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 52
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Relying upon a religious society organized here in 1819, and aid from the Missionary Society, they made an effort in 1824 to secure a pastor. An invitation was extended to Mr. Amos Foster of Hanover, and a graduate of Dartmouth col- lege, to assume this responsibility, and become their relig- ious teacher. After suitable trial, and mutual satisfaction, he was ordained March 2, 1825, under favorable auspices. He secured the confidence and affections of the church, and people generally, in a high degree, and labored with success for nearly nine years. Under his ministry a revival of con- siderable interest, and very favorable results, was enjoyed ; and during his stay 47 were added to the church by profes- sion and 13 by letter, giving much important strength to this, before, feeble branch of our Zion. At his own request, and with much reluctance on the part of the church, his connection was dissolved Jan. 2, 1833.
In March Rev. Edward C. Fuller was invited to assume
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the ministerial and pastoral relation, and was ordained the Ist of May, 1833. But his ministry fell on "troublous times ;" for, near its close, a very general excitement was produced,-by an attempt on the part of some to introduce colored students into the academy of the place, and the oppo- sition to this movement by others,-which resulted in the re- moval of the academy building from the site it occupied to another position, breaking up the school and greatly affect- ing the interests of the church ; for numbers soon after, and mainly in consequence of this movement, left the place, there- by weakening the hands and discouraging the hearts of those who remained. But though cast down, they were not de- stroyed. Having so long enjoyed a preached gospel and its ordinances, they were unwilling to be deprived of them. Af- ter Mr. Fuller left, which was in February, 1836, Rev. Liba Conant was employed as a candidate. He was installed Feb. 22, 1837. During his ministry, quite a number were added to the church by profession and by letter. Mr. Conant and wife were both highly esteemed by the people generally, and on his dismissal and removing from the place in the spring of 1845, they left many warm friends. Soon after this, Rev. Heman Rood was employed for one year, in connection with teaching a part of the time in the academy. But no special interest being awakened, and the people becoming discour- aged, he left before the expiration of the year. From 1846 to 1851 they were wholly destitute of a preached gospel, except perhaps occasionally a Sabbath. In consequence of this, and from other causes, the church became so reduced that at one time it was reported as extinct. This however was not the fact, though it became exceedingly low.
In the summer of 1851, Rev. Henry Wood proposed to preach to them on the Sabbath, a whole year, for a small compensation, while he occupied the editorial chair of the Congregational Journal. Having done this, his services were engaged and rendered another year ; and in this time, through his influence and with the aid of friends and church- es from abroad, their Meeting-house, which had become greatly defaced by the hand of time, was thoroughly repaired. within and without, and re-dedicated July 10, 1853. Grati- tude is due Mr. Wood for this effort.
Immediately after this, Rev. Mr. Gerould was employed by the N. H. Missionary Society to labor with them four Sab- baths. At the expiration of this period the church and peo- ple invited him to locate with them and become their perma- nent minister. Providential circumstances seeming to favor, he consented to do so, and removed here the 7th of October
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DANBURY.
following. By his efforts the scattered remnants of the church have been gathered up, and, such as were disposed, re- organized, under a revised confession of faith and covenant, Sept. 25, 1853, embracing 8 males and 15 females-23 in all. To these, additions have been made, mostly by letter, but still the present number is only 37. By the blessing of God we hope to live, and extend the precious influences of the gospel, until many shall be brought into this sacred inclosure who will eventually experience a joyful transition to the glorious church above.
DANBURY.
Rev. DANIEL GOODHUE.
The first settlement in the town of Danbury was made 1771, and the town was incorporated 1796, being originally a part of Alexandria. Some of the first settlers were from Rowley, Ms. and Hampton, N. H., whose descendants can trace their lineage back to the time of the Plymouth Pil- grims. The settlers in the south eastern part of the town were of a decidedly religious character. As illustrative of the simple hearted piety and conscientiousness of some of them, it is worthy to be recorded, that the first night a pious couple, by the name of Taylor, entered their forest cabin, as they were about to offer praise and prayer to their God and their father's God, they were distressed by discovering that they had lost their Bible or left it behind. Unwilling to retire to rest without reading the Bible, any more than without prayer, the good woman searched till she found among their furniture one single leaf of the precious volume, -reading this they bowed the knee with grateful and con- fiding hearts at the throne of grace. This they continued to do every morning and evening, reading over and over that precious leaf whose value to them was more than silver or gold, until they could and did procure a Bible.
The first settlers in this part of the town sustained public worship for several years, in connection with the adjoining town of Alexandria, where a Congregational church was organized about the year 1788, over which Rev. Enoch Whipple was settled at the time of its organization. In the year 1800, four of the first settlers in Danbury living in this part of town-members of Mr. Whipple's church, which church afterward became extinct-viz : Anthony Taylor,
* Sketch by Rev. D. Pulsifer, former pastor.
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Jonathan Clark, Joshua Jackson and one female, and three females living in New Chester, now Hill, formed themselves into a branch of the Congregational church in Salisbury, under the pastoral care of Rev. Thomas Worcester. They enjoyed but little preaching in their own town, only what Mr. Worcester could occasionally supply. They statedly held meetings among themselves on the Sabbath, also a stated monthly meeting, and usually a weekly meeting on some week day. Occasionally male and female members would all attend meeting at Salisbury, walking, or riding on horseback fifteen or sixteen miles over new and bad roads, often returning the same day, though they frequently went on Saturday.
A distinct church was formed Jan. 29, 1809, by their adopting the articles of faith and covenant of the Salisbury church. It consisted of ten resident members. After this the church struggled along, statedly holding reading meetings on the Sabbath, having preaching occasionally, until the year 1812. This year Rev. Mr. Rolfe, of Groton, supplied them a part of the time, and nine were added to the church. After this year they continued to keep up their meetings on the Sabbath, hiring what preaching they could till the year 1823. From this time to 1826, Mr. John S. Winter, who was pre- paring for the ministry, assisted them in their meetings on the Sabbath. In 1826, Mr. Winter having entered the ministry, the church and society, with the help of the New Hampshire Missionary Society, hired him one half of the time for five years. In 1828, they built a small Meeting-house located in the easterly part of the town. In this house it is believ- ed that the power and goodness of God were repeatedly manifested, in the conversion of sinners to the truth and sal- vation of the gospel. The fall of 1831 was a time of revival. In November a protracted meeting was held, which proved a blessing to the people. In this and the following year, 19 were added to the church by profession and letter. At the close of the year 1832, Rev. Mr. Winter left this little flock, gathered among the hills, and removed to Bristol .- After this Rev. James Hobart supplied them one half of the time for two years. Then they were supplied a portion of the time for two or three years by Rev. Mr. Turner, Rev. Mr. Woodard and others. During all this time they kept up a Sabbath School with interest, and reading meetings on the Sabbath when destitute of preaching. In 1836 this church formed themselves into a temperance society.
January 1, 1840, Rev. Daniel Pulsifer commenced preach- ing in Danbury one half of the time for one year. Near the
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DORCHESTER.
close of this year he removed his family to this town, and supplied them till the close of the year 1849. In 1843 this church and people were visited with an interesting revival of religion, and about thirty were added to the church by profession and letter. The next spring Mr. Pulsifer was in- stalled pastor of the church. During the ten years that he preached in Danbury, there was uniformly a good congrega- tion, a flourishing Sabbath School, and occasional additions to the church, besides those added as fruits of the revival in 1843. Mr. Pulsifer was dismissed near the close of 1849, and left the town in the spring of 1850. This year the church and society enjoyed but little preaching. But during the years 1851 and 1852 they were supplied by Rev. Nathan Howard. Two were added to the church. During the year 1853 Rev. Henry Wood supplied them a part of the time.
A new Meeting-house was dedicated March 1, 1855, and Rev. D. Goodhue was installed pastor the next day. And it is earnestly to be hoped that the glory of this latter house may far exceed that of the former. There have been added to this church, since its organization, 113 members. There have been 114 baptisms,-infant baptisms 85-adult bap- tisms 29. There has been one excommunication. At the present time the church consists of 50 members. Of this number 13 are non-resident.
DORCHESTER .*
In November 1827, Rev. Increase S. Davis visited Dor- chester, and, without any special request or prospect of com- pensation, spent four weeks there. There was no Congrega- tional church in town. Mr. Davis immediately commenced visiting from house to house, and preaching evenings. On the first Sabbath after his arrival he held a meeting at the Methodist Meeting-house, and the people turned out abun- dantly to hear the stranger. On that first Sabbath God was pleased to pour out his Spirit upon the people, and a work of grace commenced. He continued visiting and preaching evenings, and on the Sabbath, in school-houses, and private houses for nine weeks to crowded assemblies .- He then went to Massachusetts for his familiy, and, after two weeks absence, commenced his labors again and contin- ued them about five years. A goodly number were hopeful- ly converted, and it was thought desirable by neighboring
* Sketch by Rev. D. Pulsifer.
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ministers that a Congregational church should be formed .- Accordingly May 20, 1828, a church was constituted by the assistance of an ecclesiastical council. It embraced nine members, three males and six females-five uniting on pro- fession of their faith, and four by letter from other churches. The people generally being prejudiced against what they termed the "standing order," many of the hopeful converts united with the Baptists and Methodists. About this time Mr. Davis offered to aid the people to the amount of $400, if they would build a Meeting-house. This they accepted, and built a house at an expense of about $1500. This house was dedicated Oct. 9, 1828, and Mr. Davis was ordained pastor of the church the same day. His friends in Massachusetts assisted him in making out the $400. Dr. Codman of Dorchester, Ms., paid $100; Mr. Davis' mother, of Newton, Ms., paid $100; Messrs. Holmes & Homer of Boston gave the communion set, and Mr. Ira Cheever of Salem, Ms., gave the large Bible for the desk. Additions have been made to the church from time to time, but prob- ably the number has never exceeded 20 or 25 at any one time. The location of the Meeting-house gave dissatisfac- tion to about half of the people, and they built another house, which caused such division of feeling that Mr. Davis thought it his duty to leave them at the expiration of five years. After Mr. Davis left, their beautiful "Meeting-house was destroyed by fire. In the summer or early in the fall of 1836, Rev. John LeBosquet commenced preaching in Dor- chester. He left sometime the following year. The whole number that have ever been connected with this church is not far from fifty, about half of whom were received by let- ter from other churches. Whole number of baptisms about forty-of which fourteen were adults. Since 1827 and '28 there has not been any considerable revival, though there have been frequent additions. At the present time the church consists of fifteen members-five males and ten females. Rev. Daniel Pulsifer preached in this town one- half of the time for a year, from the first of May 1854, to attentive congregations, respectable for numbers. What is to be the future condition of this little church, God only knows. O! that He would build them up in the purity and order of the gospel.
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ENFIELD.
ENFIELD.
It is stated in the New Hampshire Gazetteer, that Rev. Edward Evans was the first minister of the Congregational church in Enfield. This is not correct. Mr. Evans was the first settled minister in Enfield, being settled Decem- ber 1799, by a small council of Congregational ministers, (Rev. Mr. Burroughs of Hanover, and Rev. Mr. Page of Hebron,) and obtained the land in the town appropriated to the benefit of the first settled minister. Mr. Evans was dismissed 1805, but continued to preach in the town a num- ber of years longer. He was quite popular, and collected a church of not far from one hundred members. But Mr. Evans was not an orthodox Congregationalist, nor was his church an orthodox church of that order. Aged people who knew him well, say, that in sentiment he was always a Methodist, and no one of his church ever united with the Congregational church, subsequently organized in Enfield, -and so far as is known, with any other Congregational church. After a while Mr. Evans discontinued the duties of the clerical office; directed his attention more to civil and political affairs ; was appointed Judge of Probate, which office he filled for several years,-but eventually left the town. His church became extinct.
The only real Congregational church in the town of En- field was organized May 30, 1826, consisting of 14 mem- bers, all of whom, or nearly all, belonged to the family of Col. Benjamin Choate, or were connected with that family by marriage. Of this church Nathan Choate and George W. Fifield were appointed the first deacons, June 27, 1826. From 1827 to 1838, 21 were added to the church, and Rev. S. Arnold, Amos Foster, Hobart, Langley and John Clark, supplied them a part of the time. In 1836 the church pur- chased one-half of the new Meeting-house erected near the center of the town.
In the spring of the year 1839, Mr. Benjamin Burge, from Lane Seminary, Ohio, commenced his ministerial labors in this town. The next year, the church invited Mr. Burge to become their pastor. Mr. Burge accepted the invitation, and was ordained and installed over this church, July 1, 1840. Mr. Burge requested a dismission in 1845. A council was called, and assembled March 18. The coun- cil advised to a continuance of the pastoral relation. Mr. Burge continued pastor of the church until February 1848,
* Sketch by Rev. D. Pulsifer.
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when he was dismissed on account of the failure of his health. He died at Enfield Sept. 3d of the same year, after a minis- try of about nine years. Mr. Burge was a good man. His talents and acquirements were very respectable, and wholly consecrated to the service of his Divine Master. He loved the cause of Christ and felt a deep interest in the salvation of souls. His example was pure and healthful. He had a good report of them that were without, as well as of them that were within the church. In 1849 Rev. Noah Emerson labored with this church and people for one year. Subse- quently Mr. Allen, of the theological seminary at Andover, Ms., performed a mission among them of some four or six weeks. In 1843 Rev. Daniel Pulsifer supplied them one year from the first of April. The whole number that ever united with this church is 44-17 males and 27 females .- By removals and deaths this church is reduced to 17 mem- bers. Six or seven of these are quite aged,-some between eighty and ninety years of age. May the Lord pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground.
FRANCONIA .**
This town was incorporated Feb. 14, 1764. The Congre- gational church was constituted in April, 1814, by the Rev. Asa Carpenter, of Waterford, Vt., and the Rev. Samuel God- dard, of Concord, Vt., of seven members. No church pre- viously existed here, of any order. The most of the first set- tlers are said to have been Calvinistic Baptist, and united with a church of this order organized in Lisbon. Subse- quently this church became a Freewill Baptist church. It is stated that the town, as a town, never took any action as to sustaining the gospel in the place. The first settlers are not known to have made many sacrifices for the support of the gospel. It is supposed that some of the missionaries and ministers who supplied the people at Bethlehem, also supplied the people in this town to some extent. After the organization of the church it was favored occasionally with missionary labor. When without preaching, the church was accustomed to hold religious meetings upon the Sabbath.
This church has had two settled ministers. [See account of Bethlehem.] The Rev. Charles W. Richardson supplied this church and people one half of the time for five years, before the ordination of the first pastor. The Rev. Mr. Esty
* Sketch by Rev. Thomas Hall.
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HANOVER.
supplied them one half of the time for five years between the dismission of the first, and the settlement of the second pas- tor. This church has no parsonage, or funds for the support of the gospel. The average attendance upon public worship is not far from 125. This is the estimate for both societies worshiping in the same house, Congregationalist and Free- will Baptist. But a small proportion of the population of the town belong to the Congregational order. The whole number of persons who have united with the church up to the present time is 78. No one has been furnished for the ministry of any order from this town.
There is no record of any revival of religion in the place. There have been several seasons of more or less refreshing from on high, during which more or less were hopefully con- verted to God. The most of the fruits of these seasons of refreshings united with the Freewill Baptists. They have 1
more than a hundred members. The Congregational church is very small. There are only three resident male members.
HANOVER.
CHURCH AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE .- Rev. JOHN RICHARDS, D.D.
The church at Dartmouth College was organized as a Congregational church July 2, 1805, by Rev. Isaiah Potter of Lebanon, Rev. Asa Burton, D.D. of Thetford, Vt., and Rev. Sylvester Dana of Orford. Twenty two persons, pro- fessors of religion, presented themselves and were constitut- ed a church, under the title of "The Congregational Church at Dartmouth College." Caleb Fuller and Benoni Dewey were chosen deacons. Prof. Shurtleff, who filled the chair of Theology in the College, was invited to discharge the duties of preacher and of pastor, so far as his other duties might permit. In 1809 he was ordained evangelist at Lyme. He continued in these relations until the year 1827, when, upon his resignation by reason of a severe affection of the lungs, he was succeeded by Rev. George Howe as pro- fessor of Theology in the College and preacher to the con- gregation. Prof. Howe resigned in 1830. In the year 1831, Oct. 5, Rev. Robert Page was installed as pastor over the church, and dismissed May 9, 1833. Rev. Henry Wood was installed pastor March 8, 1835, and was dismissed Dec. 21, 1840. Jan. 10, 1841, Rev. John Richards was invited to preach as stated supply, and was installed pastor April 2, 1842. Public worship has always been held by the citi-
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zens and students in common, first in the College Chapel, and afterwards in the Meeting-house. The students who have made public profession of religion while in College, have not usually joined this church, preferring to unite with churches at home. The present number of undergraduates in the college is two hundred and ninety, of whom eighty are professors of religion. Public worship is held on the Sabbath forenoon, afternoon and evening. A weekly meet- ing of the church is holden on Thursday evening for devo- tional purposes and occasional business. The monthly con- cert of prayer for the spread of the gospel is observed on the Sabbath evening nearest the first Monday of the month, and the annual concert of prayer for colleges on the last Thursday of February. There are on the catalogue of the church 632 names ; of which 22 were added by organization, 430 by profession, and 180 by letter from other churches .- One hundred and twenty eight have died while connected with this church, 225 have been dismissed to other churches, and 25 have been excommunicated. The present whole number is 254, (including non-residents, perhaps 50 or 60,) of which 98 are males and 156 females. The additions for the year ending July 1, 1854, were 29-24 by profession, and five by letter.
The first church which existed at Dartmouth College was a Presbyterian church. It was constituted Jan. 23, 1771, of 27 members, by Rev. Eleazer Wheelock, D.D., first Pres- ident of the college. He officiated as pastor till his death, April 24, 1779. This church was composed of members from Hanover, Norwich and Hartford, and public worship was held both in the College Chapel and at the Meeting- house in Hartford, known as the Dothan Meeting-house .- Rev. Sylvanus Ripley, Professor of Theology, succeeded Dr. Wheelock as pastor until November 1782, when Rev. John Smith, D.D. Professor of Languages, was associated with him. Prof. Ripley died Feb. 5, 1787, from injuries re- ceived by being thrown from a sleigh, at the age of 37. Dr. Smith continued to act as pastor of that church till his death, April 30, 1809, aged 56,-worship being continued by the Presbyterian church at Hartford only. The change from the Presbyterian to the Congregational form of govern- ment was preceded and attended with bitter dissensions, the results of which were seen in the great controversy between the College and the State in 1816 and '17. Since then no schisms have existed in the church. The Meeting- house at Dartmouth college was built by joint subscription of the college and the citizens, the pews being owned as pri-
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vate property. The house was dedicated November 1796- sermon by Rev. John Smith, D.D. The building adjacent for occasional meetings and lectures was built in 1839. An organ was first erected July 1852. The congregation is made up almost exclusively of people living within one mile of the Meeting-house, making a population of about 1000. The salary of the minister is paid, half by the college from any funds in the treasury and half by subscriptions of the citizens. In the village is an Episcopal church and society, three miles east a Baptist, and seven miles east the Congre- gational church of Hanover Centre. Other denominations have no visibility. The population of Hanover is about 2500.
The Burying Yard, a few rods west of the Meeting-house, consisting of one acre, was established in 1771, and the first interment was the body of Rev. John Maltby of Connecticut. In it there have been a little more than six hundred inter- ments, among which are three Presidents of the College, seven Professors, students, and some Indians, pupils of Moor's charity school. In 1845 this resting place of the dead was enlarged by the addition of seven acres west and north, of remarkably variegated surface. The new part is owned by a corporation called the "Dartmouth Cemetery Association." It is divided into lots 32 feet by 24, which are for sale to individuals-the proceeds being applied to the improvement of the grounds.
REVIVALS .- In this respect Dartmouth College has been a favored spot. Dr. Wheelock was a distinguished laborer in the "great awakening" of 1740. He left his parish in Leba- non, Conn.,-where he had been a pastor thirty five years and had been an intimate co-laborer with Edwards-in the midst of a revival in August 1769, and came to Hanover with the same spirit. In November following, after the first labors of making the settlement, divine influences descended on his colony of 70 or 80 persons, which were universally felt and whose effects were felt for three years. In 1775 another refreshing was experienced, resulting in the conversion of some, and a general reformation of morals and manners. In November 1781, when the village and college had obtained some magnitude, a revival was experienced under the minis- try of Prof. Ripley of extraordinary power. For the first two months the work of God was still and slow in its prog- ress, but in January it became powerful and universal. In four days upwards of twenty were converted. Besides these a large number of children were judged to be the subjects of renewing grace-in one school 23. In four months 80 were added to the church, from the village, the college, and
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