USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Salisbury > The history of Salisbury, New Hampshire, from date of settlement to the present time > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
Some of the readers of this periodical will remember how the country was shocked by the sudden termination of the life of Ezekiel Webster. On the 10th day of April, 1829, while arguing a case in the Court-House at Concord, he fell life- less to the floor.
Having visited the ancient cemetery at Boscawen, and particularly noticed the incriptions on the tombstones of Ezekiel Webster and his first wife, we proceeded on our journey. We soon passed the county buildings (and the magnificent farm connected therewith ) which overlook the charming valley of the Merrimack, and came to Stirrup-Iron Brook, which comes down from Salisbury, passes under the Northern Railroad and falls into the river. This brook takes its name from the circumstances, that, sometime after the independence of the colonies was acknowl- edged, Gen. Dearborn, of Revolutionary fame, while going, on horseback, to visit a sister at Anciover, in fording this stream, which was then at a high stage of water, lost one of his stirrup-irons.
We cross the railroad and are soon looking both to the right and left upon the broad, smooth acres of the Elms Farm ( now the Orphans' Home ). To this place Daniel Webster was brought, with the family, when he was about one year of age, and around this sacred spot clustered all his early recollections. He owned this farm, after his father's decease, and made annual pilgrimages to it till the year he died. Here was the theatre of his early sports and joys, as well as trials and disappoint- ments. Here his school days began; from here he went to Philips Academy at
. Granite Monthly, May, 1880.
156
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
Exeter for a term of six months, when fourteen years of age; from here he went to Boscawen Plains, under the instruction of Rev. Samuel Wood, D. D., to prepare for college, in the spring of 1797; from here he went to Dartmouth, and when he graduated, with distinction, in 1801, it was right here where he entered the law office of Thomas W. Thompson, as a student of Blackstone.
This Thompson first opened an office at Salisbuary South Road, but after remaining there a year he came down to the river road, where his office was nearly opposite the Webster House. This office was removed many years ago and made the ell of a house standing on the hill towards Shaw's Corner. Thompson finally went to Concord, and after a life of industry and success, having filled the chair of Speaker of our House of Representatives in June, 1813, and served as Senator in the Congress of the United States from June, ISI4, to March, 1817 (to fill a vacancy ), he died and was buried in Concord.
With reverent step we entered the Webster cemetery at the Elms Farm; saw where Captain Ebenezer Webster and his wife, Abigail, (the parents of Daniel ) as well 'as many others of his kindred, were laid to rest, and we felt that this was the proper place for the dust of the great expounder to sleep instead of being secreted off in that lonely pasture at Marshfield. We felt, too, that Webster made a mis- take in cultivating the barren slopes of Green Harbor and making a home there, when the Elms Farm presented opportunities so much better. We visited the celebrated oak tree on which (as tradition has it) Daniel hung his scythe after fail- ing to make it suit him, hung in any other way. But the tree was then dead on the mow-field. Time had laid it low, as it had him who had often basked in its shade.
Writing of this place toward the close of his life, in a letter to a friend, Webster says: "Looking out at the east windows, with a beautiful sun just breaking out, my eye sweeps along a level field of 100 acres. At the end of it, a third of a mile off, I see plain marble gravestones, designating the places where repose my father and mother, and brothers, and sisters, Mahitable, Abigail and Sarah-good scrip- ture names, inherited from their Puritan ancestors. This fair field is before me. I ยท could see a lamb on my part of it. I have ploughed it, raked it, but I never mowed it ; somehow I could never learn to hang a scythe. My brother Joseph used to say that my father sent me to college in order to make me equal to the rest of the children."
We crossed the mouth of Punch Brook, just above the Elms Farm, and, turning immediately to the left, proceeded on up the old road running to Shaw's Corner. About half way up, and near where the road crosses the brook, we find the founda- tions of a saw-mill which Capt. Webster owned when Daniel was a lad. From letters of the latter we learn, that, while at work with his father in this mill, while listening to the roar of the water-fall and gazing on the mountains and forests in their grandeur, Daniel Webster had his first visions of future eminence, or of the possibility of it. Here, to this youth, there were "sermons in stones, tongues in trees, and books in the running brooks."
A half a mile or more to the northward of Shaw's Corner, on a road leading to East Andover, and on the charmed banks of Punch Brook, where the birds sing sweetly in May, is the birthplace of Daniel Webster. Here Judge Webster, coming up from Kingston, selected his farm in the wilderness. It was average land for tillage and pasture, and was quite valuable on account of its pine timber, but by years of neglect and waste the farm has become very ordinary. The old log cabin
157
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
was demolished before Daniel's birth, but the spot where it stood is still visible, as well as the foundations of the grist-mill which Capt. Webster erected on Punch Brook. The well and the historic elm are there, and a part of the little frame house in which Daniel Webster was born is there, constituting the ell of the present two- story house standing on the premises. The room in which Daniel was born is there, precisely as it was Jan. 18, 1782, excepting that now there are two windows in front, whereas, at the former period, there was but one. Of all these facts we satis- fied ourselves after patient and thorough investigation.
We now began our toilsome ascent. The sun having passed an hour beyond its high meridian, and our experiences for the day having been not totally unlike those of him of the olden time, who, "in weariness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings," pursued his high calling, we halted and went into bivouac. ()n the eastern slope of Searle Mountain, under the shade of a large rock-maple which stood by the side of a sparkling rivulet, we supplied our wants. A fire was kindled, -the coffee-pot and frying-pan were taken from the carriage, and "salt-hoss and hard-tack " ( the soldier's fare ) made the foundation of our meal. Old " Nimrod," the faithful animal who had been ridden in the army, was not forgotten, but was led "into green pastures," and had set before him his coveted " gallon of shoe pegs" which had been brought along for the occasion.
The summit of Searle ITill ( more commonly known, perhaps, as Meeting-house Hill) was now our objective point. It is a mile west of Shaw's Corner, on an old road leading to Salisbury Centre. The ascent of this hill, especially from the east, is attended with much labor. The hill is both long and steep-very steep, even for the mountainous regions of New Hampshire. The road is rough, and is now entirely abandoned as a public highway. Giving the horse his head, we toiled up this mountain as pedestrians. Half way up from Shaw's Corner, on the right hand side of the road, is seen an old cellar and all the foundations of extensive farm. buildings. But the voices which rang on that mountain side are hushed. It was William Webster, a brother to Capt. Ebenezer, who settled on this spot. Here, in his early manhood, he came and selected his home. Here he raised his large family, lived a life of usefulness and died. But this deserted place is further made memorable by the fact that Daniel Webster, after leaving Exeter Academy in the spring of 1797, and before commencing with Rev. Mr. Wood at Boscawen Plains, taught a private school for a few weeks, on this side-hill, occupying for his school- house a room here in his Uncle William's dwelling-house. Daniel had a fine class of girls and boys, and his brief charge here, it is said, was pleasant and bewitching. This was
" In life's morning march, when his bosom was young."
On the top of Searle Hill, on the left hand side of the road as we are travelling, stood the first church edifice erected in Salisbury. It could not be hid. It was a large two-story building, without a steeple, with but little inside finish, and with a pulpit at a dizzy height. Think of bleak December,-the cold blasts sweeping down these old mountains, the roads blocked full in every direction,-no fire in the church, but two long sermons, reaching up to sixteenthly, every Sunday. It's enough to make a saint shudder !
Jonathan Searle, the first occupant of this pulpit, commenced his labors here before the Revolution, viz., in 1773, and closed them, after IS years of faithful
158
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
service, in 1791. He was a graduate of Harvard,-a man of large ability and of lofty and dignified bearing. He was also a man of fine personal appearance. He wore a tri-cornered cocked hat, powdered wig, ornamented knee and shoe buckles, with the most ample surplice and gown. All the Websters worshipped in his congregation. Young Daniel was baptised here, by the Rev. Mr. Searle, in the summer of 1782. The day was pleasant and warm, but on that mountain top there was a strong breeze. After the ceremony of baptism, as the Webster family were leaving the church, a Mrs. Clay, who no doubt was an excellent lady though a little intrusive, made herself quite conspicuous. She had on a new bonnet, and a large one,-it was large for the fashion, and fashion at that time justified one simply immense. This bonnet was liberally decked with flowers, feathers and ribbons, and taking it all in all was well calculated to make a sensation on Searle Hill. This good woman pushed her way into the aisle, congratulated the minister on the felicity of his performance, congratulated Captain Webster and his wife on the auspicious event, patted little Daniel lovingly on the cheek, and chiefly cut off the view of the rest of the congregation. Just as she was leaving the vestibule of the church, a sudden flaw of wind struck her ponderous bonnet, snapped the slender thread that fastened it under her chin, and like riches that noted bonnet " took to itself wings." This woman called lustily on the dignified Searle, who was nearest to it, to seize the fugitive article of head-adornment ; and Searle was willing, but it would be un- ministerial for him to run. She called again -"Do, Reverend sir, catch my bon- net ; it will be ruined!" He quickened his pace a little, but still preserved a measured and dignified tread. The distance between pursued and pursuer began rapidly to widen, when good Mrs. Clay, becoming frantic and unguarded, sang out, "Searle, you devil you, why don't you run!" The reverend gentleman did then accelerate his motion, and overtaking that indispensable article of head-gear, bore it in triumph to its distracted owner.
A grandson of this reverend ambassador for Christ is one of the prominent and solid lawyers of Concord, and it is said that in personal appearance and in many characteristics of mind he bears a striking resemblance to his worthy ancestor.
The venerable sanctuary, which the winds and rains of heaven beat upon in the last century, has been gone a great many years, and on the old mountain, which was once the abode of numerous and thrify families, silence now reigns undisturbed. Still the distant view from the summit is as varied and grand as in the days of Daniel Webster's infancy; still the eye takes a broad reach over mountain, mead and vale, embracing no insignificant fraction of
" This universal frame - thus wondrous fair."
Coming on down to the South Road, where stands the chief village of Salisbury, we were fortunate in finding a Mrs. Eastman, a native of that town, and a very intelligent old lady, who was pleased to favor us with items of much interest, and who pointed out the very house .( now in a good state of preservation ) in which " Daniel Webster, Esq., of Portsmouth, and Miss Grace Fletcher, of Salisbury," were married, in June, ISO8.
Night approaching, and the object of our short trip having been more than realized, we struck a bee-line for Concord.
159
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
THE REV. THOMAS WORCESTER.
This eminent divine was a son of Noah and Lydia (Taylor) Worcester, and was born November 22, 1768. He had four brothers, three of whom were ministers, viz: the Rev. Noah Worcester, D. D., of Brighton, Mass .; the Rev. Leonard Wor- cester, M. A., of Peacham, Vt., and the Rev. Samuel Worcester, D. D., of Salem, Mass. They were all distinguished as orators and writers for the religious press. The other brother, Jesse, was the father of Joseph E. Worcester, author of Worcester's Dictionary and other valuable works. Mr. Thomas Worcester was a self-educated man, and had studied for the ministry with the Rev. Daniel Emerson, at Hollis. In April, 1791, he was employed three months upon trial, and in the following Sep- tember was invited to settle in Salisbury. Col. Ebenezer Web- ster, Dea. John Collins, Elder B. Huntoon, Edward Eastman and John Sweatt were chosen a committee to hire Mr. Worcester and make suitable arrangements for his ordination. A town meeting was held Septemder 1, 1791, when it was voted "to give him one hundred and twenty pounds as a settlement, one half to be paid in nine months and the residue in eighteen months. Also eighty pounds yearly as long as he should con- tinuc." This was quite a salary at that time for a young man only twenty-three years of age. His letter of acceptance bears date October 16, 1791, and is as follows :
BRETHREN AND FRIENDS :
I call myself under obligations of gratitude to you as a church and people, for the respectful treatment I have received from you, since God in his providence called me to preach in this place ; more particularly for the respect you have shown me in calling me to settle in the work of the Gospel ministry among you. Since 1 have been among you, I think I have endeavored carefully to attend to the various occurrences of divine Providence that I might learn my duty : and since I received your invitation to continue with you, and take the charge of you as your Pastor, I think I have carefully and prayerfully attended to the matter that I might be led to a wise determination ; and after repairing to the Throne of Grace, and looking to the Great Head of the Church, for directive and deliberate consideration of the matter, I have been led to conclude that it is my duty to comply with your request. I therefore now accept your invitation and consent to stay among you according to your proposals. But my friends you will remember that I am young, that I am but a man, and that the work which I have undertaken is great and attended with many
160
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
difficulties. My youth and the disadvantages under which I labor respecting my acquirements of human Cuning loudly call for your candour and your prayers. I trust you will make all reasonable allowances for me; that you will cover my fail- ings with a mantle of love, so far as it is consistent with the rules of the Gospel ; and that you will afford your endeavors to strengthen my hands and keep me under advantages to be wholly devoted to the arduous work into which I am called so long as God shall continue me among you ; and may God for Christ's Sake grant that the present apparent union of this Church and Congregration, may be strengthened and continued, -may He cause the Gospel to be understandingly and faithfully preached, and to become a Savior of life into life to the Souls of many. May He build up his Church and Kingdom in this place, and may He give us all a spirit of wisdom, of meekness, of watchfulness, of faithfulness and of brotherly love, that we may be truly a religious people, zealous of good works :- that this may be a city set on a hill, the light of which shall shine all round; - that we may glorify God and dwell together like brethren in unity.
N. B. I desire liberty to leave you destitute as to my supplying you with preaching two Sabbaths in a year, when occasion shall call for it.
THOMAS WORCESTER. Salisbury, October 16, 1791.
He was ordained November 9th, by the same council which had dismissed Mr. Searle on the day previous. On this day the council had assembled preparatory to the ordination, when some hesitation arose among the ministers of the council, on account of Mr. Worcester's youthful appearance, and limited opportuni- ties for an education, or because he had not received a collegiate education. The people without became impatient at the delay and demanded that the ordination should proceed. As Judge Webster was chairman of the committee who hired Mr. Wor- cester, he was requested to wait upon the council and inquire into the cause of the delay. He appeared before them, heard their statements, and arose and addressed them in an earnest, direct and impressive manner. "Gentlemen," said he, "the ordination must come off now, and if you cannot assent we must try and get along without you. The point under discus- sion must be postponed to some other day." The council acquiesced, and the ordination proceeded without further delay.
Two months before this the town had voted to accept a church which had been erected at the South Road, but which had not been finished upon the inside.
"The congregation which attended upon his preaching was for many years very large. He was a faithful and laborious
161
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
pastor, and his pulpit addresses were attractive, earnest and direct. All were interested, many deeply moved. During his ministry there were several seasons of the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. An extensive revival of religion occurred soon after his settlement, and over eighty were received into the church." Probably the most enjoyable occasion of the kind which ever took place in this church was in December, 1792. As a result of the last-mentioned revival, thirty young converts made public profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. His brother, Samuel Worcester, united with the church February 13, 1793. William Webster, uncle to Daniel, united with the church September 8, 1796, and Daniel Webster him- self September 13, 1807. Seven years after this Mr. Webster wrote out his own "creed or profession of faith," and subse- quently left it with his father. It will be found in his biog- raphy.
Another special revival occurred about 1815, when more than sixty persons made public profession of their faith.
Under his pastorate 268 united with the church; he adminis- tered the sacrament of baptism to 322 children, solemnized 307 marriages, and attended 25 ecclesiastical councils.
In the year 1791 there was some difficulty about collecting the funds for the support of preaching, and it was voted "to assess the inhabitants of the town for the minister's salary, and to ring the bell on Sabbath days, and on all public days, as is usual."
For some time previous to Mr. Worcester's dismissal from the church he had departed from the strict orthodox faith, in regard to the deity of Christ. He was originally led to this departure, no doubt, by the influence of his older brother, Dr. Noah Worcester, who resided in Salisbury from 1800 to 1813, while publishing his "Bible News" and other controversial writings on the subject of the Trinity. There is no clear indi- cation of the change in the Rev. Thomas Worcester's views till the year 1813.
The church creed had been made a little more liberal than formerly, although "considered a Congregational church and
162
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
treated as such by sister churches." The alteration however was made by Mr. Worcester himself, as he had left on record, upon his own individual responsibility. Mr. Worcester was at length charged with preaching other views than orthodox con- gregationalism, and out of that charge, and the facts on which it rested, grew dissatisfaction, embarrassment, and dissentions, which eventually did the church much harm.
A mutual council was finally called, April 23, 1823, consisting of the following pastors and delegates: From the West Parish church in Londonderry, Rev. Daniel Dana, D. D., pastor, Dea. Wm. Anderson, delegate ; from the church in East Londonderry Rev. Edward L. Parker, pastor, Elder Samuel Burnham, dele- gate; from the church in Lyme, Rev. Baxter Perry, pastor, Rev. Nathaniel Lambert, delegate; from the church in Hopkinton, Rev. Roger C. Hatch, pastor, brother David Greeley, delegate.
This council was charged with the duty of considering the circumstances, and advising in respect to Mr. Worcester's dis- mission. It met at the house of Andrew Bowers, Esq., and Rev. Daniel Dana, D. D., was chosen moderator, and Rev. R. C. Hatch, scribe.
The council say that after a careful and impartial investiga- tion of all the charges against Mr. Worcester, "we are happy to find that no specific charges are preferred against him seri- ously affecting his moral and christian character," and "to his assiduity and tenderness as a pastor we give our united sanction, and we rejoice in that signal blessing with which it has pleased a Sovereign God to crown his labors in years that are past." The council however add that "they are constrained to confess that in the course of his proceedings of recent date there occur some deviations from strict consistency and propriety," which "they are inclined to ascribe, in a considerable degree, to mis- taken views, to bodily infirmities, and to the agitation and distress of mind excited by the thought of separation from a beloved people."
His dismissal was occasioned by his doctrinal position and teachings. His one "dereliction," as the council declared, was concerning "the doctrine of the proper deity of Jesus Christ,"
163
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
and was "not in this case accompanied, as it usually is, with an abandonment of other distinguishing and glorious doctrines of the gospel." His "creed" shows however some difficulty on the subject of the Holy Spirit. On the character of Christ he would seem to be what is called a high Arian.
He remained in Salisbury, and December 12th, 1831, was received back into the church and died in full communion ; but from some of his last letters and verbal communications it is clear that he did not relinquish his Unitarian views. Just before his death he said, "I have not changed my views ; they are unshaken, and are growing stronger the more I search the scriptures."
In 1806 he received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Dartmouth College. He was a natural orator and the fame of his eloquence extended far and wide. He was emphat- ically the Channing of New Hampshire. He was also a man of sterling integrity, and of extended knowledge of the Bible, of history, and of human nature. He was a good writer, charitable in his views and liberal with his purse.
March 11, 1792, he married Miss Deborah Lee, of Manches- ter, Mass. He occupied the house now owned by D. J. Calef. No children blessed their union, but they adopted a number of children, giving them a good education, and providing them with this world's goods as far as they were able. He died December 24, 1831, aged 63 years.
The whole difference between Mr. Worcester and the church arose from his views of the Trinity. These views he wrote out but they were never published. They are herewith published, and will be found to show much thought and close reasoning. We record them as the best exposition of his faith.
AN ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT.
Following is a copy of the title-page of a school book, by the Rev. Thomas Worcester, taken from the original in Mr. Wor- cester's handwriting. The document has fifty-four chapters, and is without date :
164
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
THE RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTOR
OR
SACRED SCHOOL BOOK, Giving a Connected View of the Most Interesting Things in the Bible.
BY THOMAS WORCESTER, A. M.,
Pastor of a Church in Salisbury.
"This is the wisdom which speaks of hearts."
An honest statement to correct the great misrepresentations of Deacons, Lawyers and others concerning my sentiments.
CREED OF THOMAS WORCESTER.
[ As copied from the manuscript in his own hand writing.]
In regard to the divinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; I verily believe all that I understand "Trinitarians " in general to have believed, except the propriety of using some words and forms which they have used.
I believe there are three which bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost; that "God has given us eternal life," and "that this life is in his Son," but also of one divine nature; one likewise in the creation and the govern- ment of the Universe, and especially one in the great work of our salvation.
In regard to the divinity of Christ, I certainly deny nothing which Trinitarians in general have believed ; so far as I have knowledge I do verily believe that Christ is God, in a very high sense; God-"who was in the beginning with God," and " without whom there was not anything made ;" God -whose father has anointed him to an everlasting throne; God "over all, blessed forever," in that "all power is given unto him in Heaven and in earth," and in that he is " made head over all things in the Church;" "the first and the last," as he is in the Father and the Father in him, as he is the " author and the finisher of our faith," as "all things were made by him and for him," and as his, one in divine nature, one in divine full. ness, one in divine purpose, one in divine work, and one in divine glory with the Father.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.