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 7
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dy, but released the next day on "declaring himself willing to submit to a simple banishment." In 1638, Mr. Whele- wright purchased of the Indians a considerable tract of land around Squamscot Falls, and founded the town of Exeter, and took the pastoral charge of the church formed there. In 1642, that town came under the jurisdiction of the Colony from which he had four years before been banished, and as that sentence had not been reversed, he now removed from Exeter to Wells, in the Province of Maine. Mr. Whele- wright afterward made some slight acknowledgment, and in 1644, the General Court removed the sentence of banish- ment, so that when he received an invitation to come to Hampton, there was no legal objection to his accepting it. At the very time of the Antinomian troubles in Massachu- setts, Mr. Whelewright had many warm friends, even in Boston, who regarded him as an innocent and injured man. At a somewhat later period, some distinguished men, who had always sympathized with his opponents, admitted, that, in their opinion, he was a good man and one " that had the root of the matter in him." His sermon, which gave so much offence, is, happily, still preserved, and one of the ablest jurists that New Hampshire has ever produced, after a careful perusal of it, publicly declared, that, in his judg- ment, the charge of sedition was "wholly groundless ; there was not the least color for it." And the General Court afterwards certified the excellence of his character. Mr. Whelewright received in compensation for his services here, in addition to a house-lot and a farm of three hundred acres, the payment of certain charges, and the snm of £40 per an- num.
Mr. Seaborn Cotton was ordained pastor of the church in 1660, having assisted Mr. Dalton in the ministry about two years and near the close of the following year, by the death of the teacher, the whole care of the church devolved upon him. He continued his ministry here, without much inter- ruption, till it was suddenly terminated by his death, which occurred April 19, 1686, when he was in the fifty third year of his age, having been pastor of the church about one-half that number of years. Mr. Cotton was the eldest son of Rev. John Cotton, of Boston, and was born August 12, 1633, while his parents were crossing the ocean on their way to America. Sept. 6, two days after their arrival at Boston, they dedicated him to God in baptism, and in consideration of the circumstances of his birth, gave him the name Sea- born. Mr. Cotton graduated at Harvard college in. 1651, at the age of eighteen years. At what date he began to
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preach, we have not been able to ascertain. He was "es- teemed a thorough scholar and an able preacher." At a town meeting March 25, 1664, it was " voted, and agreed yt those yt are willing to have their children called forth to be catechised, shall give in their names to Mr. Cotton for that end, between this and the second day of the next month."
It is to be regretted that no record remains-perhaps, none was kept-of the proceedings of the church while under the care of the first three ministers. Nor did Mr. Cotton, the fourth minister, keep a full record. He left a list of 68 members upon some loose papers. There is less uncertainty in relation to parochial affairs, as the town records furnish a considerable amount of reliable and valuable information. It will be sufficient to notice two or three facts: We learn that the town granted to Mr. Cotton a farm of 200 acres, and gave him at first £ 65 a year, but afterward increased his salary to £70, and, in 1667, to £80. We find also that a new Meeting-house was erected in the summer of 1675, at the raising of which, all the males in the town, of twenty years of age and upwards, were required to be present and to assist, under a penalty of twelve pence each, for neglect. At the age of twenty one, Mr. Cotton married Dorothy, the eldest daughter of Gov. Simon Bradstreet, with whom he lived sixteen years, and by whom he had nine children. After the death of Mr. Cotton, the church, or rather, the town, soon began to make efforts to obtain another pastor. Their choice fell on Mr. John Cotton, the eldest son of their late minister, and a committee was appointed to treat with him in reference to a settlement. Mr. Cotton declined ordi- nation, though he consented to preach. In the course of a few years, the invitation to him to become pastor of the church, was several times renewed, and as often declined. During a portion of the years 1690 and 1691, Mr. Cotton was absent, and Rev. John Pike, the pastor of the church at Dover, being driven from his home by the ravages of the Indians, supplied the pulpit here, and received an invitation to settle, which he declined. Another invitation was exten- ded to Mr. Cotton, and he at length consented to be ordained and take the pastoral charge of the church. His ordination took place Nov. 19, 1696. At the time of his ordination only ten male and fifteen female members remained. But the number was soon enlarged. Seventy persons were ad- mitted to full communion during the first year of his pasto- rate, and two hundred and twenty, during the whole period of his ministry. Mr. Cotton lived among his people, beloved
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and respected, and died very much lamented, and his mem- ory was long held dear. His death occurred suddenly, March 27, 1710, when he was nearly fifty-two years of age. He was born May 8, 1658, and graduated at Harvard col- lege in 1678.
In less than three months after the death of Mr. Cotton, the town voted to give a call to Mr. Nathaniel Gookin, to become their minister. The terms being made satisfactory, Mr. Gookin accepted the call and was ordained Nov. 15, 1710. A little prior to this time, the people in that part of the town, called the Falls, began to agitate the subject of forming a new church. About one year after Mr. Gookin's ordination, the church was formed, forty-nine members of the old church having been dismissed for this purpose. Be- fore the close of his ministry, the old church also dismissed a considerable number of persons, to be formed into new churches at Kingston and at Rye.
The fourth Meeting-house for the use of the old church and the people at the town, was built during Mr. Gookin's ministry. It was constructed with two tiers of galleries, one above the other. At first it contained but one pew, and that for the use of the minister's family ; the rest of the house being furnished with seats for the accommodation of the people. But persons were not permitted to select seats for themselves. To prevent confusion from such a course, the town either assigned seats to the several worshipers, by vote, or appointed "a committee of meet men" to do it. Whatever seat might, in either of these ways, be assigned to any individual, he was expected to occupy that, and no other, till a new assignment should be made by order of the town. It should be stated that, though only one pew was made in the new Meeting-house, when it was built, yet oth- er pews were added from time to time, being in most instan- ces built, at the expense of the persons who were to occupy them.
In the autumn of 1727, the people here, and throughout New England, were greatly alarmed by a succession of Earth- quakes, the first and most violent of which occurred on the 29th of October. It was the Sabbath. In the afternoon, Mr. Gookin preached from Ezekiel 7: 7-"The day of trouble is near." In the preparation of the sermon during the week previous, he found it so difficult to fix his attention upon any other subject, except a kindred one which formed the theme of his forenoon's discourse, that he seemed to have a presenti- ment, that something unusual was about to occur. In refer- ence to this, although he disclaimed all pretensions to the gift
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of prophecy, he remarked in his sermon, "I know not but there may be a particular warning, designed by God, of some day of trouble near, perhaps to me, perhaps to you, perhaps to all of us." A few hours passed away, and in the evening the earthquake came "with a terrible noise, something like thunder," and "the houses trembled, as if they were falling." Consternation seized both men and beasts. "The brute crea- tures ran roaring about the fields, as in the greatest distress ; and mankind were as much surprised as they, and some with a very great terror." All "saw a necessity for looking to God for his protection." As shocks, though slighter than the first, continued to be felt day after day for a considerable time, the people generally became thoughtful and serious. They met together for religious services, and many were found "asking the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward," and, before the close of the next year, more than seventy persons were gathered into the church. Mr. Gookin's health failing, it was found necessary that he should be assisted in his labors, as early as July, 1731, and perhaps earlier. Several persons were employed at different times to render such assistance, and, a little before the death of the pastor, one of them was settled as his colleague. Mr. Gookin died of a slow fever, Aug. 25, 1734, aged nearly 48 years, one half of this time having been spent in the service of this church. During his ministry, 320 persons were admitted to full communion with the church, and about 975 baptized. Years before his death, this worthy minister said that, in case he should be taken away from his family, his great comfort, next to his hope in the merciful providence of God, was that he should leave them with a kind and loving people. His confidence in his people was not misplaced. The town by a unanimous vote appro- priated £100 to pay the funeral charges of their beloved pastor, and soon after made ample provision for the comfor- table support of his widow and her family, by building a house and barn for her use, furnishiug her with fuel and various other articles, and granting her an annuity of £80 during her natural life ; nor was she unworthy the benefac- tions of the people, so liberally bestowed.
One of the persons employed by the town, to preach for Rev. Mr. Gookin during his protracted illness, was Mr. Ward Cotton, whose first sermon in Hampton was delivered in July, 1731. Nearly three years afterward, he was invited to settle, and having accepted the invitation, was ordained col- league pastor. At his ordination, a sermon was preached by his brother Rev. John Cotton, of Newton, Ms. This is the first account that we have of a sermon being preached at
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an ordination here. It is not improbable, that hitherto, the candidates for settlement had themselves preached, on such occasions. The church at this time appears to have been in a prosperous condition. It consisted of 253 members, one third of whom were males. About four years later, a large portion of the members who lived in the north part of the town, formed a new church at what was then called North- Hill,-now the town of North Hampton.
In 1746 the Board of War in Massachusetts invited Mr. Cotton to go to Cape Breton, as chaplain to the army about to be sent for the reduction of Louisburg. He laid the re- quest before the church and inquired whither they were will- ing that he should go. The church generally voted in the negative ; only about ten voting in favor, "and they had children or other relatives there." Mr. Cotton's ministry was longer than that of any of his predecessors, but it closed before his death. Charges were brought against him, of conducting himself on several occasions in a manner inconsistent with the character of a minister of the gospel. The whole matter was submitted to a mutual council. After a thorough in- vestigation, the council considered the charges substantiated, though they charitably suggested, that his errors might be attributed to a paralytic shock, from which he had suffered, and which had somewhat impaired his mental faculties. They, however, recommended, that his pastoral relation to the church should be dissolved. The result of council was accep- ted, and Mr. Cotton was dismissed Nov. 12, 1765. During his ministry 427 persons were admitted to full communion, and about 1200 were baptized.
The next pastor of the church was Rev. Ebenezer Thayer, who received a call in June, 1766, and was ordained on the 17th of September following. The ordination sermon was preached by Rev. Andrew Eliot, D. D., of Boston, from 2d Timothy, 2 : 15. Though the call extended to Mr. Thayer was nearly unanimous, yet a remonstrance was presented to the council assembled for his ordination, signed by more than twenty persons, who expressed their apprehension, that if the candidate should be ordained, " the town was on the verge of ruin." The reasons assigned were two :- first, that the meetings, that had been held, "had not been carried on with that love and unity which are necessary in the call of a gospel minister;" second, "that so large a salary had been voted to Mr. Thayer, that the town would never be able to pay it." Notwithstanding this remonstrance, the ordination took place at the time appointed ; the salary was paid from year to year, and the town was not ruined. Mr. Thayer's
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ministry continued about 26 years, and was generally pros- perous. Embracing the whole period of the American Rev- olution and of the Confederation that preceded the adoption of the Constitution, he and his people were not exempt from the toils and trials attendant upon onr country's struggle for liberty, nor from the sufferings occasioned by the deprecia- tion of the currency. But his people acted justly. They consulted with him from time to time, to find what addition- al sums must be paid him in order to make good his salary, and paid him accordingly. During his ministry 102 persons were admitted to full communion, and 641 baptized. Mr. Thayer's labors terminated only with his life. On Sabbath, Sept. 5, 1792, he preached, as usual. In the evening he became unwell, and just as the sun rose the next morning, he fell asleep in death, at the age of 58 years, leaving an affectionate people to mourn his sudden departure. He was born July 16, 1734, and graduated at Harvard college in 1753, where he was afterward a tutor six years, performing the duties of his station in a very acceptable manner. He married Martha Cotton, a niece of his predecessor in the pastoral office.
There were invitations successively given to Mr. Nathaniel Thayer son of the late pastor and to Mr. Daniel Dana to become the pastor of the church, but both refused. Several other candidates preached here, who were favorably received by a majority of the town, but failed to secure the approba- tion of the church. The consequence was, there was an open rupture. A majority of the town, finding that they could not, according to Congregational usage, settle a minister without the consent of the church, voted themselves Presby- terians, and joined the presbytery of Londonderry. By their aid they settled Mr. William Pidgin, as a Presbyterian min- ister, who received ordination, Jan. 27, 1796, and continued in office till July, 1807, when he was dismissed. Mr. Pidgin was a native of Newbury, and graduated at Dartmouth col- lege in 1794. After his dismission from this place, he was settled over a church in Minot, Me., and afterward removed to Portland where he died. When the course of the town was known, a large majority of the church, still adhering to the Congregational polity, and encouraged by the advice of neighboring clergymen, without hesitation resolved to procure a Congregational minister. They, with others that rallied round them, soon formed a Congregational Society, and, as the Presbyterians had possession of the Meeting-house, a large dwelling-house was hired, in which to hold their meetings, till they could make some other provision. Some of the
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neighboring ministers preached for them a few Sabbaths, and on the 17th of April, 1796, Mr. Jesse Appleton delivered his first sermon. He continued to preach for them about ten months, when, having received an invitation to become their pastor, he was ordained Feb. 22, 1797. Rev. Samuel McClin- tock, D.D. preached on the occasion. The spring following they began to build a Meeting-house, which was finished the same year, and dedicated Nov. 14, 1797. Mr. Appleton was fully aware of the responsibility of the ministerial office, and he fearlessly and faithfully yet with remarkable prudence, performed the duties of his station. By an orderly distribu- tion of his time and a strict and uniform adherence to a well- digested plan for study, for parochial calls, and for other labors, he was enabled to accomplish much, without ever being in a hurry. Such were his arrangements in his prepara- tions for the Sabbath, that he was seldom obliged to appear in the pulpit with an ill-constructed, or hastily written dis- course. In 1807, without having been previously consulted, he was elected to the Presidency of Bowdoin college, then vacant by the death of Rev. Dr. McKean, and his acceptance was warmly urged by the friends of the Institution. His fondness for literary pursuits, his discriminating mind, his affability, and his deep interest in the welfare of youth, admirably fitted him for the station to which he had been called; yet he shrank from sundering the tender ties which bound him to an affec- tionate and beloved people. Uncertain as to his duty, he laid the subject before the church. A council was called in Nov. 1807, not for the purpose of merely sanctioning a foregone decision, but of hearing and examining the case, and of giving advice to both pastor and people. In their result, the council say that, "after the most careful, serious, and prayerful deliberation," they had arrived at the conclusion, that it was the duty of Mr. Appleton to accept the appointment, and that his pastoral relations to the church should be dissolved. The result was accepted, and he was accordingly dismissed, and soon after inaugurated as President of the college. Mr. Appleton was a son of Francis Appleton, of New Ipswich, and was born Nov. 17, 1772. He graduated at Dartmouth college in 1792. In 1800 he married Elizabeth Means, daughter of Hon. Robert Means, of Amherst. They had six children, three daughters born at Hampton, and three sons at Brunswick, Me. Of these, only two are now living, viz. Mary Means, the wife of John Aikin, Esq. of Andover, Ms. and Jane Means, the wife of Franklin Pierce, now President of the United States. Dr. Appleton died at Brunswick, Nov. 24, 1819, aged 47 years and seven days. 6
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The Congregational and the Presbyterian churches were now both destitute of pastors. It was by many thought best that a re-union should be effected. An effort was successfully made to accomplish an object so desirable. The terms of union having been agreed upon, the Presbyterians returned to the bosom of the mother church. The old Meeting-house, at the Green, was forsaken, and a year or two afterwards taken down. Over the church thus constituted, Rev. Josiah Webster was settled June 8, 1808. The installation sermon was preached by Rev. Samuel Worcester, of Salem, Ms. At that time the church consisted of 135 members. During his ministry, there were several seasons of refreshing, and as the result of one of these, in 1827, fifty persons were gathered into the church. The whole number admitted during his minis- try was 170. Mr. Webster remained pastor of the church till he was called away by death. His last public act was the preaching of the sermon at the ordination of his son John Calvin, at Newburyport, Ms. where he was ordained as Sea- men's Chaplain at the port of Cronstadt, in Russia, March 15, 1837. His health had previously been infirm, and this effort was more than he could endure. The day following, he returned home to die. He remarked, that he thought his work on earth was done, and then added, "Well, if it be so, I know not with what act I could close my life with more satisfaction." He died March 27, twelve days after the ordination.
About one year after Mr. Webster's decease, a call to Mr. Erasmus Darwin Eldredge, a native of Dunstable, Ms., having been given and accepted, he was ordained pastor of the church April 4, 1838. During his pastorate of about eleven years, there were several seasons of more than ordinary religious interest among his people, and considerable additions were made to the church. Mr. Eldredge was dismissed, at his own request, May 7, 1849, and was soon after settled at Salisbury in this State. He now has the charge of a Female Seminary at Monticello, Georgia.
Mr. Solomon Payson Fay succeeded Mr. Eldredge in the pastoral office, and was ordained Sept. 6, 1849. He was a native of Westborough, Ms. though his parents now live in Ohio. He graduated at Marietta college, in 1845, and studied theology at Andover, Ms. A few months after his settlement at Hampton he married L. Maria Brigham, of Southborough, Ms. In the latter part of the summer of 1854, Mr. Fay having been invited to take the pastoral charge of a Congregational church in Dayton, Ohio, asked and received a dismission from this church, to enable him to accept
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the call from the church at Dayton, over which he was soon after installed.
The ordination of Mr. John Colby, as pastor of this church, took place Oct. 31, 1855. Rev. J. P. Cleveland, D. D. of Lowell, Ms. preached the sermon. Mr. Colby was born at York, Me., Oct. 1, 1822, graduated at Dartmouth college in 1852 and at the Andover Theo. Seminary in 1855. He began his ministry under pleasing circumstances, for the next Sab- bath after his ordination six persons united with the church, two of them young men in a course of preparation for College. The church now embraces one hundred and seventy members and has paid a salary of $ 600.
HAMPTON FALLS .*
Hampton Falls was incorporated as a Parish May 12, 1718. It was formerly a part of Hampton. The first Meet- ing-house was erected as early as 1711. It stood on the " Hill," and occupied the present site of the Weare Monu- ment. It was occupied before it was entirely finished. In 1737 it was thoroughly repaired, and a new roof put upon it. In 1780 it was voted, to sell the old Meeting-house, and appropriate the avails to the support of the poor. Oct. 20, 1768, "voted to build a new Meeting-house, near the cen- ter of the inhabitants." This house, 55 by 40 feet, was ready for dedication Jan. 1770. It stood till the year 1842, when it was taken down by order of the town. Its site is now occupied by the dwelling-house of Wells W. Healey, Esq. The Unitarian Meeting-house stands on the opposite side of the road, and was dedicated Jan. 1, 1839. Dec. 9, 1711, forty seven persons were dismissed from the old church in Hampton, "in order to their entering into church-state in the south part of the town." Dec. 13th, a day of fasting and prayer was observed and a church organized consisting of 56 persons. Rev. Messrs. Odlin, of Exeter, Cushing, of Salisbury, Ms. and Gookin of Hampton, assisted on the oc- casion. "The Rev. Mr. Cushing preacht and gathered the church." A short time after its organization 19 persons were received by letter to the church.
" Theophilus Cotton was ordained Pas-Tour of the church of Hamptonfalls, The 2d Jan. 1712. The Revd. mr Rodg- ers of Portsmouth giving him the Charge, And the Revd. Mr. Cushing of Salisbury giving him the Right Hand of
* Sketch by Rev. S. T. Abbott.
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Fellowship." His salary was £60 a year. In 1721, it was increased by the addition of £ 20. Mr. Cotton was a grand- son of Rev. John Cotton of Boston, who was much distin- guished in the early history of this country. His father whose name was John, was minister in Plymouth, Ms. twen- ty eight years. Mr. Cotton's ministry continued about 15 years, during which 98 persons were received to full com- munion ; 35 owned the covenant, in order to their own or their children's baptism, and 468, 72 of which were from the Shoals, were baptized. Seven persons were dismissed Sept. 12, 1725, to become connected with a church, to be formed at Kingston. The church appears to have been in a peace- ful and prosperous condition during the whole period of Mr. Cotton's ministry. In his quiet country parish, he spent the active years of his life in diligent labors for the good of a people by whom he was highly esteemed, and enjoying the respect of the neighboring ministry. The Rev. Mr. Gookin of Hampton, who preached the funeral sermon the next Sabbath after his death, from 2 Cor. 5 : 4, and John 5 : 35, " gave him a good character." His ministry was closed by his death. The church records contain the following notice : "August 16, 1726, Died the Revd. Mr. Theophilus Cotton, Pastor of the second Church in Hampton after a faithfull Discharge of that office for nigh 15 years & was Decently Buried the 18th following, at the charge of the Parish." --- He was buried in the old burying ground, and a monument erected over his grave which bears the following inscription : " Here lyes ye body of ye Revd. Mr. Theophilus Cotton, ye First Minister of ye Church at Hamptonfalls, who after he had served God faithfully in his generation, Deceased, Au- gust ye 16th, 1726, in ye 45th year of his age. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." After his death it was voted to buy buildings and lands of Mrs. Cotton for "the use of the parish forever."
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