USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Salisbury > The history of Salisbury, New Hampshire, from date of settlement to the present time > Part 15
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In the May following Elder Smith's settlement he visited Newmarket, and returned bringing his wife who had not before made her home in Salisbury.
In order to render all possible aid to the minister, the people of his church raised by subscription the requisite money, and purchased a house and land for his use, as will be seen by the accompanying paper :
SALISBURY, March ye 6, 1794.
We the Subscribers Promise to pay to the Committee ( of the Baptist Society ) Sixty Six pounds twelve Shillings L. M. for the Place they lately Purchased of Lemuel Kezer & Wife Each subscriber to pay his Proportion according to a Rate
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
bill Said Place to be given to Eld'r Smith in this manner ( Viz ) the half acre of land and the buildings thereon to be given to him free and Clear and the improve- ment of the twelve acres of land as long as he remains our Preacher, s'd Place belonging to the subscribers if Eld'r Smith does not except of it.
Benj. Pettengill, juner,
Elisha Silley,
Jacob True,
Abr'm Fifield,
George Seavey,
Samuel Eaton,
Ananiah Bohonon,
Aron Silley,
Jona'n Fifield,
John Farnham,
Simeon Connor,
Caleb Judkins,
Benj. Silley,
Joseph Mason,
Nicholas Eliott,
John Eliott,
Benj. Greley,
Peter Barber,
Dude Eliott,
Joseph Brown, juner,
Samuel Bean,
Samuel Lovering,
Josiah Hains,
Josiah Scribner,
Isaac Page,
William Morey, juner,
Thomas Sleeper,
Reuben True,
Pelatiah Corlis,
Peter Eastman,
W'm. Pingrey,
Benj. Pettengill,
Daniel Parker,
John Fifield,
David Pettengill,
Isaac Blaisdel,
Benj. Woodman,
W'm. Eastman,
Jedediah Sleeper,
Moses Garland,
Moses Clough,
Samuel Elkins,
Thomas Chase,
Ezra Flanders,
Richard Elkins,
Eliphalet Williams,
Leonard Judkins,
Joseph Keneson,
Benj. Hoyt,
Moses Sleeper,
Samuel Davis.
Wadleigh Clough,
Micheal Sargant,
In 1796, the enthusiasm which for a time existed in this church and others in the same faith,-"the reformation " as it was styled -began to abate. New doctrines were accepted by certain members. Some were Calvinists in their views, and others exceedingly liberal. There was no union of sentiment or belief to hold them together. Not a few withdrew from the fellowship of the church. This year, in order to obtain the comforts of life, Mr. Smith taught school. His church diffi- culties, the alienations of his friends, and overwork, brought on a serious illness, and induced him to seek relief by supplying the pulpit only one-half the time.
In the latter part of the year he left his pulpit in Salisbury, and began to preach in Woburn, Mass. But after a few months, in February, 1791, he returned to his Salisbury charge, and resolved to locate there permanently. But in January of the next year he went again to Woburn, taking his family with him. He was shortly after dismissed from the church in Salis- bury and recommended to sister churches. In 1801 he returned and preached in Salisbury and vicinity ; not satisfied with the
12
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
support which preaching gave him, he opened a store in partner- ship with Josiah Green and Elisha Perkins. Although ordained as a Baptist, his methods were so erratic that the denomination became cautious about endorsing him. He left its fellowship and preached for a time the doctrines of Universalism, and finally became what was called a Christian -a denomination at the present day known as Christian Baptists. Having left both trade and preaching in Salisbury, he settled in Portsmouth, and in 1805 began the publication of a work entitled "The Christ- ian's Magazine, Reviewer, and Religious Instructor ; containing Subjects Historical, Doctrinal, Experimental, Practical and Political." It was published once in three months for two years. Mr. Smith resided for a year or two in Philadelphia, where he had a printing office and published some books. Returning to Portsmouth in September, 1808, he began the publication of the "Herald of Gospel Liberty," said to have been the first religious newspaper published in the United States, being five years in advance of the "Religious Remembrancer," of Philadelphia, and antedating by eight years the "Boston Recorder." In March, 1816, he published the "Life, Conversion, Preaching, Teaching and Sufferings of Elias Smith, Portsmouth," 12mo.
OTHER MINISTERS.
After Elder Smith left the town, in 1797, Elder Ariel Ken- drick ministered to the church and people for two years, and was succeeded by Elder Joshua Young, who occupied the posi- tion from 1799 to 1802. No reliable records of any importance can be found regarding either of these men.
For several years the church was without a permanent minis- ter. It had become thinned by deaths and removals, and had lost the evidence of an ecclesiastical existence, but at length reorganized, adopted new articles of faith, and by the decision of a council was recommended to the fellowship of other churches. The members at this time were limited to Michael Sargent, Simeon Connor, Eunice Connor, Samuel Kimball, Jacob True, Lydia True, George Seavey, James Pettengill, and
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ECCLESIASTICAL IHISTORY.
Daniel Parker, the latter being chosen clerk, which office he held for the period of thirty-one years. He was succeeded by Benjamin O. Adams.
THE REV. OTIS ROBINSON.
The subject of this sketch was the second pastor of the Baptist church in this town. In the fall of 1809 he received a call from our people to locate with us. He was at that time residing at Sanford, Me., settled as the pastor of a most flour- ishing church built up under his ministry.
Ten years had passed since the labors of the first pastor, the Rev. Elias Smith, had ceased. The church had lost its organi- zation. Everything connected therewith was at the lowest ebb. The state of religious feeling was far from promising. How- ever, Mr. Robinson, signifying a willingness to accept the call, was ordained in the spring of 1810. Here he continued for sixteen years and saw his little band grow under his adminis- tration to a large and flourishing church of one hundred and thirty members.
In 1826, after a very gratifying revival of religion, in which many were added to his church, Mr. Robinson, now quite ad- vanced in life, on his own request, was dismissed from his pas- toral charge. He still continued however to reside in the house he built, now owned and occupied by Stephen Morse, Esq.
Mr. Robinson occasionally preached in our adjoining towns, even up almost to the day of his death, which occurred March Ist, 1835, in the seventy-first year of his age, and the thirty- seventh of his ministry. His remains, with those of his wife, lie interred in the church cemetery. He made a very happy choice for a helpmate in Miss Hannah Reed, of Attleboro', Mass. They were married in 1785. She was a most amiable and noble woman, a loving wife and affectionate mother.
Mr. Robinson was highly esteemed and respected in the denomination. He was a man of capacity and zeal, with an indomitable will and firmness of character, that marked him as a leading man in the community. He was one of the origi-
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
nators and founders of the "Baptist Salisbury Association," a very prominent institution in the State; instituted in Salisbury in the old Baptist church, on the 14th of October, 1818. He was its moderator from the time of its organization till the resignation of his pastoral office.
Some of our citizens will recall the event of the fifteenth anniversary of this association, held here on the 17th of Sep- tember, 1868, and the well merited tribute to the memory of Mr. Robinson, passed by the venerable Rev. E. E. Cummings, in his sermon on that occasion. It was in these words: "Here it may be profitable for us to pause a moment, and look in upon the first meeting of the Salisbury Association. It is being held in the ancient church edifice, which has long since given place to this modern structure. The old square pews are filled with venerable men and women, and the galleries with young people, all giving solemn heed to the exercises of the meeting. The old fashioned deacon's seat is occupied by a man of tall and commanding appearance, past the meridian of life, but possessed of great energy and unsurpassing executive ability, -that is Rev. Otis Robinson. Such were the men whose names stands on the records of the first meet- ting of this association, and it is worthy of note that for a num- ber of years after its formation, these men with rarely an exception were present at its annual gatherings. They were noble men, and though they have passed from our view, yet their names are still fragrant in the recollection of those whom they have left behind."
Mr. Robinson was a fluent and powerful speaker, always addressing his congregation extemporaneously, without written memoranda of any kind; and so noted was he, that many came from a distance to hear him preach. The mother of Seth Eastman, Esq., a prominent citizen of Concord, often came here on horseback alone, fourteen miles to attend his meetings.
Mr. Robinson was born in Attleboro', Mass., June 7th, 1764, of good old patriotic stock. His father, Dea. Enoch Robinson, was the Captain of a company of soldiers in the Revolution. Word reaching Attleboro' on the day of the battle of Lexing-
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
ton, he immediately called out his men and marched to Boston, to engage in the great struggle for independence. His little son, Otis, then but eleven years of age, was clamorous to join his father, brothers and uncle, but he was left behind. So anxious was he to bear arms in that glorious cause, that he said he used to watch with eager impatience the slow growth of his beard, that mark of coming manhood which he hoped would pass him through the portals of the army. At the age of four- teen they could restrain him no longer, and he then enlisted in the continental army. At this date he was lacking in "regu- lation height" nearly two inches, and fearing he would not be accepted, he stood upon tip-toe when the mustering officer passed. He served his country for four years, to the close of the war. At the age of eighteen he was apprenticed to the trade of a blacksmith. Three years after he married Miss Reed, and, in 1787, moved to Winthrop, Me. In 1791, he re- moved to Livermore, Me., where he became converted, and with seventeen others united in forming the first Baptist church in Livermore. Soon after his connection with the church, he felt it to be his mission to carry the "glad tidings" to others. To this end he devoted all of his spare moments to a rigorous self education for four years. Meanwhile on secular days was heard the vigorous strokes of his hammer, as it rang out its merry peals upon his anvil, while on the Sabbath his voice was heard in cloquent appeals for his Master. On the 7th of June, 1798, on his 34th birthday, he was ordained as the pastor of the Baptist church in Sanford, Me. The church then had a mem- bership of thirty only. In less than two years it was increased to one hundred and forty-four members. Mr. Robinson had eight children. His third son, the late Cyrus Robinson, Esq., a highly respected citizen of Concord, was made prominent by his efforts in the cause of temperance and in the abolition of slavery. He was often elected to important town offices, and was called several times to represent his fellow citizens in the legislative halls of his State.
December 22, 1826, forty members of the church withdrew, organized as the "Religious Calvinistic Baptist Society," and
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
claimed to be the "First Baptist Church in Salisbury." July 3, 1828, this church and society voted unanimously to call to the pastorate
THE REV. EBENEZER E. CUMMINGS.
A committee consisting of Dea. William Cate, Enoch Fifield and Thomas Chase was chosen by the church, to join with a committee of the society, to extend a call and make arrange- ments for the support of Mr. Cummings, at a salary of $250 a year and the use of the society's land. Mr. Cummings accepted the call on the conditions named, and was ordained and installed on the 17th of September following. December 18, 1829, the salary was increased to $300.
Though Mr. Cummings was a prudent and excellent man, and labored assiduously for the union and harmony of his people, he could not exorcise the evil spirit that had long possessed them. Differences of opinion and even bitter contentions ex- isted among the members of the church. The pastor knew that no good could come of a church which was divided against itself and refused to longer remain in a position of so much anxiety as he constantly experienced. He asked a dismission, which was granted January 5, 1831.
The leading members of the two churches which then existed met in consultation, decided to forget the past, and to go on together in a christian life. A new church was formed, January 19, 1831, by an ecclesiastical council composed of pastors and delegates from Baptist churches in Concord, Sanbornton, Bow, Hopkinton, Sutton, New London and Newport.
The following are the names of the members of the old churches who constituted the new church organization :
Dea. William Cate,
Oliver Shaw,
Thomas Chase, Susan Garland,
L. True, Abigail Shaw,
Joseph Sanborn, Daniel Parker,
Maria Dunlap,
Judith Scribner,
Herschel Green,
Eunice Connor.
J. Kenniston,
Elisabeth Sanborn,
John Shaw,
Emma Scribner,
The new church extended an invitation to Mr. Cummings to
ยท
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
become its pastor. In a letter bearing date June 4, 1831, he consented to remain, but was not installed.
The next spring he removed to Concord and was settled over the First Baptist church, March 2, 1832, where he remained until January 11, 1854. After that he was ten years pastor of the Pleasant Street Baptist church. He served for thirty years in the Baptist ministry in Concord, "going in and out before his people " with the love and approbation of all. He still lives in that city, having passed his four-score and four milestones in the journey of life.
Ebenezer Edson Cummings was the son of Joseph and Han- nah Cummings; was born in Claremont, March 9, 1800; grad- uated at Waterville College in 1828. For many years he was a Trustee of the New Hampton Theological Seminary. He was President of the Board of Trustees for the New London Insti- tute from its beginning, and had the degree of D. D. conferred upon him by Dartmouth College, in 1855. He is now Honor- ary President of Colby Academy. While residing in Salisbury he married, in 1828, Chloe B. Humphrey, of Orwell, Vermont, who had previously been a teacher, and had the honor of teaching Stephen A. Douglass to read. She died in Concord in 1871. Dr. Cummings was an agreeable speaker, a faithful pastor, and always zealous in the work of the Lord.
The records of the society and of the church, from this date, have not been kept in a manner to afford reliable information. There are three separate books, by no means complete and sometimes contradictory. In August, 1832, a call was ex- tended to the
REV. SAMUEL EVERETT,
of Milford. He became the pastor a few weeks later, remain- ing until July 10, 1838. He is remembered as an amiable and acceptable pastor, one who loved his people and who labored for the interests of the church. He was succeeded by the
REV. JOHN LEARNED,
who was installed in September, 1838, and remained but one year. Being in delicate health, he was not physically adequate
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
to the demands of the parish. He was an excellent scholar, a model of gentlemanly courtesy, and an exemplary christian.
THE REV. JOHN BURDEN
succeeded Mr. Learned in the autumn of 1839, or soon after. Mr. Burden was a man of the world rather than of the church. He was talented and capable of edifying the people, but he had a "knack" for business. He received a salary of $400 a year and, as he used to say, "never cheated his people." While in Salisbury he married Miss Kate Pettengill, daughter of Thomas Hale Pettengill, Esq., an accomplished and amiable lady. After leaving Salisbury he resided in Meredith, and in 1864 repre- sented that town in the Legislature.
For several years prior to 1853 the church was in a dormant state. The third one, formed from the ruins of the first and second, was now itself in a state of decay. It had scarce a living branch remaining at the date named. But the vital elements of the three churches that had survived the trials of the past united and formed the "Salisbury Baptist Society." The Arti- cles of Faith and the Covenant, adopted in Philadelphia that year, were signed by the members of former organizations who desired to unite with the new church. They numbered seven- teen. A council was called and the new church instituted and commended to the fellowship of other churches of kindred faith. It was pronounced a Calvinist-Baptist church. A sermon was given at that time by that good man, the Rev. Edmund Worth, of Fisherville, formerly of Concord.
But little can be written of the pastors who ministered to this church, nor of the many who from time to time supplied or temporarily occupied the pulpit.
The Rev. Stephen Coombs, born at Barnstable, Mass., in 1796, was the first pastor after the reorganization. He grad- uated at New Hampton in 1825, and was ordained at New Chester (now Hill) the same year. He came to Salisbury from Woodstock. He now resides on a farm at North Concord.
In 1856 the Rev. Samuel H. Amsden was installed -but we find no record beyond that fact.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
The Rev. Joseph B. Damon is said to have preached there in 1854. If so, it was only as an exchange or a temporary sup- ply, as Mr. Coombs occupied the pulpit from July, 1853, to January, 1856.
The Rev. Thomas B. Joy preached in 1863.
The Rev. Albert A. Ford supplied from 1864 to 1866.
The Rev. Joshua Clement, of North Thetford, Vt., preached there for several months in 1866-67.
The Rev. Joseph Storer is remembered as preaching for a short time.
The Rev. J. L. Sinclair, of the Freewill Baptist denomina- tion, occupied the pulpit one year.
Elder Hiram Stevens sometimes preached during the pastor- ate of the Rev. Mr. Robinson. The Rev. David Gage, of Man- chester, the veteran clergyman who has visited every Baptist church in the State, often supplied the desk for short periods.
Elder Buswell and the Rev. Elias Dane are named among the temporary supplies.
Elder Peter M. Hersey, a Christian preacher, occupied the pulpit for a time. Mr. Ames, a student at the Methodist Sem- inary, occasionally preached.
The Rev. A. H. Martin, of the Christian sect, a native of Bradford, Vt., born in 1823 and ordained there in 1842, was a stated preacher in this church for five years, from 1869 to 1875, a part of the time supplying the Union church in Andover, to which place he removed. He was formerly settled at West Randolph, Vt. At various times he was employed in evangeli- cal labors. His home has recently been in Franklin.
RULING ELDERS PRIOR TO ISOO.
Benjamin Howard, chosen July 6, 1793. Michael Sargeant, chosen June 7, 1794. Nathaniel Bean, chosen June 7, 1794.
DEACONS.
Nathaniel Bean, chosen March 10, 1792. Jacob True, chosen July 6, 1793.
Ezra Flanders, chosen June 7, 1794. Ebenezer Quimby, chosen June 7, 1794.
Jonathan Wiggin, chosen June 7, 1794.
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
William Cate, Amos Fifield,
Jonathan Keniston,
*Joseph Couch,
James Severanee,
Isaac Bailey,
F. W. Fifield, Isaac K. Blaisdell,
Richard Fellows.
Daniel Parker,
The following notes are taken from a private journal, kept by Dea. Daniel Parker, for many years clerk of the society :
SALISBURY, Aug. 6, 1792.
This day the Salisbury branch of the Church of Christ at Brentwood, met at the house of Joseph Quimby of this town, and passed the following votes, viz :-
Ist. Chose Brother Nathaniel Bean, Moderator, and to give the Right Hand of Fellowship to a number of brethren and sisters, viz: Joseph and Ebenezer Quimby, Abijah Watson, Jere'h Palmer, Joseph Watkins, William Sanborn, Ezra Waldron, - Sisters, Patience Quimby, Rebecca Wells, Hannah Quimby, Elisabeth Savory, Sarah Watson, Miriam Quimby.
Nov. 10, 1792.
This day received into our fellowship the following persons: Baptised by Elder Samuel Shephard, D. D., Leonard Judkins, Peter Eastman, Samuel Eaton, and Sister Mary Judkins; Nathaniel Bean, baptised by Elder John Peck ; Moses Clough, from the Church at Deerfield; Sister Lamson Noyes, from the Church at Newton; Benjamin Silley and Sister Asia Silley, baptised by Elder Simonds of New London.
Chose Brother Nathaniel Bean to stand as Deacon, and Daniel Parker as Church Clerk. Then Elder Elias Smith baptised the following persons, -Jacob True, Caleb Judkins, Benjamin Woodman, George Stone, Daniel Parker, John Stevens, Susanna Elliott, Abigail Hoit, Lydia Eaton, Lydia True, and received them into our fellowship. The same day, broke bread and formed a manifestation of Divine approbation among us.
March 2, 1793.
This day, the Brethren of this branch met and received a number of Brethren and Sisters into their fellowship, viz: Benjamin Hoit, John Palmer, Caleb Wells, Abner Flanders, ( Warner,) Mary Richardson, Joanna Bohonon, baptised by Elder Elias Smith; Elisabeth Shepherd, baptised by Elder Samuel Shepherd, of Brent- wood.
March 30, 1793.
This day met and passed the following votes, viz: Chose Brother Nathaniel Bean, Moderator; voted to receive Elder Elias Smith, as pastor of this branch of the Church for one year, or further, yearly. Voted to accept Elder Elias Smith's proposal, which is that he will preach with us six months at least, and then see if further Duty Calls.
In addition to those already named, the following persons were admitted to the church previous to 1800 ;
* Dismissed May 13, 1836.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
Susanna Graves,
Ezra Flanders,
Abraham Fifield,
James Palmer,
Jemima Connor,
Abigail Quimby,
Sarah Watkins,
Elisha Silley,
John Rolfe,
Jonathan Watkins,
Sarah Howard,
Sarah Walker,
Sarah Wells,
Thomas Wells,
Benjamin Howard,
William Corser,
Hannah Swett,
Tabitha Connor.
Mary Burneys,
THE UNION MEETING-HOUSE.
Soon after the formation of the Baptist Society the residents of the west section of the town began to discuss the advantages which would result from the maintenance of preaching in their own neighborhood. They petitioned the selectmen to call a special town meeting to act on the question of forming a new parish. A meeting was accordingly held at the residence of J. C. Pettengill, on the 17th of January, 1791. The meeting not being fully attended, it was adjourned for ten days, to the house of Capt. David Pettengill. At this time it was voted, "That the upper end of the town may be set off as a parish agreeable to request." Voted to "raise twenty pounds for the purpose of supporting the gospel." Voted, "That the people above Blackwater River have their part of the above sum preached out amongst them, they providing the house."
In 1832 they proposed to build a church. Finding in the congregation a number of Methodists, Christians, Congrega- tionalists and Universalists, they decided to build a "union meeting-house," each denomination to occupy the pulpit one Sunday in succession through the year.
. February 26, 1834, a meeting was held to "take action in relation to the erection of a place of worship." A committee consisting of John Couch, Paul Truc, David Hobbs, David Stevens, Benj. Scribner, Israel B. Bean, William Couch, Daniel Watson, and David Harvey were appointed to confer upon the most judicious ways and means of building the house." The committee selected as the site that now occupied by the church, and to defray the expenses of building they recommended that all pledge themselves to pay a certain sum. To provide means to finish the inside, it was proposed to sell the pews to the
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
highest bidders. These recommendations were acceptable to the meeting. A constitution was adopted in which we find the provision "that each denomination shall have the house in proportion to the amount of property they shall possess in the house." Forty-two persons pledged the sum of $20.00 each towards building and finishing the same, and if that was not enough they agreed to pay an equal proportion for the remain- ing indebtedness. Joshua S. Bean, Caleb Smith, John S. Eaton and John Couch, 3d, were the church committee. The house was built and completed at once, and dedicated.
The following were the pew owners, so far as known, at the time of dedication :
Paul True, 3 pews,
John Peaslee,
Joshua S. Bean, Benj. Scribner,
Reuben Greeley,
Hezekiah F. Stevens,
Jabez Abbott,
Joseph M. Stevens,
Nathaniel Abbott,
Jesse Stevens,
Daniel Stevens,
John Jackman,
Caleb Smith,
True Flanders,
Richard Hunt,
John Rogers,
Couch & Farnum,
Moses Greeley,
Phinehas Colby.
Nathaniel Greeley,
Samuel Couch, jr.,
Daniel C. Gookin,
Richard Fitz,
Benj. Tucker,
Elias P. Smith, 3 pews,
John S. Eaton, 3 pews,
Samuel Couch,
Jabez True,
John Couch, 3d,
David Stevens,
Benj. Pettengill,
Jesse Eaton,
John Greeley,
Nathaniel Tucker,
J. Albert Couch,
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