The history of Weare, New Hampshire, 1735-1888, Part 40

Author: Little, William, 1833-1893. cn
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Lowell, Mass., Printed by S. W. Huse & Co.
Number of Pages: 1240

USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Weare > The history of Weare, New Hampshire, 1735-1888 > Part 40

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).

Under this new regime, our schools greatly improved. Teachers were better trained and were far better informed than in the olden times. The moral tone of the scholars was higher, and better order was maintained in the school-room. ' True, there were some dis- orderly schools, but persons were found competent to manage them. John Gillett, in some respects the most eccentric man who ever lived in Weare, took the charge of an unmanageable school, from which several teachers had been forcibly ejected by the pupils: The first morning he strode back and forth through the school-room several

* HON. JOSIAH G. DEARBORN is the descendant of Godfrey Dearborn, who was the patriarch of the Dearborn family in the United States."

Godfrey Dearborn1, is said to have been a native of Exeter, county of Devon, in the south-west part of England. In 1639, Rev. John Wheelwright removed with a company of friends from Massachusetts Bay to New Hampshire and founded a set- tlement which they called Exeter. They framed a social compact, which was signed by thirty-five persons, and among them was Godfrey Dearborn, who made his mark, as he could not write. He remained at Exeter about ten years and removed to Hamp- ton, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was selectman of Exeter in 1648. March 4, 1650, seats were assigned to Goodman and Goody Dearborn in Hampton meeting-house. He had six children, three sons and three daughters.

Thomas Dearborn2, second son of Godfrey, was born about 1634; married Hannah Colwell, Dec. 28, 1665, and died April 14, 1710.

Ebenezer Dearborn3, second child of Thomas, was born Oct. 3, 1689, and married Abigail, daughter of Joseph Sanborn Oct. 7, 1703. He was one of the grantees of Ches- ter, removed there about 1728, was elected to many offices in town, had eight chil- dren and died March 15, 1772.

Peter Dearborn4, second son of Ebenezer, was born Nov. 14, 1710; married Marga- ret Fifield, of Kingston, Dec. 2, 1736; had eight children and died Oct. 28, 1781.

Josiah Dearborn5, fifth child of Peter, was born Oct. 24, 1751, and married Susannah, daughter of Samuel Emerson, August, 1779. He removed to Weare about 1791, and died April 28, 1830.

Josiah Dearborn, Jr.6, sixth child of Josiah, was born Aug. 28, 1785; married Sept. 13, 1818, Sarah, daughter of Jeremiah Green (born Jan. 4, 1797; died June 9, 1885), and died in Weare Sept. 17, 1840.

JOSIAH GREEN DEARBORN7, the subject of this sketch, is the son of Josiah6 and Sa- rah (Green) Dearborn, and was born in Weare, March 20, 1829. His early education was obtained in the schools of Weare, and Francestown academy. In 1858 he gradu- ated from the state normal school in Connecticut, and in 1867, from Dartmouth college. He qualified himself, without a teacher, to enter college in the senior year and did so,

350

HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

[1847.

times, and then turned suddenly and said : "Boys, if you don't behave I'll lick you, then if you do n't behave I will follow you home and lick your parents." His manner, tone and the maniacal fire in his eye made a profound impression, and he had no occasion to execute his threats. Scholars were better taught, they went much beyond reading, writing and arithmetic, and associating with educated persons obtained a fund of useful information such as their ancestors did not possess.

The school-register came into use, school-work was systematized, a uniformity of text-books was established, children grouped into fewer classes, so that the teachers' efforts were concentrated, and not scattered as in former times. They made better progress, and there was a much more punctual attendance. Yet .scholars at the present time are prone to be absent, and some are great adepts in inventing excuses to "stay out." Jacob Evens, who lived in the neighborhood of Sugar hill, could not go one day because he had a miller in his ear. His mother told him she could get it out, but she would have to tie him to the bed-post. She gave him a good strap- ping, the miller was out, and he went to school all right.

The present generation has been quite liberal in the support of public schools. Five hundred dollars has been raised some years in our town more than what the law requires, and this was divided equally among all the districts. It has been customary to divide the

remaining a little over two terms and graduating with the class. While in college, he held his position of sub-master in the Lyman grammar school in Boston, a substitute being supplied by the school committee in his absence. He first began teaching in the district schools of Weare and also taught one term at the Clinton Grove academy. In the winter of 1857-8 he taught the Center street school in Manchester, and the fol- lowing winter the old intermediate school on Manchester street. In the spring of 1861 he was elected master of the Manchester South grammar school, a position he held about five years. In 1865 he went to Boston, and for five years was sub-master of the Lyman grammar school. He was then promoted to the mastership of the Boston Lat- in school where he remained till 1874.

Mr. Dearborn, in the years 1854 and 1855, was a member of the legislature from the town of Weare, and from 1860 to 1865 was the register of probate for Hillsborough county, having his office at Amherst. In 1874 he was elected, at the Junc session of the legislature, state treasurer by a combination of Democratic and Labor Reform repre- sentatives. Ile held the office one year and was then, 1875, elected superintendent of schools in Manchester, a position he held a little over one year. In 1882 he was ap- pointed by the town of Weare one of a committee to publish its history, and in 1885 he was a member of the Board of Education in Manchester.

He read law with Judge Joseph W. Fellows; was admitted to the bar in 1879, and practised his profession till 1886, when he was appointed, April 21st, by the President, Grover Cleveland, postmaster of Manchester, a position he now holds at a salary of $2,800 a year.

Mr. Dearborn married Sabrina L. Hayden, of Sharon, Vt., Oct. 16, 1851, and to them were born four children : Adelaide S., who died Oct. 26, 1863, aged eleven years; Julia A., wife of Luther C. Baldwin, of Manchester; Cora M., a teacher in the public schools of that city, and Josephine G., a teacher in the schools of Boston, Mrs. Dearborn died Aug. 14, 1880.

Mr. Dearborn is an affable and courteous gentleman, kind and accommodating in manner, and has many friends. He is the owner of the old homestead on Mount Dear- born at South Wcare, his birthplace, and where his ancestors resided so many years, and will retain it while he lives for a summer home.

351

THE FREEWILL BAPTISTS.

1777.]

school money one-half according to the number of scholars, and the other half according to the polls and estates. Better school-houses have been built, better furniture provided, and wall maps and refer- ence books bought. In 1873, the town refused to establish a high school, the reason given being that the scholars who would attend it were scattered over so large a territory that it would not be profita- ble to maintain it.

The state in 1885 abolished the school-district system and made each town one school district. Under this law there will be no trouble about boundary lines. It provided for a board of education, or school board, of three persons, who should perform all the duties of superintending and prudential committees and hold their office for three years, except at the first election, when one person was to be chosen for three years, one for two, and one for one year. The first school meeting in Weare under this law was held at the town hall, March 20, 1886. The first school board was chosen as follows : For one year, Almon L. Sleeper; two years, Lindley H. Osborn ; three years, Robert Peaslee. The board organized March 27th, by choosing Almon L. Sleeper chairman, Lindley H. Osborn secretary, and Robert Peaslee treasurer. The board divided the town into four- teen school divisions, being nearly the same as the thirteen school districts made in 1805, and have had schools at such places as they thought for the best interest of the people.

CHAPTER XLI.

THE FREEWILL BAPTISTS.

THE doctrines of this sect were first preached, at Newcastle, N. H., about 1777 by Benjamin Randall; the first church was organ- ized at New Durham June 30, 1780. There were seven members .* They differed in points of doctrine somewhat from the Calvinist Baptists. They believed in the Bible, that it is given by inspiration of God, and is our only rule of faith and practice; in God, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, of infinite attributes and righteous provi- dences; in the atonement; in the foreknowledge of God, but "de-

* Benjamin Randall, Nathaniel Buzzell, Robert Boody, Joseph Boody,

Judith Chartel, Margery Boody,

Mary Buzzell.

352

HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

[1806.

nied that it necessitated the acts of men"; in free moral agency, the freedom of the will, Freewill, a name that was reproachfully forced upon them; in the resurrection, the judgment, heaven and hell.

Freewill Baptist ministers first came to Weare about the begin- ning of the present century. Elder Hezekiah D. Buzzell was one of the most active; he made an attack on the Calvinist Baptists and won many of them. When the great religious battle came off between Moses Wood and Jonathan Philbrick, and their adherents, it left the parties without any very cordial feeling between them, and one side or the other would naturally incline to set up a new church for themselves. The coming of the Freewill Baptists afforded the opportunity. Brother Philbrick, who never endorsed the Calvinistic creed in full, led his forces into the Freewill fold. That sect received them with open arms and its elders were glad to come and constitute a church in Weare.

They came Oct. 20, 1806. Elders Richard Martin, of Gilman- ton, Joseph Quimby, of Sandwich, Timothy Morse, of Fishersfield ; Ruling Elders, David Bean, of Tamworth, Daniel Quimby, of Sand- wich ; Dea. John Morse, of Fishersfield, met a little handful of brethren and sisters, two men and seven women* at the south meet- ing-house. They united in solemn prayers to the throne of God's grace, for wisdom, craved the assistance of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide them, related their "many heavy tryals," with Amos Wood and party, probably, desired the strength of Christ to help them press forward, said they would take the Scriptures to be their only rule, and promised to travel together in love. Then Elder Quimby in behalf of the church and connection gave them the right hand of fellowship.

Elder Timothy Morse came to preach to them. He must have got a precarious living from such a small church. At the first monthly meeting, held Nov. 10th, he related the order of the seve- ral meetings of "this church and connection," which are weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly, and the officers ; - namely, teaching elders, ruling elders and deacons. The brethren and sisters related the state of their minds in love and union to each other and the cause of Christ, and enjoyed a measure of the divine presence of

* The following were the first members of the Freewill Baptist church in Weare :- Jonathan Philbrick, Beulah Philbriek, Sarah Worthley, Lucy Watson, Samuel Corliss, Sarah Tuxbury, Judith Sargent, Lucy Gray.

Anna Philbrick,

353

THE FREEWILL BAPTISTS.

1806.]

the Lord. George Hadley, Sarah Bailey and Betsey Kelley desired to take up their cross and follow Christ in this church, and Elder Morse gave them the right hand of fellowship ; Sarah Curtis related the dealings of God with her soul, desired to be baptized and to join this church; they repaired to the water where the elder ad- ministered the ordinance of baptism, and gave the right hand of fellowship. Brother Jonathan Philbrick was elected ruling elder on " tryal," and church clerk during pleasure.

Jonathan Philbrick was an excellent clerk; his society had great enthusiasm; he caught their fire; he records how "they related the state of their minds," how they "desired to press forward towards the promised land," how one told "the dealings of God with his soul, and appeared to have met with a great change from nature to grace," how another had "redeeming grace and dying love, desiring to press forward heart and hand Zion-ward," how a third " determined to follow Christ and win the day tho' death and hell obstruct the way," how "all felt united in love and peace with a re- solve to praise the Lord for grace received, and trust his name till time shall end;" " they blessed the name of the Lord who is a strong tower whereunto the righteous run and are safe"; "they enjoyed, through the tender mercies of a kind God, the divine love and pres- ence "; they "gave all glory to his blessed name for redeeming grace and dying love which so melts the hearts of his children."

But clouds sometimes obscured their sky. Once the record says "we had a very solemn, comfortable meeting." At another time he tells how "the church appeared to be in a state of tryal, by rea- son of the neglect of duty to God and each other, feeling a desire to arise and trim their lamps and walk in the ordinances of Christ more blameless." A few months later he wrote " the brethren and sisters, though faint, felt a desire yet to pursue in the heavenly race "; and again he relates how "some who met with them were in great distress and concern for their souls, and others were under heavy tryals respecting their duty which made it hard to part and leave the place."

These records show the thought and style of expression of that day. They had grand meetings, they were full of enthusiasm and zeal. It was music to hear the preachers ; they spoke very loud, in rich, melodious tones, full of strange modulations, and when the air was still they could be heard a great distance. Scoffers said they had a " holy tone," and some called it " sing-song."

354

HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

[1807.

Elder Abijah Watson preached part of the time for them in 1807. Elder Joshua Quimby supplied for them a few Sabbaths in 1808 .* A few received baptism from his hands. Elder Elijah Watson also preached for our church this year and "baptized Joseph Kimball and Sarah Phelps, in sister Watson's pond." Clerk Philbrick records that they "gathered by the water-side, where a prayer was made and a hymn was sung, the ordinance of baptism administered and the right hand of fellowship given."

Elder Timothy Morse came back and labored for them a short time in 1809. The clerk records that it is the " time of imbargo and tryals and contentions, wars and fightings, now through the world." "Feb. 16th, met for fasting and prayer, a day set apart by the elders and brethren, to be observed throughout the connection, now at this time of public difficulty and calamity." He also wrote "the brethren and sisters of our church did not feel such a measure of divine comfort and peace as usual, considering this world to be a state of tryal, and the christian life a continual warfare."

Elder John Whitney also preached in 1809, Elder Ebenezer Chase in 1810, and Elder Moses Bean in 1811. They were simply supplies, not settled.

* The lots reserved by the Lord Proprietors for the ministry yearly furnished a considerable revenue for the churches of the town. That they might get their pro- portion of it, the Freewill Baptists, Feb. 22, 1808, organized a society in connection with their church .. All the members signed a petition to the selectmen, setting forth that the superior court of New Hampshire had decided that the right of parsonage land was equal to all the inhabitants of a town in which such land was situated, ac- cording to poll and estate, who join in any regular or constitutional religious society ; that the Great and General Court had resolved that the Freewill Baptists shall be considered a distinct religious sect or denomination, with all the privileges as such, agreeable to the constitution; that in pursuance of these acts they had organized, and that they requested their equal proportion of the interest money arising from the sale of parsonage land in said Weare, to be paid for them to John Philbrick, Joseph Philbrick and Jonathan Philbrick, a committee to receive the same. This petition was signed by thirty-nine men. At the first meeting of the society Jonathan Philbrick was chosen moderator and clerk, John Philbrick treasurer, and the above- named committee was appointed to present the petition and get the money. The committee received $50 from the town as the share of their society, and in 1809 they got $72. This drawing of the ministerial fund was all the business the society did. Its records continued till 1815, when the church found some other way to get the money, and it died out.

MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY.

" Abraham Morrel. Thomas Philbrick.

Nathan Wortliley

George Hadley Jur

Lucy Watson

William Noyes

Nathan Cram. Ezekiel Cram. Eliphalet Crani.

Thomas Worthley

John Worthley

James Corliss

Andrew P. Wood

Moses Mudget

Levi Currior. Evan Dow

Josiah Brown

Abel Busel Jacob Cram

Henry Tuxbary

John Philbrick

Jonathan Philbrick

Jesse Bailey

Asa Sergent

Asa Dustin

Nathan Cram Jur

Joseph Kimball

Humphrey Nicols "

Samuel Sargent Thomas X Worthley x dismd Samuel Worthley

Charles George

Zebulun Carr Caleb Whitaker Jur

Joseph Philbrick Joseph Perkins Jonathan Worthley

Moses Mudget Jr.

Langley Kelley

Jesse Whittaker

355

ELDER HEZEKIAH D. BUZZELL.

1812.]

Elder Hezekiah D. Buzzell came in 1812. His preaching was highly acceptable to the people, and he moved his family into town Nov. 27th. The church promised "to visit and help him and family to a comfortable support, so long as it shall appear that the Lord shall bless his labors as a faithful Gospel minister in this place and he feels it his duty to continue with us."*

Elder Buzzell lived at South Weare but he preached in all parts of the town. He was a large man physically, had coarse features, a huge red nose, and was rather homely ; he was a powerful sermon- izer, and very popular with the people. The church grew rapidly under his ministration ; nearly two hundred members belonged to it, and his meetings were well attended.t The people delighted to honor him; he was elected for several years a representative to the General Court and to the state senate. He was a good debater, quick at repartee, and had keen wit. As was then the custom, he sometimes indulged moderately in drinking spirit. Once he invited a fellow elder into a country store to have a social glass with him. While they were mixing two tumblers full of the good creature, Elder Buzzell smilingly said, " Brother! I never invite any one to drink with me unless he is homelier than I am." This was a doubt- ful compliment, but the brother, after waiting a moment and looking him square in the face, blandly remarked, "I guess, Brother Buzzell, you don't very often ask any one to drink with you."

The church in Weare was a part of the Richmond Quarterly Meeting. Messengers from the several churches which composed it met once in three months, usually on the first Saturday of spring, summer, autumn and winter, but this time was not always observed. They heard letters read from each church ; verbal reports were given in; the question of fellowship was considered; on Sunday there were two long sermons, followed by the Lord's supper, after which, those who believed in the washing of feet often attended to that ceremony. On Monday business was resumed and continued till it was finished. The devotional element controlled these meet- ings, and often business was suspended for a season of singing and prayer.# Brothers Jonathan Philbrick and George Hadley were

* Clerk Jonathan Philbrick wrote in 1814: " Sickness and deatlı prevail around us, but Weare thus far has escaped." Feb. 13, 1815, he repeated the sanie; but Jaul. 8, 1816, he says : "It being a time of great tribulation among us, many dying suddenly in this place." This was probably when the spotted fever prevailed.

t Charles George and Jonathan Philbrick were ruling elders at this time, and John Philbrick and George Hadley deacons.

# Hist. of the Freewill Baptists, p. 83.

356

HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

[1818.

the first messengers sent from Weare, to attend a Quarterly Meet- ing. It was held at Sutton, Jan. 21st. The first one held in Weare was on Jan. 20-21, 1808. There was a large attendance and a great outpouring of the Spirit. The elder was often chosen as messenger. Being poor, a subscription paper was sometimes circu- lated to raise money to pay his expenses. Elder David Harriman was once elected to go. He said his expenses would amount to the sum of one dollar; a paper to raise it was at once started; the church members signed with great liberality; but they were unable to get the full amount; when they had figured up, they found they lacked six cents, and the elder said he would give that himself. So proud were they of their gifts, that they had their names and the sums subscribed, entered upon the church records, where it stands, a monument to their beneficence, even to this day .*

Sept. 2, 1818, clerk Jonathan Philbrick died, and in his stead Judge Joseph Philbrick was chosen, who made equally as good a record.t

They often had revivals, slight awakenings, and then there would be seasons of depression. Elder David Harriman roused them in 1820. He was a powerful revivalist. Many were converted, and May 21st he baptized thirteen persons, mostly females. The good work went on, Elder Buzzell assisted, and June 4th, with a large concourse of people, he "repaired to the water's edge, where prayer was wont to be made," and baptized six; July 2d he baptized two " by going down into the water, immersing, and coming up out of the water with them "; July 9th he repaired to the water at John- son's mill and baptized two more. But after the excitement had subsided, they had severe trials, for some of the converts wanted to withdraw and join Calvinism.# Clerk Joseph Philbrick thus re-

* " Paid by the following Bretliren :

" Louis F. Eaton ..

Morrill Barnard. .12

Moody Marshall. .12

Moses Lull. .05

Leonard Felch. .05

.12

Jonathan Cilley

Daniel Bailey .. .12

.12

Amos W. Bailey . . Osgood Paige. .12

.12

" Which was paid over to. Elder D. Harriman." .94

t Brother James Buxton was chosen to fill Jonathan Philbrick's place as ruling elder.

# At the monthly meeting in September, 1818, they had " a good, comforting, re- freshing scason, till Sister Sarah Tuxbury began to talk and expressed a wish to be dis- missed, in order to join with the baptist brethren. After some conversation, she acknowledged she had nothing against anyone of our brethren, which brot. a trial on us in an unexpected manner; but she was considered at her liberty."

357

REVIVALS AMONG THE FREEWILL BAPTISTS.

1820.]

cords : "1820 Dec. 6th, Monthly conference was held at sister Lucy P. Gray's ; the meeting thin, rather of a low time."

In 1823 they had another rousing revival. Brother S. Dana Buz- zell, the elder's son, got converted at Candia, came home and waked the people. "He appeared humble, bold and faithful, even to the ungodly." Elder David Harriman was present and assisted. Elder Wilmarth, the Calvin Baptist clergyman, took an active part. Elder Peaslee and Mary M. Dyer, a preacher, also put their shoul- ders to the work, and it was "a searching, powerful time"; Sarah Bailey, wife of Daniel Bailey, and daughter of Elder Buzzell, broke silence, confessed her distress of mind, and desired her father to pray for her.

It began March 5th ; the church clerk, April 2d, says "it was a time of grace and glory," the revival goes on, cold professors ap- pear quickened, the weak become strong, the steadfast are well engaged in the cause of the Blessed Redeemer, backsliders in heart return and confess their wanderings, some mourned for their sins, and others praised God for their late deliverance. So powerful was the current, it flowed with such momentum, that as late as July 16th twelve were converted ; Aug. 3d Elder Buzzell converted a Congregationalist deacon, James Whittaker of Deering, and bap- tized him ; Sept. 19th, Elders Buzzell, Harriman, Kenny and Wil- marth being present, three young ladies were converted, and Oct. 5th they had a grand meeting in a maple grove about sixty rods west of the factory, where six hundred were present and ten were baptized. It was probably the greatest revival that Weare ever knew.

The next year, 1824, the revival flame broke out again. May 10th Brother David Marks, Jr., eighteen years old, from Junius, N. Y., spoke for two hours with great power ; then Dr. John Baker and his wife, Esther, were baptized. Sept. 2d, 1827, Elder Arthur Caveno preached; Aaron Colby related the extensive exercise of his mind on the subject of religion, and after the afternoon meeting repaired to Mount William pond, where Elder Buzzell " burried him in baptism beneath its clear waters." The elder often resorted to Weare's beautiful lake to baptize his converts .* The pleasant hills were round about, and the green woods were full of birds. It was

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.

The history of Weare, New Hampshire, 1735-1888, Part 40

Author: Little, William, 1833-1893. cn Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Lowell, Mass., Printed by S. W. Huse & Co. Number of Pages: 1240

Author: Little, William, 1833-1893. cn
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Lowell, Mass., Printed by S. W. Huse & Co.
Number of Pages: 1240