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 3
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27
CHESTER.
then went to prayer." Here the letter ends abruptly .- Some of the aged members of this church say, he scarcely ate or slept for two or three days; was too weak to attend meeting on the Sabbath,-they never heard such preaching as they heard from him. He gave good evidence of piety until his death, several years since. In such power did this revival commence ; and in such power did it continue for several months. Proud hearts were humbled, stubborn wills subdued, and the tongues of the dumb unloosed. As the fruit of this great work, one hundred and fifty were added to the church ; many of them heads of families, in- cluding the more influential ones in town. Revivals of less power, but of much interest, occurred in 1830 and 1832, during which years about seventy-five were added to the church. An interesting revival also occurred in 1838, under the ministry of Mr. Russell ; as the fruit of which about sixty were added to the church ; and another in 1849, while Mr. Murdock was pastor. The subjects of this last work of grace, some fifty-five, were all young ; most of them under twenty years of age, and members of the Sabbath School .- The strength of the church, though absolutely greater now than forty years ago, is relatively less, considering the num- ber of members then and now. There is less open wicked- ness in society now, than then. Population in 1820, 1273 ; in 1850, 1482.
CHESTER.
Rev. LAUREN ARMSBY.
The first settlement on the tract known as the "Chestnut Country," (now Chester, Candia and Raymond, with parts of Manchester and Hooksett, ) was made in the summer of the year 1720, by twenty-four individuals from Hampton, Haver- hill, and the adjoining towns. The charter of the town was granted in 1722. From this time until 1728, these settlers were accustomed every Sunday morning to mount their horses and travel over a rough foot-path ten miles to Kingston, returning after services to their homes "in the woods." In the autumn of 1728 the expediency of building a Meeting- house was first seriously discussed. It was built by an assessment of forty shillings on each proprietor, and was finished in March, 1731. It stood a few rods south of the spot where the present Congregational Church is situated, and was 50 feet by 38 in dimensions ; it fronted the south-
28
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY.
west. In the meantime, June 10, 1729, the town voted, according to the custom in such cases, "that Mr. John Tuck of Hampton, is chosen to settle with the inhabitants in the work of the ministry at Chester." Accordingly about the first of July, Mr. Tuck came on trial, and preached fourteen Sundays to them in the most spacious log-house of the settle- ment; for it was not until 1732 that a framed house was erected. He declined settling among them. Rev. Moses Hale, in Jan. 1730, was chosen to settle in the ministry with the same salary which Mr. Tuck was offered, viz. £120. The minister's lot of 20 acres would also accrue to him at his settle- ment according to charter. A committee was chosen "to treat with him, and acquaint him with what the town hath done, and invite him into the ministry." They received a favorable answer and reported to the town. Mr. Hale's ordination took place Oct.20, 1731, Rev. Messrs. Phillips and Barnard of Andover, and Rev. Mr. Brown of Haverhill, offici- ating. A church was formed at the same time. After the close of the war, early in 1726, many Irish Presbyterians were induced to emigrate to the colonies. These settlers were originally of Scotch descent, having emigrated to Ireland from Argyle in Scotland. A great jealousy immediately arose between them and the early settlers of the town, who, them- selves mostly proprietors, looked upon the Presbyterians as intruders, and determined among themselves that they should pay their proportion towards Mr. Hale's support. Thus matters continued to become worse and worse, and also about this time Mr. Hale's health failed, so that as early as Sept. 1733 the inhabitants were obliged to procure some one to supply the desk for a quarter of a year. Mr. Hale himself, Sept 1734, foreseeing that he would not be able to remain their pastor, made certain proposals to the town in regard to resigning his charge. His proposals were accepted, and an ecclesiastical council was holden at Salisbury, Mass. on the 13th of Aug. The council dissolved the connection between the church of Chester and Mr. Hale. We have every reason to believe the greatest charity was exercised toward him through- out his sickness; that at last when his dismission became inev- itable, it was done with manifest grief and reluctance.
The determination of the council was accepted by the proprietors, who voted to hire a minister for three months at the public charge. A day was set apart in September for "a day · of fasting and prayer for another minister," at which the advice of the neighboring clergymen was taken. At this time occurred the first difficulty between the Orthodox, or the original settlers, and the Presbyterians, who had mostly
29
CHESTER.
taken up their abode there since 1730. Several of these latter now enter a protest against the above vote, declaring them- selves "not of that communion," and objecting to any expense which might follow from it, as they had "hired a minister themselves." This minister was Rev. John Wilson, who was the same year ordained by them. Their meetings were held in private houses until 1749, when they built a church. This society will be referred to hereafter. The Orthodox settlers, (as they were styled in distinction from the Presbyte- rians,) notwithstanding the protest, continued to hire a minister of their own persuasion. In November, 1735, Rev. Timothy White was chosen as Mr. Hale's successor; but he declined the invitation. In June, 1736, Rev. Ebenezer Flagg was chosen to be their minister with a salary of £120. These attempts called forth another protest signed by the members of Mr. Wilson's society. In 1739 the Presbyterians were, by act of Legislature, excused from paying for the support of Mr. Flagg. At Mr. Flagg's settlement already referred to, when the difficulty occurred between the parishes, Mr. Flagg him- self was the only one who strove to accommodate the troubles. An anecdote is related of his perseverance in making the acquaintance of Mr. Wilson, which speaks well for his endeav- ors to do all in his power to prevent further difficulty. As the story runs, it was not until his third visit that Mr. Flagg received an invitation to enter "Parson Wilson's" house, but at last the foundation of friendship was laid, which endured through all the succeeding litigation, until the death of Mr. Wilson. The Presbyterians were gradually becoming as strong in numbers as their rivals, and in April, 1739, ten years after the erection of the first church, they also voted that it was expedient to have a house for public worship, . and for this purpose assessed £240 on themselves. Mr. Wilson gave his people the land on which to set the church, which, it appears, was completed the next Autumn, 1739. It stood on what went by the name of "Haverhill Road," and was, in dimensions, about 35 by 40 feet. It is still re- membered by many inhabitants of Chester ; about fifty years since it was removed to the North Parish, where it has since been demolished to make place for a new one. A portion of the land presented by Mr. Wilson was used by the society as a burying place. Mr. Flagg was born at Woburn, Mass., October 18th, 1704, and entered Harvard College in 1721, at the age of 17 years, and in 1725 took his degree. During his ministry there appears to have been but one considerable revival ; that was in 1742, about the time of Mr. Whitefield's visit to this part of New England, and was shared in common
30
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY.
by the neighboring towns. It is usually known as the great revival of 1741. In 1742 thirty eight were added to the church; eight owned the covenant. In 1741 only nine united with the church ; in 1743 only eight. Besides this, the years 1750, '56, '57, '61 and '64, seem to have been times of more than usual interest. The whole number of those who united with the church under Mr. Flagg, is 243 to full communion, and 287 who owned the covenant. During the 60 years that Mr. Flagg was minister of Chester he was called upon to baptize no less than 1450 infants. The Church Records are in his handwriting until he attained his 80th year, when he resigned them to Mr. Bradstreet. Mr. Flagg died Nov. 14th, 1796, and what is observable, he survived every parishioner who was active at his settlement. Rev. John Wilson, minister of the Presbyterian Society, was born in Ulster County, Ireland, in 1709. He graduated at the University of Edin- burgh or Glasgow, and came to New England in 1729. In 1734 he was called to preach in Chester, where he was the same year ordained with a salary of £100. Mr. Wilson continued in the ministry at Chester until his death, Feb. 1st, 1779. Many of Mr. Wilson's sermons are in existence, and they display much study and ingenuity in their construction. He was a peculiarly quiet man, and took no active part in the affairs of the town. In the Revolution, although his views were radically Whig, he let nothing draw him from his study. We may here refer to the erection of a new
Congregational Church in 1774. This church, with some- changes both interior and exterior, still remains nearly where it was first erected. The men of Chester of a hundred years since retained all the characteristics of their fathers. They were practical men, and cared more for use than ornament .. In one instance this trait seems to have led them rather into
extremes. We copy it from the Parish Records for 1743. "Voted, That where any persons shall have a .pew in the Meeting-house, and there is no window against it, they have liberty to make one ; they maintaining the same." Mr. Flagg continued the sole pastor of the Congregational Church until he was nearly 89 years old. In 1793 we find upon the church record, in his own handwriting, the following entry : "Chester May 30th, 1793. This day at a church meeting, regularly appointed, voted Mr. Nathan Bradstreet a call to settle over them in the Gospel ministry." Mr. Bradstreet was settled Oct. 13th, 1793. The parish agreed to pay him £75 a year, while Mr. Flagg lived, and £90 a year, after Mr. Flagg's death ; also, the use of a parsonage, worth $900, or the interest of the money. Mr. Bradstreet was settled under
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31
'CHESTER.
happy auspices. The church was considered, at this time, large and flourishing, consisting of about eighty members. In a letter of complaint sent to him from his church, and approved by two-thirds of the male members, a little more than twenty one years after his ordination, we find the fol- lowing language: "They saw you initiated into the ministeri- al offices of the parish and charged with the pastoral functions of the church in this place ; they saw you young, exemplary, and assiduous to perform the duties of your charge. With this flattering example they had anticipated that numbers would have been added to their then large and flourishing church and congregation, and that you, Revd. sir, would have gone in and out before them, would have solaced and sup- ported the faint hearted by your conversation and advice, would have tempered and brought down the passions of the stubborn and high minded, and, in fine, that you would have proved an example for them in private, and in public, in person, and family." The letter goes on to show that these pleasant, but, it may be, somewhat extravagant anticipations like many similar ones, had not been realized. They complain of a general neglect of pastoral duty on the part of the pastor.
The church had dwindled from thirty male members to eleven. Mr. Bradstreet, not being willing to unite in a call for a mutual council, on the 26th of April 1815, an ex-parte council, called by the major part of the male church mem- bers, met in Chester. In their result they say, "the council must express their decided opinion that, these difficulties de- mand immediate attention, and may, and ought, to be brought to an issue or submitted to a mutual council, in the course of three months from the present time ; but, if an event, so desirable, should not, in that space, be realized, this council, on being notified, will again convene in this place, on the third Wednesday of August next, to afford any further advice and assistance which the state of things may require." In this council, Rev. Jeremiah Barnard was mod- erator, Rev. John H. Church was scribe. In compliance with this advice, Mr. Bradstreet agreed to unite in calling a mutual council. In making the arrangements, however, there was a disagreement in regard to the form of the letters mis- sive. The aggrieved members finally recalled their former council with the addition of two other churches. This coun- cil met in Chester, Oct. 11th, 1815. They persuaded the two parties to unite in calling a mutual council, which was convened in Chester Nov. 7th, 1815, and continued in session for eight days. Rev. Mr. Abbott, of Hampton Falls, was moderator, Rev. Dr. Harris, of Dunbarton, was scribe .-
32
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY.
Charges against Mr Bradstreet were presented by the ag- grieved members and by Mr. Bradstreet in return. In their result the council say, " In the course of evidence exhibited to this council, they have been convinced that, unless a better understanding between the pastor, his church, and the par- ish in this place, can be had, and that soon, both the com- fort and usefulness of the pastor must be at an end. As peace makers, we recommend to them to adjust their differ- ences and be at peace among themselves. But, if attempts should prove unsuccessful, we cordially advise the Rev. Mr. Bradstreet to ask a dismission from the church and peo- ple in this place ; and we advise the church, and earnestly recommend to the parish, to consent, that a dissolution be effected, in a regular way, as soon as practicable. The coun- cil recommend to the pastor and the church that, an acceptance, by the parties, of this result, should be a final settlement of all their articles of charge against each other."
Although both parties proposed to accept of the result, it did not heal the difficulties. Mr. Bradstreet applied to the parish, instead of the church, for a dismission. This the parish refused to grant, Church meetings were called by a deacon of the church, which appear to have been attended only by the aggrieved members who formed a majority of the church. On the 16th of April, 1816, they passed a vote of censure on Mr. Bradstreet, particularly for " non-compliance with the true spirit and meaning of the result of mutual council," and cited him to appear and answer charges brought against him. At the next meeting, April 22d, Mr. Brad- street was present, but did not give satisfaction, and the church " Voted, that the Rev. Nathan Bradstreet ought, and he hereby is, suspended from his official duties in this. church, as pastor, till the 10th day of May next. If no sat- isfaction is made by him to the church by, or' before, that time, they will proceed then, to excommunicate him from the body, communion and fellowship of this church." May 10th the church met again, and Mr. Bradstreet sent them a communication, requesting that, they " should consent to a dissolution of his pastoral relations to them in the regular way." The church voted, however, that Mr. Bradstreet had not given them satisfaction, and proceeded formally to. excommunicate him from their body. Stating their reasons at considerable length, they say, " We, from a sense of duty to our God, to our fellow beings, and ourselves, and in con- formity to the established usage of the Congregational chur- ches, in New England, Do, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, excommunicate the said Nathan Bradstreet
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33
CHESTER.
from the body of this church, its fellowship and communion from this time henceforth and forever more. Amen." Soon after, Mr. Bradstreet and the "three adhering brethren," as they were called, passed votes, separating the seven " disaf- fected or withdrawn members" from their body. The aggrieved members applied for advice to the Haverhill Association, of which Mr. Bradstreet was a member, at their session in Hampstead, June 11th, 1816. The Association gave some advice to the parties, and voted, at the request of Mr. Brad- street, to hold their next meeting in Chester, and " then attend more particularly to the subject and give such judg- ment and advice as the state of things shall seem to require." Mr. Bradstreet was present and approved of their advice .- The Association met in Chester August 13th, 1816.
The particular point, in relation to which the Association were called upon to decide, was, whether the pastor or the church had complied with the advice given by the mutual council. After listening to full statements a committee to make a report was appointed, of which Dr. Church was chairman. In the report that was offered, regret was express- ed at the course pursued by both parties, and especially that the church should " so hastily censure, suspend, and excom- municate, their pastor, and especially, as in so doing, their votes were founded on charges and for reasons which, the Association do not feel satisfied would authorize them to excommunicate their pastor." It was affectionately and earnestly recommended, "that the church rescind their votes, and that Mr. Bradstreet and the members with him rescind their votes, which have been passed since the separation. The Association also feel constrained to add, from a tender regard to Mr. Bradstreet as a member of their body, and, to the peace and prosperity of this sister church and religious socie- ty, that, it is their unanimous opinion and advice, that the comfort of Mr. Bradstreet, the edification of this church and the best interests of this parish, require that they should all consent to a separation, on terms favorable to him and them, and, that a mutual council should be called for this purpose, without unnecessary delay." This report was unanimously approved by the Association. Neither the church, nor the pastor, were willing to comply with the advice, and at the next meeting of Association, in Salem, Oct. 8th, 1816, seve- ral members of the church in Chester made communications. Mr. Bradstreet was also present. In the report which the Association unanimously adopted at this time, they declare, "It appears no effectual measures have been taken by eith- er party, to comply with the advice of Association, which was
34
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY.
given at their last session. The Association have no fur- ther advice to give, except to urge them to comply with ad- vice already given. And things have come to such a crisis, that the Association must insist upon a compliance with their advice, in order to their continuing in christian fellowship either with Mr. Bradstreet or the members of the church who have dissented from him. The Association would how- ever unreservedly express their full conviction that, a dissolu- tion of the pastoral relation between Mr. Bradstreet and the church, is indispensable to the comfort of both and the pros- perity of Zion in that place."
The church, at first, refused to comply with the advice of the Association but finally rescinded their votes of censure and excommunication against Mr. Bradstreet. Mr. Bradstreet and the three "adhering members," also rescinded their votes against the "withdrawn members." At a church meeting held Sept. 12th, 1817, "The pastor requested a dismission from his pastoral relations, which request was granted." This action was approved and confirmed by a mutual coun- cil, Oct. 7th of the same year. Thus ended these protracted difficulties. During Mr. Bradstreet's ministry of twenty four years, according to the records kept by himself, there were twenty seven admissions to the church by profession and letter. Forty three owned the covenant. There were 198 baptisms. Rev. Nathan Bradstreet was born in Ipswich Ms. 1770, graduated at Dartmouth 1791, studied Theology at Newburyport, was settled Oct. 30th, 1793, dismissed Sept. 12th, 1817, and died, (committed suicide,) Jan. 29, 1827.
Mr. Leonard Jewett of Hollis was next employed and preached nearly a year, and his health failed.
In December 1819, a call was given by the church and pa- rish, to Mr. Joel R. Arnold, to settle over them in the gos- pel ministry. He accepted this call and was ordained, March 8th, 1820. He was settled on the condition that, the con- nection might be dissolved at the option of either party, by giving six months notice. This ministry was a very suc- cessful one. It was the era of revivals, and the church in Chester was richly blessed. During his ministry there were 110 additions to the church ; 34 adult, and 90 infant bap- tisms. He was dismissed March 31st, 1830. It is said that only one member of his church could be induced to vote against him. The opposition to him was out of the church.
In August of 1830 the church and parish extended a call to Rev. Jonathan Clement, D. D., which was accepted. He was settled Oct. 13th of the same year. During Mr. Clem- ent's stay in Chester there were extensive revivals, in which -
35
DEERFIELD.
his people largely shared. In the course of his ministry there were 207 additions to the church. Only 12 adult bap- tisms are recorded, and 194 infant baptisms. Mr. Clement was dismissed by a mutual council Sept. 10th, 1845. He was a graduate of Middlebury College in 1818. For ten years he was teacher at Phillips Academy, Andover. The present pastor, Rev. Lauren Armsby, began to preach in Chester Jan. 1846, received, and in April accepted a call, and was settled May 27th. He graduated at Amherst 1842. During his ministry there have been 84 additions to the church-18 adult baptisms and 41 infant baptisms. There are now 195 mem- bers in the church.
1204352
DANVILLE.
By a legislative enactment, Danville was incorporated, Feb. 22, 1760. It is not known when a church originated here, but it is supposed to have been previous to the settle- ment of a pastor. Great sacrifices must have been made to secure the administration of the gospel, for, sixty years after the church was formed, there were but 228 souls in town. Yet, in less than three years after they became a town, they united in calling to the work of the ministry Mr. John Page a native of Salem, and a graduate of Harvard. He was or- dained Dec. 21, 1763, and exercised his ministry for twenty years, until death removed him from the scenes of earthly toil, Jan. 29, 1783. The self-denial which established the gospel here would probably have continued to sustain it, had the town been united, and left to its own course. The church has become one of the things that were,-very little religious influence is felt in the place.
DEERFIELD.
Rev. U. W. CONDIT.
There is nothing in the town or church records relating to the organization of the Congregational church. But, in the town records, we find this account of the organization of the parish. " Anno Regis Georgii tertii, Magnæ Britaniæ, France, et Hibernia, sexto : [Seal.] An act for erecting and incorporating a new parish, in the North westerly part of the Town of Nottingham in this province." The reasons
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36
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY.
assigned by the petitioners for a new parish were, that they had to go ten miles to meeting, and that they were able to maintain religious worship as a distinct parish. George III. came to the throne, 1760 ; the new parish of Deerfield was, therefore, incorporated in 1766, and, doubtless, the church was immediately organized.
Rev. Timothy Upham was the first pastor of this church, having been ordained to the work of the ministry, in 1772, six years after the parish was organized. We find the fol- lowing record of his death : "Feb. 21, 1811, Departed this life, in the sixty fourth year of his age, after having continued among us, nearly forty years, a prudent, active and faithful labourer in Christ's Vineyard, the Rev. Timothy Upham. He was taken as we trust to heaven, to receive the reward of his faithful and long continued labours."
Rev. Nathaniel Wells, of the town of Wells in Maine, was ordained pastor of this church, July 1, 1812., and con- tinued his labors till September 1841, a period of twenty- nine years. He still lives, an ornament to the profession he so long adorned ; beloved by all who know him ; revered by those who have grown up by his side, and under his influ- ence ; a great help to the present pastor of the church by his earnest prayers, and hearty sympathy, and patriarchal example. When father Wells retired from the pastorate, the church and society kindly gave him the parsonage and farm, on which he lives in quiet retirement, " leaning upon the top of his staff," and calmly awaiting his summons to depart and be with Christ.
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