 1793, at the time Mr. Emerson ceased to be the sole pastor of the church. It is to be considered, however, that the number of inhabitants in town has diminished since that time from 1500 to 1292; a Baptist society has also been formed, and a portion of those who profess religion now are connected with the church in South Merrimack, so that, a greater proportion of the inhabitants than formerly are professors of religion. The salaries of three pastors previous to the last, have been $600-that of the present pastor is $ 700.
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HUDSON.
The contributions of the church and society to benevolent objects have varied during the last few years from $500 to $800. Legacies of several thousands of dollars have been left by members of the church, to the different benevolent associations. The church and society are aided in support- ing the gospel by the Philanthropic Society. This associ- ation commenced operations in 1801. The design of its found- ers was to create a fund by small contributions, the avails of which would eventually materially aid if not entirely support the gospel. The funds amounted in Jan. 1855 to $4,943. The charter allows the society to appropriate 12-13ths of its income. About $250 is now appropriated to support the gospel. The society has had three houses of worship on nearly the same site. The first was built in 1746, the second in 1804, and the third in 1849. There have been 41 educated for the gospel ministry since the settlement of the town, and 15 for each of the other professions,-law and medicine, beside some who were liberally educated that have engaged in other employments, making in all not far from 75 who were educated for professional life.
HUDSON.
Rev. D. L. FRENCH.
The first church in Hudson, (then Nottingham West,) was organized Nov. 30, 1737. It was a Congregational church. On the same day the Rev. Nathaniel Merrill was ordained pastor. It appears from the town records, that from about the year 1746 until Mr. Merrill's death in 1796, diffi- culties existed between him and his people, and at times, great alienation of feeling existed among the members of the church. On July 11, 1774, Mr. Merrill's civil contract with the town was dissolved. There had been many efforts made to prevail upon Mr. Merrill to ask a dismission, but all failed until the above mentioned date. At a legal town meeting held on the 4th of July 1778, "It was then put to vote to see if the town would choose a committee of two men to settle with Mr. Merrill, or to stand his suit at court against the town. Voted in the affirmative." The following is from the pen of the Rev. Mr. Merrill : " I the subscriber for and in consideration of £ 60 lawful money to me in hand paid, or secured to be paid, do, therefore, acquit and dis- charge the inhabitants of the town of Nottingham West, from all demands I now have, or may have hereafter upon
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them as a town by virtue of any former agreement or agree- ments, vote or votes made or voted between them and me as their minister, as witness my hand." A kindly spirit seems to have existed toward Mr. Merrill after his dismission ; for from 1774 to 1796, the town frequently voted to raise sums of money for his support and " he was to preach it out." -- It is supposed that a Presbyterian church was formed in 1771, and had preaching more or less for a few years.
December 13th, 1790, the town voted "to raise £ 10 to hire preaching, and to employ the Rev. Mr. Parrish if he can be had." April 11, 1791, the town voted to give to the Rev. Ariel Parrish a call to settle in the ministry, and to raise for his support £ 80, and give him as settlement money £ 100. His call was negatived, for, December 20th, 1791, the town voted to give to the Rev. Matthew Scribner another call to settle in the ministry, agreeably to the Westminster confession of faith. This call was not accepted. In June 1792, an article to this effect was acted upon in town meet- ing : " To see which constitution of church government, and mode of administration of gospel ordinances the town will vote to receive, whether the Presbyterian constitution agree- able to the Westmnister confession of faith, or agreeable to the Congregational plan of church government, and mode of gospel ordinances." On the above article the town voted, but it was a tie vote. At the same meeting the town voted to raise £ 15 to hire a candidate for settlement in the. min- istry. The Rev. Mr. Thompson was employed to preach a part of the time in the years 1793 and 1794. In December 1795, the town agreed to give Jabez L. Fisher a call to set- tle in the ministry-the number so voting being called for, it was ascertained that 47 had voted to give him a call. On the same day a remonstrance was filed in against giving Mr. Fisher a call. We take an extract from it : " We do detest against paying any part of his settlement or salary, or any money that is voted to support that order,-as we profess to be of a different persuasion,-and pray that this detest may be entered on the town book of records in said town." -. Signed by 53 names. After the town .voted to accept Mr. Fisher's answer, Jan. 11, 1796, to settle in the town, another protest was filed in, similar to the one above, and signed by fifteen legal voters. He was ordained Feb. 25, 1796, and dismissed in May 1801. From this time for ten or fifteen years, the town raised money more or less for the support of the gospel, excusing Baptists from the tax. In 1816, the members of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches agreed to unite and organize themselves into a Presbyterian
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