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 57
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577
THORNTON.
about three years. The ministers who were thus hired, were Rev. Jonathan Ward, Rev. Mr. Wason and Rev. Wor- cester Willey, now missionary among the Cherokee Indians. No additions to the church during this period. It appears
to have been in a broken state, and religion low. In December 1844, the Rev. William P. Gale was unanimously invited by the church to become their pastor, which request was complied with. He was ordained to the pastoral care of the church Jan. 1, 1845, after it had been without a pas- tor nearly sixteen years. The church agreed to pay Mr. Gale $ 200 per year and the use of the parsonage, he also receiving $ 100 a year from the Missionary Society. He remained with the church a little more than seven years, and finally
left for want of support, in February 1851. During his ministry, six persons were received to the church by letter, and one by profession. The second year of Mr. Gale's min- istry, the society increased from seven to sixteen members. At the time Mr. Gale left, the Rev. James Hobart was engaged to preach. He labored with the church and people for about twenty months. One person was received to the church by letter while he was here. It appears that there have been four revivals of religion in the church since its formation, seventy five years ago, viz : two under Mr. Wor- cester's preaching, one under Mr. Rankin's, and one under Mr. Dana's. The church has had four settled ministers, viz : Mr. Estabrook, Mr. Worcester, Mr. Rankin and Mr. Gale. The largest number belonging to the church at any one time was 75-about the year 1826. The whole number of persons which have been received into the church, since its formation as nearly as can be ascertained, is 210. The present number of resident church members is nine. There are only four acting male members, and two of these are intending to remove, so that the mournful question involun- tarily arises in the minds of the little remnant left, "By whom shall Jacob arise ?" The society own a large Meeting- house and a convenient parsonage that are fast going to decay. Since 1824, 77 persons have been baptized-mostly children. There are in town two small Freewill Baptist churches, one Methodist church, a Universalist society and a few Calvinist Baptists. There are 230 families in the town, and probably not more than 150 persons in the whole town are regular in their attendance upon public worship on the Sabbath. There are about 60 families in the town, where either one or both the heads of the family are profess- edly pious, and yet it is thought there are but about eight- teen or twenty of these families that regularly have family worship. The Sabbath is most awfully desecrated in the town.
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578
GRAFTON COUNTY.
€ WENTWORTH.
Rev. I. DAVIS.
This town was incorporated Nov. 1, 1776. The inhab- itants enjoyed Congregational preaching only occasionally until about 1830, when Rev. James Hobart spent some months among them. In the time of his labors a church was organized, consisting of eight members. Rev. Increase S. Davis assisted in the organization of the church, and was invited to preach to them and settle with them. He com- menced his labors among them the following May, and im- mediately the Spirit was poured out, and about one hundred professed a hope in Christ.
Mr. Davis was installed pastor of the church June 20, 1833. The work of grace continued for two years, and about sixty were added to the church. Since that time two sea- sons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord have oc- curred, and 30 more have been added, making 98 in all who have belonged to the church-34 males and 64 females .- There are now 45 members. Several have moved away, and others have died. The state of this community calls loudly for the prayers of God's people in behalf of Zion.
WEST LEBANON.
Rev. RUFUS CASE.
This church was organized by an ecclesiastical council convened for the purpose, Nov. 8, 1849. It consisted of 44 members, mostly from the church worshiping at Lebanon Centre, four miles distant. These individuals were regular- ly dismissed, for the purpose of forming a new church .- - Though the immediate occasion of the separation was the dismission of the Rev. Mr. Cooke, and questions connected with that in regard to which there was difference of opinion and feeling, and though it was submitted to by many on both sides with regret, yet it was effected without the sacri- fice of Christian fellowship, and questions growing out of it were amicably adjusted.
Some eighteen months before the separation was effected, at the first meeting of the members purposing to withdraw, they appointed a committee to select a site for a church, and passed the following resolution :- "That we go on uni- tedly and support the gospel at the Centre as heretofore
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579
WEST LEBANON.
until the times shall demand a separation from the church at the Centre." In the mean time subscriptions were pro- cured and measures taken for building a house of worship at West Lebanon. The Meeting-house was erected opposite White River Junction in June 1849, and after being com- pleted, was dedicated Nov. 8, the day on which the church was organized. The sermon was preached by Rev. Prof. Haddock, D.D. After the dedication of the church, services were regularly sustained on the Sabbath, and the ordinances administered, generally by Professors at Hanover until a regular supply was obtained.
Feb. 27, 1851, Rev. Rufus Case was unanimously invited to become the pastor and teacher of this church. On the 25th of June following he was installed by an ecclesiastical council as the first pastor.
Capt. Joseph Wood, who completed his 90th year the day the church was organized and house dedicated, after having subscribed liberally toward building the Meeting- house, proposed to the society that if they would go on and build a good parsonage, he would give the society $ 1000 for a permanent fund, to aid in supporting the gospel. Though they had gone, as they thought, about to the extent of their ability in building the Meeting-house, they accepted his offer, fulfilled the conditions and secured the fund. And the venerable Patriarch, now in his 97th year, still lives to rejoice in the success of the effort to establish gospel ordi- nances in this part of the town, and has been able to attend quite constantly on the Sabbath services.
The wisdom of the undertaking, though doubted at first by some good men, has been made apparent by the result. The village has very much increased in size, and most of the families, were there no church near them, would be deprived of the preaching of the gospel altogether. The congregation has been slowly increasing to the present time, and now numbers about two hundred. The whole number added to the church is 34, making the aggregate number connected with it from the beginning 78. The present number is 65. An interesting Sabbath School has been maintained from the beginning. The monthly concert has been attended every month since January 1850. The amount contributed by the church for the various objects of benevolence during these five years, is $984,33-$236 of this sum in 1855 .- The salary of the pastor which was at first $550, was the last year raised to $ 600.
During the last year an edifice has been completed for a Female Seminary at a cost of over $15,000-$1000 was
580
GRAFTON COUNTY.
contributed by the venerable Capt. Wood, before alluded to ; in all over $5000 by the citizens of West Lebanon, and $ 10,000 was given by William Tilden, Esq. of New York, whose name the seminary bears. This school it is hoped will subserve, in an eminent degree, the cause of sound learn- ing and of true piety, for a long time to come.
While we record, with humility, the fact that since the organization of the church there has been no special out- pouring of the Spirit, or general revival, we are permitted to say that entire harmony has prevailed, and outward prosperity has been enjoyed. May the time of refreshing soon come.
FOURTEEN TOWNS.
BENTON. (Formerly Coventry.)-It is very mountainous ; has a population of 478 souls, though granted in 1764 and settled during the Revolutionary war. There are a few Methodists and a Freewill Baptist church of 51 members.
ELLSWORTH. (Trecothick.)-Population in 1850 was 320. A Freewill Baptist society of 65 members.
GRAFTON .- Granted 1761. First settled 1772. A Bap- tist church was formed here 1785, and in 1817 there were two, but none appear now on the Minutes of the Baptist Convention. Uriah Smith labored here. A Freewill Bap- tist church was formed in 1817-had 40 members in 1823. No denomination reports a church there at this time. Pop- ulation 1259.
HOLDERNESS .- Granted 1761, to 68 proprietors who are said to have held the doctrines of the Church of England .- Yet men from Barrington and others not of this faith set- tled here. The proprietors were not usually the only set- tlers and often none of them were actually such. An Epis- copal church was early established here and had Rev. Robert Fowle for rector for more than thirty years. He was ordain- ed by Bishop Seabury at Portsmouth in 1791. A rector was recently constituted here by Bishop Chase. A Free- will Baptist church here embraces 137 members.
Rev. Mr. Rich, Congregationalist, was here in 1829 and much interest was manifested. He found 20 persons fit to unite as he then thought in church covenant. In 1833, Rev. J. Hobart spent a few weeks here. In 1839 a church of 13 members was in existence, but when formed we have
581
FOURTEEN TOWNS.
not ascertained, and Rev. John Suddard was their minister for a time.
LANDAFF .- Incorporated 1764. Population 948. Meth- odist members 121. There are a few Freewill Baptists in town.
LINCOLN .- Incorporated 1764. Population 57.
LISBON .- Incorporated 1768. Formerly called Gunth- wait, and later, Concord. As early as 1800 Freewill Bap- tist and Methodist societies existed here. There are now of Methodists 123 members ; of Freewill Baptists 100.
LYMAN .- A church was formed here in 1814 by Rev. D. Sutherland, who often preached to the people. In 1816 a revival of great interest occurred and Rev. Samuel Goddard labored here. In December, 22 were admitted to the church ; and in March following 14 more. In 1832 the church num- bered 53 members. Population 742. A Methodist society is here of 73 members.
MONROE .- Formerly Lyman West. Incorporated 1854. Population 700. A church of 26 members was here in 1821.
ORANGE .- Formerly Cardigan. Incorporated 1781 .- Population 451. Rev. J. S. Winter labored here in 1828. A few family altars were set up, and in May a church of eight members from Canaan was formed and six were added to it at that time and five more soon after. In 1832 Rev. N. Lambert was here four weeks. A house of worship was built and dedicated in 1833. A small society of 20 Free- will Baptists is reported here.
RUMNEY .- Incorporated 1767. Population 1109. A Baptist church of 118 members is here.
WARREN .- Incorporated 1763. Population 872. A Baptist church of 163 members here and in Wentworth; Freewill Baptists 35.
WATERVILLE .- Incorporated 1829. Population 40.
WOODSTOCK .- Formerly Peeling and Fairfield. Incor- porated 1763. Population 418. Baptists 43 members ; Freewill Baptists 58.
Carroll County.
CONWAY.+
The church in Conway was organized by the Rev. Mr. Fessenden, of Fryeburg, Me., Aug. 18, 1778. Eight per- sons were admitted as members of the church at the time of the church being gathered. Nathaniel Porter was installed pastor of the church in Conway by an ecclesiastical council convened for that purpose by the desire of the church, Oct. 28, 1778. The last date of his in the church records was Jan. 28, 1821. He was never dismissed from the church, though he preached in Fryeburg, Me. after he had done preaching in Conway. The number gathered into the church during his ministry was 105. Dr. Porter was born in Topsfield, Ms. Jan. 14, 1745 ; graduated at Harvard university 1768 ; ordained to the Christian ministry at New Durham ; deceased Nov. 11, 1836. He endured great pri- vations here-" worked by day and wrote his sermons by the light of pitch wood at night."
May 26, 1824, Benjamin G. Willey was ordained colleague with Dr. Porter, and was acting pastor until 1832. The number gathered into the church during his ministry was 53. Rev. Mr. Willey was a native of Conway, is now in Sumner, Me. Allen Gannet came to this town in 1833 ; ordained Jan. 20, 1836 ; was dismissed June 22, 1838 .- Members gathered into the church during his ministry, 39. Rev. Mr. Gannet is a native of Tamworth, is now in Massa- chusetts. Rev. John Wilde was installed pastor of this church June 12, 1839. Dismissed May 1845. Members gathered into the church while Mr. Wilde was here, 17. Rev. S. S. Tappan was installed July 11, 1849,-dismissed July 6, 1852. One received into the church during his labors. The present number of this church is 70. Sixty seven have died since the organization of the church. Only ten of the male members live in Conway, It is worthy of note that Rev. Mr. Willey who was awhile the minister of
* See several towns at end of county.
t Sketch by Dea. Jonathan Eastman, more than four score years old.
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583
EFFINGHAM.
this church, and a native of the town, was so acceptable a preacher that the people came forward and raised a fair sub- scription, although they had done but very little before for the ministry. In 1827 more than thirty hopeful conversions occurred ; in 1831 nine united with the church. May others from among her sons yet arise to comfort her.
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EFFINGHAM.
The first settlers of the town were mostly professors of religion, of the Congregational order, and many of them from North Hampton and vicinity. The town was incorpo- rated in 1778, and at the annual meeting in March 1779, they voted to raise $ 20 for preaching. In September 1780 they voted to unite with other adjoining towns in the support of the Rev. John Adams, as a preacher of the gospel. He was to preach in Effingham 12 Sabbaths, and to receive six bushels of corn per Sabbath and his board. In 1783, "Hired Rev. Mr. Balch to preach 12 Sabbaths at $4 per Sabbath." Three years later, Rev. Mr. Hall was employed six Sabbaths at $4 per Sabbath, to be paid in corn or grain at 4s. per bushel. Until 1793 they annually raised a small sum to be expended for preaching. This year Rev. Jacob Kimball was offered the ministerial land and £ 50 to settle as minister. This appears not to have been done. Rev. Messrs. Wyeth and Ames preached a portion of the time in 1794. In 1800 they raised $100 and voted that Baptists, by presenting a certificate that they belonged to a Baptist society, and attended a Baptist meeting, should be exempt- ed from ministerial tax. In 1802 one Mr. Whipple was employed. In 1803, voted to divide the ministerial land between the Baptists and Congregationalists, according to the number of rateable polls belonging to each. This was not done at this time. At the same time Rev. Gideon Burt was invited to settle at a salary of $300. He accepted the call, and was the only settled pastor the Congregationalists have ever had. July 1805, voted to tax the Congregation- alists only. The same year, his salary being unpaid, he sued the town for what was due-about $420-they paid it, he was dismissed, and gave the Baptists a deed of one-third of the ministerial land.
The church of which Mr. Burt was pastor was probably organized about A. D. 1800, but the exact time cannot be ascertained. It is said to have been done by Rev. Mr. Hid-
584
CARROLL COUNTY.
den of Tamworth. This church lost its visibility and in 1836 the present church was formed. In the records of the new church 15 names are given of members of the old church. As to the present church we find this record : "This church (the old one) being for a long time destitute of the stated means of grace and deprived of the regular administration of the ordinances, had nearly become extinct, until the year 1836, when it was again revived and re-organized under the ministry of J. H. Mordough. Mr. Mordough received an invitation from the church and society to labor with them as their minister, and was ordained as an evangelist May 18, 1836." The church at its re-organization consisted of five members. Since then 48 have been added, making 53 in the whole. The present number is 26, Children baptized, 19. How long Mr. Mordough labored with the church is uncertain. The last entry of his in the record is July 5, 1839. In 1842 Rev. James Doldt labored among them .- April 1849, Rev. Elias Chapman commenced laboring with them one-half of the time ; this arrangement continued one and a half year. Since that time they have had no regular preaching except from March 1854 to March 1855, when they were supplied one-fourth of the time by Rev. Leander S. Tripp, a Baptist. They are now destitute. The Baptist church contains about thirty members. Three Freewill Bap- tist churches embrace more than 100 members. One of these last, to which Rev. Nahum Foss ministers, meet in the same village with the Congregational church, and its mem- bers often unite with them in worship.
MOULTONBOROUGH .*
Rev. W. P. APTHORP.
The town was incorporated Nov. 27, 1777. Rev. Samuel Perley, a graduate of Harvard 1763, was settled in the town Oct. 8, 1778. He had preached for the people a year or more previous to his settlement, but was dismissed about one year after it. Rev. Jeremiah Shaw succeeded him, a graduate of Harvard, settled Nov. 17, 1779, and continued in office until 1816, a period of fifty two years. He preach- ed more or less for the church for six years after his dismis- sion. He solemnized 400 marriages. He was a man of a quiet turn ; his judgment was good. He published a work in answer to Ballou on the Atonement-"Great is the Mystery
* Sketch by Compiler.
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585
OSSIPEE.
of Godliness." He died in 1834 aged 87 years and 9 months. Rev. Joshua Dodge followed him, a graduate of Dartmouth 1806, settled Feb. 27, 1828. Mr. Dodge fitted for college at Atkinson Academy under the tuition of the Hon. John Vose-studied theology with Rev. Drs. Manas- seh Cutler, Abiel Abbott, and Samuel Worcester-was set- tled in the first parish, Haverhill, Ms., Dec. 21, 1808, and dismissed in 1827. He published a "second centennial ser- mon on the Landing of our Forefathers, 1820." Mr. Dodge still lives and continues to sustain the relation of pastor .- Rev. Jonathan B. Cook was settled as colleague pastor Dec. 18, 1850, and dismissed in 1854. Rev. W. Willey has been employed as stated supply. Rev. W. P. Apthorp was set- tled in the ministry here in January 1855. The church now numbers 73 members, and its days of greater prosperity, it is hoped, are come.
OSSIPEE.
Rev. HORACE WOOD.
This town was incorporated in 1785. The Congregation- al church was organized Sept. 26, 1806, by Rev. James Thurston and Rev. David McGregore, embracing 20 mem- bers. For some eight or ten years, this little band, united and harmonious, met together on the Sabbath for religious worship in some private dwelling-house, and for ten or twelve years longer in a school-house. Missionaries were employed a portion of the time, but when without a minis- ter they would meet to sing and pray, and read sermons,- and the Lord blessed them, and added to their number .- The whole number that have united with the church at the time, and since its organization, is 153. Present number 71. A house for public worship was built in 1827. Sometime in the month of May, the first tree was felled for the frame of the house, and in January following the house was complet- ed and dedicated. The Lord prospered them, and they took courage. In about a year after the Meeting-house was built a dwelling-house and some fifty acres of land were purchased for a parsonage. In order to secure both of the above objects, the members of the society had to tax themselves from $25 to $250 each, when their means were compara- tively small. But they did it with cheerful hearts. In 1852 the interior of the Meeting-house was re-modeled, and very much improved. The congregation is not large, but very uniform, irrespective of the weather.
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586
CARROLL COUNTY.
The first stated supply of preaching was in 1823. Pre- vious to this time, there was occasional preaching by itiner- ant missionaries, and by Rev. Samuel Hidden of Tamworth, who always manifested a deep interest in this little church, and who watched over it with paternal affection till his death. The stated supplies from 1823 to 1828 were-Rev. Thomas Jameson of Effingham, Rev. Messrs. Noyse, Gay- lord, and Hubbard. They were sustained in part by mis- sionary aid, and their labors were for portions of years only. In 1828, the pulpit was supplied, a portion of the time, by ministers from the neighboring towns, of different denomina- tions.
Sept. 23, 1829, Rev. Samuel Arnold was installed pastor of the church. Mr. Arnold was their first pastor, and received from the church most cordial sympathy and cooper- ation. They had been so long without a shepherd, it is not strange that they were now greatly comforted. But a greater trial was in store for them than they had ever before experienced, and from an unlooked for source. Some five months after Mr. Arnold was ordained, a complaint was made against him before the grand jury, for whipping an adopted child. The Court was then in session at Dover .- When information was received by the church that he was indicted by the grand jury, they immediately drew up a very earnest petition on his behalf and forwarded it to the Court. It shows them a people who loved their pastor ten- derly. The petition was signed by the mother and relations of the child, and most of the members of the church and society. The case was tried before one jury who could not agree,-and afterwards dismissed from court as a nonsuit.
Though Mr. Arnold was generally sustained by the church and society, there were some strongly prejudiced against him. In 1831, about a year after the above, he requested a dismission, which was readily granted, the church being fully convinced that his usefulness was at an end. He after- wards left the ministry and is supposed to be dead.
Perhaps no one felt this trial, outside of the church itself, more keenly than Rev. Mr. Hidden of Tamworth. Remarks his biographer, "Four whole nights he gave no sleep to his eyes nor slumber to his eyelids. He prayed that the divi- sions might be healed, and that he who had been constituted their spiritual guide might prove in heart and life what he had pledged himself to be. But in this his hopes were blasted. Said he, 'I have never had my heart wrung with such anguish, in all the trials I have witnessed. This is a bitter cup. It seems as though the Lord was making a trial of my faith.'"
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587
SANDWICH.
Rev. Mr. Sanders next supplied the desk, and remained nearly two years. Rev. Abel Manning came in 1834, and continued till the early part of 1837, when Rev. John S. Winter entered this field and was installed November 1837, and continued till his death, which occurred Jan. 30, 1848. Mr. Winter's salary was $200, with use of parsonage, and privilege of being absent one-fourth of the time. He usual- ly had a commission from the Home Missionary Society for Tuftonborough or Ossipee Corner, at one of which places he usually preached every fourth Sabbath. During Mr. Win- ter's ministry there were added to the church by profession 45, by letter 5. In May 1848, Rev. Horace Wood was engaged as stated supply, and continues to be the acting pastor of the church. The amount contributed to several benevolent objects is from $120 to $140, annually. The church and society have held on their way with very remark- able uniformity. Three from the church have become min- isters of the gospel, and one is now studying with the min- istry in view.
The first church organized in town was Calvinist Baptist, between 1796 and 1800, which is now nearly extinct. Their minister was Rev. Wentworth Lord, who preached in this town and Parsonsfield, Me., about twenty years. The first Meeting-house built in town was erected in or near 1800, and was occupied by Mr. Lord. It is now standing, (though re-modeled,) at Ossipee Corner. A town hall occupies the lower floor. The upper part is finished for a Meeting-house and owned by the pew-holders of some four different denom- inations. There are five churches of the Freewill Baptist order, all of which are small, and some four or five Baptist ministers, only two of whom are under engagement and permanently employed as preachers at the present time .- The present number of inhabitants in town is a little rising of 2000. Average attendance upon public worship, between 400 and 500. Sabbath School and Bible class scholars from 200 to 250. Some of the first settlers of that portion of the town where is now the Congregational church, were stable, Christian men,-of the Puritanic stamp, and their influence is still felt.
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