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 19
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189
HUDSON.
church, to be put under the care of the Londonderry Pres- bytery. In 1818, the town voted to raise 250 dollars, exclu- sive of the Baptists, to be laid out in Presbyterian preach- ing.
September 5, 1825, the church gave to Rev. William K. Talbot a call to settle in the ministry, and he was settled and remained about four years. For the last 25 years pre- vious to this, and from 1829 to 1841, the church and town were without a settled minister. September 9, 1841, the church gave up the Presbyterian organization and organized as a Congregational church. In May 1824, they gave a call to Rev. William Page to settle with them in the ministry .- He was installed August 19, 1844, and dismissed June 28th, 1852.
The Rev. D. L. French commenced preaching as stated supply the first Sabbath in November 1852,-and is still laboring with the church in the gospel ministry.
There was no special revivals under Mr. Merrill's ministry, but some were added to the church by letter, and some by profession. The principal difficulties which existed in the latter part of his ministry, arose from disagreement between the Presbyterian and Congregational views of church polity. He was considered a good man, although not a great preach- er. He died the same year that Mr. Fisher was settled .-- Mr. Fisher's ministry was not blessed with special revivals. From Mr. Fisher's ministry to the settlement of Mr. Talbot, there was a great deal of division in town, arising from the Baptist and also the Presbyterian and Congregational views. Some years previous to Mr. Talbot's ministry, the two. churches had united under the Presbyterian form of govern- ment. So that the state of things in town seemed more settled, and there was a good deal of revival interest the four years that he was here. A portion of the church were very strongly attached to him, and were unwilling he should leave. There was a good deal of excitement under his preaching and probably many false hopes indulged. He was in some respects a peculiar man. From his ministry to Mr. Page's there was some division. Prior to Mr. Page's minis- try, the church agreed to give up the Presbyterian platform, and become Congregational. Mr. Page's ministry was blessed with very pleasant revivals. From his dismission until the present, there seems to have been a gradual increase of strength, and of numbers who attend public worship.
190
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
LITCHFIELD.
PRES. CHURCH .- Rev. EBENEZER NEWHALL.
This town lies on the east side of the Merrimack river, and opposite to the town of Merrimack. It was incorporat- ed in 1749. Rev. S. T. Allen's Address states that the "early settlers, on what is now called Merrimack and Litch- field, acted under a common organization, from 1734 to 1746, a period of about twelve years." Their town and church officers were chosen, part from one side, and part from the other side of the river. In the court records, it was known as the township of Naticook; in their town rec- ords, it was called Litchfield. The early inhabitants were very desirous of establishing public worship, and the gospel ministry. Mr. Josiah Brown, and Mr. Isaac Merrill, suc- cessively, received a call to settle in the ministry, neither of whom became their pastor. A committee of two, one from each side of the river, was sent to Newbury, "to treat with Mr. John Tufts, about having his son, Joshua, to preach in Litchfield." Such was the deference paid to parents.
Rev. Joshua Tufts graduated at Harvard university, in 1736 ; was ordained as pastor in Litchfield, in 1741. He left in 1744. Under the ministry of Mr. Tufts, and that of his successor, there must have been a church ; but the rec- ords of it we have not found. Some time between this period and 1770, no church existed in Merrimack, and they constituted a part of Litchfield church and congregation. And in these sections, it is stated, there was a mutual and commendable interest to provide for public worship, and the sustaining of a preached gospel. The second settled pastor, of whom we have an account, was Rev. Samuel Cot- ton of Newton, ordained Jan., 1765,-dismissed in 1781 or 1784, and died in Claremont, in 1819. From traditionary statements, it appears that the character of Mr. Cotton was somewhat eccentric.
In the reciprocal attitude of Litchfield and Merrimack, it occurred that there was no church in Litchfield for some length of time previous to the year 1809. In that year, (1809,) a Presbyterian church was organized in Litchfield, and Clifton Claggett, Esq. became clerk. He was after- wards known as Judge of Probate. On the records appears a call to Mr. Nathaniel Kennedy, and his answer to the Presbyterian church of Litchfield, to become their pastor. A letter of petition to Rev. William Morrison of London- derry, to call a meeting of the Presbytery, on April 12,
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191
LITCHFIELD.
1809, at the house of Clifton Claggett, Esq., to ordain Mr. Nathaniel Kennedy, is on record. Mr. Kennedy was the third pastor-and he continued pastor of the Presby- terian church in Litchfield till April 1812, at which time he was dismissed. The Meeting-house was the property of the town. He was ordained Oct. 25, 1815. In Feb. 1818, we find a record of his death, at the age of 30 years. His praise is still heard among the good people. When Hon. Clifton Claggett resigned the clerkship in the Session of Elders, Dea. Joseph Barnes was appointed to succeed him, and Rev. E. Pillsbury's death is recorded by him. We next find Dea. Thomas Bixby clerk of the Session, and in Oct. 1826, the meeting was held at the house of the pastor, Rev. John Shearer,-the fifth pastor in Litchfield. In 1838, we find the name of Joseph Chase, as clerk of the church and the Session. He was one of the elders of the church. In March and April, 1809, Joseph Barnes, Clifton Claggett, Esq., Thomas Bixby, John Underwood, Matthew Parker, were elected Elders of this church. In Oct. 1817, William Read was ordained Elder. In Nov. 1827, John Parker and Joseph Chase, jr. were, by Rev. E. L. Parker, ordained Elders in this church. It is observable, that there were admissions to the church, of several at a time, soon after its formation. During the summer of 1809, 12 were received .; in the autumn of 1810, the church had an accession of 6; in 1827, 14. Up to 1842, 6 persons were excommunicated. The returns of the church in 1827, show its resident mem- bers to have been 39. In July, 1842, pursuant to previous notice, the Elders of the Presbyterian church in Litchfield held a meeting and considered the state of the church. And, in view of "the difficulties, trials, and perplexities, with which they had to contend," concluded to disband, and unite with the churches in Merrimack, Nashua, Hudson, and Londonderry ; and when occasion should occur for estab- lishing orthodox worship in Litchfield, "the members should return and lend their aid." During the vacancies in the pastorate, and the sad reverses in this society, not many of the names of the stated supplies can be obtained ; nor did all the incumbents well "fulfil the ministry they had received."
In July, 1844, the Londonderry Presbytery, at the call of the moderator, met at Litchfield and dedicated a new house of worship, on which occasion Rev. Mr. Wood preached the sermon. The Presbytery at the same meeting, re-organized and constituted a Presbyterian church. Rev. Mr. Bradford preached the sermon. Jan. 5, 1845, the church met and
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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
elected their Elders. Rev. Mr. Brainerd presided, as mod- erator. John Parker, Moses Chase, and Andrew Lydston, were elected Elders. The constitutional questions were pro- posed, and Moses Chase and Andrew Lydston were ordain- ed to the eldership, by "the laying on of hands" and prayer. Mr. Parker had been before ordained. Dea. Moses Chase was chosen clerk of Session.
In Oct. 1845, Mr. William H. Porter received an invita- tion from the church, (Rev. Mr. Brainerd acting as modera- tor,) to become their pastor. He was ordained according to usage, by Londonderry Presbytery, and was dismissed in 1848. Previous to Mr. Porter's settlement, Rev. Messrs. Wood and Miltimore preached here as stated supplies. The church had successively the labors and ministrations of sev- eral supplies-Mr. Fuller, Mr. Page, Mr. Blanchard, Mr. Tuttle, and others. The latter part of 1852, or first of 1853, the Session and church invited Rev. S. N. Howel to become their pastor. He supplied them some months, but did not accede to their request.
In June, 1854, Rev. Ebenezer Newhall received a call from the congregation, in concurrence with the session and the church, to become their pastor. The call was accepted. The Session, in August, designated a day for installation- Sept. 27th. On that day the Londonderry Presbytery, at the call of the moderator, met and performed the services of installation. Rev. Benjamin R. Allen preached the sermon. The present pastor is the seventh. The Rev. Benjamin Chase, now residing in Natches, had his birth and his early training here.
LYNDEBOROUGH.
Rev. E. B. CLAGGETT.
The unsuccessful attempt to make the conquest of Cana- da, by some of the English Colonies in 1690, had an impor- tant connection with the character and history of the people in Lyndeborough. Forty six years after this event, "the Great and General Court of Massachusetts Bay" gave to Capt. Samuel King and 59 others, who were engaged in that perilous attempt, a township of land, as a reward for their courage and sufferings. The township selected for this pur- pose was situated in the province of New Hampshire. It received, first, the name of Salem Canada, afterwards, that of Lyndeborough. Capt. King and his company belonged
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193
LYNDEBOROUGH.
to Salem and its vicinity, and a considerable portion of the first settlers of that township came from that part of Massa- chusetts. They brought with them in 1739 and onward, the Bible and Catechism, with somewhat of the puritan charac- ter and puritan sentiments. At an early period they had a framed Meeting-house and public worship ; but owing prob- ably to the tardy settlement of the place, a church was not organized until 1757. Prior to its formation, it was " voted," at a meeting of the people, "to keep a day of fasting and prayer for the blessing of Almighty God in choosing a min- ister, and settling church order. Voted also, to send for Rev. Daniel Wilkins, of Souhegan West, Rev. Daniel Emer- son of Hollis, and Rev. Joseph Emerson of Pepperill, to car- ry on the worship of said day of fasting, and give their ad- vice in the weighty affair of settling a minister."
On the 5th of December, 1757, a church consisting of eight men was organized, and on the 7th of the same month Rev. John Rand, who had received a unanimous call, was ordained its pastor, by a council of four ministers and five delegates. We cannot ascertain the exact amount of his salary, but the records show that he was to receive a specified quantity of wood, with a certain allowance from the proprietors of the township, while the Society " voted to give him one shilling for each soul in town, and to increase the number of shillings according to the increase of the number of souls." He also had liberty to preach six Sabbaths a year, for his own pecun- iary benefit, to the destitute in other towns. Soon after the ordination of their pastor, they began, for the better accom- modation of the people, to build another Meeting-house, on what was called Rocky Hill. This was not long used, how- ever, for public worship, for in 1772, a large and substantial church edifice was completed, which was occupied for the period of sixty five years, when the present commodious house was erected by individual enterprise, and made the property, not of the town, as was the case with the preceding ones, but, of the Congregational society. The pastorate of Mr. Rand was a brief one for those days. Early in the spring of 1761, it appears that difficulty existed (the origin and nature of which are not recorded) which led to the calling. of a council, and on the 8th of April the ensuing year, his pastoral relation was dissolved, four years and four months from the date of his ordination. For about five years from this event, the pulpit was supplied by several different clergymen. In the meantime the proprietors of the township who lived in Massachusetts, desirous of encour- aging the settlement of "a learned, orthodox minister " in
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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
Lyndeborough, " voted to pay to the order of the town, for such minister, the sum of £33 6s 8d annually for the space of five years ; " and at the same time they made a " grant of two hundred acres of land to such person, his heirs and as- signs forever."
In 1767 the people extended a unanimous call to the Rev. Sewall Goodridge to settle among them, the town voting him "a settlement" of £ 50 sterling, with an annual salary of £40 until there should be seventy families in town, then £ 45 until there should be one hundred families, after which he should receive £ 50 annually. Mr. Goodridge accepted this call on the condition that he should have the privilege of selecting the two hundred acres which the proprietors have granted, and receive from them an addition to his " settlement" of about 128 dollars. The proprietors com- plying with his proposal, he was ordained Sept. 7th, 1768. Mr. Goodridge married his wife in Danvers. His bringing her to town was an interesting event among his people, many of whom went out to meet them. They came in a two wheeled chaise, a vehicle that had scarcely been seen in any of our towns at that early period. Mr. Jacob Wellman was decidedly of the opinion that they would not be able to come through with the carriage, or at least that the lady would not have courage to ride in it. Accordingly he sad- dled and pillioned his horse, thinking he might have the honor of bringing the bride himself. But it was finally con- cluded that the minister and his wife should both keep their seats, while six strong men followed behind to keep the chaise right side up.
Mr. Goodridge is believed to have preached sound doctrine, and the early part of his ministry seems to have been highly blest. Many were added to the church-not less than twen- ty four the second year after his ordination. But for several years towards the close of his life, he was greatly disabled by physical infirmities. He continued, however, the pastor of this church till his connection with it was dissolved by death, March 14th, 1809. He departed this life in the sixty sixth year of his age, and in the forty first of his ministry among this people. His death occurred town meeting day, and the following record is both interesting and commendable : "The melancholy news of the death of our pastor, the Rev. Sewall Goodridge, being announced by Dea. Peter Clark,-voted, unanimously, to assist the bereaved family at the funeral, and in burying our pastor. Voted to choose a committee of seven, and instruct them to bury the Rev. Mr. Goodridge in a respectful and ministerial manner,-to request all the min-
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195
LYNDEBOROUGH.
isters of this vicinity to attend, make provision for their en- tertainment, and pay all funeral charges." It may be inter- esting also to state, in this connection, that in time of the war of the American Revolution, the town held a meeting, at which they voted, in consideration of the high prices and increased expense of living, to add to the salary of Rev. Mr. Goodridge. He was, by the way, eminently a liberty loving man, and his feelings were warmly enlisted in the cause of the colonies.
During a little more than two years from the death of Mr. Goodridge, the church was without a pastor. Several min- isters supplied the pulpit at different times, to some of whom invitations to settle were extended. A call was given to Rev. J. Crosby, now a Unitarian clergyman. The appointed day of his ordination came ; a large number of people from this and the neighboring towns assembled, and waited for public services to commence. But during the examination of the candidate, a remonstrance signed by three prominent mem- bers of the church, expressing their fears of unsoundness in his theology, induced the council to refuse him ordination. Thus the town was saved from the leaven of Unitarian the- ology, and the way kept open for a prophet to " come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ."
Not long after this, Rev. Nathaniel Merrill received a unanimous call, and was constituted pastor of this church, Oct. 30, 1811. At the time of his ordination, the number belonging to the church was 108. During the first twelve years of his pastorate, 179 more were added. But at no period, since the organization of the church, have the riches of divine grace been so signally manifested as in the year 1826. For a considerable season, previous to this, the church was in deep declension and the slumber of false security seems to have settled upon all the people. The services of the Sabbath were but thinly attended, and prayer meetings were in a great measure neglected. The few who mourned over the desolations of Zion and prayed for the salvation of the lost, seemed about to give up in utter discouragement. To them it was a dark and solemn day. But they resolved to appoint one more prayer meeting, and make renewed ex- ertions to secure a larger attendance. Their cry was heard, and their efforts blest. The meetings were increased, and it was manifest that the Spirit of God was present. Soon the place of assembling became too strait. A great awakening began. The work so increased, that, to, use the language of Mr. Merrill, " there were very few families in which there were not some who seemed to be either deeply impressed, or
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196
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
to be rejoicing in hope of salvation. The Spirit of the Lord seemed to come down like a mighty wind, prostrating sin- ners and bringing them submissively to Christ. In this work, God was in a striking manner pleased to honor his own institutions. Though some were brought in who were open despisers of divine truth, of Christians, and of the ho- ly Sabbath, yet nearly all who were hopeful subjects of con- verting power had been accustomed to attend on the means of grace. Those parts of the town where the people uni- formly attended religious worship were the parts most sig- nally blest, while, in the neighborhoods where the families generally absented themselves from the house of God, there were only a very few hopeful conversions-a solemn fact speaking volumes on the importance of giving constant at- tention to the means of grace." As the fruits of this revival 107 soon made a profession of faith in Christ. During the remaining nine years of Rev. Mr. Merrill's pastorate, 105 more were added to the church. His ministry was one of great success and blessed results. But, considerable difficul- ty arising in respect to the "ministerial fund," which was eventually diverted from its proper use, and the town ceas- ing, from sectarian feelings, from indifference or opposition to evangelical truth, to afford him an adequate support, the good man began to be disheartened, and thinking his useful- ness among this people less than it might be elsewhere, he was, at his own request, on the 28th of July, 1835, in the 24th year of his pastorate, honorably dismissed, for the pur- pose of entering another field of labor.
In October following, a call was extended to Rev. Jacob White, who was ordained and installed the pastor of this church, Jan. 13, 1836. In regard to his ministry here, Mr. White himself speaks in terms of commendable modesty, just one year prior to his dismission: "Since my settle- ment, no special divine influence has attended my feeble efforts. Eleven only have united with the church, while double this number have been removed from it by death and other causes. Though many in town uniformly absent themselves from the public worship of God, still it is said the number that meets with us on the Sabbath is larger than it was some years ago." It was during his ministry that the present house of worship was erected, and an excel- lent parsonage house was built. Difficulty at length arose between Mr. White and a portion of his people, which led to the calling of a council. Although the council found noth- ing in their investigation of the case " to impair their confi- dence in Mr. White as a Christian, and faithful minister of
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LYNDEBOROUGH.
the gospel of Christ," yet such was the state of feeling among the people, and such the pastor's views in respect to his comfort and usefulness, it was deemed best to dissolve his relation to the church and society, the same to take ef- fect June 30, 1840, making the period of his pastorate about four years and a half. It required some time, after the dis- mission of Mr. White, for the agitation to subside, and the people to become calm. After a few months the services of Rev. W. Richardson were secured, who acted as stated sup- ply for nearly two years. His course is thought to have been judicious, and his influence salutary.
Rev. Ivory Kimball was at length invited to settle, and, having signified his acceptance, was installed Dec. 28, 1842. For several months after his installation, Mr. Kimball la- bored with great earnestness and zeal. His labors were at- tended wish some special religious interest, and a few hope- ful conversions. During his pastorate fourteen were added to the church, eight by profession. During the latter part of his ministry here he was greatly afflicted with ill health, which at length rendered his dismission necessary. This took place at his own request, Feb. 24, 1846. He removed to Maine, where he died about three years ago greatly lamented. He was a good man, a faithful and earnest preacher.
Sept. 30, 1846, Mr. E. B. Claggett, a graduate of Ando- ver theological seminary, was ordained and constituted the pastor of this people, with whom he has labored in the gos- pel ministry nine years. Within this period the society has paid its debts to the amount of several hundred dollars, a church bell has been procured, and the minister's salary in- creased. There have been hopeful conversions, but more re- movals than additions to the church. Such is the history of the orthodox Congregational church organized in Lyndebo- rough ninety eight years ago. From that day to the pres- ent, as many as 805 have united with it, exclusive of some whose names may have been lost in consequence of a chasm of several years in the records prior to 1809. Of this num- ber about 100 are still members of the church, while many that have been dismissed are scattered abroad. Ten from this church have been licensed to preach the gospel. There is no record of infant baptisms for ten years after the organ- ization of the church, and none for more than twenty years prior to 1809. The whole number recorded is 868. Proba- bly not less than a thousand have received the rite. In re- gard to the state of morality and religion forty years ago as compared with the present, there is reason to believe that
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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
there has been decided improvement in this parish, which embraces over two thirds of the population of the town. Be- sides occasional legacies, we contribute about two hundred dollars a year for benevolent objects.
A Calvinist Baptist church was organized in South Lynde- borough, Dec. 10, 1829. It contained 22 members, most of whom were gathered from adjacent towns. Though its suc- cess has been limited, and its discouragements many, yet it still lives, and its prospects appear to brighten under the ministry of Rev. E. J. Emery. The whole number of mem- bers from first to last is 102. And the church is reported as having sent out three ministers.
MANCHESTER.
FIRST CONG. CHURCH .- Rev. C. W. WALLACE.
A Presbyterian church was organized in Manchester, on the 21st of May, 1828. The means of grace enjoyed by this church were very limited. There was no house of worship of which it had the exclusive control. It never was blessed with the labors of a settled pastor. Rev. Wm. K. Talbot supplied the pulpit for a few months after the organization of the church. In 1833 Mr. Benjamin F. Foster was ordain- ed as an evangelist, and divided his labors for some time between this church and the church at Amoskeag. For a number of years, however, this church was almost entirely destitute of the stated means of grace.
A Congregational church was organized in Amoskeag vil- lage, Dec. 2, 1828. This church was situated on the oppo- site side of the Merrimack river, and about three miles dis- tant from the Presbyterian church before mentioned. Its condition was very similar to that church, although it enjoy- ed to a greater extent the stated preaching of the gospel. But like the other, it never had a settled pastor or a house it could control. Among those who supplied this church with preaching, was Rev. B. F. Foster, before mentioned, Rev. Mr. Noble, Rev. Mr. French, afterwards missionary at Siam, Rev. Mr. Stone, and Mr. C. W. Wallace. The last named commenced his labors with this church on the last Sabbath in April 1839. About the same time this church commenced holding meetings at the new village of Manches- ter. This was done with the advice and concurrence of the members of the Presbyterian church, as well as other friends of Christ in the neighborhood. This was the first regular
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