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 8
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In Sept. 1726, Mr. Edmund March was invited to preach as a candidate for settlement. In October of the same year Mr. Whipple was employed. In Nov. he received a call to settle as pastor. His ordination took place Jan. 4th, 1727. His salary was £ 120 a year and the use of the parsonage .- In 1732 £ 20 were added to it, afterwards £ 30 were added, and then £ 40. Under this ministry, which continued more than thirty years, the church appears to have been in a pros- perous state. About 236 persons were received to full com-
* The old burying ground is first mentioned in the records March 18, 1722-3. There sleep with kindred dust the bodies of the first three ministers of Hampton Falls. And there repose the remains of Hon. Meshech Weare, the first Chief Magistrate of New Hampshire after the Revolution, with those of several members of his family.
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munion, 179 owned or renewed the covenant, and 1136 were baptized. Discipline was carefully maintained. The church was invited to sixteen councils, thirteen of which were for ordination. Of ninety one dismissed and recommended to other churches, 57 were dismissed Oct. 4, 1737 "to incorpo- rate at Kensington." Mr. Whipple was a native of that part of Ipswich which is now Hamilton, Ms. He was born in 1701. His wife's name was Elizabeth. She owned the covenant, and was baptized April 14, 1728, and was admit- ted to full communion June 2, of the same year. She sur- vived her husband who died Feb. 17, 1757. She was much beloved by the people with whom she had so long resided. - Her second husband who was Rev. John Lowell, it is said, preached the first Sabbath after Mr. Whipple's death from the words, "I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you." But when he came and carried her away, the people said, "We never desired such miserable comfort as this." She died in Portsmouth. Mr. Whipple was an active, effi- cient pastor. The Rev. Thomas Barnard of Salem, Ms. who preached the ordination sermon of his successor, thus speaks of him : " your late most worthy Pastor, that Friend of Man- kind, who is now we trust in full Exercise of that generous Friendship and universal Love (in the Paradise of the Lord,) which he so cultivated, and of which he was such a shining example in Life." He disapproved of the course of Whitefield, and was one of the clergymen "who wrote to the Boston ministers, representing the evils resulting from admitting Whitefield into their pulpits." He was buried by the side of his predecessor, Rev. Mr. Cotton. The Par- ish authorized a committee to defray the expense of the fu- neral " provided it did not exceed four hundred pounds old tenor." His gravestone bears this inscription : " Here lies the body of the Revd Mr Joseph Whipple, who having wise- ly and faithfully discharged the pastoral office, in the Second Church in Hampton, deceased Febry 17th 1757, in the 56th year of his age & 32d of his ministry, highly esteemed & beloved in life, and in death much lamented."
May 3, 1757, a call was extended to Josiah Bailey, which was accepted, and he was ordained Oct. 19, 1757. The salary offered was £42, and the use of the parsonage. The amount of salary was afterwards increased. Mr. Bailey's ministry was brief, but acceptable. He was thoroughly evangelical, and devotedly pious. Under his ministry the cause of religion received a new impulse, and the church was much revived ; 23 owned or renewed the covenant, and 122 were baptized. He was born Jan. 26, 1734, graduated
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at Harvard 1752, at the age of 18. He was never married. He was much beloved by his people. They deeply lamented his early death. The Rev. Mr. Barnard, who was his instruct- or, speaks of him in terms of commendation. He lies buried by the side of his predecessors, Cotton and Whipple. His gravestone bears this inscription, "Here are interred the remains of the Rev. Mr. Josiah Bailey, the third pastor of the church in Hampton Falls, who after he had wisely and faithfully discharged the duties of his office for the space of 5 years, was received into the joy of his Lord, Sept. 12th, 1762, Ætatis 28.". Before another minister was settled 23 persons were baptized.
" Dec. 14, 1763, Paine Wingate, A. M., was ordained pas- tor of the second church of Christ in Hampton, having been first received by them upon his dismission and recommenda- tion from the second church of Christ in Amesbury, and then elected from among them." No note of discord appears in the experience of this church for more than 50 years from the time of its organization. Jan. 28, 1765, a portion of the church, professing dissatisfaction with Mr. Wingate on the ground of doctrine, asked to be dismissed that they might be formed into a Presbyterian church. This was one of the first steps toward forming a Presbyterian church. in Seabrook, then a part of Hampton Falls. When Seabrook became a separate parish, a proposition was made to change the location of the Meeting-house. This met with strenuous opposition. But a new house was built "near the center of the inhabitants." Jan. 30, 1770, a majority of the parish " voted that the Rev. Mr. Pain Wingate shall go to the new Meeting-house, and preach and dedicate the said house to the public worship of God as soon as conveniently may be." This he declined to do. In Dec. they refused to raise his salary. April 23, 1771, an ecclesiastical council was called to advise and assist in reference to the difficulties existing in the parish. In Sept. the parish voted his dismission, giving him £50 and the use of the parsonage for four years. Preach- ing was hired for several years, Mr. Wingate still retaining his connection with the church and parish. March 12, 1776, Mr. Wingate resigned his office as pastor. March 18, he re- quested a dismission from his pastoral relation to the church. His request was duly complied with. His church connec- tion, and that of his wife, also, was removed to the church in Stratham. His active ministry here continued about eight years. But his pastoral connection with the church and parish extended through a little more than twelve years. Baptisms during this period were 184, marriages of parties
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belonging to Hampton Falls 45, and others 274. Many came from Massachusetts, and were married in virtue of a license from the Governor, rather than be published in the old form at home. Mr. Wingate's ministry was greatly disturbed by the unhappy contentions which existed in the parish, and which continued after his removal. Mr. Win- gate was born May 14, 1739, graduated at Harvard 1759. He married Eunice Pickering, daughter of Dea. Timothy Pickering of Salem, and sister of Hon. Timothy Pickering, the well known distinguished statesman. Mrs. Wingate survived her husband, and died in 1843, in the 101st year of her age. They had five children. Their descendants are numerous and respectable.
On his removal from Hampton Falls, Mr. Wingate settled upon a farm in Stratham. He preached some, but was soon called to take an important part in the affairs of State. He was a member of the old Congress under what was called the Confederation. He was a member of the State Legislature, a Representative and a Senator in Congress, and a Judge in the Superior Court, where he " sustained the character of a well informed, discerning, and upright judge. He possessed a strong, cultivated, and well balanced mind, with great independence and decision, and with no less frankness and equanimity. In his religious sentiments he was a decided Trinitarian, and accorded mainly with Henry, Watts, and Doddridge." He died March 7, 1838, in the 99th year of his age, having "outlived all who were members of college while he was there, all who were members of the house of representatives and of the senate in which he had first taken his seat, and all except one (Judge Timothy Farrar of New Ipswich) who were members of the court at the time of his appointment to the bench."
In Nov. 1774, a committee was appointed "to go and treat with the lower end of the parish concerning the diffi- culties that subsist in the parish," and another to apply to the Association for advice respecting a minister. For sev- eral years there was preaching in both Meeting-houses. Nov. 17, 1780, the " members that withdrew from the ordinances under Mr. Wingate's ministry contrary to order, and also put themselves under the care of the Presbyterian church, returned, made confession, and were restored." After the settlement of another minister, those who had opposed the building of a new Meeting-house quietly joined in the sup- port of religious institutions.
In 1780, Rev. Samuel Langdon, D. D., was invited to settle with a salary of £50 in money, and the use of the
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parsonage. Subsequently £10 were added to the salary. Dr. Langdon's ministry was peaceful and prosperous. It continued about seventeen years, during which time eleven were received to full communion ; 40 owned the covenant, and 72 were baptized. His preaching was grave, serious, and biblical. He " professed to be a Trinitarian, and a Cal- vinist." He was born in Boston, Ms., 1723, graduated at Harvard 1740, served as chaplain in the army that captured Louisburg 1745, settled in Portsmouth Feb. 4, 1747, entered upon his duties as President of Harvard university Oct. 14, 1774, was delegate to the convention held in 1788 at Exeter to adopt the Federal Constitution. After his settlement in Hampton Falls, Jan. 18, 1781, " he spent the residue of his days in usefulness and peace, a blessing to the people of his charge, and happy in the enjoyment of their affection and respect." His body rests in the new burying ground, a short distance from the Meeting-house where he had officiated. His gravestone bears an inscription which commends his " extensive knowledge, hospitality, catholicism, patriotism, and piety." He published numerous sermons and some
larger works. He gave his library to the church for the use of the minister of Hampton Falls.
Jan. 17, 1798 was observed as a day of fasting and prayer in reference to the settlement of another minister. Soon after this a call was extended to Jacob Abbott "to settle as the minister of the town, and pastor of the church, with a salary of 300 silver dollars," and the use of the parsonage. He was ordained Aug. 15, 1798. The ministry of Mr. Ab- bott commenced under favorable auspices. But the harmony of the parish was soon disturbed by the religious movement in which Elias Smith was a prominent leader. One individ- ual who had embraced these sentiments was labored with by the church in 1803. In 1809, for the same cause, 21 were exempted from the usual ministerial tax. About the same time, Mr. Abbott received an invitation to take charge of the Dummer Academy. But, in accordance with the advice of a council convened for that purpose in the summer of 1809, he declined the invitation. His ministry continued about 29 years, during which 148 were baptized, and twelve united with the church. On account of the divided state of, the town, Mr. Abbott tendered his resignation in 1826. He was regularly dismissed by a council, Oct. 23, 1827.
After his dismission, Mr. Abbott removed to Windham, where he purchased a farm and spent the remainder of his days, but continued to preach occasionally till his death. He was drowned Nov. 2, 1834, by the upsetting of a boat, at
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KENSINGTON.
the age of 66. In the latter part of his life he adhered to the theological views of Unitarians. He was a man of " well cultivated mind, a mild disposition, and was governed by religious principle from his childhood." He was much es- teemed and beloved by those to whom he ministered during a large portion of his active life. Mrs. Abbott died in Con- cord, N. H., Jan. 27, 1843, aged 63.
Mr. Abbott was the last minister settled by the town. After his dismission, Rev. Messrs. J. Thurston, W. F. Row- land and others preached as occasional supplies. The desk was sometimes occupied by other denominations. Rev. Mo- ses Dow preached about three years from 1830. The deep toned piety of Mr. Dow, and his earnest and serious exhibi- tion of the great doctrines of the cross did much to promote vital godliness during his brief stay in the place. April 1833, Rev. Mr. Wood, Unitarian, was employed. June, the same year, Rev. Henry C. Jewett, Orthodox, was invited to preach, and remain through the season. During his stay the Orthodox and Unitarians separated. The former united with the people of Seabrook in the support of preaching, and employed Orthodox preachers. From the time of Mr. Ab- bott's dismission to 1835, 10 were baptized, and 25 admitted to the church.
The Baptist Society, first formed about 1808, has since be- come two, namely, Calvinistic and Free Will. The people of the town generally are connected with some one of the religious societies now existing in the place. For more than a century from the first organization of the Congregational church there were continued additions to it, except for the few years of strife which arose from changing the location of the Meeting-house. And the general prosperity and good habits of the inhabitants, and their present attachment to some of the existing forms of religious worship, show that the fruits of the labors and example of the fathers have not been wholly lost upon the children. But the details of recent and passing events must be left for the pen of the future historian.
KENSINGTON.
April 1, 1737, is the date at which Kensington became a town corporated. It was detached from Hampton. Rev. Jer- emiah Fogg was ordained Nov. 1737 over a church formed on the 6th of the preceding month, consisting of 64 members.
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Born in Hampton, a graduate of Harvard, he was pastor of the church fifty two years and died Dec. 1, 1789, aged 77 years. In Jan. of that year a bitter trial befel the church. Its members felt impelled to complain of their pastor for heretical teachings. A council met. Dr. McClintock of Greenland presided in the council. Mr. Fogg's sentiments were unanimously disapproved, in that he held that " Christ was no more than a mere man and that we are justified by works-meaning, before God." Such was the charge sus- tained by full testimony. And the language of the council is very full and explicit, showing their attachment to the faith of their fathers and that these views were an innovation among them.
After him came Naphtali Shaw, born in North Bridge- water, Ms. June 20th, 1764, a graduate of Dartmouth in 1790, settled Jan. 30, 1793. He was dismissed Jan. 13, 1813, and had a pastorate of twenty years. In 1779 and 1780 he was a soldier in the war of the Revolution ; and a teacher some years before he settled in the ministry. After his dis- mission he went to Bradford, Vt., to reside with his son.
Mr. Nathaniel Kennedy followed him in the ministry here. He was a native of Ireland, was ordained Jan. 13, 1813, and dismissed July 1, 1816, and died in 1843. After leaving this place he was employed in teaching in Philadelphia.
Joseph A. E. Long, born in Amesbury Ms., a graduate of Harvard in the class of 1818, was settled here June 5, 1822, and removed April 8, the following year. He was in Lyman, Maine, in 1836. He afterwards labored again in the place for a time and also in Hooksett. Rev. Bezaleel Smith preached to this church for awhile previous to 1829. Mr. Fogg's ministry seemed efficacious in the first portion of it but was ruinous in its later influences. Mr. Shaw entered a very trying field, but saw some changes for the better .- The Covenant was revised by him. But at a subsequent period the church became Unitarian, [see account of Hamp- ton Falls.] The responsibility must be vast upon those who admit the beginnings of error into their own minds, or who are instrumental of them in a church. .
KINGSTON.
REV. JOHN H. MELLISH.
About the year 1694 a grant of land was made to forty men of Hampton ; the grant included the territory embraced
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KINGSTON.
in the towns of Kingston, East Kingston, Danville and San- down and the town was named, Kingstown. Attempts to settle the town were much hindered by the hostility of the Indians. The first volume of the town records is not known to be in existence. The early records extant which go back to the year 1700 consist chiefly of descriptions of grants of land. In 1703 there appears a record of a grant of land to the first minister that the town shall call and settle in the work of the ministry, also, a vote determining the site for a Meeting-house. Under date of 1702, where lots are describ- ed and numbered, lot 14 is assigned to the parsonage. A town meeting was warned to meet at Aaron Sleeper's garri- son, Dec. 12, 1705. One object of this meeting was, "to consider of some way to secure a minister to be with us." At this meeting the town chose a committee "to look out for and agree with a minister; that the men thus chosen shall not exceed £40 a year ; but shall agree with him as much under £40 as they can." Oct. 1707, there is a rec- ord of an agreement of the town to pay a salary to Rev. Mr. Benjamin Choate of £ 50 a year; £ 30 current silver money and £20 in labor and provision pay ; also, a grant of land. There appears from time to time the record of a vote, "that the town give Rev. B. Choate forty cords of wood this year." April 16, 1716, a committee was chosen to confer with Mr. Benjamin Choate "upon terms of continuance amongst us in the work of the ministry ;" also a vote to add £ 10 to the salary making the whole £60, "at the end of two years £ 5 more yearly if he continues with us in the work of the min- istry." Also, a vote that £40 shall be presented to him when he builds a house in this town. Five voters entered their dissent to this vote.
Feb. 16, 1720, a call was given to Mr. William Tomson and an offer of a salary of £80 a year; £40 money and £40 provision pay ; also, "a grant of land to Mr. Tomson, provided he be our ordained minister and continue with us in the work of the ministry ten or fifteen years except God should take him away by death ;" also, the use of the par- sonage meadow "during the term of his natural life." He answered affirmatively to this call. But besides this, his name is not mentioned except in connection with a grant of land under date of April 5, 1721, and on the church records, Oct. 30, 1728, is the marriage of the "Rev. Mr. William Thompson and Anna Hubbard, by Rev. Ward Clark." There is now no tradition that such a man ever preached in Kingston.
In the year 1725 Mr. Ward Clark received and accepted
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a call from the town to settle as their minister. A salary of £80 was voted, but the town added £10 before his settle- ment. The church was gathered Sept. 17, 1725. Here commence the church records, with an account of the fami- lies belonging to Kingston when the Rev. Mr. Ward Clark took charge of the church, Sept. 29, 1725. Here follows a list of heads of families. The "Squire's" name comes first, then the names of military officers. There is one "Mr." Benjamin Choate in the list and one is described as a Qua- ker. Some of the names are now extremely common, such as Sanborn and Webster. In this list are Thomas, John, Thomas Jun. and Ebenezer Webster. One of these was the ancestor of Hon. Daniel Webster. The number of families was-" In all Eighty and one." Then follows an account of the deaths in Rev. Ward Clark's time. The year 1735 was marked by the ravages of a terrible disease which continued into the year 1736 until almost all the children in town were taken away by death. The summer months were most fatal. In June, 1735, number of deaths, 13 ; July, 20; August, 26. Note at the end of the year-"This mortality was by a Kanker Quinsey which mostly seized upon young people and has proved exceeding mortal in several other towns. It is supposed there never was the like before in this country." The next thing which the Church records show, is-"a list of the Communicants at the first gathering of the church at Kingston at the Fast before the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Ward Clark," which were 22 in number. Mr. Clark was evidently a man of much business tact and a very influential and active man in the affairs of the town and church. His policy was to encourage additions to the church, and during the first year of his ministry, it was voted that "Members be admitted without being obliged to make Relations." The town made liberal grants of land to him and added from year to year £10 to his salary, making in all £ 90. For several years the amount added to his regular salary is £20. Mr. Clark married Miss Mary Frost, Nov. 20, 1727 ; Mrs. C. and infant child died July 27, 1735. . Mr. C. died May 6, 1737. He had a long sickness at Exeter. He left by a will a bequest for the support of the poor, and another for the support of the gospel. Mr. Choate outlived Mr. Clark many years ; his name appears in the town books as moder- ator of town meeting and school-master; he died Nov. 26, 1753, aged 73.
June 9, 1737, the town voted to call Mr. Peter Coffin to settle as minister with an offer of a salary of £150, but eighteen voters recorded their dissent. The settlement was not effected.
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Sept. 6, 1737, the town by a unanimous vote invited Mr. Joseph Seccombe to settle as minister. The call was accepted, and he was ordained Nov. 23, 1737 and preached the ordination sermon himself, from Mark 7: 37. During his ministry, the half-way covenant was in vogue. Evidence is not found that the revival in New England in the year 1740 and the following years was felt at Kingston. One or two Kingston people may have been awakened by White- field's sermons at Exeter. At a church fast, April 19, 1753, a paper embracing acknowledgments and resolutions was read to the congregation from which we quote, as follows- "We sincerely resolve by the help of God as a Christian congregation to walk together in all the ways of Divine worship according to the rules of the gospel and the degrees of communion to which we have attained ; and that we will be very careful for our own good conduct and the behavior of those whom we are immediately concerned with, in the several relations in which we stand." Rev. Joseph Seccombe died Sept. 15, 1760. His ministry reached through more than twenty two years. He was a graduate of Harvard university and a native of Medford, Ms.
The third ordained pastor of Kingston, was Mr. Amos Tappan, ordained August 18, 1762. He died June 23, 1771. His ministry was less than nine years. He was received to the communion of the first church in Kingston by a letter of recommendation from the church in Cambridge, Ms., on the day of his ordination.
The fourth ordained minister of Kingston was Elihu Thayer, D. D., ordained Dec. 18, 1776 ; born at Braintree, Ms .; died April 3, 1812, in the 66th year of his age and the 36th year of his ministry. Dr. Thayer was a man of supe- rior wisdom and his advice in difficult matters was eagerly sought by the churches in the vicinity. He was a sound preacher, thoroughly orthodox in his sentiments and laborious in the duties of his calling. In the early part of his ministry certainly some were received into the church on the half-way · covenant plan, but it seems that this practice fell into entire disuse. There was no special revival of religion during his ministry, and indeed the number of members of the church at the time of his death must have been very small; as appears by a list made out a little more than a year after his death, there were but fifteen members, of whom nine were present to renew their covenant at a certain meeting and six were not present. Dea. Stevens was the only male member on the list. The settled ministers who preceded Dr. Thayer are spoken of as preachers by aged people who heard about
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them, as being Arminian-a rather vague term but probably indicating a vagueness in their preaching, a keeping in the back ground the doctrines that are distinctively called "doc- trines of grace." After Dr. Thayer's death the church remained without a pastor for five or six years, but was supplied by Mr. Wilbur and many others. In the year 1813 there is record of admissions to the church-five by Rev. J. H. Church-fifteen by Rev. Moses Stuart, (he happening to preach that day at Kingston,) and four by Rev. Thomas Holt, in all twenty four. In 1814 there were seven admis- sions.
Jan. 1, 1818, Rev. John Turner formerly pastor of the church in Biddeford Me., was installed pastor of the church in Kingston. This is the last clergyman who received his call to settle from the town. A remonstrance was sent in to the council against his installation ; but the council saw no cause why they should not proceed.
We now enter upon what is probably the very darkest period in the history of this church. A quarrel arose respecting the manner in which the income of the property left by the first minister (Rev. Ward Clark) for the support of the gospel should be applied. The Congregational Socie- ty claiming that the testator intended his bequest should belong to them. A lawsuit ensued, but the Congregational society was beaten and since that time every tax payer signifies his will yearly where he will have the portion which falls to him paid in. Mr. Turner remained here until dis- missed May 1, 1823-four months more than five years. He is said to have been a man of a good deal of resolution, of good talents and prepossessing personal appearance, but there were many things in his conduct which men cannot approve of in a Christian minister. The most serious fault charged upon him was intemperance, and this doubtless was the means of leading him into other deviations from that sobriety which is properly expected of a minister of the gospel. It is said that he reformed after he left Kingston and died in a town near Boston, Ms. It was during his pastorate, that the Methodists gained a foothold in Kings- ton.
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