USA > Vermont > History of the Baptists in Vermont > Part 17
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DUMMERSTON
Sometime in 1801, Elder Goddard took his leave and for a short time the flock was without an undershepherd. Jonathan Huntley was ordained in 1802. A meeting-house was erected the next year at a cost of $1200. Asahel Wells was ordained October 5, 1815, and the great revival of 1816 followed, when eighty-seven were baptized. The church attained the number of two hundred mem-
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bers. Then dissension arose over the reception of a member who had been excluded, causing a division in the body. A council led to mutual confession and settlement of the trouble. Then Elder Huntley asked for his dismission, which was soon granted him. At the same time seventy-two members asked for and obtained letters of dismission and were organized into a church called the Second Baptist Church in Dummerston. They placed Elder Jonathan Hunt- ley over them as pastor, and enjoyed his labors during the existence of the church. Nothing notable occurred with them till 1827, when a revival in Putney commenced in a remarkable way and spread through the whole region, and twenty-one were added to this church, bringing its membership to ninety-eight. The First church were without a pastor for a time, till July, 1819, they obtained the services of Levi Dunham for two years, then had preaching only part of the time, till the revival already mentioned, under the in- fluence of which the two churches reunited, forming a church of one hundred and forty-four members with Elder Huntley, pastor; Deacons Jesse Manley, Luke Taylor and Oliver Carpenter to stand as deacons, and Joel Chandler as clerk.
A revival in 1830, turned an ebbing tide and added thirty-seven to the membership. In 1834, Elder Jonathan Huntley died, May 27, after laboring in this field thirty-two years.
The church revised its roll this year, and the number was found to be one hundred and fourteen. Ziba Howard was ordained No- vember 25, 1835, and his services enjoyed till 1839. Edmund H. Smith followed him.
For twenty years following, the church suffered decline. Most of the time it was pastorless, and failed to send letters to the As- sociation. In 1859, the church rallied and built a meeting-house at a cost of $1700. Pastors were then secured, not for long terms, but sufficient to supply preaching at least part of the time. H. B. Streeter, in 1860; J. M. Mace, 1862; Mark Carpenter, 1865. The tide of prosperity seemed to be rising; twenty-seven were added by baptism and letter. J. G. Bennett served two years, 1868-1869. In 1870, while without a pastor, twenty-one were added and the membership was seventy-four. Short pastorates or seasons of sup- plies followed for two decades: S. S. White, M. L. Fox, F. E. Car-
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penter, D. W. Palmer, A. N. Woodruff, M. Carpenter, C. J. Wilson, C. R. Powers, A. D. Spaulding, E. F. Mitchell, E. P. Merrifield, S. Bickford, I. M. Compton, L. H. Kimball, T. H. Langley, J. A. Swart, Miles G. Tupper, C. E. Clark. The recent supplies have been from churches, by the encouragement and help of the State Convention, which assumed the care of this church. Member- ship in 1912, thirteen.
PONDVILLE (FORMERLY MARLBORO AND NEWFANE)
Nehemiah Fisher, who was deacon in 1802, was licensed to preach in 1809, and proved a most valuable helper of the church, for many years supplying the pulpit acceptably in the interim be- tween pastorates. In 1806, twenty-one converts were baptized, one of whom was Mansfield Bruce, who was promptly appointed deacon, and three years later was ordained pastor of the church, serv- ing faithfully till 1818, and welcoming to the church, by baptism, eighty-five happy converts. Paul Himes was next pastor, serving but two years and baptizing forty-three persons. October 24, 1824, Phineas Howe began his remarkable pastorate, marked by recurring revivals and the baptism of about one hundred and seventy-five persons. Among these was one man ninety-seven years of age who had waited sixty-seven years to become fit for the ordinance. With the exception of three years, 1832-1835, when D. H. Grant and other licentiates supplied, Elder Howe served till 1842. About 1840, a new meeting-house was built and the location changed to Pondville. This change caused dissatisfaction in part and some of the members for a time held a separate meeting. Caleb Smith supplied in 1843; Foster Hartwell was pastor, 1844-1848; C. L. Baker, supplied in 1849; A. W. Stearns, pastor, 1850-1853; J. P. Huntington, 1853- 1856; I. C. Carpenter, 1856-1862; C. D. Fuller, 1862-1864; J. M. Wilmarth 1864-1867; S. S. White 1868-1871. From 1802 to 1871 four hundred were received to this church by baptism; eight were licensed to preach, and eight deacons appointed.
Since 1871, the list of pastors is as follows: J. A. Rich, 1872- 1873; A. J. Walker, 1874-1875; W. Beavins, 1876-1878; L. F. Shep- ardson, 1879-1881; W. Crocker, 1881-1884; G. N. Green, 1885;
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E. F. Mitchell, 1886-1889; E. H. Hatfield, 1890-1893; I. F. Coops, 1894-1895; F: S. Bickford, 1896-1901; J. H. Langley, 1902; J. A. Swart, 1905; M. S. Tupper, 1906; E. C. Clark, 1907-1911. The membership was one hundred and twenty in 1886; eighty-four in 1896, and sixty-five in 1912.
DOVER
John Thompson, Isaac Laselle and Ebenezer Sears, were prob- ably the first Baptists in Dover, coming there about 1786. Elder Aaron Leland, of Chester, soon heard of them and came to preach for them occasionally. Elder Combs came also, now and then, and about 1789, baptized Jane Sears, Mary Staples and Priscilla Thompson, the first to be baptized in this place. In 1798, there was quite a general awakening under the preaching of James Davis, a Congregational minister. By 1814, there were a sufficient num- ber of Baptists to warrant the organization of a church and this was accomplished on October 4 of that year.
The constituent members were Ebenezer Sears, Lemuel Osgood, Silas Babbitt, Thomas MeDaniels, Jonathan Thompson, Oliver Carpenter, Abida Doan, Simeon Jones, Calvin Orcutt, Jonathan Woods, Isaac Laselle, Jane Sears, Priscilla Thompson, Deborah Burr, Betsy Gould, Susan Dean, Jane Gould, Hulda Gould, Lydia McDaniels, Tirza McDaniels, Patty Carpenter, Lydia Orcutt.
According to an historical sketch, prepared in 1841, by Ahira Gould and Isaac Laselle, the church up to that time had no leader whom they regarded as a settled pastor, but had many ministers who preached a third of the time or perhaps only a few Sundays. George Robinson is the first minister mentioned. Others who sup- plied were Calvin Orcutt, a licentiate, under whose preaching the membership of the church was nearly doubled; Calvin Pratt, a licentiate; Sem Pierce, James Mann, D. H. Grant, Mansfield Bruce, G. B. Fisk, Samuel Kingsbury, A. W. Goodnow.
For nineteen years, the church was supplied one-third of the time by pastors in the Association. Origen Smith preached his first sermon to this people July 6, 1852, and continued to be the
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pastor till the close of the year, 1872, twenty and one-half years. Four revivals made this pastorate memorable. In one of these there were baptisms ten successive Sundays, and ninety-two were ad- ded; sixty-three by baptism. At the close of Elder Smith's ministry, the church numbered seventy-five.
For a time there was a decline in the growth of the church, and fifteen years later the membership had been reduced to forty-nine; then came renewed growth and in six years the report was fifty- four, and one year later it was seventy-four. Since that time the membership has diminished till in 1912, it was fifty-three.
In 1829, fourteen members were added from the west part of the town, as a branch church, having all the privileges of a church save the power to exclude members. It is believed that these mem- bers were the remnant of the Somerset church, sometimes called the Dover and Somerset church, which was formed in 1791, united with the Shaftsbury Association in 1792, and changed its relation to the Leyden in 1794. Their first and only pastor was James Mann, who settled with them about 1812. He was still their pastor when they united with the Dover church. After the union he became pastor of the two parts for two years. In 1832, a committee of investiga- tion was sent to the branch church, upon whose report it was voted "to disapprobate Elder J. Mann's conduct as unwholesome, and dropt him and them as a branch." This is the last we hear of the Somerset Baptist church.
This disapprobation is explained by the fact that James Mann, in 1821, became dissatisfied with Calvinism and close communion, and the church voted in May of that year that salvation was pro- vided for all men, and the Lord's Supper was instituted for all christians. David Marks, visiting them about that time, found their sentiments in harmony with those of the Free Baptists, and led the Dover branch to join that denomination and to give its name to a small quarterly meeting.
JAMAICA
The town was settled in 1775; chartered in 1780; organized in 1781. In January, 1789, Calvin Howard became the first convert to Baptist principles and was baptized at the mouth of the Turkey
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Mountain brook in November, by Elder Aaron Leland, of Chester, who at this time led the first meeting held in town. Often after this he returned to hold meetings and baptize converts. In 1790, a Baptist church was gathered, the first in the town, by Aaron Leland. It was large from the beginning, and Calvin Howard was chosen its first deacon. Though without a regular preacher, and dependent upon transient supplies, yet it seems to have prospered as it sent out a colony as early as October of this year, when the West Wards- boro church was organized.
Elder Leland was instrumental in gathering this church also, and while he was moderator of the council that recognized it, one John Dye :, a prominent member of the Jamaica church, was clerk. In 1793, the Jamaica church united with the Wardsboro church, securing the services of Elder Simeon Coombs, who divided his time between these churches for the next ten years, with his residence in Wardsboro. After contributing members to help form the Wards- boro church, in 1792, there remained twenty-six members in this church. In 1796, a branch of this church was established at West Townshend. This branch became an independent body in 1810 and was extinct in 1845. In 1797, the membership was forty-six, having gained twenty in two years, which indicates unusual prosperity in so sparse a settlement. The year closing October 1, 1801, seems to have been a very prosperous one, as they reported to the Associa- tion that year that there had been no diminutions by death or removals, but an addition of forty-nine. Such large accession in a year's time indicates a large revival, and possibly large increase of settlers. In 1803, Elder Coombs became possessed of one-half the ministerial land, his portion being one of the most valuable in town, consisting of one hundred and four acres. The meeting-house, par- sonage, cemetery and common, occupy a part of it, and these por- tions were given church and town when Elder Coombs retired from the pastorate of the church. June 27, 1803, by vote of the town in town meeting assembled, Calvin Howard and others associated with him, were constituted a legal Baptist society. September 21, of the same year, the Wardshoro church gave Elder Coombs and his wife a letter of dismission to the Jamaica church, to which he afterwards gave his undivided time. 1804, the total membership
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of the church was ninety-three. In 1805, Elder Coombs closed a prosperous pastorate of twelve years, and returned to Massa- chusetts.
Elder Coombs sprung from the Third Baptist church in Middleboro, Mass., and removed to Montague in the same state in 1791, where he was ordained pastor of the church in November of that year. From Montague he removed to Wardsboro, Vt., residing there ten years. He came to this town to reside in 1803 and remained two years. The remainder of his life, fifteen years, he spent in Massachusetts. In his early life he had been a soldier under General Sullivan and was in at least one hard-fought battle in Rhode Island. During the last years of his life he spent from four to six months annually in the employ of the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society, when he would take long preaching tours in destitute regions.
The later history of this church cannot be given in detail. Elder Coombs was succeeded in the pastorate by Elders Choate, Shumway, Baker, P. B. Fisk, Graves, Bruler, Robinson, Chamber- lain, T. Blood, Nathan Arms, Leland Huntley. In 1842, the mem- bership was one hundred and thirty-seven, when N. Cudworth be- came pastor. A revival blessed his labors, and in 1843, there were baptisms on eleven successive Sundays. The pastor was assisted by Nelson Jones and M. D. Miller. Seventy-five were added to the church; seventy-one by baptism. Mr. Cudworth remained till 1844, and was followed, in 1847, by Norman Clark, I. H. Wood, A. H. Stearns. In 1857, under the ministry of R. Meyers, assisted by Evangelist Peacock, sixty-two were added to the church; fifty-three by baptism. Mr. Meyers' pastorate con- tinued till 1864. J. H. Wood, S. S. White and C. P. Frenyear suc- ceeded him. M -. Frenyear's work was fruitful of results in cover- sion, and additions, in 1870, of thirty-eight and others at intervals, till 1875, when his health somewhat failing, he removed to Towns- hend. J. H. Parmelee, Rufus Smith, D. F. Safford, W. S. Walker, E. B. Earle, James Nobbs, S. H. Taylor, J. F. Blacklock, E. H. and McEwen, F. Dressler, D. S. Mulhern, F. C. Brewster, bring the list of pastors to date, 1912. Membership, fifty-one.
DEACON JACOB ESTEY Organ manufacturer, Brattleboro A benefactor of many Vermont Baptist Churches Born, 1814-Died, 1890
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BRATTLEBORO
In the year 1840, at the beginning of that disastrous decade when many of our churches were becoming extinct, a new and promising church came into being in the growing village of Brattle- boro. The rise of this church was rapid. During the winter and spring special meetings were conducted by Rev. Emerson Andrews. These were blessed to the community, and many were converted. Twenty-three Baptists united in covenant relation April 2, 1840. Before the church was publicly recognized, May 6, the number of members had increased to sixty-six, and when it was received into the Windham Association on the 16th of the following September, it reported eighty-three members. Within a year the church erected a meeting-house at a cost of $2700, the burden of which fell heavily on three or four members of the building committee.
Rev. Joseph Freeman was chosen first pastor, but resigned after four months, and was followed by Rev. Moses Field, whose frail health compelled him to resign after two years' service.
The financial resources of the church at the beginning were small. The first year they raised $200, and received from the sister churches of Windham and Woodstock Associations about $150. The State Convention, recognizing the promise and courage of this new church, made small appropriations annually for nine years, the whole amount being about $350. Meanwhile, th church had been manifesting praiseworthy liberality in the support of missions, contributing, during the time of their dependence, from $600 to $700 for various objects of benevolence. In 1847, a parson- age was erected at a cost of about $1200.
Rev. J. C. Foster was pastor from 1843 till 1856, and under his wise administration the church overcame many obstacles incident to that trying period of its history. Rev. P. S. Adams was the next pastor. During the first year of his short pastorate twenty were re- ceived by baptism, and the church attained a membership of one hundred and fifty-nine. Mark Carpenter followed with a pastorate of six years. Rev. A. Sherwin began work as pastor in 1865, when the church enjoyed another revival season, and planned for larger things by the purchase of a new building lot at a cost of $16,000.
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The period from 1869 to 1876 was one of remarkable growth and prosperity. Large annual accessions by baptism were made, especi- ally in the year 1872, when special meetings were conducted by Rev. A. B. Earle, and later by Rev. J. Tilson and Rev. C. J. Swan, and upward of one hundred were received by baptism and letter. Rev. J. H. Matteson was pastor during this period, and at the time of his resignation, the church numbered four hundred and seventy- six members. The Methodist chapel in West Brattleboro was bought in 1872, and a church constituted there in 1874.
Rev. H. Burchard began a promising ministry in 1876, which was sadly terminated by his death in 1880. During this pastorate a branch was organized in Putney in 1874, which became an inde- pendent church in 1883.
The church has continued to enjoy uninterrupted prosperity under the able pastorates of Rev. J. B. Gow, 1880-1883; F. E. Tower, 1883-1887; F. J. Barry, 1887-1895; L. D. Temple, 1895- 1903; G. B. Lawson, 1903-1909; and J. R. Gow.
Several features have marked the history of this church which account in part for its prosperity. Its interest in missions and benev- olent enterprises has been marked from the first, and its contribu- tions have been exceptionally large. At intervals it has availed itself of the best evangelistic help and made aggressive efforts for the conversion of the people, and these efforts have been signally blessed. In 1892, following special meetings conducted by Dr. W. A. Davison, seventy-two were received by baptism and twenty-one by letter. In 1908, State Evangelist N. T. Hafer, as- sisted, and twenty-five were received by baptism and ten by letter.
The church has made much of the Sunday school, and in re- modelling its house of worship, provided for the school a most con- venient assembly room and class rooms. Mr. L. W. Hawley, who has held the office of Sunday school superintendent for more than twenty-five years, has proved an able leader in this important branch of church work.
In the membership of the church have been men of marked business ability, who have counted it a privilege to advance the interest of their own local church, and to promote the cause of Christ throughout the State and in mission lands. Among these,
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appreciative mention may be made of Deacon Jacob Estey, and his son, Julius J. Estey, Gov. L. K. Fuller and Dr. H. D. Holton.
PUTNEY
The first Baptists in Putney were Daniel Jewett, Abiel Fisher, and Timothy Radway, who resided in town a few years be- fore the establishment of a church. The first minister to preach here was David Johnson. The Baptist church was organized No- vember 12, 1787. The original members were Daniel Jewett, Samuel Bennett, Timothy Radway, Maturin Ballou, Abiel Fisher, Lucretia Potter, Lydia Baldwin, Margaret Bennett and Elizabeth Winslow. Their first minister was Maturin Ballou. First deacons, Abiel Fisher and Amos Beckwith. First clerk, Daniel Jewett. A house of worship was erected in 1790. In 1793, Asa Hibbard was ordained pastor. Other early ministers were Amos Beckwith, Jonathan Huntley, Josiah Goddard, Abiel Fisher, Lewis Allen, George Witherell, Jonathan Wilson, Asahel Wells, Asahel Wood, Nathaniel McCulloch, Isaac Wellman, Forrest Moore, Phineas Howe, Joseph Gambell, Denzel M. Crane, Ziba Howard. Their stay with the church varied from one to seven years. The church has been called to part with three ministers by death, viz., Maturin Ballou, Rev. Asahel Wood, 1825; and Ziba Howard aged eighty- seven, in 1841. Seven ministers have been licensed by this church: Amos Beckwith, Abiel Fisher, Lewis Allen, Forrest Moore, Amariah Joy, Nathaniel Cudworth.
A new meeting-house was erected in connection with other denominations in 1836. The first revival season was under the preaching of Maturin Ballou, when some forty converts were bap- tized; the second, under Josiah Goddard in 1811, adding forty- five; third, under Joseph Elliott and Mansfield Bruce, in 1817, add- ed twenty-one; fourth, soon after the death of Asahiel Wood, 1825, added thirteen. In 1827, nineteen were added under Isaac Well- man. The church numbered ninety-seven in 1827. Soon after 1840 the church began to decline in consequence of the great loss of mem- bers by death and emigration, and in 1860 it became extinct.
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In 1877, twenty Baptists, resident in Putney, united with the Baptist church in Brattleboro, and three years later they were organized as a branch church with eighteen members, and were carefully fostered by the Brattleboro people. In 1880, as an inde- pendent church, they called and ordained Rev. N. D. Parsons as pastor. For several years their services were held in the Town Hall. June 19, 1884, they were publicly recognized as a Baptist church. In 1885, a new meeting-house was completed in the erection of which they were substantially aided by contributions from Deacons, Jacob Estey, Julius Estey, L. K. Fuller and others. N. D. Parsons continued with them till 1887 and was succeeded in 1889 by H. M. Douglas, who served five years. In 1892, a debt of $2,200, which had been a great barrier to their progress, was removed, the Estey Organ Company contributing liberally to this end. E. F. Mitchell was next pastor, 1891-1899; D. J. Pierce served one year, 1901; E. R. Perkins, 1902-1904; A. S. Buzzell, 1905; H. E. Buffum, 1906- 1908; J. E. Berry, 1909.
The church numbered seventy-five members in 1912.
WHITINGHAM
The first Baptists, resident in Whitingham, were Mr. Day and wife, Caleb Rider and wife, Joseph Cloden and wife. The first reformation was in 1793, under the preaching of an aged and very pious man by the name of Williams, of the Seventh Day Baptist order, who soon died. Most of those converted under his ministry soon after became Methodists. In 1795, David Lamb came to the town by request of the inhabitants and was ordained, but did not gather a church and soon died. He was a Baptist. In 1796, David Eames, Josiah Brown, Walter Eames and Esther Eames, came with letters of recommendation from the Baptist church in Temple, N. H. These being zealously devoted to their principles, invited Baptist ministers to preach and the result was a reformation in 1801. Jonas Brown was then baptized and ordained deacon. A number of others were baptized. In 1807, Elder George Witherell led in christian efforts and a remarkable outpouring of the Spirit followed. The Baptist church was organized September 18, 1808.
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The original members were Josiah Brown, William Franklin, Joseph Olden, Walter Eames, Jonas Brown, James Carpenter, Joseph Brown, Joel B. Eames. Sisters: Milicent Brown, Sarah Franklin, Lean Olden, Susannah Howe, Lucy Tarbell, Katherine Eames, Lois Brown, Esther Eames, Dorcas Sabin, Olive Eames, Esther Eames, 2nd. October 17, 1809, John Spaulding was ordained pastor and preached two years. After this,for a time, they were sup- plied by James Carpenter, a licentiate; Elder Purinton, Elder Bruce, Elder Haynes and some others. Linus Austin became pastor in 1817, on a salary of one hundred dollars. He was ordained January 8, 1817, and continued pastor eight years. It was during his pas- torate that Brother David Eames sickened and died. He was a man of remarkable piety and a force in the church. While suffering from the disease from which he died he went from house to house visiting all the members, and the result was a quiekening of the church and the conversion of many. During this time Russel Brown, George W. Bacon, William G. Brown, Sophia Brown and Francis Beemis, all went to Bennington to school and were there converted, and re- turned and were baptized. Russel Brown went to college and died in his sophomore year. He was a young man of great piety and talent. Aldes Brown was one of the converts at this time and after- ward became deacon. Nathan Brown was also a member at this time, who afterward became missionary to Burma, Assam and Japan. In 1824, the church numbered sixty-one members, twenty- eight brothers and thirty-three sisters. Amherst Lamb closed his first pastorate here in 1836, and Tristram Aldrich served a year, followed by A. B. Eggleston, who, after a pastorate of a year and a half, joined the reformed Methodists. Sometime about 1840, he returned to the Baptists and was ordained in Plainfield, Mass. Foster Hartwell was next pastor for six years, when Amherst Lamb began a second pastorate of twelve years. The church continued to be the leading one in town. October, 1857, Erastus Briggs came from Hinsdale, and was ordained the following January, and labored faithfully till his death. He was a sincere and beloved pastor. He was succeeded September, 1861, by Thomas Wrinkle from the Baptist church in Colebrook, Conn. He enlisted in the army Jan- uary 5th, 1864, served a year and a half, returned, and was dis-
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