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 6
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here and of their benefactors abroad. The Society for prop- agating the gospel, have again for several years past, afforded aid, appropriating from $ 150 to $ 250 per annum. Rev. A. P. Peabody, D .D. pastor of the South Church in Portsmouth, and a society of ladies there, have been active and persever- ing in their efforts for this people, their benefactions being liberal, frequent and long continued ; among which may be mentioned the generous donation of $ 100 from Capt. Icha- bod Goodwin, and the gratuitous supply of school and other valuable books, by the late venerable Dea. J. W. Foster .- As a benefactress of this people, it may be proper to men- tion the late Mrs. Jane Greenleaf of Newburyport, Ms., con- cerning whom it is stated in her published Memoirs : "there was one object, which she was specially and deeply interested in till her death,-this was the spiritual improvement of the people living on the Isles of Shoals. For the last thirty years of her life, she cordially cooperated with those who sus- tained a mission there; and after she had entered her seventieth year, the principal care of providing ministers and teachers, and of raising funds for their support, was voluntarily assumed by herself, until her growing infirmities obliged her to relin- quish it. In her journal, she often mentions receiving a
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few dollars for 'the Shoals' as a providential favor. These people were constantly remembered in her prayers ; and much did she rejoice, when any report of their improvement reached her ears." On the 15th day of May, 1851, she fell asleep in Jesus-and with her own, these her spiritual "children arise up and call her blessed."
GREENLAND.
Rev. EDWARD ROBIE.
Greenland for some years after its first settlement formed a part of Portsmouth. It was incorporated in 1703. From its first settlement until 1705, its inhabitants, men, women and children, used to walk six or eight miles to attend pub- lic worship. At a regular parish meeting held in Ports- mouth, June 4th, 1705, it was voted, "That in consideration of their numbers, the distance they had to travel, and the dangers to be encountered in their attendance upon public worship, the inhabitants of Greenland be permitted to enjoy their own regular, instituted means of grace, and that one hundred pounds be paid yearly, out of the town stock, as their proportion for the support of the ministry during their maintenance of an able minister among them, and no long- er." The use of a certain amount of land was afterwards substituted for the above £ 100. The church was organized in July 1706, consisting of twenty nine members, and all the inhabitants of the town constituted the Parish.
The first settled minister was the Rev. William Allen, who was born in Boston, Ms. March 1676, graduated at Harvard college 1703, and ordained pastor of this church July 15, 1707. Rev. Mr. Allen labored as acting pastor of this church until Nov. 3, 1756, when, in accordance with his own request, made by reason of his increasing age and infirmities, a colleague pastor was settled. He, however, continued its senior pastor, until his death Sept. 8, 1760, in the fifty third year of his ministry, and aged eighty four .- A parish meeting which was warned on the 8th of Sept., was holden on the 9th to make preparations for his funeral. At this meeting it was voted, "That the town will give a decent burial to their Reverend pastor deceased-that the selectmen be a committee for this purpose, and that a mourning ring be presented to the Rev. Saml. McClintock." During his ministry Rev. Mr. Allen administered eleven hundred baptisms and received two hundred and ninety three persons 5
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ROCKINGHAM COUNTY.
into the church. He was favored with several extensive re- vivals, and as the fruits of one which took place about the time of the Great Awakening, he received thirty one persons into the church at one time, May 11, 1735.
The second pastor of this church was Rev. Samuel McClin- tock. He was born in Medford, Ms. May 1, 1732, of re- spected and devout Scotch Irish parents, graduated at Princeton 1751 with such high honor that he was immedi- ately invited to a tutorship in the College. This he declined, from an unwillingness to delay entrance upon a profession to which he was consecrated from his childhood. He studied theology with his friend and patron, Rev. James McGregore of Derry. While on a short visit at Rev. Dr. Langdon's of Portsmouth, he was invited to preach a lecture at Green- land, and such was the impression produced by his discourse that the people immediately invited him to assist their aged pastor. After preaching five Sabbaths he received a pressing and unanimous call to become colleague pastor. The una- nimity and affection discovered on this occasion led him to sacrifice far more flattering worldly prospects to what he deemed the call of duty, and he accepted the invitation .-- He was ordained Nov. 3rd, 1756. Rev. Dr. Langdon of Portsmouth preached the sermon. Favored with a strong constitution and uninterrupted health and ability for active service, the last Sabbath of his life was the only one .on which he was disabled for the performance of his ministerial duties. He preached for the last time on the day of the annual Fast, April 19th, 1804. Upon his return home to his family on that day he observed that he had finished his labors as a minister of Christ. An apparently slight indis- position under which he was then laboring, increased so rap- idly as to terminate his life in eight days. On the morning of April 27th, 1804 he sweetly fell asleep in Jesus, and, with- out doubt, entered into that rest which is promised to Christ's faithful servants.
Rev. Dr. McClintock was widely known as a man of ster- ling native talent, an able theologian, and. a scholar of high standing. As a preacher he stood in high reputation, and his discourses, judging from a half score of his manuscripts in the possession of the present pastor, were plain, logical, rich in thought, and evangelical. His memory is still cher- ished with great affection in the hearts of those now living, who, in their childhood and youth, sat under his ministra- tions. He was a lover of civil and religious liberty, as every minister of the gospel ought to be. He entered warmly into the defence of his country's rights when threatened and
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GREENLAND.
invaded by the power of Great Britain. During the Revo- lutionary war he took an active part on the battle-field in the character of a chaplain, and by his prayers, and also by his exhortations and example, animated and encouraged his compatriots in the unequal conflict. He was present as chaplain, at the battle of Bunker Hill.
The third pastor of this church was Rev. James Neal .- He was born in Londonderry 1774, and ordained pastor of this church, May 22d, 1805, within less than thirteen months after the death of his predecessor. His ordination sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Appleton, of Hampton, afterwards President of Bowdoin college. Previous to his settlement here, he had been for several years Preceptor of a school for young ladies in Philadelphia, which lucrative employment he relinquished for the pastoral office. He was pastor only for a little more than three years. He died in office July 18th, 1808, aged 34 years. He was the father of the late Joseph C. Neal, the accomplished and popular editor and author. About seventy-five persons were admitted into the church during the successive ministries of McClintock and Neal. We have no means of ascertaining the number of baptisms. Until this period in the history of this church, uninterrupted harmony and good order prevailed in all eccle- siastical and religious matters which required the action of the people. Upon these matters all the legal voters were re- quired to act and did act as on matters of a secular character. All the inhabitants of the town who attended public wor- ship anywhere, worshiped together in the same house, and rendered their voluntary sympathy and aid to sustain the pastors of the church. Not a dissenting voice was heard respecting the faith and order of the gospel which these worthy men labored to establish here. There was about this time, however, a manifest declension of spiritual life in the hearts of God's people. This, with the death of Mr. Neal, prepared the way for the change which soon transpired .- While our pastor was upon his dying bed, Elias Smith, the successful leader of one of the most noted liberal sects of those days, made his appearance in this town and commenced the work of disorganization among the people. He succeeded in disaffecting the hearts of a few. Here, as elsewhere, his in- fluence in this work seemed to be no less efficient as a politi- cal partizan than as the leader of a religious sect. He was followed by the eminent and efficient pioneer and apostle of Methodism, the Rev. George Pickering. He succeeded in drawing over one-third of the members of the church to the Methodists who obtained the joint occupancy of the Meeting-
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ROCKINGHAM COUNTY.
house for six months in the year, until the settlement of the fourth pastor. Though this secession tried the heart of the church and reduced her numbers and pecuniary ability for a season, it did not essentially enfeeble her. The great Head of the church moved the heart of a worthy member of the church to supply the deficit thus made, by the liberal act of entrusting a fund of $5000 to the care of the Mass. Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, two hundred dollars of the income of which that society is required to pay annually, in half-yearly payments, to the Congregational minister of Greenland. This secured a sum more than equivalent to that lost by the seceding tax-payers. Moreover a majority of the legal voters in town restored the church to full possession of the house of worship.
On the 27th day of Oct. 1813 the Rev. Ephraim Abbott was settled here. He was a descendant of George Abbott who came from England and settled in Andover, Ms. 1643. He was born in Newcastle, Me. Sept. 28, 1779, graduated at Harvard college 1806, and at Andover in 1810. Previously to his settlement here, he labored successfully as a Missionary in some of the neighboring towns. He was also the first Preceptor of Brackett's Academy in this place. He was dis- missed at his own request, by reason of ill health, Oct. 28, 1828, after a ministry of fifteen years. By him thirty seven persons were received into the church and twenty six were baptized.
Rev. Samuel W. Clark, the fifth pastor of this church, was born at Hancock, N. H. Dec. 15th, 1795, graduated with honor at Dartmouth college 1823, finished his studies at An- dover in 1827, and was ordained over this church, August 5th, 1829. He was a faithful, affectionate, and much belov- ed pastor until his death a period of eighteen years. He died in great calmness and peace of spirit Aug. 17, 1847, aged 52 years. He was favored with two seasons of refresh- ing from above during his ministry. He received thirty seven persons into the church and administered forty five baptisms.
The sixth pastor of this church was Rev. Edwin Holt .--- Born in New London, Conn. April 17, 1805, graduated at Columbia college Aug. 1821, he studied theology at the Seminary in Auburn. After settlements at Westfield, N. J., Macon, Ga., Portsmouth, N. H. and New York city, he was installed as pastor of this church March 8, 1848. Ill health compelled him to ask a dismission, which was reluc- tantly granted, Jan. 7th, 1851. During his ministry of three years, thirteen were added to the church and six were
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HAMPSTEAD.
baptized. Mr. Holt removed from Greenland to Madison, Ia. and from thence to Evansville, where he died July 3rd, 1854.
The present pastor of this church is Rev. Edward Robie. Born in Gorham, Me. April 5th, 1821, graduated at Bow- doin college 1840, and at Andover Theo. Seminary 1843, he was ordained Feb. 25th, 1852. Previously to his ordina- tion, he spent several years in teaching in his native place, and at Andover, Ms. During his ministry thirteen per- sons have been admitted to the church, seven by profession and six by letters of recommendation. It now embraces forty seven members.
Thus, for a century and a half, has this church been in existence. During this period it has been characterized by a constant and steady adherence to the institutions of the gospel. It has had its discouragements and its times of favor, having suffered seasons of depression and enjoyed pre- cious revivals. Favored indeed, has she been in her succes- sion of pastors. They were all able, laborious, faithful and devoted servants of Christ. Of the whole number who have preceded the present pastor, two only were dismissed, and they at their own request which was reluctantly granted by an attached people. The others lived, labored and finished their course with the church in joy and peace, and their re- mains repose with us until this day. The united ministry of the first two pastors numbered more than a century of years. This church has furnished for our denomination one minister, the Rev. Stephen Bailey, formerly of Raymond, and now of Dorchester, Ms.
HAMPSTEAD.
Rev. J. M. C. BARTLEY.
Hampstead is a small town containing only 8350 acres, 400 of which are covered with water. It never contained above 920 inhabitants ; the present number is 789. The town was incorporated in 1741. No church, other than the existing Congregational church, was ever organized here .- This church was gathered, June 3, 1752, consisting of 68 members. It has had only three pastors.
Rev. Henry True, a native of Salisbury, Ms., a graduate at Harvard in 1750, was ordained here in June 1752. He continued in the pastoral office about 30 years, until his death May 22, 1782, at the age of 57 years. For ten years subse-
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ROCKINGHAM COUNTY.
quent to his death, the church was in a distracted state, with- out a pastor, and much of the time without preaching. The second pastor Rev. John Kelly was a native of Amesbury, Ms .- was a graduate of Dartmouth college 1791 and was ordained here Dec. 5, 1792. Mr. Kelly held the pastoral relation for forty four years, when in 1836, in consequence of the infirmities of age, it was dissolved by mutual consent. The present pastor, Rev. J. M. C. Bartley, is a native of Londonderry, N. H., an alumnus of Amherst, and was install- ed over this church Oct.12, 1836.
The stipulated salary of Rev. Mr. True was $ 225 annual- ly. He received, however, $ 450 to assist in building a house and in the course of the first twenty years of his ministry he received in donations what amounted to over $ 2000 .- The stipulated salary of Rev. Mr. Kelly was about $ 300 .- But he also received several hundred dollars to aid in build- ing a house. The salary of the present pastor is $ 450.
There is no recordor ot her evidence of any revivals during Mr. True's ministry. He was a good man and his memory is fondly cherished by his few contemporaries who survive. During the latter years of his ministry his life was somewhat embittered and the church greatly weakened by divisions, occasioned by the intrusion of flaming sectarian exhorters among them. During Mr. Kelly's ministry there were two seasons of special religious awakening. The last and most remarkable occurred in 1827. It was a time of great out- pouring of the Spirit. Cases of discipline were formerly of rather frequent occurrence in the church and additions few. In 1836 the resident members did not exceed fiftyfive .- Since 1836 there have been received, on profession, seventy, and by letter, twenty eight. Since 1836 only one has been suspended from church privileges ; numbers have died, and a considerable number have been dismissed to other churches. Our present number is eighty five. In 1837 and '38 there was more than usual religious interest. During these two years about 40 united with the church by profession. Since 1836, nine young men from the parish have graduated at different colleges. Three of whom are now active and use- ful ministers of the gospel ; one is a physician in Boston ; one a lawyer in Manchester ; one a teacher in Valparaiso, S. A .; one a teacher in Natches, Miss ; one is studying the- ology, and one has lately died. Two young men, members of the church, are in a course of preparation for college, one of whom has the ministry in view.
By the intrusion of foreign influences, the vitally impor- tant doctrine of infant dedication has been, in times past,
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HAMPTON.
sadly depreciated, but of late, more enlightened views are entertained. Sabbath schools were established here at an early date and have been well sustained. The principal one of the parish has been sustained uniformly the year round with undiminished interest. Contributions to various be- nevolent objects are annually made. The monthly Missiona- ry and Sabbath school concerts have been, for a long course of years, observed and well attended.
HAMPTON .*
Rev. JOHN COLBY.
The Congregational Church in Hampton is the oldest in New Hampshire. This would be true, if its origin had been merely coeval with the settlement of the town. But it dates farther back. When the place was granted for a plan- tation, in September, 1638, some of the grantees were already "united together by church government." The original members of the church, and the first settlers of the town, generally, were Puritans ; many of them from the county of Norfolk, in England, where Christians of this class were very numerous. They have left their impress upon succeeding generations. Not only did the early settlers, some of them at least, come hither, an organized church, but they brought a pastor with them. Soon after their arrival, they selected a site, on which they built a Meeting-house. However rude, it was to them a sacred place ; and at the hour of worship, they went up to their log-sanctuary with feelings as devo- tional as are those of worshipers in splendid cathedrals.
Rev. Stephen Bachiler, the first pastor of the church, may, more than any other person be regarded as the father and founder of the town. He was already advanced in life, being not far from seventy seven years of age. The place of his birth, the time and the character of his ministry in Eng- land, are all involved in uncertainty. We are told, however, that in his native country, he " suffered much at the hands of the bishops." From England, he is said to have gone to Holland. He came to this country in 1632. He landed at Boston on the 5th of June, and proceeded immediately to Lynn, where his son-in-law, Christopher Hussey, was then living, at which place he commenced his ministrations the next Sabbath, and became pastor of the church. Difficulties soon arose between the pastor and a portion of the church,
* This History is by Joseph Dow of Hampton, and evinces great research.
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ROCKINGHAM COUNTY.
and he asked a dismission for himself and a few other persons, who had come with him from England, and had constituted a part of the church at Lynn. His request was granted, but instead of leaving the town, as had been expected, he and the other persons dismissed, renewed their former covenant, intending to be a church by themselves, and to remain at Lynn. At this course so much dissatisfaction was manifest- ed, that they thought it best to remove to some other place. Having failed in an attempt to settle on Cape Cod, they came to Hampton in the autumn of 1638. The next year, Rev. Timothy Dalton was associated with Mr. Bachiler in the ministerial office. Difficulties and distractions still at- tended the ministry of Mr. Bachiler. There was a want of harmony between the two ministers. Both of them were orthodox in sentiment, but they did not agree in practice .- The fault may not have been wholly on the part of Mr. Bachiler. Some domestic difficulties however, and some im- prudencies, not to say immoralities, on the part of Mr. Bach- iler, gave his opponents in the church the advantage. A majority of the church and of the town were against him .-- In the mean time, the people of the adjoining town of Exe- ter, having taken measures for forming a new church, invited him to become their pastor, though four score years of age. There is some uncertainty as to the time when the ministry of Mr. Bachiler in this town closed. It is said to have been sometime in the year 1641. In 1656 or 1657 he went back to England, where he died at the great age of one hundred years.
Rev. Timothy Dalton, as already mentioned, was associ- ated with Mr. Bachiler in 1639, the latter being styled pas- tor, and the former teacher. We are not aware, that two ministers, thus designated, have ever been connected with any other church in this State. The appropriate duties of the two ministers may be briefly stated, as follows : "In the forenoon of the Sabbath, the pastor preached ; in the after- noon, the teacher. In one part of the day, the pastor offered the prayer that preceded the sermon; and the teacher the closing prayer; and in the other part, the order was reversed. The teacher pronounced the benediction at the close of the morning service, and the pastor, at the close of the evening. At the celebration of the Lord's Supper, one of the ministers performed the first part of the service, and the other, the last ; the order in which they officiated, being reversed at each communion. The ordinance of bap- tism was likewise administered either by the pastor or the teacher." Mr. Dalton was inducted into the ministry, and
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HAMPTON.
labored in the capacity of a minister of the gospel in Eng- land, before his removal to this country. He is said to have come to America like many of his contemporaries, to find a place where God might be worshiped in accordance with the dictates of conscience.
About that time there were disturbances at Dover, which, it was thought, required the interference of the civil magis- trate. Mr. Simon Bradstreet, afterwards Governor of Mas- sachusetts, Rev. Hugh Peters, then a minister of Salem, subsequently a martyr to the cause of civil liberty, and Rev. Mr. Dalton, were selected and sent to Dover to quell these disturbances, and, as Gov. Winthrop remarks, " they brought matters to a peaceable end." At the time of his settlement in Hampton, Mr. Dalton was more than sixty years old .- In a few years, either from the failure of his health, or from the infirmities of age, he became unable to sustain all the cares and perform all the labors incident to the ministerial office in a new settlement. Two ministers were associated with Mr. Dalton in succession, the united period of whose labors filled nearly the whole time from the spring of 1647 till the close of his ministry, which terminated at his death, Dec. 28, 1661, when he was about 84 years of age. The appellation of teacher, which was given him at his settle- ment, he retained through life. At his death he was called " a faithful and painful laborer in God's vineyard." Soon after Mr. Dalton's settlement, measures were taken for build- ing a new Meeting-house. The contract for building it was signed Sept. 14, 1640 ; but the work was not completed till several years afterward. It is not known when the house was first occupied for public worship.
In the early part of Mr. Dalton's ministry, he was not paid for his services by a stipulated salary. Several grants of land were made to him, which were ultimately of consid- erable value. Sometime before his death, he conveyed by deed to the church and town of Hampton, "for the use of the ministry forever," certain portions of his lands, for the sum of £200 sterling. From the sale of these lands, and of other tracts appropriated by the town for the support of the ministry, a considerable fund has been derived, of which the towns set off from Hampton have had their appropriate shares. Mr. Dalton, at his death, left no children. At the time of his settlement here, he had a son bearing his own name, who was then, probably, an adult, as a farm was granted to him by the town. We have already mentioned, that in 1647, on account of the infirmities of Mr. Dalton, he was furnished with an assistant. The person selected for
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this purpose was Rev. John Whelewright, who had former- ly been pastor of a church at Exeter. We make the follow- ing extract from the contract between him and the church and town : " The church of Jesus Christ at Hampton have- ing seriously considered the great pains and labors that the reverente and well-beloued Mr. Timothy Dalton haue taken among them in the worke of the ministry euen beyond his abilitie or strength of nater ; And haueing upon sollemne seeking of God, settled ther thoughts upon the reverente and well-beloued Mr. John Whelewright of Wells as a helpe in the worke of the Lord with the sayd Mr. Dalton, our present and faithfull Teacher : And haue given the said Mr. Whelewright a call to that end with the consent of the hole towne : The which the said Mr. Whelewright doe except according unto God, &c." Then follow the terms of the contract, which it is not necessary to our present purpose to quote. He was settled and remained pastor about ten years. In May 1658, the town chose a committee for calling another person to settle in connection with Mr. Dalton. Mr. Whele- wright was then in England, whence he had written a letter to this church, dated April 20, 1658, in which he mentions an interview with Oliver Cromwell, "with whom," he writes, "I had discourse in private about the space of an hour. All his speeches seemed to me very orthodox and gracious." It may here be remarked, that these two persons had in early life been associated at the University of Cambridge, in Eng- land. After the accession of Charles II. to the throne, Mr. Whelewright returned to this country, and became pastor of the church at Salisbury, Ms., where he died Nov. 15, 1679, being the oldest pastor then in New England. He married Mary Hutchinson, a sister of William Hutchinson, the husband of Ann Hutchinson, who gave rise to the Anti- nomians in New England. Mr. Whelewright came to America in 1636-whether for the first time or not, we do not pretend to decide-and landed at Boston on the 26th of May. He and his wife were admitted to the church in that town, June 12, 1636. At a Fast in Boston in December of the same year, he preached a sermon that gave offence, as it was judged to reflect on ministers and magistrates. The Court after an unsuccessful effort to bring him to retract, requested, that he would, "out of a regard to the public peace, leave the Colony of his own accord"; but as he refused, they sentenced him "to be disfranchised, to be ban- Ished the jurisdiction, and to be taken into custody immedi- ately, unless he should give security to depart before the end of March." Declining to give bail, he was taken into custo-
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