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 40
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The Rev. Jacob Emery succeeded Mr. Whittemore in the pastorate of the Congregational church, Aug. 3, 1768, and was dismissed March 23, 1775. He was a native of Ando- ver, Ms., and graduated at Harvard 1761. The Rev. Mr. Burnham, to whom we are indebted for many of the facts embodied in this history, says in his anniversary sermon of 1821, " with what success the labors of these three ministers were crowned I have not been able to learn, but the number of the Congregational church when Mr. Emery was dismissed was probably about 40, for this was the number five years afterwards, when the Rev. Zaccheus Colby succeeded Mr. Emery.
* Sketch by B. P. Stone, D.D.
403
PEMBROKE.
Mr. Colby was ordained March 22, 1780, and was dismissed Jay 11, 1803. He was a native of Newtown, N. H., a grad- ite at Dartmouth 1777. Within three or four years after 1; settlement the Presbyterians united in his support, and 1 administered to both churches, yet each retained its own dganization till 1798, when the Presbyterian church became vited with the Congregational in the support of public wor- slip. The first year of his ministry, there was a revival which Isulted in the addition to the church of 30 members. Dur- ig Mr. Colby's ministry 99 were added to the church, in- ciding, as Mr. Burnham supposes, the Presbyterian mem- Irs ; 20 died, and 18 had moved away, leaving 101, of whom 4 were males. After the short lived unions of '94 and '97," sys Mr. Burnham, "we find again in 1800, two churches, Ongregational and Consociate. On the records of the Con- segational church, we find a few baptisms and additions by lighboring clergymen from time to time down to 1805. Juring the above named period we find nothing recorded of te Consociate church but about 50 deaths, an unusual num- Ir for the time-a solemn warning, perhaps, to the people (God to cease from ecclesiastical strife. From 1803 to ]|07 both churches were destitute of pastors, the spirit of Itterness and contention existed among them, religion seatly languished, and the ways of Zion mourned ; but, fally, after several meetings of the parties and mutual con- (ssions, they agreed to disband both organizations and to frm a new church. Accordingly, a council was called on te 20th of August, 1807, which organized a new Congrega- ional church out of materials which constituted the two old ( urches.
The Rev. Abraham Burnham, a native of Dunbarton, who aduated at Dartmouth college in 1804, and afterward ceived the degree of D.D. from the same college, com- enced preaching in Dec. 1807, and was ordained the pastor the church March 2, 1808. After a faithful and laborious inistry of nearly forty three years, Dr. Burnham was dis- issed at his own request by an ecclesiastical council, and e Rev. John H. Merrill was installed his successor by the me council, Nov. 20, 1850. Dr. Burnham died Sept. 21, 352, aged 76 years and 10 months. Mr. Merrill was dis- issed June 1, 1853. The Rev. Robert Crossett having sup- ied the pulpit several months, was installed the pastor of te church March 16, 1854, and dismissed Oct. 8, 1855, at s own request. The church is now destitute and in a some- hat dispirited state.
Like most of its sister churches, the church in Pembroke
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MERRIMACK COUNTY.
has seen a chequered life, enjoying seasons of great prosperi when the candle of the Lord shone around it, and seaso of trying adversity when its prospects were in a dark clou During the long ministry of Dr. Burnham there were se eral periods of revival interest enjoyed by the church, tli most extensive of which occurred in the years 1832, '33, " !! and '36. The largest number added to the church by pro fession in any one year, was 38 in 1832. Dr. Burnha: received into the church during his ministry 423, of who ?! 303 made a public profession of their faith in Christ. TI whole number of baptisms he administered is 654, the mos of which were of children. During the short ministries ( Messrs. Merrill and Crossett, only 18 were added to th church, of which 11 were by profession and 7 by letter, an 10 persons were baptized, making the whole number adde to the church from the commencement of Mr. Colby's min istry in 1780, to the dismission of Mr. Crossett in 1855, period of nearly seventy five years, 540, and the whole num ber of baptisms from the commencement of Dr. Burnham' ministry to the present time, 664. The whole number c communicants, according to the last report to the Genera Association, is 32 males and 92 females-total 124. As th church was supposed to consist of 40 members when Mr Colby was settled in 1780, the whole number of member connected with it since that time is 580-of whom, it i. worthy of record, all but 157 entered the church in the las 43 years. The removals, then, by death, letter and exclu- sion, in seventy five years, amount to 456, which is an aver- age of about six members in a year. The average additions for the same period is about seven and one fifth, exceeding the average removals by little more than one member.
PITTSFIELD.
Rev. J. A. HOOD.
The town of Pittsfield was originally a part of Chichester. The first settlers, however, were from Hampton Falls and that vicinity. The time of the first settlement was not far from 1770. The town was incorporated in 1782. On the third of June 1782, the town met and voted to build a : Meeting-house for the Congregational society and locate it where the present town house stands. At a town meeting held Jan. 6, 1783, it was voted that the Meeting-house should be built "of the same bigness of Hampton Falls
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PITTSFIELD.
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leeting-house." May 3, the town met and agreed to hire nathan Brown to keep school for six months at nine dol- I's per month, and to hire a minister for two months .- ¿ pt. 16, 1784, the town met and passed this vote: "to take sme method to take care of those persons in town who send their time in idleness and are out of employment, ad set them to work,"-a very wise vote. Although the wn voted the same year of their incorporation to build a eeting-house for the Congregational society, they did not ise it till the summer of 1787, and it was not completed l the spring of 1789. Sept. 17, 1787, the Congregational ¡ciety met at the corn barn of John Cram, Esq., and voted give Mr. Jacob Cram, who had been supplying them for few Sabbaths, a call : the call was not accepted. In 1788 Le town voted to hire a Congregational minister for three onths. In 1789, after the Meeting-house was so nearly hished that meetings could be held in it, the society voted give Mr. Christopher Paige of Hopkinton, a call to settle th them, offering him a settlement of £ 60 and a salary
£66 annually, a third to be paid in cash, a third to be id in good corn at 3s. per bushel and good rye at 4s. per ishel, the other third in good beef at 20s. the cwt. Nov. ", of the same year, a church of 10 members was organized ith the Congregational form of government, doctrine and scipline. The council was composed of the following urches : Deerfield, Loudon, Hopkinton, Epsom, Gilman- n, Pembroke and Hardwick.“
Less than two years after the organization of the Congre- ₼tional church, we find the first date on the records of the reewill Baptist church. When that church was organized this place, is not known ; probably, however, but a few onths after the Congregational church. Mr. Paige was ttled over the Congregational church and society but about x years. During his ministry, communion Sabbath was Le second Sabbath of each month, except December, Janu- y, February and March, during which four months no mmunion was administered. His preparatory lecture was Thursday. He resided where widow John F. French ow owns and resides. Unhappy dissensions arose between [r. Paige and a portion of his people, and he was dismissed an. 7, 1796. The number of admissions during his minis- y was 14.
After Mr. Paige's dismission, there appears to have been ut little Congregational preaching till the year 1800 .-
* The neighboring churches of Chichester, Barnstead and Northwood were not then ganized.
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MERRIMACK COUNTY.
In the fall of that year, Rev. Benjamin Sargent, a clo . communion Baptist, came to supply the pulpit for anoth person. His preaching was so acceptable that he was invite to come again. In December the society voted him an inv tation to supply them for a year. This unusual invitatic was regarded by him as an indication of Providence that } should accept it. It led him to look into the subject close communion more carefully, and he became an ope communionist. Before Mr. Sargent moved with his famil to Pittsfield, in the beginning of the year 1801, the Congre gational church consisted of six males and eight female! and there was not a Calvinist Baptist in town. In th spring of 1801 there was a revival which added three persor to the Congregational church. The rest of the convert seven males and fourteen females, were baptized by immer sion, and on October 29, of that year, Mr. Sargent and thes persons were gathered into an open communion Baptis church. After the year 1801, and during Mr. Sargent' ministry, 13 were added to the Congregational church an six to the Baptist church. The whole number added to th church during Mr. Sargent's ministry of eighteen years, wa: 44, 28 becoming open communion Baptists, 16 Congrega tionalists.
April 29, 1802, six months after the Baptist church was organized, the two churches met at the Meeting-house .- Deacon Perkins was chosen moderator, and they then mutu- ally agreed and passed a vote to commune together at the table of the Lord, but that each church should discipline their own members. And ever afterwards during Mr. Sar- gent's ministry, these two churches were accustomed to sit around the same table, deacon Perkins of the Congregational church and deacon James of the Baptist church, officiating as deacons. This was making the Lord's table free to all members of his evangelical church, and manifested Christian grace and love. The two churches were equally united in Mr. Sargent to the last. Sabbath afternoon, March 15, 1818, Mr. Sargent went to church in his usual health. His text that afternoon was Isaiah 46, last two verses : while dwelling on the last clause he was seized with a fit of palsy, which in a few moments deprived him of speech and reason. He died the next Thursday.
After Mr. Sargent's death, difficulties arose between the Congregational and Baptist church. The former reasoned, that as there were no Calvinist Baptists previous to Mr. Sargent's coming, and as they had supported a Baptist min- ister for seventeen years, that the Baptists ought to unite
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PITTSFIELD.
th them and support a Congregational minister. The Aptists would not agree to this, and so hardness of feeling aose, increased, and in seven months after Mr. Sargent's cath, the Calvinist Baptists, who for so many years had met around the same Lord's table with the Congregational- is, were willing, with a few exceptions, to organize them- s ves into a close communion church. This they did Oct. 2, 1818. Their number was six males and about eleven finales. The Congregational church at this time numbered sk males and eleven females.
The same month that the Baptist church re-organized, Ir. Abel Manning commenced preaching to the Congrega- tonal church. He says, "The Congregational Society ctained leave to occupy the Meeting-house for two Sab- Iths, a new thing, and at once an unusual interest was manifested and they suffered me to preach for four Sabbaths. Ileft for six or seven weeks, and on my return found oppo- sion somewhat rife." The first part of the next year (819) Mr. Manning supplied them about twenty Sabbaths, ad that year the society lost their parsonage lands which vre given originally to assist Congregational preaching.
After Mr. Manning, different persons, till 1827, supplied te church. The society was now so feeble that though asisted by the Home Missionary Society, they could enjoy bt a few months preaching each year. Of the various per- shs who supplied after Mr. Manning, Mr. S. M. Wheelock apears to have been the most successful. He supplied for ayear or more, and the number of admissions during his spply was ten. New Articles of Faith and Covenant were appted May 18, 1822, under Mr. Manning's administra- tn; the change, however, appears to have been made sim- py for brevity's sake. From 1819 to 1824, while the Con- gegational and Baptist churches were struggling to maintain reaching, the Freewill Baptist was prospering, but in 1824 tat church was called upon in its turn to suffer severe trials cpasioned by one John A. Rollins, who came into the place ad promulgated wild and fanatical doctrines, and for three yars the church was troubled by dissensions.
In 1827, the Congregational church and society gave a call t Mr. Ezra Scoville ; the call was accepted, and he was or- dined and settled Nov. 21, 1827. His ministry was success- fl but short, owing to the poverty of the society. He was chmissed Sept. 14, 1829. During his ministry of two years, tenty three were added to the church. June 12, 1832, Mr. Jeserved Smith was ordained to perform the work of an clangelist with the Congregational church and society. He
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MERRIMACK COUNTY.
labored less than two years, but his labors were abundant. prospered. Thirty six were added during his ministry, a but four of whom were on profession.
Rev. Jonathan Curtis, of Sharon, Ms., was installed Oct( ber, 1834. The church enjoyed some very marked visita tions of the Spirit during his ministry. The greatest add: tion ever made to this church in one year, was under M Curtis, in the year 1838. That year, forty three joined o profession, one by letter, and this was a greater number tha the whole number of persons belonging to the church fror its organization to Mr. Sargent's death, a period of twent nine years. The whole number of admissions during th eleven years of Mr. Curtis' ministry, was 165; 132 by pro fession and 33 by letter : 79 of these are yet members of the church, and constitute a little less than one half of the pres- ent church members. The number of additions during Mr Curtis' ministry is only four less than the number of admis- sions in the other fifty five years of the existence of the church. On the 2d of May, 1838, the second Freewill Bap- tist society was organized in Libbey's hall, with twelve males and thirteen females. They immediately went forward and built their present Meeting-house. So prosperous has this church been, that the original church has been entirely ab- sorbed by it and lost its visibility. The present Congrega- tional Meeting-house was erected in the year 1839, and the Meeting-house, where for half a century the Congregational society had worshiped, was purchased by the town for a town house. Rev. Mr. Curtis was dismissed July 1, 1845, and Mr. Moses H. Wells, of Deerfield, was ordained Nov. 19, of the ! same year. During his ministry of eight years, 13 were added by profession and 26 by letter. The society prospered under his labors, and in 1851 the Meeting-house was en- larged. Mr. Wells was dismissed on account of feeble health, Dec. 5, 1853. Dec. 12, 1854, the present pastor of the church, Rev. J. A. Hood, of Salem, Ms., was settled. It is proper to add, in closing the history of this Congregational church and society, that the society by the influx of popula- tion, by the increased business of the place, and by the pow- erful revivals occurring between the years 1827 and 1844, has become one of the most prosperous societies in the State. The church now numbers 167, and pays a salary of $650, and the use of the parsonage.
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409
SALISBURY.
SALISBURY .*
Salisbury was originally granted by Massachusetts, under te name of Bakers-town; and again by the Masonian pro- jetors Oct. 25, 1749, under the name of Stevens-town. There were fifty seven grantees, of whom fifty four belonged t Kingston. It was incorporated by the government of New Hampshire, March 1, 1768, under its present name. (Il, Meloon, Webster, Bohonon, and Eastman, are among te names of the first settlers. Some of them were captured I the Indians and carried to Canada, and sold to the Hench, most of whom escaped and returned. At a meet- ig of the proprietors, held in Portsmouth Oct. 25, 1749, tey decided that the town be divided into eighty shares, ad each share into four different lots, one of which should chtain sixty acres. In the arrangements made for the dawing of these lots, one share was reserved for the first nnister of the gospel who should be settled on said land, ad should continue there during his life, or should be regu- lily dismissed ; to be held by him, his heirs and assigns. Ce other of said shares was reserved for the support of the gspel forever. The sixty acre lots belonging to these shares Fre to be laid out as near the place where the Meeting- huse should be built as convenient, or they might be drawn f as was arranged for the other lots. It was also voted, at te same meeting, that there be ten acres of land left in some chvenient place, as shall be determined by a majority of the gintees, for building a Meeting-house and school-house ulon, and for a training field, a burying place, and for other pblic use. In 1768, at two town meetings the people voted t raise money for preaching. Of one of these meetings benezer Webster was moderator. Being without a Meet- ig-house, it was voted "that the meeting should be held at te house of Andrew Pettingill, five Sabbaths from the date Freof." Voted also, that the committee "discourse with Tr. Searle" before applying to any other candidate.
Jan. 14, 1771, it was voted to give Mr. John Elliot a call t settle in the town of Salisbury in the work of the minis- ty, in the Congregational order. They made provision for Is support, and the selectmen were made a committee to ommunicate their doings to Mr. Elliot and obtain his an- ser. In his answer Mr. Elliot says, after proposing condi- tons somewhat more favorable to himself-" If you will cmply with these terms, then, from these outward, and
* Sketch by Rev. B. F. Foster.
27
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MERRIMACK COUNTY.
many inward reasons, I shall think it my duty to devote m? life to the gospel ministry among you." His proposals wer acceded to, and September 10 was fixed for his ordination. Five pounds was voted to defray the ordination charge; Before September came, Mr. Elliot petitioned for an al. ticle to be inserted in a warrant for a town meeting, "T see if the town would grant him a dismission for reasons tha he might assign." The meeting was held July 8. His rea - sons then given were: 1st, " My want of health of body t carry on my studies." 2d, "Because of an entire change i: my mind in respect to my call to preach and labor in sai place among them as their minister, and because I canno stay unless I am forced utterly against my present mind, a I am not a volunteer in the place, and as I am convinced that this is not the place that the great Governor of th world has appointed for my labors." These reasons wer deemed quite sufficient, and Mr. Elliot was released from hi obligation. He gave up his claim to any public lands by vir tue of his being the first minister.
Oct. 2, 1772, Mr. Jonathan Searle was called to the worl of the ministry. A salary of £ 50 was voted him, to be in- creased, after two years, £5 a year till it amounted to sixty pounds ; and twenty five cords of wood annually deliverec at his house. Mr. Searle was ordained Nov. 17, 1773. A church was organized on the same day, by the same counci that ordained Mr. Searle, consisting of eleven male members The Meeting-house in which Mr. Searle preached, was locat- ed upon a very high hill some three miles from the eastern line of the town. It was never finished. It was sold in 1790 at auction. The avails, after paying the pew owners, were given to the schools. Notwithstanding the distance at which many lived from the Meeting-house, and the destitution of the means of conveyance, and the difficulty of ascending the hill, when the Sabbath came, men, women and children, on foot, on horseback, and often, in winter, on ox sleds, made their way to their unfinished house of worship, eager to hear the gospel. Mr. Searle was dismissed Nov. 8, 1791, for the alleged reason of insufficient health to continue in so exten- sive a charge. He died in 1818, aged 74 years. It is sad to say, he lost his Christian standing by intemperance. His sun went down in great darkness.
Mr. Thomas Worcester was employed three months on probation in April, 1791. He was invited to settle in Sep- - tember following. This invitation was accompanied by an offer of £120 lawful money as a settlement, and £80 as a yearly salary as long as a majority of the church and town
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SALISBURY.
should desire his continuance. He was ordained Nov. 9, 1791, by the same council that dismissed Mr. Searle. He vas dismissed April 3, 1823, after a ministry of thirty two ears.
A little previous to the date of Mr. Worcester's settle- nent, two new houses of worship had been built in the town, ne at the South Road village, so called, the other at the Center Road village. The erection of two houses was occa- sioned by a disagreement among the people upon the ques- tion of the location of one. Mr. Worcester preached at the South Road. The other became a Baptist house. Mr. Wor- cester was settled at the early age of twenty three years. His youthful appearance and limited opportunities for an education, caused some hesitation with the council as to ordaining him. They however yielded to the desires of the people. The congregation that attended upon his preaching for many years was large. He was a faithful and laborious pastor. His pulpit addresses were attractive, earnest, direct. All were interested, many deeply moved. During his min- stry there were several seasons of the special outpouring of he Holy Spirit. An extensive revival of religion occurred very soon after his settlement, as the fruits of which, over ighty were received into the church. Another special work f grace occurred about the year 1815, when more than sixty made public profession of their faith. There were 268 re- eived into the church during his ministry. He adminis- ered baptism to 322 children ; solemnized 307 marriages ; nd attended twenty five ecclesiastical councils abroad, some f them at great distances.
It is known by many that before Mr. Worcester's dismis- ion he had departed from the faith as held by him at his rdination, and as held by the church. Out of this change grew dissatisfaction and embarrassment in the church. A ouncil was finally called to consider their circumstances, ind to advise in respect to Mr. Worcester's dismission. It vas an able council. Rev. Daniel Dow, D.D. was modera- or. In their result the council say, " While we are happy o find no specific charges are preferred against Mr. Worces- er, seriously affecting his moral and Christian character, they tre constrained to confess that in the course of his proceed- ngs of recent date, there occur some deviations from strict consistency and propriety. These however they are inclined o ascribe, in a considerable degree, to mistaken views, to bodily infirmities, and to the agitation and distress of mind xcited by the thought of separation from a beloved people. We joyfully pay our tribute of respect to Mr. Worcester, and
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MERRIMACK COUNTY.
to his assiduity and tenderness as a pastor. We rejoice in the signal blessing with which it has pleased a sovereign God to crown his labors in years that are past. In commending him as a minister of the gospel, faithfulness to our Divine Master and to the sacred cause of truth constrain us to ex- cept his dereliction from the doctrine of the proper Deity of Jesus Christ,-a doctrine, concerning which, we hesitate not to aver that, in our view, it constitutes the grand foundation of the gospel scheme, and of the sinner's hope. Yet here it is our duty, and our pleasure to add, that the deviation is not in this case accompanied, as it usually is, with an abandon- ment of other distinguishing and glorious doctrines of the gospel."
After some years of separation from the church, Mr. Wor- cester returned and died in full communion. It is not, how- ever, known that he relinquished the views referred to in the foregoing extract from the Result of Council.
The church was not relieved from all its difficulties by Mr. Worcester's dismission. He had, on his own individual res- ponsibility, altered the creed of the church, so that there might be nothing found in it to stand in the way of any per- sons assenting to it who professed conversion. The church were dissatisfied with the creed in this altered form, but found it difficult to restore it to its original form. Conse- quently, they called a council of advice Dec. 25, 1823. Dr. Samuel Worcester was moderator, and Rev. Abraham Burn- ham scribe. In their call they say: "The object of this council is, that they may review our Christian fellowship with the sister churches, and give us their advice as to what mea- sures we shall take in our present, peculiar trials, that we may act in concert with our brethren abroad, while we seek to promote the best interests of our divine Redeemer, in pro- moting his cause among ourselves, and also among this peo- ple." By this council the church was declared to be the First Congregational church in Salisbury in regular standing, and, as such, it was recommended to the Christian fellowship of sister churches. They expressed the earnest hope, that none would neglect to unite in re-settling the gospel, "as the connection between them and their late pastor was regularly dissolved by the venerable council of April last."
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