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 58
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SANDWICH.#
Sandwich was granted-by charter from Benning Went- worth, Governor of the Province of New Hampshire in * Sketch by Dea. Jeremiah Furber.
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CARROLL COUNTY.
1763-to various proprietors, who were to reserve one right of land for the glebe, one for the society for propagating the gospel, one for a minister, and one for schools. The first settlements commenced in 1764, and the first settlers were from Exeter and the adjacent towns. Time had loosened the strict principles of our ancestors, who were Puritans or the disciples of Roger Williams. The cares, anxieties and hardships of a rough soil ; dependent families and a wilder- ness country, had choked the seed of earlier years, and their hearts had become a moral desert. In the early settlement of the town the Friends assembled for public worship, and have continued a respectable society to this day. With this exception, no religious order was supported in town until Elder - Jewell was settled as a Calvinistic Baptist, who received one out of the four lots in the right for the first settled minister, and relinquished the three remaining lots to the town, which were sold with the four school lots and invested in the school fund. The other public rights have been appropriated agreeable to the literal construction of the grant and reservation, and the town has in no way been ben- efitted by them. The Freewill Baptists were early intro- duced here, and soon became numerous. The Methodists
soon followed. The Calvinist Baptist church ultimately became extinct. Those few disposed to enjoy Congregational preaching worshiped at Tamworth or Moultonborough, where ancient Congregational churches were established and the gospel preached. But occasionally the Rev. Mr. Hidden of Tamworth, and Mr. Cram of Exeter, preached gratuitously to the people in this place. In 1811, Mr. Clarke, a mission- ary from the New Hampshire Missionary Society sent to Ossipee, preached here one Sabbath, and once or twice on week days. In 1814, the Rev. Mr. Taylor was sent three months from the New Hampshire Missionary Society, and the same year Rev. William Cogswell, D.D. a licentiate at that time, was sent three months by the Massachusetts Missionary Society, whose labors were blessed and a church consisting of thirteen members was organized, and a further revival followed. Up to 1824, the following men were here from a few weeks to a year each, sent by the Massachusetts and New Hampshire Missionary Societies : Messrs. Jewett, Field, Curtis Coe, Spofford, Jones, Henry Sewall and Isaac Willey. The people paid something toward their support.
March 24, 1824, eleven individuals agreed to build a Meet- ting-house, and, with various others on the eighth day of December 1824, formed themselves into a society by the name of the "First Congregational Society in Sandwich."
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SANDWICH.
The Meeting-house was, on the 30th day of November 1825, dedicated to the service of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Sermon by Rev. Samuel Hidden. Various efforts were made to obtain a candidate for settlement. The Missionary Societies having given encouragement of assist- ance, some individuals were willing to tax themselves heavily to procure a stated preached gospel.
Mr. David P. Smith, a licentiate, commenced his minis- terial labors July 23, 1826, and was continued by subscrip- tion until March 1827, when, a general excitement having taken place, a subscription paper for the support of Mr. Smith was put into circulation, and the church and society united in giving him a call, which was accepted on his part. May 20, 1827, six individuals were admitted to the church on profession of faith, and two others by letter. The ordination of Mr. Smith was on the 23d day of May 1827. Sermon by Rev. Jacob W. Eastman, of Methuen, Ms. Mr. Smith's was what was termed in those days "a five years settlement," which period he continued his labors with this people. The number added to the church by letter and on profession of faith is 65. There are recorded of infant baptisms, 23. The most interesting revival during his ministry was in the years 1830 and'31, in connection with the general revivals through- out New England. Mr. Smith left this field for Parsonsfield, Me. in July 1832. During that summer Rev. Mr. Searle preached here two Sabbaths, and Rev. Mr. Low several Sab- baths.
Rev. Giles Leach, a graduate of Amherst college and stu- dent of the theological seminary Andover, Ms., commenced his labors here in October 1832. His ordination was 5th . Feb. 1833. Sermon by Rev. John K. Young, of Meredith Bridge. The more public exercises were at the Meeting- house. The right hand, consecrating prayer, laying on of the hands and other exercises were at the house of deacon Furber, the candidate for ordination being sick with the measles, and occupying " the old arm chair."
In January 1838, a protracted meeting of more than ordi- nary interest was held. There seemed to be a general awaken- ing throughout the town in the different societies. In May following, 17 were received into the church as a portion of the fruits of this revival. Also in July five others were admitted as above. A similar meeting was held in January 1839 and attended with favorable results. Rev. Mr. Leach was dismissed at his own request in February 1840, but con- tinued his labors one year from that time. During his min- istry there were added to the church in this section of the
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town where he labored two-thirds of the time, about sixty members. There are 21 infant baptisms recorded during his ministry here. He is now laboring with the first Congrega- tional church in Wells, Me.
Rev. Otis Holmes from the theological seminary at Gil- manton, was ordained here Sept. 8, 1842 ; sermon by Rev. Prof. Rood. He continued till April 1849, laboring one quarter of the time, from May 1, 1845, with the church and society at North Sandwich. To this church during his min- istry were added 20 members.
A goodly number of ministers have been raised up here in the Freewill Baptist, Methodist, and Friend's societies .--- One-D. L. Furber-has gone out from this church, who is settled at Newton Center, Ms. The church has been depend- ent upon foreign aid. Want of a good Meeting-house is the principal cause of little or no effort for re-settlement of the gospel ministry. It is believed that upwards of forty mem- bers now living have gone out from this church, to other por- tions of our Zion. Resident members-17 males, 34 females.
SANDWICH NORTH*
North Sandwich church is located in an isolated spot, almost surrounded by hills and mountains. For many years this people enjoyed the occasional labors of Rev. Samuel Hidden of Tamworth, and, to enjoy the ministrations of the gospel on the Sabbath, for more than forty years they were . accustomed to go to Tamworth, a distance of eight miles, some on horseback and some on foot, and they were very regular in their attendance. Mr. Hidden used to say, "I love to preach to the people of Sandwich, they love preach- ing so well." And numbers were converted and united with the church of Tamworth.
This church was organized June 27, 1832, consisting of 15 members, seven male and eight female members. The church being small and in a community composed in part of other denominations, was unable to secure the constant labors of a minister, and for some months had only occasion- al preaching. In March 1833, they united with the first church in securing the labors of Rev. Giles Leach, who labored with them one-third of the time for nine years .- Under his labors the church enjoyed a good degree of pros- perity, with frequent additions. After the close of his
* Sketch by Rev. J. H. Merrill.
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TAMWORTH.
labors, the church was without regular Sabbath services for about two years, when, in 1844, the two churches united in settling Rev. Otis Holmes, who supplied the desk of this church one-third of the time for five years. His labors proved very acceptable and beneficial to the interests of the church. For the past five years this church has had only occasional sermons from ministers of our own order. The
ordinance of the Lord's Supper has been only once adminis- tered, (May 1854,) when two young ladies were received into the church and one household was baptized. For two years past they have united with the First Freewill Baptist church in hiring a Baptist minister, who preaches in their Meeting- house one-fourth of the time, and, as the Meeting-houses are only one mile apart, this seems the best arrangement they can make for the present, and they are expecting to continue it. The church now numbers 21 members, several of whom are non-resident. Neal McCrillis is the only deacon of the church.
TAMWORTH.
Rev. J. H. MERRILL.
The charter of Tamworth was granted in 1766 to fifty two grantees. In the grant one share of 450 acres was reserved for the governor, (Wentworth ;) one share for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts ; one share for the church of England ; one share for the first settled minister of the gospel of the town; and another for the benefit of a school in town forever. The first white set- tler located in the west part of the town in 1772. The first town meeting was held in 1777. The sufferings of the early settlers were very great. They were often obliged to go 30 and 40 miles to Gilmanton and Canterbury to procure corn and grain, and bring it home on their backs or on handsleds. Rev. Joshua Nickerson from Cape Cod was the first minister that preached in town, and he occasionally preached until 1778. He was a very pious man, but did not connect him- self with any religious denomination.
About the first of January 1792, a special town meeting was called, and a committee of two chosen to obtain preach- ing. They procured Rev. Samuel Hidden of Gilmanton, who had just completed his collegiate and theological studies. He arrived on the 14th of January 1792, and preached the following Sabbath. There were very strong prejudices
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CARROLL COUNTY.
against a "college-learned man," and one woman declared, when she saw him coming, that "she had as lief see the devil." But these prejudices were immediately dispelled under his warm-hearted addresses. At the annual town meeting in March, he was unanimously invited to settle with them. There were 40 voters in the town at that time. The following is the basis on which he assented to the request : They were to build and finish for him, on the ministerial lot, a one story house, which was described ; to pay him a salary of £33 lawful money, in the following manner : Three pounds cash ; fifteen pounds in good beef at 18s. per hundred, and fifteen pounds in corn at 3s. a bushel, rye at 4s., wheat at 5s. At the end of three years, the sal- ary was to be gradually raised to £50, to be paid in money, beef and grain as above. In 1806, the salary was changed to $201, to be paid in money.
Mr. Hidden's ordination was appointed to be on Sept. 12, 1792. A council, consisting of Rev. Messrs. Smith of Gil- manton, Shaw of Moultonborough, Williams of Meredith, Porter of Conway, Piper of Wakefield, and Coe of Durham, met to organize a church and ordain a pastor. But here a difficulty arose in the minds of the council, as those to be organized into a church were Congregationalists, Calvinistic Baptists and Freewill Baptists ; and the only basis on which they could harmonize, was entire freedom in regard to the modes and subjects of baptism. This may account for the fact that for the last seventeen years there have been only 18 children baptized. There is no record of any baptisms previous to this time, though numbers undoubtedly were offered to God in baptism. The council earnestly discussed the question of organizing a Congregational church on this basis, but at last yielded to the importunity of the people, and proceeded to organize a church of 19 members, over which Mr. Hidden was ordained pastor. The ordination was thus described by one of the council in a letter, dated Durham, Sept. 27, 1792 : "Now, sir, I will tell you about the ordination. After much wrangling between the council and the people, Mr. Hidden was ordained on a large rock, (20 feet by 30 and 15 feet high, on which 50 men might stand.) His foundation must be secure and solid ; for this rock will stand till Gabriel shall divide it by the power of God. Early in the morning the people assembled around this rock, men, women, boys and girls, together with dogs and other domestic animals. It is an entire forest about this place. The scenery is wild. On the north is a high hill, and north of this is a mountain called Chocorua, which
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TAMWORTH.
touches heaven. On the south and in all directions are mountains steep and rugged. I had expected to hear the howling of the wolf, and the screeching of the owl; but instead of these were heard the melting notes of the robin, the chirping of the sparrow and other birds that made the forest seem like Paradise. The men looked happy, rugged, and fearless ; their trowsers came down to about half way between the knee and ankle. Their coats were mostly short and of nameless shapes. Many wore slouched hats and hundreds were shoeless. The women looked ruddy and as though they loved their husbands; their clothing was all of domestic manufacture ; every woman had a checked linen apron and carried a clean linen handkerchief. Their bon- nets ! well, I cannot describe them, I leave them to your imagination. But think of the grandeur of the scene. A great rock the pulpit, the whole town the floor of the house, and the canopy of heaven the roof, and the tall sturdy trees the walls. Who could help feeling devotional? This is the place nature has formed for pure worship. Long shall this stand, like the rock on which our Fathers landed .- Long may this church make the wilderness and the solitary place glad and the desert blossom as the rose."
In the winter of 1793-4 the church was visited by a refreshing shower of mercy, and about thirty were hopefully converted. At the close of the century the church numbered 88 members. The year 1800 was signalized by a remarka- ble outpouring of the Holy Spirit, it may be, unparalleled in the annals of church history, if the number of inhab- itants is taken into the account. The revival had its origin in a prayer meeting. It soon spread through the town .- Prayer meetings were held every evening in the week. The principal business for months was religious conversation and prayer. Whole nights were spent in prayer and singing. The pastor had no help from abroad. For four months he preached almost every day. The work extended to Conway, Moultonborough, Eaton, Ossipee, and Sandwich. In the three latter towns there was no church, and they were under the care of Mr. Hidden. The fruits of this revival were nearly 300 converts, of whom about 200 united with this church ; others with churches in neighboring towns of differ- ent names. The subsequent lives of these converts showed this revival to be remarkably pure. In 1809, another work of grace was enjoyed and about thirty joined the church .- It was a sweet refreshing after years of coldness. In 1811, the special presence of the Holy Spirit resulted in the con- version of a number, and 28 were added to the church. In
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1822, the church was greatly revived, and there were about fifty cases of hopeful conversion. In 1827, another revival brought, it is hoped, about thirty into the fold of Christ. In 1830, nearly forty were hopefully converted and most of them united with the church soon after. In 1831, a pro- tracted meeting was held in the early part of the summer, during which several ministers from abroad were present .- The people crowded the meetings, and truth was sent home to the hearts of sinners, and not less than 50 were the sub- jects of hope.
On the 13th of February 1837, Rev. Mr. Hidden died, aged 77 years, and the 46th of his ministry. He came into the wilderness, and left it a fruitful field. The whole num- ber connected with the church during his ministry was 504, averaging a yearly increase of 11 members. As a Chris- tian, Mr. Hidden was meek and humble, active, faithful and devoted, with a heart and hand of expansive benevolence and hospitality. He was a patron of literature, the friend and instructor of youth, and through life a lover of sacred music, always leading the services of the Sanctuary in this department of worship. In preaching the gospel, his prompt- ness, zeal, plainness, happy illustrations and meltings of his heart for immortal souls, rendered him beloved and respect- ed by all. His long day was literally and cheerfully spent in the service of his Lord and Master ; and the hope of being soon with his Savior God inspired his triumphant exclama- tion in death : "Just draw back the veil and I am there," and tuned his enchanting lyre for his last song, which he sang in his last moments,
" Angels roll the rock away, Death yield up the mighty prey."
Rev. Wm. L. Buffit was installed pastor of the church July 19, 1837. During the next year there was a refreshing work of grace, and 16 publicly professed their faith in Christ. In the fall of 1839 a more extensive revival was enjoyed, and 40 of the converts made a profession of religion. It origi- nated in a protracted meeting and spread over the town .- Mr. Buffit was dismissed March 22, 1842. There were added to the church under his labors, 69, making a yearly increase of about 14 members. Rev. Jeremiah Blake, M.D., was installed as pastor of the church June 14, 1843, during which year an interesting revival was enjoyed and 31 were added to the church. Rev. Mr. Blake was dismissed Dec. 3, 1850. His pastorate continued seven years ; during which time 51 were added to the church-an average of about seven a year. After an interval of nearly three years, in which
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TUFTONBOROUGH.
the church was almost wholly destitute of religious meetings, during which, however, they built and dedicated to God a beautiful house of worship, and purchased and fitted up a parsonage house at the village, a mile from the ancient house. Rev. John H. Merrill was installed pastor of the church Aug. 17, 1853. During the first year of his ministry there was a gentle distilling of Divine grace, and a dozen youth indulged the hope of pardon. From his installation to the present time, (fifteen months,) 16 have been added to the church. The whole number of members connected with this church since its organization in 1792, a period of sixty two years, is 638, of whom there remain at the present time 174 members. A colony of members of this church in 1806, residing in Ossipee, was dismissed from this church to form a Congregational church in that town, ten miles distant .- Another colony was organized into a church in Sandwich in the year 1814. And another body was dismissed to form the church at North Sandwich in 1832. There are two other churches within the limits of the town; a Freewill Baptist church two and a half miles to the east, and a Methodist church four miles to the south. There have been in time past three other Freewill Baptist churches in the outskirts of the town, but they are now disbanded. The Sabbath Schools connected with these churches are in a healthful and prosperous condition, numbering, including adults, about 450 members, and continuing through the year. The population of the town is 1766, of whom about one- third attend on some evangelical worship. Number of youth between the ages of 4 and 21 is 600, of whom 250 attend some Sabbath School. Four young men from this place are now laboring in the Congregational ministry, and two are studying for it.
TUFTONBOROUGH.
In 1836 Rev. J. Dodge labored here as a missionary. No church then existed here. A small one gathered thirty years before became extinct. This year there were six hopeful conversions. In 1838 Rev. J. S. Winter preached three weeks. Rev. R. W. Fuller supplied this church in 1839, and some religious awakening was experienced, and 13 were added to the church by profession. In 1840 Rev. J. Dodge supplied them one-third of the time. In 1844 Rev. J. S. Winter preached here one-third of the time. Three persons
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united with the church, one of whom had been a Universalist preacher a number of years. The church now numbers 34. In 1845 Rev. Elias Chapman ministered in the place one- fourth of the time.
WAKEFIELD.
Rev. NATHANIEL BARKER.
The Congregational church in Wakefield was organized Sept. 17, 1785, consisting of nine members. On the same day the first pastor, Rev. Asa Piper, was ordained. The contract for his support was made by the town, and he received from the town the right of land appropriated to the first minister. On that land he built his house and culti- vated a farm. His contract with the town was broken after a few years, and his support was raised by subscription .- Some leading men in town were anti-ministerial. His sup- port was not adequate-he labored some at that period as an itinerant missionary, and still retained his relation as pastor to this church. This relation continued till his death in May 1835. Mr. Piper, submitted to many privations, and encountered many difficulties during his ministry. He was a worthy, good man, and was useful in promoting the interests of the town in various ways. He looked well to the cause of education, and was instrumental in establishing a circulating library at an early period. During the ministry of Mr. Piper so far as can be ascertained, 32 members were received into the church. The second minister, Rev. Samuel Nichols, was installed colleague pastor of this church, Sept. 22, 1828. When he was settled there were only nine mem- bers in the church. During his ministry 39 were admitted to its fellowship. For want of support he was dismissed May 7, 1833.
The present minister of this church, Rev. Nathaniel Bar- ker, commenced preaching as stated supply July 1835. At that time there were 29 members of the church-45 mem- bers have since been admitted. The church now consists of 35 members. This church is a missionary church-has been for many years, and must still be dependent on foreign aid. There are in Wakefield two Freewill Baptist churches-one consists of 40 members, the other was disturbed by the delu- sion of Millerism in 1843, and their pastor and a large portion of the members have since separated from the com- munion of the church. There is also a Methodist church in
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WOLFBOROUGH.
town-in a low state, and destitute of preaching. There were some good citizens who were willing to make sacrifices to secure the ordinances of the gospel, but the town was not settled generally by the Puritan stock. The minister's work here has always been hard and difficult, and when a little suc- cess crowns his labors in a revival of God's work, he lives in the expectation that the newly added members of the church will soon be removed to other communities. The tide is always going out. But the Lord is the stay of his people.
WOLFBOROUGH .*
This town was incorporated 1770. The act of incorpora- tion is addressed to the loving subjects of George III .- Whether the inhabitants had any preaching previous to their incorporation is not known. The earliest record we can find is furnished by a vote of the town March 30, 1774 : "That the town will not raise any sum toward building a Meeting-house." But on the 25th of August of the same year it "Voted, that £6, 6s. be raised to hire a minis- ter; and that 21s. be paid weekly till that sum be expend- ed." Whether this sum was thus expended, or if so, upon whom, is not recorded. The next entry on this subject is at a town meeting on the 13th of November 1781 : "Voted, to hire Mr. Andrew Collins to preach and keep school."- In 1786, at the annual town meeting, it was " Voted to fix on a spot, to clear a place, and to raise money to build a Meet- ing-house." At a legal town meeting, held August 1792, "Voted, to give Mr. Ebenezer Allen a call to settle as a min- ister of the gospel in this town; that there be a committee chosen to express this call to Mr. Allen. Voted, that Col. Henry Rust and 39 other persons (whose names are record- ed) be this committee." At an adjourned meeting, Aug. 30, 1792, the above committee reported that, "they had unani- mously agreed to give Mr. Allen a call."
A council was assembled on the 25th of October 1792, and having examined as regards their Christian experience, and qualification for church membership, eight persons, they were formed into a Congregational church by confession of faith and covenant. After which the council proceeded to the examination and ordination of Rev. Ebenezer Allen as its pastor. The sermon preached on the occasion was pub- lished. It is evangelical and highly instructive. During
* Sketch by Rev. S. Merrill.
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the first year of his ministry, six members were admitted by profession ; the second, three by profession and one by letter ; the third, one by profession ; the fifth, two; the sixth, two ; the seventh, one by letter ; the eighth, two by profession .- Here the records fail-making the number at the organiza- tion and added during eight years, 26. Mr. Allen preached on the Sabbath July 1806, and died the same night of apo- plexy. After the decease of Rev. Mr. Allen the church was destitute of a pastor, and though they had occasional mis- sionary labors it continued to diminish. No records can be found of the church after the death of the pastor. In the mean time an academy was instituted in the village at Smith's Bridge ; the teachers of which preached on the Sab- bath in the building. Among these are numbered Rev. Enos Merrill, Rev. Mr. Cleveland, now of Lowell, Ms., Rev. Thomas P. Beach. In 1834, June 17th, a council was called by the request of several persons residing at the bridge, for the purpose of being organized into a Congrega- tional church. And as there is no mention made, in the record of this transaction, of any previous organization, it is presumed there was no remnant of the former church on which to build. Twelve persons were examined and formed, by confession and covenant, into a church, and the Lord's Supper administered to them. Sept. 21st of the same year, Rev. Joshua Dodge of Moultonborough administered the Lord's Supper to this church, and admitted 11 persons by profession and 4 by letter.
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