USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Lyndeborough > The history of the town of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire,1735-1905 > Part 29
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Erastus Baldwin Claggett was born at Newport, May 9, 1815; entered Dartmouth College, but did not graduate on account of ill health, and was graduated from Andover in 1844. He was dismissed from his pastor- ate in Lyndeborough, Sept. 30, 1870, and died at New Fairfield, Conn., May 16, 1877. Just before coming to Lyndeborough, he married a Miss Paine, and during their residence in Lyndeborough five children were born to them.
Feb. 7, 1871, the society voted to hire the Rev. George Smith to labor with them in the ministry for one year from Feb. I, 1871. There is no record to show how long Mr. Smith preached for the church, and the engagements of the Rev. Newton I. Jones, Rev. Lyman F. Rand and Rev. Lincoln Harlow are not recorded. They served as pastors of the church during the years from 1871 to 1878. We have no further record of them.
At a meeting of the church held Aug. 29, 1878, it was voted to extend an invitation to the Rev. Theophilus P. Sawin to be- come the pastor, provided the society concur with the church. The society concurred with the church and the invitation was sent. Mr. Sawin was to receive from the society three hundred and fifty dollars per year, with the free use of the parsonage, and also two Sabbaths' vacation. The Home Missionary Soci- ety was to be asked to add to this the sum of two hundred dol- lars, which they did.
The members of the committee of the society sending the in- vitation were Benjamin G. Herrick, John C. Ordway and W. T. Boutwell. In a letter dated Sept. 28, 1878, Mr. Sawin accepted the invitation, and he was installed Nov. 20, 1878. The invoca- tion and reading of Scripture was by Rev. W. H. Woodwell of Mont Vernon ; Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Hubbard of South Lynde- borough ; Sermon by the Rev. Albert Bryant of West Somer- ville, Mass .; Installing Prayer by Rev. William Clark, D.D., of Amherst ; Charge to the Pastor by Rev. George Dustan of
.
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Peterborough ; Right Hand of Fellowship, Rev. F. D. Sargent of Brookline, N. H .; Address to the people by Rev. J. G. Davis of Amherst.
Theophilus Parsons Sawin, son of Bela and Becca (Barber) Sawin, was born at Natick, Mass., Feb. 4, 1817. He studied at Phillips Acad- emy, and took a theological course with Rev. Parsons Cooke, D.D., of Lynn. He was ordained at Saugus, Mass., April 19, 1843, and dis- missed April 20, 1848. Installed at Harwich, Mass., March, 1850, and dismissed March 11, 1851. He was city missionary at Manchester from 1851 until 1856, and from 1866 to 1869. He was installed at Brookline Dec. 11, 1856, and dismissed May 18, 1866. He was acting pastor at Re- vere, Mass., from 1869 until April, 1874; at Middleborough, Mass., from Jan., 1875, to Dec., 1877. He married, Jan. 1, 1838, Martha, daughter of Robert and Phebe ( McIntire) Mason.
Mr. Sawin was a man of genial presence, of social disposition, and soon won a warm place in the affections of the people of the church and parish. He performed the duties of pastor with scrupulous fidelity. Failing health compelled his resignation, Aug. 14, 1885. He was not dismissed, however, the church hoping that a cessation from active work might restore his health, and that he might be enabled to continue his work. He was the pastor of the church when he died, Jan. 19, 1886.
After the resignation of Mr. Sawin the pulpit was supplied mostly by Andover students for a time, then Mr. D. T. Torrey, a recent graduate of the Andover Theological Seminary, was engaged. No record was made of the time he com- menced his labors or when they ended in this church, but he was the religious teacher of the community for more than a year. He was a young man of great energy and zeal in his Master's cause, an untiring worker, and was possessed of a great desire to do good in the church and town. His stay in the church in Lyndeborough tended to the uplifting and refining of the community.
During the summer of 1881 the church received the gift of a fine communion service and also a Mason & Hamlin cabinet organ of good tone and power. They were given by former residents and friends of the church and town. The names of the donors are as follows : -
Joseph E. Brown Allen A. Brown Roswell M. Boutwell Henry M. Woodward Roland H. Boutwell Jennie C. Deadman
Julia A. Stark Clark B. Jones
Clarissa B. Colley Sarah C. Rand
Hattie Rand Rev. Frank G. Clark
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HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
Nellie B. Hardy
Mrs. Jennie C. Upton
John F. Colby Richard Batten
Mrs. A. F. Hovey
Ira Houston
Rachel Todd
Abby F. Beard
Amos Pratt Oscar Fowler
Mrs. William Blaney
Mrs. George W. Bosworth
George S. Jones
Mrs. Adams
John Gage Benjamin Fiske
C. C. Boutwell
Robert Hawthorne
Alfred F. Holt
David Fowler
Mrs. C. A. Hurlburt
J. Kimball Wheeler
Herbert Fiske
John H. Clark
Mrs. George Dodge
William H. Grant
Charles R. Boutwell
Rufus Blanchard
Charles P. Clark
Peter H. Clark
William L. Whittemore
John Houston
Sewell G. Mack
Isaiah Parker
Dr. Henry E. Spalding
Sarah R. Dunbar
Mrs. William Beasom
Mary C. Pettingill
Sidney Gage
David E. Proctor
Freeman Kimball
Asa B. Clark
Mrs. Marshall
W. W. Curtis
Dolly Kimball
B. J. Boutwell
Alice Kimball
Abby J. Hawthorne
John Haggett
George S. Boutwell
Sept. 22, 1888, a call was extended to the Rev. A. C. Childs to become the pastor of the church. He accepted the call in a letter dated Oct. 31, 1888, and on the 14th of November follow- ing, he was installed. Those taking part in the exercises were the Rev. John Thorpe of Mont Vernon, Rev. Dennis Donovan of South Lyndeborough, Rev. E. H. Greely, D. D., of Con- cord, N. H., Rev. Cyrus Richardson of Nashua, Rev. J. H. Heald of Bennington, Rev. George W. Ruland of Greenfield. The sermon was by Rev. Frank G. Clark of West Medford, Mass. Mr. Childs' pastorate continued until Dec. 31, 1890, although he was dismissed Oct. 15, 1890. He was a man of sound orthodox theology, with a fitting sense of the dignity of the ministerial calling, performing his parish duties with fidel- ity, but with a rather hasty temper, withal, that detracted from his usefulness in the church.
Andover students again supplied the pulpit until May 17, 1891, when the Rev. L. D. Place was hired by the year. He closed his labors with the parish Nov. 12, 1893. Mr. Place was a man of commanding personality, inclined to liberality in his religious views, original in thought and an interesting preacher.
Josephine Stayner
Harriet C. Jones
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After leaving Lyndeborough, he went to New York city, after a time, and is reported to have resumed the practice of law, having prepared himself for that profession, and been admitted to the Bar before entering the ministry.
During the winter of 1893-94 the pulpit was supplied by can- didates, among whom was Owen E. Hardy, a student at Andover, Mass. He was graduated in June, 1894. May 5, 1894, the church and society united in giving him a call to become their pastor. He accepted the invitation in a letter dated May 17, 1894, but it was not until the 2nd of the follow- ing October that he was ordained and installed. The order of exercises was as follows :
Invocation by Rev. D. Donovan of South Lyndeborough.
Reading of scripture by Rev. H. S. Ives of Francestown.
Sermon by Prof. J. W. Churchill of Andover, Mass.
Charge to the Pastor by Rev. A. J. McGown of Amherst.
Right Hand of Fellowship by Rev. Charles H. Dutton of Wilton.
Charge to the people by Rev. Cyrus Richardson of Nashua.
Closing prayer by Rev. Fred E. Winn of Brookline.
Owen E. Hardy, son of Eliphalet J. and Sabrina ( Jennings) Hardy, was born July 13, 1862, at Wilton, Me. He was born on a farm, where he lived until attaining his majority, his lot the same as that of the average farmer's boy, attending the district school as opportunity offered. He fitted for college at the May School, Strong, Me., graduating from there in June, 1887, entered Bowdoin College and graduated in 1891. He says of himself that he obtained all of his education by his own efforts, working his way through college by teaching and in other ways. He entered Andover Theological Seminary in the autumn of 1891, and was graduated in 1894. He joined the church in 1881. This church was three miles from where he lived, and he says he ,"used to walk both ways most of the time." He preached one summer at North Anson, Me., and the next summer at Alexandria, South Dakota. He served while in college on the " college jury," the governing body of the stu- dents. He resigned his pastorate Feb. 5, 1899, and was dismissed March 6, 1899, serving about five years. He removed to West Peabody, Mass., becoming the pastor of the church there.
While here Mr. Hardy labored earnestly for the upbuilding of the church, in promoting lectures courses, and in all ways striving for the best interests of the community.
June 26, 1899, the church extended a call to Arden M. Rock- wood of Andover, Mass., to became their pastor. He accepted the invitation and was ordained and installed Sept. 5, 1899. Those taking part in the ceremony were the Rev. Charles H. Dutton of Wilton, Rev. Donald Brown of Mont Vernon, Rev. George Merriam of Greenville, Rev. Fred F. Winn of Benning-
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HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
ton, Rev. W. H. Bolster of Nashua, Rev. A. T. Hillman of Concord, and Rev. A. J. McGown of Amherst. Prof. J. W. Churchill of Andover, Mass., preached the sermon. He was dismissed Sept. 17, 1901, after a pastorate of two years. He accepted a call to become the pastor of a church at Wayland, Mass.
For the next few months after the dismissal of Mr. Rockwood the pulpit was supplied by candidates. In June, 1902, Rev. Austin Dodge was engaged as supply.
Austin Dodge, son of Moses and Susan (Webster) Dodge, was born at Newburyport, Mass., March 4, 1839. He prepared for college at the Newburyport high school, and entered Amherst College in 1857 ; gradu- ated in 1861. He was graduated from the Andover Theological Seminary in 1866. He had pastorates at Winchendon, Mass , Boylston, Mass., and East Bridgewater, Mass., and came to the church at Lyndeborough from Burlington, Mass. He married, Oct. 1I, 1866, Sarah S. Richardson of Dracut, Mass. Mrs. Dodge was a teacher in the Punchard High School at Andover, Mass.
The present membership of the church (1904) is 15 males and 45 females, a total of 60.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS OF CHURCH HISTORY.
The following is from a historical sketch written by Rev. Jacob White and dated June, 1839. It is interesting, though some of it is a repetition of what has already been recorded : -
"The first catalogue of the members of the church now extant num- bers two hundred and three names. Among these is that of Mr. Jonas Kidder, who died about eighteen months ago, aged ninety-four years. It is probable that all those received under its first pastor have now fallen asleep.
After the dismission of the Rev. Mr. Rand, the church was destitute of a pastor for a number of years. At length Mr. Sewall Goodridge was em- ployed as a candidate for settlement. Having preached a number of Sabbaths, it was the strong desire of the Church that he should become its pastor. To the first and second invitations extended to him he gave negative answers. But after he received a call the third time he resolved to comply with the request. Accordingly on Sept. 7, 1768, his ordination took place.
During the first twenty years after the settlement of the Rev. Mr. Goodridge there appears to be an unbroken record of the names of those who united with the church. This is evidently in his own handwriting. The second year after liis ordination there were twenty-four added to the church, a few about every succeeding year till 1788. After this to the close of his life, which is more than half the time of his ministerial labor, there is no church record to be found. Thus a space of about twenty- three years intervenes in which we do not know how inany were added to the church, or how many ceased to be members from death or other causes.
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ECCLESIASTICAL MATTERS
From 1809 to 1811 the church was destitute of a stated pastor. Even for some time previous, in consequence of the Rev. Mr. Goodridge's feeble health, it was not always favored with the regular administrations of divine ordinance. During the period that the people were without an under-shepherd to watch for their souls, a considerable number of minis- ters at different times supplied the desk. To some of thein invitations were given to settle. But none of them proved effectual till Mr. Nathaniel Merrill gave his answer to remain, in the year 1811. On Oct. 30, in the same year, his ordination took place.
How greatly his labors were blessed while he remained pastor of the church, many who now worship God in this house are ready to testify. Not a few look to him as their spiritual father in Christ. If any who heard the Gospel message as it fell from his lips are yet in their sins, it becomes them to seriously inquire whether the fault is not in themselves rather than in this devoted servant of God.
When Mr. Merrill commenced the work of the ministry in this place, the number belonging to the church was 108. During the first twelve years after his settlement there were added one hundred and seventy-nine persons. But from an uncontradicted report it appears that there has been no one year since the organization of this church when the Lord has manifested to it the exceeding riches of his grace like that of 1826. For a considerable season previous to this a death-like slumber seemed to rest upon the people. The foolish and wise were apparently sleeping in car- nal security. From the statements of professed Christians, it is evident that iniquity abounded, and the love of many waxed cold. The public worship of God on the Sabbath was thinly attended. Conference meet- ings were in a great measure suspended. The few who sighed in view of the widespread desolation of Zion were about to give up all for lost.
But the time for deliverence, though invisible to the mortal eye, drew near. In some of the meetings for conference and prayer, which had been revived, it was manifest to those who attended that the power and spirit of God were present. The work eventually so increased that, to use the language of the Rev. Mr. Merrill, 'there were very few families in which there were not some who seemed to be either deeply impressed, or to be rejoicing in the hope of salvation.' For about two months it is estimated that there were more hopeful conversions than days. The Spirit of the Lord seemed to come down like a mighty wind, prostrating sinners and bringing them submissively to Christ. Such a season had never been witnessed in this place from its earliest settlement. In this work God was in a striking manner pleased to magnify and to honor His own institutions.
Though some were arrested and brought in who were the open despisers of divine truth, of Christians and of the Sabbath, and who seemed to be far from the kingdom of heaven, yet nearly all had been accustomed to attend on the means of grace. Those parts of the town where the people uniformly attended religious worship were the parts most signally blessed. But in those neighborhoods where the families generally ab- sented themselves from the house of God on His holy day, there were only a very few hopeful conversions.
As the fruits of this revival in 1826, one hundred and seven persons
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HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
soon made a profession of their faith in Christ. During the remaining nine years of the Rev. Mr. Merrill's ministry in this place, there were. one hundred and five persons added to the church.
In regard to my own brief and imperfect ministry, there is nothing very particular to relate. No special divine influence has attended my feeble efforts. Eleven only have united themselves with the church, while double that number have been removed from it by death and other causes.
In conclusion I would observe that from a careful examination of the records there appear to have united with this church since its organiza- tion, eighty-four years ago, about seven hundred and fifty persons. In this statement no estimation is made of those who may have been added during the twenty-three years the history of which is entirely lost. Of this number eleven have sustained the office of deacon, eight have been licensed to preach the Gospel, and some others are in a course of prepa- ration for this glorious work. The present number on our catalogue is not far from two hundred." *
Jacob White, Pastor.
The following scrap is in the handwriting of Rev. Nathaniel Merrill and is dated Feb. 20, 1822 : --
"Present number of church members is 205. The church experienced a season of revival in 1812. Forty-four persons were added to its mem- bership. A less general revival has at other times been experienced by which the number of church members has been gradually increasing. When the present pastor commenced his labors, the number of profes- sors was about 100. One Social Library containing 100 volumes, incor- porated 1794. Nine school districts. No established means of literary instruction other than the statute of the State requires. Generally, how- ever, more money is raised than by these laws is required. One person only received a public education. Mr. Caleb Houston graduated from Williams College in 1812. Deaths in town in ten years, 160-16 in a year. In 1812 a disease of a threatening aspect prevailed in the town and thirteen died in about as many days. Called the spotted fever, or Cold Plague."
The writer of this history undertook to compute from the records of the church the number of persons who had been members since its organization, but could come to no satisfac- tory result. Rev. Frank G. Clark gives the number as nine hundred and forty-one, which is undoubtedly correct.
In the spring of 1886, during the months of March and April, the whole interior of the church was remodeled and re- furnished. The singers' gallery was dismantled and done away with. A slightly curved partition extending from floor to ceil- ing was built, effectually separating that historic place from the auditorium. The gallery is now used as a store-room for odds and ends of church furniture. The stairway leading to this
*This was in 1839.
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gallery on the south was torn out and the space thus gained made part of the entry, but the one on the north side remains. For more than half a century those old stairways were the loitering place for the boys and men and it may be observed here, that it was the custom for the women and girls to use the north stairway and the same unwritten law compelled the men and boys to use the one at the south.
The old high pulpit with its winding stairs was removed and a platform and desk substituted. The recessed panel back of the pulpit with the inscription in gilt letters, "Holiness be- cometh thy House O Lord, forever," at which generations of children have stared during service, was removed and the walls were replastered and gived a soapstone finish. The west end of the auditorium was frescoed, the inscription before quoted being preserved in colors. Frescoed panels at the right and left of the platform contain passages of scripture. The expense of this frescoing was given by Mr. Robert Hawthorne, of Boston.
The old-fashioned pews with doors were removed and new pews arranged in a slightly circular form were put in. A broad aisle was made down the center of the room, with aisles next the wall. The backs of the old pews, being of fine broad boards, were used in making the new, so that there is that much in the new furnishing to serve as a memento of the past.
A raised platform with railing was made at the rear of the room as a place for the choir. It was first proposed to place the choir at the left of the preacher's desk, but so much opposition developed that the plan was abandoned. New carpets were bought, new chairs for the choir platform, and in 1896 the Ladies' Sewing Circle paid the expense of putting in new windows, these windows being partly made of stained glass, and then there was little to remind one of the old church of 1837.
The expense of these new windows was about $85.00. Through the efforts of the Ladies' Sewing Circle, generous contributions by Mrs. Ellen Trevitt of Mont Vernon and her sister, Mrs. Josephine Boylston of Amherst, together with the proceeds of a lecture by the Rev. Frank G. Clark, a new pulpit set was bought and installed in place. The result of all these changes is a beautiful church interior.
The expense of remodeling the church was largely paid by the Ladies' Sewing Circle. But former residents of the town and friends of the church contributed liberally, while resident members of the church and society helped with money and
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labor. The Ladies' Sewing Circle before mentioned is an or- ganization of the ladies of the parish, whose object is to provide funds for carrying on church and society work.
The large and costly Bible used on the preacher's desk was the gift of Mrs. Charles E. Abbott, of Malden, Mass. She was formerly Miss Clara A. Manahan, a former resident of the town.
The first church or society clerk was Jacob Wellman. He was succeeded in 1761 by John Stephenson, who served until 1764, and perhaps after that. It is evident that the Rev. Sewall Goodridge kept the church records during most of his pastor- ate. Dea. Aaron Lewis was chosen clerk in 1806, serving until the Rev. Nathaniel became pastor, when he also assumed the duties of clerk. The Rev. Jacob White kept the records dur- ing his pastorate and then Doctor Israel Herrick was chosen clerk. Rev. Ivory Kimball succeeded Dr. Herrick, then John Richardson, followed by Rev. Mr. Claggett. Dea. Nathaniel T. McIntire has served from 1871 until the present time.
Ephraim Putnam and Benjamin Cram were evidently the first deacons of the church in Lyndeborough. David Badger and Ephraim Putnam, Jr., were chosen in 1774. In 1782 Peter Clark and William Barron were chosen. Then in order, Dea. Samuel Houston, Dea. Aaron Lewis, Dea. Oliver Whit- ing, Dea. John C. Goodrich, Dea. William Jones, Dea. N. T. McIntire, Dea. Asa Hill, Dea. William C. Wilder and Dea. Eli C. Curtis.
In December, 1823, a religious association was organized, which Rev. Frank G. Clark says "might well be called the original Society of Christian Endeavor, as its aim, method and constitution were almost exactly those of the present society of that name." The constitution of this early religious society is as follows :
We the subscribers agree to form ourselves into a society for religious improvement, and as a summary of our belief of the leading truths en- tertained in the Holy Scriptures we adopt the confession of faith used in the church and we humbly entreat the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit to assist us in our Christian course, that we may be enabled to perform every duty which devolves upon us with filial piety, and that our meeting may prove a blessing to our own souls, and the souls of those around us. We furthermore agree in the strength of Christ to ob- serve the following rules and regulations :
(1); That the present pastor of the church be the president of the society.
(2) That a vice-president be chosen quarterly to act as president in his absence.
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(3) That a secretary be chosen at the first meeting in January annually whose duty it shall be to keep the records of the society.
(4) That we meet once a fortnight in the afternoon or evening of Monday at such hour and place as may be agreed on by the society.
(5) That in case of absence we will render an excuse if requested.
(6) That our meetings be opened and closed with prayer and singing.
(7) That none of us will decline leading in prayer when requested by the president, unless for special reasons. (In this article male members are intended. )
(8) That experimental religion be the frequent subject of conversation, and that the president may select a passage of Scripture at each meeting to be discussed by the members at the next meeting.
(9) Resolved, That we will be free to relate to each other our feelings and views upon religion.
(10) That strict order be observed during our meetings and that but one speak at a time.
(II) That no person, either male or female, will be expected to meet with this society more than once, unless such person unites with us by signing the constitution.
(12) That the above constitution may receive such amendments, alter- ations or additions as the society may think expedient.
Dated Dec., 1823.
Signed by Males
Females
Nathaniel Merrill
Betsey Merrill
John Houston
Clarissa French
Daniel Woodward
Rachel Woodward
Eleazer Woodward
Hannah Lewis
Joshua Sargent, Jr.
Nancy Lewis
Israel H. Goodridge
Hannah Goodridge
Isaac P. French
Precilla Jones
William Jones
Hannah Whiting
William T. Boutwell
Fanny Ordway
David Woodward
Alice Whiting
Timothy Ordway
Jeannette N. Brewster
Erasmus D. Eldredge
Williams Woodward
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH CHOIR.
In the early days of the church in Lyndeborough the singing was by the congregation. Some person qualified for the place was chosen to " set the psalm," as it was called. His position was up in front near the minister, and it was his duty to pitch the tune and lead the singing. He used what was called the pitchpipe to get the proper pitch, though later the tuning-fork came into use, and was considered an improvement. Sometimes more than one person was chosen, as in 1769, Andrew Fuller, Osgood Carleton and William Barron were voted into the office.
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