The history of Weare, New Hampshire, 1735-1888, Part 45

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 45

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" Weare 2 Augt. 1804

" MOSES EMERSON DAVID LULL

JAMES EMERSON JOSEPH MARSHAL

STEPHEN EMERSON BENJA SHAW

SIMEON CHOATE

NATHAN GEORGE

BENJAMIN MARSIIAL

JEREMIAH BASSETT

JOHN FAVOR ZEBEDIAH FAVOR

TIMOTHY GEORGE JUNR

TRISTRAM BARNARD MOSES GEORGE

SAMUEL EATON

NATHANIEL FIFIELD ITHAMAR EATON

JOHN DOW

ABNER HOYT JUNR

JAMES PEAK BENJAMIN SILLEY

THOMAS FOLNGBUR

MOSES BOYNTON

SAMUEL PAIGE

JOSEPH MAXFIELD

EDMUND BARNARD "

DANIEL GOULD

JOHN CILLEY

JOHN MOOR ENOCH GOODEN

THOMAS SHAW

DAVID BERNARD

1807.]

393

THE MINISTERIAL FUND.

Samuel Page and many others filed a remonstrance against giving assistance to fight a lawsuit about the sale of the parsonage land, but the town voted that Ebenezer Peaslee and Jonathan At- wood, Jr., be a committee to assist Aaron Cilley in his suit against " Rev. John Caffer," to be heard and tried at the October term of the superior court at Amherst. At the trial Aaron Cilley won the case, and the Reverend John had to pay $33.59 costs and move from the lot at once.

There now remained to the town ministerial lot number one, range five. Susanna Wood, widow of Rev. Amos Wood, claimed it, on the ground that her husband was the first settled minister, and petitioned the superior court for leave to sell it. The town, Sept. 15, 1807, voted to oppose the petition and chose William Whittle, Jonathan Atwood, Jr., and Jonathan Paige a committee to do so. At the same meeting another committee was chosen to take care of the lot. The next year the town, at the annual meet- ing, voted to sell and convey the same by lease, and April 4, 1808, they sold it by auction to Ezra Edmunds for $1406. But there was a cloud on the title, which they were under obligations to re- move, and so Sept. 29, 1808, the town chose Jonathan Atwood, Jr., Samuel Eaton and Tristram Barnard a committee to settle with the Widow Wood, if she will quit-claim lot one, range five, by Center Square, and she to continue in quiet possession of lot one, range two, on which she now lives. If she will not do this, then to fight the case to the end. She did not settle on this proposition, and at a special meeting, Nov. 4th, the town voted not to give the widow Susanna a donation for the "Borier's" preaching after the Rev. Amos Wood died. In 1809 the town gave the committee full power to settle with the widow as they thought proper, which they did, and Ezra Edmunds was quieted in his title.

At the annual meeting in 1809, Dr. Thomas Eaton, Tristram Bar- nard and Esquire John Robie were chosen " to settle with the com- mittees who sold and conveyed the ministerial lands in Weare." They did so, and reported to the town, Sept. 20th, that the town now has a ministerial fund of $5496, well secured at six per cent interest.

In 1850, so well had it been kept that it still amounted to $5400 - a shrinkage of only $96 in forty-one years. In 1863 it was $5400, in 1866 it had shrunk to about $4000, in 1879 it was $4393.91 and in 1880, $3868.57, where it has since remained.

The ministerial fund has generally been held by an agent chosen

394

HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

[1829.

by the town to take care of it. From time to time a committee has been chosen to settle with the agent, and through all the early years there was no irregularity or loss .* How happened the shrinkage of about $1500 in Rebellion times we have not learned.t

After many petitions and much discussion the town, in 1847, did an act of justice. They voted "that the Friends might have their share of the interest of the ministerial fund." For more than half a century they had steadily refused it. But in 1850 they would not divide it equally ; they repented of this the next year and voted to divide it " among all denominations according to poll and estate."

In 1870 the town voted to invest the fund in state bonds. Cyrus E. Wood was appointed agent to collect as soon as may be the notes and make the investment in numbered and registered bonds, he giv- ing satisfactory security for the faithful discharge of his duty. The town was careful to add the following to its resolution : "Provided, however, that nothing in the action of the town or agent shall be so construed as to divert the funds from the purposes for which they were given." The agent attended to his duty and invested them as directed, where they have ever since remained at six per cent in- terest.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

THE CALVINIST BAPTISTS AT EAST WEARE.

THIS church is the offspring of the old Antipedobaptist church at South Weare. It was formed Nov. 11, 1829. Its members gave as reasons for forming a new church that it would be more convenient for them to have a church near home, and that it would be for their good, for the town's good and good for the cause of Christ. They held their first meeting at the house of Tristram Barnard and organized by the choice of Elder Joseph Davis, moderator, and

* The interest on the ministerial fund in 1885 was paid to the several religious societies as follows : -

South Weare Universalist. .$61 25 | Calvin Baptist. .$16 35

Center Weare Universalist. 44 10

Second Freewill Baptist. 13 56

Third Freewill Baptist. 15 70 Union Congregational. 35 05

Friends .. 45 15 Advent.

1 60

t Agents to take care of the ministerial fund :- Simon P. Colby, 1840-46. Cyrus E. Wood, 1864-75. Albert B. Johnson, 1876-87.

Hiram Simons, 1846-64.

CALVINIST BAPTIST CHURCH AT EAST WEARE.

395

THE CALVINIST BAPTIST CHURCH.

1830.]

Eleazer Hoyt, clerk .* At their second meeting they took the name of the "Scond Baptist Church " in the north part of the town, adopted the church articles of their parent church, chose Brother Tristram Barnard first deacon, and voted to send to Concord, Bow and Hopkinton churches "to make a council" to form a church in this place, if thought proper. Elder Williams, of Concord, was in- vited to deliver a sermon on the occasion.

The council met at the house of Washington Eaton Feb. 3, 1830. Brother Williams preached, the church was recognized, and early the next spring the Rev. Asa Niles became the first pastor. Pastor and people went to work with energy; they got up a revival, many were converted, eleven were baptized and received; two were added by letter, making thirty-four members in all. They organized a Sabbath school with eight teachers, thirty-five scholars and forty- eight books in the library. Their meetings were well attended, the world's people turning out well each pleasant Sabbath. Brother Niles left them in a highly prosperous condition at the end of a year.

The church historian, Rev. Edmund H. Smith, says, "Thus a favor- able beginning was made by this little band united in church fellow- ship, but their course onward was not always so favorable and flatter- ing ; their life was checkered, as their history shows. They were often by Babylon's cold and icy streams, at death's dark door. They have stood on Pisgah's top, surrounded by a halo of glory; they have passed under clouds of darkness; they have basked in noon- day suns; dark waters have rolled on and dashed their angry waves at their feet. And anon they have drank as at the river which makes glad the city of our God. They have been wrapped in un- belief ; they have rent its veil and walked forth by faith."

Rev. Nathan Chapman was the second pastor. The church voted to give him an ordination July 4, 1832, and sent to Concord, Hop- kinton, Bow, New Boston and the first church in Weare for a council. Rev. Oscar Wing and Stephen Combs were invited to attend. From

* The church set out with the following preamble :-

" We the subscribers viewing our convenience as to local situation and believing that it will be for our good and for the good of the cause of christ in this place for us to receive fellowship as a distinct church we have accordingly asked for and ob- tained letters of dismission for this purpose.

" TRISTRAM BARNARD, LEVI CILLEY,

WILLIAM HOYT,

DAVID CROSS, JOHN BARNARD,

PHILIP CILLEY, ELEASER HOYT, JOHN HOYT, HANNAH EATON, ANNA HOYT,

OLIVER BARNARD, HANNAH BARNARD,

ABIGAIL STRAW,

SARAH HOYT,

ABIGAIL CILLEY, BETSEY MAJOR, SARAH CILLEY,

HANNAH EATON, 2d,

LUCRETIA HOYT,

SUKEY CILLEY,

HANNAH COLLINS."

396

HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

[1833.

their own church Brothers Washington Eaton, Philip Cilley, Eleazer Hoyt and George Day were to meet with the council.

At the ordination Rev. Michael Carlton read the Scriptures, Rev. Stephen Combs made the introductory prayer, Rev. John Atwood gave the charge, Rev. Michael Carlton the right hand of fellowship, and Rev. David Harriman made the concluding prayer.

Elder Chapman preached all the Sabbaths for one year for our East Weare church, and after that he divided the time between East and South Weare. The East Weare church made but little prog- ress under his ministration. A great trouble arose, and he suddenly closed his labors in the fall of 1833. After he left the church was in a most unhappy state, and they selected a committee from the as- sociation to give them advice. Revs. James A. Boswell, Andrew T. Foss, Ebenezer E. Cummings and Enoch T. Winter were sent to them. They met at the house of David Cross,* Oct. 18th, heard the whole case, and then in a ringing letter advised them not to dissolve, but confess their faults one to another, repent, forgive and "make up.". The church took the advice and did as recommended. But they hired no pastor for a year.

Rev. Lewis E. Caswell, regularly dismissed from the church in Meredith, began his labors with them December, 1834, and church affairs went smoothly for a few months. Then two members were excluded, and a mutual council was sent by the association. It con- sisted of Revs. Ebenezer E. Cummings, Edmond Worth, James A. Boswell, Enoch T. Winter and Deacon Briant; they took time, looked into the whole case and made their report. The church was upheld "mainly, and the clouds rolled by."

They held their meetings in the old meeting-house, built in 1786. It was a pleasent place with a glorious outlook, but a little out of the way for the village people.

* DAVID CROSS, Sr., son of Abiel and Sarah Cross, was born at Salem, June 17, 1772. Abiel Cross was born in Bradford, Mass., and lived several years in Salem, where he died April 20, 1778, aged 35 years; his widow then married a Mr. Clement who died after a few years, when she came to Weare and resided with David Cross, Sr., more than twenty-five years; she was buried in the East Weare cemetery.

The father of Abiel was Thomas Cross of Bradford, Mass., who died there in 1772. David Cross, Sr., lived at Salem and Atkinson until about 21 years of age, when he went to Pembroke and engaged at Suncook village in the cloth-dressing and wool- carding business with William Hezelton. He remained there a few years and mar- ried Olive Kimball, daughter of Thomas and Olive (Lovejoy) Kimball. About 1798 he moved to East Weare, and with John Gibson, continued his business in connec- tion with farming.

The children of David, Sr., and Olive Cross were John, born December, 1801 ; died in Manchester, Sept. 3, 1869, leaving a widow and children; Harriet, born December, 1803; married Enos Merrill; both now living with their only child, Darius Merrill, at Concord; Horace Kimball, who died aged 8 years; David Cross, Jr., born JJuly 5, 1817.

David Cross, Sr., died at Weare, March 7, 1856.

397

MIRACULOUS CONVERSIONS.

1836.]

In 1836 they decided to build a house in the village of East Weare where it would be more convenient to attend. A committee was chosen, $850 raised, and late in autumn it was completed. It was dedicated Dec. 8th. Elder Smith, church historian, says this was a new era in their history ; they now had a home that concentrated their efforts, encouraged their hearts and made them feel that the promise, " Ye shall reap in due time if ye faint not," would soon be fulfilled.

Elder Smith also tells how " the Lord now wrought mightily for them and answered their prayers, that there was one notable in- stance of this in the north-east corner of the town. Three families Tewksburys, Kendalls and Days began to pray with a determination not to cease till God gave his blessing. They kept up weekly prayer- meetings for six months before there was any apparent increase of interest. Then they decided to hold their meetings twice a week. Soon the fire began to blaze, its light was shed abroad and its warming influence was felt. Several were convicted and were shortly con- verted. Bretheren began to flock in from many miles around; they had no preacher, no preaching, but the faithful exhortations of the saints and the warm appeals of the now happy converts woke them

up. The wife of an opposer presented him for prayers. He was not present, knew nothing about it, yet while the brethren and the sisters prayed, he was convicted and so constrained by the depth of his feelings that he walked the house for hours. At the next meeting prayers for him were renewed and although absent and ignorant of what was being done, the spirit came down on him ; he rose from his bed, he traveled his house, he broke open a box in which his bible had been nailed up, read it, and so much was he moved that he took to the woods in the dead of night to pray. Soon he was converted and became a great christian."

The Rev. Mr. Smith says " other like miraculous conversions fol- lowed and wild and reckless sinners found peace in Jesus. Quickly the glorious revival spread through all the eastern part of the town. They had a protracted meeting both day and evening, which con- tinued for several weeks ; thirty-six, among whom was father Joshua Cilley and Sister Abigail Eaton, afterwards the wife of Rev. J. C. Foster, were baptized and added to the church." The church sent a glowing letter to the association, reciting their prosperity.

And now arose two great moral questions, temperence and the abolition of Negro slavery. The church grappled with both, resolved

398

HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

[1839.

to have no fellowship with drunkards, to adopt the total-abstinence principles and to denounce slave-holding as the blackest of crimes. This created a slight feeling among the members. A minority dis- sented, and some coldness prevailed.

And then crept on, like the glacial cold, years of spiritual famine, great trials, labor and sorrow. The church clerk writes "1839, cold- ness and inactivity prevail "; "1840, the church laments over its unbelief and want of spirituality"; " 1841, languor and spiritual debility pervade the church "; "1842, great trials "; "disciplined and expelled some unruly members "; " nine excluded " ; " temper- ance and rum make a coldness."

When the church was thus well weeded they appointed Elder Caleb' Brown, Dea. George Day and Bro. William L. Eaton to draft resolutions on the subject of slavery .* They reported that they regarded it as a heinous crime, in violation of the gospel ; that they would have no fellowship with slave-holding church mem- bers or churches ; that no slave-holder or apologist for slavery should preach to them or commune with them; that they would dismiss no members to slave-holding churches, nor receive any from them, and that they would use all their influence against slavery and for its speedy abolition.

" But during all their trials they had some things to encourage them, a few mercy drops were scattered here and there, there was an occasional convert and now and then they 'repaired to the river, their Jordan, and performed the baptismal rite.' Thus were their hearts encouraged and their hands strengthened."

In 1842 Bro. William L. Eaton,t a native of Weare who had acquired a good education and studied for the ministry, applied for

* The following are the preamble and resolutions :-

" Whereas, we regard slavery as a heinous crime and an agravated sin in the sight of God ; in. direct violation of the spirit of the gospel ; and the person wlio owns property in his fellow man involved in a great sin. And whereas we are com- manded to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather re- prove them; therefore resolved :

" 1. That we will have no fellowship with slaveholding church members or churches.

" 2. That we will invite no slaveholder or apologist for slavery to our pulpit or communion.

"" 3. That we will dismiss none of our members to slave-holding churches nor re- ceive any from them.

" 4. That our influence as a church shall be against slavery and that we will labor and pray in connection with our pastor for its speedy abolition."

t WILLIAM L. EATON was born in Weare, March 21, 1814. He held, for many years, his relation with the Baptist church in Weare and from them received a license to preach the gospel. He was ordained May 20, 1842. His labors were well known and highly appreciated, especially at New Hampton institution, and at Marshall and Kal- amazoo, Mich. He died at the latter place Dee. 25, 1852, respected and beloved in life and lamented in death by all who knew him.

E Cabo nto

Est

399

1843.]

CONTINUED PROSPERITY OF THE CHURCH.

ordination. May 20th an ecclesiastical council was convened for that purpose ; Rev. Nathaniel W. Smith read the Scriptures, Rev. James Richardson made the introductory prayer, Rev. Edmund H. Smith preached, Rev. Edmond Worth made the consecrating prayer, Rev. Samuel Cook gave the charge, Rev. Ebenezer E. Cummings the right hand of fellowship, and Rev. Lewis E. Caswell made the con- cluding prayer.

This was a star in the east for our church. It was the beginning of better times. Near the close of the year they were visited with a shower of divine grace, and ten young converts "were gathered in."

Elder Lewis E. Caswell now thought it a fitting time to close his labors. He had served as pastor for eight years and had baptized into fellowship sixty-two members. He could now leave with honor, the church having doubled its numbers since first he became its pastor.

The church took no step backward. It was thoroughly alive in ethi- cal culture and devoted much of its energy to the cause of humanity. In January, 1843, it passed unanimously the following vote: "We will adopt the Washingtonian Total Abstinence Pledge and admit none to membership but those who are willing to sign it." This was a great step in advance, when we consider that only a few years before almost all church members and parsons drank intoxicating liquors, and many farmers used nearly a hundred barrels of cider a year.

About the 1st of February, 1843, Elder Caleb Brown became the pastor of the church. "His labors were well received. The mem- bers were fed by the Word, strengthened in their work, established in holy principles and a few souls were gathered in." Still they had many trials and tribulations, ties were sundered, members were ex- cluded, some removed, death took others so there was a great de- crease in church membership. Elder Brown resigned at the end of four years.

Elder Sewell G. Kenney at once filled his place, commencing his duties in February, 1847. He labored two years, and then resigned.

Elder John Upton came in February, 1849. He had a sorry, lone- some time in East Weare. From the record for 1850 we learn : " Covenant meetings have been thinly attended ; church discipline entirely neglected ; pastor not adequately supported ; spiritual death prevails."

400

HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

[1851.

Elder Upton closed his labors in May, 1851. Soon after he left Bro. Elbridge Marshall, a native of Weare, May 4, 1851, was licensed to preach, and went South and West, where he labored as a preacher and teacher .*

Elder Edmund H. Smith became pastor Aug. 1, 1851, while the church was in this low state. "During the first four years not much was accomplished except to collect the scattered sheep, en- courage the bowed down, strengthen the weak and restore confidence in those who had broken their vows." Brother Smith labored for the pecuniary benefit of his charge ; he collected $600 and thoroughly repaired their church edifice. They had trials and afflictions, not from protracted labors and painful exclusions, but from repeated deaths and removals from town, which reduced their numbers and lessened their pecuniary ability to sustain the cause of Zion. But in 1855 they had a " glorious revival, many converts were made, they visited the river several times and sixteen were buried in the likeness of Christ's death and resurrection, and at the end of the year twenty- four new members had joined the church and the whole number was seventy-two." In 1856 there came a reaction. In the autumn every one was engaged in the Buchanan-Fremont presidential campaign, and religion was nearly forgotten. The church clerk, Enos Hoyt, Oct. 30th, made this record :-

" Interest quite low

Politics are all the gow."

Elder Smith probably felt the truth of this, for he resigned Nov. 1st. He was a good historian and carefully compiled the statis- ticst of the church.

After he left the prosperity of the church slowly declined. John Peaslee, one of the strong members, was accidentally killed June 3,

* ELBRIDGE MARSHALL was born in Weare, June 20, 1823 ; received a common- school education; made a publie profession of his faith in Christ at the age of twenty- two, was baptized into the fellowship of the church April 20, 1845, graduated at Dart- mouth college in 1850, studied for the ministry and was licensed to preach, as we have said, May 4, 1851. In 1855 he was both preaching and teaching at Attiea, Ind.

t Whole number of church members 72

Oldest member. 89 years

Youngest

10 years

Statisties for twenty-six years and seven months :-

Organized with fifteen members. 15

98 Baptized ...

43 Added by letter. -156

Of these there were dismissed by letter.

Excluded. 18

Died ....

Present number. -156

401

LIST OF PASTORS OF THE CALVINIST CHURCH.

1856.]

1856. Dea. Tristram Barnard, one of the main pillars, died Dec. 1. 1860, aged ninety-three years. Sister Fanny Morse died Dec. 9, 1869, aged one hundred years, eight months and twenty-eight days. The church clerk says "she labored faithfully in the cause of Christ and died like a shock of corn fully ripe." Olive Cross died April 3, 1871, aged ninety years.

After this the church has had preaching nearly all the time, by sup- plies* and by students from Newton theological school. They have raised some of the money to pay for it, have received about $25 a year from the ministerial fund, and the Baptist association has gener- ously furnished them about $100 annually for a great many years. Thus they have been able to continue.

The members have yearly contributed to the Free Missionary society and have given to other similar societies, in all, as Elder Smith records, " as much as twenty-five dollars a year."

They have sustained a Sabbath school a considerable part of the time, which has averaged fifty scholars a year. They have never had less than twenty scholars, and the highest number was eighty. Many excellent teachers have been connected with it, but the one who took the greatest interest and is the best remembered was Mary G. Ray- mond. She was baptized into the church Aug. 9, 1841, and died Feb. 13, 1853, aged thirty-two years. She, though frail in body, was a bright and shining light, and it was said of her, "She did what she could." The school possesses a small library.

The clerks record some interesting items : In the ministry of Rev.

* Revs. Samuel Woodbury, J. Peacock and many others supplied.

PASTORS.

Asa Niles, came spring, 1830; left spring, 1831; one year, Nathan Chapman, came July 4, 1832; left fall, 1833; one year. Lewis E. Caswell, came December, 1834; left fall, 1842; eight years. Caleb Brown, came Feb. 1, 1843 ; left Feb. 1, 1847; four years. Sewell G. Kenney, came Feb. 1, 1847; left Feb. 1, 1849; two years. John Upton, came February, 1849; left May, 1851; two years. Edmund H. Smith, came Aug. 1, 1851 ; left Nov. 1, 1856; five years. Horace W. Dalton, came Jan. 4, 1857; left April 4, 1858; one year. Edmund H. Smith, came April 29, 1858; left March 27, 1859; one year. Hartley W. Day, came March 11, 1860; left Dec. 14, 1862; two years. Henry O. Walker, came Jan. 21, 1864; left Sept. 22, 1867; four years. James W. Searl, came Jan. 5, 1868; left April 18, 1869; one year. Joseph L. Whittemore, came May 30, 1869; left Nov. 10, 1872; three years. William R. Warner, came June 1, 1874; left March 19, 1876 ; two years. Jesse Coker, came July 9, 1876 ; left May 11, 1879; three years. Sumner Latham, came Sept. 6, 1879; left Jan. 31, 1880; one year. Lucius Hayden, came Sept. 21, 1884; left August, 1885; two years. Franklin Merriam, came 1885.

Tristram Barnard,

Eleazer Hoyt, Enos Hoyt, 26

DEACONS. George Day, Alfred Hamilton.

CHURCH CLERKS.

Alfred Hamilton, Charles H. Moore, Mary S. Cilley.

1: ٣جـ

402

HISTORY OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE. [1830.

James W. Searl they celebrated the Lord's supper June 7, 1868. Four were present, the minister and his wife, Hannah B. Gould and Alfred Hamilton, the clerk.

When Rev. William R. Warner preached, the pastor, nearly the whole church, and many world's people went July 4, 1875, to the South Weare old meeting-house and heard the last sermon that was ever preached in it. It was torn down shortly afterwards.

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The history of Weare, New Hampshire, 1735-1888, Part 45

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