USA > Vermont > Windham County > Rockingham > History of the town of Rockingham, Vermont, including the villages of Bellows Falls, Saxtons River, Rockingham, Cambridgeport and Bartonsville, 1753-1907, with family genealogies > Part 18
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September 11, 1856, the first pastor of the church was ordained and installed, the services being held at 10 o'clock A. M. of that day in the Congregational church. The coun- cil included representatives from the churches at Windsor, Ludlow, Townshend, Saxtons River, Grafton, Windham, Chester, Londonderry, Claremont and Bellows Falls. The council for examination of Mr. Brown had been held at the same place the evening previous. At this ordination Rev. Dr. E. B. Smith of Fairfax preached the sermon, Rev. Mr. Fletcher gave the charge to the candidate and Rev. Mr. Picknell gave the hand of fellowship, while Rev. D. Bur- roughs gave the charge to the society.
Until 1871 this church observed the ordinance of baptism in the canal at a point near where the paper mill of the Wyman Flint & Sons Co. now stands. The canal at that time flowed wide open and formed a large pond at that point,
19I
Baptist Church Erccted
furnishing power for two saw mills and other manufacturies. At times the ordinance was observed when it was necessary to cut a hole in the ice for the purpose.
May 13, 1858, Pastor Brown purchased for the church the land on which the church building now stands. The purchase was for $700, and the deed was from Col. Roswell Shurtleff, who built the Island House, and was a prominent citizen of the time. A deed given to Col. Shurtleff four years earlier by John Arms had stipulated that only a dwelling and out- buildings, or the equivalent thereto, should be built upon the land, and that no building should extend more than twenty feet farther south than a line drawn east from the south corner of the Arms dwelling across the street. This restriction led to the serving of an injunction to restrain the erection of a church building as soon as the foundations were commenced, retarding the building for two years. The courts decided in favor of the church and the building was finished so it was ready for dedication December 27, 1860. In 1871, when the question of building the first parsonage for the society was agitated, it was desired to place it upon the church lot in the rear of the church building, and arrangements were com- menced for the carrying out of the plan, but an injunction was again served upon them, and after litigation the courts decided they could not erect an additional building there, and they purchased another lot.
The original church building had a very tall, slim spire, remembered by many present day residents. A wit of early days once remarked that " a darning needle on the top would have been consistent with its proportions" and ever after it was known as the "darning needle spire."
The committee in charge of the dedication of the church building December 21, 1860, were Rev. S. F. Brown, A. Sherwin, J. Baker, P. W. Taft, W. W. Cochran and their wives. The sermon was by the pastor, the opening prayer by Rev. Mr. Gunn of Chester, the dedicatory prayer by Rev. Mr. Adams of Chester, the charge to the church by Rev. Mr. Miller of Saxtons River, and the benediction was
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History of Rockingham
pronounced by Rev. Mr. Fessenden of Proctorsville. In the erection of the church a mortgage for an important amount remained upon the property for some years, making a heavy burden for a struggling church.
Mr. Brown resigned the pastorate February 22, 1863, having established the society upon a firm spiritual foundation and gathered a material addition of numbers to the few who were members when the church was organized. He took up the pastorate of the Cavendish church in August of that year where he remained until November 1, 1875. He was then for four years agent of the state convention, after which he supplied destitute churches until his death, which occurred at his home in Proctorsville in August, 1888, at the age of fifty- nine years.
March 17, 1866, the church extended a call to Rev. N. Pierce, which he accepted and at once entered upon his work. A council was convened April 25, 1866, for his ordination, at which Rev. Dr. Eddy of Boston, preached the ordination ser- mon. Mr. Pierce remained pastor until February 1, 1868, he having resigned November 2, 1867, to take effect upon that date. He died in Springfield, Ill.
The next pastor of the church was Rev. C. F. Nicholson, the date of commencing his pastorate is unknown, the only record relating to it being dated July 28, 1869, "Owing to a combination of peculiar and embarrassing circumstances the pastor considering it his privilege and not knowing but it was his positive duty, tendered his resignation to take effect at the close of the pastoral year, September 25." His resignation was accepted.
October 31, 1869, Rev. J. R. Haskins was called to the pastorate and accepting began his work at once. During the winter of 1870-1, a revival of some proportions was the result of a series of meetings. The need of a baptistry was urgent and the late Gov. Levi K. Fuller, a native of the village, gave the church the baptistry in use since then, and finished the two rooms connected therewith. It was used for the ordinance for the first time Sunday evening February 5, 1871.
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List of Baptist Pastors
Mr. Haskins was successful in securing the funds making the erection of the first parsonage owned by the church possible. Substantial assistance at this time, as at many other times in the history of the church, was given by Gov. Fuller and the Esteys of Brattleboro. During Mr. Haskins' pastorate the ladies of the church raised the funds for the purchase of the present bell, which was rung for the first time May 25, 1873. Mr. Haskins resigned as pastor August, 1876, to take effect October I, following. Mr. Haskins moved from here to West Somerville, Mass., from there to Northampton, Mass., and, in 1898 he accepted the pastorate of the Grafton, Vt., church. He died at that place in May, 1900. His wife and daughter reside in Northampton.
In September, 1876, E. A. Herring, a young, unordained preacher was called by the church and his ordination took place November 2, of that year. He severed his connection with the church in October, 1878. He has since held various pastorates and is preaching now in East Providence Centre, R. I.
A call extended December 19, 1878, to Rev. S. H. Emery resulted in his commencing his pastorate January I, 1879. Mr. Emery resigned in November, 1883, and has since labored in Salem, Mass., Saco and North Berwick, Me. He resides at the latter place at the present time, having given up his pastorate.
During the winter of 1883-4 Rev. W. H. Stewart, a chap- lain in the U. S. navy, who was on a leave of absence, sup- plied the church a portion of the time.
Rev. Edward Green was called by the church April 24, 1884. He accepted and entered upon his work, the recogni- tion service being held June 26. He resigned April 5, 1885, having met with a change of doctrinal opinions. He subse- quently joined the Unitarian denomination, in which he holds an estimable position, in Exeter, N. H.
Rev. N. W. Alger, who had been acting as state mission- ary and residing at Saxtons River, took the pastorate of the church June 7, 1885. In 1888 he was called to California 14
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History of Rockingham
by the illness of a son. ITis stay was so prolonged by the continuance of the illness that it seemed best for him to resign his local pastorate, which he did in January, 1889. He resided some time in Santa Cruz, Cal., and then took up his residence in Albuquerque, N. M., where he still resides.
During the winter of 1889-90 the pulpit was supplied by Rev. C. H. Brown, a student of Newton Theological semi- nary and May 4, 1890, Rev. C. R. B. Dodge, who came here from Bridgewater, N. S., became pastor. During Mr. Dodge's stay the church made many advances, both spiritu- ally and materially. Many were added to its membership ; in 1892 a beautiful organ was placed in the church, replacing one that had done service many years, and several memorial windows were put in: in 1899 the whole building was remodelled and enlarged, the spire taken down, and a tower placed at the corner : the basement remodelled for social pur- poses,-all at an expense of $4, 117.58. The dedicatory ser- vices were held September 10, 1899, the morning services being supplemented by congratulatory services in the evening, in which the other pastors and churches of the village took part. Mr. Dodge resigned to take effect May 1, 1902, at the close of his twelfth year of service. In the autumn of that year he accepted the pastorate of the St. Johnsbury, Vt., church which he has recently relinquished to become financial agent of Vermont Academy, and now resides at Saxtons River.
In May, 1902, the church extended a call to C. W. Jack- son. a student of Yale university and pastor of the Baptist church at Montowese, Conn. He accepted and began his work, being ordained and installed July 1, 1902. He is the present pastor. The membership of the church is about one hundred and seventy-five.
John O. Spring has the notable record in this church's work of having held the offices of deacon, and superintendent of the Sunday school, for the last twenty-five years, and is still efficient in both.
Soon after the erection of the "Union Meeting House " in
195
Congregational Church at Cambridgeport
Cambridgeport village, in 1836, a small Congregational society was organized there, but because of deaths and removals it became practically extinct within a few years.
April 16, 1868, the present church was organized by a council of neigboring churches in response to letters missive from some of the citizens. The churches participating in the council were : Brattleboro, Westminster East, West- minster West, Saxtons River, Grafton, Windham and West Townshend. Rev. C. S. Smith, secretary of the Vermont Domestic Missionary Society, was also a member of the council. Mr. Smith was moderator and Rev. S. Harris, scribe. It was voted expedient to organize a church and the public exercises were as follows: Introductory services by Rev. O. Bissell; sermon, Rev. C. S. Smith ; constituting the church, Rev. F. J. Fairbanks ; consecrating prayer, Rev. Alfred Stevens ; charge to the church, Rev. Levi Loring ; expression of fellowship, Rev. N. Mighill; and closing prayer, Rev. E. J. Ward.
This church, located at the corner of four towns, Rock- ingham, Grafton, Athens and Westminster, drew its members from each of them. It was the only church organization in the village, and so remains. The number of male members at organization was nine and females twelve. One member who joined the new organization was a member of the first organization, which had become extinct. Isaac Glynn and David F. Cushing were chosen deacons and Isaac Glynn, clerk. August 9, following, four members were added and at the end of four months, the number of members was thirty-two.
Rev. Julius C. McCollom was the first pastor, and was installed at this council. Rev. Amos Holbrook was acting pastor 1878 to 1881 and Rev. George F. Chapin 1883 to 1893 in addition to his Saxtons River charge.
At this time and for some years past this church sustains no regular denominational services, but its members join with others in the support of preaching. The church never had any building of its own, but used the Union Meeting House in common with the other denominations.
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History of Rockingham
December 18, 1884, a Congregational church was organ- ized in the village of Bartonsville, with ten members. The churches invited to participate in the council which approved of the formation of the new church, were Westminster West, represented by Alfred Stevens, D. D., and Edward Hall ; Saxtons River and Cambridgeport by Rev. G. F. Chapin and Deacon S. W. Warner ; Windham by Rev. A. Holbrook and James Goold : Springfield by George P. Hayward, delegate. Rev. C. S. Smith, secretary of the Vermont Domestic Mis- sionary society, was also a member. Rev. A. Holbrook was chosen moderator, baptised one person and received the members. The sermon was by Rev. C. S. Smith, and Dr. Stevens gave the charge and the right hand of fellowship to the ten members. Deacon Warner also took part in the service.
Previous to the formation of this church, as early as 1868, preaching had been sustained at intervals. Benjamin Snow, connected with the paper mills then operating in the village, had taken deep interest in the project, and Rev. Mr. Davis moved there from Fitchburg, remaining until after the destruc- tion of the manufacturing interests of the place by the freshet of 1869. He preached in the hall of the hotel and had a flourishing Sunday school. July 4, 1868, this Sunday school had an extensive celebration that many who attended still remember. In March, 1882, Rev. Charles H. Kenney began holding services in a school-house two miles north of Bartons- ville, and May 16, 1883, he commenced holding them in the hotel hall. The Sunday school was re-organized the next month, with Rev. L. D. Foster, a Methodist lay preacher, as super- intendent and Rev. Mr. Kenney, Mrs. Kenney and Mrs. Foster as teachers. In October, 1883, persons in Springfield interested in the project of a church, purchased the hotel building and Mr. Kenney moved his family into it, holding regular services in the hall in the second story, resulting in the formation of the church the next year as stated above.
Many of the neighboring churches interested themselves in the work and assisted by contributions. A musical instru-
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Two Churches at Bartonsville
ment and communion service were given and a library of about three hundred volumes accumulated. Mr. Kenney remained as pastor until 1887, when he was succeeded by Aaron W. Estey, who came from Rutland, their church letters reading from Wallingford, Vt. The congregations which gathered in 1887, varied from fifteen to eighty and Sunday school from twenty-one to' forty-seven. In May, 1885, Charles S. Walker was chosen deacon, and in November, 1888, he removed to Cambridgeport. The interest and attendance upon the services gradually decreased, resulting in their being discontinued altogether, except as neighboring pastors supplied, and the church organization was later dis- solved and the building sold.
At times during the summer preaching services are held by neighboring pastors, intermittently. May 17, 1905 a Sunday school was again organized, and at this time it is the only regular service held in the village.
A spiritualist church organization was effected in the village of Bartonsville, and a church building erected in 1868. It was dedicated July 5th of that year. The member- ship at the time of organization was eighty, and within two years it increased to one hundred and fifty. Mrs. Sarah A. Wiley of Rockingham, was largely instrumental in effecting the organization. She is president at this time and has always served as "acting pastor." They still own their church building which cost about $1,500. This is the only spiritualist church organization in the state of Vermont which owns its own place of worship. Occasional religious services are still held there, nearly all the funerals in that part of the town, and many social gatherings.
The First Universalist Church of Bellows Falls is the youngest church organization of the town, and was the first of that denomination to be established in this village. The Universalist church on Parker Hill was established about 1790, and that at Saxtons River about twenty-five years later. They had each been extinct for a number of generations when this one was established.
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History of Rockingham
Early in 1878, the subject of establishment of a church of . the Universalist faith in the rapidly growing village of Bel- lows Falls, was strongly discussed. Among those most deeply interested in the matter, and who are to be credited with the successful carrying out of the movement, were Oscar D. Gray and Orasmus F. Woods, who were then leading merchants of the village: John T. Moore, Horace Adams, Nathan Proctor, Harry Evans and Robert Elwell.
Rev. J. H. Farnsworth, the Vermont state missionary, was asked to come to Bellows Falls and hold service October 25, 1878. He preached in "Engine Hall," in the second story of the first village building, located between Rocking- ham and Canal streets, to an audience larger than could be seated. Steps were immediately taken to find larger quarters. February 13, 1879, they moved into Union Hall on the north side of the Square, and continued there until the new church was ready for occupancy. December 1, 1878, regular preaching services were established, Rev. J. HI. Farnsworth acting as pastor. They were held only on alternate Sundays for the first year.
In February, 1879, the "First Universalist Parish of Bellows Falls" was regularly organized and these officers elected : Horace Adams, moderator ; S. Stocker, clerk ; O. F. Woods, treasurer : Nathan Proctor, George A. Wright and C. C. Caldwell, trustees. February 12, 1880, twenty- three names were added to the list of members of the new organization.
February 12, 1880, the parish purchased the lot upon Green street of Col. Asa Wentworth, and in June of that year work was commenced upon the present church building. August 14, 1880, the corner stone of this structure was laid. Addresses wese made by Rev. S. H. McCollester, D. D., Rev. J. H. Farnsworth, Rev. Mr. Wait of Orange, Mass .. and Rev. T. D. Howard of Charlestown, N. H. The cere- monies included the sealing of a lead box and placing it in a niche of the corner stone. In the box were several documents relating to the church and denomination, Sunday school and
1
199
Universalist Church of Bellows Falls
local papers, and a list of names of those who had contributed to the church fund.
August 3, 1881, at 2 o'clock P. M., the church building was dedicated with appropriate exercises. The opening anthem was followed by an invocation by Rev. T. D. Howard of Charlestown, N. H. ; reading of the scriptures by Rev. W. Brown of Walpole, N. H. ; dedicatory prayer by Rev. J. H. Farnsworth ; response by the choir ; sermon by Rev. S. H. McCollester, D. D., based upon Jacob's words. "This is none other than the house of God and the gate of Heaven," and those of the Psalmist, "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go up into the house of the Lord;" dedicatory hymn ; address to the people by Rev. G. L. Demarest, D. D., general secretary of the Universalist denomination of America ; concluding prayer by Rev. E. Smiley of Putney ; closing hymn and benediction.
Rev. J. H. Farnsworth acted as pastor until October 30, 1879, when Rev. S. H. McCollester, D. D., became the first regular pastor. Following is a list of the pastors, together with the dates of beginning and closing their labors :
J. H. Farnsworth, October 25, 1878-October 1879.
S. H. McCollester, D. D., October 30, 1879-November 4, 1882.
J. N. Emery, November 11, 1882-June 28, 1888.
James F. Rhoades, September 6, 1888-November 5, 1891.
E. E. Marggraf, March 17, 1892-September 5, 1898. Albert Hammatt, December 15, 1898-January 15, 1903.
Washington W. Hooper, February 15, 1903-March 24, 1904.
Fenwick L. Leavitt, June 30, 1904, the present incum- bent.
The first deacons of the church were Horace Adams and Nathan Proctor. Upon the deaths of these men they were succeeded by the present incumbents respectively, Julius A. Eaton and Frank G. Pierce.
The Sunday school was established January 8, 1879, with
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History of Rockingham
five classes and forty-nine pupils enrolled. Charles C. Cald- well was the first superintendent ; Holley W. Church, secre- tary and librarian, and Norris H. Cook, treasurer.
George B. Wheeler, the present superintendent of the Sunday school, has served in that capacity nineteen years, and until 1903 had served the church twenty-four years as conductor of the church choir.
CHAPTER XV.
ROCKINGHAM'S PART I THE REVOLUTION, AND IN THE ORGANIZATION OF VERMONT
Early in the history of Rockingham as an organized town came the trying period of the American Revolution, and the events which resulted in the formation of the state of Ver- mont. During these years, this town exerted a much more powerful influence than has been credited to her. A larger proportion of the citizens were at all times loyal to the new government than in any other town on the east side of the Green mountains. Possibly the proportion was greater than in any town upon either the east or west side. In each vote of Rockingham relating to throwing off the British yoke, rejecting the control of the state of New York, or accepting the constitution of Vermont, only a few scattering votes were ever found that were not in accord with the Liberty party. Other towns of the vicinity, notably the east parish of Westminster, Brattleboro and Guilford had decided Tory majorities.
The story of events leading to this critical period of the country, and the state, has been often and well told. It is unnecessary to rehearse in the History of Rockingham more than enough to make the prominent part which her citizens took clear to their descendants.
From the fact that at the taking of the first census in 1771, there were but sixty-three males in town between six- teen and sixty years of age, in a total population of two hundred and twenty-five, and that the next census, taken in 1791, showed twelve hundred and thirty-five inhabitants, it is probable there were not over one hundred and twenty-five to one hundred and fifty residents in 1775, when the storm of Revolution broke, capable of doing military duty. The different muster and pay rolls, given in various records, show
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History of Rockingham
that about one hundred and twenty-five citizens of Rocking- ham took part at various times in the military organizations of what were known as the "Liberty party." Possibly no other town of the vicinity equalled this record.
Among the strong characters of those years, who made their influence and example felt, were : Dr. Reuben Jones, the first physician of the town, a statesman and diplomat exceeded by few of his time; Lieut. Philip Safford, a hero of the Westminster massacre : Capt. William Simonds, who commanded a Rockingham company, and was town clerk from 1769 to 1784; Daniel and Henry Lake, who, although living in Rindge, N. H., at the time of enlistment, were soldiers at Ticonderoga, while Henry was also at the battle of Bennington, both soon came to Rockingham where their descendants still reside : Timothy Clark, John Pulsipher and William Stearns, each of whom took part in the battle of Bunker Hill; Capt. Lemuel Sargeant : Sergt. Benjamin Larrabee, who was killed while in the service on Lake Champlain, July 15, 1779: Quartus Morgan, private secre- tary to Baron Steuben throughout the war : David Pulsipher, the first hotel proprietor of Rockingham, who with his son John at the first alarm went to the war in a New Hampshire regiment, and whose fate was never known ; Judge Benjamin Burt, who held a captain's commission from Governor Tryon of New York, under King George III., at the breaking out of the war, but later came over from the Tories to the Whigs, or Liberty party, and was made judge of the county court by Governor Chittenden ; Captain Moses Wright, one of the first three settlers of Rockingham in 1753, a veteran of the Indian wars, who commanded a Rockingham company in the Revolution ; and Joshua Webb, who represented the town in the Vermont legislature during the first six years of the existence of the state.
The rapid increase of inhabitants in this part of New England between the years 1770 and 1775, most of whom took sides with the New Hampshire Grants against the authority of the New Yorkers, tended to strengthen the
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Ethan Allen in Rockingham
Liberty party. Military organizations of "Green Mountain Boys " sprang up on both sides of the mountain, equipped and supported by the towns under the direction of " com- mittees of safety." These committees sent delegates to county committees of safety, acting as provincial congresses. The latter were afterward organized by conventions into a state committee of safety, which resulted in the formation of a state. The constitution of the new state was adopted at Windsor, July 2, 1777, by the convention of delegates from all the above-mentioned committees of safety, the first name, " New Connecticut," being soon changed to "Ver- mont." Then followed the organization of the state as an independent republic, with enemies ready to prey upon her, upon the part of New Hampshire, New York and England. Naturally there was a division of sentiment among the settlers, some favoring each authority. As stated above, Rockingham stood true to the government of the new state, voting at once, and with hardly an opposing vote, to adopt the new constitution and support the new government.
Ethan Allen and Seth Warner were more prominently engaged than others on the west side of the Green mountains, in promoting opposition to the unreasonable claims of New York.
What Ethan Allen and his " Green Mountain Boys" were on the west side of the state, Dr. Reuben Jones of Rocking- ham, Captain Azariah Wright of Westminster, and their company of " Liberty Boys," were on this side of the moun- tain. They were organized with an understanding of joint support between the two sides of the mountain, and Allen was a frequent visitor at Westminster, he being a kinsman of Wright's. In passing to and fro across the mountain, Allen often called upon citizens of Rockingham, with whom he was on intimate terms. Among the homes most frequently visited by this renowned hero was that of Joshua Webb, located upon the meadow just north of Bellows Falls, and that of Dr. Jones, supposed to have been located on the broad meadow just north of Williams river.
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