USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > New Ipswich > The history of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, 1735-1914, with genealogical records of the principal families > Part 12
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Dec. 7, 1862
Captain
13 N. H. Inf., G
1 Minn. Inf., F
Died at Fortress Monroe of wounds neglected while in prison.
Killed at Fredericksburg, Va. Capt. Co. E, Apr. 6, 1865 . .
Dec. 13, 1862 May 31, 1910, at Tilton
Captain
4 N. H. Inf.
Aug. 11, 1866
3 Mass. Cav., M 2 U. S. Sh. Shooters
Enlisted as Musician . . . Discharged disabled June, 1862. Discharged disabled June 6, 1863.
Sept. 11, 1871
1st Lieut.
47 Mass. Inf., F 47 Mass. Inf., F 13 N. H. Inf., G
Afterwards served Co. C, 1 H. Art.
Discharged Nov. 28, 1864.
1st Sergt.
Discharged disabled Jan. 23, 1863.
2 N. H. Inf., G
Discharged disabled Aug. 8, 1861.
6 N. H. Inf., K
Discharged disabled Oct. 4, 1862.
115
Discharged disabled May 26, 1863.
6 N. H. Inf., K 3 N. H. Inf., E
13 N. H. Inf., G
6 N. H. Inf., K 13 N. H. Inf., G 6 N. H. Inf., K
4 Mass. H. Art. H
History of New Ipswich
NEW IPSWICH SOLDIERS IN
NAME
BORN
AGE
RESIDENCE
ENLISTED
Hickoch, Thomas J. .
Cambridgeport, Mass.
20
New Ipswich
June 13, 1861
Hubbard, John
Mason .
20
66
June 14, 1861
Hull, Charles H. .
Lowell, Mass.
27
Oct. 15, 1861
Isaacs, Charles E.
Plymouth, Mich. .
18
66
66
Feb. 16, 1865
Judkins, Samuel E. .
New Ipswich
22
66
66
July 19, 1861
Knowlton, John F.
New Ipswich
19
66
66
Aug. 18, 1862
Knowlton, William R. .
Westboro, Mass. .
41
66
66
Aug. 15, 1861
LeRoy, David .
New York City .
34
66
66
Oct. 31, 1861
Locke, Warren P. . ·
22
66
66
Nov. 7, 1861
Mansfield, Jonathan N.
Fitchburg
43
66
66
Oct. 27, 1861
Mansur, William E. .
Temple
51
66
66
Oct. 15, 1861
Marvin, James H. .
Williston, Vt.
28
66
66
Nov. 23, 1861
McConnell, Jonathan
Paisley Scot.
38
66
66
Aug. 12, 1862
McDonald, Michael .
Lowell, Mass.
20
66
Nov. 21, 1861
Nicholas, Warren C.
New Ipswich
28
66
6.
Aug. 13, 1862
Nutting, Charles P. .
New Ipswich
24
66
66
Oct. 29, 1861
Nutting, George H. . .
New Ipswich
25
Aug. 15, 1862
Nutting, George P. . .
Ashburnham, Mass .
25
Aug. 20, 1861
Nutting, James Francis
New Ipswich
18
Oct. 15, 1861
Nutting, John C. .
Ashburnham, Mass. .
28
66
Sept. 14, 1861
Nutting, Jonas
Westford, Mass
56
Nutting, Alllen A.
New Ipswich
18
66
66
May 25, 1861
Oliver, Lucius C.
New Ipswich
22
66
66
Aug. 9, 1862
Peavy, Wallace
Peterboro
19
66
66
Mar. 14, 1864
Pike, John
Haverhill, Mass.
45
66
66
Oct. 28, 1861
Potter, George F.
New Ipswich
26
66
66
July 14, 1863
Pratt, Charles H.
Marlboro
24
66
Aug. 14, 1862
Pratt, Daniel F. .
Marlboro
22
66
66
Aug. 16, 1862
Proctor, Amos J. .
Stoddard
31
66
Aug. 14, 1862
.
Aug. 29, 1861
Nutting, Charles S. .
New Ipswich
23
66
66
66
66
66
Nov. 30, 1861
66
66
116
New Ipswich Soldiers
THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
REGT. Co.
REMARKS
DIED
RANK WHEN DISCHARGED
11 Mass. Inf., K
Missing at Bull Run Aug. 29, 1861.
10 Mass. Inf., K 6 N. H. Inf., K
Appt. Captain Jan. 13, 1863. . Discharged disabled Jan. 13, 1863.
2d Lieut.
6 N. H. Inf., K
13 N. H. Inf., G
24 N. H. Inf., E 6 N. H. Inf., K
Musician, discharged disabled Jan. 23, 1863.
Killed at Bethesda Church, Va. Killed at Petersburg, Va.
Died from wounds.
Discharged June 29, 1865. .
Discharged June 6, 1865. . Killed at Cold Harbor, Va. . Discharged Sept. 27, 1864. . Died of disease, Roanoke Is- land, N. C.
June 1, 1864
Mar. 29, 1862
13 N. H. Inf., G
3 N. H. Inf., E
Appt. 1st Sergeant Oct. 11, 1862. Disch. dis. Mar. 11, 1863.
Mar. 20, 1874
6 N. H. Inf., K
Died of disease, Annapolis, Md.
Jan. 15, 1862
4 N. H. Inf., I
Appt. Sergeant.
Discharged May 15, 1862. .
June 20, 1873 June 9, 1863
1st Lieut.
Appt. Sergeant. Killed.
First Lieut. Co. I, Mar. 1, 1865. Mustered out June 1, 1865.
1 N. H. Cav. M
6 N. H. Inf., K
Died of disease, Winchester, Ky
Apr. 12, 1863
Musician
16 Mass. Inf., H
Wounded June 18, 1864. .
13 N. H. Inf., G 13 N. H. Inf., G
Discharged Sept. 18, 1865. · Discharged disabled Jan. 28, 1863.
Sergeant
13 N. H. Inf., G
Discharged disabled May 28, 1863.
Mar. 4, 1863
32 Mass. Inf., B
6 N. H. Inf., K
June 3, 1864 July 7, 1864 Sept. 25, 1862
6 N. H. Inf., K 6 N. H. Inf., K 13 N. H. Inf., G 3 Mass. Cav., M
1st Lieut.
13 N. H. Inf., G 4 N. H. Inf., C 6 N. H. Inf., K
Died of wounds, Washington, D. C.
July 4, 1864
6 N. H. Inf., K 2 Mass. Inf., D 13 N. H. Inf., G
Wounded Nov. 12, 1864. Mustered out July 15, 1865.
117
Totally blind from spotted fever.
Discharged Apr. 1, 1863. . Died Newport News.
History of New Ipswich
NEW IPSWICH SOLDIERS IN
NAME
BORN
AGE
RESIDENCE
ENLISTED
Ray, Walter
Manchester, Eng.
18
New Ipswich
Dec. 7, 1861
Reddy, Patrick .
Ireland
36
"
.6
Robinson, Charles 1st .
Mason
45
66
Nov. 12, 1861 July 31, 1861
Saunders, Edward A. .
18
66
Nov. 12, 1861
Shattuck, George W. .
Westburne, N. Y. .
18
..
66
Oct. 21, 1861
Shattuck, John B.
New Ipswich
26
66
66
Sept. 5, 1861
Sheldon, Charles B. .
Temple
30
Dec. 3, 1861
Simons, Willard
Groton, Mass. .
25
66
66
Oct. 15, 1861
Simpson, James
New York City
30
66
66
Nov. 12, 1861
Smith, Augustus
Underhill, Vt. .
22
Dec. 23, 1861
Smith, George 3rd
England
27
66
66
Nov. 10, 1863
Smith, Gideon H.
Central Falls, R. I. .
21
66
66
Dec. 16, 1861
Spear, Joseph A. .
New Ipswich
25
Oct. 7, 1861
Stratton, Charles H.
New Ipswich
15
. .
66
Aug.,
1861
Stratton, James S. . .
New Ipswich
19
June, 1861
Swallow, Andrew S.
Dunstable, Mass.
37
Oct. 16, 1861
Tebbits, George B. .
New Ipswich
20
66
Sept. 20, 1861
Thayer, Edward A. .
New Ipswich
18
66
66
Nov. 12, 1861
Walker, John K. .
New Ipswich
25
66
66
July 12, 1861
Walton, Charles
Rindge
45
66
66
Oct. 14, 1861
Weston, William L.
18
Nov. 12, 1861
Wheeler, Josiah P. .
Westminster, Mass. .
28
66
Aug. 29, 1861.
Whitney, John H.
Dudley, Conn. .
23
Aug. 9, 1862
Wilson, George W. .
New Ipswich
18
Sept. 13, 1862
Wilson, William H. .
New Ipswich
21
Aug. 13, 1862
Wright, Albert F.
Mason
19
60
Nov. 12, 1861
Wright, Charles A.
Mason
19
66
66
Nov. 12, 1861
Wright, Edward .
Westford, Mass.
38
66
May 20, 1861
Weston, Frank
Nashua, N. H.
66
66
Apr. 23, 1861
66
66
60
118
New Ipswich Soldiers
THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
REGT. Co.
REMARKS
DIED
RANK WHEN DISCHARGED
N. H. Cav. M.
Re-enlisted Jan. 1, 1864; killed, Lacy's Springs, Va.,
Dec. 26, 1864
Corporal
6 N. H. Inf., K 3 N. H. Inf., E
Died of disease, Milldale, Miss. Discharged disabled Feb. 11, 1862.
July 30, 1863
Corporal
3 Mass. Cav., M
Discharged disabled June 16, 1862.
6 N. H. Inf., K
4 N. H. Inf., I N. H. Cav. M
6 N. H. Inf., K
6 N. H. Inf., K N. H. Cav., M
Discharged Jan. 31, 1863. Captured. Killed Columbia Furnace.
Oct. 6, 1864
Sergeant
8 N. H. Inf., A
N. H. Cav., M 8 N. H. Inf., D 25 Mass. Inf., F
21 Mass. Inf., G 6 N. H. Inf., K 5 N. H. Inf., I
Killed at Antietam . Sept. 17, 1862 July 4, 1862 Died of disease.
Discharged disabled Sept. 13, 1862.
Apr. 24, 1867
Captain
Killed.
Oct. 21, .1861
Discharged Mar. 4, 1863.
Sergeant
Discharged disabled June, 1862. Accidentally killed on cars
Sept. 13, 1864
while a prisoner enroute from Andersonville to Sa- vannah.
Mustered out June 21, 1865. .
Wagoner
Discharged May 12, 1865. . . Discharged Sept. 18, 1865.
Discharged disabled Oct. 16, 1862.
Mustered out July 17, 1865. . Discharged for wounds Oct. 28, 1862. Died at Rindge. Disch. June 24, 1864. Cap- tured at Malvern Hill July, 1862. In Libby prison, pa- roled Aug. 7, 1862.
Feb. 25, 1873
Sergeant
2 N. H. Inf., G
11 Mass. Inf., E
Discharged Dec. 11, 1865. . . Died of disease.
Aug. 9, 1863
Twice captured. Discharged June 14, 1865.
In prison more than six mo. Mustered out Oct. 28, 1865. Mustered out July 15, 1865. .
1st Serg. Corporal
Lost leg at Roanoke Island, but served through the war in Vet. Reserve Corps.
Capt. Co. H, 1st Lousiana Cav. Resigned Dec. 14, 1863.
3 Mass. Cav., M
15 Mass. Inf., B 6 N. H. Inf., K 3 Mass. Cav., M 4
13 N. H. Inf., G 6 N. H. Inf., K 13 N. H. Inf., G 6 N. H. Inf., K
6 N. H. Inf., K
119
History of New Ipswich
BORN IN NEW IPSWICH,
NAME
BORN
AGE
CREDITED TO
ENLISTED
Aiken, George H.
New Ipswich
18
Amherst
Aug. 21, 1862
Aiken, John C.
66
19
Milford
Aug. 21, 1862
Ainsworth, William P. Austin, Albert T. .
66
66
37
Nashua
Dec. 2, 1861
66
18
Mason
Sept. 27, 1862
Baldwin, Edwin T. .
66
28
Nashua
June 4, 1861
Boyce, James L. .
66
66
24
Keene .
Nov. 12, 1861
Chapman, Charles
66
66
25
Dublin
Aug. 23, 1862
Cragin, Clark .
66
18
Jaffrey
Oct. 8, 1861
Emory, George E.
66
66
27
Lowell, Mass.
Dec. 5, 1861
Felt, George D.
66
26
Temple
Apr. 30, 1861
Fuller, Granville L.
66
66
26
Sharon
Oct. 15, 1861
Harvey, Charles L. .
33
Chesterfield
Aug. 29, 1861
Hildreth, William H. .
66
21
Ashby, Mass.
Aug. 26, 1864
Joslin, Charles .
22
Deering
Aug. 29, 1861
Lawrence, Charles A. .
33
Nashua
Sept. 30, 1861
Lee, Samuel W. .
66
16
Chicago
Aug., 1863
Livingstone, Harrison M.
66
66
22
Mason
Sept. 2,
1862
Matthews, Frank .
66
66
20
Woburn, Mass.
Sept. 10, 1864
Preston, George P. .
66
66
38
Jaffrey
Oct. 22, 1861
Preston, Seth .
66
32
Hillsboro
Aug. 12, 1862
Stearns, John E.
25
Mason
Sept. 15, 1862
Tenney, George F. .
66
66
20
Hollis
Sept. 1, 1862
Tyler, Humphrey M.
38
Milford
Sept. 3, 1864
Wheeler, H. B.
66
28
Peterboro
Aug. 12, 1862
66
22
Walpole
Nov. 21, 1862
Brown, Marshall L. .
66
18
Manchester
Oct. 1, 1861
Hardy, William H ..
66
21
Peterboro
Aug. 30, 1861
Maxwell, Henry F. .
21
Mason
Oct. 2, 1861
Prichard, George H.
66
120
New Ipswich Soldiers
BUT ENLISTED ELSEWHERE.
REGT. Co.
REMARKS
DIED
RANK WHEN DISCHARGED
10 N. H. Inf., H
10 N. H. Inf., H
Twice wounded. Mustered out June 7, 1865.
1st Serg.
N. H. Cav., M 16 N. H. Inf., C
1 N. H. Inf., C
16 N. H. Inf., E 6 N. H. Inf., E 10 N. H. Inf., F
5 N. H. Inf., D 8 N. H. Inf., D 2 N. H. Inf., G 7 N. H. Inf., A 6 N. H. Inf., K
2 N. H. Inf., C
Discharged disabled Nov. 29, 1862.
Mustered out June 17, 1865. .
Discharged Sept. 1, 1865. .
Twice wounded. Appt. Capt. Co. B, Nov. 2, 1864.
6 Ill. Cav. F 16 N. H. Inf., C
Appt. Serg. Mustered out Aug. 20, 1863.
Mustered out Aug. 23, 1865. .
Mustered out June 4, 1865. .
Discharged on account of wounds Jan. 26, 1863.
Dec. 19, 1867
Sergeant
8 N. H. Inf., B 11 N. H. Inf., D 16 N. H. Inf., C
15 N. H. Inf., E
Discharged Aug. 13, 1863. Died at Townsend.
Aug. 27, 1863
18 N. H., Inf., F 13 N. H. Inf., G
Mustered out June 10, 1865. Died at Togus.
May 26, 1887
Sergeant
Wounded. Mustered out June 22, 1865. Died at Rindge.
Feb. 28, 1884 Lieutenant
Band.
Mustered out Aug. 20, 1863. . Mustered out July 17, 1865. . Discharged disabled Jan. 16, 1863.
Aug. 25, 1863
Asst. Surgeon
Mustered out Oct. 29, 1864. . Mustered out Oct. 28, 1865. .
Died of wounds.
Mustered out July 20, 1865 . Discharged disabled June 2, 1865.
Nov. 6, 1862 Jan. 18, 1869
4 Mass. H. Art. H 4 N. H. Inf., C 7 N. H. Inf., B
4 N. H. Inf., E 11 Mass. Vol. B 6 N. H. Inf., K
Corporal
Mustered out Oct. 28, 1865. . Twice wounded. Discharged disabled Oct. 25, 1864.
Aug. 19, 1864
Mustered out Aug. 20, 1863 .
121
Appointed Hospital Steward. Mustered out June 1, 1865.
Killed Fort Royal, Va. . . . Died of disease, Port Hudson, La. Leader of Baldwin Cornet
May 30, 1862 Aug. 1, 1863
CHAPTER VII ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
N EW Ipswich was originally settled by men who feared God and recognized their obligation to sustain the in- stitutions of religion. Previous to the coming of the settlers under the Massachusetts Grant men were sent forward "to erect a convenient meeting house," and the first structure of any kind reared within the territory of the town was for religious worship. The Masonian charter (June 16, 1749) specified that the Grantees reserve ten acres of land there, i. e., around said meeting-house. "And said Grantees shall within seven years settle a learned and orthodox minister in said township, and for whom suitable provision shall be made."
The site of the first meeting-house was located by the son of Judge Timothy Farrar at the time of the church cen- tennial (1860) as being on the hill east of the Farrar house "on a small plat ten rods S. 6° 30' E. from the highest point on the hill." This building was burned in the winter of 1748. Among the papers of Prof. Chandler I find this note (authority not given) : "The meeting-house stood on the Farrar's hill and was thirty feet square, built of logs being nicely hewn and roofed with bark. The superior elegance of this temple excited the wonder of the neighboring towns."
In 1752 the town voted to build a meeting-house, and after much discussion it was decided to place it on "Lott No. 1 in the 10th Range." Meantime, (October, 1753,) it was voted to "meet at the house of Joseph Kidder for the future," which stood on the site of the house now occupied by Mrs. Frank W. Preston. This house was finished in February, 1759. At once it was voted "to seet ye meeting house" and a committee was chosen for the purpose. As seats were as- signed to individuals in the supposed order of their social standing, it would seem to modern estimate that there would be an abundant opportunity for criticism, but the majesty of the law, even as represented by a committee chosen from one's social peers, was then of more practical power than at the present day.
122
Rev. Stephen Farrar
While waiting for an abidingplace the town had sought to find a minister and a call was given to Mr. Peter Powers, which he did not accept. Also Mr. Deliverance Smith declined to settle here, although it was voted to give him "53 pounds 6 shillings & 8 pence Lawful Silver money as yearly sallery if he settles with us so long as he sustains the Carator of our Gospel Minister."
We will believe that a kindly Providence prevented these two men from coming to this town that a better influence might be brought to it in the person of Mr. Stephen Farrar, who was called "to be our Gospel Minister in this place," November 28, 1759. His "Sallery was to be 40 pounds Starling money of Grate Britton and 30 cord of good wood, Cord wood length to be delivered at his house anually." This call was accepted by Mr. Farrar July 30, 1760.
The formal organization of the church took place Octo- ber 21, 1760, and the following day Stephen Farrar was ordained and installed pastor of the church. It is not an overstatement to say that no one event in the history of the town has been of greater importance. The influence of this young pastor in the formative period of the growth of the town, coming here in the vigor and enthusiasm of early man- hood, aided by the prestige in those early days accorded to his profession, has made itself felt to the present day. The bond between pastor and people was strong, and increasing year by year was broken only by his death.
The church at its organization consisted of twenty-one members; to these, before 1772, thirty-eight others were added. The records are tantalizingly imperfect. Save a par- tial record of admissions and baptisms, only one item of business is recorded previous to 1800, and all the records are written on four leaves measuring six by four inches. In that year a bound volume was obtained which contains the records of 1800-1834, but they were written with no regard to chrono- logical order and the confusion is misleading and discouraging. Fortunately for the historian of the future, the contents of this volume have been transcribed in proper order and are now accessible.
Within three years the growing population of the town made the meeting-house too small for its needs, and in 1762 an article was in the warrant for town meeting "to see if they [the Proprietors] will make preparations for Building a meet-
123
History of New Ipswich
ing house." Controversy as to the location and dimensions of the house ensued and it was not finished until 1770. When it was "erected and covered," after long discussion it was decided that the "Pews shall be sold at public vendue to the highest bidder." This auction was held November 25, 1768. A list of the buyers is given.
Charles Barrett £82 1s. No. 29 A body pew, pews on three sides.
Thomas Heald £80 1 Next to S. door.
Francis Appleton £80
7 Next to East door.
Benjamin Adams
£80
10 In amen corner next to N. E. pew.
Moses Tucker Jr. £78
Benjamin Wheat
30 Body pew, corner of block.
Ephraim Adams £77 9 N. W. corner pew.
Jonathan Dix £76
16 N. E. corner pew.
Nathan Cutter £71
11 Amen corner, next to B. Adams.
Timothy Fox £66
34 Body pew, corner of block.
Peter Fletcher £64
31 Body pew, corner of block.
Eleazer Cummings £58
12 Amen corner, next to pulpit.
Josiah Brown £43
21 S. W. corner pew, next to stairs.
Andrew Spaulding £42
4 S. E. corner pew, next to stairs.
This house was directly opposite the old cemetery.
The "Great Revival" began in the winter of 1785-86 and continued nearly a year. Early in the winter, at the quarterly fast which the church had been accustomed to observe for several years, an unusual number were present, and the pres- ence of the Holy Spirit was manifest in power. The people could not go away "but remained to converse on their own personal religion." Through the winter the work went on. The season was one of great severity, but people went on the crusted snow through the fields from one meeting to another at a later hour. It is said that even the sick were carried on beds. Sometimes Mr. Farrar preached in a barn with the hearers seated on the floor and the scaffold. Ninety- eight persons were added to the church within two years.
Mr. Farrar's pastorate was not marked by any other events of special interest. He lived the quiet life of a country minister, doing his duty to all, and was a power for good in giving tone and direction to every project for the benefit of the town. To him revered and beloved as "the Good Parson," June 23, 1809, the end came suddenly, and he went to join in another world those of his flock to whom he had shown the way to the heavenly gates.
Rev. Seth Payson preached the funeral sermon from the
124
Rev. Richard Hall
words, "And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him." The town paid the ex- penses of his funeral and placed over his grave a marble slab with the inscription,
The people of his charge leave this stone To mark the place Where they have laid him.
On the one hundreth anniversary of Mr. Farrar's death a simple service was held at his grave. An appreciative sketch of his character and influence written by Miss Katharine Preston, who is of his lineage, and read by Rev. C. R. Pea- cock, a poem by Dea. James Roger, formerly of Edinboro, with prayer by Rev. W. R. Thompson, fitted the quiet sunset hour, serene and beautiful, typical of the close of the life which we met to commemorate.
Each year on June 23, a young woman whose heart is filled with reverence for those who laid the broad foundations of all that is good in the town places upon Mr. Farrar's grave flowers gathered from the garden of his lifelong home.
Immediately after Mr. Farrar's death the town looked for a successor. One or two candidates were heard, but it was not easy to find a man who would fill the place of the lamented and revered pastor. One candidate, so tradition relates, was rejected because he wore white stockings, so unlike the black and inconspicuous garments which were worn by Mr. Farrar. December 5, 1811, a call was given by the town to Mr. Richard Hall, and he was ordained March 12, 1812. In August of that year he strengthened his relation to the people by his marriage with Lucy, eldest daughter of Hon. Timothy Farrar and niece of Rev. Mr. Farrar.
Before Mr. Hall came to the church a revival was in progress which was greatly helped by his ministrations. In 1821-22 there was another revival of great power, and as the fruit of the two there were added to the church about one hundred and fifty persons. During his ministry a creed and confession of faith was adopted, and all who were admitted to the church were required to subscribe to it. It embodied very strictly the theological tenets of the day.
The meeting-house became too small, and also so dilapi- dated that a new one was needed. The new building on the spot where the present one stands was begun in 1812, and
125
History of New Ipswich
completed in 1813. "Modeled after Park Street meeting-house in Boston, it was a stately building with graceful spire, a perfect type of the colonial church and dear to the heart of every one within sound of its sweet-toned bell."
In 1818 the first Sunday School was organized by the women of the church. During the following winter it was suspended but revived in the following spring, and has continued to this day, the instrument of untold good. The widow Abigail Davis was the first superintendent.
Mr. Hall died July 13, 1824, after a prolonged illness. "His ministry was faithful and successful." "His mental powers were above the ordinary grade, and he was noted for his decision of character."
In 1823 a Religious Society was formed to cooperate with the church by having special care of financial matters and of general temporalities. It began with one hundred mem- bers, and George F. Farley was the first secretary. Thus at the termination of Mr. Hall's ministry the official connec- tion of the town with the church ceased.
After much indecision and discussion the church gave a. call to Rev. Isaac R. Barbour October 4, 1824, and the in- stallation took place March 8, 1826. On August 22, of the same year, on account of the health of his wife, he asked a dismission. This request was granted only too willingly.
In choosing a successor to Mr. Barbour the church and society were unanimous in the choice of Mr. Charles Walker, who came here directly from Andover Theological Seminary. The salary offered was $700, and he was ordained February 28, 1827. His ministry was conscientious and successful, es- pecially in enlisting a more general activity in the church. Protracted meetings were held repeatedly, and conversions were numerous. June 21, 1827, a committee was chosen to visit the members of the church "to converse particularly on the subject of religion." A committee of discipline was chosen which did its work too faithfully for the peace of the church. Members were disciplined for the most trivial causes, and long-continued discussions were wasted on trifles light as air. During the ministry of eight years there were one hundred and six church meetings on business, many of them beginning at nine o'clock in the morning and continuing until late at night; also there were five councils or references, be-
126
Rev. Samuel Lee
sides those of ordination and dismission. Mr. Walker was dismissed August 26, 1835.
Rev. Charles Walker was born in Rindge, N. H., November 21, 1795. His father was a farmer of moderate means and the son had to earn his education by his own exertions. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1823 and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1826, being then more than thirty years old. A man of fair talents, an impressive preacher, and of a gentle spirit. After leaving this church he was settled March 9, 1836, at Windsor, Conn. The last years of his life were spent at Groton, Mass., where he died October 23, 1847.
At a meeting of the church January 18, 1836, "A subject was presented by the Moderator for consultation, as to the propriety or expediency of calling a man to settle with us as a minister of the gospel without attending to the usual pre- liminary course of probation." "After some little consultation it was moved and seconded that we present Rev. Samuel Lee of Sherburne, Mass., a call to settle with us in the work of the gospel ministry. The above motion was carried into effect by vote of the church." The church knew of Mr. Lee only from the report of a committee who had attended a protracted meeting at Ashburnham, where he had been called to assist the pastor.
The call, one of several under consideration at that time by Mr. Lee, was accepted, and the installation took place on May 5, 1836. Early in his ministry some changes took place. So far as is known it had always been the custom of the church that candidates for membership should appear before a public church meeting, relate their religious experience, or read a paper which they had written, and then be questioned by any member of the church. This in itself was an ordeal from which nearly every one would shrink. In July, 1837, it was voted "That candidates for admission to the church meet the Committee of Examination, and if by them approved, be propounded three weeks at least previous to the time of admission."
Another revival came to this church in 1841-42, but unlike some of previous years there was no excitement, but a calm, intense earnestness which continued during nearly two years. "There were added to the church one hundred and ten per- sons, several husbands and wives side by side, and most of
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History of New Ipswich
them persons in middle life." In 1857-58 there was again much religious interest, fifteen being added to the church, beside a much larger number of students of the Academy who would join their home churches.
Notwithstanding this increased religious interest other agencies were at work. In 1841 the use of wine at the com- munion table was brought before the church. After pro- longed discussion and thought the church voted to continue the use of wine as had been the custom ever since the time of Christ. The vote stood eighty-four in favor of the use of the wine, four against it. Thus that special question was defi- nitely settled. But the germ of discord grew with the years and the church became divided on many questions. Advice was asked and given by two ecclesiastical councils, and at the suggestion of the second, many of the dissatisfied mem- bers asked for dismission and recommendation to other churches, although it is certain that at Mason Village they did not receive a cordial welcome.
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