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SKETCHES       ^      yo6r'y>?-a:^'  '- 

A. 

OF    THH  c^^^*^-*-"-    - 

^  0 

STATE  OF  MAINE,         . 


FROM    THE    EARLIEST    SETTLEMENT    TO    THE 
PRESENT    TIME. 


BY     JONATHAN     GREENLEAFj 

PASTOR  OF  A  CHURCH   IN  WELLS. 


•ooooooc 


PORTSMOUTH  : 
PUBLISHED    BY  HARRISON  CRAY 

R.  Foster,  Printer. 

1821. 


STATE  OF  MAINE,  ss. 

BE  i/  remembered.  That  on  thjb  eiglitecnth  day  of  August  ir.  the  year  of 
Qur  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-one,  and  the  forty-sixth 
year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America,  Jonathan  Green- 
leaf,  of  the  District  of  Maine,  has  deposited  in  this  Office,  the  title  of  a 
Book,  the  right  wliereof  he  claims  as  author  in  tiie  words  following,  viz  ; 
•'  sketches  of  the  Ecclesia,  tical  History  of  the  State  of  Maine,  from  the 
"  earliest  settlement  to  the  present  time — by  Jonathan  Grcca'.eaf,  Pastor  of 
'•  a  Church  in  Wells.'' 

In  conformity  to  the  act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  entitled 
"  An  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps, 
"  charts  and  books  to  the  authors  and  pioprietors  of  such  copies,  during  the 
"  times  therein  mentioned^;"  and  also,  to  aR  act,  entitleu,  ''An  Act  sup- 
•'  plcmcntary  to  an  act,  entitled  'an  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning, 
"  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books,  to  the  authors  and 
<♦  proprietors  of  such  copies,  during  the  times  therein  mencionfd,  and  ex- 
«•  tending  the  benefits  tlicreof  to  the  arts  of  designing,  engraving,  and 
"  etching  historical    and  other  prints.*' 

JOHN  MUSSEY.jUHx  Clerk 
of  the  District  Court  of  Maine. 

A  true  copy  of  record, 
Attest,  JOHN  MUSSEY.jun,  CkrkJL^C,  Maine. 


;  ^^o- 


DUPLICAfin 


PSEFACE. 

THE  folloiv'ing  nxjorh  iwds  undtrtahsti  not  tuUh  any  in , 
tentlon  of  lurking  an  Ecclesiastical  Hhto^'y  of  the  State^  hut 
merely  lulth  a  v'le-to  of  collecting  and  prefer  ving  materials  ^  of 
ivhichf  a  regular  history  might  hereafter  he  coniposed.  Ic 
was  believed  that  }nany  important  facts  might  he  arrested  i:i 
their  ivay  to  ohlivion^  and  recorded  for  the  benefit  of  after 
times  ;  and  it  tvas  deemed  advisable  that  publicity  in  some 
form  should  be  given  to  this  collection)  in  order  that  the  erran' 
relating  either  to  fact  or  date  might  be  corrected  by  the  preset' 
generation)  or  probably,  most  of  those  corrections  ccrilci 
never  be  made.  In  relating  similar  events,  nvhich  happened' 
in  so  many  different  places^  much  variety  cf  stile  or  expression 
cannot  be  expected.  1  he  principal  aim  has  Iccn  to  record  in 
a  concise  and  intelligible  manner  such  things  only,  as  luoidd  in- 
terest the  reader,  and  such  as  nvould prolahly  be  of  some  con- 
sequence hereafter. 

It  is  not  pretended  that  the  folhwlng  pages  contain  all  the 
information  of  an  Ecclesiastical  nature  that  might  be  found  in 
the  State.  It  is  presumed  however,  that  the  principal  facts 
relating  to  the  several  denominations  are  here  presented. 

No  labor  has  been  spared  to  collect  information  from  every 
probable  source.  Town  Records,  Parish  Records,  Church 
Records^  and  In  some  Instances,  private  Records  have  been 
consulted,  Informatlorf  has  also  been  sought  from  aged  in- 
ielUgent  people,  and  some  facts  have  been  thus  obtained  ivhlch 
nvere  never  before  writkn.     Much  care  has  been  hesfowed  in 


IV.  PREFACE. 

fixing  the  dates  of  events  ;  and  akhough  some  few  errors  of 
this  kind  7nay  be  detected^  yet  it  is  presumed  that  in  general 
the  dates  may  he  relied  on. 

In  collecting  the  facts  relating  to  the  different  denomina- 
tions of  Christians^  the  author  has  aimed  at  correctness  by 
applying  for  irformation  to  intelligent  persons  in  the  several 
Societies^  and  by  examining  their  own  official  statements. 

For  much  valuable  information  respecting  the  Episcopal 
Church  in  Maine,  the  author  is  under  great  obligations  to  the 
politeness  of  Robert  H.  Gardiner,  Esq.  of  Gardiner. 

Alany  particulars  relating  to  the  Roman  Catholic  Soc':eties 
at  New  Cajtle  and  Whitefield,  were  communicated  by  Sam' 
tiel  Bishop,  Esq.  of  Dresden, 

The  History  of  the  Calvtnistic  Baptists  was  gathered 
principally  from  Backus^  and  Benedict's  Histories,  and  the 
printed  minutes  of  the  several  associations  in  the  State. 

For  the  account  of  the  Societies  of  Friends  the  author  is 
greatly  indebted  to  Samuel  F.  Hussey  of  Portland,  and  Josh' 
ua  Meader  of  Berwick. 

The  fads  respecting  the  German  Lutheran  Scclety  at 
Waldoborough,  were  kindly  furnished  by  Rev.  Mr.  Startmn 
of  that  place. 

The  History  of  the  Presbyterians  is  gleaned  chiefly  from 
the  Records  of  the  ancient  "  Boston  Presbytery,'^  the  Records 
of  the  first  "  Synod  nf  New  England,''  the  Records  also  of 
the  "  Salem  Presbytery,"  and  from  information  commumcated 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Strickland  of  East  Andover. 

The  principal  part  of  the  information  respecting  the  FreC' 
will  Baptists,  and  the  Christian  Churches,  was  obtained 
from     Elder  John  Buzzell's   *' Religious  Magazine^'*  the 


tnenioirs   of  some   nidrotduals  tu/j'tclj   hiroc    been  puhlhhed^ 
and  Informat'tpn  furnished  by  Elder  Mark  Fernaldof  Kittery, 

Most  of  the  fads  relating  to  the  Methodist  Church,  nvere 
collected  from  "  Lee's  History  of  the  Methodist  s,^  the  minutes 
of  the  annual  Conferences,  '■Hhe  Disciplined'*  and  information 
obligingly  furnished  ly  Rev.  Asa  Heath,  of  Scarborough,  the 
presiding  Elder  of  the  Western  District  in  Maine. 

Many  Gentlemen  among  the  Congregationalists  both  Cler- 
gymen and  Laymen,  have  rendered  essefitial  services  to  the 
author  in  his  researches,  and  he  would  take  this  method  to  ex- 
press his  grateful  sense  of  the  kindness  of  his  Brethren  in  the 
Ministry,  who  have  so  readily  opened  their  records  to  his  in- 
spection, and  also  to  those  Town  and  Parish  Clerks,  who 
have  with  so  much  kindness  assisted  him  in  his  labors. 

He  would  particularly  acknowledge  the  aid  he  has  receiv- 
ed from  Rev.  Allen  Greely  of  I'urner,  whose  pen  furnished 
the  sketch  of  the  history  of  the  Church  in  that  place.  Es- 
sential services  have  also  been  rendered  the  author  by  Rev, 
Daniet  Geuld  rf  Rumford,  Rev.  Dr.  Porter  of  Conway, 
Rev.  Nathan  Church  of  Bridgton,  Rev,  Ehene%er  Price  of 
Boscawen,  in  New-Hampshire,  formerly  of  Belfast,  Hon. 
David  Sewall  of  York,  Hon.  Mark  L.  Hill  of  Phipsburgh, 
and  Hon.  Jeremiah  O'Brien,  and  Josiah  Harris,  Esq.  of 
Machias, 

Much  valuable  information  has  also  been  obtained  from 
the  Journals  of  Rev.  Jotham  Sewall,  which  the  author  was 
obligingly  permitted  to  peruse. 

In    sketching    the    history  of  the   Church   in  Brunswick 

much  assistance  was  received  from  a  manuscript  on  thefUs  of 

that  ChurcJ}  written  by  Rev,  Winthrop  Bailey, 
A2 


VI.  PREFACE. 

In  addition  to  the  information  ohtained  by  the  assistance  of 
ind:vidualsy  and  consulting  authentic  records,  the  author  has 
ciirefully  gleaned  all  the  facts  relating  to  the  Ecclesiastical  af- 
fairs of  Maine  tuhich  are  scattered  through  Mather's  Mag' 
nalia,  JVinthrop's  Journal^  Hullard^s  History^  HulchinsorHs 
History  of  Massachusetts,  Belknap's  History  of  Netu-Hamp" 
shire,  Sullivan's  History  rf  Maine,  Elliot's  Neiv-England 
Biography,  and  all  the  publications  of  the  Massachusetts  His- 
torical  Society  dotvn  to  the  year  1819,  besides  a  variety  of 
pamphlets  "jjhich  have  been  occasionally  pttblished  relating  to 
particular  places  and  individuals.  Reference  is  made  in  the 
work  to  the  books  examined  nvherever  a  fact  is  directly  select' 
ei. 

Chronological  order  is  observed  throughout  as  far  as  it 
'Zvas  practicable. 

It  will  perhaps  be  observed  that  littte  notice  is  taken  of 
iome  Ecclesiastical  ajfairs  which  ha've  taken  place  in  the  State 
within  ten  orffteen  years  past,  and  which  might  be  thought 
by  some  to  deserve  a  more  particular  account.  But  it  was 
judged  best  to  say  as  little  as  possible  respecting  every  matter 
which  might  be  deemed  peculiarly  censurable  or  praise  worthy^ 
while  the  principal  actors  were  yet  living  ;  leaving  the  trans^ 
actions  of  the  present  age,  to  be  more  partieularly  recorded  by 
some  future  historian. 

Wells,  August,  1821. 


SKETCHES 

OF  THE 

ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 

OF  THE 

State  o?  Maine, 


-90000' 


CHAPTER  I. 

1673. 

THE  discovery  of  the  sea  coast  of  the  State  of  Maine 
was  as  early  as  that  of  any  part  of  North  America.  Se- 
baftian  Cabot,  a  Venetian,  sailed  along  the  coast  under 
the  authority  of  Henry  the  seventh  of  England,  in  the 
year  1496,  only  four  years  after  the  discovery  of  the 
West  India  Islands  by  Columbus.  From  this  time  ad- 
venturers were  often  on  the  coast  and  sometimes  landed, 
and  pretended  to  claim  the  territory  for  their  respective 
Sovereigns.  Nothing  permanent  was  dene,  however, 
for  more  than  one  hundred  years.  In  1604,  Monsieur 
De  Motte,  who,  about  one  year  previous,  had  been  ap^ 
pointed  Governor  of  Canada,  by  Henry  the  fourth  oF 
France,  received  from  that  King  a  grant  of  all  the  lands 
in  Maine,  from  the  40th  to  the  46th  degree  of  North 
Latitude ;  but  being  interrupted  by  the  English,  who 
afterwards  settled  New  England,  the  French  claim  was 


8  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

considered  as  extending  no  farther  westward  tlian  the 
river  Kennebeck,  and  the  territory  so  possessed  was 
called  New  France,  or  Acadie.  Still  only  a  few  trad- 
ing houses  were  established  there,  and  no  permanent  set- 
tlements  made. 

In  1639,  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  obtained  from 
Charles  1  st  a  grant  of  all  the  land  from  Piscataqua  har- 
bour to  Kennebeck,  and  extending  120  miles  into  the 
country.  This  tract  of  country  was  by  order  of  the 
King,  called  "the  province  or  countie  of  Maine." 

Nine  years  before  this,  a  small  settlement  had  been 
made  on  the  sea  coast,  about  eight  miles  east\\rard  of 
Piscataqua  river,  and  was  called  Agamenticus,  from  a 
noted  hill  lying  a  few  miles  from  the  sea.  This  place 
was  selected  for  the  capital  of  the  new  Province  ;  a  city 
charter  was  obtained  for  it  ;  the  name  was  changed  to 
Gorglana ;  and  Thomas  Gorges,  a  nephew  of  the  orig- 
inal patentee,  was  appointed  Mayor,  and  fixed  his  resu 
dence  there. 

In  1652,  the  government  of  the  whole  Province  of 
Maine  was  assumed  by  Massachusetts,  and  the  town  was 
called  York,  which  name  it  has  ever  since  retained. 
Here  was  planted  the  first  Church  in  the  State.  Sir 
Ferdinando  Gorges  was  an  Episcopalian,  and  was  di- 
rected by  the  King  to  establish  that  Church  in  his  Pro- 
vince, as  the  following  extract  from  the  charter  will 
show  : — *^Our  avill  and  pleasure  is  that  the  religion  now 
professed  in  the  Church  of  England,  and  Ecclesiastical  gov* 
ernment  noiu  used  in  the  same,  shall  be  ever  hereafter  pro- 
fessed, and  with  as  much  convenient  speed  as  may  be  set- 
tled and  established,  in  and  throughout  the  saJd  province 


YORK.  9 

and premiseSi  and  every  of  them.''*  Notwithstanding  this, 
it  does  not  appear,  that  an  Episcopal  establishment  was 
attempted  In  the  Province  generally,  nor  even  any 
Church  of  that  communion  organized  at  York,  which 
was  considered  the  seat  of  government.  The  settlement 
was  still  inconsiderable  when  the  people  submitted  to  the 
government  of  Massachusetts,  and  they  became  dissen» 
ters  without  a  struggle.  The  people  of  York  had  pro- 
bably been  supplied  with  preaching  from  their  earliest 
settlement.  Indeed  it  cannot  be  supposed,  that  a  peo- 
ple who  had  always  been  accustomed  to  religious  privi- 
leges, and  many  of  whom  had  left  their  native  land  for 
conscience  sake,  would  be  long  without  the  stated  ad» 
ministration  of  the  word  of  God,  and  the  ordinFmces  of 
j.he  Gospel. — The  first  preacher  at  York  of  v/hom  any 
account  is  preserved  was  one  Burdet,  who  came  hither 
from  Exeter.  He  was  shamefully  immoral  in  his  con- 
duct, -and  after  a  fev/  years,  was  expelled  the  Province, 
No  record  can  be  found  at  this  day  cf  tlie  nrst  gather- 
ing and  regular  embodying  oi  the  Church  in  this  town, 
nor  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Church  under  the  two  first 
Ministers.  It  is  presumed  however  that  it  was  organic 
zed  in  the  year  1673.  In  that  year  the  Rev.  Shubael 
Dummer  was  ordained  at  York  ;  and  as  the  uniform 
practice  had  been  to  gather  and  organize  a  Church  be- 
fore settling  a  minister,  it  Is  highly  probable,  that  the 
Church  is  to  be  dated  from  that  year. 

At  this  distance  of  time,  and  with  a  very  few  frag, 
ments  of  record,  little  can  be  said  in  relation  to  Mr. 
Dummer,  or  his  ministry.     He  was  graduated  at  ?Iar- 


10  CONGREGATIONALISTS; 

vard  College  In  1656.  Whefe  and  how  he  spent  th© 
17  years  which  intervened  between  this  and  the  time  of 
his  settlement  at  York  does  not  appear  ;  nor  how  long 
he  preached  in  York  previous  to  his  ordination.  Per- 
haps  he  was  there  the  greater  part  of  that  time.*  He 
married  a  Miss  Rishworth,  the  daughter  probably  of  the 
celebrated  Edwaid  Rishworth,  a  man  well  knowm  in  the 
history  of  those  days.  It  is  not  known  whether  he  left 
any  children.  "His  house  was  within  about  thirty 
rods  of  the  sea  shore,  near  to  a  place  called  "the  roar- 
ing rock."-]-  Mr.  Dummer  continued  in  the  ministry  in 
York  about  1 9  years.  On  the  25th  of  January  1692,  the 
Indians  made  an  attack  on  the  settlement  at  York,  and 
Mr.  Dummer  was  shot  as  he  was  mounting  his  horse  at 
his  own  door.  His  wife  was  taken  captive  at  the  same 
time,  but  was  soon  redeem.ed.ij:  Tradition  reports  Mr. 
Dummer  to  have  been  a  serious,  godly  man.  He 
preached  his  own  ordination  sermon  from  Psalm  Ixxx. 
14,  and  it  is  said  that  the  Sabbath  immediately  preced- 
ing his  death  he  discoursed  very  solemnly  concerning 
the  carelessness  of  the  people  of  Laish,  prior  to  the  inva- 
sion of  their  land  by  the  children  of  Dan. 

At  the  time  Mr.  Dummer  w^as  killed,,  the  town  was 
nearly  destroyed  by  the  savages,  and  for  six  succeeding 
years  they  had  little  if  any  preaching. 

The  second  minister  of  York  was  Rev.  Samuel  Moo- 
dy :  he  came  to  the  towm  as  a  candidate  in  1698,  and 


♦  Scwcl's  Hist.  (Quakers,  vol.  J,  p.  6lS. 

t  Suliivan. 

.?SaiTn;  have  said  that  ihc  d:cd  in  Ciptivity. 


YORK.  (i 

was  ordained  to  the  pastoral  care  of  the  church  In  Dec. 
1700.  The  praise  of  Mr.  Moody  is  in  all  the  Churches 
in  this  region.  As  a  zealous  man  of  God  he  was  well 
known  ;  and  his  ardent  piety  as  well  as  his  eccentrict. 
ties  will  be  long  remembered,  and  his  memory  devoutly 
cherished  by  generations  yet  to  come.  Mr.  Moody  re- 
ceived his  education  at  Haivard  College,  aad  was  gra- 
duated in  1697.  He  married  Hannah,  the  only  daugh- 
ter of  John  Sewall  of  Newbury,  by  whom  he  had  two 
children,  viz.  Joseph,  who  was  afterwards  settled  in  the 
Ministry  in  the  second  parish  in  York,  and  Mary,  who 
was  married  to  Rev.  Joseph  Emerson  of  Maiden.— « 
When  Mr.  Moody  was  settled  in  York  he  refused  to  ac- 
cept a  stipulated  salary,  and  chose  to  live  on  the  volun- 
tary contributions  and  donations  of  the  people.  The 
Parish  built  him  an  house,  appropriated  a  spot  for  a 
Parsonage,  and  hired  a  man  to  manage  it,  while  Mr. 
Moody  literally  knew  not  any  thing  that  he  possessed. 
He  died  Nov.  13th,  174^7,  aged  72.* 

Two  years  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Moody,  Rev.  Isaac 
Lyman  was   ordained  in  his  stead.     For  almost  fifty 


♦  The  remains  of  Mr.  Moody  lie  buried  in  the  common  burying  p!ice 
oear  the  Mecting-Housc,  with  the  following  inscription  on  a  stone  placed 
over  them- : 

Here  lies  the  body 
of  the  Rev'd. 

Samuel  Moody,  a.  m. 

The  zealous,  faithful,  and  successful  Pastor  of  the  first  Ckurch  of  Christ 
in  York.  Was  born  ia  Newbury  Jannary  4th,  167^.  Graduated  1697. 
e»me  hithecMay  ifith,  i6pS  Ordained  in  Dec;  1700,  and  died  heie  Nov. 
13th,  1747.  For  his  farther  character  read  the  irid  Corinthians  jd  Chap, 
anrt  six  first  verse?. 


iS  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

years,  Mr.  Lyman  performed  all  the  pastoral  duties  ; 
but  becoming  infirm  toward  the  close  of  his  life,  he 
received  Rev.  Rosewell  Messenger  as  a  colleague  in  the 
year  1798.  Mr.  Lyman  died  in  1810,  having  comple- 
ted sixty  years  of  ministerial  labour.  In  1813,  Mr. 
Messenger  was  dismissed,  and  after  the  Church  had  been 
destitute  for  about  two  years,  Rev.  Moses  Dow  for- 
merly of  Beverly  was  installed,  and  is  the  present  min- 
ister. 

In  the  year  1730,  a  second  Congregational  Parish 
was  incorporated  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  town — 
This  parish  was  originally  settled  by  Scotch  people,  and 
has  always  been  known  by  the  name  of  Scotland.  In 
1732,  a  church  was  organized  in  this  parish,  and  Rev. 
Joseph  Moody,  son  of  Rev.  Samuel  Moody,  invited  to 
take  the  pastoral  charge  of  it.  Mr.  Moody  was  born 
in  the  year  1700,  the  year  of  his  father's  settlement  in 
York.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  received  the  honours 
of  Harvard  College,  and  fur  fourteen  years  was  a  very 
useful  and  active  man  in  civil  life. 

For  some  years,  he  was  clerk  of  the  town  of  York, 
and  Register  of  Deeds  for  the  County,  in  both  of  which 
offices  he  has  left  ample  testimonials  of  his  care,  indus- 
try, and  correctness.  He  was  also  a  Judge  of  tlie 
County  Court  when  he  was  but  about  thirty  years  of 
age.  His  Father  was  very  desirous  that  he  should  be  a 
preacher  of  the  Gospel,  as  he  was  possessed  of  superior 
talents,  and  was  considered  a  man  of  eminent  piety. 
The  importunity  of  the  Father  prevailed  with  the  Son ; 
and  being  warmly  solicited  by  the  second  Church  and 
Society  in  York,  he  at  length  consented  to  take  the  pas- 


YOKK.  18 

toral  charge  of  them,  resigned  all  his  civil  ofFices,  and 
was  ordained.  But  the  importance  of  this  new  trust 
proved  too  much  for  liis  great  sensibility  ;  and  after 
about  six  years,  falling  Into  a  gloomy  and  singularly 
disordered  state  of  mind,  he  relinquished  his  public  la- 
hours.     He  died  In  March  1753.* 

Mr.  Moody  had  ceased  to  preach  in  the  year  1738. 
and  for  about  three  years,  the  people  of  his  charge  wait- 
ed patiently  for  liis  recovery  ;  but  seeinc»-  no  prospect 
of  it,  a  Council  was  called  In  August  I74rl,  and  the 
pastoral  relation  dissolved.  Early  In  the  following 
year  the  Rev.  Samuel  Chandler  was  ordained  In  his 
stead.  Mr.  Chandler  remained  at  York  about  ten 
years,  and  was  then  dismissed  by  mutual  consent,  and 


#Mr.  Moody's  disorder  was  of  the  nervousl;ind.  H«  supposed  that  the 
guilt  of  some  unforgiven  sin  lay  upon  him,  and  that  he  was  notoii!y  unworthy 
the  sacred  office  lie  held,  but  imiit  for  the  company  of  other  people.  He 
ch.ose  to  eat  alone,  and  kept  his  face  always  ca%'ered  with  a  handkerchief  wlien 
in  company.  His  judgment  of  men  and  things  (except  what  related  to  him  - 
self)  was  in  no  ma.Aner  impaired.  He  would  visit  and  freqn&ntly  pray  with 
the  sick,  and  in  private  families,  and  did  a  few  times  in  public,  with  great  fer- 
vency, pertjjiency,  and  devotion;  but  always  insisttd  that  he  was  only  t!ie 
voice  of  others  on  these  occasions.  The  following  is  the  in<=cripfiO.'i  on  his 
grave  stone  : 

Here  lies  intcred  t!)e  body 

of  the  R.ev'd 
JOSEPfl  MOODY, 
Pastor  of  tjje  id  Church  in  York.    An  excelling  instance  of  knowledge, 
learning,  ingenuity,  piety,  and  usefulneos.    Was  very  scrviccihle  a-  a  Fchooi 

Master,  Clerk,  Register,  Magistrate^  and  ifierwards  as  a  Minister. 
Was  uncommonly  qualified  and  spirited  to  do  good,    and  accordirgly   waj 
highly  esteemed  and  greatly  beloved. 
He  deceased  Mnrch  20th,  1753,    ^S^^  55- 
Although   this   Stone  may  moulder, into  t'v.st. 
Vet  J.').-eph  Moody's  name  continue  must. 

B 


i^  CONGREGA'riONALlSTS. 

installed  at  Gloucester  in  Essex  County.  The  third 
Minister  of  this  people  was  the  Rev.  Samuel  Lankton. 
He  had  previously  been  preaching  in  some  part  of  Con- 
necticut, and  had  received  a  call  to  settle.  But  his 
health  was  feeble,  and  being  on  a  journey  to  regain  it, 
he  happened  to  lodge  at  the  house  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ly- 
man in  the  first  Parish,  Mr.  Lyman  informed  him  of 
the  vacancy  in  the  fecond  Parifh,  and  urged  his  tarry- 
ing long  enough,  at  least,  to  visit  that  people,  and  preach 
a  lecture.  Mr.  Lankton  consented.  The  people  urged 
him  to  remain  with  them,  and  he  was  ordained  Pastor 
of  that  Church  July  3,  1754-,  and  continued  in  that  sta- 
tion with  honour  to  himself  and  benefit  to  the  people, 
more  than  forty  years.  He  was  an  accurate  scholar,  a 
very  close  student,  and  an  exemplary  and  devout  Chris- 
tian. He  died  suddenly  in  Dec.  1794'  of  bleeding  at 
the  lungs. 

After  an  interval  of  about  three  years,  Rev.  Isaac 
Briggs  was  ordained  over  the  same  Church,  and  re- 
mained nearly  seven  years.  In  1805,  he  was  dismissed, 
and  installed  at  Boxfoxd  in  Massachusetts,  and  the  peo- 
ple have  remained  to  the  present  time  destitute  of  a 
stated  pastor. 

The  state  of  religion  iu  York,  in  former  days,  was 
prosperous.  The  ministry  of  Mr.  Moody,  the  elder, 
was  singularly  blessed  to  the  people.  About  the  year 
ITl'l,  a  general  revival  of  religion  commenced,  and  ma- 
ny were  hopefully  converted,  and  gathered  into  the 
Church  ;  but  the  precise  number  cannot  now  be  ascer- 
tained, la  1 75(5,  the  town  was  again  visited  in  mercy, 
but  not  in  the  same  degree  as  in  the  days  of  Mr.  Moody. 


YORK.  15 

The  great  earthquake  in  Nov.  1755,  alarmed  the  con- 
sciences of  many  people  and  about  forty  made  public 
profession  of  religion.  Since  that  time,  no  particular 
season  of  revival  has  marked  their  history. 

The  second  Parish  does  not  appear  to  have  been  visi- 
ted with  a  general  effusion  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  Some 
attention  to  religion  was  excited  in  the  early  part  of  Mr.. 
Lankton*s  ministry,  and  it  is  said  that  people  were  so 
deeply  affected,  in  some  instances  as  to  go  to  his  house 
late  in  the  night,  for  the  benefit  of  his  conversation  and 
prayers.  Since  that  time,  vital  religion  has  evidently 
been  declining  there,  and  the  Church  is  now  almost 
f^xtinct. 


16  coxgulcTa  rioNALisrs, 

CHAPTER  II. 

1701. 

THE. second  Church  which  was  organized  in  Maine 
was  in  Wells.  This  town  was  called  by  the  aborigines 
Webhannet,  from  the  river  of  that  name,  which  runs 
through  the  marsh,  and  forms  the  harbour.  The  first 
permanent  settlement  was  made  here  in  the  year  164?3. 
The  Rev.  John  Wheelwright,  brother  to  the  celebrated 
Ann  Hutchinson,  had  been  banished  from  B^oston  for 
Antinomianrsm,  and  coming  eastward  assisted  in  found- 
ing Exeter  in  I\ew-Hampshire  ;  but  troubles  soon  ari* 
sing  there,  he  came  to  Wells  among  the  first  Inhabitants. 
The  original  commission  for  surveying  the  town,  was 
issued  by  Thomas  Gorges  in  July  164-3,  and  directed  to 
''  Mr.  John  Wheelwright,  minister  of  God's  word,  Mr, 
Henry  Boads,  and  Mr.  Edward Rishworth."  Mr.Wheek 
Wright  appears  to  have  been  an  aspiring  and  restless 
man,  but  a  man  of  learning,  and  much  energy.  ?Ie  was 
a  classmate  in  College  with  Oliver  Cromwell,*  was  in» 
timate  v/ith  him,  and  most  probably  was  deeply  im- 
bued with  the  religious  and  political  opinions  of  that 
day.  He  remained  in  Wells  about  four  years,  and  after 
a  visit  to  England  and  a  partial  confession,  lie  was  re- 
stored to  favour  in  Massachusetts  through  the  influence 
of  Cromwell,  and  was  then  settled  in  Hampton  in  New- 
Hampshire.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Salisbury,  on 
Merrimac  river  where  he  died  suddenly  in  an  apoplectic 
lit,  Nov.  15,  1679,  at  an  advanced  age.     No  monument 


*Bc!knai.'.f  Newilatxipshire  vo',  ?,  pag**  >;.*, 


WELL^.  17 

can  be  found  to  point  out  the  place  of  lils  grave.* 
Some  of  the  children  of  Mr.  Wheelwright  settled  in 
Wells,  and  many  of  his  descendants  may  be  found  there 
at  the  present  day. 

Mr.   Wheelwright  undq,ubtedly  preached  to  the  peo- 
ple while  he  tarried  in  Wells,  although  no  lecoid  of  the 
fact  can  now  be  found  at  Wells.     Neither  is  there  any 
record  of  the  gathering  of  a  Church  in  the  town  at  the 
time  of  the  first  settlement,  although  from  certain  facts 
it   seems    somewhat  probable  that  one  existed.     Hub- 
bard  in   his    "general  histery  of  New-England,"  says, 
"Mr.   Wheelwright  afterwards  in  the  year  164<3,  had 
removed  from  Exeter  to  Wells,  near  Cape  Porpoise, 
tohere  he  tuas  pastor  of  a  Church.\     The  late  Gov.  Sul- 
livan in  his  History  of  Maine  states  that,  in  1653,  the 
Commissioners  of  Massachusetts  for  settling  the  Gov-- 
ernment  of  Wells,  Cape-Porpus^   and  Saco,  found  no 
small    difficulty  especially  at  Wells,  from   those  who 
called  themselves  of  the  Church  there.     After  a  full  and 
patient  hearing  of  the  case,  the  commissioners  were   of 
opinion  that  they  should  desist  from  any  further  preten- 
sions of  that  kind,  and  as  they  said,  felt  themselves  con- 
strained to  bear  witness  against  them  for  what  they 
termed  "  their  ungrounded  assertion  of  their  Church 


♦  Salisbury  Records.  Also  Hubbari^s  hht.  p.  368.  Also  Sewel's  hist. 
Quaker's  vol.  i,page(Ji5, 

f  Hubbard  p.  y55. 

ffhis  name  is  sometimes  spelt  Porpoise,  sometimes  Porpesce,  and  %omi'.- 
times  Porpu->.  This  last  is  here  adopted  as  being  most  cor.formable  to  tl:'^ 
common  pronunciation  of  the  word. 


18  C0NGREGATI0KAL1ST3. 

relation.'*  Whether  the  persons  thus  spoken  of  had  cov- 
enanted together  after  their  settlement  at  Wells,  or 
v/hether  tliey  were  members  of  other  Churches  who  had 
removed  to  the  town,  does  not  clearly  appear.  The 
spirit,  which  drove  the  first  inhabitants  of  Plymouth  and 
Massachusetts  from  their  native  land,  appears,  as  a  di- 
sease of  the  age,  to  have  reigned  in  their  own  bosoms 
also,  and  hence  probably  we  may  account  for  a  part,  at 
least,  of  the  umvillingness  of  the  conscientious  people  of 
chat  day  to  submit  to  them.  Besides,  Mr.  Wheel- 
wright, who  was  a  man  of  influence,  and  probably 
enough  a  favorite  with  the  people,  had  been  once  ban- 
ished from  Massachusetts,  and  doubtless  many  of  the 
people  had  imbibed  both  his  peculiar  sentiments  and  his 
prejudices.  These  consideratioRs  will  account,  in  some 
-neasure,  for  the  opposition  manifested  to  Massachusetts 
in  her  proposed  assumption  of  the  government,  as  well 
is  for  the  introduction  of  religious  matters  into  the  dis- 
pute. Bellingham,  the  Deputy  Governor,  and  the 
other  Commissioners,  took  a  summary  way  to  end  the 
dispute,  as  before  stated,  by  pronouncing  them  not  a 
Church.  That  this  was  the  result  at  Cape  Porpus  is  ev- 
dent,  if  we  may  credit  the  account  of  Gov.  Sullivan. 
He  says,  "the  matter  of  religion  had  a  great  effect  on 
the  minds  of  the  people  :  hence  arose  the  objection 
which  is  mentioned  in  the  proceedings  of  the  commi€- 
:sioners,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Cape  Porpus  could  not 
.submit,  consistently  with  the  tenor  and  obligation  of 
their  Church  government.  The  Commissioners,  in  the 
plenitude  of  their  power,  dissolved  the  Church  connex- 
ion., and  thus  relieved  the  consciences  of  those,  who 


WELLS.  19 

were  labouring  under  those  scruples."*  From  these 
facts,  it  may  be  fairly  inferred  that  Churches  of  some 
kind,  were  gathered  very  early  in  some  of  the  ancient, 
towns,  perhaps  with  the  first  regular  settlement,  and 
broken  up  at  this  time,  and  their  records,if  any  were  kept, 
are  lost  forever.  The  affairs  of  the  people  at  Wells, 
were  now  in  a  fluctuating  state,  and  it  does  not  appear 
that  they  had  a  constant  supply  of  preaching  for  about 
eleven  years.  In  the  year  1661  the  following  order  was 
issued  by  the  County  Court  ; 

«  At  the  Court  at  York,  July  1,  1661. 
*'  The  town  of  Wells,  at  present  being  destitute  of 
"  any  fit  person  to  carry  on  the  worship  of  God  amongst 
<*'  them  on  the  Lord's  day  :  It  is  therefore  ordered  by 
"  this  Court,  that  'till  they  can  better  provide  for  them» 
^*  selves,  (which  we  hope  they  will  not  neglect  any  op- 
"  portunity  to  do)  that  Mr.  Ezekiel  Knight  and  Wil- 
*<  Ham  Hammond  shall  duly  attend  the  place  of  public 
"  meeting  on  the  Lord's  day,  and  that  they  improve 
**  their  best  abilities  in  speaking  out  of  the  word  of  God? 
"  Praying,  Singing  of  Psalms,  and  reading  some  good 
"  orthodox  Sermons,  as  may  most  tend  to  the  edifica« 
"  tion  of  them  that  hear,  and  the  sanctification  of  the  Sab» 
"  bath,  as  the  law  of  God  and  this  jurisdiction  iequire."f 
This  was  probably  the  order  of  things  in  Wells  for  about 
three  years,  then  the  practice  of  the  people,  as  far  as  it 
can  be  ascertained,  by  examining  the  ancient  Town 
Record,  was  to  agree  with  some  person  as  a  Minister^ 


^Sullivan  page  367' 

t  Conrmron  Pkas  Records  for  the  County  of  Yoik,  pamphlet  B  page  43- 


so  OOXGREGATIONALISTS. 

and  make  stipulations  for  his  support  so  long  as  he  saw 
fit  to  remain  with  them.     Six  MinisteriJ  were  succes- 
sively employed  in  this  way  from  the  year  1664?  to 
about  1690,  viz.  Joseph  Emerson,  Jeremiah  Hubbard, 
Robert  Payne,  John  Buss,  Percival  Greene,  and   Rich- 
ard Martin.     Little  is  now  known  of  these  men  but 
their  names.     Mr.   Emerson  remained   in  Wells  but  a 
short  time,  ancj  was  afterwards  settled  in  the  ministry  at 
Mendon  in  Massachusetts.     Mr.  Buss  was  a  Physician, 
and  after  leaving  Wells  he  preached  and  practiced  Phy- 
sic at  Oyster  River,  now  Durham,  in  New-Hampshire.* 
Greene  and  Martin  were  graduated  from  Harvard  Col- 
lege, and  were  both  of  the  Class  of  1680.    They  are  not 
marked  as  Ministers  in  the  Catalogue.    Mr,  Martin  wsps 
employed  in  Wells  as  a  School  Master  for  several  years 
previous  to  his  preaching,  and  probably  had  no  regular 
introduction  into  the  ministry.     A  Meeting  House  had 
been  built  in  the  town,  a  Parsonage  house  also,  and  re- 
gular order  observed.     It  is  reported  that  the  celebra- 
ted  George  Burroughs,  who  was  executed  for  witchcraft 
in  1692  preached  in  Wells  at  that  time,  and  was  appre- 
hended at  the  Meeting  House  on  the  Sabbath.     But 
nothing  of  this  kind  appears  ®n  any  record.     It  is  pro- 
bable that  the  people  were  destitute  of  preaching  for  se* 
veral  years  toward  the  close  of  the  century.     At  that 
time,  almost  every  settlement  in  Maine  was  broken  up 
by  the  Savages,  and  that  at  Wells  very  narrowly  esca- 
ped. 


*"Dr.  Joh«  Bu59  was  the  Minister  and  Physician  of  Durham  for  many 
years,  had  the.  reputation  of  a  pi«us  man,  and  died  there  st  the  advjr.art 
age  of  io8," 


WELLS.  2i' 

tn  1701  the  religious  aftairs  of  the  town  assumed  a 
more  flourishing  aspect.  Whether  there  was  any  par- 
ticular attention  to  religion  here  at  the  time,  is  unknown. 
But  the  Society  took  a  more  distinct  form  ;  twelve  men 
subscribed  the  usual  Covenant  engagements,  and  be- 
came a  Church  o£  Christ.*  Mr.  Samuel  Emery  had 
been  preaching  in  the  town  for  iom.e  time,  and  had  re^ 
celved  an  invitiition  from  the  people  to  settle  among 
them.  He  was  accordingly  ordained  Pastor  of  this 
Church  Oct.  29,  1701.  The  Churches  assisting  on  this 
occasion  were  those  of  Newbury,  Dover,  Portsmouth, 
and  York. — Mr.  Emery  lived  about  twenty  four  years 
after  his  ordination,  and  was  succeeded  in  the  Ministry 
by  Rev.  Samuel  JefFc-rds.  Mr.  Jefferds  was  the  son  of 
Simon  Jeiterds,  and  was  born  in  Salem  in  Massachu- 
setts. He  was  educated  at  Harvard  College,  and  was 
graduated  in  1722.  After  this  he  kept  a  School  at 
Beverly  vrhere  he  studied  Divinity,  and  was  ordained 
at  Wells  in  1725  at  the  age  of  twenty  one  years.  It 
was  in  the  early  part  of  Mr.  Jefferds'  ministry  that  the 
spot  now  occupied  as  a  Farsonage  became  such,  and  the 
house  now  standing  was  built.  Mr,  Jefferds  died  at  the 
age  of  48  in  February  1752,  and  after  a  vacancy  of 
nearly  two  years,  Mr.  Samuel  Fayr weather  was  Invited 
to  settle  with  the  people.  He  returned  an  answer  in  the 
affirmative,  but  much  opposition  being  made,  the  Coun- 
cil declined  ordaining  him.f     In  Feb.  1754,  Rev.  G'u 

*  The  names  of  the  original  members  of  the  Church  were— John  WheeJ- 
wright,  William  Sayer,  Joslah  Lictlefield,  Joriathan  Littlefield,  Samuel  Hiir, 
JosetJi  Hill,  Daniel  battlefield,  Natlianiel  Cl.irk-,  Thonia^  Baston,  Nathaniel 
Olayes,  James  Adams,  Jeremiah  Stver. 

t  See  Agpeiidix  Ko.  i. 


22  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

deon  Richardson  of  Sudbury  in  Massachusetts,  was  or- 
dained at  Wells,  but  lived  only  four  years.  Soon  after 
the  death  of  Mr.  Richardson,  Mr.  Moses  Hemmenway, 
a  graduate  from  Harvard  College,  and  a  native  of  Fra- 
mingham  in  Massachusetts,  was  employed  to  preach  on 
probation,  and  on  Aug.  8,  1759  he  was  ordained  to  the 
pastoral  care  of  the  Church.  At  an  early  period  in  life 
Rev.  Mr.  Hemmenway  received  a  doctorate  from  Har- 
vard College,  and  through  the  whole  course  of  his  life 
he  was  distinguished  for  his  patient  study,  and  laborious 
investigation  of  some  of  the  most  abstruse  points  in  Di- 
vinity. His  ministry  in  Wells  was  protracted  through 
more  than  half  a  century.  It  was  uncommonly  peace- 
ful and  happy*  Toward  the  close  of  the  year  1810, 
Dr.  Hemmenway's  health  became  so  much  impaired, 
that  the  Church  and  people  began  to  consider  it  neces- 
sary to  obtain  some  assistance  for  him.  Mr.  Benjamin 
White  was  accordingly  employed  to  preach  on  proba- 
tion with  a  view  to  settlement,  and  in  Feb.  1811  receiv- 
ed a  call  to  settle  as  colleague  Pastor  with  Dr.  Hem. 
menway.  Before  Mr.  White  had  opportunity  to  give 
an  answer  Dr.  Hemmenway  died.  This  took  place  on 
the  5th  of  April.  Mr.  White  returned  to  Wells  in  May, 
and  was  ordained  in  June  following.  Toward  the  close 
of  the  same  year,  Mr.  White's  health  began  rapidly  to 
decline,  and  after  repeated  relaxations  from  labour,  and 
journeyings  to  regain  his  health,  he  died  at  his  Father's 
house  in  Thetford,  Vt.  March  23nd  1814,  at  the  age  of 
thirty  three. — In  October  of  the  same  year  the  Church 


£cc  Arpeniix  No. 


WELLS.  23 

invited  Mr.  David  Oliphant  to  take  the  pastoral  care  of 
them,  which  he  declined.  The  present  Pastor  of  the 
Church  was  ordained  March  8th,  1815.  From  the 
first  settlement  until  the  year  1750,  the  whole  town, 
which  then  contained  about  1000  inhabitants,  constitu- 
ted but  one  religious  Society.  Seven  years  before  this 
time  suadry  brethren  of  the  Church  living  at  Kenne- 
bunk  landing,  had  obtained  leave  of  the  Church  to  hold 
separate  meetings  in  the  winter  season.  This  was  the 
beginning  of  the  second  Parish.  As  the  population  in- 
creased there  it  became  expedient  that  they  should  be- 
come a  separate  Society,  and  in  1750  the  Parish  and 
Church  were  regularly  constituted,  and  Rev.  Daniel 
Little  was  ordained  over  them.  For  nearly  fifty 
years  Mr.  Little  continued  to  perform  all  the  pastoral 
duties  as  among  that  people.  When  he  became  infirm 
several  candidates  were  employed  to  assist  him 
with  a  view  to  the  settlement  of  a  colleague. — Mr, 
John  Pipon,  who  was  afterward  settled  in  Taunton, 
Mass.  received  a  call,  but  declined.  In  Aug.  1800  the 
present  minister.  Rev.  Nathaniel  Hill  Fletcher,  was  or- 
dained as  Colleague  Pastor.  Mr.  Little  died  suddenly 
in  Odober  of  the  following  year.  The  state  of  the 
Church  in  Wells  has  been  generally  flourishing.  Three 
times  since  its  organization  it  has  been  favored  with  a 
gracious  outpouring  of  the  Spirit,  viz.  in  the  years  1741 
and  '42,  in  the  year  1756,  and  in  the  year  1811; 
the  first  being  under  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Jefferds,  the 
fecond  under  that  of  Mr.  Richardson,  and  the  third  un- 
der that  of  Mr.  White.  The  beginning  of  Mr.  Jefferds* 
ministry  was  prosperous,  and  a  considerable  number 


S4  CONGHEG  ATIONALISTS. 

were  admitted  to  full  communion  within  a  year  after 
his  ordination.  But  in  the  year  ITtl  and  onward,  di- 
vine influences  were  bestowed  copiously  throughout 
New  England,  and  the  Church  at  Wells  appears  to  have 
received  her  full  share.  Mr.  JefFerd's  attestation  to  the 
power  of  God  displayed  is  found  among  others  in  the 
"  Christian  History"  published  about  that  time.  No 
written  account  of  this  season  of  refreshing  has  reached 
us,  and  coiisequently  we  shall  look  in  vain  for  particu- 
lars respecting  it.  From  the  appearance  of  the  Church 
Record  however,  It  seems  that  the  awakening  commenc- 
ed toward  the  close  of  174-0,  and  continued  between  one 
and  two  years.  Within  three  months  from  January 
1741,  thirty-nine  persons  were  admitted  to  the  church, 
and  during  the  whole  season  of  awakening,  seventy-one 
persons  were  admitted  to  communion  ;  and  from  the 
known  character  of  Mr.  JeflFerds,  it  Is  to  be  presumed 
they  all  gave  satisfactory  evidence  of  a  change  of  heart. 

The  revival  in  1756,  took  place  soon  after  the  great 
earthquake.  That  providence  roused  the  people  great- 
ly, and  is  said  to  have  had  much  effect  on  the  mind  of 
Mr.  Richardson,  their  minister.  He  evidenly  became 
more  engaged  from  that  time,  and  in  the  course  of  one 
year,  forty-one  persons  made  public  piofession  of  reli- 
gion. 

From  that  time  a  gradual  decline  could  be  traced,  and 
for  fifty-five  years  divine  influences  were  generally  with- 
held, and  although  the  people  vvere  flill  favored  with  a 
faithful  minister,  no  particular  attention  to  religion  ap- 
peared. Mr.  White  came  to  Wells  as  before  stated  in 
iJie  autumn  cf  ISIO.     Some  of  his  first  sermons  made 


WELLS.  S;1 

lasting  impressions  on  the  minds  of  the  people.  To- 
ward  spring  the  people  became  more  interested,  and  in 
the  course  of  the  summer  the  attention  became  general 
through  the  Parish.  The  Spirit  was  evidently  poured 
out  from  on  high.  "  The  Lord  gave  the  word,'*  and 
many  fell  before  it.  The  seed  sown  for  years  be- 
fore, now  appeared  to  spring  up,  and  bear  fruit.  Mr. 
Wliite,being  soon  taken  from  his  labours  by  sickness,  did 
not  live  to  gather  into  the  Church  more  than  one  half 
of  those  who  were  hopefully  converted  by  his  instiu- 
mentality.     The  others  have  been  added  since. 


26  CONGREGA'l  lONALIS  IS. 

CIIAPTEU  III. 

1702. 

THE  next  religious  establishments  which  were  made 
in  Maine,  were  in  the  territory  anciently  called  Piscata- 
qna,  comprehending  what  is  now  the  towns  of  Kittery, 
Eliot,  Berwick  and  South  Berwick. 

Scattered  settlements  were  made  within  these  limits 
very  early,  and  the  territory  was  formally  granted  by  Wal* 
ter  Neal,  agent  for  Gorges  and  Mason,  from  1632  and 
onwaid.  The  settlement  which  was  commenced  atBer- 
vrick  landing,  called  by  the  Indians,  Quampeagan,  in- 
creased most  rapidly,  and  was  called  "  The  parish  of 
Unity."  The  whole  grant  boie  the  name  of  Piscataqua, 
until  about  the  time  of  the  submission  to  Massachusetts, 
in  1652,  when  it  was  all  called  Kittery,  which  name  it 
retained  until  1713,  when  by  an  act  of  the  Court,  the 
upper  Parish  w-as  incorporated  into  a  town  by  the  name 
of  Berwick.  The  divisions  between  Kittery  and  Eliot, 
and  between  Berwick  and  South  Berwick,  are  of  more 
recent  date.  Although  It  does  not  appear  that  an^ 
church  was  gathered  in  this  region  until  the  com.- 
mencement  of  the  18th  century,  yet  the  people  were 
making  provision  for  a  regular  establishment. 

In  July  1669  it  was  voted  in  town  meeting  to  lay 
out  150  acres  of  land  for  the  use  of  the  ministry  in 
each  division  of  the  town.*  Settlements  were  then 
making  on  the  point,  opposite  to  Portsmouth,  at  "  Stur- 
geon Creek,"  now  Eliot,  and  at  Quampeagan  landing, 


5  Kittery  town  Reords 


BERWICK,  KITTERY.  S7 

now  South  Berwick,  and  It  is  highly  probable  that  the 
parsonages  at  these  three  places,  were  located  at  that 
time.  For  many  years,  to >vards  the  close  of  that  cen- 
tury, the  Indians  were  exceedingly  troublesome  ;  many 
of  the  settlements  In  Maine  were  destroyed  j  the  Coun- 
ty of  York  was  often  the  seat  of  war,  and  the  people 
could  do  little  for  religious  purposes. 

The  first  regular  religious  establishment,  within  llie 
limits  of  ancient  Piscataqua,  was  at  Ouampeagan  land- 
ing. Mr.  John  Wade  was  employed  to  preach  there 
about  the  year  1700,  and  received  a  regular  salary  as 
the  Minister  of  the  town.  But  as  yet  there  was  no 
Church.  A  meeting  house  was  built  near  the  place 
where  the  meeting  house  now  stands.  Toward  tlie 
close  of  1701  it  seems  probable  that  there  was  some  spe- 
cial attention  to  religion  among  the  people,  and  mea- 
sures were  taken  for  the  regular  organization  of  a 
Church.  After  repeated  meetings  for  this  purpose,  a 
Church  was  duly  organized  by  a  Council  consisting  of 
the  Churches  of  Somersworth,  York,  and  Weils.  The 
prudent  caution  and  fidelity  of  Mr.  Wade,  in  the  im- 
portant matter  of  embodying  this  Church,  are  well  wor- 
thy the  attention  of  Ministers,  and  if  his  example  were 
followed  to  this  day,  in  gathering  churches  and  admit- 
ting members,  many  strifes  and  schisms  might  be  pre- 
vented.* This  new  Church  Immediately  invited  Mi. 
Wade  to  take  the  pastoral  oversight  of  them,  which  he 
accepted,  and  was  ordained  In  Nov.  1702.  But  his 
ministry  was  of  short  duration,  for  he  was  suddenly  tak- 


■x-  See  Appendix  No.  3-. 


*^  COXGREGATIONALISTS. 

&n  from  them  by  death  in  about  one  year  from  the  time 
of  his  settlement.  The  people  were  now  left  destitute 
of  stated  preaching  for  more  than  three  years  ;  but  in 
November,  1707,  Rev.  Jeremiah  Wise  was  ordained 
over  them.  T2ie  miniftry  of  Mr.  Wise  was  marked 
with  no  special  occurrence.  It  "^-as  long  and  peaceful. 
He  remained  Pastor  of  the  Church  more  than  forty 
eight  years,  and  died  Jan.  20,  1756.*  After  the  deaih 
of  Mr.  Wise,  the  people  soon  employed  Mr.  Jacob  Fos- 
ter to  preach  as  a  candidate,  and  in  Sept.  of  tlie  same 
year  he  was  ordained.  Rev.  Mr.  Foster  remained  at 
Bervv-ick  twenty  one  years ;  and  rn  1777,  finding  it  dif- 
ficult to  support  his  family,  he  solicited  a  dismission, 
which  was  granted,  and  he  became  a  Chaplain  in  the 
revolutionary  army.f  During  the  remainder  of  the 
war,  the  Church  at  Berwick  was  destitute  of  a  stated 
Pastor.  In  the  early  part  of  17S3,  they  presented  a 
call  to  Rev.  John  Thompson,  who  had  formerly  been 
settled  at  Standish,  and  in  May  of  that  year,  he  was  in- 
stalled. He  is  their  present  Minister.  No  general  re- 
vival of  religion  has  ever  distinguished  the  annals  of 
this  Church.  The  present  number  of  members  is  small, 
but  the  Society  is  respectable,  and  is   in  possession  of 


*  Rev.  ]'<\m  Barnard  who  was  settled  ?t  Marblehend,  and  died  there  Jin. 
^4.  1770,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Stiles,  dated  Oct.  i6,  1767,  has  n  "  list  of  excel- 
icnt  men  whom  lie  knew."  An^ong  them  are  the  names  of  Samuel  Moody 
u{  York,  and  Jeremi.ih  Wise  of  Berwick.  He  adds  at  the  bottom— '  Thee 
were  aM  men  of  lenrning,  pious,  hvimblc,  jirudent,  faithful,  atid  useful  men 
;n  their  day."     Kist.  Coll.  Vol.    10,  p.  170. 

+  In  1781  Mr.  Fo.ster  wa.-*  inflalled  in  Pickcrsfidd  in  Cheshire  County,  N.  FT. 
and  dismissed  from  tlia'  lUce  in  .ibout  10  vears  if'fr.  Sec  BrTknsp^  \Y,y\. 
.01.  ?.  ".    ttR. 


29 

property,  which,  if  properly  managed,  Vvill  always  ena« 
ble  them  with  ease  to  themselves  to  afford  their  minis- 
ter a  handsome  support.  They  have  a  decent  Parson- 
age house  and  about  ten  acres  of  land  adjoining  the 
Meeting  House,  They  have  also  a  tract  of  land  at  some 
distance,  said  to  be  worth  2000  dolls,  which  they  have 
recently  obtained  leave  to  sell,  and  trustees  are  already 
incorporated  to  manage  the  funds.  Added  to  this,  the 
late  Gen.  John  Lord  generously  gave  1500  dolls,  for 
the  use  of  the  Congregational  Society  in  South  Ber- 
wick. 

The  second  Church,  organized  within  the  ancient  lim- 
its of  Piscataqua,  was  on  Kittery  point.  Some  few  settle- 
ments had  been  made  here  very  early.  The  place  was 
advantageously  situated  for  pursuing  the  fishing  busi- 
ness, and  families  were  thus  encouraged  to  sit  down 
there.  Sir.  William  Pepperell  lived  and  died  here,  and 
w^as  one  of  the  original  members  ®f  the  Church.  Pro- 
vision had  been  made  for  a  parsonage  at  this  place,  as 
we  have  before  remarked,  in  1669  ;  but  there  is  no  ev- 
idence that  any  Minister  \va.s  ordained  at  Kittery,  or 
preached  statedly  here,  for  thirty  years  after,  until  the 
settlement  of  the  Rev,  John  Newmarch.*  He  was 
graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1690.  In  1699  he 
v/as  living  at  Kittery  Point,  was  married  there,  and 
bad  land  granted  him  as  Minister  of  the  town.f  He 
continued  at  Kittery  until  1714,  before  a  Church  was 


*  Kittery  Town  Records.- 

+  Mr.  Backus  in  relating  the  account  of  an  ancient  Baptist  Church  at  Kit- 
tery, mentions  a  Mr.  Woodbrldge  as  "  Priest  of  the  place.?'  This  v^as  5r 
3<58o,    But  we  have  no  other  account  of  this  man. 

cs 


SJ  COXCIIEGATIONALISTS. 

gathered,  and  was  hired  from  year  to  year  as  a  Preaclier. 
On  Nov.  4,  1714-,  a  Church,  consisting  of  18  males  and 
25  females,  was  duly  organized,  and  Mr.  Newmarch 
m  dained.  The  Churches  assisting  on  this  occasion,  were 
those  of  Portsmouth,  York,  Wells,  Berwick  and  New- 
Castle.  Mr.  Newmarch  lived  on  the  westerly  side  of 
the  Creek,  near  the  Ferry.  I{e  continued  to  preach 
ccnstantly  until  June  1750,  nearly  sixty  years  from  his 
first  settlement  in  the  town.  At  this  time  he  made  a 
statement  to  the  Church  concerning  his  inlirmities,  de- 
siring assistance,  and  the  people  employed  Mr.  Benja- 
min Stevens  as  a  Candidate,  who  was  ordained  as  Col- 
league Pastor,  May  1,  1751.  Mr.  Newmarch  then  re» 
Jinquished  his  ministerial  labors,  and  died  at  an  advan- 
ced age,  Jan.  15th,  1751'.  The  ministry  of  Dr.  Stevens 
continued  forty  years.  The  Society  appeared  prosper- 
rous  the  greater  part  of  the  time,  but  there  being  no 
special  revival  of  religion,  the  Church  declined,  and  at 
his  death  but  few  male  members  were  left.  Dr.  Ste- 
vens died  suddenly.  May  18th,  1791. 

The  people  v/ere  deftitute  of  preaching  but  a  few 
months,  and  in  little  more  than  a  year,  Rev.  Jonas 
Hartwell  was  ordained  Pastor  of  the  Church.  In  con- 
sequence of  Mr.  Haitwell's  conduct,  his  ministry  ex- 
hibited a  mournful  picture,  and  was  terminated  by  his 
dismission  in  May  1798.  In  December  of  the  same 
year.  Rev.  William  Briggs  was  ordained.  He  also  was 
dismissed  in  1814,  and  for  several  years  the  people 
made  no  attempt  to  settle  another.  It  does  not  appear 
that  the  place  was  ever  visited  with  a  copious  "  ont» 
pouring"  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  except  this  may  have 


BEIIWICK^  KirrEilY.  .il 

been  the  case  In  the  year  1741,  when  It  appears  that  a 
considerable  number  were  added  to  the  Church.  Tlie 
Church  was  organized  on  evangelical  principles,*  and 
for  any  thing  that  appears  to  the  contrary,  was  as  pros- 
perous as  is  usual  for  any  Church  not  visited  with  spe- 
cial revivals  of  religion,  for  nearly  fifty  years.  Since 
that  time,  a  visible  decline  has  marked  their  history. — 
Few  were  added  to  the  Church,  not  enough  to  fill  the 
vacancies  made  by  death.  When  Mr.Briggs  was  dismiss- 
ed, not  a  male  member  was  left.  The  last,  besides 
himself,  Richard  Cutts,  Esq,  died  in  Sept.  1810,  and  but 
3  females  then  remained.  Mr.  Briggs  did  not  administer 
the  Lord's  supper  for  nearly  five  years  before  his  dis. 
mission,  and  then  females  served  the  Table.  But  there 
is  some  reason  to  hope  that  a  brighter  day  is  yet  to 
dawn  upon  this  people.  h\  the  winter  of  1820,  the 
Maine  Missionary  Society  supplied  them  with  preaching 
for  a  few  weeks.  The  people  became  interested,  and 
employed  the  preacher  for  a  longer  term.  Divine  in- 
fluences were  afforded  in  a  small  degree,  and  in  May  of 
that  year,  several  of  the  neighboring  ministers  were  call- 
ed in,  to  hold  with  them  a  day  of  prayer  ;  five  mem- 
bers were  added  to  the  almoft  extinct  remains  of  the  an- 
cient Church,  and  after  eleven  years  of  desolation,  the 
sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper  was  again  adminiftered 
among  them.  Their  present  Minister,  Rev.  Stephen 
Merrill  was  then  preaching  tliere.  He  was  ordained  in 
June  1821. 
The  Church  at  Eliot  bears  the  next  date.    About  the 


*^Sce  Appendix  No,  4. 


32  CONGHEGATIOXALISTS. 

time  that  the  town  of  Berwick  was  incorporated, 
( 1 7 1 S)  what  remained  of  the  town  of  Kittery  was  divi- 
ded into  two  parishes,  and  in  the  north  parish  measures 
were  taken  for  the  employment  of  a  Minister  about  the 
same  time  as  at  the  point  below.  In  the  year  ITH,  a 
Mr.  Fisk  was  Invited  to  settle  there  in  the  ministry  but 
declined.  The  following  year  Mr.  John  Rogers  was  in- 
vited to  preach  on  probation.  His  labours  proving  ac- 
ceptable, he  was  continued  among  them  from  year  to 
year  until  suitable  materials  were  found  for  constituting 
a  Church.  On  the  22d  of  June  1721,  a  Church  was 
duly  organized  by  a  council  convened  for  that  purpose,* 
and  on  the  25th  of  October  following,  Rev.  Mr.  Rog- 
ers was  ordained.  He  continued  In  the  Ministry 
about  fifty  two  years,  but  being  unable  to  preach 
toward  the  close  of  his  life,  his  Church  and  people  pro- 
vided a  Colleague  for  him.  This  was  Rev.  Alpheus 
Spring,  who  was  ordained  June  29th,  1768,  five  years 
before  the  death  of  Mr.  Rogers.  Mr.  Spring  w^as  much 
beloved  by  his  people  and  highly  respected  by  his  bre- 
thren in  the  ministry.  But  his  life  was  not  long.  He 
died  suddenly  of  a  fever  June  14th,  1791,  after  a  minis- 
try of  twenty  three  years.  His  immediate  successor  was 
the  present  Pastor  of  that  Church  Rev.  Samuel  Chand- 
ler, who  was  ordained  Oct.  17th,  1792.  The  state  of 
that  Church  has  been  generally  flourishing.  Twiee 
since  Its  formation  an  attention  to  religion  has  been  ge- 
neral through  the  parish  ;  once  during  the  ministry  of 
Mr.   Rogers,   about   the  year  174-2,  and  once   under 


♦DoYcr  Churcfc  Record* 


3g 

the    ministry    of  Mr.    Chandler,    in    the    year    1815. 

Since  the  formation  of  the  Church  to  the  present  time 
there  have  been  added  to  it  338  persons,  140  were  ad- 
ded by  Mr.  Rogers,  51  by  Mr.  Spring,  and  147  by  Mr. 
Chandler.  The  present  number  of  communicants  Is 
125.  Until  the  year  1750,  all  the  people  In  the  lower 
part  of  Kittery  toward  the  sea,  attended  on  the  minis- 
try of  Mr.  Newmarch.  But  about  the  time  Dr.  Ste- 
vens was  settled,  sundry  brethren  of  the  Church  living 
at  what  was  called  "Spruce  Creek,"  petitioned  to  be 
dismissed  and  formed  into  a  new  Church,  and  being 
joined  by  others  in  the  same  part  of  the  town,  a  separa- 
tion was  amicably  effected.  On  the  1 9th  of  Sept.  1750, 
a  Church  was  organized  by  Rev.  Ward  Cotton  of 
Hampton,  New-Harnpshire,  and  the  same  day.  Rev. 
Josiah  Chace  was  ordained.  Mr.  Chace  lived  twenty 
eight  years  after  his  ordination,  and  died  suddenly  Dec. 
10,  1778.  A. little  religious  excitement  took  place  in 
tliis  parish  soon  after  the  great  earthquake,  in  1755,  but 
the  Records  of  the  Church  are  impcifect,  and  but  little 
distinct  information  can  be  obtained.  After  the  death 
®f  Mr.  Chace  the  people  were  destitute  of  preaching 
nearly  four  years.  In  July  1782,  Rev.  Joseph  Litch- 
field was  ordained  among  them,  and  is  their  present 
Minister. 

The  whole  Church  originally  organized  at  Quam- 
peagan  landing  by  Mr.  Wade,  continued  under  the  pasto- 
ral care  of  his  successor  for  nearly  fifty  years.  But  the 
town  was  large,  and  the  inhabitants  had  spread  them- 
selves Into  the  northerly,  and  northwesterly  parts  of  it, 
%o  that  the  ei-ection  of  a  second  parish  became  expedient 


8i  CONGREGATIOKALISTS. 

ibr  the  convenience  of  the  peop'e.  Therefoie  hi  1*751, 
the  town  was  divided  into  two  parishes,  and  a  new 
meeting  house  built  on  what  was  called  "Blackberry 
hill."  Measures  were  soon  taken  to  obtain  the  regular 
administration  of  divine  ordinances,  and  application  was 
made  to  the  "Boston  Presbytery,"  for  a  supply.*  But 
failing  in  this  application,  they  soon  procured  Mr.  John 
Morse,  a  very  serious  and  godly  young  man,  who  had 
recently  been  pursuing  theological  studies  with  Rev. 
Mr.  JefFerds  of  Wells.  The  members  of  the  first  Cliurch 
who  lived  in  the  second  Paiish,  were  now  formally  dis- 
missed, and  being  joined  by  some  others,  they  were 
organized  as  a  Church  March  13,  1755.  They  then 
proceeded  to  make  clioice  of  Mr.  Morse  as  their  Pastor, 
and  on  the  30th  of  April  following,  he  was  ordained 
over  them.  Mr.  Morse  lived  happily  and  usefully  with 
the  people  a  little  short  of  ten  yeais,  when  he  died,  and 
after  a  vacancy  of  about  ten  months,  he  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  Matthew  Merriam,  wno  was  ordained  at  Ber- 
wick in  Sept.  1765.  Mr.  Merriam  died  in  Jan.  1707i 
and  was  succeeded  in  October  of  the  same  year  by  Rev. 
Joseph  Hilliard,  who  is  the  present  minister. 

The  two  Congregational  parishes  in  Berwick  con- 
tinued as  such  until  Feb.  181 4-,  when  the  first  Parish 
obtained  a  separate  act  of  incorporation  as  the  town  of 
South  Berwick.  Thus  the  original  plantation  of  Piscat- 
aqua  is  no  longer  known,  and  the  towns  of  Kittery, 
Eliot,  Berwick,  and  South-Berwick  are  found  in  its 
3tead. 


*.  P.'fOjytcriar  records  f«r  Aug.  1753. 


POUTLAND.  33 

CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  next  Churches  which  claim  our  attention,  are 
thofe  which  were  organized  within  the  limits  of  ancient 
Falmouth.  The  lands  around  Cafco  Bay  were  occu- 
pied very  early  by  traders  or  fishermen  who  did  not  ex- 
pe<ft  to  reside  on  them,  but  who  sold  their  privileges  or 
rights  of  occupancy  to  others,  as  suited  their  conve<- 
nience  ;  and  the  first  settlements  here  were  consequent- 
ly fluctuating.  The  earliest  permanent  settlement  in 
this  region,  was  made  on  the  south  easterly  side  of  Cape 
Elizabeth,  and  on  Richmonds  Island*  Grants  to  indi- 
viduals were  made  of  the  lands  in  what  is  now  Port- 
land, Falmouth,  Cape  Elizabeth,  and  Westbrook,  from 
the  year  1643  and  onv/ard  ;  but  die  inhabitants  were 
few  and  scattered,  no  very  regular  order  was  observed, 
the  Indians  were  troublesome,  and  in  1692  the  town 
was  wholly  broken  up  by  the  Savages,  and  for  about 
sixteen  years  it  lay  waste.  In  the  beginning  of  the 
next  Century  the  inhabitants  gradually  returned,  new 
settlers  came  in,  the  conflicting  claims  for  land  w^ere 
amicably  adjusted,  and  the  town  of  Falmouth  v/as  incor- 
porated under  the  authority  of  Massachusetts,  in  1718.  | 
"  The  records,"  says  Gov.  Sullivan,  "  if  there  were  any 
before  the  year  1692  were  not  preserved,  although  there 
was  no  other  town  which  was  then  broken  up,  where 
the  records  were  not  saved  ;  but  there  was  no  other 
place  where  the  desolation  was    so   complete,  as  it  was 


*Ser  chapter  23>         t  5ullivan  page  197, 


36  CONGUEGATIONALISTS. 

in  the  town  of  Falmouih."     It  is  in  vain  therefore  that 
we  look  for  any  particular  information  on  ecclesiastical 
subjects  relating  to  Falmouth  prior  to  the  establishment 
of  the  town  in  1718.     As  soon  as  they  were  comforta- 
bly settled  again  the  people  appear  to  have   sought  the 
stated  ordinances  of  religion.     Rev.  Thomas  Smith  was 
the  first  minister   of  Falmouth.     He   was  the   son  of 
Thomas  Smith    Esq.   of  Boston,  and  was   born   there 
March  10,  1702.     At  the  age   of  fourteen  years  he  en- 
tered Harvard  College,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  two 
commenced  preaching.     After  officiating  with  applause 
in  Boston,  and  in  different  parts  of  the  adjacent  country, 
and  having  declined  several  invitations  to  settle,  he  was 
induced  about  the  beginning  of  the   year  1726,  to  pro- 
ceed to  Falmouth,  to  act  in  the  double  capacity  of  Chap- 
lain to  the  troops  stationed   here,   and  preached  to   the 
people,  who  at  that  time  consisted  of  not  more  than  for- 
ty  famihes.     After   a  residence  among  them  of  about 
a  year,  the  people   unanimously  gave  him  an  invitation 
to  settle,  which  he  accepted.     A  council  was  according- 
ly invited,  and  on  the  8th  of  March  1 727,  a  Church  was 
organized  and  Mr.  Smith    ordained.  *     The  Churches 
assisting  on  this  occasion  were   those  of  York,  Wells, 
Berwick,  and  Kittery,    there   being  none    others  in  the 
then  District  of  Maine.     Mr.  Smith's  pastoral   charge 
was  very  extensive  in  territory.     For  the  first  seven  years 
of  his  ministry  he  preached  alternately  at  what  is  now 
Portland,  in  a  block-house  on  Purpoodoc  point,  and  in  a 


♦  Dr.  Ucar.e's  Scfmonon  the  death  of  Mr.  Smith,  pages  i8,  \<i. 


PORTLAND.  3/ 

gariison  al  Spurivmck.*  The  settlement  on  Cape  Eliza- 
beth soon  became  considerable,  and  in  1734  five  breth- 
ren were  dismissed  from  the  Church  in  order  to  the  gath» 
ering  of  a  new  Church  '•  on  Purpoodoc  side  of  the  riv- 
er."  Mr.  Smith's  labours  were  now  confined  to  Port- 
land and  Falmouth.  But  a  settlement  having  been  made 
in  the  northerly  part  of  the  town,  called  New  Casco, 
lying  principally  eastward  of  Presumscot  river,  the  peo- 
ple there  found  it  inconvenient  to  attend  meeting  in  what 
is  now  Portland,  especially  in  the  winter  season.  Where- 
upon in  Jan.  1735  they  petitioned  the  Parish  for  a  sep- 
arate supply  of  preaching  during  the  winter,  which  re- 
quest was  granted,  and  for  that  and  the  following  win» 
ter,  and  probably  somewhat  longer,  they  were  supplied 
with  preaching  at  the  expense  of  the  Parish.  Mr.  Smith 
continued  his  ministrations  at  Portland,  and  for  about 
sixteen  years  longer  the  people  at  New-Casco  remained 
attached  to  the  Parish,  with  occasional  preaching  among 
themselves.  In  April  1 752  they  patitioned  to  be  set 
off  as  a  distinct  society,  which  request  was  granted  iu 
December  following.  In  about  six  years  after  this,  some 
morements  were  made  for  the  erection  of  a  fourth  Par- 
ish in  Falmouth,  to  be  taken  partly  out  of  what  remain- 
ed to  Mr.  Smith,  and  partly  from  Cape  Elizabeth  Parish, 
and  it  was  finally  accomplished  in  March  1764.  \  Mr 
Smith  was  now  sixty  two  years   of  age,  and  had  been 


*  This  is  the  lodian  name  of  a  river  running  through  a  part  of  Cape  Eliz- 
abeth,  and  the  setticjnent  near  Richmond's  Island  still  retains  this  name> 
Purpoodoc  h  the  point  tiirectly  opposite  toPortJanti, 

tRftcords  of  tlw  first  Parish  in  Portland, 

D 


^8  CONGUEGATIOXALISTS. 

labouring  with  that  people  thirty-seven  years  smce  his 
ordination.  Pie  had  seen  the  wilderness  around  him  be- 
come a  fruitful  field,  and  his  large  range  of  territory 
■with  only  here  and  there  a  dwelling,  changed  into  three 
well  organized  parishes,  beside  what  still  remained  as 
his  own  peculiar  charge.  But  Mr.  Smith  being  now  too 
far  advanced  in  years  and  too  feeble  to  bear  the  whole 
charge  alone,  Rev.  Samuel  Deane  was  invited  to  settle 
as  colleague  pastor  in  July  1764-,  and  was  ordained  in 
October  following.  Mr.  Smith  continued,  however,  to 
pi  each  in  his  turn  until  the  close  of  the  year  1784,  and 
after  that  assisted  occasionally  in  public  prayer  for  eight 
or  nine  years  longer.  He  died  in  May  1795,  at  the  ad- 
vanced  age  of  93  years.  In  April  17S6,  the  territory 
belonging  to  the  first  Parish  in  Falmouth  became  a  new- 
town  by  the  name  of  Portland,  The  place  increased 
rapidly,  rose  Phoenix-like  from  its  ashes,  and  several  new 
societies  were  formed.  Dr.  Deane  continued  to  labour 
alone  for  about  fourteen  years  after  the  death  of  Mr. 
Smith.  In  1806  the  Parish  voted  to  procure  an  as- 
sistant some  part  o(  the  year.  In  1808  Mr.  John  Cod- 
man,  since  settled  In  Dorxhester,  was  engaged  to  preach 
for  a  short  time,  and  in  October  of  that  year,  the  Church 
crave  him  a  call  to  settle  with  them.     The  Parish  how- 

o 

ever  negatived  the  call.  In  the  beginning  of  1809,  Mr. 
Ichabod  Nichols  was  employed  to  preach  on  probation, 
received  a  call,  and  was  ordained  colleague  Pastor  in 
June  of  that  year.  Dr.  Deane  died  in  the  autumn  of 
181 4,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Nichols  remains  sole  Pastor  of  the 
Church.  We  now  return  to  triice  the  several  Churches 
which  either  sprang  from  this  ancient  stock,    or   have 


CAPE  ELIZABETH.  39 

grown  up  beside  it.  The  second  Church  within  the  lim- 
its of  ancient  Falmouth,  was  that  in  Cape  Elizabeth. 
We  have  already  mentioned  the  dismission  of  five  breth- 
ren from  the  ancient  Church  to  constitute  a  new  one 
here.  They  were  joined  by  six  others,  and  the  Church 
was  organized  in  1734-.*  A  Mr.  Henry  from  Scotland 
had  preached  on  Cape  Klizabeth,  but  at  what  period 
is  not  certainly  known.  The  year  in  which  the  Church 
was  organized,  Rev.  Benjamin  Allen  hud  preached 
there,  and  was  gathered  into  the  Church  at  its  organiza- 
tion. Mr.  Allen  was  the  first  Minister  in  the  South  Pa- 
lish in  Bridgwater  and  was  ordained  therein  July  1718, 
and  after  about  ten  years  was  dismissed  and  came  to 
Falmouth,  f  It  was  probably  with  a  view  to  his  set- 
tlement that  the  Church  was  organized,  as  he  was  in. 
stalled  its  Pastor  in  November  of  that  year.  Mr.  Allen 
lived  after  his  settlement  at  Cape  Elizabeth  about  twen- 
ty years,  and  died  May  6,  1754,  aged  65. 

In  about  two  years  after  the  decease  of  Mr.  Allen 
Rev.  Ephraim  Ciaik  was  installed  to  the  Pastoral  care 
of  the  Church.  He  had  been  for  a  few  years  Pastor  of 
a  Church  in  Boston,  and  had  recently  been  dismissed. 
His  Ministry  at  Cape  Elizabeth  continued  forty  one 
years.  He  died  suddenly  Dec.  11th,  1797  iit  the  age  of 
75  years. 


♦  The  names  of  tliose  dismissed  from  the  ist  Church  were  as  follow  ;~ 
John  Armstrong,  William  Jennison,  Robert  Means,  Robert  Thorndike,  and 
Jonathan  Cob.  There  arc  no  records  of  the  Church  to  be  found  for  the  first 
twenty  years  of  its  existence,  aud  but  a  few  fngmenr-j  for  43  yars  siic- 
ceeding  that  period. 

t  His.  Coll.  New  Series  vol.  7  page  16^. 


ijO  CONGREGATIONALIST*. 

For  nearly  four  succeeding  years  the  people  had  no 
regular  preaching,  but  in  1801  having  obtained  as  a  can- 
didate Mr.  William  Gregg,  measures  were  taken  for  his 
settlement  But  the  Church  was  nearly  extinct,  and  no 
records  being  found,  it  was  judged  expedient  to  organ- 
ize one  anew.  Accordingly  in  June  of  that  year  a 
council  was  convened  at  Cape  Elizabeth,  a  Church  of 
nine  members  was  organized,  and  Mr.  Gregg  ordained. 
In  about  six  years  the  connexion  between  the  Church  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Gregg  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent.  The 
next  Pastor  of  the  Church  was  Rev.  Benjamin  Sawyer- 
He  was  ordained  in  the  year  1809.  Some  difficulties 
soon  arose  which  could  not  be  controlled  and  in  about 
three  years  Mr.  Sawyer  was  dismissed.  He  is  since  set- 
tled in  Amesbury  in  Massachusetts. 

After  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Sawyer,  the  Church  and 
people  remained  in  a  scattered  and  broken  state  for  three 
or  four  years.  Rev.  Mr.  Gregg  was  still  residing  in  the 
neighbourhood,  and  still  unsettled,  and  the  people  of  his 
former  charge  began  to  turn  their  eyes  toward  him  a. 
gain.  In  Oct.  1 8J  5  the  Church  and  Parish  voted  to 
recall  Mr  Gregg  to  the  Pastoral  office  among  them,  he 
U'as  accordingly  installed  in  January  follov\'ing,  and  he 
is  the  present  Minister  of  that  people. 

The  third  Parish  in  Falmouth,  that  at  New  Casco,  as 
we  have  already  stated,  was  incorporated  in  Dec.  1753. 
A  Church  was  immediately  organized  there,  and  pre- 
parations made  for  the  settlement  of  a  Ministcn  Mr. 
David  Mitchell  was  the  first  candidate  for  settlement  in 
this  place.  After  him  Mr.  Isaac  Noles  preached  on  pro- 
bation.    The  Httcmpts  to   settle  both   these   gentlcmf^ii 


FALMOUTH,  \VE  STB  ROOK.  41 

proved  unsuccessful,  and  the  year  1755  found  the  peo^ 
pie  still  destitute  of  stated  preaching.  But  in  Decem- 
ber of  that  year  Mr.  John  Wiswall  was  invited  to  settle 
and  was  ordained  Pastor  of  the  Church  early  in  1756. 
Mr.  Wiswall  continued  to  preach  in  Falmouth  but  a 
short  season.  In  1764^  in  a  very  abrupt  manner,  and 
without  any  ecclesiastical  formalities,  he  left  his  Pastoral 
charge.  Toward  the  close  of  the  same  year  Mr.  Timo- 
thy Fuller  received  a  call  to  settle,  but  declined.  In 
August  following  Mr.  Ebenezer  Williams  was  invited 
to  take  the  Pastoral  charge  of  this  Church,  which  invi- 
tation he  accepted,  and  was  ordained  in  November  1765. 
Rev.  Mr.  Williams  continued  to  labour  with  this  people 
about  thirty-four  years,  and  in  1799,  he  was  taken  sud- 
denly away  by  a  paralytic  shock.  For  a  few  years  the 
people  were  again  destitute  of  stated  preaching.  Sev- 
eral candidates  were  employed,  and  in  June  1803  Rev. 
William  Miltemore,  their  present  Minister,  was  ordained. 
The  Parish  in  Strowdwater,  now  the  town  of  West- 
brook,  was  incorporated  as  a  fourth  Parish  in  Falmouth 
in  1764.  In  April  of  the  following  year  a  Church  of 
thirteen  members  was  organized  there,  eleven  of  whom 
were  dismissed  at  that  time  from  the  ancient  first 
Church,  and  at  the  same  time  Rev.  Thomas  Browne 
who  had  recently  been  dismissed  from  Marshfield  in 
Massachusetts,  was  invited  to  take  the  Pastoral  care  of 
them.  In  August  of  that  year  Mr.  Browne  was  install- 
ed, and  continued  in  the  Ministry  there  a  little  more 
than  thirty  two  years.  After  a  vacancy  of  about  two 
years,  in  Oct.  1799,  Rev.   Caleb  Bradley  was  ordained 

Pastor  of  that  Church,  and  is  the  present  Minister. 
D2 


^2  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

In  the  year  1787,  about  one  year  after  the  incorpora- 
tion of  Portland  as  a  distinct   town,  a  new    Ccingrega- 
tional  Paiibh  was  organized  there.     Mr.  EHjah  Kell'  gg 
was  engaged   as    a    preacher,    and    in  October  1788,  a 
Council  was  convened,    w^ho    organized  a  Chuich,  and 
ordained  Mr.  Kellogg  to    the    Pastoral   office  over  the 
same.     In  December  1807  Rev.    Edward    Payson  was 
ordained  as  Colleague  Pastor   with    Rev.  Mr.  Kellogg, 
and  for  about  four  years  they  jointly  occupied  this  field 
of  labour.     In  Dec.  1811,  Mr   Kellogg  was  dismissed 
from  his  relation  to    the   Church,    and    Mr.  Payson  re- 
mains its  sole  Pastor      Mr   Kellogg  with  a  part  of  his 
original  charge  who  chose  to  remain  with  him,  were  soon 
after  organized  as  a  distinct  body,    by  the  name  of  the 
^'  Chapel  Congregational  Church,"    and    at   the    same 
time  he  was  installed   their    Pastor.     This   event  took 
place  on  the  18th  of  March  1812.     In  Oct.  1819  Rev. 
Thomas  Jewe  tt  Murdock,  was  ordained  Colleague  Pas- 
tor of  the  Chapel  Church   with    Rev.   Mr.  Kellogg,  in 
Avhich  office  he  remained    till    his   connection  with  that 
society  was  dissolved  in  March  1821.     In  the  spring  of 
1807,  Rev  Jotham  Sewall  was  engaged  by  some  indi- 
viduals to  preach  in    Portland    for   a  few  months.     A 
Hail  was  procured  for  a  place  of  Meeting,  and  the  foun- 
dation of    a   new    Congregational    Society   was   laid. 
In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  Mr   Sewall  organized 
a  Church.     A  meeting-house   was  built,  a  Society  col- 
lected, and  in  the  spring  of  iSOS,  Rev.  Nathan  Sydney 
Smith  Beeman  was  oidained  as  Pastor  of  that  Church, 
an(i  Minister  o   t   U  j  eojjle.     His  ministry  however  was 
.^tut  oi  short  duration.     In  the   year   1811  he  was  dis< 


PORTLAND.  4f5 

missed  on  account  of  ill  health,  and  removed  to  Geor- 
gia. The  Society  being  small  did  not  employ  another 
candidate  for  settlement,  but  soon  mingled  with  other 
Societies.  The  Church  kept  together  for  several  years, 
but  at  length,  in  the  spring  of  1820,  they  united  with 
the  second  Church  in  the  town  under  the  care  of  Rev, 
Mr.  Payson. 

Thus  in  the  space  of  ninety  three  years,  six  Congre- 
gational Churches  have  arisen  where  a  feeble  one  of  only- 
ten  male  members  then  existed ;  and  in  the  place  where 
less  than  fifty  families  could  then  be  numbered,  there 
are  now  four  towns,  containing  in  all  more  than  12,000 
inhabitants,  who  worship  In  no  less  than  thirteen  Socie* 
ties  of  the  different  denominations  of  Christians. 


41  COXGREGATIONALISTS. 

CHAPTER  Y. 

The  Church  in  Scarborough  next  claims  our  attention.. 
Two  small  settlements  were  made  in  the  town  soon  af- 
ter the  settlement  of  Cape  Elizabeth  in  1640,  one  on 
the  point  east  of  the  great  marsh,  and  the  other  on  the 
western  side  ;  the  former  known  by  the  name  of  "Black 
Point,"  and  the  latter  "  Blue  Point,"  and  afterwards  bet- 
ter known  by  the  name  of  "  Dunstan."  Like  most  of 
their  Brethren  in  New-England,  while  their  settlement 
was  yet  inconsiderable,  their  numbers  small,  and  the 
people  frequently  harrassed  by  the  Indians,  they  took 
measures  for  the  support  of  the  Gospel  among  them. 
The  settlement  advanced  but  slowly,  and  in  1681  there 
were  but  fifty  six  male  inhabitants  in  the  town  ;  yet  in 
December  of  that  year  the  Selectmen  were  empowered 
by  a  vote  in  town  meeting  to  agree  with  a  Mr.  Black- 
man  to  preach  in  Scarborough  for  one  year.  In  July 
following  arrangements  w^ere  made  to  settle  the  same  man 
in  the  ministry  there,  by  disposing  of  land  to  provide 
for  his  maintainance. 

How  this  matter  ended  is  uncertain,  but  we  find  them 
soon  destitute  agam,  for  on  May  30th,  1684  the  people 
assembled  in  town  meeting,  chose  William  Burrage* 
for  their  Minister.  Mr.  Burrage  filled  the  offices  of 
Town  Clerk  and  Selectman,  as  well  as  Minister,  and  in 
several  other  respects  was  an  important  man  in  the  town. 


♦  Burrage,  or  Bunlg,  or  Eurridg,    or   Burrcah,   for   tbt  name  iJ  thus  v%- 
riously  spelt  in  the  ancient  town  record, 


SCARBOROUGH.  45 

He  appears  to  have  been  the  only  Minister  they  had  for 
foar  years.  The  year  after  Mr.  Burrage  was  employed, 
a  meeting-house  was  built  by  a  tax  on  the  inhabitants. 
Such  was  the  situation  of  the  town  that  the  people  were 
oot  at  first  agreed  concerning  the  spot  where  the  meet- 
ing-house should  stand,  but  the  dispute  was  happily  set- 
tled, and  the  house  erected  in  the  easterly  part  of  the 
town,  "  on  the  plains  near  the  fort,"  which  was  near  to 
the  spot  where  the  meeting-house  afterwards  stood  which 
Mr.  Thompson  occupied.  A  parsonage  house  w^as  built, 
and  ten  acres  of  land  adjoining  it  were  also  appropriat- 
ed. It  was  voted  at  the  same  time  that  the  Minister's 
salary  should  be  50  pounds  a  year,  and  the  parsonage.  * 
In  1688  the  Indians  became  so  troublesome  that  the 
town  was  broken  up,  and  abandoned  or  nearly  so  for 
thirty  years.  The  reccords  were  carried  to  Boston  for 
safety,  and  not  returned  until  the  year  1719.  Piobably 
the  inhabitants  had  been  returning  for  several  years,  yet 
it  does  not  appear  that  any  regular  order  was  observed 
in  the  town  until  1720.  Thirty  one  inhabitants  had  then 
returned.  One  of  their  first  cares  was  to  obtain  a  Min- 
ister, and  although  they  were  so  few  in  number,  and  had 
■suffered  such  hardships,  yet  they  made  an  immediate 
agreement  with  Rev.  Hugh  Campbell  to  preach  to  them 
a  year,  voting  him  50/.  salary,  together  with  "  meat, 
drink,  washing,  and  lodging."  Mr-  Campbell  remain- 
ed at  Scarborough  a  little  more  than  a  year,  when  some 
difficulty  arising  about  his  salary  he  left  them.  The 
former  meeting-house  was    destroyed,  probably  by  the 


♦  Scarbcroueh  town  rcco:<i9. 


46  CONGUEGATIONALISTS. 

Indians,  and  none  as  yet  built,  and  the  meetings  on  the 
Sabbath  were  held  at  the  house  of  Roger  Deering. 

In  June  1722  Rev.  Hugh  Henry  was  employed  to 
preach  for  three  months.  He  continued  to  supply  the 
people  until  March  following  and  was  employed  for  six 
months,  and  at  the  same  meeting  the  town  expressed  a 
desire  that  he  should  engage  with  them  by  the  year. 
This  proposal  he  declined  unless  they  would  allow  him 
an  annual  salary  of  70/.  which  they  refused.  Mr.  Hen- 
ry remained  however  at  Scarborough,  and  probably 
preached  there  for  more  than  two  years  longer,  and  la 
June  1725  sued  the  town  for  his  "  wages."  In  Septem- 
ber a  town  meeting  was  called  to  deliberate  upon  the 
subject,  and  it  was  voted  that  Mr.  Henry  was  not  to  be 
considered  the  Minister  of  Scarborough,  and  the  Select- 
men were  instructed  to  inform  the  General  Court,  and 
ihc  neighbouring  Ministers  of  these  proceedings.  ■* — 
Their  object  probably  was  to  prevent  Mr.  Henry  from 
obtaining  the  judgment  of  the  Court  against  them,  or 
any  advantage  by  means  of  a  Council. 

It  is  not  known  at  this  day  how  the  matter  terminat- 
ed but  we  hear  nothing  further  of  Mr.  Henry,  f 

In  Feb.  1726  the  town  appointed  a  Committee  to  seek 
for  a  Minister,  and  voted  that  he  should  preach  alter- 
nately at  Black  Point  and  Dunstan.  By  this  it  appears 
that  the  settlements  in  the  two  sections  of  the  town  were 
equal  or  nearly  so.     This  Committee  were  unsuccessful 


»  Scafborcugh  town  Records. 

r  Mr.  Henry  was  probably  the  same  man  that  preached  at  Cape  Elizabeth, 
as  has  been  related.  But  whtthei  it  was  before  or  after  his  residence  at 
Scarboroui^h  Is  unknown.    Gov.  Sullivan  calls  him  a  ♦'  very  excentric  man.*» 


SCARBOKOUGH.  ^ 

^n  their  applications,  and  the  next  year  found  them  still 
destitute. 

Previous  to  this  time,  there  is  no  evidence  that  a 
Church  had  been  regularly  organized  in  the  town,  or 
any  formalities  observed  in  the  induction  of  Ministers  to 
office.  In  the  course  of  the  summer  of  1727,  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Thompson  was  employed  as  a  preacher,  and  the 
Society  began  to  assume  a  more  regular  form.  A 
Church  was  organized  on  Congiegational  principles,  and 
on  Sept  II th  of  that  year  a  call  was  presented  to  Mr. 
Thompson  to  take  the  pastoral  oversight  of  the  Church 
and  become  the  Minister  of  the  people.  The  salary  of- 
fered him  was  100/.  the  first  year,  110/.  the  second  year, 
120/.  the  third  year,  and  so  to  continue.  Mr.  Thomp- 
son accepted  the  call,  and  was  ordained.  For  the  first 
thirteen  years  of  his  ministry  he  resided  at  Dunstan,  and 
preached  alterately  there  and  at  Black  Point.  As  yet 
there  was  no  parsonage  house  but  in  1732  the  town 
voted  to  build  one  at  Black  Point,  where  the  principal 
settlement  was  made,  and  at  least  half  of  the  meetings 
held.  At  the  same  meeting,  supposing  the  time  was 
not  far  distant  when  a  division  of  the  town  into  Parishes 
would  take  place,  it  was  voted  that  \vhen  the  town  should 
be  able  to  support  two  Ministers,  another  should  be  set- 
tled at  Dunstan  at  the  expense  of  the  whole  town  This 
took  place  a  few  years  after.  Mr.  Thompson  continued 
his  labours  at  Scarborough  until  his  death  which  took 
place  in  Feb.  1759.  The  first  regular  supply  for  the 
pulpit  which  the  people  obtained  after  the  death  of  Mr. 
Thompson  was  a  Mr,  Hill,  who  was  employed  for  three 
monihs  in  June  of  the  same  year.      At  the  commence- 


4S  eoNGREGATIONALISTS. 

ment  of  the  next  year,  a  Mr.  Ward  was  supplying  them, 
and  in  May  1760,  the  Church  and  Parish  concurred  in 
an  invitation  to  Mr.  Nathaniel  Noyes  to  become  their 
Minister,  which  he  declined,  and  was  afterwards  settled 
at  South-Hampton  in  New-Hampshire.  In  February 
following  the  Church  voted  a  call  to  Mr.  John  Fairfield* 
afterward  the  Minister  of  Saco  ;  but  the  Parish  did  rot 
concur  and  they  were  again  left  destitute.  During  the 
summer  another  candidate  was  obtained,  Mr.  Phinehas 
Whitney,  and  in  August,  he  also  was  invited  to  settle, 
but  declined.  He  was  afterwards  the  Minister  of  Shir- 
ly  in  Massachusetts.  In  March  1762,  the  Church  and 
Parish  again  united  in  calling  Mr.  Samuel  Foxcroft  to 
the  work  of  the  ministry  among  them.  He  also  declined, 
and  was  settled  at  New-Gloucester.  Notwithstanding 
their  frequent  aisappointments,  the  people  were  not  dis- 
couraged from  making  another  attempt.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  that  year  Mr.  Thomas  Pierce  was  engaged  to 
preach  on  probation,  and  in  Sept.  1762  was  invited  to 
settle.  Mr.  Pierce  was  in  favour  of  Presbyterian  forms, 
and  the  Church  and  Parish  consenting  to  receive  them, 
he  was  ordained.  As  there  were  no  Presbyterian  Church- 
es in  the  vicinity,  the  ceremonies  of  ordination  were 
performed  in  the  Presbyterian  meeting-house  in  New- 
buryport.  The  ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Pierce  continued 
a  little  more  than  twelve  years.  He  died  Jan.  26,  1775. 
After  the  death  of  Mr.  Pierce,  the  Church  and  people 
renounced  Presbyter ianism,  and  became  Congregational 
agahi,  and  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  Rev.  Thomas 
Lancaster  was  ordained  over  them,  and  is  their  present 
Minister. 


SC  All  BOROUGH.  49 

The  second  Parish  in  Scarborough  originated  about 
the  year  ITS^.  The  settlement  atDunstanhad  increas- 
ed considerably,  and  the  people  became  anxious  to  have 
preaching  constantly.  To  save  expense  the  Selectmen 
of  the  town  were  empowered  to  hire  a  School  Master 
for  that  part  of  the  town,  who  should  be  a  Preacher  also. 
But  it  does  not  appear  tliat  a  supply  was  even  obtained 
in  this  way. 

Rev.  Richard  Elvins  was  the  first  Minister  of  this 
second  Parish.  He  came  to  Scarborough  early  in  the 
year  174-4',  received  a  call  in  August,  and  was  ordained 
In  November  following.*  About  a  month  previous  to 
the  ordination  fifteen  hiethren  of  the  first  Church  in- 
cluding one  Deacon,  were  dssmissed  at  their  request  in 
order  to  be  embodyed  into  a  new  Church  at  the  expected 
settlement  of  Mr.  Elvins,  and  in  April  following  fifteen 
females  were  also  dismissed,  «nd  received  to  the  seco,r.tl 
Church.  ThiLS  a  separation  was  amicably  obtained,  and 
until  the  death  of  Mr.  Thompson  both  him  and  Mi. 
Elvins  were  supported  by  the  town  at  large  without  anj 
legal  division  of  Parishes.-|' 

Mr.  Elvins  had  been  by  trade  a  Baker  in  the  town  of 
Salem  in  Massachusetts.  He  professed  to  be  converted 
tlirough  the  instrumentality  of  Mr.  Whitefield  during- 
his  first  visit  to  America,     He  had  not  the  advantage 


*0u  this  occasloii  N^r.  Wbe  of  Derwick.  preichcd  from  i  Tira.  4,  ti^,  awtl 
gave  tlie  charge.  Rev.  Jecicliali  Jewett  of  Rowley  gave  ihe  ri^ht  ]•.^',^d,  Mr. 
Rodger*  of  Kitteiy  m;nle  the  first  prayet,   and   Mr.    Chandler   of  York  the 

lAat. 

t  The  record  oi  t!ic  First  I'aTish  commences  M.irch  «(5;  1755,  ti.c  mofrh' 
siurcscding  the  iJearh  of  Mr,  Tlionipflon. 

E 


50  CONGUlXiATlONALISTS. 

of  a  public  education,  but  being  a  man  of  good  under_ 
standing,  some  reading,  and  possessing  ardent  piety  he 
was  induced  to  enter  the  Ministry,  and  in  the  end,  pro- 
ved a  useful  Minister  of  the  sacred  word.  He  usually 
preached  without  notes,  but  was  capable  of  writing,  and 
did  occasionally  make  use  of  written  sermons.  A  ser- 
mon of  his  on  Rom.  xvi.  26, — "The  obedience  of  faith," 
preached  July  2(5,  1747,  was  printed,  with  a  preface  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Jewett  of  Rowley.  This  is  perhaps  the  only 
publication  of  Mr.  Elvlns'  which  can  be  found  at  this 
day.  This  however  is  enough  to  convince  posterity  of 
the  soundness  of  his  mind,  and  the  correctness  of  his 
religious  sentiments. 

Mr.  Elvins  continued  to  labour  in  the  ministry  about 
thirty  one  years.  Toward  the  close  of  his  life  he  became 
feeble,  and  In  Dec.  1770  the  Church  voted  to  invite  a 
Mr.  Marsh  to  settle  as  a  Colleague,  but  he  declining  their 
invitation,  no  other  person  was  invited,  and  after  a  long 
protracted  Illness  Mr.  Elvins  departed  this  life  August 
12,  1776.  The  Church  was  vacant  but  a  few  months, 
for  in  December  of  the  same  year  Rev.  Benjamin  Chad- 
wick  was  ordained  its  Pastor.  Mr.  Chadwick  continued 
to  preach  for  about  eighteen  years.  He  then  lost  his 
health,  his  mind  became  impaired,  and  It  was  thought 
expedient  he  should  be  dismissed.  This  took  place  in 
ivlay  1795.  After  some  years  he  regained  his  health  in 
some  degree,  and  preached  a  little,  but  was  never  em- 
ployed regularly  again,  and  died  in  Nov.  1819. 

After  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Chadwick  the  people  were 
destitute  of  stated  ordinances  for  five  years.  In  Dec. 
1800  Rev.  Nathau  Tilton,  their  present  Minister,  was 
ordained. 


BIDDEFORD.  ^i 

CHxiPTER  VI. 

1730. 

THE  next  religious  establishments  in  point  of  time 
were  those  which  were  made  in  the  region  of  Saco  River, 
The  settlements  in  all  the  ancient  towns  in  ths  westerly- 
part  of  Maine  were  first  made  on  the  sea  shore,  and  mi- 
til  the  year  1750  all  the  travelling  from  Portsmouth 
eastward  was  either  on  tlie  beach  or  near  it.*  A  small 
settlement  was  made  at  Cape  Porpus  as  early  as  1632,f 
and  another  at  Winter  Harbour  about  the  same  time. 
These  two  settlements  were  but  a  few  miles  distant  from 
each  other,  and  were  in  several  respects  so  much  con- 
nected, as  to  render  It  proper  to  consider  them  In  one 
Chapter.  In  a  few  years  from  the  time  of  the  first  set- 
tlements  inhabitants  had  planted  themselves  on  the  sea 
shore  for  several  miles.  The  advantages  for  fishing  in 
Saco  River,  and  in  the  adjacent  waters,  drew  hither  a 
considerable  number  of  persons  before  any  regular  grant 
of  the  soil  had  been  obtained.  After  the  grants  were 
made  a  number  of  very  respectable  men  settled  at  Saco, 
and  that  town  assumed  a  regular  form.:{:  It  was  called 
Saco  on  both  sides  of  the  river  until  the  year  1718. 
Among  the  first  Inhabitants  were  Richard  Benython, 
Richard  Vines,  Thomas  Lewis,  William  Phillips,  and 
John  Oldham,  names  well  known  in  the  annals  of  those 
days.  The  first  record  of  the  ancient  town  of  Saco,  In- 
cluding both  Saco  and  Biddeford,  commences  with  the 
year  16G3,  ten  years  after  the  people  had  submitted  to 


-fWinthrop's  Journal  page  4».        ^Sullivan 


7f^  CtJNGRECiATlONWLISTS. 

the  government  of  Massachusetts.  Francis  Hooke  was 
then  Town  Clerk.  At  the  time  Massachusetts  assumed 
the  jurisdiction  of  Maine  the  towns  were  all  thinly  set- 
tled. Sixteen  men  only  appeared  as  the  inhabitants  of 
Saco,  and  took  the  oaih  of  allegiance.  At  this  time 
there  was  no  Minibtcr  of  Saco,  and  probably  no  Church 
there.  The  record  of  the  Commissioners  Court  held  at 
WelLi  July  5th,  1653,  at  which  time  the  government  oi 
Saco,  and  other  towns  was  settled,  contains  the  follow- 
ing paragraph  :  "  tlie  commissioners  being  mformed 
that  Saco  is  destitute  of  a  good  Mmister,  where  it  Is 
much  desired  tliat  all  due  care  be  taken  to  attain  the 
same,  and  in  the  mean  time  that  their  peace  may  be 
preserved,  they  do  declare  and  order  that  Robeit  Booth 
shall  have  liberty  to  exercise  his  gifts  for  the  edification 
of  the  people  there."*  Mr.  Booth  w.ls  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal inhabitants.  He  was  for  many  years  a  Magis- 
trate, one  of  the  Selectmen,  and  Town  Clerk,  and  pro- 
bably being  in  high  repute  for  his  piety,  was  appointed 
to  take  the  lead  of  a  meeting  for  wotbhlp  until  a  regular 
Minister  should  be  obtained.  This  step  seemed  the 
more  necessary  at  that  time  on  account  of  a  religious 
pretender  who  had  been  troublesome  in  those  days.  At 
the  same  meeting  of  the  Commissioners,  several  persons 
complained  "that  George  Barlow  Is  a  disturbance  to  the 
place.  The  Commissioners  at  their  request,  thought  it 
meet  to  forbid  the  said  Barlow  any  more  publickly  to 
preach  or  prophecy  there,  under  the  penalty  of  ten 
pound  i  for  every  offence." 


t'!;;)«n:rT^ioncr!«  record  rc'dtc-d  bv'^u''rjvan  p 


2?e  •/■'^^ 


BIDDEFOKD.  53 

The  first  Minister  of  Saco,  of  whom  there  is  any  ac- 
count, was  Rev.  Seth  Fletcher.  He  was  employed  by 
the  town  in  1666,  and  most  probably  continued  there, 
hired  from  year  to  year,  until  1675,  when  the  town  w^as 
nearly  destroyed  by  the  Savages.  Still  there  is  no  evi- 
dence that  any  Church  had  been  gathered.  A  house 
for  worship  was  erected  in  1674,  which  being  furnished 
xvith  seats  or  benches  only,  and  not  separate  pews,  the 
people  were  seated  in  order  by  the  Selectmen,  according 
to  their  rank,  in  December  of  that  year.*  For  about 
forty  years  after  this  time,  no  records  of  the  tovvn  can 
be  found.  Such  were  the  troubles  of  the  country  at 
this  period,  that  it  is  doubtful  whether  any  records  were 
kept,  and  it  is  quite  probable  also  that  the  town  was 
nearly  abandoned  by  the  white  people.  In  1717,  the 
inhabitants  had  returned,  and  regular  order  was  again 
observed.  A  cei  tain  Mi .  Short  was  employed  to  preach 
at  Saco  that  year. 

The  following  year  the  name  of  the  town  was  chan- 
ged to  Bidd^ford.  Both  sides  of  the  river  was  called 
by  this  name.  It  seems  the  State  had  assisted  this  in- 
f.int  colony  in  the  support  of  a  Minister,  for  in  1722, 
the  town  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  a  donation  of 
40/.    a   year — "  to  pay  a  Minister,  as  thej  had  cione"-\- 

About  this  time  Rev.  John  Eveleth  was  pieaching  at 
Cape  Porpus,  and  at  the  annual  meeting  in  March  1723. 
Humphrey  Scamman  and  Ebenezer  Hill  v/ere  appoin- 
ted a  committee  to  "discourse  with  Rev.  Mr.  Eveleth 
concerning  preaching  with  them  for  a  year."     The  re- 


*Bid'icford  Records.  tibid. 


M'  CONliUEGATlOXALISTS. 

suit  of  this  conference  was,  that  Mr.  Eveleth  preached 
at  Biddeford  a  part  of  the  time  for  two  or  three  years. 
But  the  people  were  anxious  to  obtain  a  candidate  for 
:^ettlement,  and  in  March  1728  they  voted  to  invite  Mr. 
Maston  Cabbot  to  settle  with  them,  and  offered  him  as 
a  salary  80/.  a  year,  exclusive  of  his  board  while  he  re- 
mained single.  This  offer  he  declined.  In  June  of  the 
sext  year,  Mr.  John  Moody  received  a  similar  offer,  but 
with  great  modesty  he  dechned  this  Invitation  on  ac- 
count of  his  youth,  and  as  he  supposed,  his  need  of 
more  study.  Soon  after  the  departure  of  Mr.  Moody, 
Mr.  Samuel  Williard  was  employed  to  preach  at  Bid- 
deford on  probation,  and  measures  were  soon  taken  for 
his  permanent  establishment  there.  On  Sept.  30th, 
1T30,  a  council  was  convened,  u  Church  organized  on 
Congicgational  principles,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Williard  or- 
dained. The  sermon  on  that  occasion  was  by  Rev. 
Thomas  Paine  of  Weymouth,  Mass.  from  Acts  xxvi. 
17,  18. 

The  ministry  of  Mr.  Williard  was  of  short  duration^> 
but  important  in  its  consequences.  A  few  years  after 
liis  ordination  a  considerable  attention  to  religion  took 
place  among  the  people  of  his  j^eciiliar  charge,  which 
had  no  small  effect  on  his  own  mind.  His  biographer, 
Rev.  Tliomas  Prentice  formerly  cf  Arundel,  thus  relates 
ihe  change  in  his  views  at  tJiat  time.  *'  There  evidently 
ippeared  a  great  change  in  his  conversation,  as  also  iu 
liis  sentiments  with  regard  to  some  points  in  religion, 
and  in  his  preaching.  He  was  then,  as  he  often  told  me 
In  conversation,  brought  to  an  inward  sense  of  the  im- 


BIDDEFORD.  53 

poceiit  und  miserable  condition  mankind  are  naturally 
in  by  their  apostacy  in  our  first  parents  ;  of  the  sover- 
eignty and  glorious  efficacy  of  divine  grace  in  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ ;  and  so  he  became  fixed  in  the  blessed  Doc- 
trines of  Grace,  of  which  he  was  ever  after  a  zealous 
Preacher    and    promoter.      And  O  !  what    admiring 
thoughts  did  he  discover,  of  the  wonderful  method  of 
our  redemption  by  Jesus  Christ.     And  especially  with 
what  meltings  of  affection,  with  what  humility  and  gra- 
titude have  1  heard  him  speak  of  the  riches  of  God^s 
grace  to  him,  in  particular,  and  of  the  great  alteration 
he  found  in  himself.     He  would  discourse  with  much 
openness  on  those  points,  and  seemed  always  to  have  a 
most  profound  sense  of  the  astor^ishing  mercy  of  God 
therein  displayed.     He  would  frequently  when    talking 
of  these  things,  break  out  in  tlie  language  of  the  man, 
in  the  Gospel  that  was  born  blind,  whom  our  Lord  cu- 
red, "one  thing  I  know,  that  whereas  I  was  blind,  now  1 
see.'*     And  after  this,  he  evidently  grew  much  in  di- 
vine  knowledge  and  grace,  became  more  and   more 
serious,  and  circumspect,  devout  and  heavenly,  zealous 
and  active,  both  as  a  Christian,  and  a  Minister.     But 
this  excellent  servant  of  Christ  lived  for  several  years 
much  unobserved.     His  excessive  modesty,  with  some 
difficulty  in  his  worldly   circumstances,  concealed  him 
much  from  public  view.     'Till  towards  the  close  of  his 
4ife,  when  it  pleased  God  to  favour  him  with  such  plen- 
tiful communications  of  divine  Grace,  and  to  inspire 
him  with  such  a  mighty  love  to  Christ,  and  to  the  souls 
of  men,  as  enabled  him  to  overcome  his  difficulties, 


56  CONG  REG  ATIOXALISIS. 

made  him  so  frequent  and  fervent  in  his  labours,  w 
lively  and  flaming  in  his  ministry,  that  he  was  with  ad- 
miration observed,  and  followed,  as  a  bright  Star  in  the 
east,  appearing  on  purpose  to  guide  men  to  Christ.  He 
broke  out  suddenly,  as  an  heavenly  Luminary  from  an 
interposing  cloud,  and  shined  forth  with  great  lustre  and 
influence,  when  he  was  going  from  us.  But  this  excel- 
lent man  soon  finished  his  course,  and  withdrew  from 
our  world." — Such  is  the  account  given  us  by  Mr. 
Prentice,  of  this  truly  devoted  servant  of  the  Lord. 
But  his  days  were  soon  numbered.  Mr.  Willlard  lived 
about  eleven  years  after  his  ordination.  In  the  year 
1741,  that  shower  of  mercy  which  afterward  so  copious- 
ly refreshed  the  Churches  in  New-England,  was  begin- 
ning to  descend  on  this  part  of  the  land.  Mr  Wil- 
llard, as  might  well  be  supposed,  became  warmly  enga- 
ged, and  greatly  interested,  and  seized  every  opportu- 
nity to  visit  those  places  where  the  divine  influences 
were  most  manifest.  In  October  of  that  year  he  visited 
Rev.  Mr.  Rogers'  parish  in  Kittery,  (now  Eliot)  and 
v.hile  engaged  in  preaching  a  Lecture  he  was  suddenly 
attacked  with  a  disorder  in  the  throat.  With  some  dif« 
ficulty  he  finished  the  public  exercise,  and  retired  to  the 
house  of  Mr.  Rogers,  where  he  died  in  great  peace  of 
mind  in  less  than  two  days.  He  was  buried  at  Kittery. 
Mr.  Rogers  preached  on  the  occasion  from  Luke  xii. 
4-3^  4-4.  This  sorrowful  providence  was  greatly  bles- 
sed to  the  people  at  Biddeford,  as  it  proved  the  occa- 
sion of  an  uncommon  attention  to  religion  among  them 


SACO.  57 

immediately  after.*  Early  in  the  following  year  Mr. 
Moses  Morrill  was  engaged  to  supply  the  pulpit  at  Bid- 
deford.  Mr.  Morrill  was  a  native  of  Salisbury  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  had  received  the  honors  of  Harvard 
College  at  a  very  early  age,  as  he  had  scarcely  num- 
bered twenty  years  when  he  came  to  Biddeford.  He. 
sooa  received  a  call  to  settle,  and  v.'»s  oidained  in  Sep- 
tember 174«2.  The  Ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Moriill 
continued  happily,  usefully,  and  peacefully  for  a  little 
more  than  thirty  five  years.  In  the  autumn  of  1777 
he  began  to  decline,  and  after  a  confinement  of  about 
nine  \\*eeks  he  died  in  February  1778,  at  the  age  of  56 
years. 

The  present  Pastor  of  that  Church,  Rev.  Nathaniel 
Webster,  was  employed  as  a  candidate  at  Biddeford  to- 
ward the  close  of  the  same  season,  and  was  ordained 
April  14,  1779. 

During  the  life  of  Mr.  Williard  all  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town  comprehending  what  U  now  the  town  of  Saco 
as  well  as  Biddeford*  attended  Hpon  his  ministrations:. 
Toward  tht  close  of  his  life  a  considerable  settlement 
was  made  at  what  is  now  Saco  village,  and  about  ten 
years  after  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Morrill  the  old  Meet- 
ing House  at  Saco  was  built.  In  1762,  the  town  of 
Biddeford  v/as  divided,  and  the  eastern  part  called  Pep^ 
pereliborough,  which  name  it  retained  until  June  1803, 


♦  Rev.  Mr.  Wiiliard  left  a  Widow,  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  all  in 
decent  cinunistances.  KisV/iHow  was  afterward  married  lo  Rev.  Mr.  Et- 
viiis  of  Pcarhorough,  his  daughter  to  Rev.  Mr^  Chadwick  of  Scarbc-rougb, 
and  one  of  his  sons  (Joseph)  was  afterwards  President  of  Harvard  Co'legtr.: 
a  fulu':r'ent  peihaps  of  thf  promhc  Jin  ?sa'?r>r  37,  ?s. 


5S  CONGUEGATIONALISTS. 

when  it  was  changed  to  Saco.  In  Oct.  1762  a  day  of 
Fasting  was  held  by  the  people,  and  a  Church  of  eleven 
members  duly  organized.  The  new  Church  imme- 
diately presented  a  call  to  Mr.  John  Fairfield  to  become 
their  Minister,  and  he  was  ordained  on  the  27th  of  the 
same  month.  Mr.  Morril  of  Biddeford  preached  on 
that  occasion.  Mr.  Fairfield  continued  in  the  ministry 
at  Saco  a  little  more  than  thirty  four  years.  Religion 
had  been  in  a  low  state  during  the  whole  of  his  ministry. 
But  nine  persons  had  been  received  to  full  communion 
during  the  whole  term  of  his  continuance.  Considering 
ifeese  circumstances  Mr.  Fairfield  was  induced  to  ask  a 
dismission,  and  In  April  1798  the  town  voted  to  dismiss 
him  at  his  request,  and  took  measures  lo  procure  art 
0ther  Candidate.  Mr.  Fairfield  still  retained  his  pastoral 
relation  to  the  Church. 

In  July  of  the  year  in  which  Mr.  Fairfield  was  dis- 
missed, Mr.  Caleb  Bradley,  since  the  Minister  of  West- 
brock  was  invited  to  settle  at  Saco,  but  declined.  Mr* 
Elihu  Whitcomb  was  the  next  Candidate  for  settlement 
at  this  place.  After  preaching  on  probation  until  April 
1799,  the  town  proposed  to  settle  him,  and  in  town 
meeting  recomm.endcd  to  the  Church  to  take  measures 
10  have  the  pastoral  relation  between  them  and  Mr. 
Fairfield  regularly  dissolved.  Only  three  male  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  could  then  be  found.  They  present- 
ed a  Call  to  Mr.  Whitcomb  to  settle  with  them,  and  it 
was  agreed  between  them  and  Mr.  Fairfield  that  the  dis- 
solution of  the  pastoral  connexion  should  be  referred  to 
the  Council  about  to  be  called.  This  was  accordingly 
done  in  July  of  that  year,  at  which  time  Mr.  Whitcomb 


ARUNDEL.  59 

was  ordained.  He  continued  in  the  ministry  at  Saco 
until  the  summer  of  1810,  and  was  then  dismissed. 

In  October  of  that  year  Rev.  Jonathan  Cogswell,  the 
present  pastor  of  the  Church  was  ordained,  at  which 
time  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Whitcomb  was  confirmed. 
At  the  time  Mr.  Cogswell  was  ordained  the  Church  con- 
tained tweny-eight  members.  Since  that  period  divine 
influences  have  been  afforded,  many  have  been  gather- 
ed into  the  fold  of  Chiist,  and  the  communicants  now 
exceed  one  hundred. 

A  second  Parish  was  incorporated  in  Biddeford  in  the 
year  1797,  and  a  new  meeting-house  built  previous  to 
the  year  1800.  In  1805,  a  Council  was  assembled  there 
who  proceeded  to  organize  a  Cuurch  and  install  Rev. 
John  Turner  as  its  Pastor.  About  the  year  1817,  the 
civil  contract  between  Mr.  Turner  and  the  people  ceased, 
and  he  supplied  other  places,  and  laboured  as  a  Mision- 
ary.  In  december  1818  he  was  installed  at  Kingston 
in  New-Hampshire,  at  which  time  and  place,  by  consent 
of  the  Church  at  Biddeford,  his  pastoral  relation  to 
them  was  dissolved.  No  person  has  yet  been  settled  ia 
his  place. 

Having  taken  this  view  of  the  religious  establish- 
ments in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Saco  river,  it  will  be 
proper  for  us  next  to  consider  tliat  at  Cape  Porpus.  As 
we  have  already  stated  a  few  scatered  dwellings  were 
erected  here  as  early  as  at  any  place  in  the  Immediate 
vicinity.  There  is  good  reason  to  conclude  that  some 
religous  order  was  observed  here  at  a  very  early  period, 
and  perhaps  a  Church  of  some  kind  gathered.  *     Bu^ 


*  Sec  page  i». 


60  CONGRKGATIONALISTS. 

MO  record  of  any  such  transaction  can  be  found.  A 
very  few  fragments  of  town  record  between  the  years 
1678  and  1689  have  escaped  the  general  wreck,  but 
nothing  which  sheds  the  least  light  on  Ecclesiastical  af- 
fairs until  the  reestablishment  of  the  town  after  the  In- 
dian war,  In  1719.  The  town  was  then  called  Arun- 
del. *  In  September  of  that  year,  an  agreement  was 
made  with  Rev.  John  Eveleth  j  to  preach  at  Arundel 
for  one  fourth  of  the  year.  The  year  following  he  was 
engaged  for  the  whole  year,  and  the  town  encouraged 
his  tarrying  with  them,  by  assisting  him  to  build  an 
house.  For  about  nine  years,  Mr.  Eveleth  was  consideFr 
cd  the  Minister  of  Arundel,  although  he  does  not  appear 
to  have  had  any  regular  induction  there.  The  salary 
he  received  from  the  people  was  small,  for  at  the  annual 
town  meeting  in  March  1726,  it  was  voted  to  raise  20/. 
to  pay  Rev.  Mr.  Eveleth's  salary,  and  other  necessary 
chaiges  in  the  town,  t  In  August  1729,  the  town  by 
their  vote  dismissed  Mr.  Eveleth  from  his  relation  to 
them  as  a  Minister,  and  he  ceased  preaching.  In  the 
beginning  of  the  next  year  Mr.  Thomas  Prentice  was 
ciigaged  as  a  preacher,  received  a  regular  call  in  June, 
and  was  ordained  in  November  following.  At  this 
time  a  Church  was  duly  organized.  Mr.  Prentice  re- 
mained pastor  of  the  Church  eight  years.  At  his  earn- 
est request  he  was  then  dismissed,  and  afterwards  settled 
in  Charlcstown  in  Massachusetts. 

♦  !:.  the  ancient  town  record  it  is  called  AiondcU  for  several  ytars. 
t  Mr»  Eveleth  had  been  ordained    at    Stow  in  Mats,  in  Mr.  iroo  and  di»- 
missed  In  1717.     Hi»t.  Coil.  VoJ.  lO,  [Mge  Sj- 
4  A:  uji'Jc;  records. 


AUUNDEL.  bJ. 

In  May  1739  the  Church  and  town  concurred  in  In- 
viting Mr.  Joshua  Tufts  to  settle  with  them,  which  he 
dechned.  During  the  same  summer  the  town  sent  to 
Manchester  for  a  Mr.  Parsons  who  was  then  engaged  in 
a  School  there.  This  application  failed.  The  follow- 
ing winter  Mr.  John  Hovey  was  engaged  to  preach,  and 
in  September  174'l,he  was  ordained.  In  June  1768,  Mr. 
Hovey  was  dismissed  agreeably  to  the  advice  of  a  Coun- 
cil, and  the  Church  again  left  destitute.  The  following 
spring  an  invitation  was  given  to  Mr.  Abner  Johnson  to 
settle  at  Arundel  which  he  declined.  Until  this  time 
public  worship  had  always  been  attended  at  Cape  Por- 
pus,  where  the  ancient  settlement  was  made.  In  the 
year  1768,  about  the  time  Mr.  Hovey  was  dismissed, 
the  old  meeting-house  at  the  Cape  was  burnt,  and  the 
inhabitants  being  now  scattered  throughout  the  town, 
the  meeting-house  now  standing  was  erected  in  a  more 
central  situation.  Rev.  Silas  Moody  was  the  next 
Minister  of  this  people.  He  was  ordained  Jan.  9th,  1771, 
Mr.  Moody  continued  to  perform  all  the  duties  of  his 
office  for  more  than  forty  years.  His  health  always 
feeble  became  at  length  so  much  impaired  that  the  peo- 
ple took  measures  to  obtain  some  assistance  for  him, 
and  in  the  autumn  of  1815,  Mr.  Nathan  Lord,  since  set- 
tled at  Amherst  in  New-Hampshire,  was  invited  to  set- 
tle as  a  Colleague  with  Mr.  Moody.  Mr.  Lord  decli- 
ning the  people  sought  another  Candidate.  In  April 
1816,  Mr.  Moody  died,  and  in  July  following  Rev. 
George  Pay  son  was  ordained  in  his  place.  Mr.  Pay  son 
was  of  feeble  health,  and  after  repeated  intermissions  of 

F 


6S  CONCREGATIONALISTS. 

labour,  he  found  it  expedient  to  ask  a  dismission,  whicji 
was  effected  in  July  1820.  But  the  people  were  not 
long  destitute  of  stated  preaching.  In  October  of  the 
same  year,  Rev.  Joseph  Palmer  Fessenden  was  ordain- 
ed there,  and  is  the  present  Minister.  * 


*  On  petition  of  the  inhibitants  of  ArunJfl  to  the  Legislature  of  Maine  at 
tiicir  session  In  the  spring  of  iSai  the  name  of  tkis  toiw  was  changed  to 
'i:2t  cf  ♦♦  KennebwikiMDrt,** 


lIORtH-YARMOUTH.  6S 

CHAPTER  VII. 
1730. 

THE  ancient  limits  of  North  Yarmouth  compre= 
hended  what  is  now  Harpswell,  Freeport,  Pownal  and 
Cumberland,  beside  the  present  town  which  is  called  by 
its  original  name.  An  instrument  of  President  Dan- 
forth's,  dated  Sept.  22nd,  1680,  is  preserved  in  the  pro- 
prietors records,  by  which  he  ordered  that  the  planta- 
tion should  take  the  name  of  North-Yarmouth.  Provi- 
sion was  early  made  here  for  the  regular  settlement  and 
support  of  the  Gospel  Ministry.  At  the  first  survey  of 
the  town,  it  was  ordered  that  forty  rods  square  of  plain 
land  be  laid  out  for  the  accommodation  of  the  meeting 
house,  ministers  house,  burying  ground,  &c.  and  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  procure  a  Minister  for  settle- 
ment among  them.  The  following  are  the  words  of 
the  record  in  relation  to  this  subject — "that  Mr.  Walter 
Gendall,  Mr.  George  Pearson,  and  Mr.  John  Royal,  do 
take  care  in  behalf  of  the  town  to  procure  and  settle 
among  them  a  pious,  orthodox  Minister,  and  with  con- 
sent of  the  people  to  appoint  and  provide  for  his  mainte- 
nance ;  and  in  order  thereunto,  that  they  in  the  first 
settling  of  the  town  lay  out  a  good  farm,  containing 
300  acres,  to  be  forever  for  the  use  of  the  ministry."* 

The  settlement  advanced  but  slowly,  and  no  minister 
was  settled  at  that  time.  The  Indians  soon  became 
troublesome,  and  in  a  few  years  the  settlement  at  North- 
Yarmouth  was  broken  up  like  many  others  in  the  coun- 

•♦Sullivan  page  184. 


Gi  COXGUKGATIOXAMS^TS. 

try,  and  the  inhabitants  retreated  to  the  neighbourhood 
of  Boston. 

In  1722,  the  former  inhabitants  or  their  heirs  return- 
ed from  their  dispersions  and  commenced  the  settlement 
anew.  The  settlement  and  support  of  a  Minister  was 
still  a  prominent  object.  A  portion  of  land  in  the  town 
was  reseived  for  the  first  Minister  who  should  be  settled, 
and  continue  in  the  Ministry  among  them  five  years  ; 
and  another  quantity  was  reserved  for  the  use  of  the 
Ministry  forever.  In  a  few  years  a  Meeting  House  was 
built,  and  measures  taken  for  the  settlement  of  a  Min- 
ister. 

Rev.  Ammi  Ruhamah  Cutter  was  the  first  candidate 
employed.  In  November  1730,  a  Council  was  convo- 
ked at  North-Yarmouth  consisting  of  Rev.  Mr.  JefFerds 
fi om  Wells,  Rev.  Mr,  Smith  from  Falmouth,  Rev.  Mr. 
Thompson  fiom  Scarborough,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Williard 
from  Biddeford,  with  their  Delegates  ;  a  Church  of 
nine  male  members  was  organized,  and  Mr.  Cutter  was 
ordained.  He  continued  Pastor  of  the  Chuich  for  the 
space  of  five  years.  Some  dissatisfaction  then  arising, 
Mr.  Cutter  was  dismissed  in  an  orderly  manner,  with 
the  advice  of  a  Council.* 

The  next  Minister  of  North-Yarmouth  was  Rev.  Nich- 
olas Loring.  He  was  ordained  in  about  a  year  after 
the  dismission  of  Mr.  Cutter,  and  continued  in  the  pas- 
toral office,  happily  with  the  people  and  usefully  among 


♦  It  is  not  certainly  known  at  this  djy  whether  Mr.  Cutter  ever  entered 
the  ministry  again.  Gov.  Sullivan  states  (i)age  z(5s)  that  he  was  afterward, 
commaiiCer  of  a  Fort  on   Saco  river,  and  kept  a  trading  bou«  for  the  ISr 


NORTH-YARMOUTH.  65 

them,  until  his  death,  which  took  place  in  August  1763. 
Rev.  Edward  Brooks  was  their  next  Pastor,  being  or- 
dained July  4th,  ITG-i-.     In  less  than  two  years  after  the 
settlement  of  Mr.  Brooks  a  series  of  difficulties  com- 
menced, which  in  about  three  years  terminated  in  a  dis- 
solution  of  the    pastoral    relation.     This  event  finally 
took  place  in  March  1769.     After  the  dismission  of  Mr. 
Brooks,  Mr.  Tristram  Gilman  was  employed  as  a  can- 
didate, and  in  August  of  the  same  year  received  a  call 
to  settle.     But   the  late    difficulties  had  alienated  the 
minds  of  many  of  the  Church  and  Society,  and  caused 
a  division  that  rendered  it  somewhat  doubtful  to  Mr. 
Gilman  how  he  ought  to  answer  the   call.     At  length 
it  was  agreed  by  all  concerned  to  invite  a  Council,  and 
submit  all  the  difficulties  existing  among  them  to  their 
decision,  and  after  examination,  should  they  advise  to 
It,  Mr.  Gilman  should  be  ordained.     A  Council  was 
assembled  accordingly,  and  after  continuing  in  session 
two  days  proceeded  to  ordination.     This  took  place  on 
the  8th  of  December  1769.    Mr.  Gilman'ii  ministry  con- 
tinued nearly  forty  years.     In  the  autumn  of  1808,  he 
began   to   decline,  and  after  languishing  through  the 
winter  he  died  April  1,  1809. 

At  the  funeral  of  Mr,  Gilman,  Mr.  Francis  Brown 
being  named  to  some  individuals  as  a  suitable  succes- 
sor, he  was  soon  invited  to  preaich  on  probation,  and 
was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Church  in  January  1810. 
Rev.  Mr.  Brown  continued  in  the  Ministry  at  North- 
Yarmouth  but  little  more  than  five  years.  In  the  year 
1815,  he  was  elected  to  the  Presidency  of  Dartmouth 


C0NGREGATI0NAL1&T5> 

He^e,  and  by  the  advice  of  a  Council  removed  frors. 
/.:"  penpk  of  his  charge. 

Another  Pastor  was  soon  Found  for  the  Church  at 
N'orth- Yarmouth.  This  was  Rev.  Joseph  Wait  Curtis, 
who  was  ordained  in  June  1816.  The  ministry  of  Mr^ 
Curtis  was  of  short  duration.  He  was  subject  to  a  ner- 
vous affection  which  depressed  his  spirits,  and  in  his  own 
view  rendered  it  expedient  he  should  be  dismissed.  He 
accordingly  requested  of  the  people  a  dismission,  which^ 
afrer  taking  the  advice  of  a  Council,  was  granted  in 
Jan-  2,  1817* 

After  a  vacancy  of  about  tea  months  Rev.  Samuel 
Woodbury  was  ordained,  Nov.  5th,  1817.  Mr.  Wood- 
bury's health  soon  began  to  fail,  and  in  July  1819,  he 
died  at  Groton  in  Massachusetts,  where  he  had  stopped 
for  awhile  when  on  a  journey  to  regain  his  health.  The 
present  Pastor  of  the  Church,  Rev.  Asa  Cummings,  was 
ordained  in  February,  1821. 

The  state  of  religion  in  the  first  Church  at  North- 
Yarmouth  has  been  generally  flourishing.  Forty  seven 
persons  were  received  to  the  Church  during  the  five 
years  of  Mr.  Cutter's  ministry.  At  the  time  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Loring's  ordination  the  Church  solemnly  renewed 
their  Covenant,  which  gives  evidence  that  some  quick- 
ening influences  of  the  Spirit  were  felt  there  at  that 
time.  In  the  year  174'2,  there  appears  to  have  been  a 
special  attention  to  religion.  Thirty  one  persons  were 
admitted  to  the  Church  during  that  year.   But  the  year 


*  Mr.  C«rtis  has  since  been  wsefvil  as  a  Missionary,  and  has  finally  bcxn  ic- 
ifJTKd  in  the  Stale  of  ORio, 


NOUTH-YAUMOrUTH.  ^ 

1T91  is  the  most  remarkable  in  the  religious  annals  of 
North-Yarmouth.  Mr.  Oilman  had  been  preaching 
there  for  twenty  two  years,  and  casting  abroad  the  good 
seed  of  the  word,  free  from  those  mixtures  which  are 
sometimes  artfully  tried  to  make  the  doctrines  of  the. 
Gospel  palateable  to  the  depraved  tastes  of  men.  But 
no  particular  effect  had  been  perceived.  Through  the 
whole  of  this  term  however,  the  Holy  Spirit  seemed  ho- 
vering over  the  people,  for  some  one  or  more  persons 
were  always  under  serious  impressions.  But  in  the  year 
1791,  the  Spirit  descended  in  copious  measures,  "Du- 
ring that  year,  there  was  a  truly  wonderful  revival  of 
religion  in  North-Yarmouth,  a  revival  which,  with  re- 
spect to  all  its  circumstances  had  not  then,  and  proba- 
bly has  not  since  been  equalled  in  the  State  of  Maine, 
The  whole  town  felt  that  God  indeed,  was  present  ;  op- 
position dared  not  shew  itself ;  and  all  seemed  to  make 
the  anxious  inquiry,  what  shall  we  do  to  be  saved.  The 
house  of  God  was  filled  even  to  overflowing  on  the  Sab- 
bath, and  lectures  during  the  week  and  in  different  parts 
of  the  town,  were  much  crowded.  Multitudes  were 
added  to  the  Lord  daily."*  "In  May  of  this  year  there 
were  living  in  town,  and  in  regular  standing  in  the 
Church  94  members.  From  this  time  to  December  fol- 
lowing there  were  added  94  members.  From  Decem- 
ber 1791  to  September  1793  there  were  added  51  mem- 
bers more."f 

The  year  before  Mr.  Gilman*s  death  was  also  a  sea* 


♦Manuscript  history  of  the  fiist  Church  at  North-Yarmouth  on  tke  *l«s  of 
Cumberland  Association. 
-(Mr.  Gilmans  sermon  «n  the  death  of  Judge  Mitchell  page  19.    Not?, 


68  CONGREGATIONALIS'IS. 

son  of  some  awakening,  and  thirteen  were  added  to  the 
Church.  The  whole  number  admitted  to  the  Chuich 
by  Mr.  Oilman  was  300.  His  ministry,  taking  every 
circumstance  Into  view,  may  be  considered  as  the  most 
successful  of  any  Minister  ever  settled  in  the  State. 

The  beginning  of  Rev.  Mr.  Brown's  ministry  was 
also  distinguished  by  some  special  attention  to  religion, 
and  forty  eight  persons  were  received  into  the  Church 
in  about  two  years  after  this  settlement.  The  whole 
number  received  into  this  Church  from  its  formation 
to  the  year  1812,  is  605. 

HARPSWEI^L. 

The  town  of  Harpswell,  as  we  have  already  observed, 
was  a  part  of  North- Yarmouth.  Sullivan  thus  speaks 
of  it — "near  to  Stevens'  purcliase,  and  on  the  sea,  is  a 
neck  of  fine  land,  called  Merryconeag,  now  in  the  town 
of  Harpswell,  which  was  purchased  in  the  year  1674  by 
one  William  Lyman,  but  after  the  purchase  from  Gor- 
ges' grandson  by  the  colony  of  Massachusetts,  and  in 
the  year  1682  the  lands  were  granted  by  the  govern- 
ment to  the  College."*  Merryconeag  is  the  Indian 
name  of  the  neck  of  land  which  connects  the  town  with 
Brunswick,  and  by  some  is  still  applied  to  the  place.  As 
early  as  the  year  1750,  it  was  set  off  from  North- Yar- 
mouth  as  a  District,  or  Parish,  and  six  years  after,  it 
was  incorporated  as  a  distinct  town.  The  first  Preach- 
er at  this  place  was  Richard  Pateshall.  He  was  gra- 
duated at  Harvard  College  in  1735,  but  is  not  marked 
as  a  minister  in  the  Catalogue.     Mr,  Pateshall  remain- 

♦Sullivan  page  1^6,  ^_ 


IIAKPSWELL.  69 

ed  at  Harpswell  two  or  three  years,  and  built  a  house 
there,  but  was  never  ordained.  After  him  a  Mr.  Pack- 
ard was  employed,  but  received  no  invitation  to  settle. 

In  1753,  Rev.  Elisha  Eaton,  who  had  once  been  set- 
tled in  a  Parish  in  Braintree,  was  employed  to  preach  as 
a  candidate  for  settlement.  A  Church  was  soon  organ- 
ized, and  Mr.  Eaton  was  installed  its  Pastor.  The 
Council  on  this  occasion  consisted  of  Rev.  Mr.  Smith 
of  Portland,  Mr.  Loring  Oi  North-Yarmouth,  and  Mr. 
Allen  of  Cape  Elizabeth.  Mr.  Eaton  preached  himself 
on  the  occasion.  He  lived  happily  with  the  people  a- 
bout  eleven  years.  He  died  in  April  1764?.  A  cancer 
on  his  lip,  was  the  cause  of  his  death,  yet  he  continued 
to  preach  until  within  about  three  months  of  his  de- 
cease. 

Soon  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Eaton  the  Church  and 
Society  appointed  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  and  invit- 
ed the  neighbouring  Ministers  to  attend  with  them, 
Mr.  Brooks  of  NoitL-Yarmouth,  Mr.  Miller  of  Bruns. 
wick,  and  some  others  attended.  After  the  public  ser- 
vices, the  Clergymen  present  named  to  the  people  three 
persons  as,  in  their  judgment,  suitable  candidates  for 
them,  viz.  Mr.  Samuel  Eaton,  the  son  of  their  former 
Minister,  Mr.  Foxcroft,  who  afterward  settled  at  New- 
Gloucester,  and  Mr.  Fessenden,  who  subsequently  set- 
tled at  Fryeburg  ;  advising  them  first,  to  hear  Mr.  Ea- 
ton, and  should  they  not  be  pleased  with  him  to  procure 
one  of  the  others.  Mr.  Eaton,  who  was  then  preach- 
ing, and  who  had  been  called  to  settle  in  Nevv'-Glouces- 
ter,  was  accordingly  invited,  and  complying  with  the  re- 
quest was  ordained  there  in  October  1754,  only  six  months 


70  C0NGREGATI0NALI9TS, 

after  his  Father's  death.  Two  years  after  this,  the  town 
was  favoured  with  a  remarkable  shower  of  divine  grace, 
and  sixty-seven  persons  were  added  to  the  Church  ia 
the  space  of  eight  months.  Rev.  Mr.  Eaton  stiil  re- 
mains Pastor  of  the  Church  and  although  at  the  advanc- 
ed age  of  eighty -four  years  is  able  to  discharge  most  of 
his  parochial  duties  with  as  much  fidelity  and  perhaps 
more,  than  many  of  his  juniors. 

FREEPORT. 

The  northeasterly  part  of  North- Yarmouth,  and  a 
tract  of  land  called  "  Prouts  Gore,"  were  incorporated 
in  February  1789,  by  the  name  of  Frecport.  In  De- 
cember of  that  year  ten  members  were  dismissed  from 
the  first  Church  in  North-Yarmouth  who  uniting  with 
others,  were  on  tlie  21  st  day  of  that  month,  organized 
afS  a  new  Church.  Seven  days  after  this,  Rev.  Alfred 
Johnson  was  ordained  its  Pastor.  Mr.  Johnson's  min- 
istry at  Freeport  continued  about  sixteen  years.  In 
September  1805,  he  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request, 
and  Installed  at  Belfast  the  same  month.  The  next 
Minister  at  Freeport  was  Rev.  Samuel  Veazie.  He 
was  ordained  December  10th  1806.  In  less  than  two 
years  Mr.  Veazie's  health  bega^  to  decline,  and  he  wss 
soon  found  to  be  In  a  settled  consumption. 

"  The  circumstances  of  his  death  were  peculiarly  dis- 
tressing. On  the  night  of  Feb.  5,  1809,  while  confined 
to  his  chamber,  in  the  house  of  Mrs.  Veazie's  mothen 
and  supposed  to  be  near  his  dissolution,  the  lower  part 
of  the  house  was  discovered  to  be  in  flames.  He  was 
with  difikulty  removed  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Bartol,  his 


CUMBERLAND.  ^l 

brother  in  law,  in  one  of  the  most  severe  snow  storms 
known  for  many  years.  The  exposure  was  thought  to 
have  accelerated  his  exit,  which  took  place  the  next 
day."  * 

In  June  following,  the  Church  and  people  presented  a 
call  to  Mr.  Jaazaniah  Crosby  to  settle  with  them,  which 
he  declined,  and  is  since  settled  in  Charlestown  in  New- 
Hampshire. 

In  February  1810,  Rev.  Reuben  Nason  was  ordained 
at  Freeport,  and  remained  Pastor  of  the  Church  for  a 
little  more  than  five  years.  Difficulties  then  arose,  and 
Mr.  Nason  requested  a  dismission,  which  was  granted 
on  the  advice  of  a  Council  in  June  1815.  For  more 
than  a  year  the  Church  was  destitute  of  a  stated  Pas- 
tor. Several  preachers  were  employed,  and  in  Nov. 
1816,  Rev.  Enos  Merrill  was  ordained,  and  is  their 
present  Minister. 

CUMBERLAND. 

The  fourth  Church  organized  within  the  ancient  lim- 
its of  North- Yarmouth  was  in  that  part  of  the  town 
which  has  recently  been  incorporated  by  the  name  of 
Cumberland. 

In  the  month  of  September  1793,  twenty-six  members 
of  the  first  Church  who  lived  in  the  westerly  and  north- 
westerly parts  of  the  town  requested  a  dismission  in  or- 
der to  be  organized  as  a  new  Church.  Their  request 
was  granted,  and  they  became  a  distinct  body.  The 
next  spring  and  summer,  more  members  of  both  s«xes 


♦  Historical   Collections  Vol-  4,  page  1 81  New  8eri«$. 


jZ  CUMBERLAND. 

were  dismissed  from  the  ancient  Church  to  this,  making 
in  all  more  than  sixty.  A  Parish  was  polled  from  the 
other,  and  on  October  22d,  1794,  Rev.  Rufus  Anderson 
was  ordained  Pastor  of  the  Church.  He  continued  in 
this  relation  about  the  space  of  ten  years,  when  some 
difficulties  arising,  he  solicited  and  received  a  dismission, 
and  was  afterwards  installed  at  Wenham,  in  Essex  Coun- 
ty,  where  he  died.  After  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Ander- 
son, the  people  in  this  Parish  employed  several  candi- 
dates. Rev.  William  Riddel,  who  had  been  dismissed 
from  Bristol,  and  a  Mr.  Holman  were  severally  invited 
t®  settle  but  declined.  At  length,  in  October  1806,. 
Rev.  Amasa  Smith,  who  had  been  recently  dismissed 
from  Turner,  was  installed  to  the  Pastoral  office  in  this 
Church.  But  in  process  of  time  troubles  arose,  the 
Parish  became  weakened,  and  in  April  1820  Mr.  Smith 
was  dismissed  at  his  own  request.  During  the  summer 
following  the  Church  and  Society  invited  Mr.  Joseph  P. 
Fessenden  to  settle  with  them,  which  he  declined.  The 
present  Pastor  of  the  Church,  Rev.  Samuel  Stone,  was 
ordained  in  May  1821. 

In  the  year  1806,  a  second  territorial  Parish  was 
formed  in  the  northerly  part  of  North-Yarmouth,  to- 
ward New-Gloucester.  In  September  of  that  year, 
eight  males  were  dismissed  from  the  first  Church,  and 
six  from  that  in  the  west  part  of  the  town,  and  a  new 
Church  was  organized.  On  the  same  day  Rev.  John 
Dutton  was  installed  its  Pastor.  Soon  after  this  fifteen 
females  being  dismissed  from  the  two  sister  Churches  in 
the  town,  joined  this  new  Church  which  enlarged  by  the 
accession  of  a  number   from  the   world,  presented  a 


CONGUEGATIONALISTS.  73 

Bourishlng  aspect.  The  ministry  of  Mr.  Button  con- 
tinued little  more  than  seven  years.  In  the  spring  of 
181-i,  he  was  dismissed  by  mutual  consent.  He  is  since 
settled  in  Pomfret  in  Vermont,  After  the  dismission  of 
Mr.  Button,  the  people  enjoyed  only  occasional  preach- 
ing, till  February  1818,  when  Rev.  Otis  Crosby  Whi- 
ton,  the  present  Minister,  was  ordained. 

In  i  808,  the  northwesterly  part  of  Freeport  was  in- 
corporated as  a  new  town  by  the  name  of  Pownal,  and 
in  about  three  years  after  a  Church  of  ten  members 
was  gathered,  and  Rev.  Perez  Chapin  ordained.  This 
was  In  March  1811.  Two  of  the  original  members  of 
the  Church  were  dismissed  from  the  ancient  1st  Churcli 
in  North-Yarmouth.  Mr.  Chapin  continues  to  be  the 
Minister  of  that  people.  His  labours  have  been  pecu- 
liarly blessed,  especially  In  the  year  1817,  when  about 
sixty  persons  were  gathered  into  the  Church. 

In  1818,  the  ancient  first  Parish  in  North-Yarmouth 
built  a  new  meeting-house,  and  removed  the  stated  pub- 
lic worship  from  what  was  termed  the  "  Foreslde'*  to  the 
"  Falls."  This  produced  a  disunion  which  ended  in  the 
incorporation  of  a  new  Parish  In  the  vicinity  of  the  old 
meeting-house,  called  the  "  Chapel  Congregational  So- 
ciety." In  May  1820,  a  Church  of  thirty  six  members 
was  organized  there,  and  in  October  following,  Rev. 
Noah  Cresey,  formerly  of  Norway,  was  installed  Its  Past  or. 
■  Thas  in  the  space  of  ninety  years  since  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  first  Church  in  North-Yai  mouth  five  towns 
have  grown  up  in  the  same  territory,  and  six  Congrega- 
tional Churches  are  now  found  where  some  thirty  years 

siace,  onlv  one  existed. 
G 


fl)  CUMBERLAND. 

CHAPTER  VIII, 

17B4. 

Our  attention  ^'111  next  be  directed  to  the  settlements 
made  at  the  mouth  of  Kennebeck  river,  particularly  the 
towns  of  Georgetown,  Woolwich,  Bath,  and  Phipps- 
burgh.  In  1607,  Sir  George  Popham's  party  spent  sever- 
al months  in  what  is  now  Georgetown  and  Phipsburgh. 
A  few  scattered  settlements  were  made  as  early  as  1630 
on  the  banks  of  the  Kennebeck,  and  near  its  mouth. 
Still  they  were  few  for  many  years.  In  1670,  Capt.  Syl- 
vanus  Davis,  who  was  that  year  a  member  of  his  Ma- 
jesty's Council,  stated  to  the  Governour  that  there  were 
thirty  families  on  the  east  side  of  the  Kennebeck, 
and  about  twenty  on  the  western  side,  between  **  the 
Chops,"  which  is  now  the  upper  part  of  Bath,  and  the 
mouth  of  the  river.  It  w^as  not  until  after  the  com- 
mencement of  the  next  century  that  any  regular  town 
was  organized.  The  first  corporation  in  the  County  of 
Lincoln  w^as  Georgetown.  Here  was  planted  the  first 
Church  in  the  County.  The  first  Minister  who  came  in- 
to this  region,  and  of  whom  any  account  can  now  be 
found,  was  a  Mr.  Baxter,  a  missionary  who  accompanied 
Governour  Shute  toArousic*  Island  in  1717,  when 
the  Governour  held  a  conference  with  the  Indians  about 
the  lands  on  the  Kennebeck.  f  Whether  Mr.  Baxter  re- 
mained in  this  quarter  or  returned  with  Governour 
Shute  does  not  appear. 

*  The  name  of  tliis  Island  is  sometimes  spelt  Arrowsike  and  sometimes 
Arouilc.  and  the  rlantatioa  was  formerly  often  callctl  "  RjumcK.''— Sf>: 
Prcsbyterial  Records. 

f  Hutcliinaon's  Hist^MasaacTiusctts  Vol.  a,p.'>t<il8. 


GRORGETGWN.  7^ 

A  considerable  part  of  the  early  settlers  of  George- 
town were  strongly  attached  to  the  Presbyterian  form  of 
Church  government,  and  a  part  were  as  much  attached 
to  Congregationalism,  and  hence  dissentions  arose  eaily. 
In  1734<,  Rev.  William  McClanethan,  or  McClanakIn, 
Presbyterian  Clergyman,  who  had  been  ordained  as  an 
Evangelist,  was  employed  as  a  preacher  here.  No  less 
than  thirty  males,  then  Presbyterian  Church  members^ 
were  living  in  the  town.  It  seems  probable,  from  all 
circumstances,  that  they  were  embodied  as  a  Presbyte- 
rian Church.  Although  no  record  of  such  a  transac- 
tion can  now  be  found.  Mr.  McClanethan  preached  at 
Georgetovvrn  occasionally  for  about  ten  years,  but  does 
not  appear  to  have  had  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Church, 
for  iu  1738,  a  comn;ittee  was  raised  to  procure  a  Minister 
for  the  town.  Mr.  James  Morton  a  Presbyterian  Cler» 
gyman  was  procured,  and  remained  with  the  people  a- 
bout  two  years.  Meanwhile  the  difficulties  remained 
unsettled  between  the  Presbyterians  and  Congregational- 
ists.  Neither  party  v.-ere  able  to  support  a  Ministej 
alone,  and  were  still  so  nearly  balanced  as  that  neither 
would  yield.  In  1739,  a  committee  was  raised  in  the 
town  to  consult  together  and  devise  a  way  for  the  am- 
icable adjustment  of  the  difficulties  previous  to  the  settle- 
ment of  a  Minister.  But  their  object  was  not  effected, 
and  the  next  year  found  them  still  in  difficulty. 

Fourteen  persons,  from  both  parties,  now  entered  into 
a  voluntary  association  for  the  purpose  of  reconciling 
their  differences,  that  a  way  might  be  opened  to  give 
Mr.  Morton  a  call.  But  all  these  attempts  proved  un- 
successful, and  in  JiJly  of  the  same  year  ( 1740J  the  town 


7t)  CONGREGATION  A  LISTS. 

cjiose  two  committees,  one  for  the  Presbyterians,  and  the 
other  for  the  CongregationaHsts,  who  were  each  Instruct- 
ed to  procure  a  Minister  for  the  party  to  which  they 
belonged.  This  appears  to  have  been  an  amicable 
agreement  ^vlien  they  found  they  could  not  unite,  for 
at  the  same  meeting  the  town  in  their  corporate  capacf- 
%j  voted  to  pay  each  Minister  at  the  rate  of  J 10/.  a 
year,  and  should  there  be  but  one  at  any  time  in  the 
town  he  should  receive  1 20/.  This  was  probably  in 
view  of  the  additional  labour  which  in  that  case  would 
devolve  upon  him. 

The  year  following,  the  Piesbyterians  invited  Mr. 
Morton  to  settle  with  tliom  which  he  declined.  In  1 74  2, 
feoth  Societies  being  destitute  of  stated  preaching,  they 
engaged  Mr.  McClanethan  again  for  a  year,  wnth  a  sala- 
ry of  200/.  In  lTi3,  they  were  again  ,destitnte,  and 
Rev.  Robert  Rutherford  was  engaged  for  a  short  time. 
In  September  of  the  following  year,  the  Congregational- 
ists  in  the  towm  appointed  Mr.  Samr.el  Denny  to  pro- 
cure them  a  candidate  to  preach  with  a  view  to  settle- 
ment, and  directed  him  to  take  the  advice  of  the  Min- 
isters in  Boston  in  regard  to  the  person.  But  it  does 
not  appear  that  any  person  was  obtained.  September 
174-7  found  the  people  still  destitute  of  a  Minister,  and 
at  that  time  Mr.  Daniel  Mitchell  was  employed  until 
April  following.  *  In  the  summer  of  174-S,  a  messea- 
ger  was  dispatched  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  Presby- 

*  Mr.  Mlrchell  was  from  ?cotland,  giadintcd  at  tlic  University  in  Edii- 
kurgh,  licensed  by  the  Boston  Presbytery  sittiiiR  at  Boston  in  i74<5,  sctit  to 
<leorgctown  and  Sheepscot  in  1747,  and  settled  afterwards  -n  Perabrel*  '9. 
New  ilamp>hiic.    Prc^byscrisl  Rccoildi. 


CEORGETOWK.  77 

tery  at  Londonderry  to  obtain  a  preacher  for  the  Pres- 
byterians. The  Presbytery  sent  to  Georgetown  Mr. 
Alexander  Boyd.*  It  was  the  practice  of  the  Presbytery 
to  consider  every  candidate  they  licenced  as  under  their 
care,  and  amenable  to  them,  at  least  for  several  years. 
Hence  when  the  Church  and  peeple  at  Georgetown  be- 
came pleased  with  Mr.  Boyd  and  proposed  to  settle  him 
they  sent  their  call  to  the  Presbytery,  and  also  presented 
it  to  the  candidate.  This  took  place  in  August  174-9. 
But  the  Presbytery  had  heard  from  Scotland  some  re- 
ports to  the  disadvantage  of  Mr.  Boyd,  and   therefore 

*  The  Records  of  the  Boston  Presbytery  at  their  session  at  Pclham  June 
14,  1748  contain  the  following  information  respecting  Mr.  Boyd.  "  Mr.  Mc 
Gregore  informed  the  Presbytery  tliat  one  Mr.Alexrinder  Boyd,  a  young  man  of 
a  liberal  education,  having  arrived  ac  Boston  btiug  recommended  to  their 
care,  and  having  produced  to  them  a  certificate  of  his  attending  the  study 
of  Divinity  at  the  University  of  Glasgow,  they  had  put  some  pieces  of  trial 
j«to  his  hands,  and  required  Iiim  to  have  them  in  readiness  against  the 
meeting  of  the  Presbytery.  The  Presbytery  approved  of  their  conduct  and 
agreed  to  take  the  said  Mr.  Boyd  upon  trial.  Mr.  Boyd  being  called  upon 
was  required  to  deliver  his  £::egesis  de  nccesitatc  satiifactionis  Chrlsti,  and 
having  defended  the  Thesis  the  Presbytery  were  satisfied  therewith  as  a 
part  of  his  trial.  Mr.  Boyd  delivered  the  Lecture  appointed  him  upon  the 
23rd  Psalm,  and  it  w^s  approved  as  a  part  of  his  trial.  Mr.  Boyd  being  tried 
by  extempore  questions  was  approved.  Mr.  Eoyd  having  delivered  a  popu- 
lar  di&course  from  Rom.  x.  15,  it  was  approved  »s  a  part  of  his  trial,  and 
having  read  and  explained  some  part  of  the  New  Testament  he  was  required, 
and  in  the  following  manner  did  subscribe  the  confession  of  faith— I  doherc» 
by  profess  that  the  Westminster  Confession  of  faiti*  contains  a  most  excel- 
Jent  summary  of  the  doctrines,  duties,  and  government  of  the  Christiaa 
religion,  and  as  such  I  make  an  explicit  profession  of  my  belief  of  its  articlei 
by  subscribing  my  came.  ALEXANDER.  BOYD- 

Mr.  Boyd  was  then  appointed  to  supply  Gorgctown  for  the  next  three 
Months  with  a  discretionary  power  to  go  to  WWchcassct  aqd  6kc^cffat»^ 
lie  JQdgcs  it  ftfe.'* 


rS  CONCRECATIONALISTS. 

returned  ihe  call  to  the  Church  at  Georgetown  under 
cover  to  Major  Dennlc,  and  at  the  same  time  cited  their 
candidate  to  appear  before  them.  In  October  following 
Mr.  Boyd  appeared  before  the  Presbytery,  and  confessed 
that,  before  he  left  Scotland,  he  had,  in  an  irregular 
manner,  married  a  certain  Mary  Buchan  ;  which  fact  he 
had  studiously  concealed  from  the  Presbytery  at  the 
time  of  receiving  license  from  them  to  preach  ;  but  he 
now  declared  his  intention  to  send  for  her,  and  treat  her 
as  his  wife.  The  Presbytery  sharply  rebuked  him  for 
his  duplicity,  but  as  he  appeared  penitent, they  continued 
his  license.  *  -After  awhile  he  returned  again  to  George. 
town,  and  in  June  1750,  the  people  renewed  their  in- 
vitation for  his  settlement,  and  about  tlie  same  time  he 
was  invited  also  to  settle  at  New-Castle.  The  Presby- 
Ury  recommended  both  calls  to  his  consideration, 
fcut  at  that  time  he  thought  fit  to  decline  them  both. 
Mr.  Boyd  still  continued  preaching  under  the  direction 
of  the  Presbytery,  and  spent  a  considerable  part  of  his 
time  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Kennebec k  River.  In 
the  year  1751,  the  people  at  Georgetown  again  solicited 
him  to  settle  with  them,  and  in  November  of  that  year 
he  acceded  to  their  request.  The  movements  for  his 
permanent  establishment  were  very  slow.  The  Presby- 
tery had  the  management  of  all  affairs  respecting  it,  and 
for  some  reasons  now  unknown  they  declined  expediting 
his  settlement.  At  length,  in  October  1752,  the  Pres- 
bytery made  a  conditional  engagement  to  ordain  Mr. 
Boyd  for  the  Church  and  people  in  Georgetown  early 


%  ?itabytciial  Records; 


GEOKGETOWN.  79 

in  the  following  spring,  but  they  voted  at  the  same 
time  that  "the  people  at  Georgetown  should  be  called  on 
for  farther  light."  The  nature  of  the  difficulties  which 
were  evidently  labouring  in  the  minds  of  the  Presbytery 
is  not  fully  known  at  this  day,  nor  whether  they  telated 
to  Mr.  Boyd  or  the  Church  at  Georgetown.  But  a  stop 
was  put  to  all  proceedings,  and  Mr.  Boyd  preached  no 
more  at  that  place. 

For  more  than  ten  years  after  this,  the  people  at 
Georgetown  were  destitute  of  stated  preaching.  It  is 
highly  probable  that  the  strife  which  had  sometimes 
been  w^arm  between  the  contending  parties  had  contri- 
buted not  a  little  to  weaken  the  hands  of  both,  and  dis- 
courage their  hearts.  But  after  living  several  years 
without  any  preaching  at  all,  they  became  more  dispo- 
sed to  unite.  The  Presbyterian  party  had  either  dimin- 
ished, or  were  willing  to  yield  their  peculiarities,  and 
the  greater  part  of  the  people  became  nominally  Con- 
gregatlonallsts.  Whether  the  Church  formally  renoun- 
ced Presbyterianism,  or  whether  it  was  reorganized  on 
Congregational  principles  is  altogether  unknown.  It 
existed  in  April  1764,  as  a  foimal  Church  meeting  was 
holdea  at  that  time,  and  adjourned  to  May  4th  in  the 
same  year,  when  five  Deacons  were  chosen.  It  would 
seem  from  this  circumstance  either  that  the  Church  was 
very  large,  or  that  more  labour  was  required  of  Dea- 
cons in  that  day  than  is  common  now. 

In  the  course  of  this  summer,  Mr.  Ezekiel  Emerson, 
of  Uxbridge  in  Massachusetts,  came  and  preached  at 
Georgetown  as  a  candidate  for  settlement.  He  shortly 
received  a  call,  and  returned  an  affirmative  answw. 


80  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

On  July  1st,  1765,  the  Covenant  engagements  were  sub- 
scribed  anew  by  Mr.  Emerson,  as  Pastor  elect,  and  eight 
male  members.*  Two  days  after  this  transaction,  a 
Council  convened  consisting  of  the  Churches  in  Ux- 
bridge,  Upton,  Brunswick,  Haipswell,  and  Woolwich, 
and  after  full  inquiry  and  examination,  Mr.  Emerson 
was  ordained.  On  this  occasion  Mr.  Miller,  of  Bruns- 
wick, oflFered  the  introductory  prayer,  Mr.  Webb,  of  Ujo 
bridge,  preached,  Mr.  Fish,  of  Upton  gave  the  charge, 
and  Mr.  Winship  of  Woolwich  presented  the  right  hand. 
Soon  after  the  ordination  the  order  of  discipline  in  tlie 
Church  was  established  by  sundry  votes,  and  on  the 
8th  of  September  following,  tlie  members  of  the  old 
Church  were  formally  admitted  to  this,  which  had  in 
some  respects  assumed  a  new  form.  Nineteen  males 
and  eighteen  females  were  admitted  on  that  day.  It 
seems  probable,  that  the  old  Church  had  become  lax  in 
discipline,  and  having  been  long  without  a  stated  Pas- 
tor, could  hardly  ascertain  who  were  entitled  to  regular 
standing  as  members,  and  who  were  not. 

Soon  after  the  settlement  of  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson  there 
was  a  great  revival  of  religion  in  Georgetown  ;  many 
were  admitted  to  the  Church,  and  for  several  years  ther^ 
were  more  than  100  communicants.  Mr.  Emerson  re- 
mained happily  and  peacefully  with  the  people  for  about 
fourteen  year^.  At  that  period  the  revolutionary  war 
rendered  hi?  situation  unpleasant.  The  settlements  on 
tbe  coast,  and  especially  at  the  mouth  of  large  rivers, 
were  considered  unsafe,  the  expences  of  the  war  ln^ 

♦  Their  names  were  John  Parker,  James  McCobb,  George  Rogers,  WillLam 
^^j^9\  M»U(tto,  DMicl  Uftric, 'Ch»(l«8  i'fiiptt  an<l  TtMOMo  i>crcey. 


GEORGETOWJi'.  81 

heavy  on  the  people  and  the  depreciation  of  the  paper 
currency  of  the  country  made  Mr.  Emerson's  nominal 
salary  to  be  of  little  value.  All  these  circumstances  in- 
duced  him  to  remove  for  a  season.  He  accordingly 
suspended  his  ministrations  at  Georgetown,  and  taking 
his  family  removed  up  the  river  to  Norridgewock,  v/here 
he  remained  until  May  1st,  1783.  The  country  was 
then  at  peace,  and  taking  the  advice  of  a  Council  con- 
sisting of  the  Churches  in  Harpswell,  Brunswick,  and 
North-Yarmouth,  he  returned,  resumed  his  ministerial 
labours  In  Georgetown,  and  continued  to  discharge 
them  steadily  and  faithfully  until  the  year  1810.  At 
this  time  his  mental  powers  became  impaired  to  a  con- 
siderable degree,  and  he  found  it  necessary  to  retire 
from  the  Ministry.  He  died  Nor,  9th,  1815,  at  the 
age  of  79  years.  No  person  has  yet  been  ordained  in 
his  stead.  At  present.  Rev.  Sam.Kel  Sewall,  formerly 
of  Edgcomb,  is  preaching  in  this  place. 

The  second  Church  in  this  region  which  claims  our 
notice  was  gathered  at  Woolwich.  This  town  lies  on 
the  main  land  east  of  Kennebeck  River.  It  was  ancient- 
ly considered,  as  a  part  of  Georgetown.  A  few  inhabi- 
tants had  planted  themselves  in  the  town  as  early  as 
1660,  under  Clark  and  Lake,  who  erected  mills  there.* 
The  Indians  called  the  place  Nauseag.  Sir  William 
Phips  who  was  appointed  Governour  of  Massachusetts 
in  1692,  was  born  in  Woolwich.  His  parents  were  a. 
mong  the  first  settlers,  and  lived  on  a  Peninsula  on  Mon*- 


♦Sir  Broy  lakes  petftion  to  the  King  is  t:30,  z\ict1  by  SuHr-Ain  psge  i5;?. 


8^  CONGREGATieNALISTS. 

feag  Bay.*  But  the  town  had  not  a  rapid  growth,  and 
was  not  incorporated  until  1759.  In  May  nSl  Mr. 
Josiah  Winship  came  to  Woolwich  as  a  candidate  for 
fettlement.  At  that  time  there  were  only  twenty  fami- 
lies in  the  town,  and  no  more  than  two  framed  houfes. 
In  June  of  the  following  year,  a  fmall  Church  was  or- 
ganized, and  Rev.  Mr.  Winlliip  was  ordained.  For 
about  fifty  }ears  Mr.  Winfliip  continued  to  perform  all 
the  ufual  parochial  duties  in  Woolwich,  but  having  be- 
come enfeebled  by  age,  it  was  thought  advisable,  by  him 
and  the  people,  that  another  Minister  should  be  procur- 
ed. Accordingly,  in  the  autumn  of  1816,  Mr.  Jona- 
than Adams  was  engaged,  and  in  Febiv  ary  succeeding, 
he  was  ordained  as  Colleague  Paftor.  Both  Minifters 
still  remain. 

The  northerly  part  of  Georgetov/n,  now  Bath,  was  es- 
tablished^s  a  second  parish  prior  to  the  year  1762,  and 
incorporated  as  a  town  in  1781.  In  1762  there  wa$ 
living  in  that  parish  but  one  public  professor  of  religion, 
viz.  John  Shaw,  yet  there  were  four  others,  viz.  Benja- 
min Thompson,  John  Bridges,  Abner  Lunt,  and  Joshua 
Philbrook,  who  were  considered  pious  men.  In  that 
year,  Mr.  Solomon  Page  was  employed  to  preach  in 
this  parish,  and  died  here  during  the  summer.  The 
next  year  Mr.  Zabdiel  Adams,  afterward  the  Minister 
of  Lunenburg  in  Massachusetts,  was  employed  in  this 
parish,  and  received  from  the  people  an  invitation  to 
settle,  but  declined.  In  1764<,  Mr.  John  Whith  was 
preaching  at  this  place.     An  unsuccessful  attempt  was 

tfu'Uvan  page  "■{,. 


BATH.  88 

jnade  to  settle  him.  During  the  two  following  years 
the  people  had  with  them  four  candidates,  viz.  Ebene- 
zer  Champney,  Mr.  Fuller,  Mr.  Bigelow,  and  Mr.  Aaron 
Kenny.  Neither  of  these  was  invited  to  settle.  A 
little  previous  to  this  Mr.  Emerson  had  been  ordained 
in  the  first  Parish  in  Georgetown,  and,  as  has  been  al- 
ready related,  a  considerable  revival  of  religion  had  ta* 
ken  place  there.  The  influence  of  the  shower  extended 
?lso  to  the  second  Parish.  The  people  were  excited  to 
a  considerable  degree,  and  became  very  anxious  to  ob- 
tain a  Minister.  In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1767, 
Mr.  Francis  Winter  was  engaged  to  preach  on  proba- 
tion, and  was  ordained  there  toward  autumn  of  the 
same  yeaf.  It  is  probable  that  a  small  Church  was  or- 
ganized at  the  time  of  Mr.  Winter's  settlement,  but  no 
record  of  that  transaction  is  now  to  be  found.  Rev. 
Mr,  Winter  remained  the  Minister  of  Bath  about  nine- 
teen years.  Some  dissatisfaction  having  arisen  in  Jan. 
1787,  he  made  a  proposal  to  the  town  for  dissolution  of 
the  relation  between  them,  which  they  accepted,  and  he 
was  dismissed  without  a  Council. 

For  six  years  following  tliis  event  the  people  were  in 
a  broken  state.  Rev.  Abraham  Cummings,  Mr.  Otis 
Crosby,  and  Mr.  John  Webber  were  their  principal 
preachers.  In  1791,  a  considerable  attention  to  reli- 
gion was  manifest  in  the  town,  and  about  fifteen  per- 
sons were  supposed  to  have  become  pious  at  that  time. 
The  pious  men  formed  themselves  into  a  Society  for 
religious  purposes,  supposing  that  no  Church  existed  in 
the  town.  It  had  been  twenty  four  years  since  the  or- 
iiination  of  Mr.  Winter  when  it  is  probable  a  Church 


S-i?  G0XGREGATI0NALI8TS. 

was  gathered,  but  being  very  small  at  the  beginning, 
and  never  much  enlarged  at  any  subsequent  period, 
was,  perhaps,  at  this  time  nearly  extinct. 

In  the  spring  of  1794,  while  the  people  felt  very  anx- 
ious to  obtain  a  Minister,  an  impostor  presented  him- 
self, who  had  well  nigh  done  them  great  injury.  His 
real  name  was  Frost.  He  belonged  to  Connecticut,  and 
had  been  a  pettifogging  lawyer  in  that  State,  and  iiT  the 
State  of  New- York.  After  this,  he  went  into  Berkshire 
County  in  Massachusetts,  with  the  professed  design  of 
studying  Divinity  ;  but  being  discovered  in  some  very 
base  conduct  he  absconded,  and  going  to  Londonderry 
in  New-Hampshire,  resided  for  a  short  time  with  Rev. 
Mr.  Morrison.  From  that  place  he  came  to  Bath.  He 
here  called  his  name  Benjamin  Fredingburg,  said  he  was 
a  German  by  birth,  and  pretended  to  be  on  his  way  to 
Waldoborough  to  supply  the  German  Society  there. 
As  they  were  destitute  of  a  Minister  at  Bath,  he  propo- 
sed to  tarry  with  them  for  a  few  Sabbaths.  While 
he  remained  here,  the  Germans  at  Waldoborough 
heard  of  him,  and  some  of  them  came  to  visit 
him.  But  they  quickly  discovered  that  he  was  no  Ger- 
man, and  his  real  name  and  character  soon  following 
him,  he  immediately  left  the  place. — In  the  course  of 
the  next  year  Mr.  Hugh  W^allls  was  employed  to  preadi 
at  Bath,  and  arrangements  were  made  for  his  settle- 
ment. The  town  had  now  increased  considerably,  and 
societies  of  different  denominations  had  been  formed.  It 
was  therefore  thought  expedient  to  form  a  Parish  dis- 
tinct from  the  town,  and  to  organize  a  new  Church. 
Rev.  Mr.  Wallit  was  ordained  Pastor  of  this  Church  to- 


KATH.  S5 

\Vardlhe close  of  1795.  The  new  Church  was  gathered 
pTincipally  from  the  religious  Society  which  had  been  for- 
med after  the  revival  about  four  years  previous.  In  a 
few  years  some  difficulties  arose  in  the  Society,  and  Mr. 
Wallis  requested  a  dismission,  which  after  taking  the 
opinion  of  a  Council  was  granted.  This  event  took 
place  July  15th,  1800.  For  five  succeeding  years  line 
pulpit  was  supplied  a  part  of  the  time.  The  preachers 
were  Mr.  James  Davis,  Rev.  Hezekiah  May,  Mr,  Na- 
than Waldo,  Mr.  Bradford  Mercer,  and  Mr.  Samuel 
Robbins  ;  but  neither  of  them  were  invited  to  settle. 
In  the  autumn  of  1805,  Rev.  Asa  Lyman  was  employ- 
ed, and  in  January  following  was  installed  Pastor  of  the 
Church.  Mr.  Lyman's  ministry  at  Bath  continued  about 
t?wo  years.  In  March  1808,  he  v/as  dismissed  by  mu- 
tual consent,  and  the  people  were  left  destitute.  The 
present  Pastor  of  the  Church,  Rev.  John  W.  Elllng- 
wood,  was  ordained  there  November  4th,  1812. 

A  little  previous  to  Mr.  Lyman's  settlement  at  Bath 
those  ifihabitants  of  the  town,  who  had  not  formally  uni- 
ted with  any  of  the  societies  already  established,  propo- 
sed to  organise  themselves,  and  settle  a  Minister  distinct 
from  the  other  Congregational  Parish.  On  the  2 1st  of 
December  1805,  a  Church  of  ten  persons  was  organi- 
zed, and  Rev.  William  Jenks  was  ordained.  All  the 
other  religious  societies  in  the  town  had  been  formed 
as  poll-parishes.  This  embraced  the  residue  of  the 
town,  and  according  to  established  usage  is  the  first 
Parish,  Vy-hile  the  Church  connected  with  it  being  later 
in  date  than  the  other,  is,  of  course,  the  S'ecoiid  Church, 

u 


86  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

Mr.  Jenks  remained  in  Bath  a  little  more  than  twelve 
years.  In  the  antumn  of  1812,  he  was  elected  Profess 
sor  of  the  oriental  languages  in  Bowdoin  College  ;  and 
about  the  same  time  was  invited  to  take  the  Pastoral 
care  of  the  first  Church  in  Portsmouth,  then  vacant  by 
the  death  of  the  much  lamented  Dr.  Buckminster.  A 
Council  was  convened  in  November  of  that  year,  who 
advised  Mr.  Jenks  to  give  a  negative  answer  t®  the  call 
of  the  Church  in  Portsmouth,  but  to  accept  the  Profes- 
sorship at  the  College,  as  he  could  discharge  the  duties 
of  this,  without  the  necessity  of  being  dismissed  from 
Bath.  This  was  accordingly  done.  But  the  Society 
at  Bath  was  small,  and  had  to  struggle  with  many  diffi- 
culties ;  and  in  February  1818,  the  civil  coutraqt  be- 
tween Rev.  Mr.  Jenks  and  the  Parish  was  dissolved,  and 
he  removed  to  Boston,  but  by  desire  of  the  Church  he 
still  retains  his  pastoral  Telation  to  them* 


WINDHAM,  87 

CHAPTER  IX. 

1743. 

At  Windham  in  Cumberland  County  the  next  leh'g- 
lous  establishment  was  made  ;  and  as  the  settlements  in 
Gorham  were  made  about  the  same  time,  we  shall  find 
it  convenient  to  sketch  the  history  of  both  Churches  in 
one  Chapter. 

The  land  in  Windham  was  granted  previous  to  the 
year  174'0.  Most  of  the  original  proprietors  belonged 
to  Marblehead  in  Massachusetts,  and  the  plantation  took 
the  name  of  New-Marblehead  and  was  incorporated  by 
its  present  name  in  1762.  On  the  first  settlement  of 
their  town,  the  Proprietors  took  measures  to  provide  for 
the  regular  support  of  a  Minister.  They  procured  as 
a  candidate  Mr.  John  Wight,  and  in  the  month  of  De- 
cember IT^S,  a  Church  of  six  persons  wa<i  formed,  and 
Rev.  Mi.  Wight  ordained.  He  lived  and  laboured  in 
the  Gospel  there  until  his  death,  which  took  place  in  the 
summer  of  1754-.  At  this  time  the  Indians  were  ex- 
ceedingly troublesome  in  and  about  Windham  j  the  in- 
habitants lived  in  great  jeopardy,  and  being  few  in  num- 
ber, and  feeling  themselves  unable  to  support  a  Minis- 
ter, they  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  aid,  by  oblig- 
ing the  proprietors  of  land  there  to  settle  and  support  a 
Minister  among  them.  *  After  several  years  some  aid 
was  obtained  in  this  way,  and  another  Minister  ordain- 
ed. This  was  Rev.  Peter  Thatcher  Smith,  the  son  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Smith  of  Portland,     He  was  ordained  Sept. 


#  Piovjnce  laws  page  ipft 


88  cox (; \l E G  AT  1 0 N' A  I . I S  I s . 

22nd  1762,  at  which  time  there  were  only  thirty-nine 
famih'es  in  the  town.  Mr.  Smith  remained  in  the  min- 
istry nearly  thirty  years.  He  was  at  length  dismissed 
by  mutual  consent  in  1790,  and  is  still  living  in  the 
town,  a  respectable  magistrate,  and  member  of  the 
Church. 

Tiie  third  Minister  of  this  people  was  Rev.  Nathan- 
iel Stone,  who  was  ordained  October  1st  1798.  After 
remaining  in  the  pastoral  office  a  little  more  than  six 
years,  Mr.  Stone  was  dismissed  without  any  ecclesiastical 
formalities,  according  lo  a  previous  arrangement  be- 
tween him  and  the  people.  This  event  took  place  in 
February  1805.  During  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Stone  the 
jands  reserved  In  the  town  for  the  use  of  the  ministry 
were  sold,  the  money  funded,  and  a  foundation  thus  laid 
for  the  future  support  of  the  Gospel  in  the  town.  Not- 
withstanding this  the  people  were  destitute  of  a  stated 
jN'Iinister  more  than  four  years.  At  length,  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1809,  Rev.  Asa  Lyman,  who  was  employed  In 
a  School  in  the  town,  was  engaged  to  preach.  In  Septem- 
ber of  that  year  he  was  invited  to  take  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  Church,  and  a  Council  was  assembled  to 
consummate  the  contemplated  union.  But  finding  that 
it  was  not  considered  as  a  permanent  settlement  the 
Council  declined  proceeding,  and  on  November  SOth 
the  Church  installed  him.  This  relation  continued  a- 
bout  six  months,  and  they  were  again  left  destitute. 
Rev.  Gardiner  Kellogg  is  the  present  Piistor  of  the 
Church,  who  was  installed  April  25th  1811. 

\Vindham  has  never  beca  fitvoured  with  such  an  at- 


WINDHAH,    GORHAM.  89*' 

tention  to  religion  as  might  be  termed  a  general  revival, 
and  consequently  the  Church  has  always  been  small. 
When  it  was  organized,  in  174-3,  it  consisted  of  six  per- 
sons  beside  the  Pastor.  When  Mr.  Smith  was  settled  in 
1762,  there  were  fourteen  members,  and  when  "Mr. 
Stone  was  ordained  in  1798,  only  two  male  members 
of  the  Church  could  then  be  found.  The  number  is 
still  inconsiderable. 

The  town  of  Gorham  was  originally  settled  about  the 
same  time  with  Windham,  but  no  Church  was  gathered 
there  until  about  seven  years  after  the  ordination  of  Mr. 
Wight.  Rev.  Solomon  Lombard  was  the  first  settled 
Minister  of  Gorham,  and  was  ordained  at  the  time  of 
the  organization  of  the  Church  In  the  year  1750.  *' Af- 
ter some  years  the  Church  and  people  became  dissatis- 
fied with  him,  upon  what  account  is  not  now  known. 
In  January  1757,  a  Council  was  called  with  a  view  to 
dismiss  him.  Three  fourths  of  the  Church  appeared 
against  him  ;  but  proved  nothing  to  satisfy  the  Council 
that  he  ought  to  be  dismissed.  They  advised,  that  he 
should  continue  to  preach  to  those,  who  adhered  to  him, 
as  he  had  declared  himself  ready  to  do,  depending  on* 
their  pleasure  for  support.  The  aggrieved  party  with- 
drew, by  consent  of  the  Church,  and  chose  Mr.  Towns« 
hend  their  Pastor,  who  was  set  apart  by  lay  ordination. 
He  is  said  to  have  been  a  humble  man  and  a  faithful 
Preacher  ;  but  was  acknowledged  neither  by  Mr.  Lom» 
bard  nor  the  neighbouring  Ministers."*  Mr.  Townshend 

*  Manuscript  History  of  the  Churct  ia  Gorhajm,  on  *hs  files  Qf  C\;mfeC: 
!and  Association. 

H  2 


tj^  CONtvREGATlONALlSiS* 

lived  but  a  few  years.  After  his  death  a  conciliating' 
spirit  appeared,  and  a  reunion  of  the  Church  was  pro* 
posed,  provided  Mr.  Lombard  should  be  dismissed. — 
This  was  agreed  to  by  all  concerned,  and  a  Council  was 
fnvited  consisting  of  the  first  Church  in  Biddeford,  the 
second  in  Scarborough,  and  the  Church  in  Buxton,  for 
the  purpose  of  dismissing  Mr.  Lombard,  and  uniting 
the  two  Churches  in  one.  *  This  took  place  on  Au- 
gust 15th  ne^. 

Soon  after  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Lombard,  the  peo- 
pie  sought  a  candidate  for  settlement,  and  employed 
Mr.  Peletiah  Tingley  with  that  view.  In  February 
1766,  the  town  gave  him  a  call  to  settle,  which  he  de- 
clined. Toward  the  winter  following  Mr.  Josiah 
Thatcher  was  engaged  to  supply  the  pulpit,  and  in  Oc- 
tober of  the  following  year  he  was  ordained  to  the  pas- 
toral-care  of  the  Church.  After  some  years  difficulties 
r.rose,  and  in  August  1779,  by  advice  of  Council  he 
•was  dismissed.  The  people  had  now  occasional  preach- 
ing, but  employed  no  person  with  a  view  to  settlement 
for  about  two  years.  In  August  1781,  Mr.  Caleb  Jewett 
was  employed  to  preach  for  six  months.  In  January  fol' 
lowing  the  people  gave  him  a  call,  and  in  November 
1783,  h©  was  ordained.  Mr.  Jewett  continued  in  the 
ministry  at  Gorham  about  17  year^  He  was  not  for- 
mally dismissed,  but  ceased  preaching  about  the  begin- 
ning of  the  year  1800,  aaddied  soon  after. 

The  next  Minister  of  this  people  was  Rev.  Jeremiah 
Noyes.     He  was  ordained  November   1 6th  1803,  biK 


*  Records  tf  >nU  Chur«h  in  S^MrbOJOugU* 


GORHAM.  91 

was  soon  taken  off  his  labours  by  ill  health,  and  died  in 
about  three  years  after  his  settlenaent.  For  two  year*: 
after  the  death  of  Mr.  Noyes  the  Church  was  in  an  un- 
settled state,  but  toward  the  close  of  that  period  Rev. 
Asa  Rand,  the  present  Pastor  of  the  Church,  was  em- 
ployed as  a  candidate,  and  ordained  January  18th 
1809. 


93  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

CHAPTER  X. 
1747. 

BRUNSWICK. 

The  first  settler  in  this  town  was  a  Mr.  Purchase,  who 
lived  near  the  head  of  Stevens'  river,  and  traded  with 
the  Savages,  of  whom  he  obtained  grants  of  lands  in 
the  year  1675.  *  The  ancient  settlement  was  called 
Pegypscott,  from  the  Pegypscott  Indians,  who  formerly 
inhabited  the  region  of  Androscoggin  river,  and  in- 
cluded what  is  now  Topsham  as  well  as  Brunswick. 
The  inhabitants  were  few  in  the  early  settlement,  and  in 
the  year  1 690 the  town  was  entirely  depopulated.f  Thir- 
ty years  after,  some  of  the  former  inhabitants  returned 
with  others,  and  in  May  1735,  they  petitioned  to  be  in- 
corporated as  a  town.  The  petition  was  signed  by 
twenty-nine  persons.  Among  the  reasons  assigned  why 
their  request  should  be  granted,  they  stated  that  they  had 
procured  *'  a  pious  and  orthodox  Minister"  to  settle 
with  them,  and  considered  it  necessary  to  be  vested  with 
power  to  lay  a  tax  in  order  to  raise  money  for  his  sup- 
port. This  petition  was  immediately  granted,  but  by 
some  mistake  the  act  of  the  Legislature  did  not  receive 
the  signature  of  th#  Governor  until  June  27th,  1737. 
The  Minister  refered  to  in  the  petition  was  Rev.  Rob- 
ert Rutherford.  At  what  time  he  began  to  preach  in 
the  town  is  uncertain,  probably  from  all  circumstances, 
about  the  time  the  inhabitants  petitioned  for  incorpora- 


«  Hubuatd  cited  by  Fullivan  page  177. 
i  Jullivan  page  17.8. 


BRONSWICK.  03 

tlon.  He  was  the  only  Minister  of  Brunswick  for  seven 
years.  It  does  not  appear  that  any  Church  was  gather- 
ed during  his  Ministry,  nor  that  he  had  any  regular  or- 
dination there.  A  civil  contract  only  v/as  made  between 
him  and  the  people,  and  a  regular  salary  offered  him 
provided  he  spent  his  hfe  among  them  ;  but  he  left  the 
place  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1 7 1^2.  *  In  June  of 
that  year  a  committee  of  the  town  were  audiorized  to 
agree  with  Rev.  Jonathan  Pierpont  to  preach  tv/o  or 
three  months.  In  September  of  tl:tesame  year  it  was  vot- 
ed In  town  meeting  *'  that  Rev.  Samuel  Osborne  and 
Rev.  James  Mortoii,  be  neither  of  them  employed  in  the 
public  work  of  the  ministry  in  this  town  for  the  future." 
This  vote  implies  that  they  had  lately  preached  there 
for  a  time.  At  the  same  meeting  a  person  was  appoint- 
ed to  agree  with  some  "  orthodox"  Minister  to  preach 
the  ensuing  winter  as  a  probationer,  and  to  settle  if  he 
and  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  could  agree.  In  the 
month  of  November  following,  a  person  was  sent  to 
Falm.outh  to  treat  with  Rev.  Mr.  Hodge,  then  at  that 
place,  respecting  preaching  at  Brunswick  for  four  or  six 
months.  The  next  Preacher  at  this  place  was  a  Mr. 
Bosworth  who  laboured  with  the  people  a  short  time. 
In  February  1744,  an  attempt  was  made  to  settle  Mr. 
James  Morton,  which  failed,  and  the  people  were  prob« 
ably  destitue  of  stated  preaching  for  about  three  years. 
In  December  1746,  the  town  voted  to  invite  Mr.  Rob» 
ert  Dunlap  to  preach  for  them  for  a  term  of  time  witlj 
a  view  to  setilcmcnt,  and  agreed  to  pay  him  four 
pounds  old  tenor  per  Sabbath. 


•»  Mr,  Rutherford  died  ct  Thomaston.     Sec  Chap.  J7th. 


M  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

Mr.  Dunlap  was  born  in  Ireland,  in  the  County  of 
Antrim,  and  province  of  Ulster,  in  August  1715.  He 
was  educated  at  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  and  after 
having  completed  his  Collegiate  course,  he  commenced 
the  study  of  Divinity. 

At  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he  received  the  degree  of 
A.  M.  and  was  licensed  to  preach.  In  the  spring  of 
1736,  he  embarked  for  America.  The  vessel  in  which 
lie  sailed  was  wrecked  on  the  Isle  of  Sable,  and  Mr. 
Dunlap  with  some  others  of  the  crew  were  landed  on 
the  Isle  of  Canso.  By  direction  of  Governour  Shelby 
he  was  taken  from  this  place  in  a  small  fishing  vessel  to 
Cape  Ann  in  Massachusetts,  and  thence  went  to  Boston, 
He  soon  left  Boston  and  engaged  in  a  School  in  Dracut. 
In  a  short  time  he  left  Dracut,  and  removed  to  Noble- 
borough  in  Maine.  After  this  he  resided  awhile  at 
Boothbay,  and  then  at  Sheepscutt  Bridge  in  New -Cas- 
tle, from  which  place  he  came  to  Brunswick.  *  After 
some  time  spent  on  probation,  the  town  agreed  to  settle 
him  as  their  Minister,  offering  him  an  annual  salary  of 
200/.  old  tenor  and  to  hire  him  a  house  dui  ing  the  war.  It 
was  agreed  between  Mr.  Dunlap  and  the  people  that  he 
should  be  ordained  in  Boston,  and  Deacon  Samuel 
Hinkley  and  Mr.  Ebenezer  Stanwood  were  appointed  as 
commissioners  to  repair  to  Boston  on  behalf  of  the  town, 
and  receive  Mr.  Dunlap  as  their  Minister.  According- 
ly, during  the  summer  of  1747,  Rev.  Mr.  Dunlap  was 
ordained  in  Boston  in  themeeting-house  of  Rev.  Andrew 


♦  ManiJbcript  in  possession  of  the  Dunlap  famHir. 


BRUNSWICK.  95 

Le  Mercier,  Minister  of  the  Protestant  French  Church,* 
by  a  Presbytery   composed  of  Rev.  Mr.  Le  Mercier, 

Rev.  Mr.  Morton  of  Colrain,  Rev.  Mr.  Davidson,  of 
Londonderry,  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson,  and  Rev  Mr.  McLoth- 
hn. 

Mr.  Dunlap  continued  the  Minister  of  Brunswick  a- 
bout  thirteen  years.  Some  difficulties  had  aris«i  be- 
tween him  and  the  people  respecting  the  payment  of  his 
salary,  and  a  Council  was  proposed  to  advise  in  the 
case.  Rev.  Mr.  Smith  of  Falmouth,  Rev.  Mr.  Morrili 
of  Biddeford,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Loriain  were  invited.  The 
result  of  this  Council  is  not  now  known,  but  it  led  to 
the  speedy  dismission  of  Mr.  Dunlap,  which  appears  to 
have  taken  place  in  October  1760.  f  Another  candi- 
date was  immediately  sought.  The  committee  of  the 
town  were  directed  to  apply  to  Mr.  Fairfield  or  Mr. 
Whitwell  to  preach  on  probation,  but  neither  of  them 
were  obtained.  In  August  of  the  year  following  Mr. 
John  Miller  was  engaged,  amd  in  December  the  Church 
and  town  concurred  in  giving  him  a  call.     In  Novem- 


*  "  A  small  brick  Church  was  boilt  in  School  street,  bf  some  French  Prot- 
estants, who  camehitlier  after  Louis  14th  had  revoked  the  edict  of  Nantes 
ift  1686,  and  suppressed  Protestaotism  in  France,  wlien  many  thousands  Hu- 
gonots  were  obliged  to  l6«ve  it.  The  descendants  of  the  founders  of  tliis 
house,  as  they  formed  new  connexions  gradually  dropped  off.  Those  who  re- 
mained were  few  in  number,  and  the  support  of  a  Minister  was  an  expease 
they  could  not  well  continue.  The  Rev.  Andrew  Le  Mercier,  a  worth',' 
character,  disistcd  from  officiating.  The  hou«^  was  afterwards  purchased 
joy  a  new  society  and  Rev.  Andrew  CrotweJl  installed  in  it.  It  is  now  (1794) 
used  as  a  Roaiau  Catholic  Chapel.**      Mass.  Hist.  Coll.  Vol.  3,  pags  164. 

f    Mr.  Dunlap  w»  never  settled  «gai«  in  the  ministry.      He  li^ed  in  BrufJS- 
ivick  unU^  his  death  which  took  plaw  Juac  zfich  17  7^. 


96  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

ber  1762,  Mr.  Miller  was  ordained.  Very  little  can  be 
ascertained  respecting  the  state  of  the  Church  previous 
to  this  period  ;  nor  can  any  certain  date  be  fixed  for  its 
organization.  At  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Dunlap  no 
mention  is  made  of  a  Church  act,  and  all  the  necessary 
measures  were  taken  by  the  town.  It  is  therefore  most 
probable  that  Mr.  Dunlap  gathered  the  Church  at  some 
time  after  his  ordination.  It  was  originally  established 
on  Presbyterian  principles,  and  so  continued  during  the 
ministry  of  Mr.  Dunlap.  After  the  settlement  of  Mr. 
Miller  it  assumed  a  mixed  character  for  about  seven 
years.  The  number  of  Church  members  were  then 
about  seventy,  among  whom  were  seven  Deacons.  In 
the  year  1769,  Mr.  Miller  declared  himself  a  Con- 
gregatlonallst.  Some  few  difficulties  arose  in  the 
Church  on  this  account,  but  they  were  soon  amicably 
adjusted,  and  it  appears  that  the  Church  consented  to 
the  alteration  without  a  formal  vote.  For  twenty  years 
after  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Miller,  the  Church  and  peo- 
ple were  at  peace  among  tliemselves,  and  the  Society 
was  in  as  prosperous  a  state  as  other  Societies  during 
those  days  of  trial  in  the  country.  Several  lay  Exhor- 
ters  had,  about  that  time,  visited  Brunswick,  and  been 
the  occasion  of  no  small  division  among  the  people. 
In  1785,  the  Church  took  the  subject  under  considera- 
tion, but  being  somewhat  divided  in  sentiment  among 
themselves,  it  was  thought  best  not  to  take  any  very 
decisive  measures.  But  now  a  series  of  uirnculties  coin- 
menced  between  Mr.  Miller,  and  the  Church  and  peo- 
ple.    In  June  1786,  the  town  voted  to  dismiss  Mr.  Mil- 


BRUNSWICK.  t)7 

ler.  In  May  following  the  Church  voted  on  the  same 
subject,  and  found  a  majority  of  nearly  two  to  one  in 
favor  of  retaining  him.  This  led  to  another  town  meet- 
ing, when  a  majority  was  found  in  his  favor.  The  dif» 
ficulties  still  continued,  and  in  June  1788,  it  was  pro- 
posed to  call  in  a  Council  to  advise  them;  but  there  is  no 
evidence  that  a  council  ever  assembled  on  this  occasion. 
Before  the  close  of  the  year  Mr.  Miller  died  in  Boston. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Miller  and  before  the  settle- 
ment of  his  successor,  the  town  employed  a  number  of 
candidates  for  settlement.  In  August  1792,  the  Church 
voted  to  invite  Mr.  Abraham  Moore  to  settle  with  them, 
which  he  declined. 

Rev.  Ebenezer  Coffin,  their  next  Pastor,  -^-as  ordain- 
ed June  23d  1794,  and  after  preaching  eight  years,  he 
was  dismissed. 

After  the  dismission  of  Mr.  CofEn  the  people  employ^ 
ed  a  number  of  Preachers,  and  were  often  destitute. 
In  1810,  Mr.  John  Bartlet,  since  settled  in  Marblehead, 
had  an  invitation  to  become  their  Minister,  but  the  want 
of  unanimity  led  him  to  refuse.  In  the  same  year  Mr. 
Benjamin  White,  afterward  the  Minister  of  Wells,  re« 
ceived  an  invitation  to  take  the  pastoral  charge  of  this 
Church,  but  for  a  similar  reason  he  declined. 

In  May  1811,  Rev.  Winthrop  Bailey  was  ordained 
Pastor  of  the  Church  in  Brunswick,  which  was  then  re- 
duced to  seventeen  members.  Three  years  after,  the 
circumstances  of  the  Parish  induced  Mr.  Bailey  to  ask 
a  dismission,  which  after  taking  the  advice  of  a  Council 
was  effected  in  April  1814-.    Mr.  Bailey  has  since  been 

I 


98  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

Installed  at  Pelham  in  Massachusetts,  and  the  Church  at 
Brunswick  is  still  destitute  of  a  stated  Pastor. 

We  have  already  remarked  that  the  ancient  Pegyp- 
scott  settlement  lay  on  both  sides  of  Androscoggin  Riv- 
er including  Topsham  as  well  as  Brunswick.  It  will 
be  proper  therefore  to  notice  the  Ecclesiastical  affairs  of 
this  town  in  connexion  with  the  town  of  Brunswick. 

After  the  entire  destruction  of  the  ancient  settlement 
in  1690,  nothing  was  attempted  for  ten  years.  In  the 
year  1  TOO,  another  attempt  was  made,  but  the  Indians 
again  rendered  the  situation  of  the  few  families,  who  had 
settled  there,  so  unpleasant  that  the  town  was  nearly  or 
quite  abandoned  ;  and  it  was  not  until  17S0,  that  the 
settlement  was  permanently  made.  Even  then  it  was 
inconsiderable,  containing,  in  1 750,  only  eighteen  fami- 
lies. *  Nine  years  after  this  a  meeting-house  was  built, 
and  in  1764-,  the  town  was  incorporated.  The  princi- 
pal settlement  being  made  near  the  falls,  directly  oppo- 
site to  the  settlements  in  Brunswick,  an  Intimate  con- 
aexion  subsisted  between  the  two  towns  ;  and  from  sev- 
eral circumstances  It  seems  highly  probable  that  the 
people  at  Topsham  generally  attended  public  worship  at 
Brunswick.  The  consideration  of  one  fact  shews  this 
to  have  been  their  practice.  In  1752,  the  town  of 
Brunswick  petitioned  the  Legislature  to  annex  Tops- 
ham to  them  for  the  support  of  their  Minister,  except 
the  people  of  Topsham  would  engage  to  pay  Rev.  Mr. 
Dunlap  eighty  pounds,   old   tenor,  that  year,  f      The 


*  Massachusetts  Hist.  Col. 
f  Brunswick  town  Reeords. 


TOPSHAM,  99 

towns  were  both  small  at  tliat  time,  and  very  probably 
Mr.  Dunlap  performed  pastoral  duties  in  both  places  as 
occasion  called. 

After  this,  the  people  at  Topsham  began  to  have 
preaching  among  themselves,  and  in  the  year  1771,  a 
Piesbyterian  Church  was  organized  there  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Murry  then  of  Booth«Bay,  and  Rev.  Joseph  Prince. 
It  consisted  of  twenty^seven  members.  The  Church 
and  town  were  occasionally  supplied  with  preaching, 
but  no  Minister  was  settled  with  them  for  eighteen  years. 
At  length  in  September  1789,  Rev.  Jonathan  Ellis  was 
ordained  at  Topsham.  The  old  Church  had  dwindled 
away,  and  at  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Ellis  it  was  reor- 
ganized on  Congregational  principles,  and  continues  so 
to  the  present  time.  In  the  year  1810  Mr.  Ellis  was 
dismissed  without  any  ecclesiastical  formalities,  having 
ceased  preaching  several  years  before,  and  the  Church  is 
now  reduced  to  less  than  twenty  members,  and  is  desti» 
tute  of  a  settled  Minister. 


100  eONGREGATlONALlSTS. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

1754. 

The  next  religious  establishment  in  the  State  wai 
.made  in  the  town  of  New-Castle,  This  tov-n  was  for- 
merly under  the  government  of  the  Duke  of  York,  and 
was  known  by  the  name  of  Dartmouth,  in  the  County 
of  Cornwall.  A  settlement  was  made  in  the  town  as 
early  as  in  any  part  of  the  Pemaquid  country.  A  fort 
was  bulk  on  a  neck  of  land  on  Sheepscutt  River,  which 
with  all  the  buildings  were  destroyed  by  the  Savages  in 
the  year  1680,  and  the  Inhabitants  dispersed.* 

At  what  time  the  town  was  resettled  is  uncertain. 
Their  records  commence  with  the  year  1 754.  The  in- 
habitants then  In  the  town  had,  probably  been  educated 
as  Presbyterians,  for  they  chose  that  form  of  Church  gov- 
ernment,  and  had  put  themselves  under  the  care  of  the 
"  Boston  Presbytery."  It  seems  that  Mr.  Alexander 
Boyd  had  been  preaching  in  the  town,  previous  to  its 
incorporation,  for  in  the  same  year  (1754)  the  town 
voted  to  appropriate  40/.  toward  suppoiting  the  Gos- 
pel among  them,  and  appointed  James  Clark  and  Rob- 
ert  Hodge  a  committee  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the 
Presbytery  at  Boston,  t©  present  a  call  to  Mr.  Boyd  to 
become  their  Minister.  By  advice  of  the  Presbytery 
Mr.  Boyd  returned  an  affirmative  answer,  and  with  the 
consent  of  the  town  the  Presbytery  appointed  the  Tues- 
day after  the  third  Sabbath  in  Augut  1754  for  his  or- 
dination.    As  a  matter  of  convenience  the  ordinatior. 

*'uUiv.in  page  167. 


NEW-CASTLE.  101 

was  appointed  to  take  place  in  the  Presbyterian  meet- 
ing-house  in  Newburyport,  and  the  following  trial  was 
appointed  for  the  candidate  on  that  occasion  :  "  A  pop- 
ular Sermon  upon  John  xiv.  1 9,  and  an  Exegesis  upon 
that  question — An  peccatum  originale  sit  in  sua  natura 
damnabile?"*  But  the  vessel  in  which  Mr.  Boyd  and 
the  committee  were  embarked  being  detained  by  con- 
trary winds,  he  did  not  reach  Newbury poit  at  the  time 
appointed  for  the  ordination.  It  was  therefore  post- 
poned until  Sept.  1 9th  of  the  same  year,  when  it  was 
duly  performed.  On  this  occasion  Mr,  McGregore,  of 
Londonderry,  preached  from  2  Tim.  ii.  3.  Mr.  Moor- 
head  of  Boston,  gave  the  charge,  and  Mr.  Parsons  of 
Newburyport,  presented  the  right  hand.  The  inhabi- 
tants of  the  town  of  New-Castle  were  not  unanimously 
in  favor  of  Mr.  Boyd.  At  the  time  of  his  ordination 
a  remonstance  was  presented  to  the  Presbytery  from 
Nathaniel  Winslow  and  others  who  called  themselves 
Congregationalists,  and  who  objected  to  having  Mr. 
Boyd  set  over  them,  f  But  their  objections  did  not 
prevail.  After  the  ordination  the  difficulties  increased 
rather  than  diminished,  and  the  town  was  divided  into 
powerful  parties.  In  June  1756,  a  vote  was  obtained 
in  town  meeting  not  to  receive  Mr.  Boyd  as  their  Min- 
ister ;  but  it  was  immediately  objected  that  he  had  been 
received.  The  town  then  agreed  to  submit  the  ques- 
tion to  the  Presbytery,  but  voted  that  he  should  not 
preach  at  Damariscotta  side  of  the  town.     At  the  an- 


*  Presbyterial  records  for  May  15,  1754. 
t  Ibid. 

la 


t02  CONG  REG  AT10NALIST3. 

nual  meeting  In  the  ensuing  spring,  it  was  proposed  bj 
the  town  to  enquire  into  the  reasons  why  the  Sacra- 
ment of  the  Lord's  supper  had  not  been  administered 
by  Mr.  Boyd  since  his  ordination.  It  does  not  appear 
that  any  particular  inquiry  was  made  concerning  this 
matter,  but  the  town  voted  that  Mr.  B(  yd's  conduct 
was  a  grievance  to  them,  and  at  the  same  time  they 
sent  a  man  to  the  Presbytery  with  an  account  of  this 
matter. 

The  next  year  found  Mr.  Boyd  still  at  New-Castle, 
and  the  town  still  greatly  dissatistied  insomuch  that  at 
a  town  meeting  in  July  1758,  the  town  Clerk  was  di- 
rected to  write  to  the  Presbytery  desiring  the  speedy 
removal  of  Mr.  Boyd,  which  was  finally  effected  before 
the  close  of  the  year. 

Within  two  years  after  this,  the  people  In  the  wester- 
ly part  of  Bristol,  and  the  southerly  part  of  what  is 
now  Nobleborough,  called  then  the  plantation  of  Wal- 
pole,  had  employed  Rev.  Nathan  Ward,  formerly  set- 
tled at  Watertown  in  Massachusetts,  to  preach  among 
them.  In  January  1761,  the  town  of  New-Castle  vot- 
ed to  become  one  Congregation  wlt!i  the  people  of 
Walpole,  and  unite  wnth  them  in  the  settlement  of  Mr. 
Ward,  on  condition  that  he  preached  at  New-Castle  one 
half  of  the  time.  At  the  same  time  they  voted  to  pre- 
sent a  formal  invitation  to  Mr.  Ward  to  settle  with  them, 
but  in  view  probably  of  the  difficulties  they  had  with 
Mr.  Boyd,  they  appointed  a  committee  to  inquire  into 
the  reason-  why  he  had  been  dismissed  from  his  former 
charge.     In  May  following  the  town  of  New-Castle  re- 


NEW- CASTLE  108 

Qewed  their  call  to  Mr.  Ward,  and  offered  to  support 
him  wholly  among  themselves.  This  invitation  he  ac- 
cepted, and  matters  weie  put  in  train  for  his  installa- 
tion. A  Council  was  chosen  by  the  town,  but  the  time 
and  place  for  performing  the  ceremonies  w^ere  left  to 
that  Council.  But  before  the  Council  had  assembleda 
difficulty  arose.  Doubts  were  entertained  whether  Mr. 
Ward  had  been  properly  dismissed  from  Watertown, 
and  application  was  made  to  the  Ministers  in  and  about 
Boston  respecting  this  matter.  The  result  of  this  in- 
quiry is  unknown  as  it  respected  the  matter  in  question; 
but  a  stop  was  put  to  all  further  proceedings,  and  Mr. 
Ward  left  New-Castle. 

The  people  were  now  destitute  of  stated  preaching 
for  four  or  five  years.  In  the  beginning  of  the  year 
1763,  the  town  voted  to  send  to  Newburyport  desiring 
Rev.  Mr.  Parsons  to  make  them  a  visit,  for  the  purpose 
of  preaching  a  Sabbath  or  two  with  them,  and  advis- 
ing them  in  their  present  difficulties  ;  and  also  that 
he  would  procure  them  a  candidate  for  settlement. 
But  their  affairs  with  Mr.  Ward  were  still  in  an  unsettled 
state,  and  in  October  of  that  year,  at  his  request  the 
town  voted  to  withdraw  the  invitation  they  had  extend- 
ed to  him,  and  he  was  soon  after  settled  at  Plymouth  in 
New-Hampshire. 

In  February  1766,  the  town  chose  a  committee  to 
confer  with  Mr.  Job  Lain,  who  had  been  preaching  in 
that  vicinity  and  to  invite  him  to  tarry  with  them  a- 
while  on  probation.  In  July  of  that  year  he  was  in- 
vited SO  settle  at  New-Castle,  but  declinedj  and  the  peo-- 


104  CONGREGATIONALIST&. 

pie  were  again  left  destitue  for  the  space  of  another 
year.  About  this  time  Mr.  Murry  settled  at  Booth- 
bay,  and  an  uncommon  attention  to  religion  was  mani- 
fest in  all  that  region.  New.Castle  shared  in  the  bles- 
sing, and  it  is  supposed  that  a  considerable  number 
Were  hopefully  converted.  * 

In  June  1 767,  the  town  invited  Rev.  Samuel  Perley, 
who  had  been  once  settled  at  Seabrook  in  New-Hamp- 
shire, to  become  their  Minister.  He  also  declined  their 
invitation.  After  two  years  more  a  call  was  given  by 
the  town  to  Mr.  William  Southmayd  to  settle  there,  and 
in  1770,  an  invitation  was  also  presented  to  Mr.  Joel 
Benedict,  but  in  both  cases  they  failed  of  success. 

In  May  1770,  some  months  after  the  town  had  vot- 
ed the  call  to  Mr.  Benedict,  the  people  began  to  think  it 
important  to  have  a  Church  organized  among  them. 
It  was  now  about  twelve  years  since  the  dismission  of 
Mr.  Boyd,  who  received  regular  ordination  as  their 
Minister.  But  it  may  be  questioned  whether  there  was 
a  Church  properly  organized  at  New-Castle  in  his  day. 
At  the  time  the  call  of  the  people  was  presented  to 
Mr.  Boyd  at  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in  Boston 
in  May  1754,  William  Hodge  was  accused  before  that 
body  for  some  offence,  and  by  them  "  remanded  back 
to  the  Church  at  New-Castle  where  he  belongs,  to  give 
satisfaction  there  as  soon  as  that  Church  shall  he  duly  or^^ 
ganized.'^  f  It  is  hence  evident  that  no  Church  had 
then  been  gathered.     By  the   facts  already    stated  le- 


♦  See  on  account  of  this  revival  in  the«k€tvh  of  Boothl'aj,  Chap.  141^. 
t  Presbyter Jal  Records. 


NEW-CASTLE.  105 

spectmg  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Boyd,  it  is  certain  that  he 
did  not  administer  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper 
there  at  least  for  three  years  after  his  ordination.  It  is 
equally  certain  that  at  the  proposed  settlement  of  Mr. 
Ward  in  about  two  years  after  Mr.  Boyd  left  the  town, 
the  Council  was  chosen  and  all  the  other  arrangements 
made  by  the  people  at  large,  assembled  in  town  meet- 
ing, and  no  reference  whatever  was  made  to  a  Church. 
Had  there  been  a  Church  existing  in  New -Castle  at  that 
time  undoubtedly  there  would  have  been  some  men- 
tion made  of  it ;  and  if  one  Minister  had  been  consider- 
ed as  settled  in  the  town  without  a  Church,  it  is  not 
strange  that  the  people  should  think  of  settling 
another  in  the  same  way.  But  several  years  had  now 
transpired.  The  people  were  becoming  more  nume- 
rous, and  probably  ill-^re  enlightened.  Several  candi- 
dates had  been  among  them,  and  it  is  highly  probable 
that  they  now  becarne  satisfied  of  the  impropriety  of 
ordaining  a  Minister  without  a  Church.  Or  if  a  Church 
had  been  organized  by  Mr.  Boyd,  it  was  perhaps  small, 
and  no  additions  being  made  to  it,  it  had  now  become 
extinct.  Be  these  tilings  as  they  may,  arrangements 
were  now  made  to  have  a  Church.  But  such  were  the 
imperfect  ideas  of  the  people  on  these  subjects,  that  they 
adopted  a  singular  method  to  obtain  this  desirable  end. 
It  was  voted  in  town  meeting  to  send  to  Rev.  Mr.  Em- 
erson of  Georgetown,  and  to  Rev.  Mr.  Eaton  of  Harps- 
well,  and  desire  them  to  choose  another  "sound  oitho- 
fiox  minister,"  and  repair  to  New-Castle  for  ihe  pur- 
pose of  gatheiing  a  Church,  preparative  to  the  settlement 


106  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

of  Mr.  Benedict,  who  was  still  with  them,  for  although 
he  had  not  answered  their  call,  yet  he  appears  to  have 
manifested  a  disposition  to  tarry.*  Whether  the  people 
expected  those  Ministers  to  make  a  selection  from  the 
inhabitants  for  a  Church,  is  not  now  kno'.rn.  But  for 
some  reason  they  did  not  see  fit  to  comply  with  the  in- 
vitation.f  Mr.  Benedict  answered  the  call  of  the  peo- 
ple in  the  negative,  and  they  were  left  destitute  of  stated 
preaching  for  three  years.  During  this  interval  the  town 
appointed  a  committee  with  ample  powers  to  obtain 
a  supply,  and  Capt.  James  Cargill  from  the  committee 
was  authorized  to  go  until  he  could  obtain  a  candidate 
for  settlement.  Mr.  Jesse  Reed  was  soon  employed,  and 
in  October  1773,  he  received  a  call,  but  declined  settling 
at  New-Castle.  The  succeeding  spring  Mr.  Samuel 
Wheelock  was  employed  on  probation,  and  in  the  spring 
following  Mr.  John  Urguhart  was  there  also,  but  neither 
of  them  were  invited  to  settle.  In  March  1 776,  tha 
town  presented  a  call  to  Mr.  Thurston  Whiting,  which 
he  accepted,  and  was  ordained  in  July  of  that  year. 

The  town  had  hitherto  been  accustomed  to  Presbyte- 
lian  forms,  but  previous  to  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Whit- 
ing the  inhabitants  voted  to  adopt  any  form  that  should 
be  most  agreeable  to  him.  He  was  a  Congregational* 
ist,  and  at  the  time  of  the  ordination  a  small  Church 
of  that  name  was  gathered. 

The  ministry  of  Mr.  Whiting  continued  five  years  and 
an  half  at  New-Castle.  He  was  dismissed  in  January 
1782,  and  has  never  since  been  settled  in  the  ministry. 


*Ncw-Castl«  Town  Records,    -tRcv.  Mr.  Eaton's  letter  U  the  autbflr. 


KEW-CASTLB.  107 

For  about  fifteen  succeeding  years  the  people  at  this 
place  were  destitute  of  stated  preaching.  In  1794,  a 
Mr.  Williams  was  invited  to  preach  on  trial,  but  receiv- 
ed no  call.  In  October  1797?  their  present  Minister, 
Rev.  Kiah  Bayley,  was  ordained.  At  that  time  a  Church 
of  three  persons  only,  beside  the  Pastor,  was  organized, 
the  old  Church  having  become  extinct.  God  has  not 
since  suiFered  this  spot  to  become  desolate,  as  it  had  pre- 
viously been.  The  little  vine  has  not  been  wasted. 
There  was  a  time  of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the 
Lord,  at  this  place,  in  the  autumn  of  1816,  and  the 
winter  following,  so  that  in  May  1817  the  Church  con- 
sisted of  fifty.four  members. 


108  eONGREGATIONALISTS. 

CHAPTER  XII- 

1763. 

The  first  settlements  in  the  second  range  of  town- 
ships from  the  sea  in  the  County  of  York,  were  made 
between  the  years  174;0  and  1750,  although  for  se- 
veral years  after  this  last  date,  there  were  but  a 
few  habitations  made  in  the  whole  range  of  territory. 
The  first  Church  regularly  gathered  in  this  region  was 
at  Buxton.  The  place  was  called  at  first  "Naragansett 
No.  1."  When  there  were  only  tvrenty  families  in  the 
town  Mr.  Paul  Coffin  was  employed  to  preach  there. 
Stipulations  having  been  made  by  the  inhabitants  for  his 
permanent  support,  a  church  was  organized,  and  he  was 
ordained  in  March  1763.  Dr.  CoiHn  continued  to  preach 
constantly,  and  perform  all  the  pastoral  labour  in  his 
parish  until  the  summer  r^  1817.  Age  and  infirmity 
now  made  it  necessary  that  he  should  have  assistance, 
and  Mr.  Levi  Loring  was  engaged  for  this  purpose. 
Toward  autumn  of  the  same  year  measures  were  taken 
for  a  more  permanent  settlement,  and  in  November  of 
that  year  Mr.  Loring  was  ordained  as  Colleague  Pastor 
with  Dr.  Coffin.  The  aged  Pastor  of  this  Church  clo- 
sed his  life  in  June  1821  and  Rev.  Mr.  Loring  remains 
alone. 

The  next  Church  organized  was  at  Lebanon. 
This  place  was  first  settled  in  the  year  1 74<7  and  was 
fthen  called  by  the  Indian  name,  Towwoh.  Rev.  Isaac 
Ha^ey  was  the  first  Minister  of  the  town.  He  removed 
his  family  there  among  the  first  inhabitants,  and  wa^ 


INTERIOR   OF   THE   COUNTY    OF  YORK.  10*) 

supported  for  seventeen  years  by  the  original  proprie* 
tors  of  the  land.     The  Church  was  organized,  and  Mr. 
Hasey  ordained  June  25,  1765.     He  lived  happily  with 
the  people  for  more  than  forty  years,  and  died  in  Octo- 
ber 1812,  after  a  shore   sickness.     Within  a  few  weeks 
after  Mr.  Hasey's  dea.h  Mr.  Paul  Jewctt  was  engaged 
to  preach  at  Lebanon,  and   after  preaching  there  more 
than  a  ye.ir  was  ordiined   to   the   pastoral  care  of  the 
Church  in  April  1814.     A  considerable  attention  to  re- 
ligion soon  took  place,  and  the  Church  was  considerably 
enlarged  ;  but  after  a  few  years  difficulties  arose.     Mr. 
Jev/ett  at  length  requested  a  dismission,  and  after  ta- 
king the  advice  of  a  Council,  the  pastoral  relation  was 
dissolved  in  October  1819.     The  Church  is  now  vacant. 
About  fifty  families  are  attached  to  the  Congregational 
Society,  and  about  sixty  members  in  the  Church.      '^ 

SANFORD. 

This  town  was  sett4ed  about  tlie  same  time  with  Le- 
banon, and  was  then  called  Philipstown.  A  Calvinistic 
Baptist  Church  being  the  first  Church  gathered  here, 
the  settlement  of  a  CongregJitional  Minister  did  not 
take  place  for  a  considerable  time.  A  Mr.  Hall  was 
the  first  person  employed  by  the  Congregational  Socie- 
ty. He  received  an  invitation  to  settle,  but  declined. 
Rev.  Moses  Sweat,  the  present  Pastor  of  the  Church,  was 
the  first  Minister  in  this  Society.  The  Church  was  or- 
ganized, and  Mr.  Swett  ordained  in  the  month  of  July 
1786. 

ALFRED. 

This  town  was  originally  a  part  of  Sanford.     Tlxfe 
K 


110  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

first  permanent  settlement  of  this  part  of  the  town,  and 
^hat  is  now  Watei  borough  and  Lyman  was  made  about 
the  year  1766.  The  settlement  was  called  Massabesec, 
from  the  Indian  name  of  a  large  Pond  in  the  town. 
Some  of  the  first  inhabitants  were  serious  men,  who 
knew  too  well  the  value  of  the  public  ordinances  of  reli- 
gion to  be  long  without  Uiem.  While  the  settlement 
was  very  inconsiderable,  and  those  few  scattered  to  the 
distance  of  many  miles  around,  meetings  were  held  on 
the  Sabbath,  and  sermons  read.  These  feeble  means 
were  graciouslynoticed  by  the  great  Head  of  the  Church, 
and  in  the  year  1780,  a  considerable  awakening  took 
place,  and  a  number  were  hopefully  converted.  At 
that  time  there  was  no  Congregational  Church  nearer 
than  Berwick  on  the  one  side,  and  Buxton  on  the  otlier, 
and  in  order  to  give  the  people  opportunity  occasionally 
to  enjoy  the  Sacraments  of  the  New  Testament,  a 
Church  of  between  twelve  and  twenty  members  was  or. 
ganized  there  by  Rev.  Mr.  Little  of  Kennebunk,  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Merriam  of  Berwick.  In  1782,  the  northern 
part  of  Sanford  was  incorporated  as  a  distinct  Parish, 
and  became  a  common  centre  for  the  newly  formed 
Church.  The  attention  to  religion  which  led  to  the  for- 
mation of  this  Church  continued.  The  awakening  in 
some  cases  was  very  powerful.  Some  of  the  subjects 
of  it,  were  strangely  affected.  For  a  time  they  attended 
the  Congregational  meetings  regularly,  but  at  length 
became  disorderly,  separated,  and  ultimately  formed 
the  Society  of  the  Shaking  Quakers  in  that  place. 

It  does  not  appear  that  the  Church  thus  formed  at 
Alfred  ever  received  any  accessions.     Neither  is  it  now 


INTERIOR  OF  YORK  COUNTY.       Ill 

known  whether  they  kept  any  records,  or  performed  any 
Church  act.  It  is  most  probable  they  did  neither,  for  at 
the  subsequent  settlement  of  Ministers  both  in  Alfred  and 
Lyman  no  Church  could  be  found,  and  the  ordaining 
Council  proceeded  to  organize  one  in  each  place.  The 
scattered  population  in  the  north  part  of  Sanford,  Wa- 
terborough  and  Lyman  continued  to  act  as  one  people  in 
religious  matters  for  six  or  seven  years  after  the  forma- 
tion of  their  Church.  At  length  the  north  Parish  in 
Sanford,  as  it  was  then  called,  began  to  act  independent- 
ly, and  to  take  measures  for  the  settlement  of  a  Minister. 
In  July  1 787,  Mr.  David  Porter  was  invited  to  settle 
there,  but  declined.  Another  candidate  was  soon  ob- 
tained. This  was  Mr.  Isaac  Babbet.  In  December  of 
the  year  1788,  the  Parish  gave  him  a  call  which  he  also 
declined.  In  a  little  more  than  a  year  from  this  a  third 
candidate,  a  Mr.  Wight,  was  called  by  the  Parish,  and 
declined.  Still  resolved  to  enjoy  the  stated  ministry  of 
the  word,  the  people  sought  another  candidate,  this  was 
Mr.  John  Turner.  In  February  1791,  the  people  gave 
him  a  call,  which  being  accepted,  he  was  ordained  in 
September  following.  In  the  winter  of  1793,  the  par- 
ish was  incorporated  into  a  town  by  the  name  of  Alfred. 
Mr.  Turner  remained  the  Minister  of  Alfred  nearly 
twelve  years.  He  was  then  dismissed  and  afterward  in- 
stalled at  Biddeford.  The  Church  and  people  of  Alfred 
were  destitute  of  preaching  but  a  short  season,  for  in 
August  1804-,  only  three  months  after  the  dismission  of 
Mr.  Turner,  the  people  invited  Rev.  Jabez  Pond  Fisher 
who  had  been  recently  dismissed  from  Nottingham  West 
in  New-Hampshire,  to  settle  with  them,  but  Mr.  Fisher 


lis  COXGREGATIONALISTS. 

declining  their  invitation,  Rev.  Joseph  Brown,  who  Iiaa 
once  been  settled  at  Shapleigh,  was  employed  to  preach 
on  probation.  After  hearing  him  until  April  1805,  the 
people  gave  him  a  call,  and  he  was  installed  in  autumn 
of  the  same  year.  After  about  four  years  the  connex- 
ion between  Rev.  Mr,  Brown  and  the  Church  and  peo- 
ple at  Alfred  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent.  The 
people  were  now  dispirited,  and  made  no  more  exertioa 
for  the  settlement  of  a  minister  among  them  for  several 
years.  They  received  some  aid  from  the  occasional  visits 
of  Missionaries  and  made  some  small  subscriptions  among 
themselves.  In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1816,  the  spirit 
of  the  people  revived.  But  the  Church  had  dwindled  a- 
way  toasmall  number,and  theParish  was  without  officers, 
paving  held  no  legal  meeting  for  nearly  six  years.  In 
April  1816,  the  Parish  was  reorganized,  and  matters  put 
in  train  for  employing  a  candidate  for  settlement.  Mr. 
Nathan  Douglas  was  employed,  and  in  November  of 
that  year  w^as  ordained  pastor  of  the  ChurcJi,  and  re- 
mains with  them  to  the  present  time.  It  does  not  ap- 
pear that  the  town  of  Alfred  was  ever  visited  with  a  ge- 
neral effusion  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  attention  to  reli- 
clor.  in  the  first  settlement  of  the  town  has  been  noticed, 
in  the  spring  of  1817,  a  considerable  awakening  took 
place,  and  about  twenty  five  persons  made  public  pro- 
.tesslon  of  religion.  Two  years  after  eight  persons  more 
were  added  to  the  Church. 

LlMINGrON,    PARSONSFIELD,    LIMERICK,  NEWFIELD. 

Settlements  weie  commenced  in  the  "Ossipee  coun- 
iT7,"  during  the  revolutionary  war,  and  a  few  families 
Xad  moved  into  ca;:h  cf  the  towns  of  Limlngton,  Parsons* 


INTERIOR  OF  YORK  COO>rrV.  11^ 

field,  Limerick,  and  Newfield.  The  proprietors  of  New- 
field,  or  the  plantation  of  Washington  as  it  was  then 
called,  sensible  of  the  importance  of  a  preached  Gospel 
in  the  new  settlements,  made  a  grant  of400  acres  of  land 
to  Rev.  John  Adams,  who  had  been  previously  settled 
at  Durham  In  New-Hampshire,  and  he  removed  his  fa- 
mily to  that  town  in  February  1781.*  There  were 
then  only  five  families  in  Newfield,  and  twelve  in  Lim- 
erick. Mr.  Adams  was  a  Physician  as  well  as  a  Minis* 
ter,  and  renderedhimself  very  useful  in  both  professioms. 
He  preached  constantly  and  practiced  physic  in  those 
four  towns  for  ten  year?,  until  his  death,  which  took 
place  at  Newfield  June  4',  1792.  No  very  considerable 
attention  to  religion  v/as  excited  by  the  labours  of  Mr* 
Adams  in  this  region.  The  only  religious  establishment 
that  he  lived  to  v/Itness  tiiere  \.ts  the  gathering  of  a 
small  Church  of  six  members  at  Llmlngton,  which  was 
organized  by  him  in  October  1789. 

In  1793,  the  Church  at  Limington  In  connexion  witk 
the  town  invited  Mr.  Jonathan  Atkinson  to  settle  with 
them  in  the  work  of  the  Ministry.  He  accepted  their 
invitation,  and  was  ordained  in  October  1794<.  It  was 
a  feeble  society,  but  in  1802,  a  special  attention  to  reli- 
gion appeared,  and  a  number  were  added  to  the  Church, 
But  from  several  causes  about  the  year  181 4,  the  civil 
•ontract  between  Mr.  Atkinson  and  the  people  was  dis- 

■#A  writer  In  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Collections  thus  notices  Mr.  Ad- 
am^ :  "a  son  of  this  Matthew  Adams  was  Minister  of  Durham  in  Nevr- 
Hampshire,  the  Rev.  John  Adams;  a  man  of  superior  natural  talents,  but 
rather  ecccntrick  in  hi»  genius.  A  specimen  of  fine  writing  wa«  exhibited  ia 
9  letter  sent  to  this  town  (Boston;  with  a  donation  i774  signed  John  Ad- 
ams, and  John  SulliTan,  the  committee.  The  allusion  to  the  land  of  prg- 
nujt  vras  thought  to  tx  »s  elegant  as  it  was  pious.'» 

Hi»«.  Coll,  vol,  5,  paj*  axi  ffb 

K2 


ILii  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

solved  and  he  ceased  preaching,  but  has  still  the  pasto- 
ral care  of  the  Church. 

In  the  year  1793,  the  people  at  Parsonsfield  made 
considerable  exertion  for  the  settlement  of  a  Minister. 
Mr.  Rufus  Anderson,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College, 
of  the  class  of  1791,  was  then  preaching  in  the  town. 
Some  attention  to  religion  appeared,  and  the  people 
were  exceedingly  anxious  that  he  should  settle  among 
them.  He  however  declined  their  invitation  and  was 
afterward  settled  in  the  West  Parish  in  North-Yarmouth 
now  Cumberland.  In  a  little  more  than  a  year  the  peo- 
ple obtained  as  a  candidate  Mr.  Benjamin  Rolfe,  and  in 
Jauuary  1795,  a  Church  was  organized,  and  he  was  or- 
dained.— Mr.  Rolfe  continued  to  preach  at  Parsonsfield 
twenty  years.  He  was  dismissed  In  May  1815,  and  is 
since  dead.  The  Church  In  that  place  which  was  never 
large,  is  reduced  to  less  than  twenty  members,  and  the 
Congregational  Society  to  about  that  number  of  fami- 
lies. They  are  destitute  of  stated  preaching.  The 
Church  at  Limerick  was  organized  in  July  1795.  Mr. 
Edmund  Eastman  was  then  preaching  at  that  place. 
He  soon  received  a  call,  and  was  ordained  in  October 
of  that  year.  Rev.  Mr.  Eastman  was  an  active  man, 
and  while  he  remained  in  health  things  were  as  prospe- 
rous at  Limerick  as  is  usual  In  places  not  visited  by 
specialrevivals  of  religion.  But  in  about  fifteen  years 
after  his  settlement  the  health  of  Mr.  Eastman  declined, 
and  he  died  in  Dec.  1812.  The  Church  was  small  at 
this  time,  the  town  much  divided  in  sentiment,  and  the 
society  consequently  quite  feeble.  For  six  years  they 
ivere  occasionally  supplied  with  preaching  from  volun- 


SHAPLEIGH.  115 

tarf  subscription,  and  from  aid  afFoided  them  by  Mis- 
sionary Societies.  In  the  year  1818,  Mr.  Charles  Free- 
man was  directed  by  the  Trustees  of  the  Maine  Mis- 
sionary Society  to  labour  for  a  terrri  of  time  at  Limer- 
ick. The  people  were  pleased  with  his  ministrations 
and  employed  him  for  a  longer  period,  and  at  length 
for  a  year,  and  in  January  1820,  he  was  regularly  or- 
4ained  as  Pastor  of  the  Church  and  Minister  of  the  peo» 
pie. 

The  people  at  Newfield,  though  perhaps  favored  with 
more  of  the  labours  of  Mr.  Adams  than  either  of  the 
other  towns  in  that  region,  were  nevertheless  longer 
than  the  others  in  obtaining  a  settled  minister  ampng 
them.  In  July  1801,  a  small  Church  was  organized 
there.  Mr.  John  Stoddard  was  then  preaching  at  New- 
field,  whom  the  people  had  invited  to  settle,  but  he  was 
not  ordained  there.  In  February  1803,  Rev.  John 
Dane  was  ordained  at  Newfield.  The  ministry  of  Mr, 
Dane  was  short,  but  ruinous  to  the  Church  and  Society.. 
He  came  into  possession  of  all  their  parsonage  pro- 
perty, and  in  about  eleven  months  was  dismissed  for 
gross  immoralities,  and  they  have  since  been  destitute. 

SHAPLEIGH. 

In  Shapleigh  provision  was  early  made  for  the  sup- 
port of  a  Minister  by  a  reserve  of  lands  in  the  town. 
The  town  lying  on  both  sides  of  a  considerable  pond 
seemed  naturally  divided,  and  it  was  legally  so  into  two 
Parishes  in  February  1795.  The  west  parish  being  first 
settled  and  increasing  in  population  made  arrangements 
for  the  settlement  of  a  minister.    Accordingly  a  Church 


no  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

having  been  organized  previously,  in  January  1796,  Rev. 
Joseph  Brown  was  ordained.  Mr.  Brown's  ministry  at 
Shapleigh  was  soon  terminated.  In  May  1804,  he  was 
dismissed  by  mutual  consent,  and  soon  after  installed  at 
Alfred.  The  Church  and  Society  have  never  since, 
thought  themselves  able  to  support  a  Minister,  and  have 
consequently  been  destitute.  In  the  eastern  parish  no 
Congregational  Church  has  ever  been  gathered. 

LYMAN. 

The  first  settlement  at  Lyman,  called  originally  Cox* 
hall,  has  been  mentioned  in  connexion  with  Alfred.  A- 
bout  the  year  1787,  the  people  began  to  act  as  a  sepa- 
rate religious  society,  and  took  measures  to  procure  a 
Minister.  Rev.  Daniel  Maret,  now  the  minister  of  Stan- 
«lish.  Rev.  Thomas  Roby  afterward  settled  at  Otisfield, 
and  Mr.  Nymphas  Hatch,  were  among  the  candidates 
whose  settlement  at  Lyman  seemed  more  or  less  proba- 
ble. At  length  Rev.  Jonathan  Calef,  who  had  been 
once  settled  at  Canaan  on  Kennebeck  River,  was  em- 
ployed. The  people  gave  him  a  call,  a  Church  was 
gathered,  and  he  was  installed  in  November  1801.  He 
remains  the  present  Minister  of  the  place. 


INTERIOR    OF    CUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  lit 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

1765. 

Following  the  order  of  time  our  attention  will  next 
be  directed  to  the  Churches  In  the  Interior  of  Cumber- 
land County,  where  we  shall  find  the  nine  following, 
viz.  New-Gloucester,  Standish,  Gray,  Bridgton,  two  In 
Minot,  Durham,  Otisfield,  and  Raymond.  We  begin 
with 

NEW-GLOUCESTER. 

The  town  of  New-Gloucester  was  granted  by  the  Ge» 
neral  Court  of  the  then  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay 
to    sixty  inhabitants  of  Gloucester   In  Essex  County, 
March  27,  1 736,  and  confirmed  to  them  in  July  of  the 
following  year.     The  settlement  of  die  town  was  imme- 
diately commenced,  and  a  saw  mill  and  ttvelve  log  hou- 
ses built.     The   first  opening  in  the  town  was  made  by 
Jonas  Mason,   Esq.  who   afterwards  settled  at  North- 
Yarmouth.     It  was  on  the  northeast  side  of  the  hill  now- 
called  "Harris'  hill,"  on  the  farm  afterwards  occupied 
by  Mr.  Washburn.     Some   trees  were  also  felled  the 
same  summer  by  a  Mr.  Russell,  on  the  opposite  side  of 
^the  road,  nearer  the  bottom  of  the  hill.    But  the  Indians 
were  so  troublesome,  there  being  no  settlements  to  the 
north  of  them,  that  the  town  was  aband(.ned  for  seven- 
teen years.     In  IT54<  it  began  to  be  inhabited,  many  of 
the  original   proprietors    settled    there,  a  garrison  was 
built  for  security  against  the  Savages,  and  the  town  was 
soon  regularly  organized. 

It  was  the  Iniidable  practice  of  that  day  for  the  pro 


11*8  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

prietors  of  new  towns  vvliether  actual  settlers  or  not,  to 
lead  the  way  in  the  settlement  of  Ministers.  Accord- 
ingly, the  proprietors  of  New-Gloucester  gave  a  tract 
of  land  in  the  town  for  the  support  of  the  Ministry,  and 
a  lot  near  the  centre  of  the  town  for  the  firft  settled 
minister  ;  they  also  Immediately  took  measures  for  ob- 
taining a  candidate.  Mr.  Russel,  who  afterwards  set- 
tled as  a  Physician  in  North-Yarmouth,  and  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Eaton  since  settled  in  Harpswell,  each  received  a 
call  to  settle  at  New-Gloucester  but  declined.  In  the 
autumn  of  i  764,  Mr.  Samuel  Foxcroft  son  of  Rev. 
Thomas  Foxcroft  of  Boston  was  employed  to  preach  on 
probation.  He  was  soon  invited  by  the  people  to  settle 
with  tjiem,  and  on  the  16th  of  January  1765  a  Church 
was  organized,  and  Mr.  Foxcroft  ordained.  The  ori- 
ginal members  of  the  Church  were  eight  In  number,  ®f 
whom  none  now  remain.*  There  being  no  Meeting- 
house in  the  Town,  at  first  public  worship  was  attended 
in  the  Garrison.f  For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Fox- 
croft's  salary  was  paid  by  the  proprietors,  and  all  things 
were  conducted  with  harmony  both  in  Church  and  Par- 
ish. After  sixteen  years,  from  some  cause  or  other,  dif- 
ficulties arose,  so  that  In  1783,  a  Faft  was  held  by  the 
Cliurch  on  account  of  rheir  troubles,  and  to  seek  of  God 
a  right  way  for  themselves  and  their  children.  In 
March  of  the  succeeding  year  the  town  appeared  to  be 

•  Their  names  were  Samuel  Foxcroft,  John  Tufts,  Jabcz  True,  Daniel 
I.Tcirill,  Moses  Woodbury,  William  Stevens,  Ebcnezer  Mason  and  Peleg 
Chandler. 

tThc  Garrison  stood  about  lOO  rods  60uth-wcst  from  the  Meetinghouse, 
op.  the  lower  side  of  the  road. 


NEW-GLOUCESTER.  119 

much  dIsafFected  and  proposed  to  the  Church  to  obtain 
aROther  preacher  for  two  months,  but  to  this  proposal 
the  Church  would  not  accede.     Things  now  seemed  to 
be  coming  to  a  crisis,  and  in  May  following  Mr.  Fox- 
croft  requefted  a  dismission.     A  Council  being  called 
advised  against  such  a  procedure,  and  proposed  con- 
ciliatory measures  on  both   sides.     These  were  accord- 
ingly adopted,  and  arrangements  were  amicably  made 
for  the  settlement  of  a   Colleague   with   Mr.  Foxcroft. 
In  January   1786,  the  Church  and    Parish  concurred  in 
an  invitation  to  Mr.  John  Wilder  to  settle  with  them, 
but  he  declined,  and  is  since   settled  in  Attleborough  in 
Massachusetts.     Mr.   Foxcroft   ceased  preaching,  and 
relinquished  hii  salary,  in  order  to  open  the  way  clearly 
for  the  settlement  of  another  Minister,  although  he  was 
not  dismissed.     The  people  soon  employed  Mr.  Nathan 
Church,  now  the  Minister  of  Brigdton,  to  preach  on  pro- 
bation, and  in  March  1787,  united  in  giving  him  a  call, 
but  he  also  declined  their  invitation. 

A  dark  cloud  now  appeared  to  hang  over  the  Church 
and  they  had  but  little  encouragement  to  settle  another 
c^didate.  At  this  state  of  their  affairs  Mr.  Foxcroft 
again  commenced  preaching,  and  w^e  hear  of  no  more 
difficulties  for  nearly  three  years.  .  The  year  1791  will 
be  long  remembered  by  the  people  who  then  lived  In 
New-Gloucester.  In  that  year  a  "young  man  named 
Wait  Cornwall,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  who  had  late- 
ly been  licensed  to  preach,  journeying  for  his  health 
came  to  New-G  oucester  and  spent  several  months  with 
Rev.  Mr.  Foxcroft.  He  was  very  much  devoted  to  the 
cause  of  Christ,  and  appeared  to  feel  deeply  the  worth 


ISO  CONGUEGATIONALISTS. 

of  souls.    His  preaching  and   private  addresses  were 
solemn  and  pungent,  and  the  people  soon  became  un- 
commonly attentive  to  the    subject   of  religion.       The 
public  assemblies  became  crov^ded  and  solemn,  and  pri- 
vate meetings  for  conference  and  prayer  were  frequent- 
ly held.     The  awakening   while   It  lasted  was  exceed- 
ingly powerful,  great  emotions  were  sometimes  discov- 
ered during    public    worship,  and  In   most  cases  very 
strong  impressions  of  the  importance  of  religion  were 
made.     It  is  difficult  to  ascertain  the  precise  number  of 
those  converted  during  this   season   of  awakening,  but 
the  excitement  was  very  considerable,    and  there  is  rea- 
son to  believe  that  much  good  was  effected.     This  sea- 
son of  religious  attention,  after  what  had  taken  place  at 
New-Gloucester,  was  like  the  clear  shining  after  the  rain, 
and  was  doubtless  refreshing  in  no  small  degree  to  those 
who  like  pious  Simeon  and  Anna   of  old  were  waiting 
for  the  consolation  6f  Israel.     But   this   pleasant  pros- 
pect was  soon  obscured.     The   uneasiness  between  the 
Pastor  and  the  people  soon  shewed   itself  again,  and  la 
January  1792  Mr.  Foxcroft  again  requested  a  dismission, 
to  which  the  Church  consented  without  the  advice  of  a 
Council. 

Mr.  Nathan  Bradstreet  was  soon  engaged  to  supply 
the  pulpit,  and  in  Odlober  of  that  year  received  an 
unanimous  call  of  both  Church  and  parish  to  set  le  with 
them.  He  however  declined  their  invitation,  and  was 
settled  afterward  at  Chester  in  New-Hampshire.  To- 
ward winter  it  became  a  question  with  the  Church 
whether  Mr.  Foxcioft  was  really  dismissed,  and  to  make 


N*EW. GLOUCESTER.  iSl 

jt  certain,  in  January  1793,  they  passed  a  vote  to  that 
eifea  as  they  had  done  the  year  before. 

During  the  ensuing  summer  Mr.  Otis  Crosby  was 
employed  by  the  people  to  preach  with  them.  Divine 
influences  appeared  to  be  afforded  in  a  considerable  de- 
gree, and  some  whose  attention  had  been  excited  by 
the  preachi.igf  of  Mr.  Cornwall,  now  gave  evidence  of 
a  change  of  heart.  In  November  of  this  year  a  call 
was  presented  to  Mr.  Crosby  to  take  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  Church,  to  which  he  returned  an  af- 
firmative anfwer,  and  June  19,  1794',  was  appointed 
for  his  ordination.  But  God  had  appointed  a  different 
result  to  the  affairs  of  the  Church  and  people  at  New- 
Gloucester  ;  and  they  had  still  to  contend  with  many 
troubles.  As  the  spring  opened  Mr.  Crosby's  health, 
naturally  feeble,  began  rapidly  to  decline.  He  lingered 
through  the  summer,  and  all  hope  of  his  recovery  being 
taken  away,  in  October  his  affirmative  answer  was  re- 
turned to  him  at  his  request,  that  the  way  ipnight  be 
open  to  the  employment  of  another  candidate,  and  he 
closed  his  life.  May  29,  1795.  About  the  time  Mr. 
Crosby  recalled  his  affirmative  answer,  the  people  em- 
ployed Mr.  Hugh  Wailis,  who  was  afrerward  settled  at 
Bath,  to  preach,  and  in  December  of  that  year  gave  him 
a  call,  but  he  refused  to  settle  with  them. 

The  pulpit  was  supplied  with  preaching  during  the 
summer  of  1795,  but  no  person  was  employed  as  a  can- 
didate for  settlement.  Indeed  after  such  a  series  of  dif- 
ficulties as  the  people  had  encountered  for  twelve  years 
it  was  not  strange  that  they  should  feel  alm,oft  dispirit^- 
L 


12^  CONGREGATIOKALIST^. 

ed.  At  this  time  it  was  suggested  by  some  of  the 
Church  that  the  improper  manner  of  Mr.  Foxcroft's 
dismission  might  be  one  cause  of  the  frowns  of  Provi- 
dence which  they  then  felt ;  and  after  consultation  they 
agreed  to  call  a  council  to  advise  them  what  course  they 
hdd  best  pursue.  T^he  lesult  of  that  council  Is  now  un- 
known. For  more  than  two  years  longer  the  people 
employed  no  candidate  for  settlement.  They  had  ma- 
ny preachers  for  short  tetms  of  time,  and  were  often  des- 
titute. In  the  summer  of  1798,  Mr.  James  Boyd,  who 
had  once  been  a  Preacher  in  the  Methodist  connexion, 
was  engaged  to  preach  on  probation.  In  October  of 
that  year  he  received  a  call  to  settle,  and  having  answer- 
ed it  in  the  affirmative,  a  Council  was  summoned  for 
his  ordination.  But  a  strong  opposition  was  made  and 
the  Council  declined  proceeding.  Another  Council 
was  invited,  and  then  a  third,  but  the  opposition  rather 
increased  than  diminished,  and  new  and  more  serious 
difficulties  presented  themselves  to  the  minds  of  each 
Council  as  they  proceeded,  and  the  idea  of  an  ordina- 
tion in  this  case  was  abandoned.  Mr.  Boyd  soon  left 
the  town,  and  was  afterward  settled  for  a  time  in  Ban^ 
gor. 

Again  the  Church  and  people  at  New-Gloucestei* 
were  left  in  a  divided  state,  and  peace  and  haimony 
seemed  forever  exiled  from  them.  After  the  unplea- 
sant excitement  occasioned  by  these  proceedings,  had 
subsided  In  some  measure,  the  people  still  anxious  for  a 
Minister,  sought  another  Candidate.  They  employed 
Mr.  John  Dane.  After  a  term  of  probation  he  received 
a  call  in  May  1801,  and  returned  an  affirmative  answe^ 


NEW-GLOUCESTER,    STANDISH.  1S3 

But  the  Council  when  assembled  found  so  many  objec- 
tions to  the  Candidate,  some  presented  to  them  by  a  re- 
spectable minority  of  the  Parish,  and  some  arising  from 
other  circumstances,  that  they  declined  proceeding  to 
ordination.  Mr  Dane  was  afterward  settled  at  Nev^-- 
field  in  York  County. 

It  was  but  a  few  weeks  after  Mr.  Dane  left  the  town, 
that  Mr.  Ehsha  Mosely  was  employed  as  a  Candidate. 
In  October  of  the  same  year  he  received  a  call,  which 
he  soon  answered  in  the  affirmative,  and  was  ordained 
February  10th  1802.  Thus  in  an  unlooked  for  moment 
harmony  was  restored  to  the  Church  and  Parish  after  a 
painful  scene  of  difficulties  of  nearly  twenty  ye^rs  con- 
tinuance. Rev,  Mr.  Mosely  remains  still  paflor  of  the 
Church,  and  the  ancient  troubles  remain  but  as  the  tides 
of  former  times. 

Mr.  Foxcrofi  lived  to  witnefs  the  settlement  of  his 
successor,  and  see  harmony  once  more  restored  to  thf? 
Church  in  whose  welfare  he  felt  deeply  interested.  He 
died  much  respected,  and  lamented  March  9,  1 807,  al 
the  age  of  72  years.* 

STANDISH. 

The  town  of  Standish  was  granted  in  the  year  1751| 
to  two  companies  of  men  who  assisted  in  the  reduction 
of  Louisberg.  Inhabitants  soon  moved  in,  and  the 
plantation  was  commenced  under  the  name  of  Pearson- 
town.  Agreeable  to  the  laudable  custom  of  that  day, 
the  Proprietors  soon  engaged  a  Preacher.  The  gentle- 
man employed  v/as  Mr.  John  Thompson,  son  of  Rev. 

*See  Appendix ,  N'o.  4. 


i24i  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

William  Thompson  of  Scarborough.  After  preaching 
on  probation,  proposals  were  made  for  his  settlement, 
which  being  acceeded  to,  a  Church  was  organized,  and 
Mr.  Thompson  ordained  its  Pastor. 

This  took  place  in  October  176S.  The  ceiemonies 
of  ordination  were  performed  in  the  Rev.  Mr.  Smith's 
Meeting-house  in  Portland.  At  this  time  there  were 
about  thirty  families  In  Standish. 

Mr.  Thompson's  salary  was  paid  by  the  proprietors 
for  eight  years.  During  the  revolutionary  war  the 
troubles  on  the  sea  coast  drove  many  inhabitants  back, 
and  the  settlement  at  Standish  was  greatly  increased. 
The  original  proprietors  supposing  that  the  inhabitants 
were  now  well  able  to  pay  their  Minister,  withheld  their 
usual  support  in  the  spring  of  1776.  Mr.  Thomp- 
son still  continued  his  labours  for  five  years  without  any 
compensation.  At  length  '  » the  year  1781,  he  suspend- 
ed his  ministrations  at  St?.:,  dish,  arxd  sought  other  fields 
of  labour.  After  two  years  the  pastoral  relation  was  for- 
mally dissolved,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson  was  installed 
at  Berwick.  The  Society  at  Standish  remained  in  a 
broken  and  destitute  condition  for  twelve  years  after 
Mr.  Thompson's  dismission.  Providence  at  length  o- 
pened  the  way  for  the  settlement  of  another  Minister  at 
this  place,  and  in  the  year  1793,  Rev.  Jonathan  Gould 
was  ordained.  But  they  were  soon  again  destitute,  for 
Mr.  Gould  lived  only  a  year  after  his  ordination.  One 
year  elapsed  after  this  event  before  the  present  Pastor  of 
the  Churchy  Rev.  X)aniel  Marqt,  v,'as  ordained. 


GRAY.  12.^ 

GRAY^ 

The  Church  in  Gray  was  embodied  in  the  month  of 
August  1774,  by  a  Council  convened  for  that  purpose, 
and  then  consisted  of  seven  male  members.  In  June 
ef  the  following  year,  Rev.  Samuel  Nash  was  ordained 
to  the  pastoral  care  of  that  Church,  and  continued  his 
ministrations  a  little  miore  chan  seven  years,  when  by 
advice  of  Council  his  ministerial  relation  was  dissolved. 
The  people  were  destitute  of  stated  preaching  two  years. 
During  the  summer  of  ITS^,  Rev.  Samuel  Per  ley  who 
had  been  once  settled  at  Seabrook  in  New-Hampshire, 
and  then  recently  dismissed  from  Moultonborough,  was 
employed  as  a  candidate.  After  hearing  him  the  peo- 
ple gave  him  a  call  ;  the  Church  saw  fit  to  adopt  the 
Piesbyterian  form  of  government,  and  Mr.  Perley  was 
installed  its  Pastor  on  the  8th  of  September  in  that  year. 
Mr.  Perley  continued  in  office  until  may  1791,  when  by 
mutual  agreement  between  him  and  the  people  he  ceas- 
ed preaching.  After  this,  the  Church  being  left  as 
sheep  without  a  shepherd,  were  scattered^  Their  num- 
ber, which  had  ever  been  small,  was  diminished  by 
deaths  and  removals,  until  only  two  male  members  re- 
mained. For  twelve  years  they  continued  in  this  brok- 
en and  scattered  state,  having  only  occasional  preaching. 
In  1803,  Rev.  Daniel  Weston,  the  present  Pastor  of  the 
Church,  was  employed  to  preach  on  probation.  In  Oc- 
tober of  that  year  a  coupcil  was  called  to  consider  the 
^tate  of  that  people.  After  due  examination  the  Coun- 
cil were  of  opinion  that  the  Church  was  extinct,  and 
they  proceeded  to  embody  one  anew  on  Congregational 
K  2 


4«»  COXGREGATIONALISTS. 

principles.  The  two  male  members  who  remained^ 
with  eight  others  constituted  the  new  Church.  To 
these  ten  the  Council  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellowship, 
and  greeted  them  as  a  sister  Church.  The  next  day- 
Mr.  Weston  was  ordained  to  the  pastoral  care  of  the 
new  Church.* 

BRIDGTON. 

The  first  family  moved  into  Bridgton  in  the  autumn 
of  the  year  1769.  From  that  time  the  permanent  set- 
tlement may  be  dated.  In  the  month  of  August  ITB^, 
Rev.  William  Fcssenden  of  Fryeburg,  attended  by  Hod. 
Simon  Frye  as  a  Delegate  from  the  Church  repaired  to 
Bridgton  and  organized  a  Church  there  of  ten  male 
members,  and  seven  females.  The  first  candidate  ever 
called  to  take  the  pastoral  care  of  this  Church  was  their 
present  Minister,  Rev.  Nathan  Church,  who  was  ordain- 
ed June  17,  1789. 

MINOT. 

The  towns  now  Minot  and  Poland  were  originally 
the  plantation  called  Bakerstown.  Religious  privileges 
werencyt  regularly  enjoyed  here  for  several  years  after 
the  first  setrlements  were  made.  In  October  of  the 
year  1792,  Rev.  Jonathan  Scott  who  had  been  recently 
■dismissed  from  Yarmouth  in  Nova  Scotia,  being  on  his 
\vay  to  Boston  by  water,  was  detained  by  contrary  winds 
m  North-Yarmouth  over  ihe  Sabbath,  and  preached 
there  to  great  acceptance,  f     He  here  became  acquaint- 


*  Manuscript  History  of  the  Church  in  Gr»y  on  the  files  of  Cumberland 
Assocution. 

"t  His  text  on  that  '  ccasion  was  Isaiah  xxxv.  lo.  "  And  the  ransomed  of 
the  Lord  hall  return  &c  —It  was  a  timt  of  much  religious  excitfmentat 
Morth-Yarmouth.  axid  both  the  Sermon  and  the  attenJant  circumstances  willi 
be  long  rcmenbered  by  many  people  tberci. 


MIXOT.  1^7 

ed  with  Rev.  Mr.  Gllman,  by  whose  means  the  people 
at  Minot  obtained  some  knowledge  of  him.  "  A  Church 
the  year  before  had  been  organized  in  the  plantation  j 
and  it  having  been  the  time  of  some  special  attention  to 
religion,  a  strong  desire  prevailed  to  enjoy  Gospel  priv- 
ileges. Accordingly  a  committee  of  the  Church  in  the 
spring  of  1793,  repaired  to  Mr.  Oilman,  and  authoriz- 
ed him  to  write  to  Mr.  Scott  to  come  among  them  and 
preach  the  Gospel.  Not  receiving  the  letter  under  six 
months,  he  reached  this  place,  for  the  first  time  Decem- 
ber 11,  1793.  He  spent  the  winter  and  a  part  of  the 
spring  in  preaching  among  the  people,  and  in  June  1794, 
again  visited  his  family  at  Yarmouth.  Before  leaving 
Bakerstown,  the  people  by  theii  committee  proposed  to 
him  to  come  among  them  again.  But  he  gave  no  as- 
surance that  he  should  comply  with  their  request.  He 
spent  most  of  that  summer  in  preaching  to  his  former 
people  in  Yarmouth.  In  August  he  again  left  Yar- 
mouth, and  reached  this  place  about  the  middle  of  Sep- 
tember. Not  long  after  this,  the  people  become  intent 
that  he  should  remove  his  family,  and  take  up  his  abode 
with  them.  About  sixteen  families  in  the  northerly 
part  of  the  plantation,  made  proposals  for  his  support 
for  one  year  and  an  half.  In  these  proposals  all  the 
members  of  the  Church  in  regular  standing  were  a- 
greed.  After  duly  weighing  these  proposals,  he  con- 
sented, and  turned  his  thoughts  to  the  subject  of  bring- 
ing his  family  to  Baker stown.  This  was  effected  by  the 
assistance  of  a  kind  providence,  and  they  arrived  here 
May  1st  .1795. 

Befpre  the  year  and  an  half  had  expired,  the  plantation 


1^8  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

became  an  incorporated  town  by  the  name  of  Poland. 
Attempts  were  therefore  made  that  as  a  town  he  should 
be  settled  in  the  ministry  among  them  ;  but  such  at- 
tempts were  not  successful.  This  induced  a  number  of 
persons,  nearly  one  hundred,  and  mostly  heads  of  fami- 
lies, to  enter  into  a  covenant  and  agreement  to  call  Mr. 
Scott  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  among  them.  In  this 
call  there  was  a  concurrence  of  the  Church.  After  de- 
liberation, he  gave  an  affirmative  answer,  and,  by  an 
Ecclesiastical  Council,  he  was  installed  pastor  of  the 
Church  and  covenanted  Society  in  Poland,  July  27, 
1796."* 

In  the  year  1802,  the  town  of  Poland  was  divided, 
and  the  northerly  part,  which  included  the  greater  part 
of  Mr.  Scott's  Society,  was  called  Minot.  In  about  three 
years  after  this,  two  Meeting-houses  were  built  in  Minct,. 
which  gave  rise  to  a  series  of  difficulties  both  in  the 
Church  and  Parish.  At  length  a  division  took  place. 
Mr.  Scott  was  dismissed  from  his  original  charge,  and 
installed  as  Minister  of  the  Church  and  Parish  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  town.  This  happened  in  August 
1805.  Rev.  Mr.  Scott  continued  Pastor  of  the  Church 
in  Minot  about  twenty  three  years.  In  the  begining  of 
February  1819,  his  health  became  so  much^  impaired 
that  he  was  constrained  to  suspend  his  public  labours. 
He  lingered  through  the  surnmer,  and  died  in  October 
following  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  After  the  install- 
ation of  Mr.  Scott  in  the  eastern  Paiish  in  Minot,  mea- 
smes  were  adopted  for  the  regular   organization  of  a 

♦  Rev,  Mr.  Greely's  'Sermon  preached  at  Minot  Oct,  24,  i8if ,  so;  n   aftc» 
ihe  ficcease  of  R'cv.  Mr.  Scott. 


DURHAM.  129 

Church  In  the  Western  part  of  the  Town,  which  was 
effected  in  October,  1806.  It  then  consisted  of  17 
members.  The  original  members  all  belonged  to  Mr. 
Scott's  Church  from  which  they  were  dismissed  at  this 
time.  In  February  1811,  Rev.  William  Pidgin,  for- 
merly of  Hampton  in  New-Hampshire,  was  installed 
Pastor  of  the  second  Church  in  Minot,  in  which  station 
he  remained  a  little  more  than  eight  years,  and  was 
then  dismissed.  This  took  place  August  14,  1819.— 
Both  Churches  are  now  destitute  of  Paflors, 

DURHAM. 

This  Town,  v/hich  was  originally  a  part  of  the  Pe- 
gypscot  claim,  lies  immediately  above  Brunswick  on  the 
Androscoggin.  Some  inhabitants  moved  into  the 
town  before  the  revolutionary  war.  The  first  settler 
in  the  town  was  Major  Gerrish,  who  lived  in  the  sou- 
therly part  of  the  town  toward  Freeport.  Colonel 
Royal  of  Medford  was  a  considerable  proprietor  in  the 
town,  and  before  the  act  of  incorporation  the  plantation 
was  called  Royalston. 

The  first  person  who  preached  here  for  any  considera- 
ble time  was  Rev.  Mr.  Chapman,  who  had  been  dismissed 
from  a  Church  in  Methuen.  He  came  to  Royalston 
about  the  year  1790,  and  tarried  nearly  a  year.  Some 
conversation  was  had  among  the  people  respecting  set- 
tling him,  but  no  effective  steps  were  taken. 

In  March  1796,  Rev.  Jacob  Herrick,  the  present  min- 
ister of  Durham  was  ordained  there,  and  a  small  Church 
was  gathered  by  the  ordaining  Council.  The  early 
part  of  the  year  1815  was  a  season  of  considerable  at- 


130  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

tention  to  religion  in  that  town,  and  eventually  produc- 
ed an  accession  to  the  Church  of  about  twenty  members. 

OTISFIELD. 

The  Congregational  Church  in  Otisfield,  was  gather- 
ed in  the  year  1797,  and  then  consisted  of  eight  male 
members.  At  that  time  Rev.  Thomas  Roby,  who  had 
been  once  settled  at  Mansfield  in  Massachusetts,  was  in- 
stalled its  Pastor.  Mr.  Roby  continued  to  preach  about 
fourteen  years.  Toward  the  close  of  this  term  very 
few  people  attended  meeting,  and  the  society  was  in  a 
state  of  declension.  In  ISll,  Mr.  Roby  was  dismissed, 
and  for  two  years  the  people  had  but  little  preaching 
among  them.  In  the  year  1813.  the  Cumberland  asso- 
ciation agreed  that  each  Minister  belonging  to  it  should 
spend  a  week  in  missionary  labours  in  some  of  the  desti- 
.tute  places  in  that  County.  Several  of  them  went  in 
.succession  to  the  town  of  Otisfield.  A  considerable 
attention  to  religion  was  the  immediate  fruit  of  this 
labor  of  love.  The  Church  and  people  were  aroused, 
and  in  November  1814,  Rev.  Josiah  Goodhue  Merrill 
was  ordained  over  them.  Ten  persons  were  very  soon 
added  to  the  Church.  Three  years  after  some  religious 
excitement  was  again  visible,  and  in  tli^e  course  of  two 
years  twenty- four  more  were  gathered  into  the  fold. 

Thus  did  a  very  little  extra  labour  of  the  settled  Min- 
isters in  the  vicinity,  result  in  the  upbuilding  of  a  de- 
caying Church,  and  the  reanimating  of  a  Society  then 
prostrate  in  the  dust.  Will  not  others  be  stimulated  by 
this  ex?.rmple,  and  generations  yet  to  come  rise  up  and 
call  them  blessed  ? 


RAYMOND.  131 

RAYMOND. 

The  church  In  this  town  is  of  recent  date.  In  the 
month  of  November  1813,  a  Council  was  convened 
there  consisting  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Herrick  of  Durham, 
Rev.  Mr,  Bradley  of  Westbrook,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Milte- 
more  of  Falmouth,  who  organized  a  small  church  in  the 
Town.  It  has  never  been  greatly  enlarged,  and  has 
not  yet  enjoyed  the  ministrations  of  a  stated  Pastor. 


13^  CONGTIEGATIONALISTS. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

1767. 

BOOTHBAY. 

This  town  was  originally  purchased  of  the  celebrated 
Indian  Sagamore,  Robin  Hud  or  Hood,  by  Henry  Gur* 
tis,  in  January  1666-  Some  of  the  lands  were  after- 
wards held  by  John  Ludgate  of  Boston,  and  called  Win- 
igance.  In  September  1 737,  he  made  a  grant  to  sun- 
dry people  then  dwellmg  there  of  lands  in  the  town, 
ordering  it  to  be  laid  out  in  lots  of  fifty  acres  near  the 
water  side.  A  generous  provision  for  the  support  of 
the  ministry  was  made  by  the  proprietor  at  this  time. 
Ten  acres  of  land  was  reserved  for  a  Meeting-house, 
training  field,  and  burying  ground,  and  he  ordered 
that  the  first  settled  minister  should  have  an  equal  share 
in  the  meadows  with  the  first  settlers  ;  That  100  acres 
of  land  should  be  laid  out  as  a  free  gift  to  the  first  Min- 
ister, and  another  100  acres  for  the  use  of  the  ministry 
forever  :  That  out  of  the  sales  of  the  land,  viz.  out  of 
the  second  payment,  he  would  allow  the  inhabitants  to 
deduct  100/.  toward  building  a  Meeting-house,  and  SOA 
per  annum  toward  paying  the  first  settled  Minister; 
and  in  case  there  should  not  be  twenty  new  lots  taken 
up  in  the  town  within  the  said  three  years,  then  he  en- 
gaged the  same  30/.  annually  for  three  years  more.  But 
the  settlement  increased  slowly,  and  notwithstanding  the 
provision  made  by  the  proprietor,  no  Minister  was  set- 
tled for  several  years. 


BOO'IMUAY.  i33 

As  the  settlement  became  more  regular  It  was  called 
Townsend,  and    in   176  !•,  the  town  was  incorporated 
by  the  name  of  Boothbay.     About  a   year  before   this, 
Rev.  John  Murray,  a  native  of  Ireland,   visited  Booth - 
bay.     His  ministrations  were  peculiarly  acceptable   to 
the  people,  and  he  was  invited  to  tarry  with  them,  and 
five  men  obligated  themselves  to  pay  him   an   annual 
salary  of  90/.  sterling.     The  instrument  by  which  they 
bound  thems-lves  is  dated  Dec.    22,    1763.     However 
Mr.  Murray  did  not  see  fit  to  tarry  with   them  at  that 
time,  but  went  to  Philadelphia  and  took  the  pastoral 
care  of  a  Church  in  that  City  ;  but  in  the  spring  of 
1766,  he  returned  to  Boothbay.     As  yet  no  Church  had 
been  organized  in  the  town,  and  a  general  inattention 
to  religion  prevailed.     Mr.  Murray  was  a  very  power- 
ful and  awakening  preacher,  and  when  among  the  peo- 
ple uncommonly  active  and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of 
pastoral   duties.     The  inhabitants   of  Boothbay    were 
probably,  as  is  common  in  new  places,   a  mixture   of 
men  of  all  opinions,  with  some  few  professors  of  reli- 
gion   of    several    denominations.     Mr.    Murray   fpent 
much  time  in  visiting  them  In  order  to  ascertain  their 
spiritual  state.     A  few  extracts  from  a  private  Diary  of 
his,  will  exhibit  somewhat  the  state  of  the  peopk,  and  his 
own  feelings  at  the  time.* 

*  Mr.  Murray's  met!rid  in  visiting  as  noted  by  himself  was— "  fst.  ?alijte 
"the  house,  zd.  Compare  die  lists  with  the  family— mark,  thfm  who  carl 
*'  rcad--catscI\isibl.-s--covenanters--Cliurch  members  3d. Address-i. children 
^  to  engage  in  eirly  religion.— z.  young  ones  to  reading,  secret  prayer,  the 
"  sabbath,  public  worship,  ordinances,  good  company,  good  houses,  good 
«'  tongues,  love  and  concoid,  fidelity,  conversion.  4tli.  Address  parents— 
»'  I.  .^bout  their  spiritual  state— z.  secret  devotion— 3.  family  worship,  gov- 
»»Jtrnment,  catechising— 4.  sabbatli,  public  worship,  sacraments  ;  If  Church 
»' members  sec  v^ hat  profit— if  not  remove  objections— if  in  error  or  vice* 
••'convhice,  reciaioi  J  if  in  divUions  heal  j  if  poor  help.  Lastly— exhortAtion 
"^to  all— pray  !" 

M 


t3i  CONGREGATlOXALlSTS. 

Toward  the  close  of  1766,  after  a  day  spent  in  visi-* 
liiijj  he  wrote  thus — "Alas  !  alas  !  what  shall  I  say  ?  I 
now  fear  the  success  of  my  ministry  more  than  ever.  O ! 
my  God,  enable  me  to  be  found  faithful.  Make  thy 
strength  perfect  in  my  great  weakness.  O  !  pour  out 
thy  spirit  on  these  poor  families  that  they  may  not  for- 
get the  promises  this  day  made  in  thy  sight,  that  thy 
worship  shall  be  daily,  morning  and  evening  maintained 
in  their  houses,  and  that  they  will  never  rest  until  they 
have  received  thy  Christi  into  all  their  hearts.  O  !  let 
the  convictions  we  hope  begun  on  two  of  them  be  car- 
ried deeper  and  deeper  until  ended  in  conversion. 
Eight  unbaptized — all  prayeiless.     Alas  !  Alas  !" 

Again  he  unites — "a  dismal  prospect  truly  i  thirteen 
unbaptized  this  day,  eight  yesterday  ;  all  ignorant  of 
God  and  of  themselves,  and  though  they  all  profess  o- 
therwise,  I  fear  all  prayerless  ;  all  determined  to  cher- 
ish their  hopes,  though  I  have  found  but  two  who  can 
rationally  profess  any  experience  of  the  power  of  reli- 
gion !  and  God  knows  their  hearts  ;  some  of  the  En. 
glish  Church,  some  of  Separates,  most  of  them  nothing 
at  all.  Arise  O  Lord,  or  this  people  perish.  O  shew 
thy  salvation  to  them,  revive  thine  own  work,  or  we 
are  an  undone  people." 

Under  date  of  Sept.  25,  he  wrote  again — "  Now  this 
weeks  visits  are  finished  ;  what  have  I  done  ?  Have 
I  been  faithful  ?  O,  if  so  in  any  measure,  praise  to  my 
rock,  my  strength.  I  trust  the  great  things  of  religion 
have,  in  my  poor  way,  been  piessed  upon  them  :  Some 
appear  really  resolved  for  God,  all  were  more  or  less 
affected.     I  fear  some  h  ave  professed  what  t'  ey  know 


BOOTH  BAY.  13^1 

not ;  all  have  promised  family  worship  &c.  regularly, 
morning  and  evening  :  all  have  promised  to  be  in  ear- 
nest about  salvation.  O  Lord,  I  commit  the  whole  to 
thee  :  breathe  on  my  poor  feeble  attempts  ;  grant  the 
success  }  tis  all  of  thee  :  O  come  among  this  blind, 
hardened,  perishing  people  :  Shew  them  thy  salvation  ; 
Lord  arise,  arise,  and  save.     Amen.     Amen. 

Oct.  1st  he  says — "  My  remarks  alas  !  admit  of  no 
changes  yet.  Tis  true  I  have  met  with  three  female 
prefessors,  one  of  them  I  really  hope  is  genuine  :  but 
oh,  the  midnight  slumbers  of  the  rest  I  darkness  !  to- 
tal darkness  !  darkness  !  darkness  that  might  be  felt, 
with  no  desire  of  real  day  !  O  earth,  earth,  earth,  liear 
the  word  of  the  Lord.  Open,  great  God,  the  car  and 
heart  of  this  people.  O  what  triumphs  would  grace 
gain  if  such  sinners  were  brought  home  !  every  house 
prayerless  ;  save  one  I  every  heart  as  adamant,  O 
Lord,  for  a  life  giving  word.**^ 

Under  the  same  date,  in  visiting  the  Islands  he  says — 
«  Some  comfort  to-day,  blessed  be  God  ;  here  are  three 
prayerful  families,  four  professors,  two  are  communicants, 
but  false  hopes  have  slain  their  thousands  :  woeful  is 
the  security  of  fig  leaves  :  sad  ignorance  in  many  :  four 
unbaptized." 

"  Oct.  2d  very  hard  and  painful  work  to  bring  any 
to  conviction  of  duty,  sin,  or  danger.  Pra)'^erless,  and 
yet  self  condemned  for  it,  Christless,  confessedly  and 
yet  easy  and  secure  !  ignorant  and  pleading  that  as  a 
righteousness  !  What  stronger  proof  of  the  corrup- 
tion of  the  human  heart   can  be   imagined   than  this. 


136  CONGUEGATIONALISTS. 

Alas,  alas!  O let  none  defer  the  one  thing  needful  till 
old  age  in  hopes  of  being  more  at  leisure  or  better  dis- 
posed then.  A  sad  instance  of  the  fatal  danger  of  that> 
has  this  day  been  seen  ;  fourscore  years,  bowed  down 
with  all  the  decrepit,  and  yet  determined  after  all 
v/arnings  to  rest  satisfied,  for  no  other  reason  but  be- 
cause not  afraid  of  death.  Woe  is  me  !  Ah  my  heart ! 
Great  God  grant  strength,  and  zeal  and  faithfulness  : 
make  these  poor  souls  firm  to  the  resolution  this  day 
professed,  and  O  revive  thy  work  tliat  this  heart-break- 
ing blindness  may  come  to  an  end." 

Nov.  11.  "  Hitherto  almost  all  I  have  met  with  has 
been  for  a  lamentation  :  can  I  now  change  my  note  ^ 
Alas  !  alas  !  is  all  I  can  say  yet  :  here  I  have  had  sad 
view  of  ignorance,  and  carelessness  in  every  house, 
youth  wrapt  in  slumber,  and  old  age  by  their  practice 
saying  sleep  on:  Yea  by  every  appearance  like  the  Ethio- 
pians skin  they  acknowledge  every  thing,  assent  to  all 
that  is  said  ;  yet  conscience  in  a  corner  inaccessible. 
Wliat  shall  I  say  ?  inveterate  habits  of  vice,  and  no  re- 
morse. It  gives  me  som.e  comfort  that  I  have  found 
one  prayerful  family,  and  a  Inimble  professor  at  the 
head  of  it  ;  and  in  anotlier,  one  struck  ofr  from  false 
-hope  and  under  conviction  :  Lord,  fasten  it  and  increase 
the  number  !  Amen  !  Amen  !"  Such  appears  to  have 
been  the  state  of  Mr.  Murray's  mind  at  the  close  of 
ilie  year  1766,  and  it  will  not  appear  strange  that  God's 
work  was  soon  levived  in  Boothbay.  In  the  course  of 
ihe  winter  following  the  attention  to  religion  was  con.; 
biddable;  a  Church  was  organi/rd  on  Prrsbytcri,in  '  i"in» 


BOO  Til  BAY.  137 

ciples,  and  on  the  12th  of  April  1767,  the  sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  supper  was  administered  there  for  the 
first  time.  The  Church  then  consisted  of  fifty  one  per* 
sons,  of  whom  thirteen  were  that  day  received.  Aboiu 
one  hundred  communicants  appeared,  members  of  oth- 
er Churches  being  joined  with  them,  and  all  sat  down 
together  to  celebrate  the  dying  love  of  their  Saviour. 
The  awakening  continued,  and  in  October  of  the  same 
year  20  persons  more  were  received  to  the  Church,  and 
the  sacrament  was  again  administered  to  about  two 
hundred  and  twenty  persons.  Many  of  these  were 
probably  gathered  from  the  adjoining  towns,  as  there 
was  no  Church  eastward  of  Boothbay  at  that  time,  and 
the  revival  there  together  with  the  administration  of  the 
sacrament  would  naturally  draw  together  the  pious  pro- 
fessing people  from  a  considerable  distance.  During 
the  Vvinter  following  the  word  of  the  Lord  continued  to 
have  free  course,  and  was  glorified  m  the  conversion  of 
souls,  so  that  in  April  1768,  eleven  persons  more  made 
public  confession  of  their  Saviour  before  men,  and 
were  admitted  to  communion  at  his  table.  In  Septem- 
ber following  Mr.  Murray  stiles  it  "  a  glorious  day" 
with  them,  as  eighteen  persons  were  received  to  the 
Church,  making  sixty-three  in  all  \vho  had  been  gath- 
ered in  during  that  season  of  revival.  * 

Mr.  Murray  was  at  this  time  the  only  Minister  settled 
eastward  of  Woolwich,  and  his  labours  were  abundant 
in  all  the  surroanding  region.  The  shower  of  grace 
which  had  so  ( lentifuUy   watered  his  particular  charge 


♦  Rev.  Mr.  T.turray'3  private  papers. 

M2 


438  CGMGREOATIONALIS'JS. 

hnd  extended  into  the  adjoining  towns,  wliere  a  thinly 
scattered  population  had  recently  planted  themselves. 
The  fallowing  extract  from  a  testimonial  left  by  the  ses- 
r-ion  of  the  Church  on  their  records  concerning  this  sea- 
son of  refreshing  will  best  exhibit  the  character  of  the 
work,  and  the  cxtenfion  of  it  in  the  neighboring  towns  u 
It  Is  dated  in  the  year  1767. 

"  It  had  been  very  observable  that  tlirongh  the  whole 
*if  the  winter  a  very  unusual  seriousness  and  solemnity 
;>ppeared  amongst  the  generality  of  tlie  people  here,  ac- 
companied with  an  insatiable  desire  after  the  word,  and 
several  persons  awakened  to  an  anxious  concern  for 
their  souls  ;  but  nothing  very  remarkable  of  a  public 
nature  until  tlie  sacrament ;  then  there  were  such  symp- 
toms of  the  powerful  and  special  presence  of  the  God  of 
grace,  as  every  one  might  discern,  and  we  can  never 
enough  be  thankful  for  :  it  was  a  solemn,  sweet  and 
glorious  season  :  many  of  God's  children  were  filled 
with  the  joys  of  the  Lord,  and  many  poor  souls  brought 
to  see  their  need  of  that  Saviour  tliey  had  shamefully 
yieglected,  and  wickedly  crucified.  The  effects  were 
evident  the  ensuing  week  and  on  tlie  next  Sabbath  :  im- 
mediately on  the  back  of  which  the  Pastor  at  the  call 
of  several  of  the  neighboring  towns,  visited  Pownalbor- 
ough,  Sheepscatt,  the  head  of  the  Tide,  Walpole,  Har- 
jington,  &c.  And  during  the  space  of  two  w^eks  which 
this  tour  took  up,  he  preached  every  day  :  and  the  work 
of  God  was  glorious  :  every  day  it  appeared  that  some 
were  awakened  :  many  souls  old  and  young  were 
pricked  to  the  heart,  many  obliged  to  cry  out  in  their 
distress,  some  were  clearly  brought  otit  into  the  light  of 


BOOTHBAY.  139 

die  Gospel.     It  seemed  in  all  these  places  that  the  Al- 
mighty  hand  was  displayed  with  such  power  as  if  the 
Lord  was  resolved   to  make  his  word  bear  down  every 
thing  before  it.     When  our  pastor  returned  and  told 
the  wonderful  works  of  God  both  from  the  pulpit  and 
at  the  Society  and  the  Wednesday  exercise,  the  news 
was  very  joyful  to  all    who   had  ever  tasted  any  thing 
of  religion,  very  alarming  to  the  secure,   and  greatly 
confirmed  the  convictions  of  such  as  had  been  awaken- 
ed :  religion  became  the  conversation  of  all  companies : 
the  voice  of  opposition  was  struck  dead  :  upon  almost 
every  occasion  of  public  worship  which  was  then  more 
frequent  than  usual,    the  congregation  was  drowned  in 
tears,  and  some  new  instances  of  conviction  or  comfort 
appeared.     The  Pastor's  lodgings  were  then  daily  crou- 
ded  with  poor  wounded  souls  that  knew  not  what  to  do  ;. 
with  whom  he  often  found  sweet  employment  day  and 
night,  sometimes  till  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  often 
till  after   midnight,  with  one  company   after   another. 
The  intermission  seasons  on  the  Sabbath  were  then  ta-- 
ken  up  entirely  in  the  works  of  piety  ;  some  would  re- 
pair wherever  they  saw  any  person  that  was  deemed  an 
experienced  christian  (all  of  whom  we  found  greatly 
quickened  at  that  time)  to  lay  their  cases  open  to  him  ; 
some  to  the  Minister,  some  to  secret  prayer,  and  great 
companies  would  retire  to  the  woods  to  sing  hymns  of 
praise  ;   so  that  one  might  almost  all  the  time  hear  the 
wilderness  singing  hosannas.     The  Societies  were  then 
precious  seasons  ;  it  seemed  sometimes  as  if  heaven  was 
come  down  to  dwell  on  earth.     The  Wednesday  exerci- 
ses were  also  greatly  blessed,  especially  on  the  young 


140  C0NGREGATI0NAL1ST9. 

people  and  the  childrens  days,  in  some  of  which  we  could 
see  the  dear  little  babes  by  forty  in  a  company  crying 
and  weeping  on  account  of  their  state,  v>  hilst  their  ten- 
der parents  with  bursting  hearts  and  streaming  eyes 
stood  by  :  and  in  some  instances  and  particularly  once 
at  the  west  end  of  the  town,  the  whole  congregation 
seemed  to  be  taken  hold  of  :  after  the  blessing  was  pro- 
nounced, their  hearts  were  so  wounded  that  near  thirty 
persons  men  and  women  cried  out  ;  whlLt  a  goodly 
number  of  God*s  children  were  overcome  with  joy  at  the 
sight,  and  O  what  a  season  the  remainder  of  that  day 
was  among  them.  Thus  it  continued  through  all  the 
summer  amongst  us  ;  and  blessed  be  God  it  is  not  yet 
gone.  What  fruits  may  afterwards  appear  we  know 
not,  what  numbers  have  been  brought  home  we  pretend 
not  to  guess  ;  these  things  we  refer  to  him  whose  work 
it  is.  Biit  for  the  sake  of  the  following  age  into  whose 
hands  these  records  may  fall,  we  cannot  help  leaving 
this  our  joint  public  testimony  to  the  glory  of  God,  and. 
not  of  any  mortal,  but  rather  to  our  own  abasement,, 
and  the  shame  both  of  Minister  and  people  that  we  did 
not  improve  it  in  another  manner,  that  there  has  this 
year  thus  far  been  an  evident,  powerful  and  gloiious 
woik  of  God's  spirit  carried  on  in  this  and  the  neigh- 
bouring towns  in  the  awa^  oning  and  we  believe  the  con« 
Yersiop  of  many  souls,  which  may  the  same  grace  coq« 


BOOTIIBAY,  341 

tmue  and  increase  until  the  whole  earth  bow  to  the  con- 
queror Christ."* 

Signed,  John  Murray,  Pastor. 

Robert  MuRRAYy  "^ 

FFiLLMM  Moor,  (  Ruling  Elders. 

John  Beath,  C 

Neheuiah  Harringden,  ^ 


Samuel  jIdams,  1 

Israel  Daiis,  1» Deacons. 

Ephraim  M'Farland,  j 


The  ministry  of  Mr.  Murray  at  Boothbay  continued 
for  a  little  more  than  thirteen  years.  His  talents  were 
of  a  superior  cast,  and  could  not  fail  to  attract  the  no- 
tice of  polished  Societies  where  he  had  opportunity  ta 
preach.  In  the  year  1775,  he  was  solicited  to  take  the 
pastoral  charge  of  one  of  the  societies  in  Boston.  Against 
this  the  people  remonstrated,  and  in  town  meeting  chose 
John  Beath  and  Paul  Reed  a  committee  to  meet  a  Pres- 
bytery at  Brunswick  respecting  this  matter.  Mr.  Mur- 
ray did  not  remove  at  this  time,  but  about  four  years 
after,  he  removed  to  Newbury  Port  and  took  the  pasto- 
ral care  of  tlie  Presbyterian  church  there,  then  vacant 
by  the  death  of  Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons. 

The  removal  of  Mi.  Murray  from  Boothbay  was  a 
grievous  thing  to  many  of  the  people,  and  for  three  or 
four  years  they  were  destitute  of  stated  preaching.  In 
March  1783,  the  town  voted  an  appropriation  of  100/ 
for  the  support  of  a  minister,  and  appointed  the  Session 
of  the  Church  as  a  committee  to  employ  a  candidate  — 
it  would  be  wrong  to  v.^ithhold  from  the  people  at  Booth  v. 


«  Boo-thbay  Cbvrch  Rccc;i..', 


143  GONGREGATIONALISTS. 

bay,  the  praise  which  is  justly  due  to  them  for  this 
measure.  It  has  been  the  practice  of  some  parishes 
when  deprived  of  a  Minister  by  death  or  otherwise,  to 
step  forward  and  take  the  lead  in  thebufmefs  of  settling 
another  to  the  almost  exclusion  of  the  Church.  But 
here  was  a  noble  example  of  a  Parish,  or  rather  a  town, 
referring  the  choice  of  a  Minister  to  the  Church  to  whom 
he  would  sustain  the  endearing  relation  of  Pastor. 

It  does  not  appear  that  any  person  was  soon  employ- 
ed. In  the  winter  of  1785,  a  Mr.  Merrill  was  preach- 
ing at  Boothbay,  but  the  Committee  were  directed  to 
employ  another  person.  In  March  of  the  year  follow- 
ing a  Mr.  Williams  was  engaged  for  six  months,  and 
for  two  or  three  years  after,  the  people  had  occafional 
preaching,  but  employed  no  candidate  for  settlement. 
In  the  summer  of  17S9,  Mr.  Jonathan  Gould  was  em- 
ployed a  short  time,  and  in  September  of  that  year  the 
committee  were  directed  by  the  town  either  to  engage 
Mr.  Gould  for  2  longer  term,  or  to  send  for  Mr.  John- 
son who  afterwards  settled  at  Freeport.  Mr.  Gould  was 
employed  and  in  Nov.  following  was  hired  for  a  year.  In 
August  1 790,  a  meeting  was  holden  to  see  if  the  town 
could  agree  to  give  Mr.  Gould  a  call.  But  although 
he  had  been  among  them  more  than  a  year,  the  people 
were  doubtful  how  to  proceed.  Unwilling  to  come  to 
a  decision  on  this  point  the  town  appointed  a  Commit- 
tee to  confer  with  Mr.  Gould  respecting  his  peculiar 
sentiments,  and  to  engage  him  for  a  farther  time.  In 
October  following  the  town  again  assembled  on  the 


boothbaV.  148 

same  business,  but  their  meeting  was  dissolved  without 
coming  to  any  conclusion.  Mr.  Gould  continued  to 
preach  at  Boothbay  during  the  winter,  and  at  the  annu- 
al town  Meeting  in  March  1791,  the  question  was 
again  proposed  whether  the  town  would  give  him  a  call, 
which  was  refused  ;  but  a  testimonial  of  his  fair  moral 
character  was  im medial ely  voted.*  He  was  soon  after 
settled  at  Standish. 

The  people  being  now  destitute  again,  empowered 
Rev.  Mr.  McLean  of  Bristol  who  was  about  making  a 
voyage  to  Scotland,  to  procure  them  a  Minister  from 
that  country  ;  but  no  success  appears  to  have  attended 
this  measure,  and  for  five  years  they  had  no  steady 
preaching.  In  March  1796,  a  call  was  voted  by  the 
town  to  Mr.  Pelatiah  Chapin.  He  continued  with  them 
through  the  summer  succeeding,  and  November  the 
invitation  was  renewed,  and  the  terms  stated,  but  he 
declined. 

During  the  summer  of  1797,  Rev.  John  Sawyer,  who 
had  recently  been  dismissed  from  Oxford  in  the  State 
of  New-Hampshire,  was  employed  as  a  candidate  for 
settlement  at  Boothbay,  and  in  November  of  that  year 
received  an  invitation  tio  settle  there.  The  Church  was 
still  Presbyterian,  but  was  in  a  declining  state.  No  re- 
vival of  religion  had  marked  its  history  since  the  min- 
istry of  Mr.  Murray,  thirty  years  before,  and  the  Lord's 
supper  had  not  been  administered  there  for  twenty  years. 
It  may  well  be  supposed  therefore  that  the  Church  was 
in  a  scattered  state.     Theie  was  no  Presbytery  in  Maine 


*Boothbay  Town  Records, 


iWs  CONGRECjATIONALISTS. 

with  which  they  could  unite,  and  it  was  proposed  that 
they  should  relinquish  Presbyterianism,  and  become  a 
Congregational   Church.     Accordingly    in   September 
1798,  William  McCobb  and  seven  others,  members  of 
the  ancient  Presbyterian  Church,  addressed  the  Lincoln 
Association,  representing  their  disordered  state,  and  re- 
<iuesting  their  aid  in  reorganizing  them  as  a  Congrega- 
tional Church.     Agreeably  to  this  request,  the  Associa- 
tion assembled  at  Boothbay,    and  having  examined  a 
number   of  the  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Churcht 
embodied  them  as   a  Congregational  Church.*     This 
took  place  September  20,  1798,  and   in   the   following 
month  Rev.  Mr.  Sawyer  was  installed.     In  July  1805, 
Mr.  Sawyer  requested  a  dismission.     A  Council  being 
convened  advised  to  the  measure,  but  the  final  dissolu- 
tion of  the  connexion  did  not  take  place  until  the  close 
of  the  year  1808.     In  April  following  a  call  was  pre- 
sented to  Rev.  Jabez  Pond  Fisher  who  had  once  been 
settled  at  Nottingham-West  in  New-Hampshire,  which 
he  accepted,  and  was  installed  in  June  of  that  year. — 
Mr.  Fisher  continued  in  the  ministry  at  Boothbay  a  lit- 
tle more  than  seven  years.     In   October   1816,   he  re- 
quested a  dismission,  which  was  granted  upon  the  ad- 
vice of  Council  in  the  following  month. 

A  call  was  soon  given  to  Mr.  Jonathan  Adams,  since 
settled  at  Woolwich,  to  settle  at  Boothbay  which  he  de- 
clined. Early  in  the  year  1818,  Mr.  Isaac  Weston  was 
sent  to  Boothbay  as  a  Missionary.  "  His  going  thither 
was  followed  by  a  considerably  cxten:;ive  revival  of  re- 


*  Boothliay  Church  Records. 


BOOTHBAY.  145 

ligioti  in  the  place,  from  sixty  to  seventy  being  made 
hopeful  converts,  which  prepared  the  way  for  an  invita- 
tion for  him  to  settle  in  the  Gospel  ministry  there.* — 
Rev.  Mr.  Weston  was  ordained  at  Boothbay  in  June  of 
that  year  and  remains  the  Minister  of  that  people. 


♦  P.eport  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Maine   Missionary   Society  for  the  year 
1818. 


N 


11(5  CONqUKGATlOXALISTS. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

1767. 

It  will  best  comport  with  our  own  design  next  to 
Consider  the  Ecclesiastical  affairs  of  several  towns  in 
Lincoln  County  which  are  not  particularly  connected 
with  any  others.  They  are  Bristol,  ancient  Pownalbor- 
'bugh,  Edgccomb  and  Litchfield. 

BRISTOL. 

The  land  now  the  town  of  Bristol,  was  granted  to  El- 
bridge  and  Aldiwo:  th  by  the  council  of  Plymouth  in 
1639.  Some  few  settlements  had  been  made  within 
the  limits  of  the  town  nearly  ten  years  before.*  A 
number  of  people  came  from  New-York  and  settled  on 
the  river  Pemaquid  about  the  year  1  665,  and  remained 
about  fifteen  years.  During  tliis  time  a  fort  was  built 
there,  and  if  we  may  credit  Governor  Sullivan's  account, 
a  town  of  some  note  also.  "  There  is  yet,"  says  he, 
'*  under  the  rubbish,  near  the  remains  of  the  fort,  a 
paved  street,  and  the  cellars  of  nearly  thirty  and  perhaps 
forty  houses.'*  Another  foit  was  built  by  Sir  William 
Phips  In  1692,  and  taken  by  the  French  and  Indians 
from  Mount  Desert  in  about  four  years  after.f  During 
the  Indian  wars  at  this  time  the  white  settlements  in 
Maine  were  nearly  all  broken  up,  and  no  settlement 
was  again  made  at  Pemaquid  until  after  the  year  1717. 
The  town  was  incorporated  by  the  name  of  Bristol  in 
1765. 


*  Sullivan  papte  ij^. 
tibid,  page  164, 


BRISTOL.  Ii7 

We  have  no  account  of  any  Minister  In  Bristol,  or 
any  religious  order  being  observed  there  prior  to  the  in- 
corporation of  the  town.  During  the  great  revival  of 
religion  at  Boothbay  In  1767,  Mr.  Murray  often  visited 
Bristol,  and  the  people  there  became  much  interested  in 
religious  things.*  A  little  previous  to  this,  the  town 
voted  to  build  three  Meeting-houses,  one  near  Pemaquid 
fort,  called  "Hariington  Parish"  one  In  the  northwest- 
erly part  of  the  town  on  Damariscotta  river,  called 
"  Walpole  Parish"  and  one  in  the  easterly  part  of  the 
town  called  "  Broad  Cove."  In  the  latter  part  of  the 
year  1766,  one  Meeting-house  was  built,  and  the  Select- 
men were  empowered  to  procure  a  Idinister,  and  In 
June  following  the  town  appointed  a  commictee,  "  to 
take  measures  to  have  a  Church  organized  in  the  town 
on  the  Westminster  confession  and  Presbyterian  rules." 
During  the  year  a  Church  was  organized  by  Mr.  Mur- 
ray of  Boothbay,  but  no  Minister  was  as  yet  found  for 
the  people.  In  May  1770,  the  town,  being  still  desti- 
tute of  a  Minister,  voted  to  send  for  Rev.  Mr.  Murray 
to  preach  with  them  one  month,  and  baptize  their  chil- 
dren, and  to  send  to  Dr.  Witherspoon  of  New- Jersey  for 
a  suitable  candidate  to  settle  with  them.  The  present 
generation  would  probably  look  on  with  astonishment 
to  see  the  inhabitants  of  a  town  assembled  in  town- 
meeting,  voting  to  have  a  Church  organized  among 
them,  and  sending  for  a  Minister  to  come  and  baptize 
their  children  ;  nor  can  we  at  tliis  day  ascertain  the  mo- 


♦  Sec  the  testimony  of  the  Session  of  the  Church  at  Boothbay. 


148  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

lives  by  which  the  people  of  Bristol  were  actuated  m 
these  very  singular  proceedings.* 

The  application  of  the  people  to  Dr.  Witherspoon, 
was  successful,  and  Mr.  Alexander  McLean  a  native  of 
Scotland,  came  on  from  New  Jersey  to  supply  them. — 
After  a  season  of  ti  ial  he  received  a  call  in  the  year 
1772,  and  was  ordained  in  the  following  year.  Mr. 
McLean  was  a  Physician  both  of  soul  and  body,  a  la- 
borious man  in  both  professions,  a  very  serious  preach- 
er, and  an  instrument  of  much  good  in  the  place.  But 
the  town  was  badly  situated  for  performing  parochial 
duties,  and  Mr.  McLean's  health  soon  began  to  fail.— . 
Some  help  was  occasionally  provided  for  him  by  the 
people,  and  it  was  thought  that  it  might  soon  be  neces. 
jsary  to  dismiss  him  or  settle  a  Colleague. 

Mr.  McLean  had  requested  a  dismission  on  account  of 
his.  health,  but  the  people  unwilling  to  part  v;kh  him 
voted  to  procure  him  an  assistant.  This  was  in  the 
year  1788.  But  nothing  definite  was  accomplished, 
and  in  the  autumn  of  1791,  he  went  to  Scotland,  and 
remained  there  about  a  year.  After  his  return  the 
town  voted  to  appropriate  25/  to  procure  a  Preacher 
for  the  assistance  of  Mr.  McLean  ;  but  no  person  was 
provided,  and  the  next  year  he  again  requested  a  dis- 
xnission,  which  in  September  1795,  was  granted  by  the 
town  in  a  hasty  manner  without  convoking  a  council. 
Rev.  Mr.  McLean  was  still  higlily  esteemed  in  the 
town,  and  so  much  confidence  did  the  people  place  in 
him,  that  at  the  same  meeting  that  his  dismission  was. 


*  Similar  vroccedlngs  were  had  in  the  towns  of  Norridgewock  and  Nciv-Cai- 
tie.    See  sketches  of  thQ>e  towns. 


BRISTOL.  149 

voted,  he  was  put  on  to  a  committee  to  obtain  a  Minis- 
ter. Within  a  few  months  after  this  Mr.  William  Rid- 
del came  as  a  candidate  to  Bristol.  Mr.  McLean  being 
much  pleased  with  his  preaching  made  a  communica- 
tion to  the  town  in  June  1796,  and  in  a  very  ingenuous 
manner  proposed  to  them  to  recall  his  request  for  dis- 
mission, and  still  remain  their  minister,  on  condition 
that  they  would  settle  Mr.  Riddel  as  a  Colleague  ;  of- 
fering to  preach  in  the  easterly  part  of  the  town  where 
he  resided  without  receiving  any  compensation.  This 
proposal  was  cheerfully  accepted  by  the  town,  and  Mr. 
Riddel  was  ordained  in  August  of  that  year. 

Until  this  time  the  Church  had  been  Presby tei  ian. — 
Rev.  Mr.  McLean  was  educated  In  that  way,  and  had 
belonged  to  the  "  Salem  Presbytery."  For  some  rea- 
sons he  had  taken  his  dismission  from  that  body  about 
twelve  years  before,*  and  previous  to  tlie  ordination  of 
Mr.  Riddel  the  Church,  with  Mr.  McLean  as  Modera- 
tor, voted  unanimously  to  change  their  form  to  a  Con- 
gregational Church.f  After  the  ordination  of  his  col^ 
league  Mr.  McLean  preached  occasionally  in  Bristol  as 
he  had  engaged  to  do,  and  laboured  considerably  as  a 
^^lssionary  in  the  waste  places  around  him.  He  lived 
about  ten  years  after  this  event,  and  died  while  on  a  vis* 
it  at  New  Castle,  but  was  brought  to  Bristol  and  buri- 
ed. Rev  Mr.  Riddel  remained  Pastor  of  the  Church  :it 
Bristol  only  eight  years.  In  the  summer  of  1801-,  he- 
was  dismissed  by  mutual  consent.     After  an  interval  of 


*  See  Preshyterial  Records  of  a  meetins  held  at  Grotoa  in  Juae  i  ^i^ 
'  tPristol  ciih.  Records. 


i2K)  CONGREGATiaXALIST*. 

three  years,  Rev.  Jonathan  Belden,  who  had  been  dis- 
missed  from  Winthrop,  was  installed  Pastor  of  the 
Church.  This  took  place  Aug.  12,  1807.  Mr.  Belden 
remained  in  connexion  with  this  Church  and  people 
ten  years,  when  the  parish  being  dirti  niched,  he  was  dis- 
missed by  mutual  consent,  and  they  have  since  been  des- 
titute. 

WISCASSET. 

The  ancient  town  of  Pownalboiough  was  incorpo- 
rated in  the  year  1710.  It  then  included  what  is  now 
Wiscasset,  Alna  and  Dresden.  A  settlement  was  at- 
tempted at  Wiscasset  pointf  as  early  as  1661,  but  the 
people  were  driven  ofF  by  the  Indians.  Settlements 
were  again  commenced  in  1730,  and  rendered  perma- 
nent.J 

In  the  year  1773,  a  Congregational  Church  was  or- 
ganized in  Pownalborough,  and  Rev.  Thomas  Moore 
was  ordained.  Mr.  Moore  remained  the  Minister  of  the 
town  eighteen  years  and  was  then  dismissed.  In  two 
years  after  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Moore,  Rev.  Alden 
Bradford  was  ordained  in  his  stead.  Mr.  Bradford's 
ministry  continued  about  seven  years,  when  at  his  own 
special  request,  on  account  of  ill  health,  he  was  dismiss- 
ed. He  afterwards  regained  his  health,  and  is  now  Sec- 
retary of  the  State  of  Massachusetts.  In  September 
1802,  Rev.  Hczekiah  Packard,  who  was  first  settled  at 
Chelmsford,  was  installed  at  Wiscasset,  and  is  the  pre- 
sent Minister. 


tPron'^iinced  by  the  Indians  rr'ujcasset,  and  i-  said  to  mean  the  confluence 
of  three  waters  or  riven!.— Hst.  Coll. 
+  Massachusetts  Hist.  Coll.  Vol  ?»  page  163= 


WISCASSET.  151 

A  little  previous  to  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Moore  at 
Wiscasset  point,  an  Episcopal  establishment  had  been 
made  in  the  northwesterly  part  of  Pownalborough, 
now  the  town  of  Dresden,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Bailey  employ- 
ed to  officiate.f  About  the  time  of  the  ordination  of  Mr, 
Bradford  in  1793,  the  parish  in  this  section  of  the  town 
was  incorporated.  In  1801,  a  Congregational  Church 
was  organized  there,  and  Rev.  Freeman  Parker  its  pre- 
sent Pastor,  was  ordained. 

A  third  parish  had  also  been  established  in  the  north 
part  of  Pownalborough.  At  the  time  Dresden  was 
incorporated  this  also  was  established  as  a  town  by  the 
name  of  New-Milford.  It  is  now  called  Alna.  In  the 
year  1796,  a  Church  v/as  gathered  here  and  Rev.  Jona- 
than Ward  ordained.  Mr.  Ward  continued  to  preach 
at  Alna  a  little  more  than  twenty  years.  In  1817,  he 
was  dismissed  at  his  own  request,  and  removed  to  Ply- 
mouth in  New-Hampshire.  After  being  destitute  about 
one  year  the  Church  and  people  united  in  "the  choice  of 
Mr.  Samuel  Johnson,  and  he  was  ordained  over  them 
November  25,  1818.     He  is  their  present  Minister. 

EDGECOMB. 

This  town  lies  between  Boothbay  and  New-Castle,  and 
has  its  name  probably  from  Sii  Richard  Edgecomb  of 
Great  Britain  to  whom  Sir  Ferdinand©  Gorges  had 
made  a  grant  of  lands  in  Maine  ;  or  perhaps  from  John 
Edgecomb,  a  descendant  of  his  who  once  lived  in  Maine, 
and  endeavored  to  obtain  the  land.     The  town  extends 


t  See  Chap.  13. 


1^2  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

across  the  tract  of  land  lying  between   Damariscotta 
and  Sheepscut  Rivers.     A  few  early  settlements  were 
made  in  it.     In  1774,  the  town  was  incorporated,  yet 
little  was  done  for  the  support  of  the  gospel  at  that 
time.     The  reason  probably  was  that  the  oldest  part  of 
the  town  was  separated  from  WIscasset,  only  by  Sheeps- 
cut  river,  which  the  people  could  cross  at  any  time, 
and  the  other  parts  of  the  town   lay  contiguous  either 
to  New-Castle  or  Boothbay  ;  and  as  these   three  towns 
were  supplied  with  ministers,  the  people  at  Edgecomb 
felt  less  need  of  the  stated  ministry  of  the  word  among 
themselves.       They    however,    had    some    preaching 
among  them.     A  Mr.  Pickles,  and  some  other  Minis- 
ters resided  occasionally  with  them.     In  the  year  178-2, 
Rev.  Mr.  Whiting  was  dismissed  from  New  Castle,  as 
has  already  deen  stated,  and  was  not  recommended  by 
the  Council.     The  people  at  Edgecomb  were  neverthe- 
less inclined  to  hear  him,  and  in  June  1783,  a  Council 
was  convened  at  Edgecomb  who  restored  Mr.  Whiting 
to  good  standing,  and  organized  a  small  Church  In  that 
town.     It  seems  altogether  probable  that  there  was  an 
intention  of  having  Mr.  Whiting  installed  at  Edgecomb. 
But  it  never  took  place,  and  no  candidate  was  Invited  to 
settle  here  for  eighteen  years  after  the  gathering  of  the 
Church.     The  first  settled    Minister  of  the  town  was 
Rev.  Benjamin  Chatman.     He  was    ordained   March 
4th  1801,  and  lived  but  little  more  than  three  years. — 
He  died  with  a  consumption  July  13,  1804.     After  be- 
ing destitute  three  years  Rev.  S:imnel  Sewidl  was  or- 
dained Pastor  of  the   Church,  September  30,   1807. — 
Mr.  Sewall  coatinued  his  ministrations  at  Edgecomb 


LITCHFIELD.  153 

eleven  years.  The  Society  then  became  weakened, 
the  civil  contract  between  him  and  the  people  was  dis- 
solved,  and  he  removed  to  Phipsburg,  but  still  retains 
his  pastoral  relation  to  the  Church  at  Edgecomb. 

LITCHFIELD. 

This  town  lies  In  the  westerly  part  of  Lincoln  County 
adjoining  Monmouth  in  Kennebeck  County,  and  was 
first  settled  in  1778.  A  Congregational  Church  con- 
sisting o£  four  males  and  eleven  females  was  organized 
there  on  June  6,  181 1.  It  now  consists  of  twenty-five 
members,  and  about  thirty  families  are  connected  with 
the  Society. 

"  Some  facts  respecting  the  history  of  the  Church  in 
Litchfield  are  worthy  of  preservation.  Two  brothers 
by  the  name  of  Smith,  about  10  years.ago,  from  Massa- 
chusetts, commenced  the  settlement  of  the  town.  Hav» 
ing  been  accustomed  from  early  life,  to  attend  the  pub- 
lic worship  of  God,  tliey  were  unwilling  to  live  even  la 
the  wilderness  v/ithout  observing  the  Sabbath  as  they 
hap  been  taught  to  do,  and  especially  were  they  unwil- 
ling their  children  should  grow  up  in  ignorance  of  the 
duty  and  privilege  of  public  worship.  Hence  soon  af- 
ter their  settlement,  they  set  up  a  meeting  on  the  Sab- 
bath for  prayer,  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures,  and  such 
suitable  books  as  they  had.  This  meeting  has  been 
continued  to  the  present  time  ;  and  not  a  Sabbath  has 
occurred  when  one  of  these  pious  brothers  was  not  able 
to  attend  this  little  flock,  and  to  take  the  lead  in  these 
holy  services.  As  the  fruit,  no  doubt,  of  these  pious 
labonrs,  in  1811  a  revival  of  religion  was  experienced, 


154  C0XCREGATI0NALTST9. 

and  twenty  five  sonls  became  hopefully  the  subjects 
of  grace  ;  about  one  half  of  whom  were  the  children  of 
these  faithful  men.  One  of  these  excellent  men  is  dead, 
and  the  other  has  reached  nearly  fourscour  years.  The 
Church  and  society  are  anxious  to  have  a  Pastor,  and 
their  venerable  spiritual  guide,  like  aged  Simeon,  is 
waiting  for  the  consolation  that  he  may  depart  in 
peace."* 


♦  Report  of  the  Mafl^achusetts  Missionary  Society  for  iSit,  as  pcblhlrcd  in 
'^'ic  Boston  Recorder  for  June  30-  »8ii. 


COUNTY  OF  HANCOCK.  155 

CHAPTEll  XVI. 

177^. 

Our  attention  will  now  be  directed  eastward  to  the 
Churches  gathered  in  the  County  of  Hancock.  In  the 
whole  County  we  find  fourteen  Congregational  Church- 
es^ ten  on  the  eastern  and  four  on  the  western  side  of 
Penobscot  river.  We  shall  consider  first  those  in  the 
eastern  division  of  the  County  as  being  the  most  an- 
cient. This  territory  was  early  visited  by  the  Europe- 
ans. "  The  people  of  the  Colony  of  New  Plymouth 
erected  a  trading  house  within  the  towa  of  Penobscot 
(atCastine  probably)  in  the  year  1626,"*  After  that 
the  French  had  possession.  In  1654,  Oliver  Cromwell 
sent  Major  Sedgewick  with  some  forces  who  took  the 
fort  at  Castine,  and  subjugated  the  coanlry  to  the  east- 
ward of  that  place.  The  town  of  Sedgewick  most  pro- 
bably has  its  name  from  this  man.  At  the  treaty  of 
Breda,  in  1667,  this  part  of  the  country  was  ceeded  to 
the  French  by  Charles  the  2d.  Soon  after  this  a  French 
Baron  called  Castine,  or  Casteen  as  the  name  is  some- 
times spelt,  took  ttp  his  residence  at  Penobscot.f  Some 
people  supposed  him  to  be  a  Jesuit,  and  others  consider- 
ed his  personal  character  as  equivocal.  All  were  how- 
ever convinced,  of  his  entire  enmity  to  the  people  of 
New  England.  Voltaire  and  the  Abbe  Raynal,  con- 
sider his  character  as  a  very  extraordinary  one.     They 


*  Sullivan  page  158. 

•t  '•  Barron  Castine  settled  on  the  eastern  side  of  the   Penobscot  near  ita 
ni(n>th  in  igfii,  and  died  thtrc  in  i<5p7.'*Hist.  Coll.  vol.  9,  page  ai8. 


Il5§  ^ONGREGATIONALISTS. 

say  that  he  was  Colonel  of  the  Regiment  of  Carignon ; 
a  man  of  good  connexions,  and  of  good  abilities.*'*— 
After  Castine  settled  at  Penobscot  he  cultivated  the 
friendship  of  the  Savages,  and  married  the  daughter  of 
an  Indian  Chief.  But  nothing  like  a  civilized  settle- 
ment was  made  on  the  Penobscot  at  this  time.  Castine 
was  himself  but  a  belter  sort  of  a  Savage  and  did  no- 
thing toward  civilizing  the  tribe  with  which  he  was 
connected  ;  and  there  were  no  considerable  white  settle- 
ments made  within  this  territory  prior  to  the  year  1770. 
About  this  time  a  few  houses  were  scattered  along  on 
the  western  side  of  Bigwaduce  river,  within  the  town 
of  Penobscot.  In  May  1774,  there  were  seven  houses 
only  on  the  neck  where  the  village  of  Castine  is  now 
built,  and  only  four  of  them  framed  buildings,  the  oth- 
ers being  of  logs. 

The  Church  at  Bluehill  is  the  most  ancient  of  any  in 

this  region.  The  settlement  in  this  town  was  commenc- 
ed in  the  year  1763.  Mr.  Joseph  Wood  moved  into  the 
town  in  April  of  that  year,  and  was  followed  in  Novem- 
ber by  Mr.  John  Roundy.  From  that  time  the  settle- 
ment advanced  with  a  tolerable  degree  of  rapidity. — 
The  plantation  was  first  called  East  Andover,  and  then 
Newport,  but  was  finally  incorporated  by  the  name  of 
Blue  hill  in  October  1788.  So  earnest  were  the  people 
to  obtain  the  stated  Ministry  of  the  word  that  in  only 
five  years  after  the  first  family  moved  into  tlie  town  the 
inhabitants  by  vote  appropriated  a  sum  of  money  to 
support  a  Minister.  For  about  twenty  five  years  from 
this  time,  and  until  the   permanent  settlement   of  the 

♦Sullivan  page  158. 


COUNTY  OF  HANCOCK.  157 

ministry  among  them,  the  people  at  Blue  hill  were  sup. 
plied  with  preaching  during  a  part  of  several  years  by 
different  persons,  some  who  came  as  candidates  tor  set- 
tlement, some  Vv'ho  were  hired  by  the  people  for  short 
terms  of  time,  and  some  who  were  Missionaries.  Rev. 
Messrs.  Little,  Lancaster,  Oliver  Noble,  Seth  Noble, 
Currier,  Sawyer,  Read,  Miller,  Lyon,  McClintock, 
Cleaveland,  and  Huse,  were  the  principal  of  them. — 
Rev.  Mr,  Little  of  Kennebunk,  was  at  Bluehill  as  early 
as  the  year  177"2)  and  In  October  of  that  year  he  gath- 
ered a  Church  there  consisting  of  eight  males,  and  six- 
females.  It  was  a  little  vine  planted  in  the  mlds>t  of  a 
howhng  wilderness,  but  through  the  merciful  provi- 
dence of  God  it  was  not  suffered  to  be  destroyed.  In 
the  summer  of  1793,  Mr.  Jonathan  Fisher  was  employ- 
ed by  the  people  to  preach  at  Bluehill,  On  the  ap- 
proach of  winter  he  returned  to  the  westward,  and  in 
the  summer  succeeding  came  again  to  Bluehill,  In 
the  year  1795,  he  was  again  there,  and  in  October  of 
this  year  received  a  call  to  settle,  and  was  ordained  Ju- 
ly 13,  1796.  The  exercises  of  the  ordination  were  per- 
formed at  the  head  of  the  Bay  in  a  field,  near  where  the 
road  now  passes  the  grist  mill.f 

About  three  years  after  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Mr, 
Fisher,  the  place  was  visited  with  a  gracious  outpouring 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  fifty-seven  persons  were  gather- 
ed Into  the  Church  in  one  year.  Considering  the  state 
of  the  settlement  at  that  time  this  must  have  been  a 
very  considerable  revival  of  religion.  In  the  year  1816, 
many  were  awakened,  and  forty  persons  were  added  to 

t  Church  Records. 

o 


ioS  CONGREGATION  A  LISTS. 

many  were  awakened,  and  forty  persons  were  added  to 
tlie  Church.     Mr.  Fisher  is  still  their  Minister. 

Not  long  after  the  organization  of  the  Church  at 
Bluchill  a  Church  was  gathered  on  Deer  Isle,  which  is 
the  outermost  land  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Penobscot 
Bay.     A  small  settlement  was  made  here  early,  and 
notwithstanding  their  insulated  situation  the  people  en- 
joyed the  regular  ordinances  of  the  Gospel  at  a  period 
considerably  earlier  than  any  other  town  eastward    of 
the  Penobscot.     In  the  year  1 785,    Rev.  Peter  Powers, 
who  had  been  dismissed  from  Haverhill  in  New-Hamp- 
shire the  ye.ir  before,  came  to  Deer  Isle,  and  took  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  Church  in  that  place.     In  this 
station  he  continued  to  labour  with  zeal,  activity  and 
success  for  foarteen  years,  when  he  was  removed  from 
them  by  death.     In  the  year  1798,  a  revival  of  religion 
commenced  at  Deer  Ifle  and  continued  into  the  next 
year.     A  letter  written  by  Mr.  Powers  dated  March  20, 
1799,  is  presented  In  Backus'  History  of  the  Baptists,  in 
which  he  states  that  there  were  then  forty  <'  subjects  of 
the  work,"  and  many  more  "  under  pressing  convic- 
tions."    Mr.  Powers  was  at  that  time  confined  to  his 
house,  and  Mr.  Ebenezer  Eaton,  a  licentate  Preacher  of 
Mount  Desert,  was  labouring  among  his  people.     He 
was  near  the  close  of  life,  and  was  no  longer  able  to  go 
in  and  out  before  the  people  of  his  charge.     He  died  in 
the  early  part  of  the  same  year.     Mr.    Powers    was  a 
faithful  and  discriminating  preacher,  and  was  possessed 
of  superior  talents.     A  publication  of  his   entitled    "a 
humble  enquiry  into  the  nature   of  covenanting    with 
God,"  was  issued  about  three  years  before  his  (ieath.    It 
c-chibits  much  strength  of  mind,  and  contains  very  con^ 


COUNTY  OF  HANCOCK  139 

elusive  reasoning  against  the  practice  of  what  has  been 
termed  the  "  Half  way  Covenant'* 

For  ten  years  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Powers  the 
Church  was  destitute  of  a  stated  Pastor.  Daring  this 
term  the  people  were  supplied  with  Preachers  a  part  of 
the  rime.  In  1802,  they  invited  Mr.  Phinehas  Randal 
to  settle  with  tliem.  Mr.  Randal  had  been  preaching 
at  Norridgewock,  and  the  parts  adjacent,  and  had  been 
the  favored  instrument  of  a  considerable  revival  of  re- 
ligion there.  He  however,  declined  the  invitation  of 
the  people  at  Deer  Isle,  and  they  were  left  still  destitute. 

In  1809,  the  people  succeeded  in  a  resettlement  of  the 
Gospel  ministry  among  them.  Rev.  Joseph  Brown, 
who  was  first  settled  in  England,  and  after  that  at  Ex- 
eter in  New-Hampshire,  having  been  dismissed  from 
that  place,  was  installed  at  Deer  Isle.  Mr.  Brown  con- 
tinued in  the  ministry  at  this  place  ten  years.  Toward 
the  close  of  that  period,  supposing  that  he  was  no  long- 
er useful  at  Deer>Isle,  he  solicited  of  the  people  a  dismis- 
sion, to  which  they  consented,  but  it  was  never  consum- 
mated by  any  ecclesiastical  act,  an.d  Mr,  Erown  remain- 
ed Pastor  of  the  Church  until  his  death  which  took 
place  suddenly  in  September  181 9^  The  Church  is  now 
vacant  Rev.  Abijah  Wines,  formerly  of  Newport  in 
New-Hampshire  has  been  labouring  among  the  people 
for  a  considerable  time,  and  much  attention  to  religion 
has  appeared. 

The  third  Church  organized  In  the  eastern  part  of 
the  County  of  Hancock,  was  at  Sedgewick.  The  set- 
tlements were  made  at  this  place  about  the  same  time 


160  COXGREGATIONALISTS. 

with  those  at  Bhiehill.  It  was  called  by  the  Indians 
Naskeeg  and  was  incorporated  by  its  present  name  in 
January  1789-  In  a  short  time,  the  people  anxious  to 
enjoy  the  stated  ordinances  of  religion  took  measures  for 
the  set'.lement  of  a  Minister  In  September  1793,  Rev. 
Daniel  Merrill  was  ordained  Pastor  of  the  Church. — 
The  Churches  assisting  on  this  occasion  were  those  at 
Deer  Isle,  Byefield,  and  the  North  Church  in  Newbury- 
port.  Dr.  Spring  preached  on  the  occasion,  Mr.  Pow- 
ers gave  the  charge,  and  Dr.  Parish  presented  the  right 
hand.  In  about  five  years  after  the  ordination  of  Mr. 
Merrill  divine  influences  were  copioufly  afforded  at 
Sedgewick,  and  a  very  remarkable  revival  of  religion 
took  place.  ludeed  a  most  refreshing  shower  spread 
over  the  whole  vicinity.  In  the  year  1804,  Mr.  Merrill 
professed  a  change  in  his  sentiments  in  regard  to  Bap- 
tism. The  greater  part  of  the  Church  embraced  his 
new  opinions,  and  on  the  1 5th  of  May  1 80.5,  Mr.  Mer- 
rill aiftl  about  eighty  others  were  immersed,  a  Baptist 
Church  was  constiiuted,  and  Mr.  Merrill  was  re-ordain- 
ed as  its  Pastor.  The  Congregational  Church  was  not 
however  wholly  broken  up.  A  few  were  still  attached 
to  the  principles  of  pxdobaptism,  and  some  additions 
have  since  been  made  to  them.  About  thirty  members 
are  now  found  in  the  Church,*  but  the  society  has  not 
yet  acquired  sufficient  strength  to  settle  another  minister. 
The  next  religious  established  in  this  region  was  ia 
th?  town  of  Penobscot.  We  have  already  noticed  the 
first  settlement  at  this  place.     The  Indians  called  the 


*  Report  of  ths  Trustees  of  the  Maine  Missionary  .'^ocisty  for  iSrj, 


eOUNTY  OF  HANCOCK.  l6l 

place  Majorblgwaduce,  and  it  Is  still  by  some  called 
by  the  corrupted  name,  "  Bagaduce."  In  February 
1787,  the  town  was  incorporated  by  the  name  of  Penob- 
scot, and  th.en  comprehended  Castine  also.  The  same 
year  the  town  made  provision  to  employ  a  Preacher, 
and  soon  took  measures  to  build  a  Meeting-house.  But 
concerning  the  location  of  this  there  was  no  small  dissen- 
tion.*  The  settlement  on  the  point  was  then  increasing, 
but  the  -more  considerable  and  older  settlements  were 
several  miles  up  Bigvvaduce  river,  it  was  therefore  evi- 
dent that  the  people  would  not  all  be  well  accommodat- 
ed in  any  one  place  of  worship..  Accordingly  in  June 
17i:)3,  a  parish  was  established  in  the  old  part  of  the 
town,  and  the  settlement  of  a  minister  hastened.  Mr. 
Jonathan  Powers,  the  son  of  Rev.  Tvli.  Powers  of  Deer- 
Isle,  was  employed  as  a  Preacher,  and  in  March  1795, 
received  from  the  parish  an  invitation  to  settle.  But  as 
yet  there  was  no  Church  In  the  town,  and  on  June  17th 
a  Council  was  convened  "at  the  old  Meeting-house, 
near  Col.  William  Webbers"  where  after  a  sermon  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Powei  s  of  Deer  Isle,  fifteen  persons,  including 
the  pastor  elect,  were  formed  into  a  regular  Church.f 
On  the  26th  of  August  following  a  Council  was  again 
convened,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Powers  was  ordained.  Mr. 
Powers  remained  happily  and  usefully  employed  at  Pe- 
nobscot until  the  autmun  of  the  year  1807,  when  he 
was  removed  by  death.  In  a  little  more  than  a  year 
from  this,  the  Maine  Missionary  Society  sent  Mr.  Philip 
Spaulding  to  reside  awhile  at  Penobscot.     His  labours- 


•»  See  Penobscot  Town  Record*, 
•*  Church  Record?, 


at 


162  COXGREGATIONALISTS. 

proving  acceptable  to  the  people,  the  parish  a<ddre5- 
sed  a  letter  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Society  who  reh'n- 
quishcd  their  claims  upon  him,  and  in  November  1809, 
he  was  ordained  over  the  Church  and  people  in  that 
place.  Mr.  Spaulding  continued  at  Penobscot  a  little 
more  than  three  years,  when  he  thought  it  expedient  to 
ask  a  dismission,  to  which  the  people  consented,  with 
advice  of  council  in  August  1813.  He  has  since  been 
settled  at  Jamaica  in  Vermont.  The  Church  at  Penob- 
scot has  since  been  destitute  of  a  stated  Pastor.  The 
new  town  of  BrooksvIUe  has  recently  been  taken  from 
that  of  Penobscot,  and  a  consideiable  proportion  of  the 
church    members  belong  to  that   town. 

The  second  parish  in  Penobscot  found  it  expedient 
soon  to  become  a  separate  town,  and  in  the  year  1796, 
it  was  Incorporatedby  the  name  of  Castine.  In  about 
a  year  after  this  Mr.  William  Mason  was  employed  to 
preach  at  Castine,  and  in  06lober  1793,  a  Church  was 
organized,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Mason  was  ordained.  He  Is 
the  present  Minister  of  that  people. 

Several  years  after  this,  a  number  of  people  living  at 
Castine  had  become  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church  in  Bluehlll.  Thinking  they  might  enjoy  spe- 
cial ordinances  among  themselves  with  greater  conve- 
nience, they  were  at  length  constituted  a  second  Con- 
gregational Church  in  Castine.  This  took  place  in 
August  1820. 

Next  in  date  to  the  Church  at  Penobscot  we  find  that 
at  Mount  Desert.     This  is  a  large  xnouDtainous  Island 


BOUNTY  OF  HANCOCK.  1  6B 

lying  between  Frenchman's  Bay*  on  the  east,  andUnio» 
river  on  the  west,  and  now  comprehending  the  towns 
of  Mount  Desert  and  Eden. 

The  French  erected  a  Fort  here  about  the  year 
1603,  and  called  the  place  Mount  Mansell,  and  the  fort 
they  called  Sauveur.  They  were  however  driven  away 
by  Sir  Samuel  Argal  in  1618.  f  During  this  time  two 
Jesuits  resided  at  Mount  Desert,  and  after  the  French 
were  driven  off  a  few  families  remained,  and  in  169S, 
one  Thurry,  a  French  Missionary,  resided  there  for  a 
time.  But  no  very  considerable  settlement  was  m.ade  at 
Mount  Desert  until  after  the  revolutionary  war.  Mis- 
sionaries occasionally  visited  the  place,  and  after  the  set- 
tlement of  Mr.  Powers  at  Deer  Isle  the  people  some- 
times enjoyed  the  benefit  of  his  labours.  Previous  to 
the  year  1798,  a  small  Church  had  been  gathered  here, 


*  When  De  Motte  first  came  to  America  fabout  1603)  there  came  one 
Nicholas  D'Aubri,  a  French  Ecclesiastic  of  very  good  family  connexions.— 
Nicholas  went  on  shore  upon  the  west  side  of  the  Bay  of  Fuudy,  which  at 
that  time  had  no  name  appropriated  to  it,  but  was  considered  as  belonging 
to  the  waters  of  Acadie.  Curiosity,  \*h1ch  had  brought  him  from  Europe  led 
him  into  the  woods  ;  and  the  boat'from  which  he  had  larvded  left  him  to  his 
fate.  His  account  of  his  sufferings  wa*  no  doubt  very  pitiful  ;  for  he  remain- 
fid  three  weeks  in  the  wilderncos,  wanderint»  from  place  to  place  under  the 
most  terri;^!e  ai>prchtnsion5,  until  flie  boat  of  the  same  vessel  by  accident 
found  him  on  the  fliore,  and  restored  him  to  the  ship's  company.  From 
this  accident  tlie  wafers  «>f  the  wliole  bay  of  Fundy  were  called  "French- 
mans  Kay.''  The  inner  part  ef  tJie  waters  called  Frsnclimans  Bay  finally 
fained  the  appellation  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  and  the  ancient  appellation  be- 
came appropriated  to  the  westein  side  of  the  waters,  and  near  to  Mount 
Desert."    Abbe  Raynal,  and  Carthier's  Voyages,  cited  by  Sellivan  page  58. 

J  Purchase  and  Smith  citt>d  txy  SulUwn  page  157. 


164  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

and  Mr.  Ebenezer  Eaton,  a  member  of  that  Church 
was  licensed  to  preach,  and  thus  the  enjoyment  of  con- 
stant preaching  was  secured  to  the  people.  In  June  of 
the  year  1798,  a  very  extensive  revival  of  religion  com- 
menced there,  and  made  progress  to  a  considerable  de- 
gree in  the  subsequent  year.  The  following  extract 
from  a  letter  written  by  Mr.  Powers  of  Deer  Isle,  dated 
March  20,  1799,  will  best  exhibit  the  state  of  things  at 
that  time.  "  In  the  beginning  of  June  last  I  was  called 
*'  to  Mount  Desert  to  administer  sacraments  to  a  Church 
"who  have  not  a  stated  Pastor,  and  tarried  with  them 
"  about  nine  days  ;  when,  in  preaching  my  second  ser- 
"  mon,  the  glory  of  the  Lord  came  down  in  a  wonderful 
"  manner.  One  convicted  and  hopefully  converted  un- 
"  der  the  sermon  was  added  to  the  Church  about  two 
*'  days  after,  and  three  others  who  had  before  obtained 
"  a  hope.  Three  months  after  this  I  went  again  to  ad- 
*'  minister  the  Lord's  supper,  at  which  time  I  admitted 
"  twenty-eight  who  had  been  hopefully  brought  home  ia 
"  the  interval:  The  work  of  conviction  was  then  going 
♦*  on  powerfully  in  the  town,  and  spreading  into  those 
**  adjoining  on  the  same  Island.  Our  association  had 
"  licensed  dear  Mr.  Ebenezer  Eaton  to  preach,  who  im- 
"  proved  his  talent,  labouring  night  and  day  among 
«  them,  whom  the  Lord  remarkably  owned."  * 

The  Church  at  Mount  Desert  has  ever  since  continued 
in  a  flourishing  state.  In  1816  an  extensive  revival  of 
religion  again  marked  its  history,  and  between  sixty  and 


*  Bacius'hi»tory  of  the  BaptiJif  Vol.  a.  page  237, 


COUNTY  OF    HANCOCK.  165 

seventy  souls  obtained  a  hope  in  the  Lord  *  No  person 
has  ever  yet  been  ordained  to  the  pastoral  care  of  this 
Church.  Mr.  Eaton,  who  is  mentioned  by  Mr,  Powers 
still  lives  at  Mount  Desert,  and  preaches  constantly 
there.  He  has  often  been  solicited  to  take  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  Church,  but  declines  receiving  ordina- 
tion. 

SULLIVAN. 

On  September  26,  1801,  Pvev.  Abijah  Wires  and  Rer. 
Jotham  Sewall  organized  a  small  Church  in  the  town 
of  Sullivan,  a  town  lying  at  the  head  of  Frenchman's 
Bay.     It  is  still  small  and  destitute  of  a  stated  Pastor. 

BUCKSPORT. 

A  few  settlements  weie  made  in  the  upper  part  of 
this  town  either  during  the  revolutionary  war  or  soon 
after  the  peace.  But  the  settlement  where  the  chief 
village  is  now  built  is  of  recent  origin.  At  the  open* 
ing  of  the  year  1803  there  were  but  seventeen  houses  at 
that  spot.  At  that  time  a  Congregational  Church  was 
gathered  there,  and  their  present  Minister,  Rev.  Mighill 
Blood,  was  oidained. 

ELLSWORTH. 

A  settlement  was  made  at  this  place  about  the  year 
1763.     Union  river  f    intersecting  the  town  made    it 


*  See  Mr.  Eaton's  journal  in  t!ie  R.epoit  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Maine  Mis- 
sionary  Society  for  1817. 

+  The  name  of  this  rivci  is  said  to  have  originated  in  the  following  cir- 
cumsance  :  in  176Z  — - — Livermorc  Esq-  and  certain  others  with  him 
came  there  to  lay  out  twelve  townships  of  land,  six  to  be  west,  and  six  to 
east  of  Mount  Desrrt.  Finding  the  townships  to  meet  on  this  river  which 
extended  up  into  the  country,  it  was  proposed  to  call  it  "  Union  river," 
which  after  the  ceremony  of  breiiking  4  bottle  of  RHnti  was  agreed  to.  Sc\ 
Blnehill  Church  Reccrdj, 


168  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

convenient  as  a  place  of  business.  In  the  autumn  o£ 
the  year  ITSl,  Rev.  John  Urquhart  *  a  Presbyterian 
Clergyman,  visited  this  place,  and  preached  for  a  term 
of  time.  This  town  was  i.ome  times  called  New-Bod- 
wine,  but  was  not  then  incorporated,  and  the  inhabitants 
principally  occupied  the  township  No  6,  and  No.  1.  In 
the -summer  of  1785,  Mr.  Urquhart  was  preaching  at 
Topsham,  and  Benjam.in  Joy,  and  John  Smith,  as  a  com.- 
mittee  for  the  people  at  Union  river,  empovv-ered  Capt. 
Matthew  Patten  to  proceed  to  Topshsm  and  niesent  a 
call  to  Mr.  Urquhart  to  become  their  Minister,  and  to 
request  the  '*  Salem  Presbytery''  about  to  meet  there  to 
install  him.  This  was  accordingly  done  on  tht:  Teh  o£ 
September  in  that  ye^ir.f  Mr  Urquhart  nuw  proceed- 
ed to  Union  liver,  and  commenced  his  stated  labours  ; 
but  difficulties  soon  ap;  eared.  The  character  of  Mr. 
Urquhart  was  suspicious  ;  the  people  became  dissatisfied 
with  him.,  and  he  was  dismissed  from  them  in  the  early 
part  of  the  year  1790.  It  does  not  appear  probable^ 
considering  all  circumstances,  that  any  Church  was^ 
regularly  organized  at  Union  river  during  Mr.  Urqu- 
hart's  ministry,  no  record  of  such  a  transaction   being 

found. 

In  September  1812,  a  Congregational  Church  was 

gathered  in  Ellsworth,  and  the  present  Minister   Rey«. 

Peter  Nourse  was  ordained. 


♦  This  n.ime  is  pronounced  Urcult,  and  scmetixes  Orcuth 
•\  Bec^skctch  of  the  Piesbyterians. 


COUNTY    OF    HANCOCK.  167 

BELFAST. 

This  town  lies  at  the  head  of  Penobscot  Bay,  and  is 
divided  almost  centrally  by  Belfast  River,  which  is 
navigable  nearly  three  miles  from  the  Bay.*  The  settle- 
ment began  before  the  revolutionary  war,  which  was 
distressingly  felt  by  the  people.  Most  of  the  inhabi- 
tants were  constrained  to  leave  their  farms  and  remove 
westward,  and  did  not  return  again  until  after  the  peace. 
About  ninety  famil  es  had  settled  in  Belfast  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  year  J  79G.  These  were  all  settled 
near  the  sea  shore.  At  that  time  there  were  only  twelve 
framed  houses  in  the  town,  and  but  one  two  stories  in 
height.  In  March  of  this  year  Mr.  Ebenezer  Price  was 
invited  to  preach  at  Belfast  as  a  candidate  for  settlement. 
Tow^ard  autumn  he  received  a  regular  call,  and  on  the 
28th  of  December,  a  council  being  assembled  a  small 
church  was  organized,  and  the  day  following  Mr.  Price 
was  ordained.  The  persons  composing  the  Church  had 
been  professors  of  religion  in  Piesbyterian  Churches, 
But  being  so  far  removed  from  any  Presbytery  they  re- 
linquished that  form  of  government,  and  were  organ- 
ized on  the  Cambridge  platform  as  to  government,  and 
the  Westminster  Confession  as  to  doctrine.  For  about 
five  years  Mr.  Price  remained  quietly  at  Belfast.  In 
that  time  the  population  of  the  town  was  doubled,  and 
a  majoiity  was  found  to  vote  against  assessing  his  sala- 
ry.  In  the  spring  of  1802,  his  civil  contract  with  the 

♦"This  nvcr  was  called  by  the  natives  Pasagasjwakeag,  pronounced  Pa- 
sag-a.sa  wa  keag,  and  sometimes  contracted  into  Sag  a-$a-wa  kee,  the 
name  given  to  the  adjoining  territory  or  hunting  ground,  si  nifying  the  land 
*>f  sights,  or  gho'ts  !"  Rev.  Mr.  Price's  letter. 


i08  C0GREGATI0NALIST9. 

town  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent,  and  In  Septem- 
ber following  a  council  was  invited  to  meet  at  Belfast, 
and  Ills  pastoral  relation  to  the  Church  regularly  dis- 
ed.  He  continued  however  to  preach  to  the  people 
gratuitoudy  until  the  spring  of  1803,  when  he  remov- 
ed from  the  town  and  settled  in  BoscawTn  in  New- 
Hampshire. 

The  Church  was  now  vacant  for  two  years.  In  the 
summer  of  1805,  Rev.  Alfred  Johnson  of  Freeport  visi- 
ted Belfast,  and  was  invited  by  the  people  to  settle  with 
them.  But  he  was  not  yet  dismissed  from  Freeport.  In 
September  of  that  year  a  council  was  convened  at  Cam- 
den for  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Mr  Cochran  in  that  place, 
and  by  agreement  of  parties  the  question  respecting  the 
•dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation  between  Mr.  Johnson 
and  his  former  charge  was  referred  to  that  Council,  and 
decided  affirmatively  ;  at  the  same  time,  by  request  of 
Mr.  Johnson  and  the  Church  at  Belfast,  that  council 
issued  letters  missive  for  convoking  another  Council  to 
sit  at  Belfast  during  the  next  week  for  his  proposed  in- 
stallation. The  Council  met  accordingly,  and  Rev.  Mr. 
Johnson  was  installed  Pastor  of  the  Church  in  Belfast  on 
the  25th  of  September  1805.  A  previous  arrangement 
had  been  made  between  him  and  the  Church  respecting 
Ills  dismission  should  such  a  measure  ever  become  expe- 
dient.  Agreeably  to  this  arrangement  Mi.  Johnson  was 
dismissed  in  October  1813,  without  summoning  a  coun- 
cil specially  for  that  purpose.  The  Church  was  thus 
left  destitute  of  a  stated  Pastor.  Missionary  Societies 
gave  them  occasional  aid^  and  for  several  years  the  peo- 


€OUiSTY   OF  HANCOCK.  l69 

pie  did  not  view  themselves  in  a  situation  to  settle  anoth- 
er Minister. 

In  tlie  year  1818  the  people  had  employed,  as  a  can- 
didate for  iiettlement,  Rev.  William  Frothingham,  who 
had  been  once  settled  at  Sano^iis  In  Massachusetts. — 
After  a  time  spent  in  probation  he  received  an  invitation 
to  settle  in  the  Ministry  among  them.  As  the  time  for 
his  installation  approached,  the  Chuich  declined  acting 
in  their  associated  capacity,  but  tJie  parish  proceeded,  a 
Council  was  invited,  and  Mr.  Frotliingham  Installed. — 
This  took  place  In  July  1819.  On  the  9th  of  Septem- 
ber following  a  new  Church  was  formed  under  \he  pas- 
toral care  of  Mr.  Frothingham,  consisting  principally  of 
membersof  various  other  churches  whohad  removed  in- 
to the  town.  The  old  Church  still  continue  as  a  dis- 
tinct body. 

The  second  Church,  gathered  in  ihe  westerly  part  of 
Hancock  County,  was  in  a  Congregational  Society  in  tfce 
towns  of  Brooks  and  Jackson,  about  fifteen  miles  north- 
west from  Belfast.  Several  Congregational  families  had 
commenced  the  sett'ement  in  these  townships,  and  Mr. 
Silas  Warren  had  laboured  considerably  among  them  as 
a  Missionary.  Tlie  people  felt  desirous  that  Mr.  War- 
ren should  take  up  his  abode  among  them,  which  he  wa^; 
disposed  to  do.  But,  as  it  did  not  seem  expedient  to 
organize  a  Church  at  that  tlm-e,  Mr.  Warreji  was  or^ 
dained  as  an  Evangelist  without  any  peculiar  charge. 
This  took  place  In  September  1812.  About  a  year  after 
this,  Mr-  Warren  gathered  a  Church  in  that  place,  and 
became  connected  with  it  as  a  member,  and  continues 
Ills-ministerial  labour,  buthas  not  been  regulaily  inducted 


170  ^eONGREGATIONALISTS* 

as  Pastor  of  the  Church. — The  other  Church  in  this  re- 
gion Is  in  the  town  of  Prospect.  This  town  was  origi. 
nally  a  part  of  Frankfort,  and  was  incorporated  with 
that  in  1789,  but  in  five  years  after,  the  town  was  divi- 
ded, and  the  south  part  called  Prospect.  A  small  set- 
tlement was  made  here  early,  and  a  Fort  built  on  what 
was,  from  this  circumstance,  denominated  *'Fcrt  point,** 
which  is  at  the  head  of  Penobscot  Bay,  and  commands 
the  entrance  of  the  river.  The  settlements  to  the  west- 
ward of  Fort  Point  within  the  limits  of  Prospect  were  of 
the  same  standing  with  those  in  Belfast,  and  it  being 
but  a  few  miles  to  the  old  Meeting-house  in  that  town 
many  of  the  inhabitants  of  Prospect  attended  public  wor- 
ship at  Belfast.  It  was  not  until  the  year  1815,  that  a 
Congregational  Church  was  organized  in  Prospect. — 
Rev.  Christopher  J.  Lawton  had  been  for  a  considera- 
ble time  employed  there  as  a  Missionary,  and  occasion- 
ally supported  for  short  terms  by  the  people.  They  at 
length  gave  him  an  invitation  to  settle,  and  In  Septem- 
ber of  that  year  he  was  ordained,  a  Church  of  seventeen 
members  being  gathered  at  the  same  time* 


WALDO    PATENT.  171 

CHxiPTER  XVII. 

1775. 

WALPO   PATENT. 

Under  this  general  name  we  shall  treat  of  all  tlie 
Churches  in  Lincoln  County  to  the  eastward  of  Bristol, 
the  other  religious  establishments  within  this  territory- 
having  been  considered  in  the  preceding  Chapter.  A- 
bout  the  year  1629,  a  grant  of  lands  in  Maine  was  made 
to  Beauchamp  and  Leverett.  The  land  was  thus  de*. 
scribed.  *'  Beginning  at  a  place  called  Muscongus  and 
thence  running  a  straight  and  direct  course  into  the  main 
land  or  Continent  to  the  utmost  limits  of  ten  leag_ues 
toward  the  great  Sea  commonly  called  the  South  Sea, 
and  to  the  utmost  limits  of  tlie  distance  uf  ten  leagues 
on  the  north  and  north  east  of  a  river  called  Penobscot 
river"  &c.  Many  years  after  this,  Col.  Waldo  went  to 
England  on  behalf  of  the  heirs  of  Beauchamp  and  Lever- 
ett, and  the  grant  was  confirmed  to  him  in  a  more  de- 
finite form  as  to  its  bounds. 

The  first  considerable  settlement  in  the  whole  territory 
was  a  German  settlement  at  what  is  now  Waldobo- 
rough,  made  about  the  year  1741,  A  little  after  this  ii 
Fort  was  built  on  St.  Georges  river  in  Thomaston.. 
Col.  Waldo  began  the  settlement  at  Wanen  and  Cush- 
ing  not  far  from  the  time  the  Germans  settled  at  Wal- 
-  doborough,  and  called  his  settlement  "  the  upper  and 
lower  town."  The  inhabitants  in  Warren  had  increas- 
'Sd  to  between  forty  and  fifty  families  in  the  year  1763, 


17^  CONGKEGAilCXALlSiS. 

iiud  about  as  many  had  settled  at  Chushing.  At  thi9 
time  the  settlement  at  Thomastori,  wlicre  the  piincipul 
buildings  are  now  erected,  was  commenced.  Before 
this  time  a  small  sctllemet  vvi: ..  made  around  the  loit, 
;ind  Rev.  Robert  Rutherford  had  taken  up  his  abode 
uith  the  p:ople.  It  cojs  not  appear  that  Mi.  Ruther- 
tord  had  a  distinct  pasioral  charge  in  Thom.aston,  or 
that  any  Church  was  gatjiered  there  during  his  life, 
lie  died  there  in  October  17^6.  * 

The  next  Minister  who  resided  in  this  region  w?.s 
Rev,  John  Urquhart,  a  Presbyterian.  He  had  been 
licensed  to  preach  by  the  Precbytery  of  Allon  In  North 
Brittain,  and  came  first  to  this  couatry  in  the  year  J774',f 
and  was  soon  employed  to  preach  at  Warren.  There 
Js  some  reason  to  believe  that  Mr.  Urquhart  was  regu- 
Larly  settled  at  Warren,  as  a  regular  call  was  presented 
him  in  the  year  1775,  and  he  was  considered  the  Min- 
ister of  the  town  for  nearly  eight  years  ;  and  v/as  at 
last  regularly  removed  by  the  Presbytery,  convened  at 
k^alem  in  September  1783.  J  It  is  not  ceitainly  known 
whether  Mr.  Urquhart  gathered  a  Church  at  Waneift 
From  some  circumstances  it  is  most  probable  that  he 
did,  but  no  record  of  the  ti'snsaction  is  now  to  be  found, 
aod  if  such  an  event  took  place  the  Church  was  scat- 
tered as  soon  as  he  left  the  town.     During  the  residtnce 

*  Mr.  Rutlurford  was  buried  near  the  scat  e^[  cl'.e  la'c  Gen  Knox.  Tlic 
I'jllovviug  L  tilt  inscription  an  the  Stone  placed  over  hU  gr.»vc— "  Ut^ro 
jics  buried  the  body  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Robert  Kutl.crfyrd,  M.  A.  vvl'.o  ^^ 
tn  the  iSth  day  of  October  1:56  .igcd  C?^  yc.n^. 

f  PrcMiVtciiai  kccords. 

+:rj-jt.=:bytcj;ial  Reccrds. 


Waldo  pai  ext.  1^3 

of  Mr.  Urquhart  in  this  region  he  preached  occasioniil- 
I7  at  Thomaston  and  Cashing,  but  was  considered  the 
Miniser  of  Warren.  The  nature  of  the  difficulties  be- 
tween Mr.  Urquhart  and  the  people  is  unknown  at  this 
day.  But  it  seems  they  were  more  anxious  to  g.et  rid 
of  him  than  he  was  to  go,  for  when  the  town  had  by  a 
committee  settled  with  him  for  his  services,  supposing 
him  dismissed,  he  did  not  incline  to  leave  the  place  and 
the  town  wrote  to  the  Presbytery  desiring  them  to  take 
him  away.  * 

Two  years  after  this,  Rev.  Thurston  Whiting  who 
had  been  dismissed  from  New.  Castle,  removed  to  War- 
ren, and  was  employed  to  preach  there  and  in  the  ad- 
joining town  for  two  or  three  years.  In  1794,  Mr. 
Jonathan  Huse  was  employed  to  preach  at  Warren  on 
probation.  The  following  year  the  people  invited  him 
to  settle  with  them,  and  in  the  autumn  of  J  795,  a 
Church  was  gathered,  and  Rev-.  Mi.  Huse  ordained* 
He  is  their  present  Minister. 

The  second  Church  within  the  limits  of  the  Waldo 
Patent  was  gatliered  at  Union,  a  town  about  seven  miles 
north  of  Warren.  This  town  was  originally  called 
Sterlington,  but  was  incorporated  by  its  present  name 
in  1786.  There  were  only  seventeen  families  in  the 
town  at  that  time.  Three  years  after  this  a  committ^ 
was  appointed  to  engage  a  Minister,  but  it  does  not  ap. 
pear  that  any  was  regularly  employed  until  the  y-estr 
1796.  In  April  of  that  year  Mr.  William  Riddel,  af- 
terward the  Minister  of  Bristol,  was  invited  to  settle^ 


*  Warren  town  Record*, 


:1  /'^  CO  X  G  R  i:  G  A  1'  1 0  X  A  L I S  I  S . 

Union,  but  declined.  The  people  were  considerably  di^' 
vided  in  opinion,  and  the  next  year  tlicy  voted  to  hire  a 
Methodist  preacher  as  the  Minister  of  the  town.  Noth- 
ing more  was  atterwpted  by  the  Congiegational  part  ot 
ihe  town  for  several  years',  toward  the  close  of  the  year 
1802,  Mr.  Abraham  Gushee  was  engaged  by  the  town 
to  preach  on  probation,  and  in  February  following  he- 
received  an  invitation  to  settle  there.  For  some  reason 
he  thought  fit  to  decline  this  invitation,  and  he  was  set- 
tled afterward  at  Dighton  in  Massachusetts.  During 
this  year  a  small  Church  was  organized  in  the  town,  and 
the  people  sought  another  candidate.  In  January  1804? 
a  call  of  the  Church  and  town  was  presented  to  Rev. 
Jabez  Pond  Fisher,  which  he  also  declined.  In  a  little 
moie  than  a  year  after  this  Mr.  Henry  True  was  em- 
ployed in  Union  as  a  candidate  for  settlement.  In  No  - 
vember  1805  he  received  a  call  and  was  ordained  in 
September  of  the  next  year.  Mr.  True  continued  to 
oflkiate  in  the  ministry  at  Union  nearly  ten  years  after 
his  ordination.  In  Maich  1816,  the  civil  contract  be- 
iween  him  and  the  people  was  dissolved  by  mutual  con- 
sent, and  he  soon  ceased  p:  :;aching.  His  patstoral  re- 
lation to  the  Church  continued  a  few  years  longer. 

In  February  1809,  a  second  Congregational  Church 
WMS  formed  in  Union,  consisting  of  three  males,  and 
nine  females  v,-ho  liad  previously  been  members  of  tKe 
Hrst  Church ^ 

Tlius  things  continued  iii  Union  until  the  year  1820. 
Miai-ionaries  occasionally  visited  the  town  but  the  pco- 
pk»  saw  jUtle  prospett  of  .tlie   orderJy   estabhshmefit  or 


\VALDO    i'ATEI^r.  ij 3 

the  Gospel  among  them.  In  September  1820,  the  first 
Church  proposed  to  the  second  to  miite  together,  which 
'after  some  negotiation  was  effected. 

CAMDEN'. 

This  township  was  surveyed  in  1768,  by  David 
Fales,  Esq.  of  Thomaston.  At  that  time  theie  was  not 
a  tfee  felled  in  the  town.  The  settlement  soon  became 
considerable,  and  after  hearing  several  candidates  the 
town  became  united  in  the  choice  of  Mr.  Thomas  Coch^^ 
ran  as  their  Minister,  and  in  September  1805  he  was 
ordained.  A  Church  was  organized  by  the  ordaining 
Council  Rev.  Mr.  Cochran  remained  in  Camden  ten 
years,  and  was  then  dismissed  by  mutual  consent.  The 
Church  has  since  been  vacant. 

The  Congregational  Church  at  Waldoborough  was 
gathered  in  August  1807,  and  at  the  same  time  Rev. 
John  Ruggles  Cutting  was  ordained  its  Pastor.  The 
settlements  at  this  place  as  has  been  before  stated  were 
among  the  first  in  the  Waldo  patent,  but  the  original 
settlers  were  mostly  Germans,  and  the  Lutheran  Church 
had  the  precedency.  This  accounts  for  the  late  estab- 
lishment of  a  Congregational  Church  in  so  ancient  a 
settlem.ent.  The  people  had  occasionally  been  supplied 
with  Congregational  preaching  before,  but  Mr.  Cutting 
was  their  first  settled  Minister.  The  ministry  of  Mr. 
Cutting  was  of  short  duration.  In  the  autumn  of  1 81 1 , 
he  left  the  town,  and  went  westward  on  a  journey,  and 
.ifter  an  absence  of  several  months,  sent  back  a  request 
•to  be  dismissed,  statiug  that  he  had  changed  his  senti- 
•ir.entS;  and  was  rowbeccme  an  Episcopalian.     A  Cor 


176  <JOGKEGATI()NALlSrS. 

cil  wiis  convoked  by  the  Church  in  March  following^' 
and  the  dismission  granted.  The  Church  was  now  va- 
cant  for  a  few  years,  when  on  June  19,  1816,  Rev.  Da- 
vid Meaubec  Mitchel  was  ordained,  and  is  the  present 
Minister. 

THOMASTON. 

As  we  have  before  stated,  an  early  settlement  wa» 
made  in  this  town  near  the  Fort.  The  Indians  called 
the  place  Georgeehee^  and  it  was  incorporated  by  its  pres- 
ent name  in  March  1777.  Rev.  Mr.  Rutherford  as  we 
have  before  observed  lived  and  died  with  this  people. 
After  his  death  the  people  had  a  variety  of  preachers. 
Mr.  Thomas  Dennis,  Rev.  Robert  Dunlap,  Mr.  Urqu- 
hart,  Mr.  Whiting,  Mr.  Heniy  Howard  Cheely,  Mr. 
Chamberlain,  Mr.  Ephraim  Briggs,  and  Mr.  Richard 
Briggs  were  the  principal  of  them.  Mr.  Cheely  was 
hired  nearly  two  years.  Mr.  Richard  Briggs  received 
from  the  people  a  call  to  settle  with  them,  which  at  a 
subsequent  meeting  they  reconsidered  and  negatived. 
But  no  Congregational  Church  was  organized  in  the 
town  until  May  1809.  At  that  time  Rev.  John  Lord 
was  installed  at  Thomaston.  Mr.  Lord's  ministry  con- 
tinued only  two  years.  He  was  dismissed  in  April  1811, 
and  after  remaining  destitute  sijc  yeais,  in  October  1817 
the  people  united  in  settling  Rev,  John  H.  Ingrahaur? 
the  present  Minister. 


COUNTY  OF  OXFORD.  177 

CHxVPTER  XTIII. 

Our  attention  will  next  be  directed  to  Oxford  County 
Xvhere  we  shall  find  for  our  consideration  sixteen  Coir- 
gregational  Churches. 

FPvYEBURG.* 

The  townshrp  of  Frj'eburg  was  granted  to  Gen.  Jo-' 
seph  Frye  by  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  ill 
March  1762,  and  confirmed  on  the  2-kh  of  February  in 
tlie  year  following,  at  which  time  the  settlement  was 
commenced.  With  the  laudable  spirit  of  former  days 
one  of  the  first  objects  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Fryeburg 
was  the  settlement  of  a  Minister.  In  October  1774', 
only  eleven  years  after  the  first  settlement  was  made, 
Rev.  William  Fessenden  received  a  call  to  settle  in  the 
ministry  with  the  people  of  Fryeburg.  He  accepted  the 
invitation,  and  In  August  of  the  nest  year  ten  persons 
were  embodied  as  a  Congregational  Cliurch  -f  and  Mr. 
f'essenden  v/as  ordained  in  October  following.  Mr.  Fes- 
sen  den  continued  the  Minister  of  Fryeburg  until  May 
1805,  when  he  was  removed  from  his  labours  by  death. 
Two  or  three  years  previous  to  this  he  relinquished  his 
sallaiy,  and  preiched  occasionally  in  other  places,  but 
his  pastoral  relation  to  the  Church  In  Fryeburg  contin- 


♦  The  In''.ians  called  tliij  place  Pe-qiiock-et.  Tii&  vulgar  pronunciation  of 
the  name  is  Pigwalket.  Thu  famous  battle  between  Capt.  Lovel  and  the 
Indians  under  Pagus  took  place  at  t'ue  northerly  end  of  "  Level's  pond'  ia 
tliis  town.  May  8,  I725- 

t  One  of  the  original  members  of  the  tli«vch,,Kou.  ilm^  Fryc,  still  rc\ 
jj^a'ms.    The  others  P^avc  fa'^^n-aslfep. 


178  COSGREGATIONALIS-fs. 

ued  during  his  life.  For  several  years  after  the  death 
of  Mr.  Fessenden,  tlie  Church  and  Society  were  in  a 
low  state,  but  at  length,  in  October  1 809,  another  Min- 
ister, Rev  Francis  Lane  Whiting,  was  ordained  at  Frye- 
burg.  He  continued  preaching  here  for  four  years. — 
The  civil  contract  was  then  relinquished,  and  after 
four  years  more  the  pastoral  relation  was  also  dissolved. 
The  Church  has  since  been  vacant.  The  present  num- 
ber of  communicants  is  about  ninety.  There  are  two 
Meeting-houses  in  Fryeburg,  one  near  the  centre  of  the 
town,  which  is  generally  occupied  by  the  Universalist 
Society,  and  the  Congregational  Meeting-house  in  the 
South  part  of  the  town,  in  the  principal  village.  The 
Congregational  Society  have  funds  amounting  to  2,600 
dollars,  but  since  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Whiting  they 
have  made  no  attempt  to  settle  a  successor.  Rev.  Dr. 
Porter,  formerly  of  Conway,  in  New-Hampshire,  has 
been  employed  to  preach  there  most  of  the  time  for 
three  years  past. 

TURNER. 

The  territory  now  called  Turner  was  granted  by  thr- 
General  Court  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  June  25, 1 765,  on 
the  petition  of  James  Warren,  Joseph  Joslin  and  Charles 
Turner,  agents  for  the  proprietors  of  a  township  of  land 
formerly  granted  to  Capt  Joseph  Sylvester  and  Compa- 
ny who  served  in  the  expedition  against  Canada  in  ]  690, 
which  township  was  known  by  the  name  of  Sylvester 
Canada,  and  which  on  running  the  line  between  this 
then  province  and  New-Hampshire  fell  within  the  gov- 
ernment of  New-Hampshire.     In  lieu  of  this  township 


TURNER.  179 

thus  falling  within  the  limits  of  New-Hampshire  a  terri- 
tory bounded  by  the  river  Androscoggin  on  the  east ; 
Bakerstown,  now  Minot,  south  ;  by  Province  land,  now 
Hebron,  Buckfield  and  Hartford,  west ;  and  Province 
land,  now  Livermore,  north  ;  was  granted  to  the  afore- 
named proprietors  as  grantees  on  the  following  condi- 
tions :  **  That  the  grantees  within  six  years  settle  thirty 
families  in  said  Township,  build  a  house  fit  for  pub- 
lic worship,  settle  a  learned  Protestant  Minister,  lay 
out  one  sixty  fourth  part  of  said  town  for  the  use  of  the 
first  settled  Minister,  and  one  sixty  fourth  part  for  the 
Ministry,  and  one  sixty  fourth  part  for  a  Grammar 
School,  and  one  sixty  fourth  part  for  the  use  of  Harvard 
College."  In  the  spring  of  1773,  the  proprietors,  anx- 
ious to  expedite  their  settlement,  offered  a  lot  of  land  and 
a  bounty  of  ten  dollars  to  every  person  who  would  do 
the  duty  of  a  settler  in  the  town.  During  the  summei- 
following  five  young  men*  engaged  on  these  conditions 
and  came  to  the  place,  which  from  that  time  out  of  re- 
spect to  the  before  mentioned  Capt.  Sylvester  took  the 
name  of  Sylvester  plantation.  They  spent  the  summei- 
in  felling  trees  upon  the  lots  they  had  taken,  and  in  the 
winter  returned  to  their  family  connexions  in  the  County 
of  Plymouth.  In  the  following  summer  they  were  join- 
ed by  several  others,  and  in  the  spring  of  1775,  Mr.  Is* 
rael  Haskell  removed  his  family  into  the  plantation  from 
New-Gloucester.  His  was  the  first  family  that  came  to 
the  place  and  made  it  a  permanent  place  of  abode.  Two 


•  rhcf  were  Ellsha   Records,  Thorasi    Record*,   Daniel   Staples,  AbaW- 
t^lUips,  aad  Joseph  Learitt. 


480  CONGREGATIONALISI'S. 

other  families  followed  him  during  the  summer.  Tiie 
permanent  settlement  of  the  town  is  to  be  dated  from 
this  time.  The  plantation  was  visited  in  1776,  by  Rev. 
Charles  Turner  who,  the  year  before,  was  dismissed  from 
Duxborough  in  Massachusetts.  He  pieached  to  the  few 
who  then  lived  in  the  place,  and  baptized  two  of  the 
children  of  Mr.  Hasliell.  He  made  a  seoond  visit  in 
1779,  admitted  some  to  own  the  Covenant,  as  it  was 
called,  and  baptized  several  children,  and  one  adult. 
Nothing  farther  was  done  at  that  time  respecting  organ- 
izing a  Church.  Among  the  families  that  had  removed 
to  the  plantation  was  Deacon  Daniel  Merrill,  Who  be- 
longed to  the  Church  in  New  Gloucester.*  Afier  Dea- 
con Merrill's  family  came  it  was  the  practice  of  the  in- 
habitants to  convene  on  the  Sabbath  for  the  worship  of 
God.  Deacon  Merrill  usually  had  the  direction  of  the 
exercises  by  leading  in  prayer,  and  reading  for  instruc- 
tion some  printed  discourse.  For  five  years  after  Mr. 
Turner's  second  visit  the  plantation,  was  not  favoured 
^wlth  the  visit*  of  any  Ministers  except  Rev.  Mr.  Brown 
of  Westbrook,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Nash,  of  Gray,  who  spent 
^ach  a  Sabbath  oi  two  with  them.  In  the  summer  of 
4 7 84-,  the  place  was  visited  by  Rev.  John  Strickland^ 
who  had  been  previously  settled  in  the  pastoral  olhce 
twice,  first  at  Oakham  in  Massachusetts,  and  afterwards 
a;;  Nottingham  West,  In  New-Hampoliii  e.  He  was  born 
at  Hadley  In  Mass.  #nd  was  of  the  Class,  graduated  at 
Yale  College  In  1761.  Not  long  after  Mr.  Strickland 
Came  to  the  place  measures  were  taken  to  organize  a 
Church  which  was  done  In  the  Presbyterian  form,  x^ugust 

♦  Dencon  Merrill  was  one   of  tlie  original  members  of  tlic  Churcli  at  New- 
Glouccs;,er,    Sec  the  sketch  9f  th.it  to+vn. 


CCfUKTY  OF  OXFORD.  l8t 

"  6th,  1 784.  The  plan  of  Church  government  was  after, 
wards  approved  by  the  people  assembled  as  a  Congrega. 
tlon,  and  Mr.  Strickland  received  the  united  and  unani- 
mous call  of  the  Church  and  people  to  become  their  Pas- 
tor. On  the  20th  of  the  next  month  the  "  Salem  Pres- 
•bytery"  cdnsisting  of  Rev.  Nathaniel  Whitaker  D.  D. 
Rev.  Samuel  Perley,  and  Rev.  John  Urquhart,  with 
which  Mr.  Strickland  was  connected,  met  at  Sylvester 
for  his  installation.  On  this  occasion  Mr.  Urquhart  of- 
fered the  introductory  prayer,  Dr.  Whitaker  preached 
from  2  Kings  ii.  19-22,  and  Mr.  Perley  gave  the  charge. 
At  the  time  of  Mr.  Strickland's  installation  the  families 
settled  in  the  town  were  about  thirty,  containing  per- 
haps not  far  from  200  souls  ;  twelve  males  and  three 
females  signed  the  original  Covenant  of  the  Church  at 
its  organization  — After  his  settlement  Mr.  Strickland 
enjoyed  peace  in  his  connexion  with  the  people  for  seve- 
ral years,  and  the  Church  increased  to  about  thirty  mem-, 
bers.  Six  years  after  the  installation  of  Mr.  Strickland 
the  minds  of  the  people  became  divided,  and  at  length 
a  majority  of  the  town  in  a  regialar  meeting  voted  to 
request  Mr.  Strickland  to  take  a  dismission.  With  this 
proposal  Mr.  Strickland  did  not  see  fit  to  comply. 
Those  v^ho  were  alienated  from  him  now  joined  with  a 
number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Buckfield  and  petitioned 
the  General  Court  for  an  act  of  incorporation  as  a  Bap- 
tist Society.  The  act  was  passed  Nov.  I7th,  1 792,  by 
which  sixty  one  persons  were  incorporated.  Twenty 
four  of  these  lived  in  Turner.  In  less  than  two  years 
twepty  persons  more  joined  thio  new  society,  and  th^ 


18^  eONGREGATlONALlSTS. 

adherents  of  Mr.  Strickland  were  thus  left  few  in  num- 
ber. Nevertheless  In  consequence  of  their  desire,  he  con- 
tinued their  Minister,  agreeing  to  relinquish  such  a  pro- 
portion of  his  salary  as  the  taxable  property  of  those 
who  had  left  him  bore  to  that  of  the  whole  town.  Af- 
ter this  Mr.  Strickland's  friends  diminished  in  number 
by  death  and  removals,  so  that  in  1795,  it  was  thought 
advisable  under  existing  circumstances  to  solicit  the  ad- 
vice of  an  Ecclesiastical  Council.  The  Churches  of 
Harpswell,  Brunswick,  Topsham,  and  Freepoit  compcr 
sed  this  Council.  The  Pastors  of  the  three  former  and 
a  Delegate  from  each  met  September  16th,  and  after 
attending  to  such  statements  as  were  thought  necessary 
to  give  a  view  of  existing  difficulties,  the  Council  advi- 
sed that  Mr.  Strickland  should  continue  his  pastoral  re- 
lation to  the  Church  for  one  year,  and  if  the  difficulties 
^ould  then  subsist  he  should  ask  a  dismission,  and  the 
Church  and  people  should  grant  It.  At  the  same  time, 
■in  view  of  this  event,  the  Council  recommended  Mr. 
Strickland  as  a  person  of  unimpeached  character,  and 
sound  in  the  faith.  After  the  expiration  of  a  year,  things 
being  no  more  favourable,  it  became  a  question  with 
the  Church  whether  another  Council  were  necessary,  and 
having  ascertained  that  it  was  not,  after  some  delay  a 
dismission  was  given  to  Mr.  Strickland  by  the  Charch 
and  people  May  ISth,  1797. 

For  several  years  after  Mr.  Strickland's  dismission, 
the  place  was  a  spiritual  wilderness.  The  Church  was 
diminishing  by  the  death  and  removal  of  members,  and 
the  few  that  remained  had  so  little  of  the  life  and  power 
of  religion  that  they  did  not  maintain  public  worship* 


COtrNTY  OF  OXFORD.  1^3 

The  town  being  without  a  Minister,  complaint  was  made 
against  them  in  the  fall  of  1 802  to  the  Court  of  Ses- 
sions of  the  peace,  "for  neglecting  to  provide  themselves 
with  a  public  teacher  of  piety,  religion,  and  morality." 
The  town,  by  their  Agent,  appeared  before  the  Court 
and  plead  that  they  were  unwilUng  to  contend^  and  desired 
to  have  farther  time  to  somply  with  the  law.     Being 
thus  excited  to  do  something  for  the  support  of  a  Min- 
ister, Rev.  Mr.  Stiickland  who  still  continued  to  reside 
in  town,  and   Rev.  Charles  Turner  who  had  resided  in 
town  from  the  year  1792,   were  each  employed   for  a 
time.     After  both  had  preached  the  teim  of  time  they 
severally  had  agreed,  a  call  with  certain  conditions  was 
voted  by  the  town  for  Mr.  Turner  to  settle  in  the  v/ork 
cf  the  Gospel  ministry,  and  a  comn^ittee  Vv-as  Hpnomte-;! 
to  request  the  Church's  concurrence.' — The  Church  hav- 
ing previously  selected  Mr.   Strickland  to  the  pastoral 
office,  voted  not  to  concur  with  the  town  but  to  adhere 
to  the  election  they  had  made.     In  this  election  of  the 
Church  the  town  refused  to  concur.     There  being  this 
disagreement  between  the  town  and  the  Church  there 
could  be  no  further  proceedings  in  relation  to  either  can- 
didate.    As  the  Church  had  been  six  years  destitute  of 
a  pastor  and  their  number  had  become  much  diminished 
by  several  of  the  members  withdrawing  themselves  and 
uniting  with  other  denominations,  and  by  the  deaths 
and  removals  of  others  ;  and  as  but  imperfect  records 
had  been  kept  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Church,  and  it 
not  appearing  distinctly  from  the  papers  of  the  Church 
who  belonged  to  it,  some,  dissatisfied  that  the  Church 
did  not  concur  with  the  town,  denied  that  a  Church  ex* 


18il?  CONGREGATIONALrST*. 

isted  there.  This  induced  the  Church  to  call  in  an  Ec«' 
clesiastical  Council  to  advise  them  in  their  difficulties, 
and  determine  whether  they  were  a  Church.  A  Coun- 
cil as  requested  assembled  on  the  18th  of  October  1803, 
and  after  attending  to  a  representation  of  the  state  of 
things,  gave  it  as  their  unanimous  opinion  that  the 
Church  was  not  extinct.  The  Church  then  in  presence 
^f  the  Council  voted  to  change  their  form  to  that  of  a 
Congregational  Church,  and  seven  male  members  sub* 
scribed  a  Confession  of  Faith  and  Covenant. 

Previous  to  these  transactions  of  the  Church  Mr.  A- 
masa  Smith,  a  candidate  for  the  Gospel  ministry,  being- 
en  a  journey  and  passing  through  the  town,  was  em- 
ployed by  the  inhabitants  to  supply  them  with  preach- 
ing.   After  having  preached  a  number  of  weeks,  the 
Church  unanimously  gave  him  an  invitation  to  settle 
witli  them.     The  town  concurred  in  the  invitation,  and 
Mr.  Smith  was  ordained  there  May  23,  1804.     The  in- 
habitants of  the  town  were  not  fully  agreed  in  the  settle* 
ment  of  Rev.  Mr.  Smith,  and  the   immediate  conse- 
quence of  it  was  the  establishment  of  a  Society  of  Uni- 
versalists  in  which  fifty  four  persons  were  incorporated  ; 
thirty  others  joined  with  them  within  a  year.     These 
measures  led  the  Congregational  part  of  the  inhabitants 
to  organize  themselves  as  a  distinct  Parish,  in  which  ca- 
pacity they  have  since   acted.     The  lands  reserved  for 
the  use  of  the  Ministry  in  the  town,  and  those   for  the 
ijise  of  Schools  had  been  sold  a  little  before  this  by  of- 
der  of  the  Legislature,  and  the  proceeds  vested  in  a 
Board  of  Trustees,  to  be  applied  for  the  respective  pur- 
poses for  which  the  lands  were  granted,  as  soon  as  tlra 


COUNTY  OF  OXFORD.  185 

interest  of  the  School  Fund  amounted  to  200  dollars, 
and  the  ministerial  when  it  amounted  to  350  dollars. 
The  School  Fund  became  productive  in  1808,  and  the 
ministerial  in  March  1811. 

As  there  was  no  assistance  from  the  ministerial  fund 
for  the  support  of  Mr.  Smitli,  and  as  nearly  half  the 
town  had  become  a  distinct  Society  and  were  not  taxed 
in  raising  his  salary,  the  burden  upon  the  remaining 
part  was  considerably  heavy. 

It  had  been  agreed  between  Mr.  Smith  and  people  at 
his  settlement,  that,  when  two  thirds  of  the  people  re- 
quested it,  he  should  be  dismissed.  In  the  spring  of 
1806,  a  meeting  was  held  to  consider  this  subject,  but 
two  thirds  were  not  found  to  vote  the  proposed  dismis- 
sion. A  committee  was  appointed  however  to  consult 
with  Mr.  Smith  on  this  subject,  and  he  and  they  agreed 
that  his  dismission  should  eventually  take  place.  It  was 
finally  accomplished  October  7th  of  the  same  year,  and 
on  the  22d  of  the  same  month  he  was  installed  Pastor 
of  the  second  Church  in  North-Yarmouth.  The  minis- 
try of  Mr.  Smith  at  Turner  was  short,  but  it  is  hoped 
not  wholly  without  good  effect.  Much  of  the  seed  of 
divine  truth  was  sown,  but  the  extent  of  the  harvest 
viewed  in  all  its  consequences  can  be  known  only  to 
God.  Eight  persons  while  he  was  in  the  pastoral  office 
became  members  of  the  Church. 

After  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Smith,  four  years  past  a- 
way  and  the  Church  was  destitute  of  a  Pastor.  During 
this  period  the  place  was  visited  by  several  Missionaries, 
mostly  from  the  Hampshire  County  Missionary  Society. 
In  the  spring  of  1810,  the  present  Pastor  of  the  Chureb, 
Q  2 


186  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

Rev.  Allen  Greely,  began  to  preach  as  a  candidate  for 
settlement.  At  this  time  the  Church  contained  but 
twenty  one  members.  In  the  course  of  the  summer  Mr. 
Greely  received  the  united  call  of  the  Church  and  So- 
ciety, and  was  ordained  October  24^,  1810.  The  next 
summer  after  his  settlement  a  few  individuals  had  their 
attention  excited  to  the  things  of  the  eternal  world;  but 
there  was  no  general  awakening.  More  than  six  years 
past  away  and  gross  darkness  covered  the  people.  At 
length  in  the  summer  of  1816,  God  was  pleased  to  im- 
press seriousness  on  the  minds  of  a  number.  The  influ- 
rnces  of  his  Spirit  were  silent,  and  the  effects  were  so- 
'•emn.  The  attention  continued  during  two  seasons,  and 
*n  consequence  of  it  the  Churcli  was  enlarged  so  as  to 
contain  more  than  sixty  members. 


In  the  year  1798  the  plantation,  of  New  Suncook,  now 
the  town  of  Lovell,was  favored  with  a  signal  display  of 
mercy  in  the  hopeful  conversion  of  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  persons.  The  consequence  of  this  was  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  Congregational  Church  there,  which  took 
place  on  the  6th  of  October  in  that  year.  Nine  person? 
were  admitted  at  that  time.  Subsequently  forty  seven 
persons  have  been  received  into  this  Church.  Some  of 
these  persons  lived  in  the  adjoining  towns,  particularly 
in  Sweden,  where  a  Church  has  since  been  gathered. 
By  deaths  and  removals  the  Church  in  Lovell  is  now 
reduced  to  twenty  eight  members.  About  twenty  fam- 
ilies belong  to  the  Congregational  Society. 


COUNTY  OF  OXFOUD.  IS*' 


The  town  of  Bethel  was  granted  to  certain  Inhabi- 
tants of  Sudbury,  in  Massachusetts  for  services  perform- 
ed in  Canada  in  ^Uhe  old  French  war,*^  Hence  the 
plantation  took  the  name  of  "  Sudbury  Canada."  The 
first  permanent  settlement  In  the  towm  was  made  by 
Mr.  Samuel  Ingals.  He  first  came  there  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1776,  and  moved  his  family  to  the  town  in  No- 
vember of  the  following  year.  The  Congregational 
Church  in  that  place  was  foimed  in  October  1799,  and 
consisted  of  seven  males  and  four  females.  Rev.  Dan- 
iel Gould  was  then  preaching  in  the  town  as  a  candidate 
for  settlement.  The  people  had  given  him  a  oall,  which 
he  had  accepted,  and  he  was  ordained  October  9th,  two 
days  after  the  organization  of  the  Church.  In  May 
1809,  Rev.  Mr.  Gould  was  dismissed  from  Bethel,  and 
the  Church  remained  vacant  ten  years.  In  January 
1819,  Rev.  Henry  Sewall  was  installed  there,  but  diffi- 
culties soon  arose  between  him  and  the  people  and  he 
was  dismissed  on  the  10th  of  May  1820.  They  are 
now  destitute. 

WATERFORD. 

The  first  settlement  in  this  town  was  made  by  Mr. 
David  McQuaIn  in  the  autumn  of  1775.  He  is  still  hv= 
ing  there,  a  bachelor,  at  the  present  day.  It  was  not 
till  1783,  that  any  considerable  settlement  was  made- 
The  first  inhabitant  of  Waterford  who  was  in  full 
communion  with  any  Christian  Church,  was  a  Mrs. 
■  Hor,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Philip  Hor,  originally  fiomTaun- 


188  OONGREGATIONALISTS. 

ton.  No  Church  was  organized  in  the  town  until  Oc-- 
tober  1799.  Then  eight  males  covenanted  together, 
and  became  a  church  of  Christ.  At  tlie  same  time 
Rev.  Lincoln  Ripley  of  Barre  in  Massachusetts  was  or- 
dained their  Pastor.  He  has  continued  with  them  to 
the  present  time.  Eleven  more  males  and  four  females 
were  soon  admitted  to  the  Church,  and  the  Lord's  sup- 
per was  administered  for  the  first  time.  Before  the 
close  of  the  year,  twenty-five  persons  more  were  added 
to  the  Church.  The  attention  to  religion  still  continu- 
ed. Nine  members  were  added  the  next  year,  and  the 
same  number  in  1801.* 

ANDOYER. 

Andover,  formerly  called  East  Andover,  is  a  pleas- 
ant town  lying  in  the  northerly  part  of  the  County  of 
Oxford,  about  ten  miles  north  of  Pennycook  falls  on 
the  Androscoggin.  Ellis*  river  intersects  the  town,  and 
settlements  are  made  on  both  sides  of  it  extending  about 
five  miles.  The  first  family  that  moved  into  the  town 
was  that  of  Ezekiel  Merrill  Esq.  in  May  1 789.  Two 
years  after,  other  families  came  in,  and  in  1804  the 
town  was  incorporated.  In  November  1 800,  a  Congre- 
gational Church  was  organized  in  the  town  by  Rev. 
Daniel  Gould  of  Bethel,  consisting  of  seven  males  and 
nine  females.  The  Church  and  Society,  though  few  in 
number  soon  made  exertions  to  obtain  i  Minister,  and 
in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1806,  a  call  was  presented 
to  the  Rev.  Jacob  Rice,  formerly  of  Henniker,  (N.  H.) 
to  become  their  Minister.  But  Mr.  Rice  declined  their 
invitation,  and  was  afterward  settled  at  Browrifield.*— 

*Ma«?.  Hist.  Coll.  Tol.  9,  p.  14S\ 


C0tJJ5TY  OT  OXFORD.  189^ 

Shortly  after,  Rev.  John  Strickland,  formerly  of  Tui**. 
ner,  was  engaged  as  a  candidate,  and  installed  Pastor  of 
the  Church,  March  12,  1806.  He  is  their  present  Min* 
istOT. 

SUMNER. 

This  town  at  Its  first  settlement  together  with    the 
greater  part  of  what  Is  now    Hartford  was  originally 
called  the  plantation  of  Butterfield.*     Both  towns  were 
incorporated  In  1798.     Occasional  preaching  was   en- 
oyed  here  and  some  baptisms  administered,   but     no 
Church  was   gathered  until  the  month  of  September 
1802.     At  that  time  by  the  joint  labours  of  Rev.  Enoch 
Hale  of  West  Hampton,  and  Rev.  Jonathan  Grout  of 
Hawley  Missionailes  from  the  Hampshire  County  Mis^ 
sionary  Society,  and  Rev.  Jonathan  Scott  of  Minot  a 
Congregational    Church  was  constituted  consisting  of 
eighteen  members,  eight  of  thera  being  males.     Not  far 
from  this  time  through  the  instrumentality  of  Missiona- 
ries and  others  there  was  a  considerable  attention  to  re- 
ligion, and  the  Church  was  subsequently  enlarged.     It 
continued  to  receive  yearly  accessions,  but  had  no  stated 
Pastor  for  ten  years  after  its   formation.     In   October 
1 81 1 ,  the  Church  together  with  other  individuals  in  Sum- 
ner and  Hartford  united  in  presenting  a  call  to  Mr, 
Samuel  Sewall,  who  was  ordained  June  3,  1812.     The 
whole  number  of  members  In   the  Church  at  that  time 
was  fifty  one.     The  present  number  (Dec.  1820)  Is  fif- 
ty-nine, twenty-six  of  whom  live  In  Hartford.     Rev.  Mr^ 
Sewall  continues  to  minister  among  them. 

»  So  riamed  fcr  a  cot;-.i^criL]e  pvoprietor. 


190  CONGREtATIONALlST^. 

HEBRON. 

The  same  Council  who  organized  the  Church  in  Suftl* 
ner  held  another  session  at  Hebron  on  October  8th  of  the 
same  year,  -where  they  constituted  a  Church  of  eight 
males,  and  five  or  six  females.  Of  these  persons  two 
were  dismissed  from  the  Church  in  Minot,  and  one  from 
the  north  Church  in  Bridgwater,  for  the  express  purpose 
of  being  formed  into  a  Church.  Two  were  members  of 
Churches  in  Massachusetts  with  certificates  of  regular 
standing,  such  as  is  usually  given  to  a  travelling  Broth- 
er, but  no  dismission.  The  others  had  never  before 
been  public  ptofessors.  After  the  establishment  of  the 
Church,  Missionaries  frequently  visited  Hebron.  Rev. 
Joseph  Blodget  and  Rev.  Joshua  Crosby  both  of  Green- 
Tvich.  Rev.  Jotham  Sewall,  Rev.  Mr.  Willistpn,  Rev. 
Mr.  Norton,  Rev.  Gardiner  Kellogg  and  Rev.  Dr. 
Payson  of  Rindge  were  among  the  principal  of  these. 
In  October  1S12,  R.ev.  Henry  Sewall  was  ordained  to 
the  Pastoral  care  of  this  Church,  and  laboured  there  in 
the  Gospel  for  three  years.  The  contract  between  him 
and  the  people  was  then  dissolved,  and  he  ceased  preach- 
ing. .The  Pastoral  relation  continued  about  two  years 
longer,  and  was  then  regularly  dissolved.  The  Church 
is  now  vacant.  It  consists  of  nineteen  majes  and  thirty 
females. 

NORWAY. 

The  Congregational  Church  in  Norway  was  organi- 
zed by  Missionaries  about  the  year  1802.  The  people 
in  that  place  have  enjoyed  the  ministrations  of  only  one 
stated  Pastor.  Rev.  Noah  Cresey  vras  ordained  there 
September  20,  1809.     His  ministry  continued  ten  yeftr^ 


COUNTY  OF  OXFORD.  191 

He  was  dismissed  by  mutual  consent  in  December  1819, 
and  the  Church  is  now  destitute. 

RUMFORD. 

This  town,  which  was  originally  granted  to  Timotliy 
Walker  of  CoHCord  and  his  associates,  lies  on  both  sides 
of  the  Androscoggin,  both  above  and  below  the  great 
falls,  called  "Pennycook  falls."  The  name  of  these 
falls  gave  a  name  to  the  plantation  until  its  incorpora- 
tion. The  settlement  was  commenced  here  in  the  year 
1777.  In  the  autumn  of  this  year  Mr.  Jonathan  Keyes 
removed  his  family  here,  which  was  the  first  family,  that 
settled  in  the  place.  It  was  not  until  August  1803  that 
a  Congregational  Church  was  formed  here.  Rev.  Josh- 
ua Crosby  and  Rev.  Jotham  Sewall,  then  Missionaries 
in  that  region,  gathered  a  Church  of  sfx  members  only, 
gne  half  of  them  being  males.  The  Congregational  So- 
ciety was  small  and  no  candidate  was  employed  for  set- 
tlement for  several  years.  Rev.  Samuel  R.  Hall  v/as 
the  first  settled  Minister  of  this  people,  and  was  ordain- 
ed Nov.  14,  1811.  A  considerable  revival  of  religion 
soon  followed  this  event,  and  a  large  number  were  unit- 
ed to  the  Church.  Mr.  Hall  lived  only  three  years  af- 
ter his  ordination.  He  died  In  Nov.  1814.  The 
Church  at  his  death  consisted  of  seventy  members.  In 
a  few  months  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Hall  the  Church 
and  people  turned  their  eyes  upon  Rev.  Daniel  Gould 
formerly  of  Bethel  as  a  successor,and  he  was  installed 
May  31,  1815.  He  remains  with  them  at  the  present 
timev 


i9S  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

ALBANY. 

This  town  was  incorporated  by  its  present  name  "in 
1 803.  In  September  of  the  same  year  a  Congregation- 
al Church  was  organized  there,  consisting  of  twenty  two 
members.  It  has  not  been  greatly  enlarged  since, — 
twenty-four  members  of  the  Church  remain  in  the  town, 
and  several  others  have  removed,  who  have  not  been 
regularly  dismissed.  About  thirty  families  belong  to 
the  Congregational  Society. 

DIXFIELD. 

A  Congregational  Church  was  formed  in  this  towh 
in  May  1806,  by  Rev.  Alexander  McLean,  Rev.  Jo» 
tham  Sewall,  and  Rev.  Jonathan  Belden.  It  then  con- 
sisted of  ten  persons,  and  has  since  increased  to  more 
than  twenty.  The  people  have  not  yet  enjoyed  the  min- 
istrations of  a  stated  Pastor. 

BR0WNFIEL». 

This  town  adjoins  the  State  of  New-Hampshire,  a 
little  to  the  westward  of  Fryeburg.  The  only  Congre- 
gational Minister  ever  settled  in  this  town  is  Rev.  Ja- 
cob Rice  who  was  dismissed  from  Henniker  in  New- 
Hampshire  in  1782.  He  was  installed  at  Brownfield  in 
the  year  1806,  at  which  time  a  small  Church  was  form- 
ed.    Mr.  Rice  is  still  the  Minister  of  tliat  people. 

WELD. 

This  town  was  formerly  called  "  Webb'*  Pond  Plants 
tion,"  or  "  No.  5,"  and  was  incorporated  by  its  present 
name  in  1815.     In  the  month  of  August  1809,  a  Church 


COUNTY  OF  OXFORD.  193 

^f  eighteen  persons  was  organized  by  Rev.  Otardiner 
Kellogg  and  Rev.  Jotham  Sewall,  who  were  there  as 
Missionaries.  The  people  have  never  yet  had  a  settled 
Minister  .f 


A  Congregational  Church  was  formed  in  the  South- 
ern part  of  Paris  in  the  year  1812.  Two  years  after 
this  it  consisted  of  seventeen  persons,  five  males  and 
twelve  females.  About  thirty  families  are  connected 
with  the  CoHgregational  Society. 

SWEDEN. 

In  this  town  a  small  Congregational  Church  was 
gathered  in  November  1817.  Eight  of  the  original 
members  were  at  that  time  dismissed  from  the  Church 
in  Lovell.     This  too  is  destitute  of  a  stated  Pastor. 

GILEAD. 

A  Church  of  twenty  one  members  was  organized  in 
"this  place  in  the  year  1818.  About  this  time  the  mis- 
sionary labours  of  Rev.  James  Walker  and  others  were 
greatly  blessed  to  this  people,  and  fifteen  more  were  ad- 
ded to  the  Church  in  the  early  part  of  the  following 
year.     No  Minister  hjis  yet  been  settled. 


f  See  report  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Maine  Missionaity  Society  for  1819. 

R 


i!9-i  CONGUEGATlONALISTSi 

CHAPTEll  XIX. 

1/76. 

kEN>lIEECK    COUHTY. 

The  County  of  Kennebeck  belonged  originally  to  thfe 
County  of  Lincoln  from  which  it  was  separated  by  an 
ictof  incorporation  in  the  year  1799.  In  this  Count}*- 
thirteen  Congregational  Churches  have  been  established; 

WINTHROP. 

The  t©wn  of  Winthrop  originally  comprized  the  ter^ 
ritory  belonging  to  that  town  and  Readfield.  A  small 
settlement  was  commenced  at  the  place  wheie  the  prin- 
cipal village  is  now  built,  a  little  previous  to  the  year 
1770.  In  1771,  the  town  was  incorporated.  The  peo- 
ple soon  took  measures  to  obtain  a  Minister  and  in  1772, 
rippointed  a  committee  for  that  purpose.  Arrangements 
were  made  the  next  year  for  biiilding  a  Meeting-house, 
and  a  candidate  was  procured  to  preach  with  a  view  to 
settlement.  This  wAs  Mr.  Thurston  Whiting.  But  no 
formal  invitation  was  given  him  to  settle,  and  after  re« 
maining  at  Winthrop  until  the  winter  of  1775,  he  de- 
parted, and  was  ordained  at  New-Castle.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1776,  the  town  employed  Mr.  Jeremiah  Shaw 
as  a  preacher,  and  measures  were  taken  for  gathering  a 
Church  and  giving  Mr.  Shaw  a  call  to  settle.  A  Coun- 
cil was  convoked  in  September  of  that  year,  and  a 
Church  of  sixteen  males,  and  eleven  females  duly  or- 
•ganized.     Mr.  Shaw  however  declined   the  invitatioil 


KENNEBECK    COUNTY.  19^^ 

given  him  to  settle  at  Winthrop,*  and  the  next  year  found 
the  people  still  destitute.  But  being  anxious  to  have 
the  regular  administration  of  divine  ordinances  among 
them  the  people  empowered  a  committee  to  employ  as 
a  candidate  "  some  young  man  who  should  come  well 
recommended  as  to  his  moral  character."  f  For  ihreq 
years  no  person  was  employed.  The  local  situation  of 
the  town,  having  a  large  pond  in  the  ceRtre,  rendered  it 
somewhat  difficult  for  the  people  to  be  all  accommodat- 
ed in  one  place  of  worship.  Several  expedients  were 
proposed,  and  it  was  at  length  agreed  by  the  inhabi- 
tants in  October  1781,  to  worship  together  for  ten  years. 
At  the  same  time  the  Church  and  town  concurred  in 
presenting  a  call  to  Rev.  David  Jewett  who  had  been  re- 
cently dismissed  from  Candia  in  New-Hampshire,  and 
he  was  installed  over  them  Jan.  2,  1782.  The  minis- 
try of  Mr.  Jewett  was  of  short  duration.  He  was  re- 
moved by  death  in  February  of  the  following  year. 

The  people  had  found  it  inconvenient  to  assemble  to- 
gether for  public  worship,  and  about  this  time  the  town 
was  divided  into  two  Parishes.  These  Parishes  were 
regularly  incorporated  in  1790,  and  the  easterly  Parish 
was  constituted  as  the  town  of  Readfield  during  the 
following  year.  In  August  1786,  a  town-meeting  was 
called  to  see  if  the  people  could  agree  in  the  settlement 
of  Mr.  Jacob  Cram,  who  it  seems  was  then  preaching  at 
Winthrop.  After  employing  him  a  term  longer  the 
town  gave  him  a  call,  but  he  declined  their   invitation. 


♦  Winthrop  town  Record, 

t  Mr,  Shaw  was  settled  at  Moultonborcug'i  in  New-Hampshire  in  ^';'■p. 


196  CONGREGATIOXALISTS. 

and  was  soon  after  settled  in  Hopklnton  in  New'-Hamp- 
shire.  For  several  years  after  this  the  religious  affairs 
of  the  town  were  declining,  and  but  few  pieachers  were 
employed  there.  Tn  the  year  1799,  the  town  in  their 
corporate  capacity  declining  to  take  any  measures  for 
the  resettlement  of  the  ministry,  those  who  felt  favoura- 
bly disposed  to  Congregationalism  having  obtained  the 
consemof  the  town,  foimed  a  poll-parish  and  obtained 
an  act  of  incorporation.  In  connexion  with  the  Church 
they  soon  presented  a  call  to  Mr.  Jonathan  Belden,  and 
he  wao  ordained  their  Minister  in  August  1800.  Th« 
number  in  this  new  Parish  w^as  small  at  the  beginning, 
and  not  increasing  much  afterward  it  became  somewhat 
difficult  for  the  people  to  support  the  worship  and  or- 
dinances of  God  among  them.  In  five  years  Rev.  Mr. 
Belden  found  it  expedient  to  ask  a  dismission,  which  was 
granted  agreeably  to  advice  of  Council  in  September 
1805.  During  the  winter  following  the  poll-parish  was 
dissolved  by-an  act  of  the  Legislature,  and  the  people' 
again  acted  as  a  town  in  providing  a  supply  for  the 
pulpit.  Rev,  David  Thurston,  the  present  Pastor  of 
the  Church,  was  ordained  February  18,  1807. 

HOLLOWELL,  AUGUSTA,    CHESTERVILLE,  AND 

FARMINGTON, 

The  settlements  at  Hallowell  and  Augusta  are  of  Ijt- 
tle  more  than  fifty  years  standing.  *     They  v^^ere  origin. 

*  A  Mr,  Richardson  now  living  at  Clinton  came  into  that  country  abaut 
•he  year  17-71  He  says  there  weie  then  three  families  at  Lewiston,  a  few 
settlers  at  Winthrop  Mills,  and  three  families  only  at  Augusta,  and  no  ^Uie? 
setjieirients  on  that  rout- 


KENNEBECK    COUNTY.  197 

ally  one  town  called  Hallowell,  and  it  was  incorporat- 
ed in  1771.  The  first  Minister  settled  in  the  town  was 
Rev.  Isaac  Foster.  He  came  to  Hallowell  in  May 
1786.  It  was,  at  this  moment  a  time  of  some  attention 
to  religion  among  the  people,  and  they  gladly  received 
any  one  who  came  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.  A  Church 
had  been  organized  sometime  before  this,  and  after  a 
short  time  of  probation  Mr.  Foster  was  ordained.  This 
took  place  in  October  of  that  year.  But  his  ministry 
was  short  and  unpleasant.  The  people  very  soon  be» 
came  dissatisfied  with  Mr.  Foster,  and  in  November 
1788,  a  Council  was  called  to  consider  the  matters  of 
grievance,  and  after  a  patient  investigation  which  occu* 
pied  them  eight  days  they  dismissed  Mr.  Foster  without 
granting  him  any  recommendation,  f  For  several 
years  after  this  event,  the  people  at  Hallowell  had  but 
little  stated  preaching. 

In  the  month  of  May  following  the  dismission  of 
Mr.  Foster,  a  few  pious  men  living  at  Chester  planta- 
tion, now  the  town  of  Chesterville,  about  thiity  miles 
north  from  Hallowell,  addressed  a  joint  letter  to  some 
of  their  pious  friends  living  at  Hallowell  who  had  never 
united  with  Mr.  Foster^s  Church,  proposing  to  unite  to- 
gether and  form  a  Church.  This  proposal  was  very 
cordially  received,  and  a  day  of  Fasting  was  appointed. 
The  Brethren  from  bo:h  places  met  at  the  house  of 
Benjamin  Pettingill  Esq.  in  Hallowell,  and  spent  the 
day  in  prayer.     It  was  agreed  to  form  a  Church,  and  a 


+  ihis  Council  consiited  c/  Rev-  Messrs.   Browne  and  Willianjs,  cf    F4? 
mouth; 


198  COIsGREGATlONALlSTS. 


Council  was  invited  accordingly.  The  Council  conven.- 
e'd  on  February  25, 1790.  Rev.  Mr.  Enurson  of  Gcorge- 
tov/n,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Eaton  of  Harpswell,  with  their 
Del  agates  were  all,  who  attended,  and  they  proceeded 
to  organize  a  Church  of  nine  male  members,  five  of 
them  living  in  Hallowell,  and  four  in  Chester  planta- 
tion. As  there  was  already  a  Congregational  Church  in 
Hallowell,  it  was  proposed  to  call  this  the  "  Chester 
Church."  In  about  a  year  after  this,  the  name  was 
changed  to  "Hallowell  Church,"  and  it  was  agreed  that 
the  members  living  at  Chester  plantation  should  have 
liberty  to  remove  their  relation  from  it,  and  form  a  new 
Church  in  their  own  town  whenever  they  should  judge 
it  expedient. 

It  had  been  thought  very  desirable  by  some,  that,  if 
practicable,  a  union  should  be  formed  between  the  new 
Church  and  that  with  which  Mr.  Foster  had  been  con- 
nected, previous  to  the  settlement  of  another  Minister  in 
the  town.     After  some  negotiation  between  the  parties 
a  Council  was  mutually  invited  in  January  1793,  and  a 
union  was  accomplished.     But  the  parties  were  not  hap- 
py togetlier,  and  waited  for  an  opportunity  to  separate 
again.     In  about  a  year  after  this,  tlie  town  of  Hailo« 
^ell  was  legally  divided  into  three  Parishes,  the  present 
town  of  Hallowell  being  one,  a  second  comprehending 
the  principal  settlement  at  Augusta,  which  left  a  north 
Parish  adjoining  Vassalborough      This  presented  a  fair 
opening  for  a  division  i>f  the  Church  which  took  place 
at  this  lime,  (Time  1794)   the  members  of  the  former 
Haliowc'.''  'jhu'-ch.  living  principally  within  that  parish, 
now  became  a  Church  by  themselves.      In   August  of 


COUNTY  OF  KENNEBECK,  199 

die  next  year,  Rev.  Eliphalet  Gillet  was  ordained  Pas* 
tor  of  what  was  then  called  the  south  Church  in  HaU 
lowell,  and  remains  in  the  ministry  there  to  the  present 
time. 

In  October  of  the  same  year  Rev.  Daniel  Stone  was 
ordained  to  the  pastoral  care  of  what  was  termed  "  the 
first  Church  in  the  middle  Parish  in  Hallowell."  *  In 
February  1797,  the  middle  and  north  Parishes  in  HaU 
lowell  were  incorporated  as  a  distinct  town  and  called 
Harrington.  The  name  was  changed  to  Augusta  in 
June  following.  Rev.  Mr.  Stone  remained  in  the  min- 
istry at  Augusta  a  little  more  than  eleven  years.  He 
was  dismissed  by  mutual  consent  in  May  1809  After 
being  destitute  about  two  years,  Rev.  Benjamin  Tappan 
was  ordained  in  October  1811,  and  ts  the  present  Pas, 
tor  of  the  Church. 

Some  persons  belonging  to  the  town  of  Farmington 
had  united  with  the  "  Chester  Church,"  and  it  was 
found  expedient  for  them  to  act  as  a  separate  body  from 
the  Church  in  Hallovvell.  Accordingly  on  August  18, 
1796,  a  meeting  was  held  in  Farmington,  and  themem* 
bers  of  the  old  Chuich  living  in  Chesterville  and  Far- 
mington became  a  separate  body,  known  by  the  name 
of  "  the  Church  in  Chesterville.**  As  this  part  of  the 
country  had  become  settled,  missionaries  had  occasional- 
ly rode  thmugh  it.  Rev.  Levi  Frisbie  of  Ipswich  was 
at  Chesterville  for  a  short  time  in  the  year  l'9'.i,  and 
shortly  after  Mr.  Wp.it  Cornwall  of  Cunnecucutt,  a 
young  man  who  had  spent  some  time  at  New-Glouces- 


.#  We;ls  Charc^h  Records. 


SOO  OONGREGATIONALISTS. 

ter,  and  being  Instrumental  in  a  considerable  awakening 
ihere,  was  at  Chesteiville  and  its  vicinity. 

In  the  year  1796,  Mr.  Jotham  Sewall,  mnd  inhabit- 
ant of  Chesterville,  and  one  of  the  original  members  of 
the  Church  in  that  town,  was  licensed  to  preach,  and 
two  years  after  was  ordained  as  an  Evangelist  by  the 
Lincoln  Association.  Rev.  Mr.  Sewall  did  not  incline 
to  settle  in  the  ministry  though  often  requested  both  at 
Chesterville,  and  sundry  other  places  ;  but  he  preached 
considerably  at  Chesterville,  and  administered  the  or- 
dinances there,  and  the  people  had  no  other  stated 
preaching.  In  the  summer  of  the  year  1820,  Mr.  Sew- 
all  was  again  requested  to  take  the  pastoral  charge  of 
this  Chuich,  which  invitation  he  now  accepted,  and  was 
installed  on  the  9th  of  August  in  that  year. 

The  members  of  the  Church  living  in  Farmington 
had  been  separated  from  It  nearly  six  years  before.  In 
December  181 4,  a  Council  was  convened  at  Farming- 
ton  who  organized  a  Church  there  of  about  twelve 
members,  but  they  have  not  yet  enjoyed  the  ministTations 
of  a  stated  Pastor.  The  most  remarkable  revival  of  re- 
ligion within  these  limits,  was  at  Chesterville  in  the  ear- 
ly part  of  the  year  1819.  "  It  began  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  year.  It  was  limited  as  to  territory,  ex- 
tending only  about  three  miles  square,  but  powerful  and 
general,  where  it  prevailed.  Almost  every  house  with- 
in these  limits  became  a  Bethel,  where  God  was  daily 
worshipped,  and  almost  every  family  included  some  that 
vrere  mourning  under  a  sense  of  guilt,  or  rejoicing 


^ENNEBECK    COUNTY.  SOl 

tkrough  hope  In  Christ.     Between  sixty  and  seventy  are 
Inpposed  to  have  passed  from  death  unto  life."* 

WINSLOW. 

Fort  Halifax  was  in  this  town,  and  a  small  settlement 
was  made  here  about  as  early  as  the  settlement  at  Hal* 
lowell.  The  town  then  lay  on  both  sides  of  the  Ken- 
nebeck,  and  included  what  is  now  Waterville  as  well  as 
the  present  town  of  Winslow.  In  the  early  part  of  the 
year  1896,  Mr.  Joshua  Cushman  was  employed  to 
preach  at  Winslow,  and  on  the  10th  of  June  in  that 
year  he  was  ordained  as  the  Minister  of  that  people. — 
But  there  was  no  Church  in  the  town,  nor  was  any  one 
gathered  there  during  Mr.  Cushman's  ministry. 

At  the  time  of  his  settlement  a  number  of  persons- 
belonging  to  the  Society  subscribed  certain  articles  of 
belief,  and  were  considered  by  some  as  a  substitute  fcT 
a  Church,  but  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper  was 
never  administered  to  them,  neither  were  they  acknow- 
ledged as  a  Church  by  those  in  the  neighbourhood,  f 
Mr.  Cushman  continued  to  preach  in  the  several  parts 
of  the  town  for  nearly  eighteen  years.  He  then  dis-- 
continued  his  ministrations,  and  none  other  has  been 
settled  in  the  place. 


♦  Report  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Maine  Missionary  Society  for  iSip. 

f  "  Seven  in  that  place  (Winslow;  have  united  w?ith  our  Church.  Ir.  No- 
vember last,  we  held  our  communion  there  ;  this  was  the  Jirst  time  the 
Lord^s  tupper  was  ever  administered  to  a  Congregational  Church  in  Wins- 
low." 

Report  of  the  Massachusetts  Miss.  Soc.  for  i8ip,  in  Recorder  of  June  5, 
I'Bip. 


SOS  CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

NEW    SHARON. 

A  Congregational  Church  was  organized  in  this  town 
by  a  Council  convened  for  that  purpose  February  9th 
1801.  In  October  1815,  Rev.  Hezeklah  Hall  was  or- 
dained  its  Pastor.  Very  trying  difficulties  soon  appear- 
ed. Mr.  Hall's  conduct  was  considered  very  repre- 
hensible, and  in  July  I  Si 6,  he  was  dismissed  without  a 
recommendation.  For  some  time  the  Church  was  torn 
with  dissentions,  but  at  length  peace  was  restored,  the 
smiles  of  divine  providence  were  afforded,  the  Spirit 
was  poured  out  from  on  high,  and  many  were  suppos- 
ed to  be  converted.  *  Tke  Church  is  still  destitute  of  a 
stated  Pastor. 

FAIRFAX,  NOW  THE  TOWN  OF  FREDONIA. 

In  the  year  1790,  six  families  only  inhabited  this  town. 
Soon  after  this,  one  public  professor  of  religion  moved 
here.  As  the  settlement  advanced  it  was  visited  by 
Missionaries.  Dr.  Pay  son,  of  Rindge,  Mr.  McLean  of 
Bristol,  and  Mr.  Sewall  of  Chesterville,  were  among 
those  who  occasionally  preached  in  Fairfax.  In  the 
year  1802,  some  special  attention  to  religion  was  dis- 
covered under  the  preaching  of  Mr.  Sewall,  and  in  Sep- 
tember of  the  next  year  a  Church  of  seven  persons  was 
organized  by  Messrs.  McLean  and  Sewall.  Mr.  Dan- 
iel Lovejoy,  a  member  of  that  Church,  and  a  resident 
in  the  town  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  afterwards  or- 
dained as  an  Evangelist.  He  often  preaches  in  Fairfax, 
but  has  never  yet  taken  a  pastoral  relation  to  the  Church, 
The  present  number  of  communicants  is  about  ten. 


*  Report  of  the  Maine  Misi.  Soc.  for  1S19. 


&ENNEBECK   €OUNTY.  J^03 

UKITY. 

"1-Iere  is  a  small  Congregational  Church.      It  was  or<* 
ganized  by  Rev.  Jotham  Sewall,  in  December  1804?.     It 
has  never   been   much  enlarged,   containing  in   1811, 
-from  twelve  to  twenty  members. 

TEMPLE. 

This  town  lies  in  the  nbrtherly  part  of  the  County, 
and  began  to  be  settled  about  the  year  1795.  It  was 
originally  called  Abbotstown,  and  incorporated  by  its 
present  name  in  June  1803.  A  few  years  after  this, 
Rev.  Mr.  Stone,  being  here  on  a  Mission,  organized  a 
small  Church,  and  in  February  1810,  Rev.  David  Smith 
was  ordained  to  the  pastoral  care  of  it.  Mr.  Smith's 
ministry  at  Temple  was  very  successful.  Divine  influ- 
ences attended  the  preaching  of  the  word,  and  many 
were  converted.  But  the  town  was  new,  and  the  sup- 
port of  a  Minister  was  found  to  be  difficult,  and  in  Jan- 
uary 1819,  Mr.  Smith  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request. 
No  person  occupies  his  place.  The  Church  now  con- 
tains about  fifty  members.  Rev.  Mr.  Smith  has  since 
been  installed  at  Centre*Harbour  in  New-Hampshire. 

PITTSTOM.* 

For  many  years  this  place  was  considered  Missionary 
ground.  In  the  year  1812,  Mr.  Daniel  Hendrick  la- 
boured there  a  few  weeks   as   a  Missionary,  and  *his 


*  The  river  Kennebeck  was  visited  by  Europeans  very  early.  The 
Antiquarian  might  find  malty  valuable  fragments  scattered  along  oa  its 
banks,  and  in  Fittston  especially.    Particulars  cannot  here  be  noticed. 


S04  OONGREGATIO^NALISTS. 

preaching  being  acceptable  he  was  invited  to  tarry  with 
the  people.  In  November  of  that  year  a  small  Church 
was  gathered  in  the  town,  and  Mr.  Hendrick  was  or- 
dained. He  remained  the  Minister  of  that  people  about 
eight  years,  and  was  dismissed  by  mutual  consent  in 
the  month  of  August  1 820.  The  Church  is  now  va- 
cant. 

WILTON. 

The  first  family  that  moved  into  Wilton  came  thith- 
er in  the  spring  of  the  year  1792.  Eleven  years  after 
this  it  was  incorporated.  A  few  public  professors  in  the 
Congregational  order  had  removed  to  the  town,  and  in 
February  1818,  a  small  Church  was  gathered  there  by 
Rev.  Jotham  Sewall.  It  contains  at  present  about  fif* 
teen  members. 

VASSAL30R0UGH. 

This  town  lies  on  the  eastern  shore  of  the  Kennebec  k, 
adjoining  Augusta,  and  was  settled  about  the  same 
time  with  the  other  towns  on  the  river.  But  a  great 
proportion  of  the  inhabitants  belonging  to  the  Society 
of  Friends,  the  establishment  of  a  Congregational  Church 
is  recent.  The  place  was  visited  by  Missionaries  for 
several  years,  and  the  people  occasionally  provided 
themselves  with  a  supply  of  preaching.  In  the  begin- 
ning of  the  year  1818,  Mr.  Thomas  Adam?  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  Trustees  of  the  Maine  Missionary  Socie- 
ty to  labour  at  Vassalborough.  His  labours  proving 
acceptable  the  people  made  proposals  for  his  settlement 
with  tliem,  and  he  was  ordained  in  August  of  that 
year.  A  small  Church  had  been  a  short  time  previously 
'formed.     Rev.  Mr.  Adams  is  still  its  Pastor. 


KENNEBEGK  COUNTY.        S05 

GERRY,  FORMERLY  MALTA. 

In  this  town  is  another  Congregational  Church.  The 
town  being  new,  and  the  people  somewhat  divided  in 
sentiment,  it  was  considered  Missionary  ground,  Mr. 
Clarke  Cornish  was  there  in  1818  in  the  employment  of 
the  Maine  Missionary  Society,  and  some  special  atten- 
tion  to  religion  was  manifest  at  that  time.  In  August 
of  that  year  a  Church  of  eight  members  was  gathered 
there.  Four  more  weie  soon  added.  "  It  is  still  with 
them  a  day  of  small  things,  but  compared  with  their 
|)revious  situation  not  to  be  despised.'*  ♦ 


1»  Report  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Maine  Miss,  5oc   for  1819, 


« 


S05  COXGREGATIOXALISTS. 

CHAPTER  XX. 

1/81. 

COUNTY    OF    WASHINGTON. 

The  County  of  Washington  was  established  as  suck 
in  the  year  1789.  Most  of  the  settlenfients  in  the  Coun- 
ty are  of  recent  date.  Witliin  its  limits  are  five  Con- 
gregational Churches  viz.  in  Machias,  Dennysville, 
Robbinston,  Eastport,  and  Lubec.  The  Church  at 
Machias  is  the  only  one  which  has  enjoyed  the  minis- 
trations of  a  stated  Pastor  for  any  considerable  time. 
This  town  Was  so  called  from  Mechisses,  the  Indian 
name  of  the  river  which  Intersects  it.  A  trading  wig- 
wam was  set  up  here  by  a  Mr.  Allerton  from  Plymouth 
in  1633,  consisting  of  five  men,  but  no  permanent  set- 
tlement was  then  made.  *  In  1744,  a  small  settlement 
•was  made  at  the  east  falls,  by  a  few  French  families. 
In  May  1763,  fifteen  persons  of  both  sexes  moved  from 
Scarborough  in  Cumberland  County,  and  settled  at  the 
west  falls  In  1770,  a  grant  of  the  land  in  the  town- 
ship was  made  by  the  General  Couit  to  Ichabod  Jones, 
and  seventy-nine  others  under  certain  conditions,  which 
being  complied  w^ith,  the  town  was  incorporated  in  June 
1784.  t 

The  first  Minister  who  resided  in  Machias,  or  in  any 
of  the  surrounding  region,  was  Rev.  James  Lyon.  Mr. 
Lyon  was  a  native  of  New-Jersey,  educated  at  Prince- 
ton College,  and  ordained  at  large  by  the  Presbytery  of 

♦  VVinthrop's  Journal  page  57.    Hiibbaid's  Hist,  page  r^j. 
t  Mass.  Hist.  Col!.  VoJ    3.    pss^  '44. 


COUNTY    OF    WASHIXGTOX.  SO/ 

his  native  State.  He  came  to  Machias  in  the  year  1771, 
when  there  were  about  seventy  families  in  the  town,  and 
the  year  following  was  employed  by  the  inhabitants  as 
their  Minister.  In  1781,  Mr.  Lyon  organized  a  Church 
at  Machias  on  Congregational  principles,  but  was  nev- 
er regularly  installed  its  Pastor,  although  he  continued 
to  preach  in  the  town  until  his  death  which  took  place  in 
the  year  1794. 

About  a  year  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Lyon,  Rev. 
Clark  Brown  was  ordained  Pastor  of  the  Church  and 
Society  in  Machias,  bat  after  remaining  there  two  years 
he  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request,  and  installed  after- 
vrards  at  Brimfield  in  Massachusetts.  The  Church  was 
now  vacant  between  two  and  three  years,  but  in  the 
year  1800,  Rev.  Marshfield  Steele  was  ordained  there, 
and  Is  the  present  Minister,  although  from  bodily  infir- 
mity he  has  not  been  able  to  preach  much  for  two  or 
three  years  past.  * 

The  second  Church  In  this  County  was  gathered  in 
the  plantation  called  by  the  Indians  Penemequan,  now 
the  town  of  Dennysvllle.  This  took  place  October  27, 
1805.  Rev.  Jotham  Sewall  was  then  labouring  in  that 
region  as  a  Missionary,  and  performed  this  work.  The 
Church  has  never  been  greatly  enlarged,  and  Is  not  yet 
in  a  condition  to  settle  a  Minister. 

The  next  religious  establishment  In  this  region  was 
made  at  Robbinston,  a  town  lying  on  the  western  side  of 
Passamaquoddy  Bay,  at  the  mouth  of  Scoodic  river. — 


*  ••  ?ince  this  work  was  put  to  press  Rev.  Abraham    Jackson  haa  been  or- 
dained at  Machiaj,  aj  colleague  Pastor  vith  Rev.  Mr.  Steele." 


208  coxgpec;atioxalt3T3. 

While  the  settlement  was  yet  new  Missionaries  were  sent) 
among  the  people.  On  the  2kh  of  November  181 1,  a 
Church  of  six  members  was  organized  there  b/  Rev. 
Joiham  Sewall  and  Mr.  Epi.ralm  Abbot,  since  the  Min* 
ister  of  Greenland  in  New-Hampshire.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  iS18,  Rev.  Danif'l  Lovejoy..  v/ho  had  been  for 
many  years  labouring  as  a  Missionary  vas  employed  at 
Rob'hinston,  and  received  fiom  the  Church  and  people 
an  inviiat'on  to  settle,  and  was  accoidingly  installed  irt 
September  of  that  year.  The  Church  had  then  increas- 
ed to  about  fifteen  members,  and  the  Society  presented 
a  flourishing  aspect-  The  winter  following  Mr.  Love- 
joy  spent  with  his  family  at  Fairfax,  and  when  he  re- 
paired to  Robbinston  in  the  spring  some  diilicuities  ap- 
peared which  could  not  well  be  removed,  and  by  mutu- 
al consent  the  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved  in  May 
1819.  No  other  candidate  has  yet  been  employed  at 
Robbinston. 

In  the  summer  of  1818,  two  more  Churches  were 
organized  in  the  County  of  Washington,  one  at  East- 
port,  and  the  other  at  Lubec.  Moose  Island,  which 
constitutes  the  town  of  Eastport,  has  recently  risen  into 
consideiable  importance  on  account  of  its  situation  fcr- 
trade.  It  was  incorporated  in  the  year  1798,  and  by 
the  se^isus  of  1810  contained  1.51 1  inhabitants.  This 
population  was,  however,  of  a  fluctuating  nature,  and 
these  inhabitants  like  the  settlers  in  new  towns  generally, 
weie  a  mixture  of  religious  denominations,  and  al- 
though they  had  occasional  preaching,  yet  no  regular 
order  was  observed  for  several  years.     In  the  year  181^, 


COUNTY    OF    WASHINGTON.  209 

Rev.  Mighill  Blood  of  Bucksport  being  on  a  Missiona- 
ry tour  in  Washingion  County  spent  a  short  time  at 
Eastport  and  organized  a  small  Congregational  Church. 
Iji  the  spring  of  1820,  the  Rev.  Andrew  Bigelow  was 
ordained  as  an  Evangelist  in  the  University  Chapel  at 
Cambridge,  and  immediately  proceeded  to  Eastport 
where  he  still  resides  as  the  Minister  of  that  people. 

The  settlement  at  Lubec  is  not  of  more  than  twenty 
years  standing.  During  the  late  war,  when  the  British 
Troops  took  possession  of  Moose  Island,  many  of  the 
inhabilants  removed  on  to  the  main,  and  the  public  of- 
fices were  established  at  Lubec-Point.  In  the  summer 
of  1818,  the  Rev.  Elijah  Kellogg  of  Portland  la- 
boured at  Lubec  as  a  Missionary.  A  religious  Society 
was  Instituted,  and  Mr.  Kellogg  organized  a  Church  of 
eleven  members. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1821,  Mr.  Jonathan 
Bigelow  was  employed  to  preach  at  Lubec  with  a  view 
to  settlement,  and  the  Church  and  Society  united  in  call, 
ing  him  to  the  stated  work  of  the  ministry  among  them. 
He  was  ordained  there  on  the  11th  of  July. 


♦■^incc  the  work  was  put  to  press  the  connexion  between  Mr.  Eij^r'ow  and. 
tfei?  i«eoplc  has  been  dissolved. 


3  2 


^10  CONGREGATION     LlSig, 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

SOMERSET    COUNTY. 

The  first  settlements  made  in  this  County  were  about 
the  year  1773.  In  the  spring  of  that  year  a  Mr.  Wes- 
ton with  liis  family  settled  in  the  present  town  of  Bloom- 
field  near  the  Meeting-house.  A  settlement  was  made 
in  Norridgewock  about  the  same  time.  Major  Meigs 
who  went  up  the  Kennebeck  with  a  party  of  troops 
during  the  revolutionary  war,  has  this  note  in  his  jour- 
nal : 

**  1775.  Oct.  Sd  Proceded  up  the  river  to  Norride- 
week.  On  my  way  I  called  at  a  house,  where  I  saw  a 
child  l-i-  months  old.  This  is  the  first  white  child  borik 
in  Norridge»wock."  *  This  child  was  Abel  Farrington^. 
the  son  of  Capt.  Thomas  Farrington,  formerly  of  Gro-. 
ton  Massachusetts  The  settlements  soon  spread  wide-. 
ly  in  that  county,  which  is  now  a  flourishing  region, 
and  the  seat  of  twelve  Congregational  Churches.  The 
first  of  thtse  was  gathered  at  Bloomfield,  which  then 
composed  part  of  the  town  of  Canaan.  About  the  close 
of  the  Revolutionary  war  the  town  settled  rapidly,  and 
among  the  early  inhabitants  was  the  Rev.  Nathaniel 
Whitaker  D.  D.  who  had  been  recently  dismissed  from 
Salem  in  Massachusetts.  In  September  1784',  the  peo- 
ple gave  Dr.  Whitaker  a  formal  invitation  to  become 
their  Minister,  and    at  the   same  time,  a$  there  was  no 

*  Kict.  Coll.  New  Series  Vol.  i.  page  331. 


COUNTY    OF    SUMERSET.  Sit 

Church  in  ihe  town,  the  people  invited  the  Presbyter  js 
to  come  and  organize  one.  Whether  the  inhabitants 
were  mostly  Presbyterians  before,  or  whether  this  course 
was  adopted  because  Dr.  Whitaker  was  a  Presbyterian, 
is  net  now  known.  The  presbytery  to  whom  they  ap-> 
plied  was  the  «  Salem  Presbytery"  then  in  session  at 
Gray  for  the  installation  of  Rev.  Samuel  Perley.  This 
body  immediately  adjourned  to  Canaan,  and  installed 
Dr.  Whitaker  September  10,  1784-^  But  no  Church 
was  at  that  time  organized.  In  January  following  Dr. 
Whitaker  and  twenty-two  other  males  subscribed  the 
usual  Covenant  engagements  and  became  a  Church, 
Toward  the  close  of  the  year  1789,  Dr.  Whitaker  was 
dismissed,  and  left  the  town. 

The  next  Pastor  of  the  Church  was  Rev,  Jonathan 
Calef.  He  came  to  the  town  early  in  the  year  1793.  In 
July  of  that  year  tlie  Church  solemnly  renewed  their 
Covenant,  and  gave  Mr.  Calef  a  call.  In  June  of  the 
year  followmg  he  was  ord;ilned,  at  which  time  the 
Church  formally  renounced  Presbyterianism  and  became 
Congregational.  In  about  five  years  difficulties  began 
to  arise  ;  and  after  taking  the  advice  of  two  Councils, 
Mr.  Calef  requested  a  dismission,  which  was  granted  in 
October  1801.  He  was  afterwards  installed  at  Lym-an 
in  the  County  of  York.  Soon  after  this,  the  Chmch  at 
Canaan  agreed  to  renew  their  Covenant,  and  make  cer- 
tain alterations  in  their  confesbion  of  faith,  forms  of  ad- 
mission &c.  A  Council  of  five  Ministers  with  Dele- 
gates was  assembled,  the  members  were  examined  con- 
cerning their  experience,  ar*d  the  Church   reorganized^ 


212  CONGREGATIOXA  LISTS. 

It  then  consisted  of  ten  males  and  five  females.  But  as 
yet,  they  had  no  settled  Minister.  In  the  beginning  of 
the  yrar  1808,  a  plan  wau  devised  for  connecting  Canaan 
and  Norridgewock  in  the  settlement  of  Rev.  Jotham 
Sewall,  and  in  April  of  that  year  the  Church  and  town 
voted  to  invite  Mr.  Sewall,  proposing  to  support  him 
one  half  of  the  time.  But  Mr.  Sewall  declined  this  in- 
vitation. In  the  same  summer  Rev.  John  Gayford  was 
employed  to  preach  at  Canaan,  and  was  installed  there 
in  September  1809.  His  ministry  continued  a  little 
more  than  three  years.  He  was  dismissed  agreeably  to 
the  advice  of  a  Council  in  December  1812.  In  about 
one  year  after  this  Mr  Fifield  Holt,  the  present  Minis- 
ter received  an  invitation  to  settle  in  that  part  of  Canaan 
which  had  now  become  the  town  of  Bloomfield,  which 
having  accepted,  he  was  ordained  in  June  ISli-.. 

NORRIDGEWOCK. 

The  second  Church  in  the  County  of  Somerset,  is  at 
Norridgewock.  This  town  was  incorporated  in  1788, 
and  then  contained  about  twenty  families.  The  first 
preacher  here  of  whom  any  account  is  preserved  was  a 
Mr.  Muzzy.  He  was  hired  by  the  inhabitants  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1790  but  had  no  invitation  to  settle.  In  1793, 
Mr.  Calef,  afterwards  the  Minister  of  Canaan,  was  em- 
ployed a  short  term  of  time,  after  which  the  people  were 
destitute  for  three  years.  In  June  1796,  Mr.  Phinehas 
Randal  came  and  preached  at  Norridgewock,  and  con- 
tinued there  through  the  summer.  A  great  awakening 
took  place  at  that  time  in   Norridgewock  and  the  iur= 


COUNTY    OF   SiJMERSET.  ^13 

rounding  region.  It  was  supposed  thai  about  thirty 
persons  were  hopefully  converted  in  the  town  of  Nor- 
ridgewock  at  this  time.  Mr.  Randal  continued  in  the 
town  through  the  winter,  and  early  in  the  year  1797,  a 
town  meeting  was  called  to  consult  on  the  subject  of 
his  settlement,  but  for  some  reason  not  now  known  the 
people  declined  giving  him  a  call.  As  yet  there  was  no 
Church  in  the  town.  The  Inhabitants  appeared  to  think 
It  important  that  there  should  be  one,  and  in  February 
1797,  the  following  article  was  Incerted  in  the  warrant 
for  town  meeting  : — "  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to 
establish  a  Church  in  this  town  in  the  Congregational 
order.*'  But  when  assembled  the  town  very  wisely 
voted  to  dismiss  that  article,  probably  feeling  sensible 
that  this  was  not  the  proper  course  to  take  to  effect  so 
desirable  an  end.  In  September  of  that  year.  Rev.  Mr. 
Emerson  of  Georgetown,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Caief  of  Ca» 
naan,  M-ith  Delegates  from  their  Churches,  met  at 
Norridgewock  and  organized  a  Church  of  twenty-four 
members,  the  fruits  of  the  revival  which  took  place  un- 
der the  preaching  of  Mr.  Randal. 

The  next  year  Rev.  Jotham  Sewall  was  employed  by 
the  people  of  Norridgewock  for  one  half  the  time.  In 
1803,  Mr.  Seth  Stetson,  sines  settled  at  Plymouth  in 
Massachusetts,  was  employed  at  Norridgewock,  and  af- 
ter continuing  theie  nearly  a  year  received  a  call  to  set- 
tle, but  declined.  The  town  was  then  destitute  of  stat* 
ed  preaching  for  several  years.  In  1809,  Rev.  Jotham 
Sewall  was  invited  to  settle  there  but  declined.  After 
this  tl^e  people  had  a  variety    of  preachers,  seme   who 


St4  OONGRE«ATieNALI9TSr 

©ame  as  Missionaries,  and  some  who  were  employed  /sr 
short  terms  of  time  by  the  people.  Their  hopes  were 
often  raised  with  the  expectation  of  obtaining  the  set- 
tlement of  a  Minister,  and  as  often  blasted.  In  Feb- 
ruary 1813,  the  Church  and  town  united  in  piesenting 
a  call  to  Mr.  Ebenezer  P.  Sperry  to  settle  with  them. 
The  expectations  of  the  people  were  highly  raised,  but 
they  were  again  disappointed  as  Mr.  Sperry  declined 
their  invitation.  The  present  Pastor  of  the  Church, 
Rev.  Josiah  Peet,  came  to  Norridgewock  as  a  Missiona- 
jy  soon  after  the  departure  of  Mr.  Sperry.  He  labour- 
ed there  about  half  the  time  during  the  winter  of  1813, 
and  was  ordained  August  4,  1814-. 

The  Churches  at  Bloom  field  and  Norridgewock  are 
the  only  two  in  this  County,  which  have  evei  enjoyed 
the  ministrations  of  a  stated  Pastor.  The  history  of 
the  ten  others  is  as  follows  :— 

INDUSTRY. 

The  Congregational  Church  in  this  town  was  gath- 
ered January  21,  1802,  by  Rev.  Jotham  Sewall,  and 
Mr.  Samuel  Sewall,  a  licentiate  preacher,  since  settled  at 
Sumner.  It  contained  eleven  original  members.  The 
present  number  is  about  twenty. 

ANSON. 

This  town  lies  on  the  Kennebeck  above  Norridge- 
wock. It  was  incorporated  in  1798.  A  Church  of  six 
members  was  organized  here  in  April  IbO^,  which  has 
since  received  considerable  accessions. 


COUNTY    OF    SUMERSET.  Si5 


This  town,  which  lies  at  the  mouth  of  Sandy  River, 
was  first  settled  about  the  same  time  with  Norridge- 
wock.  Col.  Thomas  Waugh,  now  deceased,  was  the 
first  child  born  in  the  town.  A  small  Congregational 
Church  was  organized  here  in  August  1804. 

BINGHAM    AND    SOLON. 

A  settlement  was  made  at  Carritunk  falls  not  long 
after  the  settlement  of  Norridgewock,  and  before  the 
incorporation  of  either  Bingham  or  Solon  a  Church  was 
gathered  there  embracing  members  from  several  of  the 
surrounding  settlements.  This  took  place  in  July  1805. 
Rev.  Alexander  McLean,  and  Rev.  Jotham  Sewall  were 
present  on  the  occasion.  The  Church  then  consisted  of 
eight  members,  who  lived  principally  in  the  township 
since  Bingham.  In  September  of  the  next  year,  a 
Church  of  five  members  was  gathered  in  the  planta- 
tion now  Solon,  and  thus  things  remained  for  nearly  five 
years.  These  Churches  were  then  both  in  a  low  state, 
and  that  in  Solon  particularly  feeble.  In  January  1811, 
a  Council  was  invited  to  advise  them  respecting  their 
fature  proceedings,  and  by  their  advice  a  union  was 
formed  between  them.  Each  Church  was  to  retain  its 
own  articles  of  faith  and  Covenant,  and  to  be  ruled  and 
disciplined  according  to  them  ;  but  for  mutual  assis- 
tance they  were  to  be  considered  one  Church.  In  the 
autumn  of  1818,  divine  influences  were  very  copiously 
afforded  in  these  new  settlements,  and  both  Churches 
were  considerably  enlarged,  and  were   consequently  so 


Sift  CONGREGATIONALIStiS. 

inuch  strengthened  as  to  think  it  expedient  to  dissolve 
their  union,  4t^  each  to  stand  alone,*  This  took  place 
'in  January  'tl20. 

STRONG. 

This  town  lies  immediately  above  Farmington  on 
"both  sides  of  Sandy  River.  It  was  called  originally 
«  Readstown"  from  one  of  the  first  settlers.  A  Church 
of  eleven  members  w^as  gathered  there  in  March  18 10* 
it  has  never  been  greatly  enlarged. 

FAIRFIELD. 

This  town  lies  oh  the  western  bank  of  the  Kennebeck, 
between  Waterville  and  Bloomfield.  Some  settlements 
were  made  here  about  as  early  as  those  in  Canaan,  but 
•no  Congregational  ChUrch  was  gathered  here  until  May 
1815  Rev.  Jotham  Sewall,  Rev.  Fifield  Holt,  and 
Rev.  Josiah  Peet  then  met  there  in  CouiKil,  and  organ* 
ized  a  Church  of  eight  members. 

"TREEMAN. 

A  small  Church  was  gathered  in  this  town  in  July 
1818. 

XlNGSriELD. 

Rev.  Jotham  Sewall  organized  a  small  Church  here 
in  September  1819. 

A  half  township  of  land  in  the  northeasterly  part  of 
Sumerset  County  was  granted  to  Monson  Academy  in 


#Thc  Church  at  Bingham  hai  rpceived  an  addition  of   twenty  one  mem- 
bers, and  the  adjoining  Churches  of   Solon  and  Anson,  the   former  six  and 
the    latter  nine  ;  making    thirty-six  ;  besides  others  who  are  hoped   to   be 
tiin<fcre  converts,  that  have  not  yet  made  a  public  profession  of  their  faith." 
Report  of  the  Maine  Miss,  Soc  for  1819. 


COUNTY    or    SUMERSET.  S17 

Massachusetts.  The  settlement  of  the  town  is  very  re- 
cent. Several  respectable  fiimilies  from  Monson  mov- 
ed there,  among  whom  were  several  public  professors  of 
religion,  and  in  the  summer  of  1821,  they  were  regularly 
organized  as  a  Congregational  Church. 


^iS  COXCUEGATIONALISTS, 

CHAPTEIl  XXII. 

1788. 

COUNTY   OF   PENOBSCOT. 

There  was  no  permanent  settlement  made  whhin  the 
limits  of  this  County  until  a  little  previous  to  the  revo-* 
lutionary  wai.  In  the  year  1777>afew  houses  were 
Scattered  along  on  the  banks  of  Penobscot  river  in  the 
towns  of  Frankfort,  Hampden,  and  Bangor  on  the  one 
side,  and  Orrington  and  Brewer  on  the  other.  A  Mr. 
Wheeler  estabH^hcd  himself  at  Hampden,  and  the  place 
was  called  Wheelersborough  ;  but  the  Indians  called  it 
Sowerdabocook.  The  firsi  minister  that  ever  preached 
statedly  in  this  regioa  was  a  Mr.  Knowles  from  Cape 
Cod.  How  long  he  tarried  among  the  people  on  the 
river  is  not  known.  After  the  peace  in  1783,  a  spirit 
of  enterprise  led  many  respectable  men  to  penetrate  the 
wilderness,  and  the  settlements  on  the  Penobscot  began 
to  assume  a  more  interesting  appearance.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1788,  Rev.  Seth  Noble  was  employed  as  a  preach- 
er in  the  new  settlements  on  the  Penobscot.  Rev  Mr. 
Little  of  Kennebunk  being  at  this  time  employed  by  the 
Legislature  of  the  Commonwealth  as  a  Missionary  at 
the  eastward,  visited  the  Penobscot  settlements,  and  in- 
stalled Mr.  Noble  as  the  minister  of  that  people.  It  is 
d  oubtful  whether  a  Church  was  organized  in  a  regular 
manner  at  this  time.  No  record  of  such  proceeding  can 
now  be  found.  Mr.  Noble  rem^ained  on  the  Penobscot 
several  years.  He  lived  about  half  a  mile  above  the 
Kcnduskeag  stream  in  B:mgor,  and  pr cache i  in  all  the 
icttlementj  aUove  Bucksport  on  both  sides  ol  the  river. 


PEXOnSCOT    COUXTY,  StO 

The  connexion  between  him  and  the  people  was  dissol- 
ved without  mach  formality,  and  they  were  left  desti- 
tute of  regular  preaching.  In  the  summer  of  1800,  Mr. 
James  Boyd  was  employed  as  a  preacher  in  this  region, 
and  in  September  of  that  year  a  Church  w\as  organized 
consisting  of  members  living  in  the  towns  of  Onington, 
Hampden,  and  Bangor,  and  Mr.  Boyd  was  ordained. 
His  ministry  continued  but  one  year.  His  conduct  was 
soon  discovered  to  be  unbecoming  the  Ministerial  or 
Christian  character  ;  a  Council  was  called  in  Novem- 
ber 1801,  and  after  investigating  the  subject  Mr.  Boyd 
was  dismissed  without  a  recommendation.  During  his 
ministry  Mr.  Boyd  resided  at  Bangor,  and  was  considt 
ered  abroad  as  the  Minister  of  that  town.  He  preached 
on  both  sides  of  the  river,  and  the  Church  was  called  the 
"  Bangor  Church,'*  and  the  *'Orrington  Church,"  as  the 
numbers  on  either  side  of  the  river  preponderated.  Af- 
ter the  dismission  of  Mr.  Boyd  it  was  considered  the  Or- 
rington  Church.  For  several  years  the  people  in  all 
these  towns  were  in  a  broken  and  divided  state,  and  no 
attempts  to  procure  stated  preaching  proved  successful. 

In  the  summer  of  181 1,  Mr.  Harvey  Loomis  was  em- 
ployed  to  preach  at  Bangor,  and  in  November  of  that 
year  a  Church  was  organized  in  that  town  composed 
partly  of  members  dismissed  from  the  Orrlngton  Church, 
and  Rev.  Mr.  Loomis  was  ordained.  He  is  their  pre- 
sent Minister. 

The  year  following,  Mr.  Thomas  Williams  was  sent 
to  the  upper  part  of  Orrlngton,  which  had  then  become 
the  town  of  Brewer,  as  a  Missionary.  The  people  made 
proposals  for  his  settlement,  and  he  was  ordained  there 


^^0  COXGREGATIOX A  LIST'S. 

in  Janiuiry  1813,  as  Pastor  of  the  old  Orrington  Cliurcjl 
which  then  consisted  of  seventeen  members.  Ke  re- 
mains there  to  the  present  time. 

Rev.  Mr.  Loomis  and  Rev.  Mr.  Williams  are  the  on- 
ly settled  Ministeis  in  the  County.  There  are  four 
more  Congregational  Churches,  which  have  never  yet 
enjoyed  the  ministrations  of  stated  Pastors. 

The  eldest  of  the  four  is  in  the  town  of  Dixmont.  It 
was  gathered  in  November  1807,  by  Rev.  Messrs.  Jo- 
tham  Sewall,  Samuel  Sewall,  and  Daniel  Lovejoy. 

The  second  includes  members  in  the  towns  of  Gar- 
land, Foxcroft,  Sangerville,  and  Dexter.  It  was  organ- 
ized by  Rev.  John  Sawyer,  Rev.  Mighill  Blood  and. 
Rev.  Hezekiah  May  in  March  1810,  and  is  generally, 
known  by  the  name  of  the  "Garland  Church." 

The  third  is  at  Hampden.  It  consists  of  about  thir* 
ty  members,  and  was  gatheied  in  March  1816. 

The  other  is  in  the  plantation  of  Brownville,  which 
lies  north  of  the  Piscataquis  river.  In  the  autumn  of 
1818,  Mr.  Moses  Welch  a  student  in  the  "Maine  Chari- 
ty School"  who  had  been  licensed  to  preach,  spent  a  few 
weeks  at  this  place.  Divine  influences  were  afforde/, 
,and  an  uncommon  attention  to  icligion  excited  among 
the  people  in  that  and  tlie  neighbouring  towns.  The 
hopeful  conversion  of  a  considerable  number  was  the  ul- 
timate consequence,  and  in  th.e  month  of  August  1819, 
Rev.  M  Sawyier  gathered  up  the  fi  uits,  and  established 
them  as  a  Congregational  Church. 

In  ieviewing  the  history  of  the  CongregationalChurcI) 
in  Maine  we  shall  find  some  things  to  lament,  yet  man 7 
to  excite  our  fervent  gratitude  and  praise. 


PENOBSCOT    COt'NTV.  S2L 

The  commencement  of  the  eighteenth  century  found 
but  one  Church  of  any  denomination  in  the  State,  al- 
though some  parts  of  it  had  then  been    settled  at  least 
sixty  years.     Now  there  are  no  less  than  one   hundred 
and    thirty  one   Congregational    Churches,  besides   a 
respectable  number  in  the  other  denominations.     These 
Churches  are  scattered  through    all   the  Counties  in  the 
State.     York  County  contains  23,  Cumberland  27,  Lin. 
coin  17,  Hancock    14,  Washington   5,    Kennebeck    IS- 
Oxford  16,  Somerset  II,  and   Penobscot  6.       Sixty-tv/o 
of  these  are  destitute  of  stated    Pastors.     It  is  difficult 
to  ascertain  the  precise  number  of  members,  which  these 
Churches  contain.     But  few  of  them  are  large  ;  several 
of  them  are  in  a  flourishing  state  ;  some   are  declining, 
and  some  almost  extinct.      Most,  if  not  all  that  \vere 
gathered  previous  to  the  year  1750,  recognized  the  prlr.. 
clples  of  the  VVestmlnster  confession,  as  to  doctrine,  and 
the  Cambridge  platform  as  to   government,   admitting 
the  practice  of  what  has   been   termed  '*  the   half-way 
Covenant."     This   practice    has  been  discontinued    in 
nearly  all  the  Churches  which  formerly  admitted  it. — 
Various  expedients  have  been  used  to  effect  the  change. 
Some  Churches  have  adopted  anew  Confession  of  faiih* 
and  Covenant,  in  which  the  practice  was    not  recogniz- 
ed ;  others  have  voted   to  discontinue   the  practice   at 
once  ;  some  Ministers  have  made  the  total   abolition  of 
the  practice  a  condition  in  their   terms   of  settlement  ; 
some  Churches  have  consented  to  receive  to  baptism  the 
children  of  such  parents  as  already  stood  In  the  baptis- 
mal relation,  but  would  receive  no  more  ;    while  others 

T  2 


'^2>  CONGREGATION  ALISTS. 

liave  laid  aside  the  use  of  a  separate  baptismal  Covenant, 
and  have  received  to  full  standing  in  the  Church  any 
persons  of  moral  life  who  v^ished  for  the  privilege  of 
baptism  for  their  children.  We  pretend  not  in  this, 
place  to  discuss  the  merits  of  the  questicQ, 


El'lSCOP.vLIAMS.  2S3^ 

CHAPTEll  XXIII. 

EPISCOPALIANS. 

The  principal  part  of  the  original  settlers  of  New* 
England,  especially  in  the  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth 
Colonies  were  zealous  dissenters,  and,  as  it  might  natur- 
ally be  supposed,  adopted  their  own  peculiar  modes  of 
worship  wherever  they  were  instrumental  in  planting 
Churches.  A  few  Episcopalians  however  were  among- 
the  earliest  settlers  of  Maine.  Soon  after  the  grant  of 
the  town  of  Falmouth,  which  took  place  under  the  gov- 
ernment of  Sir  Alexander  Rigby,  sometime  previous  to 
the  year  1646,  he  sent  over  Richard  Gibson,  an  Episcc 
pal  Clergyman  to  reside  among  the  people.  Gibson 
remained  there  but  a  short  time,  and  then  wandered 
from  them,  and  settled  for  a  while  in  Portsmouth.  He 
exercised  his  ministerial  functions  according  to  the  ri- 
tual, but  is  represented  as  a  man  exceedingly  bigotted* 
Toward  the  close  of  his  ministry  In  America  he  was 
summoned  before  the  Court  at  Boston  for  scandalizing 
the  government  there,  and  denying  their  title  ;  but  upon 
his  submission,  they  discharged  him  without  fine  or 
punishment,  being  a  stranger,  and  about  to  depart  from 
the  Country.  *  Another  Clergyman  of  this  commu- 
nion was  soon  after  obtained  for  the  settlement  at  Cape 
Elizabeth,  through  the  influence  of  Robert  Trelawny, 
who  at  that  time  possessed  Richmond's  Island,  and  had 
established  John  Winter  as  his  Agent  there.     This  Min- 


*  Beiknap'5  Vew-Hamv  shire,    Also,    Wintlirop's   Journal    page   146,  and 
Hubbard  J<^ge  3S1. 


^^4  EPISCOPALIANS. 

:ster  "was  Robert  Jordan,  who  after  his  settlement  mar- 
ried Winter's  daughter,  and  is  the  ancester  of  all  of  the 
name  in  this  part  of  the  country.  Whether  Mr.  Jordan 
remained  in  the  ministry  until  his  death,  does  not  appear; 
nor  is  there  any  record  to  show  the  state  of  vital  relig- 
ion under  his  ministry.  The  Episcopalians,  however 
were  a  considerable  party,  and  much  attached  to  their 
liturgy,  and  hence  made  great  opposition  to  the  propose 
ed  submission  to  Massachusetts  in  1652. 

The  cause  of  Episcopacy  in  Cape  Elizabeth  seems 
after  this  to  have  declined  ;  for  we  find  the  people  of 
that  territory  uniting,  in  1 727j  with  the  other  part  of 
Falmouth,  in  the  settlement  of  Rev.  Thomas  Smith. 

But  the  principles  implanted  in  the  early  settlers  of 
this  region,  though  for  a  while  partially  controlled  and 
subdued  by  the  force  of  circumstances,  appear  never  to 
have  been  totally  eradicated.  About  the  year  1763,  a 
number  of  persons  who  were  dissatisfied  with  the  settle- 
ment of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Deane  as  a  colleague  Pastor 
with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Smith,  withdrew  from  that  parish 
and  invited  the  Rev.  John  W  iswall,  who  was  then 
preaching  in  the  parish  of  New-Casco,  to  become  their 
Minister.  In  July  1 764,  having  completed  the  organiz- 
ation of  their  Society,  they  agreed  to  adopt  the  liturgy 
of  the  Episcopal  Church  ;  and  soon  afterwards,  agreea- 
bly to  a  vote  of  the  Society,  Mr.  Wisw.ill  procee«ied  to 
England  and  was  admitted  to  Holy  Orders  in  ihe  Es- 
tablished Church.  After  his  return,  which  was  not  long 
delayed,.  Mr.  Wiswall  continued  to  officiate  as  their  Pas- 
tor, to  a  respectable  congregation,  till  the  year  1775  ; 
when,  in  consequence  of  the  troubles  between  thisCoun- 


EPISG0PAL1AX&.  Sarj 

*i-y  and  Great  Britain,  he  left  his  parish  and  removed  to 
the  Province  of  Nova  Scotia.  The  Society  in  ITG^  in 
the  absence  of  Mr.  Wiswall,  erected  a  neat  and  comv 
modions  Church  ;  which  was  destroyed  by  the  British 
in  the  conflagration  of  the  town  in  October  1775. 
Their  numbers  had  become  considerable,  for  we  find 
upwards  of  100  persons  reclaiming,  as  members  of  this 
Society,  the  taxes  assessed  on  them  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Deane's  parish  in  1771.  Serious  disputes  on  this  sub- 
ject had  aiisen  between  the  two  Societies,  but  the  con- 
flagration of  the  town,  involving  all  the  disputants  in  a 
greater  calamity,  seems  to  have  terminated  all  their  dif- 
ferences on  the^question  of  taxation.  The  mumbers  of 
the  Episcopal  Church  as  well  as  the  others,  being  dis-^- 
persed  arnong  the  neighboring  towns,  do  not  appear  to 
have  assembled  again  till  the  storm  of  war  had  subsid- 
ed. 

In  1783,  a  number  of  the  members  having  returned 
from  their  dispersion,  the  Society  was  reorganized,  and 
has  continued  its  regular  parochial  existance,  with  great- 
er or  less  degrees  of  prosperity,  to  the  present  time. — <■ 
From  1783  to  1787  divine  service  was  occasionally  per- 
formed, and  the  ordinances  administered,  by  the  Minis-- 
ters  of  other  Churches  in  the  diocese. 

In  the  latter  year  a  small  Church  was  erected  on  the- 
site  of  the  former  building  ;  and  twenty  persons  sub- 
scribed a  weekly  payment  to  support  a  Clergyman,  and 
soon  afterwards  voted  that  he  might  preach  three  Sab- 
baths in  eacli  year  at  Windham,  where  some  members 
Qf  the  Church  resided.     Mr.  Thomas  Oxnard,  who  was 


SS6  EPISCOPALIANS. 

one  of  the  twenty,  was  this  year  engaged  as  a  reader, 
in  which  capacity  he  officiated  for  sometime ;  but  was 
at  length  dismissed,  In  1792.  About  four  years  after 
this,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Warren,  having  removed  from 
Gardiner,  was  engaged  by  the  Society  as  their  stated 
Mi'iiister,  and  continued  as  such  till  he  removed  to  one 
©f  the  Southern  States  in  1799.  Again  they  were  des- 
titute of  the  regulai  ministrations  of  the  word,  for 
srome  time,  though  occasionally  visited  by  several  cler- 
gymen of  the  Church  ;  but  the  Society  had  become 
s'tiong  in  numbers  and  wealth,  and  rn  1802  erected  a 
handsome  brick  building  for  their  accommodation,  call- 
ed St.  Paul's  Church.  In  1803  the  Rev.  Timothy  Hil- 
liard  was  settled  as  their  Minister,  by  contiact  with  the 
Society,  in  which  capacity  he  officiated  till  April  1808. 
During  the  early  part  of  this  period  the  Society  flour- 
ished ;  but  before  his  departure  its  prospects  began  to 
be  obscured,  and  after  he  left  It,  the  members  were 
scattered  among  other  societies,  having  no  ministry  of 
any  kind  for  more  than  five  years  ;  and  very  few  visits 
Jrom  any  Clergymen  till  the  arrival  of  the  Rev.  Gideon 
W.  Olney  In  Ju  ne  1817.  This  gentleman  officiated 
during  the  greater  part  of  that  year,  and  then  settled  at 
Gardiner.  In  September  of  the  following  year  the  Rev. 
Petous  Stuyvesant  Ten  Broeck  was  engaged  to  preach 
on  probation,  and  In  May  1819  was  instituted,  being 
the  first  Minister  ever  regularly  Instituted  as  the  rector 
of  this  Church.  In  this  office  he  still  continues.  The 
Society  was  incorporated  by  statute  March  7,  1791. 
It  does  not  appear  ever  to  have  been  favored  with  any 


EPISCOPALIANS.  SS? 

general  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God  ;  but  during 
the  short  term  of  Olney's  ministry  there  was  excited  a 
considerable  attention  to  religion,  and  some  additions 
were  made  to  the  number  of  communicants,  which, 
however,  on  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Ten  Broeck  did  not  ex- 
ceed ten  or  twelve,  but  have  since  been  increased  to 
twenty-seven. 

Another  Episcopal  Church  is  found  at  Gardiner,  on 
the  western  side  of  the  Kennebeck,  four  miles  below 
Hallowell,  which  originally  took  the  nameaf  St.  Ann's 
Church.  The  Plymouth  Company  had  obtained  a 
grant  of  lands  on  the  Kennebeck  river,  in  the  reign  of 
James  1st.  This  grant  was  confirmed  by  Charles  1st 
in  1629,  and  extended  from  Cobbisseconte  river  to  Ne- 
quamkike,  (now  Norridgewock)  and  15  miles  on  each 
side  of  the  river.  The  original  grants  within  these 
limits  were  under  their  charter.  From  the  year  1754  to 
1760  some  grants  were  made  by  this  Company  to  Doc- 
tor Sylvester  Gardiner,  then  of  Boston,  covering  the 
whole  township  of  Gardiner,  then  called  Gardiner- 
ston.  Some  speedy  attempts  were  made  for  a  settle- 
ment, and  a  mill  was  built  in  1761.  But  the  settlement 
did  not  advance  much  for  ten  years.  Dr.  Gardiner 
was  a  man  of  wealth,  and  evidently  very  much  dispos- 
ed to  do  good  with  his  property  ;  and  being  himself  an 
Episcopalian  he  laid  a  foundation  for  an  establishment 
of  that  kind  in  this  town.  In  the  year  1771,  the  set- 
tleanent  began  to  flourish,  and  the  building  of  a  Church 
was  commenced.  The  war,  which  soon  came  on, 
hindered  the  settlement,  and  the  building  of  the  house 


# 


aS8  EPISCOPALIANS. 

of  worship  was  not  completed  at  the  decease  of  Dr. 
Gardiner  in  1786.  But  although  he  was  thus  prevent- 
ed from  accomplishing  all  his  benevolent  purposes  to- 
ward his  new  settlement  during  his  life,  yet  he  did  not 
forget  them  in  death,  as  appears  from  the  following  ex- 
tract from  his  Will  : 

"  I  give  and  bequeath  twenty   pounds  sterling  to  be 
"  paid  annually  forever   in   four   equal   quarterly  pay- 
<*  ments  out  of  the  rents  and  income   of  my   Cobbisse- 
"  conte  or  Gardinerston  estates  to  the  Episcopal  Minis- 
*'  ter  for  the  time  being  of  St.  Anns  Church  in  the  said 
■*'  Gardinerston,  who  shall  be  duly  presented  and  induct- 
"  ed  into  the   said   Church  ;    and  he   shall    be   rightly 
"  inducted      and     instituted     who     shall      be      pre- 
«  sented  to  the  same  by  my  Son  William    Gardiner,  or 
"  his  heirs  the  perpetual  successive    Patrons  of  the  said 
"  Church,  always  supposing  that  the  major  part  of  the 
«*  Parishioners  of  the  said  Church  duly  qualified  by  law 
"  to  vote,  agree   to    said    nomination    or   presentation. 
*'  But  if  the  major  part  of  the  Parishioners  duly  quali- 
«  fied  shall  oppose  the  person   presented  by  the  Patron 
"  for  the  time  being,  he  shall  then  present  a  second  Within 
"  one  year  after  such  rejection,  and  if  he  also  be  oppos- 
<'  ed  in  like  manner  he  shall  present    a  third,  who  shall 
«  be  inducted  any  opposition  notwithstanding.     And  if 
"  the  Patron  for  the  time  being    on  the    vacancy  of  a 
"  Minister  of  the  said  Church  by  death  or  removal  shall 
"  neglect  to  present  within  twelve  nionihs  another  can- 
**  didate  for    the    same,   the    Paribhioners   of  the  said 
<*  Church  being  convened   by  the   Wardens,  shall  have 
'•  power  by  a  major  vote  to  present  one   themselves  for 


EFHCOPALtANS.  SS9 

^'  that  time  only,  the  Patron^s  right  returning  again  up- 
'*  on  the  next  vacancy,  and  the  person  so  chosen  by  the 
V  Parishoners  shall  have  a  good  and  legal  right  annual- 
**  ly  during  his  ministry  at  the  said  Church  to  the  20/ 
**  sterling  out  of  the  rents  and  incomes  of  the  said  estate 
"  to  be  paid  by  the  Patron  for  the  time  being,  as  though 
"  he  had  presented  him  himself.  And  furthermore,  the 
"  said  20/  sterling  annually  or  so  much  of  it  as  shall 
"  become  due  during  any  vacancy  in  the  ministry  of  the 
''  said  Church  shall  be  paid  to  the  next  incumbent.  And 
«'  I  order  and  direct  the  said  Church  of  St.  Ann's  to  be 
"  decently  finished  if  not  done  before  my  death  out  of 
^'  my  peisonal  estate.  I  give  to  the  Church  of  St.  Ann's 
"  in  Gardinerston  forever  ten  acres  of  land  in  Gardin^rs- 
"  ton  to  be  laid  out  by  my  Son  William  and  my  two 
"  Executors  hereafter  mentioned,  so  as  to  include  with- 
*'  in  the  bounds  of  said  Church  a  Parsonage  house.  I 
"  give  and  bequeath  my  whole  I.ibrary  of  Books  for  a 
<*  public  Library  by  the  name  ^f  the  Gardinerston  Li- 
"  brary,  for  the  use  of  the  settled  Episcopal,  and  dis- 
*  senting  Clergy  and  the  Physicians  who  shall  live  fif- 
<*  teen  miles  east  and  west  of  Kennebeck  River,  and 
"  twenty  miles  north  and  south  from  the  Church  on  said 
"  River,  the  Library  always  to  be  kept  at  Gardnerston, 
*'  and  the  Episcopal  Minister  there  for  the  time  being 
"  to  be  the  Librarian,  on  his  giving  security  to  my  son 
"  William,  his  heirs  and  successors  in  that  estate  for- 
*'  ever,  which  if  he  refuses  oc:  neglects  then  some  other  per- 
"  son  to  be  the  Librarian  who  shall  give  such  security, 
*'  said  Library  to  be  always  subject  to  the  rules  and  re- 

U 


^30  ElMSCOPALIANS. 

^*  gulatlons  hereunto  annexed,  and  signed  with  my  own 
<'  hand." 

Agreeably  to  the  provisions  of  this  Will  the  Execu- 
tors of  Dr.  Gardiner  pro^ceeded  to  finish  the  Church, 
but  soon  after,  in  1793,  it  was  burnt  to  the  ground.  A 
certain  insane  man,  named  Henry  McCausland,  believ- 
ed that  he  was  directed  by  a  vision  from  the  Lord  to 
make  a  burnt  offering  and  a  sacrifice.  The  burnt  offer- 
ing was  the  Church  at  Gardiner  to  which  he  set  fire, 
the  saciifice  was  supposed  to  have  been  the  Minister  ; 
but  not  finding  him,  he  murdered  a  woman  of  the 
same  name.  He  was  convicted  of  the  murder,  but  by 
reason  of  his  insanity  has  never  received  sentence,  and 
is  still  confined  in  AUgusta  gaol. 

The  Church  was  soon  rebuilt,  partly  by  subscription, 
and  finished  by  the  Executors  of  Dr.  Gardiner's  Will. 
In  May  1794<  Rev.  Joseph  Warren,  was  engaged  as  the 
stated  minister  to  this  congregation,  and  continued  at 
Gardiner  a  little  more  than  two  years,  near  the  close  of 
the  year  1796,  only  a  few  months  after  the  departure  of 
Mr.  Warren,  Rev.  James  Bowers  was  employed  to  offi- 
ciate at  St.  Ann's  Church,  and  continued  his  ministra- 
tions until  1802,  when  he  was  dismissed,  and  settled  at 
Marblehead.  In  July  1803,  Rev.  Samuel  Haskell  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Bowers,  and  remained  at  Gardiner  until 
1 809,  when  he  removed  to  New- York.  The  Church 
was  then  destitute  three  years.  In  1812,  Rev.  Aaron 
Humphreys  was  employed  to  preach  and  continued 
here  two  years.  In  1817,  Rev.  Gideon  W.  Olney,  the 
present    Rector,  commenced  his  ministry  at  tliis  place, 


EPISCOPALIANS.  231 

and  soon  after  was   regularly  instituted.     The  present 
number  of  communicants  is  about  fifty. 

The  house  of  worship  which  was  erected  in  1793,  was 
a  small  wooden  building  of  one  story.  A  new  and  ele- 
gant building  of  stone,  exhibiting  a  perfect  model  of  the 
Gothic  style  has  since  been  erected. — In  1779,  the  plan- 
tation of  Gardnerston  was  incorporated  by  the  name  of 
Pittston,  and  in  1793,  the  persons  attending  St.  Ann's 
Church  were  incorporated  by  the  name  of  the  Episcopal 
Society  at  Pittston."  In  1803,  that  part  of  Pittston 
ying  west  of  the  River  was  incorporated  into  a  town  by 
the  name  of  Gardiner,  and  the  name  of  the  Episcopal 
Society  was  chamged  accordingly.  In  1819,  it  having 
been  suggested  that  some  confusion  of  names  might 
hereafter  arise,  and  it  might  be  questioned  whether  *'S.t. 
Arm's  Church"  and  "the  Episcopal  Society"  vrere  the 
same,  the  names  of  both  were  changed  to  that  of  Chiist= 
Church  in  Gardiner,  Maine." 

A  Parsonage  house,  and  ten  acres  of  land,  includin^{» 
that  on  which  the  Church  was  built,  were  both  appro- 
priated agreeably  to  the  will  of  Dr.  Gardiner,  and  in- 
cluding the  20/  sterling  mentioned  above,  his  heirs  pay 
§124*,  44  annually  for  the  support  of  the  Episcopal 
Clergyman  in  that  place. 

In  the  early  settlement  of  the  country  a  foundation 
was  laid  for  an  Episcopal  Society  In  the  town  of  Dres- 
den, about  ten  miles  below  Gardiner,  on  the  eastern, 
side  of  Kennebeck  river.  Between  the  years  1760  and 
1770  a  building  for  a  Church  was  erected  by  subscrip- 
tion, raised  piincipally  by  the  proprietors  of  "the  Ken- 
nebeck purchase."     Rev.  Jacob  Bailey   was   engaged 


S3S  EPISCOPALIANS. 

and  continued  for  a  short  time  to  ofEciate  as  the  Minis- 
ler.  When  the  revolutionary  war  commenced  Mr.  Bai* 
ky  left  the  country,  and  removed  to  Annapolis  Royal, 
in  Nova  Scotia,  and  did  not  leturn.  After  the  peace  in 
1783,  prayers  were  read  for  one  or  two  year?,  but  that 
^ouse  of  worship  went  to  ruin,  and  the  Congregation 
were  scattered.  The  original  proprietors  of  the  land 
made  a  grant  of  100  acres  to  the  Episcopal  Church  un- 
der certain  conditions,  which  not  being  complied  with 
it  reverted  to  them  ;  but  in  closing  their  concerns  the 
proprietors  vested  the  same  100  acres  of  land  in  three 
Trustees  with  liberty  to  sell  it,  and  apply  the  proceeds 
io  the  use  of  an  Episcopal  Minister  should  one  ever  be 
settled  there,  and  in  the  mean  time  to  the  use;  of  a  Con? 
gregational  Minister. 


ROMAN  CATHOLICS,  i^^3 

CHAPTER  XXVV  . 

ROMAN    CATHOLICS. 

Four  meetings  of  this  denomination  are  held  in  Maine  j 
two  among  the  remains  of  the  Passamaquoddy  and  Pe* 
nobscot  Indians,  one  at  New-Castle,  and  one  at  White- 
field,  in  Lincoln  County. 

The  Indian  Tribes  were  early  visited  by  French 
Missionaries,  and  beeame  Catholics.  Sometime  in  the 
reign  of  Louis  1 4th  of  France,  a  French  x^rchitect  came 
over  from  that  country,  and  erected  a  place  for  publ'c 
worship  in  Indian  Old  Town,  an  Island  in  the  Penob- 
scot above  the  head  of  tide  waters,  which  was  then,  and 
still  is,  considered  the  head  quarters  of  the  Penobscot 
Tribe.  This  Church  was  burnt  by  the  Anglo-Am.eri«fc 
cans  in  the  "old  Fr^ch  war,"  because  the  Indians  ad* 
hered  to  the  French,  to  whom  they  have  ever  been 
friendly  ;  and  it  is  said  that  the  Governor  or  King  of 
this  tribe  wears  to  this  day,  as  a  badge  of  honour,  a 
medal  with  the  likeness  of  Louis  i-kh. 

Sebastian  Ralle,  or  Rasles,  was  a  Missionary  from  the" 
Society  of  the  Jesuits  to  the  Indians  of  North-America. 
He  came  into  Maine  in  the  year  1689,  an.d  was  connec- 
ted with  the  Eastern  Indians,  particularly  with  the 
N'^'Tid^rewock  Tribe.  The  principal  village  belonging 
to  this  Tribe  was  within  the  limits  of  the  present  town 
of  Norridgewock  Here  Father  Ralle  iesi<ied  for  about 
tw'  '  tv  X  ye-ir-..  accompaningthe  Tribe  however,  in  ma- 
ny of  their  wars,  and  in  many  of  their  wanderings. 
They  looked  up  to  him  as  a  Father,  and  he  was  greatly 
U  2 


33*  ROMAN   eATHOLICS. 

interested  for  them.  But  the  English  viewed  him  with 
a  jealous  eye.  They  supposed  he  was  constantly  insti- 
gating the  Savages  to  those  depredations  which  kept  the 
country  in  a  state  of  alarm.  The  truth  of  this  cannot 
now  be  ascertained.  C>n  this  ground  however,  an  at- 
tempt was  made  in  172i  by  Col.  Thomas  We^tbrook 
and  his  troops  to  seize  him.  They  arrived  at  the  vil- 
lage undiscovered  ;  but  before  they  could  surround  the 
house,  Ralle  escaped  to  the  w^oods.  This  attempt  to 
seize  their  spiritual  Father  provoked  the  Indians  to  re- 
taliate severely,  and  a  war  ensued.  During  this  strug- 
gle, on  the  23d  of  August  1724-,  a  party  of  men  sur- 
prized the  Indian  village  at  Norridgewock,  killed  the 
Priest  with  about  thirty  others,  burnt  the  Church,  and 
destroyed  the  village.  The  account  of  this  affair  is  va» 
riously  related  by  the  French  and  English  historians, 
and  the  blame  sometimes  charged  on  the  American 
party,  and  sometimes  on  Ralle  and  the  Indians.  *  Let 
this  be  as  it  may,  the  fact  of  his  having  devoted  his  sur 
peiior  talents  to  the  instruction  of  the  rude  children  oF 
the  wilderness  ;  consenting  to  spend  his  days  in  the 
depths  of  the  forest,  in  unrepining  conformity  to  savage 
customs,  and  modes  of  life  ;  enduring  such  privations, 
hardships,  and  fatigues  as  he  did  by  night  and  day  in 
the  discharge  of  his  mission,  proves  him  to  have  been 
a  very  superior  man,  and  well  entitled  to  the  admiratioa 


*  The  reader  will  find  both  sides  of    this  matter  stated  at  wuc  iengtb  ia 
^lutdiinson's  Hist.  Massachusetts  Vol,  i,  page  3^?— 3'3' 


RONfAN    CATHOLICS.  ^39^ 

of  all.  *  The  Indian  tribes  soon  melted  away  before 
the  English  settlements,  and  we  hear  but  little  more  of 
them. 

The  remains  of  the  Penobscot  Tribes  are  still  left  in 
Maine.  About  350  souls  are  in  the  first  of  these,  and 
about  400  in  the  last.  Lrttle  is  known  of  their  relig- 
ious affairs  until  the  year  1797,  when  both  Tribes  were 

visited  by  Right  Rev.    Bishop  Cheverus   of  Boston 

Two  years  after  this  Rev.  James  R.  Romagni,  a  native 
©f  France  took  the  pastoral  careof  both  of  these  Tribes, 
in  which  station  he  continued  several  years,  and  at  length 
returned  to  France,  on  account  of  ill  health,  in  1819. 
Rev.  Sephen  Cailleawx  succeeded  Mf.  Remagni,  and  is 
the  present  Minister.  He  also  is  a  native  of  France,  of 
respectable  family  connexions,  and  was  born  and  educa* 
ted  in  the  City  of  Paris. 

The  Catholic  Societies  in  New-Castle  and  Whitefield 
are  of  a  little  more  than  twenty  years  standing.  Seven 
families  had  lemoved  into  this  country,  mostly  from 
Ireland,  and  in  1798,  Bishop  Cheverus  first  visited  the- 
place.  He  preached  in  a  barn  belonging  to  Hon.  Mat- 
thew Cottrill,  at  Damariscotta  Bridge,  and  celebrated 
mass  in  his  house.  The  year  following  a  store  was  fit= 
ted  up  and  used  as  a  Chapel  until  the  year  1807,  when 
a  neat  commodious  brick   Church  was  built  f      The 


♦  Many  intcrestin;  particulars  respecting  Father  Ralle  m>y  be  found  ia  a. 
sketch  of  bis  character  in  the  Mass  Hist,  Colleclionj,  Vol.  8,  page  259,  of 
the  New  Series. 

+  The  Chuich  cost  4,000  dollars,  of  which  sum  1,431  dolls  was  raised  by 
jubscription  and  the  remainder  was  paid  by  MesKs,  Kavanagh  aw5  Cot:rf» 
cJ  New-Castle, 


23Q  ROMAN    CATHOLICS. 

Catholic  Society  at  Whitefield  is  of  more  recent  datCj- 
A  few  years  since  a  wooden  building  was  erected  for  a 
place  of  public  worship  there,  partly  by  the  voluntary 
aids  of  the  brethren,  and  partly  by  the  private  property" 
of!  Bishop  Cheverus,  and  other  Catholic  Clergymen. 

The  members  of  these  two  Societies  are  dispersed 
throughout  Lincoln  County,  but  they  generally  endeav- 
our on  the  great  festival  of  the  Church  to  attend  public 
worship  either  at  New-Castle  or  Whitefield.  The  pi  e- 
cise  number  of  souls  in  these  two  Societies  is  unknown. f 
About  108  families  are  connected  with  them. 

The  present  Pastor  of  these  Churches  is  Rev,  Dennis 
Ryan,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  was  ordained  a  Priest, 
in  Boston  by  Bishop  Cheverus  in  181&,  and  since  that 
time  has  resided  in  New-Castle. 

The  Catholic  Societies  in  Maine  are  in  the  "Easterit 
Diocese,  now  under  the  spiritual  jurisdiction  of  Rt.  Re^. 
John  Cheverus  of  Boston.  This  Prelate  was  born  at 
Mayenne  in  the  Province  of  Maine  in  France,  Jan.  28, 
1768,  was  educated  at  the  Sorbonne  in  Paris,  and  was 
there  ordained  a  Priest  Dec.  18,  1790.  In  the  year 
1791,  having  refused,  with  most  of  the  Clergy  of  France 
to  take  the  oath  required  by  the  Government,  he  was 
obliged  to  leave  his  native  country,  which  he  did  in  the 
following  year  after  an  imprisonment  of  some  months 
in  one  of  the  dungeons  of  Paris.  He  went  over  to 
England  where  he  remained  until  Juljr  1796,  when  he 


t  The  accounts  receivtd  eoncerning  the  numbers  in  the  Catholic  Socie- 
ti^  a-c  various  iome  place  them  at  500  each,  and  othcra  at  130  in  ^^vf, 
€aMlc  and  200  at  Wbitehcld. 


ROMAN    CATHOLICS.  S37 

embarked  for  America.  On  his  arrival  in  this  country 
he  assisted  Rev.  Dr.  Matignon  for  several  years  in  min- 
istering to  the  Catholic  Church  in  Boston,  and  on  the 
first  of  November  1810,  he  was  concecrated  Bishop  of 
the  Diocese  of  Massachusetts  by  the  late  Most  Rev. 
Archbishop  Carroll  of  Baltimore  ;  which  office  he  stUI 
sustains. 


S3B  CALVINISTIC    BAPTISTS. 

CHxVPTEU  XXV. 

CALVINISTIC    DAPrjSTS. 

Some  Baptists  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  New- 
England.  But  they  were  few,  their  tenets  were  unpop- 
ular, it  was  an  age  of  persecution,  and  for  more  than 
forty  yeais  after  the  settlement  of  Plymouth  no  Church 
of  this  denomination  was  constituted  in  Massachusetts.. 
In  1 654",  President  Dunster  of  Harvard  College  became 
a  Baptist,  and  soon  after  removed  to  Scituate  \vhere  he- 
died  in  1659.  Four  years  after  this  a  Baptist  Church  was 
gathered  at  Rehoboth,  and  in  May  1665,  one  was  form- 
ed at  Charlestown.  At  the  time  of  its  organization  it 
consisted  of  nine  persons,  viz.  Thomas  Gould  and 
Thomas  Osborn,  who  had  previously  belonged  to  the 
Congregational  Church  ill  Charlestown,  Richard  Good'- 
gll,  a  member  of  a  Baptist  Church  in  London,  William 
Turner  and  Robert  Lambert,  members  of  a  Baptist 
Church  in  Dartmouth  (Eng.)  Edward  Drinker  and  John 
George,  who  had  never  before  united  with  any  Church, 
and  two  females — ^^viz.  Mary  Goodall,  and  Mary  New- 
el.* Thomas  Gould,  one  of  the  members  became  the 
Pastor  of  this  new  Church.  Much  difficulty  ensued  be- 
tween them  and  the  Congregationalists.  Gould  and 
Osborne  were  excommunicated  from  the  Church  to 
■which  they  had  formerly  belonged,  and  finally  Gould 
and  Turner  were  imprisoned  for  more  than  a  year.  On 
being  liberated  Mr.  Gould  removed  his  family  to  Nod- 
dle's Island  in  Boston  harbour,  and  the  meetings  of  the 
Church  were  held  at  his  house  for  several  years.     Thfs 

*B^cku«volii,pagc  356 


CALVINISTIC  BAPTISTS.        S39 

Church  had  now  increased   considerably,  insomuch  that 
'in  February  1677  they  agreed  to  divide  into  two  Church- 
es, but  on  farther  consideration  this  idea  was  abandon- 
ed, a  Meeting-house  was  built  in  Boston,  and  Mr.  Gould 
being  dead,  Rev.  John    Russell  was   ordained  Pastor  of 
the  Church  July  28,  1679.  *     We  have  now  arrived  at 
the  time  when  a  Baptist  establishment  was  first  made  in 
then  Province  of  Maine.     In  1681,   a   number  of  per^ 
sons  then  living  in  Kittery,  opposite  to  Portsmouth,  em- 
braced the  peculiar  sentiments  of  the  Baptists,  and  were 
baptized.     William  Screven,  a   gifted   brother   among 
them  was  selected  by  the   others  as  a  teacher,  and  sent 
to  Boston  with  a  license  in  the  following  terms: — "  To 
"  all  whom  it  may  concern  :  these  are   to  certify,  tha^ 
<*  our  beloved  brother  Willian  Screven  is  a  member  in 
*^  communion  with  us,  and  having  had  trial  of  his  gifts 
<*  among  us,  and  finding  him  to  be  a  man  whom  God 
<*  hath  qualified  and  furnished  with  the  gifts  of  his  holy 
"  spirit  and  grace,  enabling  him  to  open  and  apply  the 
"  word  of  God,  which  through  the  blessing  of  the  Lord 
"  Jesus  may  be  useful  in  his  hand,  for  the  begetting  and 
"  building  up  of  fouls   in   the  knowledge  of  God,  do 
*'  therefore  appoint,  approve  and  encourage  him,  to  ex- 
*'  ercife  his  gifts  in  the  place  where  he  lives,  or  elsewhere 
"  as  the  providence  of  God  may  caft  him  ;   and  fo  the 
"  Lord  help  him  to  eye  his  glory  in  all  things,  and  to 
"  walk  humbly  in  the  fear  of  hi?  name.'* 

Signed  by  us  in  behalf  of  the  rest, 

Isaac  Hull, 
. -  -John  Farnum. 

♦Backus  vol.  I.  rage  4^(5. 


S40  CALVINISTIC   BAPTISTS. 

«  But,"  says  Mr.  Backus,  their  historian,  "no  sooner 
was  this  design  heard  of  in  their  town  than  Mr.  Wood- 
bridge  the  Minister,  and  Hucke  the  magistrate  began  to 
bestir  thamselves,  and  the  magistrate  summoned  those 
people  before  him  who  had  been  to  the  Baptist  meet- 
ings, and  threatened  them  with  a  fine  of  five  shillings 
for  every  such  offence  for  the  future."*  During  the 
same  summer  the  General  Court  for  t^he  Province  of 
Maine  undertook  to  crush  this  meeting,  and  summoned 
Mr.  Screven  before  them.  Their  record  of  the  transac- 
tion is  as  follows  : — "William  Screven  appearing  before 
<*  this  Court,  and  being  convicted  of  the  contempt  of  his 
**  Majesty's  authority,  and  refusing  to  submit  himself  to 
"  the  sentence  of  the  Court, prohibiting  his  public  pieach- 
"  ing,  and  upon  examination  before  the  Court,  declaring 
"  his  resolution  still  to  persist  therein,  the  Couit  tendered 
<*  him  libei  ty  to  return  home  to  his  family,  in  case  he 
"  would  forbear  such  turbulent  practices  and  amend  for 
**  the  future  ;  but  he  refusing,  the  Court  sentenced  him 
"  to  give  bond  for  his  good  behaviour,  and  to  forbear 
<*  such  contentious  behaviour  for  the  future,  and  the  de- 
*'linquentto  stand  committed  until  the  judgment  of 
«  this  Court  be  fulfilled." 

"Verai  Copia  transcribed,  and  with  the  records  com* 
<«  pared  this  17th  of  August  1682. 

"Per  Edward  Rishworth,  Recorder.f 
In  addition  to  this,  the  Court  ordered  that  Mr.  Scre- 
ven should  not,  on  any  pretence  whatever,  have  any  pri- 
vate religious  exercise  at  his  own  houbC  or  elsewhere  on 

#t'iStory  of  the  Baptists  p.  503. 

+  Province  records  cited  by  Eackus  page  504. 


GALViNlSTIC    BAPTISTS.  Sll 

t^ie  Sabbath,  fineing  him  at  the  same  time  ten  pounds  for 
former  offences. 

Not  discouraged  at  these  oppressive  measures,  the 
brethren  took  measures  for  their  regular  estaWishment 
as  a  Church,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  Elder  Hull, 
and  some  others  from  Boston,  they  were  embodied  as  a 
Baptist  Church  Sept.  25,  1682,  The  original  Covenant 
was  signed  by  William  Screven,  Elder,  Humphrey 
Churchwood,  deacon,  and  Robert  Williams,  John  Mor- 
gandy,  Richard  Cutt,  Timothy  Davis,  Leonard  Drown, 
William  Adams,  Humprey  Azell,  George  Litten,  and 
a  number  of  females.  But  the  oppresMve  measures  of 
the  government  against  them  induced  this  Infant  Church 
to  remove  their  habitation  in  about  one  year  after  their 
organization.  Rev.  Mr.  Screven,  and  a  considerable 
part  of  his  Church  took  shipping,  and  sailing  southward 
settled  on  Cooper  river  in  South  Carolina,  at  a  planta* 
tion  then  called  Sumnerton,  at  no  great  distance  from 
the  place  where  Charleston  now  stands.  Here  the  com- 
pany  were  formed  into  a  Church  by  Mr.  Screven,  who 
became  their  Pastor.  They  were  soon  joined  by  several 
from  England,  and  became  a  flourishing  Society.  * 

Mr.  Screven  was  a  native  of  England  born  in  1629. 
He  married  Bridget  Cutts,  at  Kittery,  by  whom  he  had 
eleven  children.  He  was  a  good  English  scholar,  and 
emenent  for  piety  and  usefulness.  After  his  removal  to 
South  Carolina  he  was  solicited  to  take  the  pastoral  care 
of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Boston  which  he  declined. — c 

*  Benedict's  Hist.ofthcBaptUtsToI.  z,  ptje  uo. 


S4S  CALVIN rSTIC    BAPTIStg. 

In  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  removed  to  Georgetown^ 
about  60  miles  north  of  Charleston,  where  he  died  in 
peace,  in  1713,  at  the  advanced  age  of  S-l-  years.  He 
is  said  to  have  been  the  original  proprietor  of  the  land 
on  which  Georgetown  is  built.  * 

After  this  ancient  Church  at  Kittery  was  scattered  we 
hear  no  more  ot  the  Baptist  denomination  in  Maine  for 
nearly  ninety  years.  About  the  year  1767,  there  was 
some  special  attention  to  religion  in  that  part  of  Ber- 
wick in  the  County  of  York  called  "Great  Hill."  Rev. 
Mr.  Smith  of  Haverhill  visited  the  converts,  who  became 
Baptists,  and  were  in  the  year  following  constituted  as 
a  Baptist  Church,  and  soon  had  Rev.  William  Hooper 
set  over  them  as  a  Pastor.  In  the  same  year  a  Church 
was  gathered  at  Madbury  in  New-Hampshire,  and  a- 
boutfour  years  after  Baptist  Churches  weie  also  consti- 
tuted in  Gilmantown  in  Kew^-Hampshire,  and  Sanford 
in  Maine.  In  1776,  the  two  Churches  of  Berwick  and 
Sanford  with  some  Churches  in  New-Hampshire  com- 
menced a  meeting  which  they  caHed  a  conference.  This 
was  the  beginning  of  what  has  since  been  called  the 
»*  New-Hampshire  Association."  which  included  the 
County  of  York  in  Maine. 

In  1780,  a  Baptist  Church  was  gathered  in  the  north- 
westerly part  of  Wells,  and  Rev.  Nathaniel  Lord  was 
ordained  its  Pastor.  He  was  afterwards  settled  at  Ber- 
wick, and  the  present  Pastor  of  the  Church,  Rev.  Joseph 
Eaton,  was  ordained  in  his  stead.       The  year  following 

*  BenelitVsHktc  cf  tke  Baptlsti  Vol.  4,  page  1*3,  ^ 


CALVIXISTIC    BAPTISTS.  ^43 

a  Church  of  this  denomination  was  organized  at  Shap* 
leigh,  and  another  at  Lyman  in  1782.  Three  years  af- 
ter this  these  Churches,  with  some  in  New-Hampshire, 
were  established  as  an  Association,  being  the  first  in  the 
State. 

In  the  year  1782,  a  man  who  lived  in  the  new  coun- 
try near  Kennebeck  liver  was  converted  to  the  truth  as 
it  is  in  Jesus,  and  became  a  Baptist.  This  was  the  com- 
mencement of  a  considerable  revival  of  religion  in  that 
region  through  the  following  year,  and  in  May  1784, 
Churches  were  formed  in  Bowdoinham  and  Thomaston. 
A  Church  was  gathered  also  at  Harpswell  in  January 
of  the  following  year.  *  These  three  Churches  began 
an  Association  in  1787,  which  in  three  years  increased 
to  six  Churches,  and  317  members.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning of  the  Bowdoinham  AssociatioB. 

In  1804,  the  Bowdoinham  Associaton  had  increased 
to  forty-eight  Churches  ;  but  these  being  scattered  ov€i' 
a  great  extent  of  territory,  a  division  was  thought  ad- 
visable, and  was  amicably  effected.  The  new  body 
took  the  name  of  the  Lincoln  Association,  which  then 
consisted  of  seventeen  Churches,  and  extended  its  bounds 
beyond  the  Penobscot  river,  f 

By  the  year  1810,  the  Bowdoinham  Association  had 
again  become  too  large  to  meet  with  convenience  in  one 
body,  and  another  division  was  effected  ;  the  Churches 
westward  of  Androscoggin  rivei  becommg  a  new  body, 
called  Cumberland  Association  § 

♦Backus  vol-  3,  page  216. 

t  Benedict  Vol.  i,  page  31 1.  \  Ibjd  page  311. 


SM  CALVINISTIC    BAPTISTS. 

In  the  year  1818,  the  Churches  lying  eastward  of 
Penobscot  river  finding  it  inconventient  to  attend  the 
meetings  of  the  Lincoln  Association,  held  a  meeting  at 
Bins  Hill  on  the  12th  of  November  in  that  year,  and 
organized  themselves  as  a  new  body  called  the  Eastern 
Association, 

Thus  in  fifty  years  since  the  establishment  of  the 
Baptist  Church  in  Berwick,  the  members  of  this  denom- 
ination have  spread  themselves  through  the  State  to  the 
number  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  Churches  ;  di- 
vided among  the  Counties  in  the  following  manner, 
Yoik  23,  Cumberland  11,  Lincoln  39,  Hancock  20, 
Washington  4,  Kennebeck  25,  Oxford  21,  Somerset  15, 
Penobscot  7  ;  which  according  to  their  annual  minutes 
of  1820,  contained  9373  members.  These  Churches 
were  supplied  in  the  same  year  by  109  ordained  minis* 
ters,  and  13  Licentiates. 

A  more  particular  account  of  the  several  Baptist 
jChurches  in  Maine  cannot  well  be  inserted  in  these 
^ketches.  The  greater  part  of  them  have  been  gather- 
ed within  thirty  years  past,  and  their  ministers  often  re^" 
moying  from  one  Church  to  another  without  many 
ecclesiastical  formalities  it  is  attended  with  considerables 
difficulty  to  trace  them.  * 


«■ -— 

*  S«c  AppcnOix  No.  ?>• 


I'RIENDS,    OPt    QUAKfclUS.  2^? 

CHAPTER  XXVi. 

FRIENDS,    OR    QUAKERS. 

Before  entering  distinctly  on  the  history   of  this  dc^- 
nomination  of  Christians  it  will  be  necessary  for  the  in- 
formation of  the  common  readers    to  explain    some  of 
their  peculiar  customs,  particularly  as  it  regards  the  sev- 
eral meetings  held  among  them. 

Meetings  for  worship  are  held  as  other  Christians  hold 
meetings,  on  the  first  day  of  the  week,  and  at  other  times 
as  opportunities  offer,  and  circumstances  permit.  These 
meetings  are  attended  by  all  the  Fiiends  living  in  the 
vicinity.  They  are  sometimes  kept  in  iamllies,  agreea- 
bly to  the  advice  of  the  yearly  meeting  in  London 
1696 — "  Agreed,  that  friends  that  live  distant  from 
"  meetings,  be  reminded  to  keep  meetings  in  their  fam.- 
"  ilies,  to  wait  upon  God,  that  their  children  and  families 
"  may  come  to  be  seasoned  in  their  spirits  by  the  truth 
"  and  the  Lord's  power,  and  that  they  may  have  his 
"  blessing  upon  their  families,"  *  For  the  regular  ad- 
ministration of  Discipline  and  other  helps,  the  Friends 
have  established  four  other  kinds  of  meetings,  viz.-— 
Preparative  meetings,  Monthly  meetings,  Qarterly  meet- 
ings, and  Yearly  meetings.  In  these  meetings  worship 
is  first  attended  to  and  then  business.  The  Preparative 
meeting  consists  of  Friends  belonging  to  one  or  more 
meetings  for  worship,  f     This  is  a  meeting  before  which 


*  Rules  of  Discipline  of  the  Yearly  meeting  page  73. 
t.-l'jid  p>gc  41. 

V2 


*46  PRIENDS,    Ott    QDAKERS, 

all  matters  of  business  are  first  brought,  and  its  only 
aathoiitv  is  to  judge  of  the  propriety  of  carrying  the 
business  in  question  to  a  higher  tribunal,  and  to  see  that 
it  is  reduced  to  proper  formj  in  order  to  pi  event  any 
irregularities  that  might  otherwise  occur.  The  author- 
ity for  holding  it  is  granted  by  some  Monthly  meeting 
to  which  it  is  accountable.  Each  Monthly  meeting  is 
required  to  choose  two  or  more  sober  and  judicious 
males,  and  two  or  more  females  to  be  overseers  in  each 
preparative  meeting,  who  are  to  render  an  account  to 
the  monthly  meeting  at  least  once  a  quarter.  *  The 
monthly  meeting  is  thus  described  by  Clarkson.  "  The 
''  Quakers  usually  divide  a  county  into  a  number  of 
"  parts  according  to  the  Quaker  population  of  it.  In 
"  each  of  these  divisions  there  are  usually  several  Meet- 
"  in^-houses,  and  those  have  their  several  Congregations 
''  attached  to  them.  One  Meeting-house,  however,  in 
"  each  division,  is  usually  fixed  upon  for  transacting  the 
"  business  of  all  the  Congregations  that  are  within  it  ;. 
<'  or,  for  holding  these  monthly  Courts.  The  different 
^  Congregations,  each  of  them,  appoint  a  set  of  depu- 
^*  ties  once  a  month,  which  deputies  are  of  both  sexes^ 
"  to  repair  to  the  Meet ing-house,  which  has  been  assign- 
"  ed  them.  These  deputies  are  all  of  them  previously 
"  instructed  in  the  matters  belonging  to  the  Congrega- 
'*  tions  which  they  respectively  repiesent.  When  they 
<*  are  collected  at  the  Meeting-house,  a  meeting  for  wor- 
**  ship  takes  place.     AU  p^  rsons  both  men  and  women 


■»  Rales  of  DiicipliBc  of  the  Yearly  meeting  pagt  .43' 


FRIENDS,    OR   QUAKERS.  ^4? 

^*  attend  together.  But  when  this  meeting  is  over,  they 
'*  separate  into  different  apartments  for  the  purposes  of 
"  discipline ;  the  men  to  transact  by  themselves  the  busi- 
"  ness  of  the  men,  and  of  their  own  district,  the  women 
**  to  transact  that  which  is  more  limited,  namely  such 
"  as  belongs  to  their  own  sex."  j  The  Friend's  Quar- 
terly meeting  is  thus  described  by  the  same  author.— 
"  The  Quarterly  meeting  of  the  Quakers,  which  comes 
*'  next  in  order,  is  much  more  numerously  attended  than 
"  the  monthly.  The  monthly,  as  we  have  just  seen,  su- 
^^  perintend  the  concerns  of  a  few  Congregations  or 
"  particular  meetings  which  were  contained  in  a  small 
"  division  of  th«  county.  The  Quarterly  meeting,  ofi 
**  the  other  hand,  superintends  the  concerns  of  all  the 
"  monthly  meetings  in  the  county  at  large.  Two  or 
**  more  persons  of  each  sex  are  generally  deputed  from 
"  each  monthly  meeting,  having  previously  understood 
*'  at  the  monthly  meeting  where  they  were  chosen  all  the 
"  matters  which  the  discipline  required  them  to  know 
"  relative  to  the  state  and  condition  of  their  constituents. 
"  When  all  of  them  are  assembled,  nearly  the  same  cus* 
"  tom  obtains  at  the  quarterly,  as  has  been  desciibed  at 
"  the  monthly  meeting  "  f  At  the  quarterly  meetings 
a  number  of  important,  queries  are  propoied  by  the 
Clerk,  and  answered  by  the  deputies  in  order,  relative  to 
the  state  of  the  several  Societies  and  the  conduct  oi  the 
members.     The  Yearly  meeting  is  possessed  of  a  highei: 


I    \  ««  Portraiture  0/  Qiukerkm"  Vol.  T,  page  3,07  and  2#^ 
■\  Ibid  page  ii3  and  US- 


t^S  FRIENDS,    OR  QUAKERST. 

and  wider  jurisdiction  than  either  of  the  others.  "This^ 
meeting,"  says  Clarkson,  "  does  not  take  cognizance  of 
"  the  conduct  of  particular  or  of  monthly  meetings, 
''  but,  atone  general  view,  of  the  state  and  conduct  of 
"  the  members  of  each  quarterly  meeting,  in  order  to 
"  form  a  judgment  of  the  general  state  of  the  whole."* 
"  The  quaiterly  meetings  are  careful  annually  to  depute 
"  such  Friends  to  attend  the  service  of  the  Yearly  meet- 
«*  ing,  as  are  men  fearing  God,  of  good  conversation,. 
"  weighty  spirits,  prudent  and  sincere,  well  acquainted 
*^  with  the  affairs  of  truth,  and  diligent  attenders  of 
"meetings  for  discipline  at  home;  whose  practice  and 
"  conversation  is  answerable  to  the  testaraony  they  pro- 
"  fess  to  bear  ;  men  known  to  be  faithful  and  consci- 
"  entious."  f  The  state  of  the  Society  at  large  is  here 
ascertained:  written  evidences  are  sent  to  different 
branches,  if  needful  :  whole  days  aie  devoted  to  busi- 
ness, with  occasional  intervals  for  public  worship  Thus 
the  meetings  of  the  Friends  rise  in  rank  from  one  to 
another,  and  viewed  as  a  whole  present  perhaps  as  per-- 
feet  a  system  of  discipline  as  can  be  found  in  any  de. - 
Domination. 

Having  made  these  preliminary  remaiks,we  proceed^ 
to  the  History  of  this  people.       It  will  perhaps  be  irf^ 
teresting  to  many  readers  if  we  take  a  summary  view 
of  the  origin,  and  early  History    of  the  Friends,   with 

♦  "  Portraiture  of  Qiiakerism"  Vol.  i.page  aji. 

+  Rules  of  discip'ine  of  the  Yearly  meeting  p^ge  153.    Itwould  be  well  if' 
all  our  Churches  would  observe  the  same  rules  in  the  selection  ol  Delegates 
00  all  occasions. 


FRIESTDS,  OR    QUAKERS.  249 

particular  reference  to  New-England.  George  Fox, 
who  was  born  at  Drayton  In  Leicestershire  in  July  1624, 
stands  at  the  head  of  this  denomination.  When  he  was 
quite  young  he  embraced  the  principles  now  held  by  the 
Friends,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  three  he  began  to 
preach  publicly  the  doctrines  he  had  embraced.  ^  In 
seven  years  from  this  time  converts  to  these  principles 
had  increased  to  such  a  degree  that  no  less  than  sixty 
ministers  of  the  word  in  this  communion  were  raised  up 
within  the  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain.  [1  Before  the 
close  of  that  century  the  Friends  had  found  adherents  in 
most  of  the  European  Kingdoms,  as  well  as  in  America. 
Meetings  had  been  established  in  several  of  the  coun- 
tries, and  their  ministers  with  a  zeal  which  nothing 
earthly  could  subdue,  travelled  from  kingdom  to  king- 
dom to  make  known  their  faith.  With  a  constancy  not 
surpassed  in  modern  times  they  bore  the  most  cruel 
mockings  and  scourgings  in  almost  every  country  they 
entered.  Public  sentiment  was  against  them,  it  was  an 
age  of  persecution,  and  they  were  made  the  victims. — 
It  was  in  the  month  of  July  1656,  that  the  Friends  came 
first  to  New-England.  Two  women  of  this  denomina- 
tion, viz.  Mary  Fisher,  and  Ann  Austin  arrived  at  Boston 
at  that  time,  but  at  first  were  not  permitted  t©  land. 
Their  books  to  the  number  of  about  one  hundred  >vere 
jaken  from  them  and  burnt  In  the  market  place.  They 
were  then  taken  on  shore  and  thrown  into  prison,  where 


^  Sewer*  Witt,  of  the  Quaker*  Vol.  I,  page  14, 
H  Ibki  page  J48. 


S50  FRIENDS,  OR  QUAkEKS. 

they  would  probably  have  perished  had  It  not  been  for- 
the  kindness  of  Nicholas  Upshal  a  member  of  the 
Church  in  Boston  who  paid  the  jailor  for  their  board, 
until  they  were  taken  away,  and  sent  back  t®  England.* 
Several  others  came  over  soon  after,  and  were  sent  back 
in  the  same  manner,  and  a  law  was  passed  at  Boston  for« 
bidding  Masters  of  vessels  from  bringing  any  Quakeis 
WMthin  the  jurisdiction  under  heavy  penalties.f 

These  measures  however  did  not  deter  th€  Quakers 
from  coming  into  America.  Yet  they  were  cruelly 
persecuted  in  many  places.  As  yet  their  lives  were 
spared.  But  1659  William  Robinson,  Marmaduke 
Stevenson,  and  Mary  Dyer  were  put  to  death  in  Bos- 
ton.    They  had   been  banished  under  pain  of  death, 

«£e\ye!'s  History  vol.  i,page  294,  also  Hutchinson's  Hist.  Mafs.  vol.  i^  p. 
^<S-T99rhis  same  Mary  Fisher  says  Scwel,  afterwards  travelled  into  Tur- 
key, and  at  Adrianople  had  an  interview  with  the  Turkish  Sultan  Mahonaet 
4th  who  treated  her  very  kindly,  heard  patiently  what  she  had  to  say,  und 
then  offered  her  a  guard  to  Constantinople.  She  returned  in  safety  to  En- 
gland. 

fin  October  1656,3  law  was  passed  in  Massachusetts  laying  a  penalty  of 
100.'  upon  the  Master  of  any  vcss«l  who  should  bring  a  knowa  Quaker  into 
any  part  of  the  colony,  and  requiring  him  to  give  security  to  carry  them 
back  again,  that  the  Quaker  should  be  sent  to  the  house  of  correction,  and 
whipped  twenty  stripes,  and  afterwards  kept  to  hard  labour  antil  transporta- 
tion. They  also  laid  a  penalty  of  five  pounds  for  importing,  and  the  like 
for  dispersing  Quaker  books,  and  severe  penalties  for  defending  their  opin- 
ions. A.nd  the  next  year  an  additional  law  wds  ina4e  by  which  all  persons 
were  subjected  to  the  penalty  of  40  shillings  for  every  hours  entertainment 
given  to  any  known  Quaker,  and  any  Quaker  after  the  first  conviction  if  a 
naan,  was  fo  lose  an  ear,  and  the  second  time  the  other,  a  woman  each 
^jme  to  be  severely  whipped,  and  the  third  time  man  or  won\an  to  have 
tireir  toqgues   bored  tijrough  w  ith  a  red  hot-  iron,  and  every  Quaker  vrho 


FRIENDS,  OR  QUAKERS.  SS'i 

and  returning  thither  were  executed.  ^  After  this  some 
others  were  executed,  and  some  imprisoned  in  Boston 
until  September  1661,  when  by  order  of  Charles  second 
they  were  all  set  at  liberty. 

As  yet  no  regular  meetings  of  friends  had  been  es- 
tablished in  New-England.  The  prosecution  had  been 
sharp  against  them,  and  they  had  not  congregated  in  any 
one  place.  The  lenient  act  of  Charles  did  not  allow  the 
Friends  much  respite.  The  oppressive  spirit  of  the 
times  soon  made  its  appearance  again,  and  the  Friends 
were  again  the  victims.  In  1662,  three  females  had 
tiavelled  eastward  as  far  as  Dover  in  New-Hampshire, 
disseminating  their  opinions.  Here  they  were  seized  by 
order  of  Col.  Waldron,  and  after  being  most  cruelly 
whipped  were  sent  westward  with  the  following  order  : 

"To  the  Constables  of  Dover,  Hampton,  Salisbury^ 
**  Newbury,  Rowley,  Ipswich,  Winham,  Linn,  Boston, 
**  Roxbury,  Dedham,  and  until  these  vagabond  Qua. 
c*  kers  are  out  of  this  jurisdiction  : 

*<You,  and  every  of  you,  are  required  in  the 
"  king's  majesty's  name,  to  take  these  vagabond  Qua- 


should  become  such  in  the  c  o!ony,  was  subjected  to  the  like  punishmentSi 
In  May  1658,  a  :penaJty  of  ten  shillings  was  laid  on  every  person  present  at 
a  Quaker's  meeting,  and  5/  upon  every  one  speaking  at  such  meeting, 

Hutchinson  vol,  i,  page  197. 
It  is  not  strange  that  the  Quakers  increased  and  multiplied  greatly  under 
such  trcatnaent.    Exodus  1,  11. 

^*  The  Court,"  says  Hutchinjon,  "  thought  it  advisable  to  publish  a  vin- 
dication of  their  proceedings ;  they  urge  the  example  of  England  in  the  pro- 
vision made  against  the  Jesuits,  which  might  have  some  weight  ajainst  a 
charge  brought  from  tlicnce,  but  in  every  other  part  of  their  vindication,  as 
may  well  i  e  supposed  from  the  tlaturc  of  the  thing,  there  is  but  the  bafft 
siudow  of  reajon."  Hst.  Mass.  Vol.  i*  pagf  :oo. 


S5S  IPRIITNDS.  OR  QUAKERS^. 

'''kers,  Anne  Coleman,  Mary Tomkins,  and  Alice  Am- 
«  bfose,  and  make  them  fast  to  the  cart's  tail,  and  dri- 
«  ving  the  cart  through  your  several  towns  to  whip 
<*  them  tipon  their  naked  backs,  not  exceeding  ten  stripes 
<*  apiece  on  each  of  them,  in  each  town  ;  and  so  to  con- 
«  vey  them  from  Constable  to  Constable,  till  they  are 
"  out  of  this  jurisdiction,  as  you  will  answer  it  at  your 
**  peril ;  and  this  shall  be  your  warrant. 

Per  me         Richard  Walden.'^J 

«  At  Dover  dated  Dec.  22,  1662/* 

This  cruel  order  Was  executed  in  the  three  first  na- 
med towns,  but  at  Salisbury  they  were  set  at  liberty  by 
Walter  Barefoot,  who  took  them  from  the  Constable 
under  pretence  of  delivering  them  to  the  Constable  of 
Newbury.  The  Friends,  as  a  people,  suffered  many 
more  hardships  both  in  Europe  and  America.  But  the 
day  of  their  deliverance  drew  nigh. 

During  the  reigns  of  James  2nd  and  of  William 
and  Mary  in  Great  Britain  several  acts  of  a  tolerant 
nature  were  passed  respecting  the  Quakers,  the  influence 
of  which  was  felt  in  America.  Men  began  to  see  that 
the  rights  of  conscience  were  to  be  respected,  and  that 
open  persecution  was  no  way  to  propagate  the  religion 
of  the  Prince  of  Peace. 

These  fewTiints  respecting  the  first  entrance  of  the 
Quakers  into  New-England  seemed  necessary  to  pre- 
pare the  way  for  an  account  of  their  establishment  in 
Maine.  The  first  meeting  of  Friends  ever  held  within 
the  limits  of  this  State,  was  in  the  upper  part  of  York 
toward  the  last  of  December  1662,  by  Anne  Coleman, 

^  Sewell  Vol.1,  page  613. 


3FR1EN1)S,  Oil  UUAKtIiS.  ^bS 

Mary  Tompkins,  and  Alice   Ambrose,  whose  cruel  suf- 
ferings have  just  been    stated,   as   also   the  manner  of 
their  being  liberated  at    Sahsbury.     Sewel  thus    relates 
the  fact  :     *'  These  three  women  being  thus  unexpected- 
^  *♦  ly  released,  went  to  New-Quechawanah,  where  they 
5.*<  had  a  meeting,  and    Shubal  Drummer,    the  Priest  of 
^^  the  place,  came  also  thither,  and  sate  quiet.     And  the 
*'  meeting  being  ended,  he  stood   up,  and    said.  Good 
"  women,  ye  have  spoken  well  and  prayed  well  ;    pray 
"  what  is  your  lulc?    They  answering — The   Spirit  of 
"  God  is  our  rule,  and  it  ought  to  be  thine,  and  all  men's 
^^"  to  walk  by  ;  he  replied  it  is  not  my   rule,  nor   1  hope 
^f**  ever  shall  be.     A  clear  evidence,"    adds  this  author> 
**  how  prejudice  may  bias  even  discreet  people."  *    The 
-.  .place  where  this  meeting  was  held,  the  above  cited  au- 
^  ihor  calls   Ne<w-Qu€chawanah,       He   probably   meant 
Newichawanick,  which  is  the  Indian  name  of  the  river 
^-^  running  through  Berwick   over  Doughty 's  falls.     This 
river  runs  near  to  York,  and  It  Is  quite  probable  that  all 
the  near  settlements  were  called   by   the  name    of  tlie 
river.     Rev.   Shubael   Dummer   was  the    Minister   of 
Yoi  k  at  that  time,  and  was  undoubtedly  the  person  re* 
ferred  to  in  the  above  extract. 

No  other  account  can  be  found  of  any  other  meeting 

„,,  of  Friends  in  Maine  for  more   than   six-ty  years.     The 

a^first  meeting  for  worship  established  here  was  In  October 

]  730.     At  that  lime   a  few  families   of  Friends  were 

found  In  Kitlery,  now  Eliot,  and  a  regular  meeting  for 

worship   established.     It   was   connected  with   Dover 


*  Hisr.  Quakers  vol.  I— page  613. 


'^54  FRIENDS,    OR    QUAKERS. 

monthly  meeting,  and  stood  alone  in  this  State  for  more 
than  ten  years.     In  the  spring  of  n4e%  this  little  meet- 
ing was  visited  by  John  Churchman,  a  celebrated  Min- 
ister of  the  Society  belonging  to  Pennsylvania.     While 
he  remained  at  Kittery  a  circumstance    occurred  which 
he  thus  relates  in  his  journal  : — "  On  third  day  morn- 
**  ing  as  I  lay  in  my  bed,  I  felt  my  mind  drawn  towards 
**  the  northwest,  which  was  an  exercise  to  me,  for  I  had 
**  before  thought  myself  at  liberty  to  return  toward  Bos- 
"  ton.     1  arose    about    sunrise,  and  asked   the  friend 
**  where  I  lodged  whether   any  friends   lived    at  a  dis- 
^'  tance  on  that  quarter,  for  that  I  had  a  draft  that  way. 
^  He  answered  no,  and  asked  how  far  I  thought  to  go. 
"  I  told  him  it  did  not  seem  to  me  to  be  more  than  ten 
^'  miles.     He  said  there  was  a  people  abotit  eight  miles 
^  distant,  which  he   supposed  was  the  place  to  which  I 
**  felt  the  draft.     I   desired  him    to  send   a  lad  with  a 
^  few  lines  to  some  person  that  he  knew  to  inform  them 
^*  that  a  stranger  would  be  glad  to  have  a  meeting  a- 
«  mong  them  at  the  eleventh  hour  of  that  day  if  they 
<*  were  free  to  grant  it ;  which  he  did,  and  with  his  wife 
«  went  with  me,  so  that  we  got  to  the  place  near  the 
<^  time  proposed,  and  found  a  considerable  gathering  of 
«  people,  that  I  wondered  how  it  could  be  in  so  short  a 
"  time,  not  more  than  three  hours  warning  :    tliey  were 
^  preparing  seats  by  laying  boards  on  blocks  in  a  pretty 
*'  large  new  house,  and  soon    sat   dowm   in  an  orderly 
«  manner."  *     This  meeting   must   have  been   held  at 
South  Berwick,  and  the  "  large  new  house" — .was  prob- 


1^1- ifc  avA  travels  of  Joan  ClUKclim'.n  psje  .-<. 


FRIENDSj    QR    QUAKEIiS.  S'55 

ably  the  house  of  the  late  Hon.  Humphrey  Chadbouri"!, 
which  is  still  standing.  In  the  next  year,  174-3,  a  meet- 
ing for  worship  was  set  up  in  Falmouth,  where  a  few 
famihes  of  Friends  had  settled  ;  and  in  seven  years 
after  a  meeting  was  regularly  established  in  Berwick,  a 
Meeting-house  built,  and  a  preparative  granted  there. 
Dover  monthly  meeting,  to  which  the  Friends  in  Maine 
had  hitherto  belonged,  now  extended  its  limits,  and  for 
the  convenience  of  the  members  in  Maine,  held  three 
meetings  in  a  year  at  Berwick,  and  so  continued  for  sev,- 
eral  years.  This  arrangement  took  place  in  1751.  A 
little  previous  to  this  time  a  few  families  of  Friends  had 
settled  in  that  part  of  North-Yarmouth  now  Harpswell^ 
and  a  meeting  for  worship  was  statedly  holden  there. 
To  accommodate  these,  in  1751,  a  monthly  meeting 
was  established  at  Falmouth  composed  of  members 
from  Harpswell  and  Falmouth,  and  held  alternately  at 
each  place.  Thrs  arrangement  continued  for  twenty 
years,  when  the  Friends  price! pally  Harpswell  to  the 
plantation  of  Royalstown,  now  Durham,  and  the  meet 
ing  was  discontinued  at  H.jpswell,  and  holden  at  Dur- 
ham. The  connexion  in  the  monthly  meeting  between 
Falmouth  and  Durham  continued  until  the  year  1790 
wh«n  a  division  was  agreed  on,  and  a  monthly  meeting 
established  at  Durham. 

The  meeti»g  at  Berwick  continued  its  particular  con- 
nexion with  Dover  monthly  meeting  until  the  year 
1802,  when  a  separate  monthly  meeting  was  establish- 
ed there,  the  members  of  Eliot  and  Berwick  meetings 
constituting  the  same.     A   monthly  meeting  has  never 


255  PillENDS,    OR    QUAKERS. 

been  granted  at  Eliot,  although  that  was  the  first  meet- 
ing established  in  the  State.  They  have  a  preparative 
meeting,  granted  in  1764,  and  a  Meeting-house  built 
live  years  after  that  time. 

The  next  meeting  of  Friends  for  worship  was 
established  in  Windham  in  the  year  1779.  In  1793,  a 
preparative  meeting  was  granted  at  the  same  place,  and 
the  Society  continuing  to  increase  in  1802,  a  monthly 
meeting  was  settled  there. 

In  1780,  a  meeting  for  -worship  commenced  in  Vas- 
salborough,  on  the  eastern  side  of  Kennebeck  river. — 
The  country  was  settling  rapidly,  many  embraced  the 
peculiar  tenets  of  the  Society,  and  the  meeting  at  Vas- 
salborough  was  soon  enlarged.  In  four  years  from 
their  first  assembling  for  worship  a  preparative  meeting 
was  held  there,  and  in  1787,  a  monthly  meeting  was  es- 
tablished in  that  place.  This  meeting  then  included  all 
the  Friends  in  the  Kennebeck  country,  there  being  no 
other  meeting  nearer  than  Durham  in  Cumberland 
C«unty.  The  chief  settlement  of  the  Friends  in  Vas. 
salborough  was  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  river  ;  but 
in  a  few  years  a  considerable  settlement  was  made  in  the 
easterly  part  of  the  town,  around  "  twelve  mile  pond,*' 
and  toward  the  close  of  the  year  1797,  it  was  found  ex- 
pedient to  establish  a  meeting  for  worship  there.  In 
the  summer  following  a  Meeting-house  was  built.  It  is 
called  the  "  East  Pond  meeting,"  to  distinguish  it  from 
what  is  termed  the  *' River  meeting."  In  tv,  (  }ears 
after  a  preparative  meeting  was  granted  at  that  ;  "ace, 
and  the  Vassalborough  monthly  meeting  is  now  h"ld 
there  half  the  time. 


FRIENDS,    Oil  QUAREUS.  S57 

In  six  years  after  the  establishment  cf  the  FrlendiJ 
meeting  at  Vassalboiough  it  was  rbund  expedient  to  accom- 
modate some  famihes  living  in  Fairfield  on  the  western 
side  of  the  Kennebeck  with  a  meeting  foi  worship  a- 
moag  themselves.  In  five  years  afcer  this  a  prej.ara- 
tive  meeting  was  held  there,  and  in  lYQI-,  a  Meeting- 
house built.  The  year  following,  similar  measures 
were  commenced  in  the  town  cf  Sidney,  which  lies  op^ 
posite  to  Vassalbourough  en  the  western  ban^  of  the 
river,  and  in  1800,  a  preparative  meeting  was  granted 
to  them  also.  In  1802,  a  mionthly  meeting  was  estab- 
lished for  the  accommodation  cf  the  Friends  in  Sidney 
and  Fairfield  to  be  called  *'  Sidney  monthly  meeting,'* 
and  holden  alternately,  at  each  place.  With  this  mieet- 
ing  was  connected  also  a  miecting  which  had  been  es- 
tablished for  worship  in  Green  and  Leeds  in  the  yea; 
1794,  and  where  a  preparative  meeting  had  been  grant- 
ed two  years  after.  This  connexion  continued  until  the 
•second  month  of  the  year  1813,  when  a  monthly  meet- 
ing was  established  at  Leeds. 

But  it  is  time  for  us  to  notice  the  doings  of  Falmouth 
monthly  meeting.  In  1790,  they  established  a  meeting 
for  worship  at  Portland,  and  in  six  years  granted  a 
preparative  meeting  at  the  same  place.  In  1792^  a 
meeting  for  worship  was  granted  at  Limington,  and  iu. 
1801,  a  preparative  meeting  was  established  there  aLc, 
At  Gorham  a  meeting  for  worship  was  estabhshed  in 
1797,  another  at  Scarborough  in  1799,  and  a  third  at 
Gape-Elizabeth  in  1810.  But  they  are  still  sm.alL  A- 
small  meeting  for  worship  was  also  commenced  .jji 
W2 


>  FRIENDS^  OR    QUAKERS. 

nil  in  1817.  Similar  meetings  have  at  late  periods 
OL.r.  osrablished  in  the  towns  of  Parsonsfiel  J,  Raymond^ 
Poliindj  and  also  at  Athens  in  Somerset  Giumiy.  These 
meetings  are  all  small,  and  no  faither  particulars  are 
known  respecting  them. 

In  the  eastern  part  of  the  State,  particularly  in  the 
Kennebeck  country,  the  Society  has  been  more  floor ish- 
ing.  In  some  instances  fhey  have  broken  forth  on  the  right 
hand  and  on  the  left,  they  have  lengthened  their  crds,  and 
strengthened  their  stakes.  In  1793,  a  meeting  for  worship 
was  established  in  Winthrop,  connected  with  Sidney 
monthly  meeting,  and  a  preparative  meeting  granted 
there  in  nine  years  after  ;  but  this  declining,  a  new  pre- 
parative meeting  was  granted  in  tiiat  place  in  1816. 

In  1795,  a  meeting  for  worship  was  established  at 
road  Cove  in  the  town  of  Bristol  ;  a  Meeting-house 
was  built  there  the  ensuing  summer,  and  a  preparative 
meeting  grated  them  in  1801. 

In  the  year  1798,  a  meeting  for  worship  was  estab- 
lished in  Dresden,  but  has  never  increased  much. 
Towaid  the  close  of  1801,  a  similar  establishment  was 
made  in  Belgrade,  and  the  year  following  another  in 
Harlem.  The  meeting  at  Harlem  incre-^sed  considera- 
bly, so  that  they  built  a  Meeting-house  in  1807,  and  had 
a  preparative  meeting  granted  them  two  years  after. 
About  the  same  time  a  meeting  for  worship  was  estab- 
lished in  Sunnebeck,  now  the  town  of  Hope. 

In  1803,  a  meeting  was  commenced  in  Litchfield,  at 
which  place  a  prepaiat^ve  mceiTig  was  granted  in  18l2. 
Dunng  the  year  1804,  a  meeting  w^s  commenced  at 


FRIENDS,  OR  QUAKERS.  259 

Camden  in  the  County  of  Hancock,  but  was  discontin-^ 
ued  toward  the  close  of  the  year  1813,  the  Friends  who 
composed  it  having  principally  removed  to  other  meet- 
ings.  In  1809,  a  meeting  was  regularly  held  on  Long 
Island  in  Penobscot  Bay,  now  the  town  of  Islesborough, 
but  in  about  three  years  it  was  discontinued,  the  mem» 
bers  having  removed  to  Fairfax  and  other  places  on  the 
main. 

Some  years  previous  to  this,  Amos  Davis,  a  worthy 
Minister  in  the  Friends  Society,  now  deceased,  had  set- 
tled at  Lewistown  on  Androscoggin  river,  and  was  in^ 
strumental  in  establishing  a  small  meeting  for  worship 
in  that  place.  In  1811,  a  Meeting-house  was  built  there, 
and  in  1816,  a  preparative  meeting  granted- 

Towardthe  close  of  1810,  a  meeting  for  worship  was 
established  at  Fairfax,  and  two  years  after  a  preparative 
meeting  was  holden  at  the  same  place.  In  a  little  more 
than  one  year  after  this,  Vassalborough  monthy  meet" 
ing,  to  which  the  Friends  in  Fairfax  had  hitherto  belong- 
ed, was  divided,  and  a  new  one  established  denominat-. 
ed  "  Harlem  monthly  meeting,"  which  was  to  be  held 
one  third  part  of  the  time  in  Fairfax.  In  1 8 1 5,  a  prepara- 
tive meeting  was  established  in  Wilton,  where  a  small 
meeting  for  worship  had  been  attended  several  years. 
In  the  same  year  a  meeting  was  established  in  the  town 
of  Unity.  A  small  meeting  for  worship  was  also  com- 
menced in  what  is  called  "  the  branch"  in  Harlem,  in 
1817. 

Until 'he  year  1781,  no  Quarterly  meeting  of  Friends 
had  ever  been  holden  in  Maine,  and  "Salem  Quarterly 


SCO  FRIENDS,  OR  QUAKERS. 

meeting"  so  called,  included  all  of  this  denomination  to 
the  eastward  of  Boston.  The  members  of  the  Society 
had  now  increased  in  Maine,  and,  for  their  accomrnoda* 
tion,  it  was  thought  expedient  to  hold  Salem  Quarterly 
meeting  at  Falmouth  once  in  a  year.  This  took  .■■'.  ;ce 
for  the  first  time  in  tlie  9th  month  1781,  and  so  contin* 
ued  to  be  held  annually  at  Falmouth,  until  the  year  ^95, 
when  it  was  dtvidedj  and  »*  Falmouth  Quarterly  meet- 
ing" established  by  the  Yearly  meeting.  This  was  to 
be  holden  circular,  viz.  at  Falmouth,  Vassalboroughj 
Durham  and  Windham  j.  including  in  its  particular  ju- 
lisdiction  all  the  Meetings  of  Friends  in  Maine,  except 
those  at  Berwick  and  Eliot,  who  found  it  more  conve- 
nient to  remain  attached  to  Salem  Quarterly  meeting. 

Such  was  the  order  of  things  until  the  year  1813. — 
The  Society  had  then  become  so  much  enlarged  that  a 
new  regulation  was  found  needful.  Accordingly  Fal-- 
mouth  Quarterly  meeting  was  divided,  and  a  new 
Quarterly  meeting  w^as  established  at  Vassalboiough. — 
Falmouth  Quarterly  meeting  now  includes  the  month- 
ly meetijigs  of  Falmouth,  Durham,  and  Windham, 
with  the  preparative  meetings,  and  meetings  for  wor- 
ship within  their  bounds,  and  is  held  at  Falmouth  in 
the  5th  and  9th  month,  at  Durham  in  the  -Jnd  month, 
and  at  Windham  in  the  '  1  th  month  annually.  Vassal- 
borough  Qua  ner  includes  Vasoalborou^h,Sidney,  Leeds, , 
and  Harlem  monthly  meetings,  wi'.h  the  smaller  meet- 
ings within  their  bnunJs,  and  is  held  at  Vassalborough 
"  River  Meecme-hou  v"  f*^n>  times  in  a  year.  viz.  in  the 
2fed,  5th,  9th,  and  1 1th  months. 


FRIENDS^    OR    QUAKERS.  g6l 

Thus  in  the  space  of  ninety  years  the  Society  of 
Friends  has  increased  from  one  small  meeting  to  thirty 
three  meetings  for  worship  ;  more  than  twenty  of  them 
being  preparative  meetings  ;  eight  of  them  being 
monthly  meetings,  and  two  Quarterly  meetings.  The 
total  amount  of  their  population  cannot  be  precisely 
ascertained.  It  probably  is  not  much  short  of  one 
thousand  families. 

An  annexed  Table  will  exhibit  at  one  view  the  dates 
of  the  several  meetings.  * 

The  most  general  awakening,  or  in  the  language  of 
the  Society,  the  most  geneial  convincenieniiih^t  has  ever 
taken  place  among  the  Friends  In  Maine,  happened  dur- 
ing the  Revolutionary  war,  principally  through  the  in- 
strumentality of  David  Sands,  late  of  Cornwail  in  the 
State  of  New-York,  an  eminent  Minister  of  this  Socie- 
ty, who  with  great  devotedness  to  the  cause  he  had  es 
poused  travelled  into  Maine  at  that  time.  The  minis- 
try of  others,  some  from  Europe,  some  from  other 
States  on  the  Continent,  and  some  raised  up  from  a- 
mong  themselves  iiave  from  time  to  time  been  blessed 
to  the  convincement  of  many,  and  the  consequent  en- 
largement of  tlie  Society. 

*  Sec  Appendix  No,  o, 


186^  GERMAN    LUTHERANS. 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

GERMAN  LUTHERANS. 

The  only  Church  of  this  denomination  In  Maine 
is  at  Waldoboroiigh  in  the  County  of  Lincoln.  A 
small  colony  of  Germans  established  themselves  here 
about  the  year  1741.  They  were  Lutherans  in  senti- 
ment, and  appear  to  have  had  among  them  many  de- 
vout people  ;  for  though  deflitute  of  a  Minister  for 
twenty  years  after  their  first  establishment  at  Waldo- 
borough,  yet  they  met  constantly  for  public  worship  on 
the  Sabbath.  The  first  stated  Minister  of  this  Church 
was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Schaeffer.  He  came  into  Maine  in 
the  year  1762,  and  was  the  only  Minister  of  Wal- 
doborough  for  nearly  twenty  years.  At  the  time  of 
his  coming  the  German  Society  consisted  of  about  80 
families.  In  1785,  Mr.  Schaeffer  w^as  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Croner,  who  tarried  four  years,  and  then  left 
the  place.  For  the  succeedin,:?  five  years  the  Society 
was  destitute  of  a  Minister.  In  1794,  the  Rev.  Mr 
Ritz,  a  very  worthy  Clergyman  of  this  communion, 
from  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  was  procured  for  the 
German  Society  at  Waldoborough,  and  continued  his 
labors  at  that  place  until  he  was,  removed  by  death  in 
February  1812.  The  present  Minister,  Rev.  John  W. 
Starman,  succeeded  Mr.  Ritz.  in  July  1813. 

The  Church  consists  of  a  little  more  than  one  hund- 
red regular  communicants.  About  eighty  of  them  are 
German  Lutherans,  and  the  others  of  the  Reformed 


GERMAN    LUTHERANS.  S6S 

Dutch  Church.     Until  the  settlement  of  the  present 
Minister,  public  worship  was  performed  invariably  in 
the  German  language,  bat  within  a   few   years    past 
Rev.  Mr.  Starman  has  been  in  the  practice  of  preaching 
every  third  Sabbath  in  English. 


S64  PRMSBYTERIANS. 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

PRESBYTERIANS. 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  Presbyterian  Churches 
were  originally  gathered  in  the  towns  of  Georgetown, 
New-Castle,  Brunswick,  Boothbay,  Bristol,  Topsham, 
Warren,  Gray,  Canaan  and  Turner.  The  history  of  those 
Churches  could  not  conveniently  be  separated  from  the 
history  of  the  Congregational  Churches  in  the  same 
towns.  To  those  sketches  the  reader  is  therefore  refer- 
red. Some  of  them  by  a  formal  vote  relinquished  their 
Presbyterian  forms  and  became  Congregationalists, 
while  others  dwindled  away,  and  finally  became  ex- 
tinct ;  and  at  the  present  time  no  Church  of  the  name 
is  found  in  the  State. 

A  Presbytery  was  once  established  here,  the  doings 
of  which  it  will  be  proper  for  us  to  notice. 

The  first  Presbytery  in  New-England  was  constituted 
in  Londonderry  April  16,  174<5,  by  Rev.  John  Moor- 
head  of  Boston,  Rev.  David  McGregore  of  Londonder- 
ry, and  Rev.  Robert  Abercrombie  of  Pelham,  with  James 
McKean,  Alexander  Conky,  and  James  Heughs,  elders. 
It  was  called  the  "Boston  Presbytery."  In  three  years 
they  were  joined  by  Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons  of  Newbu- 
ryport,  and  after  that  by  one  or  two  others,  and  so  con- 
tinued  for  nearly  ten  years.  There  were  a  considerable 
number  of  Presbyterian  Churches  lying  on  both  sides  of 
the  Merrimac  in  Massachusetts  and  New-Hampshire, 
and  a  few  in  Maine.  The  Presbyterial  Records  appear 
to  have  been  regularly  kept  until  the  close  of  the  year 


rRESBYTERIANS.  S65 

1754'.     A  chasm  then  appears,  and  nothing  is  recorded 
in  the  original  book  until  October  24-,  1770.     The  Pies- 
bytery  at  this  tima  consisted  of  twelve  congregations 
under  the  following  Ministers  ;   viz.  John   Mooihead, 
Boston,    David    McGregore,    Londonderry,  Jonathan 
Parsons,  Newburyport,  Daniel  Mitchel,  Pembroke,  John 
Hustor,  Bedford,  Moses  Baldwin,   Kingston,  Richard 
Graham,  Pelham,    Samuel  Perley,   Seabrook,  Thomas 
Pierce,  Scarborough,  John   Morrison,  Petersburgh,  Si- 
mon Williams,  Windham,  and   John   Strickland,  Oak- 
ham.    The  Presbytery  appears  now  to  have  been  revi- 
ved, and  measures  were  taken  for  dividing  it  into  three, 
'and  forming  a  Synod.     After  more  than  fouryearb,  du- 
ring which   time  some  others  were  added  to  the  num- 
ber, at  a  meeting  held  at  Seabrcok  May  31, 1775,  a  di- 
vision was  amicably  agreed  on,  as  follows  :  that  Messrs. 
Jonathan  Parsons  of  Newburyport,  Nathaniel  Whitaker 
D.  D.  of  Salem,  Samuel  Perley,  of  Seabrook,  Alexan- 
der McLean,  of  Bristol,  (Me.)  and  the  Congregation  at 
Boston  then  vacant  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Mooihead,  to- 
gether  with  Rev.  Benjamin  Balch,  and  the  vacancies 
within  their  bounds,  be  *'the  eastern  Presbytery,"  called 
« the    Presbytery  of    Salem**     That    Messrs.    David 
McGregore  of  Londonderry,  Daniel  Mitchel,  of  Pem- 
b»-oke,  Simon  Williams  of  Windham,  and  John  Strick- 
land of  Oakham,  with  the  Congregation  at  Petersburgh, 
and  the  other   vacancies    within    their  bounds,  be  "the 
middle  Presbytery,"  called  "the  Presbytery  of  London- 
derry."    That  Messrs  John  Houston  and  Moses  Bald- 
win with  their  Congregations  at  Bedford  and  Kingston. 

3 


S66  PRESBYTERIANS. 

the  vacant  CoRgregations  of  Blandford,  Pelham,  and 
Colrain,  with  Aaron  Kutchlnson,  Nathan  Merrill, 
George  Gilmore,  and  Joseph  Patrick,  candidates,  be  the 
"western  Presbytery,"  called  "  the  Presbytery  of  Pal. 
mer,"  Rev.  Mr.  Perley  was  appointed  Moderator  of  the 
Salem  Presbytery,  Rev.  Mr.  McGregore  of  that  of  Lon- 
donderry, and  Rev.  Mr.  Huston  of  that  of  Palmer. 
The  three  Presbyteries,  being  thus  organized,  were  then 
formed  into  one  body  called  **  the  Synod  of  New-En- 
gland," and  held  their  first  meeting  at  Londonderry 
September  4,  1776. 

A  few  years  previous  to  this  the  Rev.  John  Murray 
had  removed  from  Philadelphia  and  settled  at  Booth- 
bay,  and  with  Rev.  Mr.  Prince,  of  Barrington,  and  ReV. 
Mr.  McEuins,  of  Nev/-Market,  formed  another  Presby- 
tery. But  no  connexion  was  ever  formed  between  this 
body  and  the  Synod  of  New-England.  The  Synod  con- 
tinued to  hold  regular  liieetings  annually,  usually  at 
Londonderry,  for  five  years. 

At  length  in  September  1782,  some  difficulties  hav- 
ing arisen,  and  their  number  being  considerably  redu- 
ced, the  Synod  agreed  to  dissolve,  and  form  themselves 
into  one  Presbytery,  by  the  name  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Salem."  For  two  succeeding  years  this  Presbytery  held 
meetings  regularly  in  various  parts  of  Massachusetts 
Proper.  The  principal  active  members  were  Doctor 
Whitaker,  Mr.  Perley,  Mr.  Strickland,  Mr.  Merrill,  and 
Mr.  Urquhart,  who  were  all  at  that  time  dismissed,  and 
except  Mr.  Merrill  had  all  been  preaching  as  candidates 
in  the  then  District  of  Maine.  The  last  meeting  of  this 
Prebbvterv  ever  held  in  Massachusetts  was  he  d  at  Gro- 


PRESBYTERIANS.  ^6^ 

ton  in  June  1784,  at  the  house  of  Capt.  Shlple,  from 
which  they  adjourned  to  meet  at  Gray  In  Maine.  Four 
members  attended  this  meeting,  viz.  Dr.  Whitaker,  Mr. 
Perley,  Mr.  Strickland,  and  Mr.  Urquhart.  None  of 
the  former  members  ever  attended  again,  and  although, 
the  Presbytery  retained  its  original  name,  all  the  subse- 
quent meetings  were  held  in  Maine. 

The  meeting  at  Gray  was  attended  on  the  8th  of  Sep- 
tember 1784^.  It  was  there  ascertained  that  Mr.  Perley 
had  received  an  invitation  from  the  Church  and  people 
in  that  place  to  become  their  Minister,  that  Dr.  Whita- 
ker had  been  invited  to  settle  at  Canaan  on  Kennebeck 
river,  and  that  Mr.  Strickland  had  received  a  similar  in- 
vitation from  the  people  in  the  plantation  of  Sylvester, 
now  the  town  of  Turner,  where  he  had  been  preaching 
for  some  time  previous,  and  had  recently  gathered  a 
Church.  The  Presbytery,  having  considered  the  whole 
subject,  proceeded  to  install  Mr.  Perley  at  Gray.  Mr. 
Strickland  preached  on  this  occasion  from  Acts  14.  15, 
Dr.  Whitaker  gave  the  charge,  and  Mr.  Urquhart  pray- 
ed. Having  attended  to  some  other  business,  the  Pres- 
bytery adjourned  to  meet  at  Canaan  on  the  15th  of  the 
same  month,  v/here  they  installed  Dr.  Whitaker.  On 
tills  occasion  Mr.  Urquhart  preached,  Mr.  Perley  gave 
the  charge,  and  Mr.  Strickland  made  the  prayer.  From 
Canaan,  the  Presbytery  proceeded  to  Sylvester,  and  on 
the  20th  of  September  they  installed  Mr.  Strickland. 
Here  Dr.  Whitaker  preached  from  ii  Kings,  ii.  19-22, 
Mr.  Perley  gave  the  charge,  and  Mr.  Urquhart  made 
the  prayer. 

The  former  members  of  this  body  who  lived  in  Mas-. 


S(^8  PRESBYTKRIAN&. 

sachusetts  and  New-Hampshlre,  and  some  of  the  vacant 
congregations  occasionally  withdrew  their  connexion 
from  the  Presbytery,  and  no  new  members  were  added. 

In  Septembei  1785,  the  Presbytery  met  at  Topsham. 
Mr.  Urquhart  was  preaching  there  at  that  time.  Capt. 
Matthew  Patten  of  the  plantation  at  Union  River,  now 
the  town  of  Ellsworth,  appeared  at  this  meeting  as  a 
Commissionerfor  the  people  living  in  the  townships- No. 
6  westward  and  No.  1  eastward  of  Union  River,  desir- 
i;ng  to  be  taken  under  the  patronage  of  the  Presbytery, 
and  to  have  Mr.  Urquhart  installed  as  their  Minister. 
This  business  was  accordingly  performed.  Mr.  Urqu- 
hart himself  made  the  first  prayer,  Mr.  Stiickland  prea- 
ched from  Romans  x.  1 5,  and  Mr.  Perley  gave  the 
charge,  and  made  the  concluding  prayer. 

For  six  following  years  this  Presbytery  held  regular 
naeetings,  viz,,  twice  at  Turner,  once  at  Winthrop,  and 
three  times  at  Gray,  A  meeting  was  appointed  to  be 
held  at  Canaan,  but  no  record  appears.  The  meeting  at 
Winthrop  was  holden  in  October  1789.  It  was  proba- 
bly a  matter. of  convenience,  as  the  Church  in  that  town 
yvas  never  Presbyterian,  and  was  at  that  time  destitute 
of  a  Minister. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  w^as  called  at 
Turner  July  22, 1790.  Troubles  had  arisen  in  the  Con- 
gregation at  Union  River,  and  Mr.  Urquhart,  and  Capt. 
Patten  as  Agenf  for  the  people,  had  both  been  cited  by 
the  Presbytery  to  appear  before  them.  Capt.  Patten 
had  sent  forward  charges  against  Mr.  Urquhart,  and  he 
^n  turn  accused  the  people.  After  considering  the  case 
the  Presbytery  determined  that  Mr.  Urquhart  was  not 


PRESBYTERIANS.  ^69 

guilty  of  the  charges  made  against  him,  and  as  the  peo- 
ple had  made  no  request  for  his  dismission  the  Presby- 
tery would  not  dissolve  the  connexion  between  them  and 
their  Minister,  but  left  it  optional  with  Mr,  Urquhart  to 
take  his  dismission  when  he  pleased. 

The  last  meeting  of  the  Salem  Presbytery  was  held  at 
Gray  September  H,  1791.  Dr.  Whitaker,  Mr.  Per  ley, 
and  Mr.  Strickland  attended,  but  no  elders  from  their 
Churches.  Some  difficulties  had  arisen  In  the  society  in 
that  town,  and  it  became  a  question  whether  It  was  not 
expedient  that  Mr.  Perley  should  be  dismissed.  The 
Presbytery  considered  this  measure  as  unnecessary  at  that 
time,  and  after  recommending  Mr.  Perley,  they  referred 
the  final  question  to  the  decision  of  the  parties  concern- 
ed and  adjourned  without  day.  The  membeis  of  this 
Ecclesiastical  body  were  soon  dismissed.  Mr.  Perley 
still  lives  in  Gray,  but  has  not  enteied  the  ministry 
again,  Dr.  Whitaker  and  Mr.  Urquhart  left  tlie  State, 
and  Mr.  Strickland  settled  at  East  Andover  in  Oxford 
County  as  a  Congregatlonalist  ;  while  the  Churches 
with  which  they  were  connected  either  dwindled  away 
and  sunk  into  non  existence,  or  assumed  the  Congrega- 
tional form  under  the  next  Minister.  There  is  not  now 
a  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  State. 

X  % 


.^7®  FREEWILL  BAPTISTS. 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

FREEWILL    BAPTISTS. 

This  name  is  used  to  distinguish  a  leh'gious  denom< 
ination  well  known  in  Maine.  They  choose  to  call 
themselves  "  The  Church  of  Christ.'*  The  term 
♦*  Freewill  Baptist,"  is  used  here  merely  for  the  sake  of 
distinction.*  From  nearly  the  beginning  of  the  Baptists 
in  America  there  had  been  some  who  opposed  many 
articles  of  the  Calvinistic  creed.  These  were  chiefly  to 
be  found  in  Rhode-Island  and  Virginia.f  But  no  regu» 
lar  establishment  of  the  kind  was  made  in  New-Eng- 
land, and  probably  not  in  America,  until  the  year  1780, 
Elder  Benjamin  Randel  of  New-Durham  in  New- Hamp- 
shire, is  supposed  to  have  been  the  first  that  openly  es- 
poused and  preached  the  doctrines  no\v  generally  held 
by  the  Freewill  Baptists.  In  that  year  a  small  Church 
of  this  name  was  gathered  at  New-Durham  by  Elder 
Randal.  The  first  regular  Minister  who  united  him- 
self with  Elder  Randel  was  Elder  Pelatiah  Tingley. 
He  was  a  graduate  from  Yale  College,  and  was  at  first 
a  Congregational  preacher,  then  became  a  Calvinistic 
Baptist,  and  was  at  this  time  in  the  pastoral  office  at 
Sanford.  After  this,  several  other  Ministers  did  frona 
time  to  time  unite  with  this  new  Society.     Elder  Ran- 

*  ••  It  appears  that  at  that  time   [March  17S4]  they  made  no  use  of  tlie. 
terms  Freewillcr,  Freewill  Baptist,    fcc.       They    considered  their   several, 
branches  as  10  many  Churches  of  Christ,  and  yet  eollcctirely  they  consider- 
ed themselTe*  bat  one  Church  of  Christ,  and  owned  the  name  Baptist  only, 
as  atennof  di»tinction."  Religious  Magazine,  No.  I,  page  l^^, 

t  Benedict's  Hutory  o|  the  Baptisti,  Vol.  2,  page  410. 


FREEWILL  BAPTISTS.  27t 

del  was  uncommonly  active,  and  during  the  year  1781^ 
through  his  instrumentality,  churches  of  Freewill  Baptists 
were  collected  in  the  towns  of  Woolwich,  Georgetown, 
Little-falls  plantation,  now Hollis,Edgecomb,  Little-Riv- 
er, New-Gloucester,  and  Parsonsfield.  The  practice  of  El- 
der Randel  as  he  travelled  through  the  country  was,  as 
people  embraced  his  sentiments,  to  gather  a  company 
of  them  within  certain  limits  under  the  general  name 
of  a  Monthly  meeting.  A  number  of  these  monthly 
meetings  assembled  once  In  three  months  and  held  a 
Quarterly  meeting.  And  after  these  branches  became 
more  numerous,  a  meeting  was  holden  of  all  the  Quar- 
terly meetings,  called  a  Yearly  meeting.  Tke  whole 
body  was  considered  as  one  Church,  and  no  business  of 
importance  was  transacted  in  the  Monthly  meetings 
without  the  voice  of  the  whole  body.  This  general 
regulation  still  continues,  excepting  that  the  name 
"  Church"  was,  in  i  809,  substituted  for  that  of  "  month- . 
ly  meeting."' 

In  December  of  the  year  1783,  regular  Quarterly 
meetings  were  first  appointed  ;  one  was  to  be  held  at 
New-Durham,  one  at  New-Gloucester,  one  at  Wool- 
wich, and  one  at  Philipsburg.  These  appointments 
served  to  enlarge  the  society  greatly,  and  its  peimanent 
establishment  may  be  dated  from  this  time  f  Many  of 
the  society,  both  Ministers  and  private  members,  had 
originally  belonged  to  Calvinistic  Baptist  Churches,  and 
consequently,  were  close  communionibts,  but  in  Decem- 
ber, 1785,  at  a  Quarterly  meeting  held  at  Gorham,  the 

■t  Religious  Magazio?, 


^STS  FREEWILL  BAPTISTS. 

Society  voted  to  open  their  communion  to  other  de- 
nominations. Their  numbers  were  still  inconsiderable. 
In  1786,  they  had  only  eight  Preachers  in  Maine  and 
not  over  ten  Monthly  meetings,  or  Churches.  In  the 
course  of  the  four  succeeding  years  the  society  increas- 
ed a  little.  At  an  enumeration  taken  in  the  year  1790, 
they  had  eight  ordained  Ministers,  ten  licensed 
preachers,  and  in  all  their  societies  400  members. 
These  were  all  in  Maine,  excepting  the  original  Church 
at  New-Durham. 

In  1791,  the  establishment  at  New-Durham  experienc-- 
ed  a  surprising  revolution.  Some  intestine  struggles 
threatened  its  very  existence  as  a  Church,  and  the  mem- 
bers to  save  difficulty  declared  themselves  no  Church, 
and  formed  anew.f  A  new  Quarterly  meeting  was  soon 
established  in  that  region,  and  the  society  began  to 
spread  itself  into  New-Hampshire,  and  very  soon  into 
Vermont.  From  this  time  the  Societies  of  Freewill 
Baptists  advanced  about  as  rapidly  as  other  societies 
around  them,  and  in  the  year  ISO*,  they  petitioned  to 
become  Incorporated  as  one  great  Society,  scattered 
throughout  the  District  of  Maine.  There  were  at  that 
time,  in  all  their  Churches  about  2000  members.  Their 
petition  being  refused,  the  greater  pan  of  them  subse- 
quently became  incorporated  as  distinct  societies  in  the 
towns  where  they  belonged. 

The  present  state  of  the  Churches  In  this  communion 
has  been  but  imperfectly  ascertained,  and  it  is   difficult 


i-  Religious  Magazine. 


FREEWILL  BAPTISTS.  S73 

on  many  accounts,  to  ascertain  the  precise  number  of 
monthly  meetings  or  local  Churches  in  the  whole  con- 
nexion, or  the  whole  number  of  members.  *  There  are 
at  present  eleven  Quarterly  meetings  in  the  whole  con- 
nexion. Of  these,  four  are  in  Maine,  viz.  Gorham, 
Edgecomb,  Farmington,  and  Montville  ;  three  are  in 
New-Hampshire,  viz.  New-Durham,  Sandwich,  and 
Andover  ;  three  are  in  Vermont,  viz.  Straiford,  Whee* 
lock,  and  Huntington  ;  and  one  is  in  New-York,  called 
Bethany  Quarterly  meeting.  The  Yearly  meetings  are 
four,  viz.  one  in  New-Hampshire,  called  New-Durham 
yearly  »ieeting,  and  is  commenced  on  the  second  Satur- 
day of  June  anaually  j  two  in  Maine,  one  called  Edge- 
comb  Yearly  meeting,  and  holden  annually  on  the  first 
Saturday  in  September,  one  year  within  the  towns  of 
Edgecomb  or  Woolwich,  and  the  next  year  at  Farm.ing- 
ton,  or  in  some  other  town  within  the  limits  of  that 
Quarterly  meeting  :  The  other  is  called  Gorham  Year- 
ly meeting,  and  is  to  be  holden  on  the  first  Saturday  in 
November  alternately  at  Gorham  and  Parsonsfield»— 
The  fourth  Yearly  meeting  is  held  in  Vermont,  and  call- 
ed Strafford  Yearly  meeting.  It  is  commenced  on  the 
first  Saturday  in  October  in  the  town  of  Strafford,  ox 
some  other  town  within  the   limits   of  that  Quarterly 


♦  Elder  Buzzell.  in  the  late  numbers  of  his  M?gazine,  has  appropriated  a 
place  for  a  succinct  history  of  local  Churches.  Should  this  publication  te 
continued,  in  process  of  tijne  the  materials  for  a  fu'.Ihistory  of  this  dCROftii? 
aation  will  be  afforded . 


27*^^  FREEWILL  BAPTISTS. 

meeting.  An  annexed  Table  will  exhibit  the  date  of  the 
gathering  of  such  Churches  as  could  be  obtained,  f — 
The  names  of  the  Ministers  in  this  connexion  cannot  be 
stated  with  any  degree  of  accuracy. 

t  Sec  Appendix  No.  lo. 


METHODISTS.  t*^^ 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

METHODISTS. 

1793. 

This  denomination  of  Christians  claim  as  their  foun- 
der the  Rev.  John  Wesley,  who  was  born  July  17,1703. 
After  a  regular  collegiate  course  he  was  ordained  a 
Priest  of  the  English  Episcopal  Church  by  Dr.  Potter, 
Bishop  of  Oxford,  September  22,  1728.  Mr.  Wesley 
with  his  brother  Charles  Wesley,  became  deeply  serious 
while  they  were  members  of  College,  and  were  then 
joined  by  a  few  others.  They  met  together  at  stated 
times  for  religious  exercises,  and  their  regularity  pro- 
cured for  them  the  distinguishing  epithet  of  Methodist. 
Thus  the  society  began  in  the  year  1729.  It  then  con 
sisted  of  but  four  persons,  viz.  John  Wesley,  Charles 
Wesley,  Richard  Morgan,  and  Mr.  Kirkman.  They- 
were  occasionally  joined  by  others,  and  in  1 735,  the 
society  consisted  of  fifteen  persons.  Toward  the  latter 
end  of  that  year  the  two  Wesley s  came  to  America  as 
Missionaries,  and  landed  in  Georgia  in  February  1736. 
Charles  Wesley  returned  to  England  within  a  few 
months.  John  remained  tut  little  more  than  a  year, 
and  consequently  not  much  v/as  done  toward  the  es- 
tablishment of  the  society  in  America  at  that  time. 
Mr.  Wesley  formed  a  society  which  met  at  his  house  in 
Savannah  while  he  tarried,  but  when  he  left  them  it 
Vv^as  broken  up.  In  1 739,  regular  Methodist  societies 
were  formed  in  England  by  Mr.  Wesley  foi  the  first 
time,  and  the  next  year  the  first  itinerant  Preachers  be- 
ean  to  travel  under  his  direction.     The  society  now  be- 


tY6  Methodist«» 

came  more  regular,  and  in  174-2,  it  was  divided  into 
classes  of  about  twelve  persons  in  each,  who  were  com- 
mitted to  the  care  of  one  of  the  number,  styled  the 
"Class-leader."  The  first  regular  annual  conference 
of  the  whole  society  was  held  in  London,  June  25, 
1744.  There  were  then  present  six  Clergymen,  and 
four  travelling  Preachers.  From  that  time  meetings  of 
this  kind  were  holden  annually,  although  the  minutes 
were  not  published  until  the  year  1763.  Methodist 
Societies  were  now  fully  established  in  Great  Britain, 
from  whence  they  passed  to  America. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1766,  the  first  Methodist 
society  was  formed  in  the  city  of  New-York.  Mr. 
Philip  Embury,  a  Preacher  of  this  denomination,  mov- 
ed from  Ireland  and  settled  there.  He  soon  commenc- 
ed preaching  in  his  own  house,  and  gathered  a  little 
society  of  his  own  countrymen  who  had  emigrated  to 
this  country.  After  a  few  months  spent  in  this  way,  a 
room  was  rented  adjoining  the  barracks,  and  meetings 
held  there.  Before  the  close  of  the  year  they  were 
joined  by  Capt  Thomas  Webb,  barrack-master  at  Alba- 
ny, who  preached  to  the  society  in  his  legimentals. 
The  novelty  of  this  brought  numbers  to  the  meeting, 
and  the  society  was  eventually  much  enlarged.  A 
room  formerly  used  as  a  rigging  lof'  was  procured  for 
their  use,  and  continued  to  be  the  place  of  public  wor- 
ship for  about  two  years,  vrhen  a  Meeting-house  was 
built.  Not  long  after  this  society  was  formed  in  New- 
York,  Robert  Strawbridge,  a  local  preacher  from  Ire- 
land, settled  in  Frederick  County  in  the  state  of  Mary- 
laoiij  and  a  society  was  formed  there.     The  first  regu- 


METHODISTS.  ^77 

lav  travelling  preachers  in  this  connexion  who  came  to 
America,  were  Richard  Boardman  and  Joseph  Pillmore. 
They  arrived  here  October  24,  1769,  and  immediately 
began  their  labours  with  most  encouraging  appearance-?. 
The  reiTular  establislirrient  of  the  Methodist  societies  in 

o 

America  may  be  dated  from  this  time.  Almost  every 
year  after  this  preachers  came  over  to  Amxcrica,  and 
the  society  spread  in  many  directions.  ^ 

In  the  spring  of  1773,  Mr.  Wesley  sent  over  Thomas 
Rankin,  and  George  Shadford.  Mr.  Rankin  had  been 
a  travelling  preacher  in  England  for  eleven  years,  and 
having  a  better  knowledge  of  the  affairs  than  any  other 
Methodist  then  in  America,  he  was  appointed  by  Mr. 
Wesley  to  the  supcrintendency  of  tlie  whole  connexion 
in  the  United  State<^,  and  was  styled  the  General  Assist- 
ant. Immediately  on  his  arrival  in  Philadelphia  he 
called  the  travelling  preachers  together,  and  on  July  14' 
of  that  year  the  first  conference  was  held  in  America. 
At  that  time  there  were  in  America  ten  travelling: 
preichers,  who  lab')Ured  in  six  circuits,  viz.  New- York, 
New-Jersey,  Philadelphia,  BaUimore,  Norfolk,  and  Pe- 
tersburg circuits,  in  all  of  which  tliere  vvere  116(3 
members.  The  revolutionary  war  wliich  soon  com- 
menced had  a  very  unfavorable  effect  <:>n  the  cause  of 
Methodism  in  the  United  States,  Most  of  tlie  travel- 
ling preacliers  were  Englishmen,  and  had  the  prejudic- 
es natural  to  their  country  :  the  people  were  in  conf.i- 
sion  in  all  parts  of  the  land  ;  the  foundations  of  some 
of  the  most  ancient  and  well  established  societies  were 
greatly   shaken,  and   it    cannot    tlxrefrre    be   thf.ucht 

strange  that  difhcu'ties  of  no  small  magnitude  should 
Y 


SyS  METHODISTS. 

lie  in  the  way  of  the  establishment  of  a  new  one. 
Another  circumstance  had  much  influence  upon  the 
Society.  The  members  of  it  had  never  been  foimed 
into  a  regular  Church,  and  consequently  had  never  en- 
joyed the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel  among  themselves. 
Mr.  Wesley,  and  m.ost  of  the  Methodists  in  England 
were  members  of  the  established  Church,  as  were  many 
in  America  also,  and  it  had  ever  been  the  advice  of  Mr. 
Wesley  to  his  adherents  that  they  should  attend  the  or- 
dinances ac  the  several  Churches  where  they  belonged, 
particularly  the  Episcopalian.  The  travelling  preach- 
ers were  not  ordained,  as  there  had  yet  appeared  no 
special  call  for  it. 

As  the  Methodists  increased  in  the  southern  States 
the  want  of  ordinances  was  sensibly  felt,  as  there  were 
but  few  Ministers  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  that  re- 
gion, with  whom  the  Methodists  were  disposed  to  unite. 
This  gave  rise  to  a  procedure  somewhat  singular, 
although,  as  was  probably  supposed,  justified  by  the 
circumstances  of  the  time.  In  the  year  1779,  the  trav- 
elling preachers  in  Virginia  and  North-Carolina  met 
together  in  Conference  and  resolved  to  ordain  each  oth- 
er, and  administer  baptism  and  the  Lord's  supper.  A 
committee  was  chosen  for  this  purpose,  who,  having  or- 
dained themselves,  proceeded  to  set  others  apart  to  the 
sacred  office.*  The  preachers  to  the  north  of  Virginia 
were  opposed  to  this  step,  and  after  a  time  it  was  mu- 
tually agreed  to  discontinue  the  administration  of  ordi- 
nances until  Mr.  Wesley  could  be  consulted.       A  com- 

*  Lee's  History  of  Methofllsrn,  y'-'Z'^  ^^- 


METHODISTS.  S79 

munication  was  accordingly  made  to  him,  but  he 
delayed  his  answer  until  September  ITSk*  Dr.  Coke 
was  now  sent  to  America  by  Mr.  Wesley,  and  with 
him  came  Rev.  Richard  Whatcoat  and  Thomas  Vasey, 
who  were  all  regularly  ordained.  The  travelling  preacli' 
ers  in  America  were  summoned  to  a  general  Confer- 
ence in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  December  178  k  At 
this  meeting  a  Church  was  regularly  formed,  called 
^"  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,"  a  uniform  plan  of 
proceedings  was  digested,  and  a  form  of  discipline 
drawn  up.  Mr.  Francis  Asbury  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  Bishop,  or  Superintendant,  and  regularly  or- 
dained to  that  office.  He  and  Dr.  Coke  had  been 
nominated  by  Mr.  Wesley  to  fill  the  office  jointly,  and 
were  now  elected  by  the  conference.  The  society  was 
thus  established  on  a  permanent  basis,  and  from  thi5 
time  began  to  extend  itself  in  every  direction. 

These  few  hints  respecting  the  first  rise  of  Method- 
ism in  Europe,  and  its  establishment  in  America,  seem- 
ed necessary  before  stating  its  introduction  into  Maine. 

Elder  Jesse  Lee,  of  Prince  George  County  in  Virginia, 
was  principally  instrumental  in  the  establishment  of  the 
Methodist  societies  in  the  New-England  States.  In  the 
beginning  of  the  year  1789  he  formed  a  circuit  in  the 
southern  part  of  Connecticut.  The  next  year  he  visited 
Boston,  preached  on  the  common  there,  and  preached 
also  in  most  of  the  towns  as  far  east  as  Newburyport. 
At  Lynn  he  found  m.uch  encouragement,  and  a  class  of 
eight  persons  was  formed  there  February  20, 179h    In 


*  Sec  Appendix,  No.  ir. 


^80  METHODISTS. 

the  summer  gf  thiit  year  a  regular  McLhoJIst  society 
was  formed  at  Lynn,  and  a  Meeting-house  bulk.  This 
Wds  the  first  Methodist  society  formed  in  that  State.* 
In  August,  1793,  a  conference  was  held  at  Lynn,  and 
Elder  Lee  was  appointed  to  travel  through  the  then 
province  of  Maine,  connect  it  with  some  other  cir- 
cuit, or  form  a  circuit  there,  as  he  should  judge  expe- 
dient. He  accordingly  left  Lynn  in  September  follow- 
ing, and  commenced  his  journey  eastward.  The  first 
hermon  he  ever  preached  in  Maine  waa  in  Saco,  on 
September  10,  v.hich  v/as  the  first  Methodist  sermon 
ever  preached  in  the  State.  Elder  Lee  went  as  far 
east  as  Castine,  then  up  the  Penobscot  to  Bangor, 
thence  to  Hallowell  on  Kennebeck  River,  thence  through 
the  settlem.ents  on  Sandy  River,  and  through  Portland 
to  Massachusetts  again.  This  tour  occupied  several 
jnonths,  as  Eider  Lee  preached  almost  every  day,,  and 
being  a  stranger,  had  to  make  his  own  appointments. 
After  thus  viewing  the  country,  he  thought  it  advisable 
ro  form  a  circuit  on  the  western  side  of  Kennebeck 
River,  extending  from  Hallowell  to  Farmington.  This 
he  called  "  Readfield  circuit,"  and  Elder  Philip  Wager 
was  immediately  appointed  to  labour  in  it.  The  whole 
of  Massachusetts,  New-Hampshire,  and  Maine  then 
constituted  one  District  called  *'  Boston  District,"  of 
which  Mr.  Lee  was  presiding  Elder. 

Some  special  attention  to  religion  was  toon  discover- 
ed on  Readfield  circuit  under  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Wager, 
;ind  a  class  was  gathered  in  Monmouth  about  the  first 


MaliO'Jist'S,  pnge  iCC. 


METHODISTS.  S81 

of  November  ITOi,  and  another  at  Readheld.  These 
were  the  first  ever  formed  in  Maine.  On  the  14th  of 
December  following  the  Lord's  supper  was  administer- 
ed by  the  Methodists  for  the  first  time  in  Maine.  This 
took  place  at  Readfield.  It  was  administered  again  at 
Monmouth  on  the  25th  of  the  same  month.  After  this, 
classes  were  frequently  formed  in  different  towns  on 
this  circuit. 

The  next  circuit  established  in  Maine  was  called  Port- 
land circuit.  It  extended  as  far  north  as  Paris  and 
Norway.  Elder  Wager  was  appointed  to  travel  this 
circuit,  and  Enoch  Mudge*  and  Elias  Hull  were  ap- 
pointed to  Readfield.  In  October  1795,  a  class  was 
formed  in  Portland,  and  the  firbt  Quarto  ly  meeting  in 
the  State  was  held  in  Poland  in  December  following. — 
In  the  same  year  Joshua  Hall  was  sent  to  Penobscot  by 
the  New  London  Conference,  and  a  circuit  was  formed 
called  Penobscot  circuit,  including  a  large  territory  on 
both  sides  of  that  river  from  its  mouth  upward. 

In  1796,  it  was  found  expedient  to  form  a  circuit 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Kennebeck,  called  Bath  circuit. 
Methodist  ministers  had  preached  in  this  vicinity  for 
nearly  three  years,  but  the  number  of  their  adherents 
had  hitherto  been  small.  This  new  circuit  comprehend- 
ed all  the  towns  near  the  mouth  of  Kennebeck  river  on 
both  sides  of  it ;  extending  as  far  east  as  Union,  but  the 
preacher  appointed  to  the   care  of  the  circuit  was  to 


«  Mr.  Mudge  was  one  of  the  fruits  of  Mr.  Lec'i  labors  at  Lynn,  and  vyas. 
the  first  Mcthedjit  preacher  raised  up  in  New  togUnd, 

Y2 


r^S^  MtTHODlSTS. 

spend  most  of  his  time  in  Bath.  Durmg  the  sami  year 
a  new  circuit  \vas  formed  among  the  upper  settlements 
on  the  same  river,  and  called  Kennebeck  circuit,  the 
name  of  which  is  now  changed  to  Norridgewock.  At 
this  time  the  members  m  the  several  societies  in  Maine 
amounted  to  357,  having  among  them  six  preacheis 
regularly  travelling. 

At  the  annual  conference  in  1797,  it  was  found  cx-„ 
pedient  to  divide  Boston  District,  and  to  constitute  the 
several  circuits  in  Maine  into  a  Dibtrict  by  themselves, 
of  which  Rev.  Joshua  Taylor  was  appointed  presiding 
Elder. 

A  new  circuit  was  this  year  added  to  the  number. — 
This  was  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state.  Two  years 
before  some  Methodist  preachers  had  visited  that  part 
of  the  country,  and  some  classes  had  been  formed. — 
The  circuit  was  called  Pleasant  River  circuit,  but  after 
a  few  years  the  preachers  found  it  inexpedient  to  go  so 
far  east,  and  the  name  of  the  circuit  was  changed  to 
that  of  Union  River  circuit,  as  that  place  was  found  to 
be  most  central.  In  the  year  1800,  anothei  circuit  was 
added  to  those  already  formed  in  Maine.  It  was  called 
Bethel  circuit,  and  comprehended  all  the  upper  settle- 
ments on  Androscoggin  river. 

These  seven  circuits  extended  through  the  greater 
part  of  Maine  which  was  then  settled.  Thus  the  ground 
was  all  occupied,  and  previous  to  the  year  1800  the 
Methodist  preachers  on  the  several  circuits  had  been 
enabled  to  preach  more  or  less  in  every  town  in  Maine. 
After  this  period  considerable  revivals  of  religion  at  dif- 


METHODISTS.  SJS-^ 

ferent  times  and  places  enlarged  the  Society,  and  called 
for  more  ministeiial  labour.  The  circuits  were  of  course 
divided,  altered,  enlarged,  or  circumscribed,  as  prudence,, 
convenience,  or  necessity  required.  Some  of  those 
alterations  will  now  be  noticed  in  the  order  in  which, 
they  occurred. 

We  have  brought  down  the  history  of  this  people  to 
the  yeai  1800,  at  which  time  Maine  constituted  one  Di- 
strict, of  seven  circuits,  containing  1197  members,  who 
were  supplied  by  eight  travelling  preachers,  beside  the 
presiding  Elder.  The  next  year  found  them  in  about 
the  same  situation,  with  a  small  increase  of  members. 
In  1802,  the  name  of  Portland  circuit  was  changed  to 
that  of  Falmouth,  and  two  new  circuits  were  added,  viz. 
Poland  circuit,  which  took  from  Falmouth  circuit  all 
the  upper  part  of  the  County  of  Cumberland,  and  low- 
er part  of  the  County  of  Oxford  ;  and  Hallowell  cir- 
cuit which  included  the  towns  lying  on  both  sides  of 
Kennebeck  River  from  Gardiner  to  Bloomfield.  Bath 
circuit  was  also  divided,  and  the  easterly  part  called 
Union  circuit.  Some  increase  of  members  was  found 
in  all  the  circuits,  and  seventeen  preachers  laboured 
constantly  among  them.  During  the  following  year 
things  remained  in  about  the  same  state,  except  that 
Bath  circuit  took  the  name  of  Bowdoinham  circuit, 
and  a  new  one  called  Bristol  circuit  was  taken  from 
Union.  In  1 804,  the  Methodist  societies  in  Maine  pre- 
sented a  very  flourishing  aspect.  Large  additions 
were  made  to  them  on  some  of  the  circuits,  particularly 
Falmouth,  Bowdoinham,  Hallowell,  and  Penobscot. 
Falmouth  circuit  was  now  divided  into  three,  one  re- 


^S-h  METHODISTS. 

taing  the  original  name,  and  the  others  called  Portland 
and  Scarborough.  The  year  following  this  a  circuit 
was  established  called  Livermore  circuit,  taken  princi- 
pally from  the  norrhwesterly  part  of  Readfield  Circuit, 
as  that  had  spread  over  a  large  territory,  and  contained 
many  members.  At  the  close  of  this  year  the  society 
could  number  2399  members  in  Maine,  fourteen  cir- 
cuits, and  seventeen  travelling  preachers,  exclusive  of 
Rev.  Joshua  Soule  who  had  been  presiding  Elder  for 
two  years. 

It  was  now  found  necessary  to  divide  Maine  into  two 
Districts,  which  was  accordingly  done  in  1806.  They 
were  called  Portland  District,  and  Kennebeck  District, 
comprehending  the  circuits  in  the  western  and  eastern 
parts  of  the  State.  A  new  circuit  was  at  the  same 
time  added  to  Portland  District  called  Durham  circuit, 
and  one  to  Kennebeck  District  called  Vassalborough 
circuit.  Penobscot  circuit  was  also  divided  into  two, 
one  called  Orrington,  and  the  other  Hampden  circuit. 
No  alteration  took  place  during  the  next  year  except 
the  establishment  of  Conway  circuit,  which  included 
some  towns  in  Maine,  and   some  in  New-Hampshire. 

In  1808,  Bowdoiiham  circuit  was  united  to  Dur- 
ham circuit,  and  has  not  since  been  distinctly  noticed. 
Palmyra  circuit  was  taken  into  Kennebeck  District  the 
same  year,  but  the  next  year  it  was  included  in  Vassal- 
borough  circuit,  where  it  has  ever  since  remained.  In 
the  year  1809,  more  than  4^00  members  were  added 
to  the  several  societies,  and  three  new  circuits  estab- 
lished   withia    Kennebeck     District^   viz.    Boothbay, 


METHODISTS.  28j 

Georgetown,  and  Industry  circuits,  and  the  name  of 
Union  River  circuit  was  changed  to  that  of  Penobscot. 
For  three  succeeding  years  there  was  no  alteration  in 
any  of  the  circuits.  Twenty-five  preachers  laboured 
constantly  in  the  several  societies.  The  numbex  of 
members  in  Poitland  District  decreased  considerably, 
while  Kennebeck  District  received  some  accessions. 
At  the  close  of  1812,  the  total  amount  in  Maine 
was  3450.*  The  only  alteration  which  took  place  in 
1S13  was  the  union  of  Boothhay  and  Georgetown 
circuits  into  one  which  was  called  Pittston  circuit.  In 
1814,  a  new  circuit  was  taken  v;ithin  Portland  District 
called  North-Yarmouth  circuit,  including  the  town  of 
that  name  and  Freeport  ;  and  another  was  also  taken 
within  Kennebeck  called  Vienna  circuit. 

In  the  course  of  the  year  1815,  it  was  found  that  the 
Society  vras  increasing  so  much  faster  at  the  eastward 
than  in  the  western  Counties  in  the  State,  tliat  it  was 
thought  expedient  to  detach  some  of  the  circuits  from 
Kennebeck  Distiict  and  unite  them  with  Portland  Dis- 
trict, and  accordingly  Readfield  and  Vienna  circuits 
were  joined  to  Portland  District,  where  they  have 
since  remained.  The  name  of  Falmouth  circuit  was 
in  the  same  year  changed  to  that  of  Buxton  circuit. 

During  the  next  year,  North-Yarrr.outh  circuit,  being 
small  both  in  numbers  and  territory,  was  joined  with 
Buxton  circuit,  and  so  continued  for  three  years,  when 
the  name  of  it  was  dropped  from  the  minutes.  At 
the  same  time  six  of  the  lower  circuits  in   Kennebeck 

M  -Sc-;  the  t.rinteJ  Minutes  fer  ttat  year. 


S86  METHODISTS. 

District  were  united  in  three,  viz.  Pittston  and  Bristol 
formed  ©ne,  Oirington  and  Penobscot,  another,  Union 
and  Hampden  a  third.  A  similar  connexion  was  form- 
ed in  1817  between  Livermore  and  Vienna  circuits. 
The  year  previous  the  name  of  Vassalborough  circuit 
had  been  changed  to  that  of  Unity  circuit,  and  now  a 
union  was  formed  between  that  and  Norridgewock 
circuit.  A  new  circuit  was  also  established  adjoining 
the  British  Provinces  called  St.  Croix.  In  1818,  no 
alteration  was  made,  except  to  establish  a  small  circuit 
within  Portland  District  called  Bath  circuit.  In  1819, 
the  name  of  Gray  was  mentioned  in  the  minutes  as 
part  of  a  circuit  with  Buxton,  and  the  year  succeeding 
it  was  established  as  a  circuit  by  itself,  comprehending 
the  ground  formerly  included  in  North-Yarmouth  cir- 
cuit. At  the  same  time  a  circuit  was  anexed  to  Ken- 
uebeck  District  called  Exeter  circuit,  and  the  connexion 
was  dissolved  between  Norridgewock  and  Unity  cii  cuits, 
and  also  between  Penobscot  and  Orrington,  and  Hamp- 
den and  Union  circuits. 

In  1 820,  Kennebeck  District  was  divided,  and  a  third 
District  formed  called  Penobsscot  District,  of  which  Rev. 
Benjamin  Jones  was  appointed  presiding  Elder.  The 
same  year  Arundel  circuit  was  estabhshed,  and  united 
with  Scarberough  circuit ;  and  Bath  circuit  was  taken 
from  Portland  District,  and  annexed  to  Kennebeck. — 
Three  new  circuits  were  also  established  in  Penobscot 
District,  viz.  Columbia,  Vinalhaven,  and  Thomastou 
circuits. 


METHODISTS.  ^        287 

Thus  in  twenty-seven  years  the  Methodist  Church  in 
Maine  has  arisen  from  nothing  to  a  respectable  estab- 
lishment ;  comprehending  three  Districts,  twenty-seven 
circuits,  and  6192members  in  the  Society,  having  among 
them  twenty-eight  travelling  preachers,  exclusive  of 
three  presiding  Elders,  f 

Of  the  annual  conferences  of  the  Methodist  Church 
in  America,  six  hare  been  hoi  Jen  in  Maine.  The  first 
included  Maine  only.  It  was  held  at  Readfield  August 
29,  179S,  at  ivhich  ten  travelling  preachers  were  pres- 
ent, and  200  communicants.  There  were  then  five  cir- 
cuits in  Maine,  and  936  in  membership. 

The  second  conference  was  held  at  Monmouth  July 
1,  1S02.  This  was  the  "New-England  conference." 
There  were  then  in  Maine  ten  circuits,  18  travelling 
preachers,  and  lil^  members  in  the  society.  The  third 
conference  was  held  in  Buxton  July  15,  1804-,  at  whick 
time  there  were  in  Maine  eleven  circuits,  15  travelling 
preachers,  and  2102  in  membership.  The  fourth  con- 
ference  held  in  Maine  was  in  Monmouth,  June  15,  1809. 
The  State  then  contained  two  Districts,  twenty  circuits, 
25  preachers,  and  3224  members.  The  annual  confer- 
ence was  also  held  at  Durham  June  2,  1814',  and  again 
at  Hallowell  June  4,  1818. 

Before  concluding  our  account  of  the  Methodists,  it 
may  be  expedient  for  the  information  of  others,  to  take 
a  summary  view  of  the  society  under  its  present  estab- 
lishment in  America.  The  whole  body  of  Methodists 
in  the  United  States  are  included  in  twelve  annual  con- 


t  See  Appendix  No.  t:. 


S88  METHODISTS. 

ferences.  Each  travelling  preacher,  after  having  tra* 
veiled  two  years,  and  been  approved,  Is  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  annual  conference.  In  each  conference  a 
Bishop  presides  as  Superintendant.  The  annual  confer- 
ence by  their  Delegates  form  the  general  conference, 
which  meets  once  In  four  y€ars.  The  conferences  are 
divided  into  Districts,  over  which  an  Elder  presides.  In 
England  he  Is  called  the  Chairman  of  the  District,  but 
In  America  he  Is  styled  the  presiding  Elder.  Each 
District  Is  divided  into  circuits  as  appears  convenient. 
Each  circuit  I?  considered  as  one  distinct  pastoral  charge, 
to  which  a  preacher  is  designated  every  year.  The  cir- 
cuits usually  comprehend  the  societies  In  several  towns, 
and  are  divided  into  classes,  over  each  of  which  a  leader 
is  appointed.  Any  person  expressing  a  desire  to  flee 
from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  be  saved  from  his  sins, 
may  become  a  member  of  a  class  The  leader  is  re- 
quired to  see  each  person  in  his  class  at  least  once  a 
week,  to  inquire  into  their  state,  advise,  reprove,  com- 
fort, or  exhort  as  occasion  may  require.  After  a  term 
of  trial,  of  at  least  six  monihs,  tlie  leader  recommends 
such  of  the  class  as  he  thinks  fit  to  the  circuit  preacher, 
and  from  him  they  receive  a  ticket  which  entitles  tliem 
to  communion,  and  they  are  then  reckoned  as  members 
of  the  society.  Formerly  Band  societies  »vere  found  in 
some  places,  which  were  voluntary  assf  ciations  of  indi- 
viduals who  was  under  a  mutu  il  enr^  igemcnt  to  watch 
more  especially  over  each  other.  These  are  now  rarely 
to  be  met  witli  in  America. 

In  mof^t  of  tlie  circuits  there  arc  found  sonic  preach- 
ers who  find  It  inconvenient  to  travel  much,  but  do  not 


METHODISTS.  §89 

withdraw  neither  from  the  society  nor  from  the  minis- 
try. They  are  stiled  local  preachers.  They  supply  va- 
cant places  on  the  Sabbath,  and  at  other  times  as  occa- 
sion calls  :  but  they  are  not  considered  as  having  the 
pastoral  care  of  any  part  of  the  flock.  This  belongs 
solely  to  the  circuit  preacher  for  the  time  being. 

It  is  the  duty  of  the  circuit  preacher  to  travel  regu- 
larly among  the  people  of  his  charge,  dispensing  the 
word,  and  administering  the  ordinances.  In  each  cir- 
cuit there  is  a"  quarterly  meeting  held  four  times  in  the 
year,  and  all  the  business  of  the  circuit  is  then  transac- 
ted by  the  "Quarteriy  meeting  Conference,"  consisting 
of  all  the  travelling  and  local  preachers,  exhorters,  stew» 
ards,  and  leaders,  in  the  circuit,  at  which  time  the  cir- 
cuit preacher  Is  to  make  a  report  of  his  doings  to  the 
presiding  Elder  of  the  District. 

The  presiding  Elder  is  to  visit  the  several  circuits 
within  his  charge  at  least  once  in  three  months,  and  to 
preside  in  each  Quarterly  meeting  conference  when  prac- 
ticable. In  each  District  there  is  annually  held  a  "Dis- 
trict Conference,"  of  which  all  the  local  preacher?  who 
shall  have  been  licensed  two  years  maj  be  members,  and 
the  presiding  Elder  of  the  District  is  President.  This 
conference  is  to  take  cognizance  of  all  the  local  preach- 
ers within  their  limits;  to  inqnre  ii-t:  the  gifts,  labours, 
and  usefulness  of  er.ch  b/  a  ime  ;  to  grant  and  renew 
licenses  to  preach  ;  to  recommend  to  the  annual  con* 
ference  suitable  persons  for  ordiT.aiion  as  Deacons  or  El- 
ders, in  the  local  connexion,  or  for  trial  in  the  travelling 
-connexion  j  to  try,  suspend,  expel,  or  acquit  any  local 

Z 


^1)0  MfernoDisis. 

preacher  against  whom  any  charges  may  have  b6eh 
brought. 

To  obtain  license  to  preach  a  person  must  make  ap- 
plication to  the  Quarterly  meeting  conference  to  which 
he  belongs.  They  will  recommend  him  to  the  District 
conference  to  be  examined,  where,  if  approved,  he  is 
either  licensed  as  a  local  preacher,  or  recommended  to 
the  annual  conference  as  a  travelling  preacher.  If  a  lo* 
cal  preacher  he  must  serve  four  yeftrs  as  a  licentiate  be- 
fore he  can  receive  Deacon's  orders,  and  four  more  be» 
fore  he  can  be  ordained  an  Elder  ;  but  if  a  travelling 
preacher  only  half  that  time.  The  presiding  Elders 
are  appointed  by  the  Bishop.  Ordination  is  peformed 
by  the  laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  Bishop,  and  som^ 
of  the  Elders  present.  The  Bishop  is  elected  by  the 
General  conference,  and  ordained  by  the  laying  on  of  the 
hands  of  three  Bishops  when  they  can  be  obtained,  or  of 
one  Bishop  and  two  Elders  ;  and  when  by  death  or 
otherwise,  there  is  no  Bishop  remaining  in  the  Church, 
the  General  conference  having  made  their  election  of  a 
Bishop,  may  appoint  three  Elders  who  shall  ordaia 
him.* 

The  New-England  conference,  to  which  Maine  now 
belongs,  includes  all  the  New-England  States  which  lie 
east  of  Connecticut  River,  that  part  of  Vermont  lying 
east  of  the  Gr«en  Mountain,  and  that  part  of  Lower 
Canada  lying  east  of  Lake  Magog.  It  is  expected  that 
a  new  confeience  will  shortly  be  appointed  for  Maine 
alone. 


*  For  all  the    thinf^s    above  st.it^d,    respecting    the    governm;!'    of  the 
Church,  see  MetlKKiist  I>iscip!ine,   20th  Edition,  pages  zs,  s8,    31,   <9,   77* 


METHODISTS.  29^1 

Before  concluding  this  Chapter  It  may  be  useful  not 
to  the  Methodists  only,  but  to  all  other  denominations 
to  make  a  remark  on  one  custom  among  them.  In 
their  Book  of  Discipline,  Chapter  1,  Seq.  19,  we  have 
the  following  question  aad  answer  : 

**  Quest.  What  can  be  done  to  supply  the  circuiis 
during  the  sitting  of  the  conference  ? 

Ans.  I.  Let  all  the  appointments  stand  according 
to  the  plan  of  the  circuit. 

2.  Engage  as  many  local  preachers  and  exhorters 

as  will  supply  them,  and  let  tliem  be  paid  for  their  time 

in  proportion  to  the  allowance  of  the  travelling  preach- 
ers. 

3.  If  preachers  and  exhorters  cannot  attend,  let 
some  person  of  ability  be  appointed  in  every  society  to 
sing,  pray,  and  read  one  of  Mr.  Wesley's  Sermons. 

4-  But  If  that  cannot  be  done,  let  there  be  prayer 
meetings." 

All  societies  have  their  general  meetings  which  it  is 
highly  important  Ministers  should  attend,  in  oider  to 
consult  together  for  the  welfare  of  the  Church  at  large. 
In  a  country  like  ours  it  must  necessarily  occupy  some 
time  to  attend  them,  and  this  regulation  of  the  Metho- 
dists is  therefore  much  to  be  applauded,  as  It  provides 
for  this  emergency,  and  effectuaUy  prevents  any  blame 
from  attaching  itself  to  a  Miriister,  when  for  a  little 
space  he  leaves  his  particular  charge  to  attend  the  more 
general  concerns  of  the  Church. 


2&2  CHRIgTlAN    SOCIETY. 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

CHZ-ISTIAK     50C1ITV. 

In  the  year  ]  800,  Elder  Abner  Jones,  then  liring  in 
Vermont,  becommg  dissatisfied  with  some  things  in  the 
Freewill  i:aptist  Charclies,  in  which  connexion  he  then 
stood,  withdrew  from  them.  Elder  Jones  soon  found 
others  in  different  seaions  of  the  country  of  the  same 
ZDind  with  himself.  These  travelled  in  various  directions 
through  the  country,  preached,  baptized,  gathered 
Churches,  and  ordained  Elders.  About  the  same  time. 
Elder  Elias  Smith,  then  the  Pastor  of  a  Baptist  Church 
in  Portsmouth  N.  H.  embraced  and  preached  the  senti- 
ments held  by  Elder  Jrmes  and  his  associates.  Thus 
br-g-an  the  «  Christian  Societies."  In  ISOfi,  a  Church 
of  this  kind  was  gathered  at  Portsmouth,  one  at  Bos- 
ton, one  at  Salem,  and  some  others  m  the  same  year. 
Several  E-der?.  were  ordained,  and  many  members  ad- 
ded, s'^me  from  the  world,  and  seme  from  other  socie- 
ties. 

The  first  Church  in  this  conneiion  in  Mair^e  was  gath- 
ered in  Kittery  November  20,  180^,  and  Vo-^^  Safford 
was  ordained  to  the  pastoral  care  of  it.  He  afterwards 
W:tndrew,  and  their  present  Minister,  Elder  Mark  Fer- 
naicJ.  was  ordained  in  September  J 809.  In  l&OS,  a 
Church  was  gathered  in  the  westerly  part  of  York,  and 
Elder  Peter  Young  ordained  as  its  pastor.  He  seen  re. 
iDoved  from  them  and  the  pastoral  care  was  transferred 
to  Elder  Femald  of  Kittery. 


CHUISTIAN    SOCIETY.  S9'3 

About  the  same  time,  a  Church  was  gathered  in  the 
western  part  of  Wells,  and  after  a  few  years  Elder 
Richard  Littlefield  was  ordained  there. 

In  1809,  a  Church  of  twenty  eight  members  was 
gathered  in  South-Berwick,  and  in  1812,  a  Church  was 
also  gathered  in  Portland,  with  which  Elder  Samuel 
Rand  is  at  present  connected.  Churches  in  this  con- 
nexion have  also  been  gathered  in  the  towns  of  Vienna, 
Canaan,  Cornville,  Harmony,  Monmouth,  Exeter,  Far* 
fax,  Clinton,  Palmyra,  Northhill,  Warsaw,  Athens, 
Madison,  Newport,  Joy,  Wilton,  Knox,  Leeds,  Mount- 
Vemon,  and  Eastport,  all  since  the  year  181 4-.  The 
Churches  of  this  denomination  in  Maine  are  in  all 
twenty  six,  connected  with,  which  r,re  fifteen  ordained 
Elders.  * 


Sec  Appendix  No.  t^» 


Z  2 


No.  1. 

FROM    PAGE    21. 

The  Council  assembled  for  the  ordination  of  Mr. 
Fayrweather,  consisted  of  the  Church  in  Berwick,  the 
first  Church  in  Danvers;,  the  Church  in  New-Castle,  the 
first  and  third  Churches  in  Kittery,  the  first  Church 
in  Portsmouth,  and  the  first  Church  in  York.  Three 
Churches  in  Boston  were  invited,  but  did  not  attend. 
Their  result  exhibits  the  regard  shown  to  the  objections 
of  a  respectable  minority,  and  affords  a  valuable  pre- 
cedent tn  similar  cases  at  the  present  day. 
RESULT. 

<'Wethe  Elder  s  and  Delegates  of  the  Church  in 
Berwick,  the  first  Church  in  Danvers,  the  Church  in 
Newcastle,  the  first  and  third  Churches  in  Kittery,  the 
first  Church  in  Portsmouth,  and  the  first  Church  in 
York,  convened  in  Council,  May  23,  1753,  at  Wells, 
upon  Letters  missive  from  the  first  Church  in  said  town, 
in  order  to  ordain  Mr.  Samuel  Fayrweather  to  the 
work  of  the  Gospel  Ministry  among  them.     Having 


%  APPENDIX. 

made  our  earnest  supplications  to  God  for  direction^ 
and  the  Church  being  called  before  the  Council  that 
we  might  enquire  concerning  the  call  which  they  had 
given  Mr.  Fayrweather,  and  whether  the  way  was  clear 
for  their  proceeding  to  his  Ordination,  upon  their  vote 
being  taken  before  the  Council  there  appeared  about 
thirty-six  for  him  and  twelve  against  him,  which 
twelve,  with  others  not  present,  exhibited  their  objec- 
tions in  writing.  After  mature  and  serious  considera- 
tion of  the  objections  oflfered  by  the  dissatisfied  Bieth-. 
ren  against  Mr.  Fayrweather,  the  Council  came  to  thfr 
following  Resolve :  viz. 

That  as  to  Mr.  Fayrweather  being  frequently  absent 
from  them  and  delaying  his  answer,  and  other  objections 
of  the  same  nature,  they  are  of  little  or  no  weight,  and 
Mr.  Fayrweather  has  fully  answered  them  to  the  satii- 
faction  of  the  Council,  and  as  to  the  insinuations  witli 
which  they  conclude  their  written  objections,  "  that  there 
are  many  more  imprudencies  which  they  might  have, 
mentioned,  and  by  his  conduct  they  think  that  it  will 
appear  that  he  seeks  theirs  more  than  them,"  since  they 
declared  before  the  Council  they  had  nothing  in  partic- 
ular against  him  which  they  could  prove,  we  look  upon 
them  as  trifling  and  uncharitable. 

But  notwithstanding  the  clearness  of  Mr.  Fayr- 
weather's  character,,  and  the  great  majority  both  of 
Church  and  Parish,  which  voted  for,  and  continue  to 
desire  his  settlement  in  the  ministry,  yet  consid- 
ering a  number  have  manifested  a  great  discon- 
tent and  uneasiness  relating  to  the  votes  passed, 
and  particularly  the  largeness  of  the  sums  voted 
&)r  his  setUemeQt  aad  yearly  support,  though  we  think 


APPENBIX.  3 

them  no  more  tlian  Mr.  Far  weather  would  find  neces- 
sary— considering  also  the    very    strenuous  opposition 
made  by  some  to  his  settlement,  the  danger  of  increas- 
ing difficulties,  together  with  other   circumstances  of 
this  settlement,  as  they   appear  to   us,  which  gives  us 
reason  to  fear  Mr.  Fayrweather  will  not  be  so  servicea* 
ble  and  comfortable  in  this  place  as  in  some  other ;    we 
cannot  be    fully   satisfied   that   it  v.-ill  be  best  for  us  to 
proceed  to  his  Ordination,  but  rather  think  it  advisable 
that  Mr.  Fayrweather   lovingly    and    peaceably   part. 
However,   we  think    it   our    duty   to    bear   testimony 
against  the  heat  aiid  uncharitableness  of  this  opposition, 
whi en  this  minor  part  have  made  to  Mr,    Fayrweather, 
which  we  look  upon  as  an  infringement  upon  the  rights 
of  Society,  and  as  having  a  tendency   to   obstiuct  the 
success  of  the  Gospel,  and  alienate  the  minds  of  Chris- 
tian [jretbren,  and  we  think  it  necessary  to  declare  that 
we  are  not  influenced  in   our  determination  merely    by 
the  present  opposition  of  so  small  a  party,  but  by   sev- 
eral  prudential  considerations,  and  we  also  give  our  se- 
rious and  faithful  advce  to   the  dissatisfied    Brethren, 
that  they  heartily  unite  with  the  Church  and   Congre- 
gation in  taking  all  proper  measures  to  obtain  some 
other  suitable  person  to  be  settled  among  them  in  the 
gospel  ministry  ;    and   we  freely  and  heartily  recom- 
mend Mr.  Fayrweather,  whose  character  appears  to  us 
clear  and  unblemished,  to  the  service  of  the  Churches 
wherever  divine  Providence  opens  a  door  for  his  useful- 
ness.    We  can   only  add  our  earnest  and  affectionate 
prayers  for  the  Church  and  people  in  this  place,  tha* 


%  APPENDIX. 

God  would  overrule  all  things  for  their  good  and  hi* 
own  glory  ;  give  them  peace,  and  direct  and  succeed 
them  in  all  suitable  measures  which  may  hereafter  be 
laken  for  their  settlement. 

Jeremiah  Wise,  Moderator^ 
Stephek  Chace,  Scribe* 


No  3. 

FROM   PAGE  22. 

The  following  character  of  Dr.  Hemmenway  is  ex* 
tracted  from  the  Sermon  preached  at  his  funeral  by 
Rev.  Di.  Buckminster  of  Portsmouth^ 

The  Reverend  Moses  Hemmemway  D.  D.  w^as  born 
in  Framingham,  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  the  place  of 
my  forefathers  sepulchres,  and  of  the  nativity  of  my 
honored  father,  from  whom  I  heard  the  fame  of  your 
pastor,  before  I  had  opportunity  to  see  his  face.  He 
entered  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College.  He  was 
there  distinguished  for  his  close  application,  his  patience 
of  study,  his  eminent  proficiency  in  the  Greek  and  Ro- 
man classicks,  and  his  acquaintance  with  theological 
writers  of  distinction  in  the  learned  languages.  The 
common  degrees  of  the  University  he  received  in  their 
order ;  and,  for  his  singular  merits,  he  was  honored  with 
a  doctorate,  at  an  earlier  period  of  life  than  had  been 
common  for  that  seminary  to  give  to  its  sons.  To  the 
profession  of  divinity,  and  the  work  of  the  ministry,  he 
was  probably  devoted  in   early   life,  and  he  sought  a 


APPENDIX.  5 

Hbefal  education,  as  a  desirable  and  reputable  prere*- 
quisite  to  it.  It  is  certain  the  great  Head  of  the  Church 
had  designed  him  for  this  service,  and  lumished  him 
tvith  a  rare  assemblage  of  talents,  to  defend  the  Gospel, 
and  vindicate  its  truths,  against  the  errors  in  principle 
and  practice,  which  He  foresaw  would  harrass  the 
Church,  in  the  season  in  which  he  was  to  perform  his 
ministry.  He  had  a  great  degree  of  metaphysical  acu* 
men,  and  accuracy  in  logical  investigation,  a  kind  of 
instinctive  perception  of  the  force  of  an  argument,  and 
an  uncommon  patience  at  disentangling  the  snarle  of 
sophistry,  and  making  plain  their  perplexing  appear- 
ance. 

While  the  talents  and  acquirements  of  your  departed 
pastor,  would  have  entitled  him  to  a  ministry,  in  a  most 
eminent  situation,  or  to  a  high  office  in  a  seminary  of 
science,  it  was  more  congenial  to  his  modesty  and  meek- 
ness, to  his  habits  and  manners,  to  his  taste  and  disposi- 
tion, to  be  far  from  the  interruptions  and  snares  of 
Wealth  and  grandeur,  and  from  the  frivolous  etiquettes 
and  fashions  of  the  world.  Providence  opened  for  him 
a  field  of  service  in  this  highly  favored  village.  For 
you  my  brethren,  God  designed  him,  and  you  must  an- 
swer for  such  a  gift.  Here  he  pursued  his  favorite* 
studie*;  with  an  ardor  and  perseverance  that  were  un- 
common under  the  pressure  of  difficulties,  and  in  the 
view  of  obstacles,  that  would  have  discouraged  almost 
any  other  man.  I  presume  1  do  not  mistake,  when  I 
say,  that  he  read  and  studied  the  ponderous  volumes, 
called  the  Father's,  when   most   of  his   fellow  mortak 


6  APPENDIX. 

were  lost  In  sleep,  or  indulging  in  indolence.  Anxious 
to  derive  his  knowledge  from  the  sacred  sources,  and 
confirm,  or  correct  his  sentiments  by  their  agreement 
or  disagreement  with  that  unerring  standard,  he  studied 
the  scriptures  with  great  care,  and  accurate  attention. 

With  controversial    divinity,  the  Doctor   was  so  fa- 
miliarly acquainted,  as  not  to  be  confused  in  his  system 
of  doctrines,  by  any  objections  or  arguments  that  pre- 
tended to  novelty,  they    had   been   anticipated  by  him, 
and  their  review,  if  it  inci eased  his  candor,  increased  hi& 
conviction  of  the  truth  of  his  own    system.     The  sys- 
tem of  doctrines  which  our  departed   friend  embraced, 
which  he  preached,  and  loved,  was    that   which  is  con* 
tained  in  the  Westminster's   assemblies  catechism,  and 
confession  of  faith,  the  doctrines  that  are  stiled  the  doc- 
trines of  the  reformation,   the  doctrines  that  our  fore- 
fathers brought  to  this  country,  the  doctrines  wnth  which 
the  constellation    of  divines,  of  the  former  part  of  the 
last  century,    enlightened,  edified,   and    comforted  the 
Church.     The  Doctor  was  a   sincere  and  firm  calvlnist 
of  the  old  school,  though  candid  and  charitable  to  such 
as  had  their  doubts  and  scruples  upon  some  of  its  doc- 
trines.    He  was  alarmed  at  some    of  the  strange  cions 
'which  modern  Calvinism  has  attempted  to    graft    upon 
this  Ltock,    and,    by   the   subtleties   of  metaphysics    to 
prove  that  they  were  legitimate  spiours  fiom  its  venera- 
ble roots.     Once  and  again    his  pen    was    empjoyed  to 
vindicate  truth  and  duty  ;  such   was    the    estimaiion  in 
tvhich  he  was  held,  by    his    fathers  and    bretlir-en   that 
tl->eir  eyes  were  turned  to  liim  when  young,  to  root  out 


APTENDIX.  7 

•t^'.e  weeds  that  were  sown  in  the  field  of  truih,  and  re- 
move impediments  cast  into  the  path  of  duty.  As  a 
disputant  and  controversial  writer,  the  Doctoi  was  fair, 
.candid,  and  dispassionate.  He  contended  not  for  mas- 
tery, but  for  the  support  of  truth  and  refutation  of  error, 
and  though  he  possessed  a  vein  of  humour,  and  could 
dexterously  wield  the  shafcs  of  satire,  he  never  employ- 
ed them  to  confound  his  antagonist,  or  to  render  ridic- 
ulous what  he  could  not  fairly  ansv^er.  He  wrote, 
cither  In  labored  essays,  or  ephemeral  publications,  upon 
many  of  the  questions  that  have  been  subjects  of  dispute 
or  inquiry  In  our  day  ;  and  if  he  did  not  remove  all 
difficulties,  and  satisfy  all  scruples,  it  will  be  conceded 
that  he  threw  light  upon  all  the  subjects  that  he  at- 
tempted. 

The  revival  of  the  arlan  and  socialan  heresy  much  a 
larmed  and  affected  the  mind  and  heart  of  our  departed 
friend,  principally  on  account  of  the  loose  system  of 
doctrines  and  morals,  with  which  it  Is  connected,  and 
in  which  It  Invariably  Issues  ;  several  communications 
of  his,  under  fictitious  signatures,  have  enriched  the 
pages  of  respectable  periodical  works,  and  it  is  presum- 
ed, he  has  left  with  his  manuscripts,  a  more  labored  dis- 
cussion  of  the  subjects,  which  It  is  hoped  will  one  day 
see  the  light. 

As  a  sermonizer,  the  Doctor  was  eminent  ;  his  style 
was  pure  and  nervous,  his  subjects  were  solemn  and  Im- 
portant ;  and  however  doctrinal  or  speculative,  they  al- 
ways ran  in  an  evangelical  channel,  and  Issued  In  prac- 
tical effect.  He  never  offered  to  the  Lord  "  that  which 
1 


8  APPENDIX. 

cost  him  nothing."  His  habit  of  thoroughly  invesffga- 
ting  a  subject,  of  saying  all  that  was  pertinent  upon  it, 
rendered  him  often  proHx,  and  sometimes  tedious,  to 
those  who  were  soon  tired  of  religious  discussions,  and 
not  sufficiently  interested  in  the  all  important  subject, 
to  be  engaged  by  the  purity,  piety,  and  soundness  of  his 
remarks  ;  but  to  those  "  whose  spiritual  senses  were 
exercised  to  discern  the  things  of  the  spirit  of  God" — and 
who  knew  how  to  estimate  an  address  from  the  sacred 
desk,  he  was  always  interesting  and  edifying.  Hi?  em- 
inence in  this  part  of  his  office  called  him  to  officiate  on 
those  public  occasions  which  seek  the  service  of  those 
whose  praise  is  in  the  churches.  His  Election  sermon, 
his  Convention  sermon,  and  his  Dudlean  lecture  sermon, 
are  second  to  few,  if  any,  that  have  been  exhibited  on 
those  occasions. 

As  a  preacher,  the  eloquence  of  our  departed  friend 
^vas  that  of  nature  and  not  of  art.  He  felt  his  subject, 
and  with  native  simplicity  gave  it  an  impressive  Influence 
on  the  hearer.  As  the  Doctor  resembled  the  Apostle 
Paul  in  some  eminent  traits  that  distinguished  that  in- 
spired character,  so  he  partook  in  the  illiberal  remark 
that  was  made  upon  that  great  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles. 
'*  His  letters,  say  they  are  weighty  and  powerful,  but 
his  bodily  presence  weak  and  his  speech  contemptible  ! '' 
But  how  often  did  he  make  the  hearer  lose  sight  of  all 
other  considerations  by  the  merit  of  his  address  and  the 
impressive  manner  with  which  he  delivered  it. 

In  devotional  exercises,  the  Doctor  was  always  pious 
aod  devout.    He  was  a  raan  of  prayer.     UpQn  special 


APPENDIX.  9 

'occasions,  he  ordinarily  excelled,  accommodating  Mn. - 
self  with  a  peculiar  pertinency,  that  Inteiested  and  af- 
fected all  who  joined  with  him.  He  was  equally  re- 
moved from  the  rhapsodies  of  enthusiasts,  the  wildness 
of  fanatics,  and  the  coldness  and  indifference  of  philo- 
sophic christians,  who  think  the  passions  have  nothing 
to  do  with  religion.  But  with  these  eminent  qualities 
and  talents  there  were  combined,  as  the  most  prominent 
traits  in  the  Doctor's  character  mildness  and  meekness, 
an  unobtrusiveness  of  temper  and  deportment,  a  dispo- 
sition to  esteem  others  better  than  himself.  In  this  he 
resembled  the  leader  of  God's  people,  inheriiing  his 
spirit,  as  he  bore  his  name. 

But  that  which  was  the  crown  upon  all  his  faculties, 
and  was  the  excellency  of  his  excellencies,  they  were 
sanctified  by  divine  grace  and  devoted  to  the  service  and 
honor  of  God.  At  what  period  of  life,  the  power  of 
divine  grace  took  possession  of  the  heart  of  our  pious 
friend,  I  believe  he  did  not  pretend  to  decide.  He  fully 
believed  the  necessity  of  a  spiritual  change,  by  the  su- 
pernatural agency  and  influence  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
he  gave  more  and  more  evidence  to  all  that  knew  him, 
that  he  was  a  subject  of  this  change  ;  and  he  obtained 
more  and  more,  the  assurance  of  hope  that  Ke  had  re- 
ceived that  "  living  water,"  which  as  a  "  well  of  water 
was  springing  up  to  everlasting  life,"  conforming  him 
to  the  spirit  and  temper  of  Christ,  and  transforming  him 
fnto  the  divine  imagei 


iOl  APPENDIX^ 

No.  3, 

FROM    PAGE    27. 

The  manner  in  which  Mr.  Wade  proceeded  in  gatfe* 
ering  the  Church  at  Berwick,  is  thns  ftated  in  his  own 
hand  writing  in  the  ancient  record  of  that  Church  : 

"(A.  D.  1701.  Dec.  21.  After  a  meeting  on  the 
-Lord's  day.)  At  a  meeting  notified  a  fortnrght  before, 
in  order  to  the  gathering  of  a  church,  divers  persons 
appearing,  I  began  with  prayer.  After  which  T  plainly 
discoursed  before  them  about  the  nature  of  a  churchy 
and  the  necessity,  advantage,and  signification  of  Christ's 
ordinances.  After  which  I  asked  every  person  there 
by  name  whether  they  were  desirous  to  join  togetl^er  in 
Church  order  ?  Then  taking  notice  of  the  persons  con- 
senting, I  charged  them  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  not  for  any  vain  end  whatever  to  desire  an  ap- 
proach to  Christ's  ordinances,  but  to  draw  near'tc 
Christ  therein. 

1.  With  a  right  understanding  of  them. 

2.  With  a  sense  of  duty. 

3.  With  a  sense  of  their  need  of  them  as  helps  foi- 
the  increase  of  grace  and  mortifying  of  sin. 

Then  I  counselled  them,  if  any  were  offended  at,  or 
unsatisfied  about  joining  with  any  person  or  persons  wha 
had  now  offered  themselves,  that  they  should  by  no 
means  expose  their  names  by  openly  objecting  against 
them,  but  in  due  time  privately  inform  me  about  the 
fame,  that  satisfaction  might  be  either  given  or  a  stop 
put  to  tlie  offending  peisons  proceeding,  withont   any 


APPENDIX.  li 

blast  of  his  reputation,  or  discouragement  to  his  future 
offering  himself  when  better  prepared.  Finally,  I  ap- 
pointed a  private  meeting  to  be  on  the  first  Monday  of 

March  1702  signifying  that  before  that  meeting  they 
must  be  examined  by  me  and  publicly  propounded  for 
satisfaction  about  their  conversation,  and  so  they  were 
difmiifed  with  prayer. 

Before  the  second  meeting  the  several  persons  were 
privately  examined  as  to  their  creed,  by  such  questions 
as  these — By  whom  were  you  made  ?  How  many  per. 
sons  are  there  in  the  Deity  ?  In  what  condition  were  we 
first  created  ?  Did  we  so  continue  ?  What  are  we  by 
nature  ?  What  are  the  wages  of  sin  ?  How  do  you 
hope  to  be  saved  ?  Who  is  Jesus  Christ  ?  Is  he  God,  or 
man,  or  both  ?  Why  was  it  necessary  that  he  should  be 
man  ?  Why  that  he  should  be  God  as  well  as  man  ?  What 
must  we  do  to  be  interested  in  Christ  ?  Is  no  faith  true 
without  repentance  and  obedience  ;  Must  those  that 
would  be  saved  through  Christ  observe  Gospel  ordinan- 
ces as  well  as  the  moral  law  ?  How  many  sacraments 
are  there,  and  which  ?  What  is  signified  in  Baptism  ? 
What  is  signified  by  the  Lord's  supper  ;  Do  you  believe 
there  will  be  a  resurrection  of  the  dead  ?  and  a  general 
judgment  ?  W^hat  will  then  be  the  portion  of  true  believ* 
ers  ?  And  what  will  become  of  unbelievers  ?  To  which 
questions  after  they  had  given  a  satisfactory  answer  I 
drew  forth  their  profession  by  questions  to  this  purpose- 
Were  you  ever  convicted  of  your  own  sinfulnefs  and 
danger  thereby  ?  Do  you  (so  far  as  you  know  your  owit 
heart)  repent  of  and  desire  to  forsake  all  your  sins  ?  do 
you  not  only  see  the  necessity  and  sufficiency  of  Chris*, 


12  APPENDIX. 

bat  do  you  trust  to  him  alone  to  lave  you  :  Are  yo:i 
desirous  to  walk  ia  bb  ordinances  as  it  b  yotu  doty  aod 
spiritual  privilege  r  Do  yoa  (or  will  you)  endeavour  to 
obey  him  in  cvtry  thing,  not  satlilyiKg  yourselves  m 
complyiiig  only  with  some  particular  precepts  ?  Do  yon 
wilhngly  subject  yourself  to  the  government  of  Christ's 
house,  ;*«  well  as  aim  at  the  privileges  of  it  I — Having 
leceived  al«.o  an  aiuv/er  of  consent  to  these  questions  I 
publicly  propounded  them  a  fortnight  before  the  second 
meeting,  none  objecting  against  their  conversation. 

March  2nd,  1702.  Was  our  second  meeting,  where 
after  thanksgiving  to  God  for  such  a  prospect  of  hi; 
favor  as  was  before  us,  and  imploring  his  assisting  and 
succeeding  grace  in  our  enterprize,  1  gave  an  account 
of  the  satiifacilon  I  had  received  of  them  severally  ;  re- 
peating over  the  above  said  questions  to  them  and  the 
:um  of  tPieir  answers,  amounting  to  an  entire  confession 
of  faith  in  the  fundamentals  of  Christianity,  tell  ng  them 
that  they  ^ere  severally  conscious  of  my  dealing  with 
ihem  as  above  said,  and  a>  each  had  expressed  his  an- 
swer  so  all  had  to  the  substance  thereof,  so  that  they 
were  all  professedly  of  one  faith.  I  then  propounded 
v/hether  they  were  satisfied  to  the  conversation  of  cne 
another  ?  They  signified  that  they  were.  Upon  ^hich 
I  read  to  them  a  confession  of  faith,  and  Church  cove- 
nant, to  which  they  jointly  assented.  Then  after  renew- 
ing a  word  of  warning  and  exhortation  to  them  we 
agreed  to  keep  a  day  of  public  fasting  and  prayer  om 
June  4th,  and  so  dismissed  them  with  prayer. 

June  4, 1702,--BeiDg  fast  day,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Joh» 


Ai'pr.MJix.  13 

Pike  Pastor  of  the  Church  of  Christ  at  Dover,*  Mr. 
Saniuel  Emery,  Pastor  of  the  Church  at  Wells,  and  Mr. 
Samuel  Moody,  Pastor  of  the  Church  at  York,  coming 
to  our  assistance  ;  after  prayer  and  a  Sermon  by  Mr. 
Pike  for  our  direction,  Mr.  Pike,  &c.  taking  cognizance 
of  our  proceedings,  and  seeing  all  their  assent  to  the  arti- 
cles of  faith  and  form  of  Covenant  then  publicly  read, 
and  their  satisfaction  one  with  another,  pronounced 
them  a  Church  of  Jesus  Christ.  Upon  which  they  sig- 
nified their  choice  of  J.  Wade  as  their  Pastor." 


NO.  4. 

FROM    PAGE   31. 

Confession  ot  faith  of  the  1st  Church  in  Kittcry  sub^ 
scribed  Nov.  '1-,  1714. 

*'This  confession  of  faith  made  Nov.  4-,  1711'  in  the 
presence  of  the  Rev.  Elders  and  Messengers  of  the 
Cliurches,  viz.  of  Portsmouth,  York,  Wells,  Berwick, 
and  New-Castle  ;  at  wliich  time  the  Church  was  gath- 
ered, in  Kittery. 

1.  We  believe  that  there  is  one  only  living  and  true 
God,  eternal  and  infmice  in  Being  and  all  j)erfectIons  ; 
subsisting  in  tlirce  persons.  Father,  Son  and  Holy 
Ghost,  being  one  in  substance,  equal  i.*"*  power  and 
glory. 

2.  That  this  glorious  God  is  the  maker,  preserver, 
and  disposer  of  all  things  for  his  own  glory. 

t'j.  That  God  in  the  beginning   made    man  upright, 


♦N'c>w  Sjrr.(.rt\ronh. 


I4l  APPENDIX. 

after  his  own  image,  having  the  law  of  God  written  pn 
his  heart,  with  power  to  fulfil,  and  endowed  with  natu. 
ral  abilities  to  serve  and  glorify  his  Maker :  and  so 
made  capable  by  doing  his  will  to  secure  his  favour  ia 
a  state  of  immortality  :  yet  under  a  possibility  of  trans- 
gressing being  left  to  the  liberty  of  his  own  will  which 
was  subject  to  change. 

4.  That  all  mankind  sinned  in  their  first  Parents, 
and  brake  God's  command,  and  so,  forfeited  and  lost 
God's  favour  and  all  happiness  :  and  thereby  exposed 
themselves  to  a  state  of  sinfulness  and  misery,  the  curse 
(?f  the  law,  the  wrath  of  Qod  unto  death  spiritual,  tern- 
poral,  and  eternal. 

5.  That  m:in  having  lost  his  original  righteousness, 
and  become  a  sinner  is  utterly  disabled  of  himself  to 
perform  that  obedience  which  is  required  to  salvation. 

6.  That  God  from  his  great  love  to  mankind  (as 
one  special  motive)  sent  his  only  begotten  Son  Jesus 
Christ  into  the  world,  in  the  likeness  of  sinful  flesh,  to 
,be  a  Mediator  between  God  and  man,  to  redeem  us, 
and  perform  this  obedience  for  us. 

7.  That  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  according  to  an 
eternal  covenant  transacted  between  the  Father  and 
Himself  assumed  the  human  nature  to  the  divine  ;  and 
became  God-man,  having  two  distinct  natures  in  one 
person. 

8.  That  Christ  in  respect  of  his  Divine  nature  is  truly 
God,  coequal  with  the  Father  from  eternity,  and  in  re- 
spect of  his  human  nature,  he  is  trnly  a  man,  having 
(or  taking  to  himself)  a  real  body,  and  a  reasonable 


APPENDIX.  i5^ 

soiil,  and  made  like  unto  his  brethren  in  all  points  ex- 
cept sin. 

9.  That  this  hypostatical  or  real  union  of  two  dis* 
tinct  natures  in  the  same  pers^on,  did  completely  fit 
him  for  the  office  of  a  Mediator  between  God  and 
man. 

10.  That  by  virtue  of  his  human  nature  he  was  made 
capable  of  feeling  our  infirmities  and  oiFering  up  of 
himself  to  God  for  an  atonement  for  sin,  whereby  he 
hath  suffered,  and  satisfied  for  sin,  in  the  sam.e  nature 
m  which  it  was  committed. 

1 1.  That  by  virtue  of  his  divine  nature  he  hath  sanc- 
tified this  great  sacrifice,  and  made  it  Of  sufEcient  value 
for  that  ******  (MS  wanting.) 

12.  That  Christ  our  Immanuel  hath  fulfilled  all 
righteousness  for  us  by  his  active  and  passive  obedience, 
whereby  he  hath  obtained  eternal  redemption  for  all 
that  believe  and  obey  him. 

That  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  Mediator,  is  the 
Prophet,  Priest,  arid  King,  the  Head  and  Saviour  of 
his  Church,  the  Heir  of  all  things,  and  Judge  of  the 
world. 

14.  Tliat  all  Christianity  is  comprehended  in  f^iitb. 
and  obedience. 

1 5.  That  Jesus  Christ  as  Mediator  is  the  propci  ob-- 
ject  of  faith  and  prayer. 

16.  That  the  Uiih  whereby  we  are  interested  in  Je- 
^us  Christ  is  the  gift  of  God,  ordinarily  wrought  in  us 
by  the  preaching  of  the  word,  whereby  we  are  pei- 
suuded  to  accept,  receive  and  rest  upon  Christ  ;^Qn&» 


f« 


APPENDIX. 


for  justification,  sanctlfication,  and  eternal  life  ;  the  in- 
separable adjuncts,  and  consequents,  and  fruits  of 
which  are  faith,  repentance,  and  new  obedience. 

17.  That  unfeigned  subjection  to  the  laws  and  insti«. 
tutions  of  Chiist  is  the  sum  of  gospel  obedience. 

18.  That  whosoever  believes  in  Jesus  Christ,  re- 
ceives him,  and  submits  to  him,  in  all  his  offices,  and 
lives  according  to  his  Gospel  commands,  shall  be  justi- 
fied and  saved. 

19.  That  religious  worship  is  to  be  given  to  God 
the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit,  and  to  him  alone. 

20.  That  prayer  with  thanksgiving  being  one  spe- 
cial part  of  religious  worship,  is  required  of  all  men, 
and  that  it  may  be  accepted,  it  is  to  be  made  in  the 
name  of  the  Son,  by  the  help  of  the  Spirit,  according 
to  the  will  of  God. 

21.  That  Christ  is  personally  present  in  heaven,  pow- 
erfully present  every  where,  and  spiritually  present  in 
his  saints. 

22.  That  as  the  Father  hath  loved  us,  and  the  Son 
redeemed  us,  so  the  Holy  Ghost  doth  quicken  and 
sanctify  us  to  every  good  work  here,  and  to  his  heaven- 
ly kingdom  hereafter. 

23.  That  Christ  hath  his  Church  in  all  ages  of  the 
world,  which  he  will  redeem,  govern,  and  preserve,  and 
in  time,  by  his  word  and  spirit,  effectually  call  and 
make  partakers  of  the  benefits  of  redemption,  viz.  ju^ 
tificatlon,  adoption,  sanctlfication,  and  eternal  glory. 

24-.  That  a  true  Church  of  Christ  is  a  company  of 
holy  and  believing  persons  joined  together  by  a  special 


Al»rENDIX.  17 

bond  or  covenant  to  walk  and  worship  God  according 
to  gospel  rules  and  ordinances. 

25.  That  believers  are  made  a  particular  Church  by 
mutually  professing  the  same  faith,  submitting  them- 
selves to  one  another,  and  all  to  and  under  Christ  the 
head  in  the  way  of  his  ordinances. 

26.  That  gospel  sacraments  are  holy  ordinances  in- 
stituted by  Christ  himself,  to  be  perpetually  observed 
in  his  Church,  wherein  by  sensible  signs,  Christ  and  the 
benefits  of  the  covenant  ®f  grace  are  represented,  seal* 
ed,  and  applied. 

27.  That  the  Sacraments  of  the  New  Testament  are 
only  two,  viz.  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper. 

28.  That  Baptism  is  a  Sacrament  wherein  is  signi- 
fied and  sealed  our  ingrafting  into  Christ  and  partaking 
of  the  benefits  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  and  our  en- 
gagement to  be  the  Lord's. 

29.  That  Baptism  is  a  privilege  belonging  to  be- 
lievers and  their  children. 

30.  That  the  Lord's  supper  is  a  Sacrament  wheiein 
by  giving  and  receiving  bread  and  wine  according  to 
Christ's  appointment  his  death  is  represented  to  us,  his 
merits  and  benefits  offered  to  us,  and  received  by  us, 
not  after  a  corporal  and  carnal  manner,  but  by  faith 
and  holy  affections,  for  our  spiritual  nourishment  and 
growth  in  grace  to  eternal  life. 

31.  That  there  shall  be  a  resurrection  of  the  body 
for  substance,  (though  much  aJtered  as  to  the  qualities 
and  circumstances  thereof)  and  a  reuniting  of  it  to  the 
s!wpe  soul  when  it  shall  appear  before  Christ  in  the 


itS  APl'ENDIX. 

great  and  last  day  of  judgment  to  receive   an   eternal 
sentence  of  happiness  or  misery. 

32.  That  God  hath  appointed  a  day  wherein  he  will 
judge  the  world  in  righteousness  by  Jesus  Christ,  and 
that  every  one  shall  then  receive  a  reward  according  to 
his  works. 

33.  That  the  Holy  Scriptures  contained  in  the  Old 
and  New  Testament  is  the  perfect  and  only  rule  of 
faith  and  manners. 

34.  That  the  Holy  Spirit  Is  our  guide,  director,  and 
lielper,  both  to  understand  and  walk  by  this  rule. 

35.  That  as  many  as  walk   according  to   this    lule 
with  an  upright  heart  shall  enjoy  communion  with  God 
here,  and  everlasting  happiness  and  glory  hereafter.''* 
(Signed) 

John  Newmarch,  Samuel  Sklllin, 

William  Pepperrell,  Samuel  Hutchins,, 

Elihu  Gunnison,  John  Adams, 

John  Dennet,  James  Fernald, 

Henry  Barter,  Dodavah  Curtise;, 

John  Fernald,  Thomas  "Rice, 

Ebenezer  Emones,  George  Jackson, 

Joseph  Mitchell,  John  Ford, 

John  Ingersoll,  Samuel  Ford. 
These,  with    twenty-five    females,    constituted    the 

Church,  of   which   Henry   Barter   and    John   Fernald 

w«re  appointed  Deacons. 


APPENDIX.  19 

No.  5. 

FROM    PAGE    83. 

The  following  extract  from  a  Sermon  delivered  at 
the  funeral  of  Rev.  Mr.  Foxcroft  by  Rev.  Jonathan 
Scott  of  Minot,  well  exhibits  some  parts  of  his  private 
character,  and  shews  the  estimation  in  which  he  was 
held. 

"  Mr.  Foxcroft  evidently  appeared  to  possess  and  ex- 
press the  true  fear  of  Gody  both  in  word  and  deed. 
He  well  knew,  and  appeared  to  realize,  that  God  could 
not  be  deceived,  and  would  not  be  mocked  ;  under 
which  sense  he  often  had  sore  exercise  of  spirit  about 
his  state,  whether  he  was  a  subject  of  godly  sincerity ; 
which  occasioned  his  opening  his  mind  with  evident 
concern,  and  stating  many  difficulties  and  cases  of  con- 
science, for  solution,  that  he  might  not  mistake,  or  be 
deceived  in  the  great  concernment  of  his  salvation. 
The  stating  his  difficulties,  in  many  instances,  mani- 
fested what  a  deep  sense,  and  high  relish  of  divine 
things  was  impressed  on  his  soul ;  and  what  an  exten- 
sive knowledge  he  had  of  the  human  heart,  its  deep 
depravity  and  deceivings.  He  could  not  be  quiet  with 
mere  externals  in  religion,  nor  with  those  flights  of  af- 
fection, arising  from  excited  passions,  or  even  from  com. 
nion  illuminations  of  the  spirit :  nothing  seemed  to  sat- 
isfy him,  short  of  the  faith,  which  overcomes  the  heart, 
purifies  it,  mortifies  its  pride  and  worldliness,  and  acts 
out  its  divine  nature,  in  persevering  obedience  to  all 
God*s  commands  and  ordinances.      And  when  he  sus- 


so  APPENDIX. 

pected  he  was  wanting  of  true  faitli,  and  love  to  God 
and  men,  with  their  proper  fruits,  he  was  uncomfortable, 
and  cast  down.  He  appeared  like  one  carrying  a  rich 
treasure  of  gold  and  precious  stone?,  among  thieves  and 
robbers,  fearful  cf  being  pJundered. 

I  often  thought  strange  of  his  frequent  application  to 
one  so  far  inferior  to  himself,  with  respect  to  his  extensive 
reading,  his  great  and  long  acquaintance  with  the 
system  of  divinity,  his  age  and  long  experience  in  a 
religious  life.  But  the  truth  is.  Rev.  Mr.  Foxcroft  was 
clothed  'With  humility^*  and  minded  not  high  things,  but  con- 
descended to  men  of  low  estate  ;f  and  had  learned,  in 
lowliness  of  mind  to  esteem  others  better  than  himself.^ 

He  leved  retirement,  and  was  but  little  abroad,  in  the 
last  years  of  his  life.  He  did  not  seek  his  felicity  and 
chief  satisfaction  in  passing  much  of  his  time  in  crowds 
of  company,  whether  rich  or  poor  :  and  yet  he  enter- 
tained his  friends  with  muck  sociabiMty,  openness,  ci- 
vility, kindness  and  friendship.  He  was  to  appearance, 
much  abstracted  from  the  world.  He  appeared  no 
way  fearful  of  coming  to  want,  nor  was  he  in  the  habit 
of  contriving  to  advance  his  worldly  interest,  or  that 
of  his  children  ;  but  his  conversation  and  behaviour 
appeared  like  that  of  a  stranger  and  pilgrim  on  the 
eirth§ 

Mr.  Foxcroft  appeared  aflFectionately  concerned  for 
the  spiritual  a  d  eternal  welfare  of  his  children.  In  a 
solemn,   understanding   manner   would  he   set  before 


♦  I  Pet.  V.  5.  t  Rom,  xii,  i6. 

t  Phil,  ii.  2-  S  Hcb.  Ki.  13. 


APPENDIX.  SI 

them  the  necessity  and  importance  of  their  be?ng  recon- 
ciled to  God,  and  devoted  to  his  service ;  and  often  re- 
quested assistance  on  their  behalf,  that  their  minds  and 
heaits  might  be  suitably  impressed  with  a  sense  of  di- 
vine things.  And  the  day  before  he  left  the  world, 
being  as  well,  to  appearance,  in  bodily  health  as  he  had 
been  for  days  before,  he  was  observed  to  be  earnestly 
engaged  in  prayer  to  God  for  his  cbiUren,  and  grand 
children,  that  the  blessings  of  God  might  descend  and 
rest  upon  them. 

Mr.  Foxcroft  was  a  man  of  prayer.  His  approaches 
to  the  Divine  Majesty,  were  accompanied  with  the 
deepest  humility  of  speech  and  gesture,  and  awful 
sense  of  the  infinite  distance  between  the  glorious  and 
holy  God,  and  sinful  man.  The  wants  and  necessities 
of  sinful  men  he  well  understood  ;  and  his  expressions  in 
prayer  were  suitable,  solemn,  and  easy  to  be  understood. 
As  to  fervour  in  prayer,  he  appeared  to  be  a  true  son 
of  Jacoby  possessing  a  spirit  of  prayer  and  faith.  Fre- 
quently, in  prayer,  he  seemed  as  if  his  very  heart  and 
soul  w^ent  forth  with  his  petitions  to  God.  We  have 
reason  to  hope,  that  his  departed  spirit  Is  now  with  that 
God  and  Saviour  whom  he  sought  and  served  with 
tears.  He  has  got  through  death,  and,  as  we  may  hope, 
has  left  his  weakness,  his  fears  and  sighs  behind  ;  rest- 
ing from  his  labours  and  sorrows,  in  assured  expecta- 
tion of  the  refinement  and  recovery  of  his  body  from  the 
grave,  when  he  shall  be  a  joyful  witness  of  the  truth  of 
our  text,  and  see  death  swallowed  up  in  victory,'* 


SS  APPENDIX. 

No.  6. 

A  Table  exhibiting  at  one  view  the  names  of  all  the 
Congregational  and  Presbyterian  Ministers  who  have 
ever  been  settled  in  Maine,  with  the  number  of  the 
years  of  their  ministry. 

AIIUANGED  IN  COUNTIES. 


COUNTY  OF 

YORK. 

Name  of 

Names  of  the  Ministers. 

When 

Veari 

tlie  Town. 

ordained. 

served 

i.  How  removed. 

York,  1st  Shubael  Dummer 

1673 

19 

Killed  by 

Church. 

the  Indians. 

Samuel  Moody, 

1700 

47 

Died. 

Isaac  Lyman, 

1749 

61 

Died. 

Rosewell  Messenger, 

1798 

15 

Dismissed- 

Moses  Dow, 

1815 

2nd 

Joseph  Moody, 

1732 

6 

Dismissed. 

Church. 

Samuel  Chandler, 

1742 

10 

Dismissed. 

Samuel  Lankton, 

1754 

40 

Died. 

Isaac  Briggs, 

1798 

7 

Dismissed. 

Wells. 

Samuel  Emery, 

1701 

24 

Died. 

Samuel  JefFerds, 

1725 

27 

Died. 

Gideon  Richardson, 

1754 

4 

Died. 

Moses  Hemmenway, 

1759 

51 

Died. 

Benjamin  White, 

1811 

2 

Died 

Jonathan  Greenleaf,      1815 


APPENDIX, 

^ 

Kame  of             Name  of  the  Ministers. 

When 

years 

the  lowns. 

ordained. 

served.  How  removed 

Soalh        John  Wade, 

1702 

1 

Died. 

Berwick.  Jeremiah  Wi^e, 

1707 

49 

Died. 

Jacob  Foster, 

1757 

21 

Dismissed. 

John  Thompson, 

1778 

Kittery    John  Newmarch, 

1714. 

40 

Died. 

IstChh.   Benjanyn  Steveni, 

1750 

40 

Died. 

Jonas  Hartwell, 

1791 

6 

Dismissed. 

William  Briggs, 

1798 

16 

Dismissed. 

Stephen  Merrill, 

1821 

2nd  Chh.  Josiah  Chace, 

1750 

28 

Died, 

Joseph  I  •chfield, 

1782 

Eliot.       John  Rogers, 

1721 

52 

Died. 

Alpheus  Spring, 

1768 

23 

Died. 

Samuel  Chandler, 

1792 

Biddeford, Samuel  Williard, 

1730 

11 

Died, 

1st  Chh.   Moses  Morrill, 

1742 

35 

Died. 

Nathaniel  Webster, 

1779 

2nd  Chh.  John  Turner, 

1805 

12 

Dismissed. 

Arundel,  Thomas  Prentice, 

1730 

8 

Dismissed. 

now  Ken- John  Hovey, 

1741 

27 

Dismissed. 

nebunk     Silas  Moody, 

1771 

45 

Died. 

port.       Geo!  g.'  Payson, 

1816 

4 

Dismissed. 

Joseph  P.  Fessenden, 

1820 

- 

Kenne-     Daniel  Little, 

1750 

51 

Died. 

bunk.     Nathaniel  H  Fletcher,  1  »00 

g* 


m 


APPENDIX. 


Name  of             Name  of  the  Minbters.  When 

the  Towns.  ordained, 

BeJ-wick.  John  Morse,  1755 

Matthew  Merrlam,  1765 

Joseph  Hilliard,  1797 

Saco.        John  Fairfield,  1762 

Elihu  Whitcomb,  1799 

Jonathan  Cogswell,  1810 


Vcars 
served.  How  rcmo'vecfi 

10    Died. 
32    Died. 


34     Dismissed* 
1 1     Dismissed4. 


Buxton.    Paul  Coffin,  1763 

Levi  Loring,  1817 

Lebanon.  Isaac  Hasey,  1765 

PaulJewett,  1814 


58    Died: 


47    Died. 
-5     Dismissed. 


Sanford.    Moses  Sweat, 


1786 


Alfred.      John  Turner, 
Joseph  Brown, 
Nathan  Douglas, 

1791 

1805 
1816 

13 
4 

Dismissed. 
Dismissed 

Liming- 
ton.         Jonathan  Atkinson, 

1794 

20 

Dismissed. 

Parsons- 
field.       Benjamin  Rolfe, 

1795 

20 

Dismissed^ 

Limerick,  Edmund  Eastman, 
Chiir'es  Freeman, 

1795 
1820 

17 

Died. 

Shapleigh. Joseph  Brown, 

1796 

8 

Dismissed. 

Newfield.  John  Dane, 

1803 

1 

DisJiiis^ed. 

Lyman.    Jonathan  Cakf, 

1801 

APPENDIX. 


s$ 


COUNTY  OF  CUMBERLAND^. 


Name  of 

When 

Years 

the  Town. 

Names  of  the  Ministers.          ordained     i 

served. 

How  cemovcd.- 

Portland  Thomas  Smith, 

1727 

68 

Died. 

1st  Chh. 

Samuel  Deane, 

1764. 

50 

Died. 

"- 

Ichabod  Nichols, 

1809 

2d  Chh. 

Elijah  Kellogg, 
Edward  Payson, 

1788 
1807 

23 

Dismissed 

3d  Chh. 
Chapel 

Nathan  S.  S.  BeemaD; 
Elijah  Kellogg, 

,1808 
1812 

8 

Dismissed. 

Chh. 

Thomas  J.  Murdock, 

1819 

1 

Dismissed. 

Scarbor- 

William ThompaOB, 

1727 

32 

Died. 

ough, 

Thomas  Pieice, 

1762 

12 

Died. 

1st  Chh. 

Thomas  Lancaster 

1775 

2d  Chh. 

Richard  Elvins, 

1744 

31 

Died. 

Benjamin  Chadwick, 

1776 

19 

Dismissed. 

Nathan  Tilton, 

1800 

North- 

Amml  R.  Cutter, 

17S0 

5 

Dismissed. 

Yar- 

Nicholas  Loring, 

1736 

27 

Died. 

mouth, 

Edward  Brooks, 

1764 

5 

Dismissed. 

1st  Chh. 

Tristram  Gilman, 

1769 

40 

Died. 

Francis  Brown, 

1810 

5 

Dismissed. 

Joseph  W.  Curtis, 

1816 

1 

Dismissed. 

Samuel  Woodbury, 

1S17 

2 

Died. 

Asa  Cummings, 

1821 

2d  Chh. 

John  Dutton, 

Otis  Crosby  Whiton, 

1806 
1817 

8 

Dismissed. 

Chapel 

Chh. 

Noah  Cresey, 

1820 

86 

APPENDIX. 

N:.me  of 
the   Town. 

Names  of  the  Ministers. 

When     Yem 
ordainsd.  served. 

How  removed. 

Cape 

Benjamin  Allen, 

17S4. 

20 

Died, 

Eliza- 

E phi  aim  Clark, 

1756 

41 

Died. 

beth. 

William  Gregg, 

1801 

6 

Dismissed. 

Benjamin  Sawyer, 

1809 

3 

Dismissed, 

William  Gregg, 

1815 

Wind- 

John Wight, 

1743 

10 

Diecf. 

ham. 

Peter T  Smith, 

1762 

30 

Dismissed. 

Nathaniel  Stone, 

1798 

6 

Dismissed. 

Asa  Lyman, 

1809  6  mo. 

Dismissed. 

Gardiner  Kellogg,        1811 

Gorham.  Solomon  Lombard,     1750  14  Dismissed. 

1767  12  Dismissed. 

1783  17  Died. 

180.S  3  Died. 
1809 


Josiah  Thatcher, 
Caleb  Jewett, 
Jeremiah  Noyes, 
Asa  Rand, 

Bnins-      Rober-  Dimlap, 
wick.      John  Miller, 

Ebenezer  Coffin, 
Winthrop  Bailey, 


1747  13  Dismissed. 

1762  26  Died. 

1794  8  Dismissed; 

1811  3  Dismissed. 


Harps. 

Elisha  Eaton, 

175S 

1 1     i>Ied. 

•Weil. 

Samuel  Eaton, 

1764 

Fal- 

John  Wiswall, 

1756 

^     Dismissed. 

IDQUth. 

Ebenczr.r  '    i  'iaTr.*:. 

1765 

34    Died 

William  Miltimoie, 

1803 

AI*PENDIX. 


n 


Hivac  of  Natnei  Of  the  Ministers, 

the  Town. 

West-       Thoittas  Browne, 
brook.      Caleb  Bradley, 

New-        Samuel  Foxcroft, 
Glouces.  Elisha  Moseley, 
ter. 

Standisk.  John  Thompson, 

Jonathan  Gould, 
Daniel  Maret, 


Gray. 


Samuel  Nash, 
Samuel  Ferley, 
Daniel  Weston, 


When 

ordaincJ. 

1765 
1799 

1765 
1802 


1768 

1793 
1795 

1775 
1784? 
1803 


Yesrs 
served.  How  remov^ 

32     Died. 


28     Dismissed*. 


IS     Dismissed, 
1     Died. 


7     Dismissed. 
7    Dismissed. 


Bridgeton.  Nathan  Church,  1789 


Cumber-    Rufus  Anderson, 

1794     10    Dismissed. 

land.       Amasa  Smith, 

1806     14.    Dismissed. 

Samuel  Stone, 

1821 

Durham.  Jacob  Herrick, 


1796 


Minot 

1st  Chh.    Jonathan  Scott, 

1796 

23    Died. 

SdChh.    William  Pidgin, 

1811 

8    Dismissed. 

Wamc  of 

Kamcs  of  the  Ministers. 

When 

Years 

the  Towns, 

ordained 

served. 

How  remored. 

Freeport, 

.  Alfred  Johnson, 

1789 

16 

Dismissed. 

Samuel  Veazle, 

1806 

2 

Died. 

Reuben  Nason, 

1810 

5 

Dismissed. 

Enos  ISIerrill, 

1816 

Otis£eld. 

Thomas  Roby, 
Josiah  G.  N4errill, 

1797 
1814. 

14 

Dismissed. 

Pownal.    Perez  Chapin, 


1811 


COUKTY  OF  LINCOLN. 


New-      Alexander  Boyd, 
Castle.      Thurston  Whiting, 
Kiah  Bayley, 

George- 
town. Ezekiel  Emerson, 

Wool-  Josiah  Winship, 

wich.  Jonathan  Adams 

Booth-      John  Murray, 
baj.        John  Sawyer, 

Jabez  Pond  Fisher, 
Isaac  Weston, 


1754 

4 

Dismissed. 

1776 

5 

Dismissed, 

1797 

1765 

50 

Died. 

1764 

1817 

1766 

13 

Dismisse<l. 

1796 

10 

Dismissed. 

1809 

7 

Dismissed. 

1818 

AfPENDlX.  g9 


NaOTc  of  Same  of  the  MiuUters.  When       Years 

the  Town.  ordained,     served.  How  removed. 


Batk         Francis  Winter,  1767  19  Dismissed. 

IstChh.    HughWallis,  1795  5  Dismissed. 

Asa  Lyman,  1806  2  Dismissed. 

John  W.  EUingwood,  1812 

2dChh.    William  Jenks,  1805  12  Dismissed. 

Bristol.     Alexander  McLean,  1773  32  Died. 

William  Riddel  1796  8  Dismissed, 

Jonathan  Belden,  1807  10  Dismissed. 

Wiscas-    Thomas  Moore,  1773  18  Dismissed, 

set.         Alden  Bradford,  1793  7  Dismissed, 

Hezekiah  Packard,  1 802 

Warren.  John  Urquhart,  1775  8  Dismissed. 

Jonathan  Huse,  1795 

Topsham.  Jonathan  Ellis,  1789  20  Dismissed. 

Alna.        Jonathan  Ward  1796  20  Dismissed. 

Samuel  Johnson,  1818 

Edge-       Benjamin  Chatman,  1801  4  Died, 

comb.       Samuel  Sewall,  1807  11  Dismissed. 

Dresden.  Freeman  Parker,  1801 

Union.      Henry  True,  1806  10  Dismissed. 

Camden.  Thomas  Cochran,  1805  10  Dismissed. 


30 


Name  of 
the  Towns. 


APPENDIX, 


Nam  e  of  the  MinUters.  When       Vfits 

OTdahicd.     served.   How  irttnovcd. 


Waldo-    John  R.  Cutting,  1807       4    Dismissed, 

borough.  David  M.  Mitchell,  1816 

Thomas.  John  Lord,  1809      2    Dismissetl. 

ton.        John  H.  Isgraham,  1817 


COUNTY     OF    HANCOCK. 

Deer  Isle.  Peter  Powers, 

1785 

U 

Died. 

Joseph  Brown, 

1809 

10 

Died. 

Sedge- 

wick.         Daniel  Merrill, 

1793 

10 

Dismissed. 

Penobscot.  Jonathan  Powers, 

1795 

12 

Died. 

Philip  Spaulding, 

1809 

3 

Dismissed. 

Bluehill.     Jonathan  Fisher, 

1796 

Belfast.      Ebenezer  Price, 

1796 

6 

Dismissed. 

Alfred  Johnson, 

1805 

8 

Dismissed. 

Wm.  Frothingham, 

1819 

Castlne.      William  Mason, 

1798 

Bucksport.  Mighill  Blood, 

1803 

Ellsworth.  Peter  Nourse, 

1812 

Prospect.    Christ'r  J.  Lawton, 

1815 

COUNTY   OF  WASHINGTON. 

Machias.     James  Lyon,  1781      13 

Clark  Browne,  1795       2 

Marshfield  Steele,  1800 

Abraham  Jackson,  1821 


Died.         : 

Dismissed. 


Appendix. 


31 


■Kfame  of 
the  Towns. 


Name  of  the  Ministers.  When       Vears 

ordained     served.  How  removed. 


Robbm- 

ston.  Daniel  Lovejoy,         1818    6  m.  Dismissed. 

JLubec.        Jonathan  Bigelow,      1821 


COUNTY  OF  KENNEBECK. 


Winthrop,  David  Jewett, 

1782 

1 

Died. 

Jonathan  Balden, 

1800 

5 

Dismissed, 

David  Thurston, 

1807 

Augusta.    Isaac  Foster, 

1786 

2 

Dismi>  sed. 

Daniel  Stone, 

1795 

11 

Dismissedi 

Benjamin  Tappan, 

1811 

Hallowell.  Eliphalet  Gillet, 

1795 

Winslow.    Joshua  Cushman, 

1796 

18 

Dismissed. 

Temple.      David  Smith, 

1810 

9 

Dismissed. 

Pittston.      Daniel  Kendrick, 

1812 

8 

Dismissed. 

New-Sha- 

ron.              Hezekiah  Hall, 

1815 

9  m 

I.  Dismissed. 

Vassalbo- 

rough.          Thomas  Adams, 

1818 

Chesterville.Jothara  Sewall, 

1820 

COUNTY  OF  OXFORD. 

Fryeburg.    William  Fessenden,  1765  40  Died. 

Fi-ancis  L.  Whiting.  1809  8  Dismissed. 

Turner.       John  Strickland,         1784  13  Dismissed. 

Amasa  Smith,           1804  2  Dismissed. 

Allen  Greeijr,  1810 


aa 

APPENDIX. 

Name  of 

the   rowfi.     Names  of  the  Ministers. 

Bethel.         Daniel  Gould, 

When     Years 
ordained,  served. 

1799     10 

How  rcm»v«(l! 

Dismissed. 

Henry  Sevvall, 

1819 

1 

Dismissed. 

Waterford. 

Lincoln  Ripley, 
John  A.  Douglas, 

1799 
1821 

22 

Dismissed. 

Andover. 

John  Strickland, 

1806 

Brownfield 

.  Jacob  Rice, 

1806 

Norway. 

Noah  Cresey, 

1809 

10 

Dismissed. 

Rumford. 

Samuel  R.  Hall, 
Daniel  Gould, 

1811 
1815 

3 

Died. 

Sumner. 

Samuel  Sewall, 

1812 

Hebron. 

Henry  Sewall, 

1812 

3 

Dismissed, 

Weld. 

Pavid  Starret, 

1821 

County  of  Somerset, 

Bloorafield.  Nathaniel  Whitaker,1784<       5     Dismissed. 

Jonathan  Calef,         1794? 

John  Cay  ford,  1809 

Fifield  Holt,  1814 

Norridge- 
wock.  Josiah  Peet,  181^ 


7     Dismissed. 
3     Dismissed.- 


County  of  Penobscot. 
Bangor.        Seth  Noble,  1788       8     Dismissed. 

James  Boyd,  1800       1     Dismissed. 

Harvey  Loomis,       1811 
Brewer.        Thomas  Williams,  1812 


APPENDIX.  33 

Vacant  Churches  in  tha  several  counties  at 

the  present  time, 

York, 7 

Cumberland,             '  -         -      4 

Lincoln,            -            *  -           8 

Hancock,         -        -          -  -       8 

Washington,              ••  -                 3 

Kennebeck^          -            -  -         8 

Oxford,             -        -y        4  .         10 

Somerset,            .           *►  •            9 

Penobscot,                 .        -  -          4# 

Total     61 

^ince  the  settlement  of  the  State,  there  have  been  setr 
tied  within  its  limits  222  Congregational  and  Presbyte- 
rian Ministers  ;  of  these  55  have  died  in  the  work,  96 
have  been  dismissed,  and  71  still  remain. 


34  APPENDIX* 

No.  7. 

A  tabje  shewing  the  number  of  Congregational  and^ 
Presbyterian  Ministers  in  Maine  al;  the  end  of  every 
ten  years,  from  the  year  1 700. 


Year*. 

o 

i 

% 

8 

a 

"o 
u 

c 

J 

M 

s 

a 
X 

2 

c 

1 

1 

*5 

e 

o 

Vi 

i 

r 

1700 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

I 

1710 

3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

3 

1720 

4 

0 

0 

0 

a 

0 

0 

0 

0 

4 

1730 

7 

s 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

10 

1740 

6 

4 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

10 

1750 

10 

8 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

18 

1760 

11 

8 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

19 

1770 

14. 

13 

4 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

32 

1780 

13 

14 

7 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

35 

1790 

15 

16 

5 

1 

1 

0 

2 

0 

1 

41 

1800 

21 

17 

10 

5 

1 

4 

3 

1 

1 

63 

1810 

20 

22 

15 

6 

1 

4 

6 

1 

0 

75 

1820 

16 

22 

11 

6 

1 

5 

6 

2 

2 

71 

APPENDIX. 


35 


No.  8. 

FROM   PAGE  21  i. 

An  account  of  the  Churches  and  Ministers  of  the 
Calvinistic  Baptists  in  Maine,  with  the  date  of  the  gath- 
ering of  each  Church,  as  far  as  it  was  known,  and  the 
number  of  members  in  the  several  bodies  as  reported 
in  their  annual  minutes  for  1820.  Arranged  in  Coun- 
ties. The  names  of  ordained  ministers  are  in  Roman 
letters,  those  of  licentiates  are  in  italics. 


COUNTY  OF  YORK. 

Name  of 
the  Town. 

Arundel, 
2d  Chh. 

Date  of 
the  Chh. 

1803 

Names  of  the  Ministers. 

Jotham  Day, 

No.  of 
members., 

21 
21 

Berwick, 
2d  Chh. 

3d  Chh. 

1768 
1804^ 

1808 

Joshua  Chace, 
Nathaniel  Lord, 
Alexander  Hatch, 

130 
87 

14. 

Buxton, 

1798 

Abner  Flanders, 

SO 

Cornish, 

1792 

Timoxhy  Remick, 

69 

HoUis, 

i807 

43 

Lebanon, 

1801 

Zebedee  Delano, 
Samuel  Knox, 

87 

Limerick, 

1796 

Atherton  Clari, 
3* 

59 

8t> 

A.K1*END1X. 

Kame  of 

Date  of 

No.  oi 

the  Town. 

the  Church. 

Names  of  the  MhiUters. 

member*. 

Limington, 

1802 

John  Seavey, 
Ebenezer  P.  Kinsman, 

53 

Lyman, 

1782 

Simon  Lock, 

83 

* 

Nathaniel  LittlefeUi 

Newfield, 

1807 

19 

2d  Chh. 

14 

ParsoRsfield, 

1796 

Wentworth  Lord, 

UO 

Sandford, 

1772 

Gideon  Cook, 

130 

Shapleigh, 

1781 

William  Godding, 

103 

2d  Chh. 

1785 

John  Chadbourne, 

m 

South-Berwick, 

Ebenezer  L,  Boyd, 

Waterborough  1791 

Henry  Smith, 

102 

2d  Chh. 

1804 

18 

Wells, 

1780 

Joseph  Eaton, 
Oliver  Barron, 

Q5 

2d  Chh. 

1803 

Joshua  Roberts, 

63 

COUNTY    OF    CUMBERLAND^ 


Bridgton,  1807         Reuben  Ball  60 

Nicholas  Brayj 

Brunswick,       1789         Benjamin  Titcomb,  215 

Shimuel  Oiverty 

Cape  Elizabeth,  Noah  Hooper,  34 


APPENDIX. 

37 

Name  bf 

Date  of 

No.  of 

the  Town.             the  Church. 

Name  of  the  Ministcrs- 

member?. 

Danville, 

1808 

Joseph  Roberts, 

65 

Freeport, 

1807 

Benjamin  T'ttcomb,  jn 

46 

Harpswell, 

1786 

Samuel  Marriner, 

90 

Min®t 

1807 

George  Ricker, 

50 

NewGloucesterl794? 

Robert  Low, 

36 

North.Yar 

mouth, 

1797 

Stephen  Chapin, 

125 

Portland, 

1801 

Thomas  B.  Ripley, 

175 

Scarborough, 

19 

COUNTY   OF   LINCOLK. 

Appleton, 

j^bitJjar  Richardson, 

4r 

Bath, 

1810 

Silas  Stearns, 

19T 

Bowdoin 

1788 

Joseph  Denslow, 

122 

2nd.  Chh. 

1805 

95 

Bowdoinham, 

1784 

Daniel  Pier  son, 
Elihu  Purrington 

59 

Bristol  &  Mis 

:- 

congus  Island 

.1792 

Samuel  A.  Flagg, 

31 

Camden, 

1808 

42 

2d.  Chh. 

1808 

44 

Friendship  & 

Cushing, 

1800 

72 

Hope 

69 

Jefferson, 

1808 

William  AHen,- 

124 

2d.  Chh. 

1808 

W'tUiam  Burbanh, 

47 

Lewiston, 

1792 

Benjamin  Cole, 
James  GarceloHj 

66 

Lisbon 

Daniel  Pierce, 

^ 

3^ 

APPENDIX. 

Name  of 

Date  of 

No.  of 

the  Town          the  Church, 

Name  of  the  Ministers. 

members. 

2d.  Chh. 

19 

Litchfield, 

142 

2d.  Chh. 

William  Stinson, 

54 

Martlnicus, 

1808 

2S 

Montville, 

1807 

Job  Cushman, 

35 

2d  Chh. 

1812 

35 

MountEphraim  1801 

34* 

Nobleborough,1793 

Phinehas  Pil&bury, 

144 

2d  Chh. 

Adoniram  Judson, 

24 

Palermo, 

1805 

Stephen  Dexter, 

43 

2d  Chh. 

1809 

56 

Stetson, 

1807 

28 

St.  George, 

1789 

Benjamin  Eames> 

93 

2d  Chh. 

87 

Thomaston, 

1784^ 

Elisha  Snow, 

167 

2d  Chh. 

John  Wakefield, 

36 

Topsham, 

1816 

Henry  Kendall, 
Winslow  Staples, 

56 

New-Castle, 

12 

Union 

1801 

Lemuel  Rich, 

85 

Wales, 

James  Pierce, 

44 

Wan  en. 

1800 

Daniel  Ricker, 

120 

Whitefield, 

1789 

Joseph  Bailey, 

76 

2d  Chh. 

1809 

31 

Woolwich, 

1800 

Robert  C.  Starr, 
Samuel  Stinfon 

40 

APPENDIX. 

at 

COUNTY   OF   HANCOCK. 

Name  of 

Date  of 

No.  of 

the  Tcwn. 

the  Chh. 

Names  of  the  Ministers.' 

raemberst 

Belfkst, 

1809 

John  Wagg, 

22 

Belmont, 

38 

Bluehill, 

180& 

John  Roundy, 
"William  Johnson, 

17S 

Buckfport  and 

OrlancL 

1809 

21 

Eden, 

Enoch  Hunting, 

62 

Goldsborough 

i» 

Jo|^  Chadwick. 

14. 

Islesborough, 

1791 

49 

Knox, 

Isaac  Hall, 

50 

Mount  Desert 

S9 

Monroe 

17 

Northport, 

1807 

IS 

Prosped, 

Thomas  Merrill, 

14 

Sedgewlck, 

1805 

Ebenezer  PInkham, 

226 

SuUivan, 

1810 

Daniel  McMaster, 

42 

Surry  and 

Ellsworth, 

1807 

Bepjamin  Lord, 

64^ 

Three  mile 

square, 

15 

Trenton, 

1810 

74. 

Vinalhaven, 

1804 

Samuel  Macombei% 

121 

40 


APPENDIX, 


Name  of 
the  Town. 

Eastport, 
Machias, 
Steuben, 
2dChh. 


COUNTY  OF  WASHINGTON.* 
Date  of 
the  Church.        Names  of  the  Ministerg. 

Benjamin  Buck, 

1 805         Nathaniel  Robinson, 
1806 


Nb.  of 
membeis. 

SO 

48 
82 
49 


Belgrade,         1806 

Chesteryille, 

China, 

Clinton, 

Farmington, 

Fajette, 


Freedom, 
Gardiner, 
2d  Chh. 
Greene, 


COUNTY  OF   KENNEBECK. 

Elias  Taylor, 


1809 
1805 


Hallowell, 
Harlem, 
2d  Chh. 
Leeds, 


Malta, 
2d  Chh. 
Monmouth,      1810 


Isaac  S.  Smith, 
Mephibosheth  Cain^ 

Jesse  Martin, 
Oliver  Billings, 
Thaddeus  Bailey^ 
Levi  Young, 

John  Daggett, 
Reuben  Curtis, 


Jabez  Lewis, 
Thomas  Francis, 
Martin  Leonard^ 


63^ 
20 
70 
92 
50 
141 

53 
32 
15 
12 

64 
36 
31 
79 

19 


2a 

|^tt«  Churchct  c^t  of  the  PcM^atet  aic   for  the  year 


iLPPENDlX. 

41 

KafBcef 

Sate  of 

No.  of 

the  Town. 

the  C!ih. 

Name  of  the  MitiSstcr^. 

members^ 

Mount-Vernon, 

73 

New-Sharon, 

1802 

Sylvanus  Boardman, 

5S 

Readfield, 

1792 

Josiah  Houghton, 
Isaac  Case, 
Samuel  Fogg, 

96 

Sidney, 

1791 

Asa  Wilbur, 

51 

2d  Chh. 

1806 

51 

Vassalboroughl788 

43 

2d  Chh. 

1808 

Coker  Maible, 

37 

Waterville, 

Jeremiah  Chaplin, 
Avery  Briggs, 

40 

COUNTY    OF    OXFORD. 

Bethel, 

1795 

Daniel  Mason, 

4S 

Buckfield, 

1791 

Nathaniel  Chace, 

36 

2d  Chh. 

1802 

49 

Denmark, 

1804. 

Tristram  Jordan, 

23 

DixHeld, 

Nathan  Mayhew, 

29 

Hartford, 

1810 

Daniel  Hutchinson, 

90 

Hebron, 

1791 

John  Tripp, 
Shuhael  Tripp, 

107 

Jefferson, 

1790 

36 

Lancaster, 

18 

Livermore, 

1793 

John  Haynes, 

136 

2d  Chh. 

1811 

Ransom  Norton, 

32 

3d  Chh. 

Thomas  Wyman, 
Elias  Nelson, 

9J 

Norway. 

26 

Paris. 

1791 

James  Hooper, 

137 

4S 

APFENDIX. 

Kkme  of                    Date  of 

No.^f 

tile  Town,               the  Chh. 

Names  of  the  Ministn*. 

members. 

Plantation  No.  1. 

15 

Plantation  No.  8. 

21 

Sumner.            1804< 

Joseph  Palmer, 

55 

Waterford. 

Mighill  Jetvetty 

12 

Jay.                  1799 

Joseph  Macomber^ 

102 

COUNTY  OF  SOMERSET* 


Anson, 

IS 

Athens. 

14 

Bloomfield. 

Jonathan  Steward, 
Robert  Cobura 

€1 

Canaan. 

1795 

SS 

2d  Chh. 

18 

Cornville. 

1801 

32 

Harmonjr. 

1801 

Benjamia  Bisbee, 

43 

Industry. 

52 

Moscow. 

31 

Norridgewock. 

12 

North-hill 

24 

Palmyra. 

Joseph  Blasdei, 

44 

ParkmaH. 

Zenas  Hall, 

30 

Phillips. 

10 

Strong. 

isr 

JS.4 


APPENDIX.      ' 

^B 

COUNTY    OF    PENOBSCOT. 

Name  of 

D.itc  of 

No.  of 

the  Towns. 

the  Chh. 

Names  of  the  Ministers, 

members* 

Bangor. 

20 

Brooksville. 

Amos  Allen, 
Lemuel  Norton, 
Noah  Norton^  Jr, 

76 

2d  Chh. 

Edward  Carter, 

m 

Carmel. 

' 

IS 

Charleston, 

1810 

Henry  Hale, 

67 

Dixmont. 

1810 

34 

Frankfort. 

1808 

40 

Guilford. 

Thomas  Macomber, 

38 

Hampden. 

1809 

Otis  Briggs, 

S6 

N.  B.  A  list  of  Churches  is  preserved  in  Mr.  Bene- 
dicts History  of  the  Baptists.  wSeveral  are  there  named 
which  are  not  reported  in  the  annual  minutes  at  this  day. 
They  have  probably  either  changed  their  name,orunit« 
ed  with  some  others,  or  have  become  extinct. 


44 


APPENDIX. 


KO.  9. 

FROM     PAGE    261. 

A  Table  shewing  the  date  of  the  several  meetings  of 
Friends  in  Maine,  arranged  in  Chronological  order* 
/Where  there  is  a  blank  the  certain  date  was  unknown.) 


Date  of  tilt 
Kame  of  the  town.           mectiur;  for 
w  r-hip. 

Klttery,  now  Elliot,     1730 
Falmouth,                      1743 

Date  of  the  Dite  of  the  Date  of  the 

preparative      montlily       quarterly 

mcetin!i         meeting       mect'.nc. 

1764       none.         none. 
1751          1795 

Berwick, 

174.9 

1750 

1802 

none* 

Harpswell, 

1749  Discontiued 

Dm-ham, 

1776 

1790 

none. 

Windham, 

1779 

1793 

1802 

none* 

Vassalborough, 

1780 

1784 

1787 

1813. 

Fairfiel^ 

1786 

1791 

none. 

none. 

Portland, 

1790 

1796 

none. 

none. 

Limlngton, 

1792 

1801 

none. 

none. 

Winthrop, 

1793 

1802  & 
1816 

none. 

none. 

Green  and  Leeds, 

1794 

1796 

1813 

none* 

Lewiston, 

1816 

none. 

none. 

Bristol, 

1795 

1801 

none. 

none. 

Sidney, 

1795 

1800 

1802 

none- 

Gorhara, 

1797 

none. 

none. 

none. 

2d  in  Vassalborough, 

,  1797 

1799 

none. 

none. 

Dresden, 

1798 

none. 

none. 

none. 

Scarborough, 

1799 

none. 

none. 

none^ 

Belgrade, 
Harlem, 

1801 
1802 

none. 
1809 

none. 
1813 

none, 
none* 

Litchfield, 

1803 

1812 

none. 

none. 

Camden, 

180+ 

Discontinued. 

H.>pe, 

1807 

none. 

none. 

none-. 

Isleborough, 

1809 

Disconvinued, 

API^NDIX. 

45 

Cape  Elizabeth, 

1810 

none. 

none. 

none. 

Fairfax, 

1810 

1812 

none. 

none. 

Parsonsfield, 

none. 

none. 

Poland, 

none. 

none. 

Raymond, 

none. 

noneA 

Unity, 

1815 

none. 

none. 

Wilton, 

1815 

none. 

none. 

2d  in  Harlem 

(the 

Branch) 

1817 

none. 

none. 

none, 

Pownal, 

1817 

none. 

none. 

none. 

Athens, 

none. 

none. 

The  Friends  have  in  America  eight  yearly  meetings, 
viz.  Philadelphia,  New-York,  New-England,  Baltimore'. 
Ohio,  Virginia,  Carolina,  and  Indiana  yearly  meetings. 
Philadelphia  yearly  meeting  is  composed  of  eleven  Quar- 
terly meetings.  New-York  yearly  meeting  has  nine, 
quarterly  meetings.  New-England  yearly  meetinghas  six 
Quarterly  meetings,  viz  Rhode-Islandj  Salem,  Sand- 
wich, Falmouth,  Smithfield,  and  Vassalborough.  Bal- 
timore yearly  meeting  has  three  Quarterly  meetings* 
Ohio  yearly  meeting  had  six  Quarterly  meetings  until 
the  present  year,  when  a  part  of  them  were  taken  off  in 
forming  the  new  yearly  meeting  for  the  State  of  Indiana. 
Virginia  yearly  meeting  has  three  Quarterly  meetings, 
and  Carolina  yearly  meeting  has  six  Quarterly  meet- 
ings. 

In  the  whole  of  the  United  States  their  meetings  will 
stand  thus  : 

Yearly  meetings,         -         -  8 

Quarterly  meetings,  -  44 

Monthly  meetings,  -  IS^ 

Meeting  for  worship,         -  529 


TO  APPENDIX 

No.    10. 

FROM    PAGE   274-. 

It  has  been  asserted  th?t  in  New-England  there  are  at 
kast  six  hundred  Churches  in  the  Freewill  Baptist  con- 
nexion. The  truth  of  this  is  unknown.  The  following 
Table  exhibits  the  date  of  the  gathering  of  all  that  could 
be  obtained.  The  dates  are  selected  from  Elder  Buzzell's 
Magazine. 


Name  of  the                      Date  of  the  ^ 

Kame  of  the                      Date  of  the 

Town.                               Cluircli.     '          Town. 

Church. 

New-Durham,  N.  H. 

1780  3dinGilmanton,N.H.  1800 

Edgconib, 

J781 

HardwicL  Vt. 

1800 

Georgetown, 

1781  Meredith,  N-  H 

1800 

Little  River, 

1781  New-Castle,  N.  H. 

1800 

New -Gloucester, 

1781  New.Hampton,N.  H.  1800 

Parsonsfield, 

17S1  N'ew. Portland, 

1800 

Philipshurg, 

J  78 1  Thornton, 

1800 

Woolwich, 

17H1  Shapleigh, 

1801 

Gcrham, 

17.^5  Brookfield,  N.  H. 

1802 

Brisirl, 

1788Deerfield,  N.  H. 

1802 

Barrington,  N.  H. 

1791  Kv.ox, 

1802 

Middleton,  N.  H. 

1791  Washington,  Vt. 

1S02 

Pitr^fidd,  N.  H. 

I79i  New-Gl'^ucester,* 

1803 

Raymond,  N.  H. 

1791  Squam  Island, 

1803 

Waterborough, 

171  1   Wilderness,  N.  H. 

1803 

Farmiiigton, 

179f^  Winthrop, 

1804 

Giimanton,  N.  H. 

1794 

Abhby,  Vt. 

1806 

Str:;frord,  Vt. 

1794 

Chebacco,  Mass. 

1806 

Canteibury,  N.  H. 

1795 

Wear, 

1806 

Lebanon, 

1795 

Wiscasset, 

1806 

Liminp:ion, 

1798 

York, 

1806 

2d  in  Oilman ton,N  K 

.1799 

Durand,  N.  H. 

1807 

Berwick  and  Kittery, 

1799 

Dixniont, 

1809 

Bridgewater,  N.  H. 

180C; 

Palermo, 

1812 

Bradtbrd,  Vt. 

1800 

The  farmer  Chh.  m  thi<  town  was  dusolvci  ui  1 7^3*. 


APPENDIX.  4^ 

No,  il. 

FROM   PAGE  279. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  Mr.  Wesley's  letter  to  the 
American  Methodists,  on  the  subject  of  ordination,  and 
their  regular  establishment  as  a  Church. 

Bristol,  September  10.  1784. 

To  Dr.  Coke,  Mr.  Asbury,  and  our  brethren  in  North 
America. 

"1-  By  a  very  uncommon  train  of  providences,  ma- 
ny of  the  provinces  of  North  America  are  totally  dis- 
joined from  the  British  Empire,  and  erected  into  Inde- 
pendent States,  the  English  government  has  no  autho- 
rity over  them  either  civil  or  ecclesiastical,  any  more 
than  over  the  States  of  Holland  A  civil  authority  is 
exercised  over  them,  partly  by  the  Congress,  partly  by 
the  State  assemblies.  But  no  one  either  exercises  or 
claims  any  ecclesiastical  authority  at  all.  In  this  pecu- 
liar situation  some  thousands  of  the  inhabitants  of  these 
States,  desire  my  advice  :  and  in  compliance  with  their 
desiie,  I  have  drawn  up  a  little  sketch  '* 

"  2.  Lord  King's  account  of  the  primitive  Church 
convinced  me  many  years  ago,  that  bishops  and  pres- 
byters are  the  same  order,  and  consequently  have  the 
same  right  to  ordain.  For  many  years  I  have  been  im- 
portuned from  time  to  time,  to  exercise  this  right,  hj 
ordaining  part  of  our  travelliag  preachers.  But  I  have 
ftill  refused  not  only  for  peace  sake,  but  because  I  was 
determined,  as  little  as  poffible  to  violate  the  eftablished 
erder  of  the  national  chuich  to  which  I  belonged. 


'iS  APPENDIX. 

**  3.  But  the  case  is  widely  different  between  England 
and  North  America.  Here  there  are  bishops  who  have 
a  legal  jurisdiction.  In  America  there  are  none,  and 
but  few  parish  Ministers.  So  that  for  some  hundred 
miles  together  there  are  none  either  to  baptize,  or  ad- 
minister the  Lord's  supper.  Here  therefore  my  scru- 
ples are  at  an  end  :  and  I  conceive  myself  at  full  liberty, 
as  I  violate  no  order,  and  invade  no  man's  right,  by 
appointing  and  sending  labourers  into  the  harvest. 

"  4. 1  have  accordingly  appointed  Dr.  Coke  and  Mr. 
Prancis  Asbury,  to  be  joint  superintendants,  over  our 
brethren  in  North  America,  As  also  Richard  \Vhnt» 
coat,  and  Thomas  Vasey,  to  act  as  elders  among  them, 
by  baptizing  and  administering  the  Lord's  Supper. 

"5.  If  any  one  will  point  out  a  more  rational  and 
Scriptural  way  of  feeding  and  guiding  those  poor 
sheep  in  the  wilderness,  I  will  gladly  embrace  it.  At 
present  I  cannot  see  any  better  method  thaji  thai  I  have 
taken. 

"6.  It  has  indeed  been  proposed,  to  desire  the  English 
Bishops  to   ordain  part  of  our  preachers  for  America, 
But  to  this  I  object.     L     I  desired  the  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don to  ordain  one  only  ;  but  could  not  prevail.     2.    If 
they  consented,  we  kaow  the  slowness  of  their  proceed- 
ings ;  but  the  matter  admits  of  no  delay.     3,     If  they 
would  ordain  them  now,  they  would  likewise  expect  to 
o-overn  them.     And  how  grievously  frould  this  cntan- 
pie  us  ?  4.  As  our  American  brethren  are  now  totally 
disentangled  both  from  the  State,  and  from  the  English 
hierarchy,  we  dare  not  entangle  them  again,  either  with 
the  one  or  the  other.     They  are  now  at  full  liberty,  siro-^ 


APPENDIX.  49 

ply  to  follow  the  scriptures  and  the  primitive  Church, 
And  we  judge  it  best  that  they  should  stand  fast  in  that 
liberty,  wherewith  God  has  so  strangely  made  them 
free>" 

John  Wesley.. 


m 


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^9  APPENDIX. 

Total,  In  Portland  District,    Travelling  Preachers  13 

Local  Preachers,  40 

In  Kennebeck  District,  Travelling  Preachers,  10 
Local  Preachers,  27 

In  Penobscot  District,  Travelling  Preachers,  6 
Local  Preachers,  6 

10^ 

The  following  is  the  total  amount  of  members  ia 
America  as  returned  at  the  annual  conferences  in  1820. 
Ohio  Conference,  35056.  Missouri,  5523.  Tennessee, 
231 64.  Mississippi,  2631.  SoutbCarolina,  32969. 
Virginia,  23756.  Baltimore,  33289.  Philadelphia, 
34851.  New-York,  23456.  New-England,  17739.  Gen- 
essee,  23947.  Grand  total  256881,  of  which  38753  are- 
Blacks.     Travelling  Preachers  in  the  U.  S.  904. 

In  the  year  1809,  when  Elder  Jesse  Lee  publibhed  a. 
**  Short  History  of  the  Methodists,'^  there  had  then  been 
admitted  into  full  connexion  as  travelling  Preachers 
from  the  year  1769  to  1806,  988  persons.  Of  these 
8  who  came  from  England  returned  there  after  a  few 
years,  85  died  in  the  work,  17  had  been  expelled,  28 
had  left  the  connexion  in  good  standing,  533  had  locat- 
ed themselves  after  a  period  of  travelling,  and  the  re- 
mainder were  then  Hving  in  the  travelling  connexion. 
At  the  same  time  251  persons  had  been  received  as 
probationary  preachers,  of  whom  1 1  had  died  in  the 
service,  3  had  been  expelled,  one  had  left  the  connexion, 
and  the  others  then  remained  on  trial. 

Hist.  Methodists,  Chap.  12. 


APPEXDIK. 

9\) 

No.  18. 

FROM    PAGE  293. 

Names  of  the  orda 

ined  Elders 

in  connexion  with  the^ 

Christian  Churches  in 

Maine. 

Names. 

Residence* 

Mark  Fernald, 

Kittery. 

Samuel  Rand, 

Portland. 

Joseph  Smith 

South-Berwick. . . 

Jedediah  Goodwin, 

do. 

Josiah  Bradley, 

Vienna. 

Jonathan  Bradley, 

da. 

Peter  Mores, 

do. 

Joseph  Merrill, 

Canaaib 

Thomas  Lewis, 

Clinton. 

John  Robinson, 

Cornville* 

John  York, 

Newport, 

William  Knowles, 

Harmony* 

Jedediah  B.  Prescott. 

»^ 

Monmoutli>    * 

Henry  Frost, 

do. 

James  Crosby, 

Fairfax,  now  Fredonia. 

Theodore  Harding, 

Joy. 

Jeremiah  Bean, 

Wiltom 

Ebenezer  HamKn^ 

Knoy. 
Leed* 

6Q  AFl»ENDIX. 

Under  the  care  of  the  aforesaid  Elders,  are  the 
Churches  in  the  Towns  where  they  severally  reside,  as- 
also  the  Churches  in  the  Towns  of  Mount- Vernon,  Pal- 
myra, Exeter,  North-Hill,  Athens,  Warsaw,  Madison 
and  Eastport;  making  in  all  twenty-three  Churches, 
and  18  ordained  Elders, 

Churches  of  this  denomination  have  been  gathered  in 
other  States.     In  1821  their  numbers  vver^  as  follows  : 


states. 

Oidained  Elders. 

No.  of  Churches 

New-Hampshire, 

13 

15 

Massachusetts, 

11 

12 

Vermont, 

29 

37 

Rhode-Island, 

2 

3 

Connecticut 

7: 

9 

New-York, 

47 

tinknowni 

New-Jersey, .    # 

1 

0 

Pennsylvania^. 

4 

6 

Virginia, 

9 

13 

Ohio, 

2 

unknown 

122 


95 


©ENERAL  index; 


Acadie, 

Page      g 

Agamenticus,  Plantation  of 

8 

Allen  Rev.  Benjamin, 

39 

Arundel, 

60 

Anderson  Rev.  Rufus, 

72 

Adams,  Rev.  Jonathan^, 

8^ 

Alfred, 

109 

Adams,  Rev.  John, 

113 

Atkinson,  Rev.  Jonathan^., 

113 

AIna, 

15i 

Andover, 

188 

Albany, 

192 

Augusta, 

196 

Adams,  Rev.  Thomav 

204. 

Anson, 

214* 

Burdet, 

9 

Briggs,  Rev.  Isaa6, 

14- 

Buss,  Dr.  John, 

20 

Burroughs,  Rev.  George,. 

20 

Berwick, 

26 

Briggs,  Rev.  William, 

30 

6S        *  APPENDIX* 

Browne,  Rev.  Thomas,  ♦i 

Bradley,  Rev.  Caleb,  *^ 

Beeman,  Rev.  N.  S.  S.  4.2 

Burrage  Rev.  William^.  44 

Biddeford,  51 

Booth,  Robert,  52 

Brooks,  Rev,  Edwardu;  ^5 

Brown,  Rev.  Francis,  65 

Baxter,  Rev.  Mr.  7^ 
Boyd,  Rev.  Alexander,,                                       77,  101 

Bath,  82 

Brunswick,  ""^ 

Bailey,  Rev.  Winthiop,,  ^^ 

Bayley,  Rev.  Kiah,  ^^7 

Buxton,  ^^8 
Brown,  Rev.  Joseph^  112,116 
Boyd,  Rev.  James,                                             122,219 

Bridgeton,  ^^ 

Boothbay,  ^^^ 

Bristol,                                                      '  ^4-^ 

Bradford,  Rev.  Aldeh,  150 

BluehiU,  ^^ 

Brown  Rev.  Joseph,  ^59 

Bucksport,  ^^ 

Blood,  Rev.  MighiB,  ^^5 


APPENtMX^  6a 

Belfast,  167 

Bethel,  187 

Brownfield,  1^^ 
Belden,  Rev.  Jonathan,                                      150,  196 

Brown,  Rev.  Clark,  207 

Bigelow,  Rev.  Andrew,  209 

Bi'gelow,  Rev.  Jonathan^  209 

Bloomfield,  210 

Bingham,  ^1-5 

Bangor,  219 

Brewer,  219 

Brownville,  220 

Bailey,  Rev.  Jacob,  231 

Baptists,  Calvinistic,  .  238 

Baptists,  Freewill,  "270 

Chandler,  Rev.  Samuel,  13 

Chandler,  Rev.  Samuel,  82 

Chace,  Rev.  Josiah,  33 

Clark,  Rev.  Ephraim,  39 

Cape  Elizabeth,  39 

Campbell,  Rev.  Hugh,  45 

Chadwick,  Rev  Benjamin,  50 

Cogswell,  Rev.  Jonathan>  59 

Cape  Porpus,  59 

Cutter,  Rev.  Ammi  R.  6.4 


6*                                      APPENDIX* 

Curtis,  Rev.  Joseph  W. 

66 

Cummings,  Rev.  Asa, 

66 

Cumberland,  town  of, 

71 

Chapin,  Rev.  Perez, 

73 

Cresey,  Rev.  Noah, 

73,  190 

Coffin,  Rev.  Ebenezer, 

97 

€offin,  Rev.  Paul, 

108 

Calef,  Rev.  Jonathan > 

116,211 

Cornwall,  Mr.  Wait, 

U9 

Crosby,  Mr.  Otis, 

121 

Church,  Rev.  Nathan, 

,miJ^ 

Ghatman,  Rev.  Benjamin, 

152 

Castine, 

155,  162 

Chesterville, 

yt>IliV«^^^Si 

Cushman,  Rev.  Joshu^ 

20^ 

Camden,                                           .  ^^ 

175 

Cochran,  Rev.  Thomas;      '              J'^,;,-,, 

;    .-..-.         175 

Cutting,  Rev.  John  R,» 

hiB 

Canaan, 

210 

Cay  ford,  Rev.  John, 

212 

Catholics, 

23& 

Cailleaux,  Rev.  Stephen, 

235 

Cheverus,  Rt.  Rev.  Jol^n, 

2^6 

Churchman  John, 

254 

Christian  Society]^ 

292 

APPEKBIX. 

65 

DcMorte, 

7 

Dummer,  Rev.  Shubael, 

9 

I>ow,  Rev.  Moses, 

12 

Beane,  Rev.  Samuel, 

38 

DuQsian, 

49 

Datton,  Rev.  Joho, 

72 

Dunlap,  Rev.  Robert, 

94 

Douglas,  Rev.  Natiiani 

112 

Dane,  Rev.  JohA, 

115,  122 

Durham, 

129 

Dresden, 

151 

Deer-Isle, 

158 

Dixfield, 

192 

Dennysville, 

207 

Dixraont, 

220 

Emerson,  Rev.  Josepli, 

20 

Emery,  Rev.  Samuel, 

21 

Eliot, 

32 

Elvins,  Rev.  Richard, 

49 

Eveleth,  Rev.  John, 

53 

Eaton,  Rev.  Eliiha, 

69 

Eaton,  Rev.  Samuel 

69 

Emerson,  Rev.  Ezekiel, 

79 

EUingwood,  Rev.  J.  W. 

85 

tlO                                 APPENDIX 

Ellis,  Rev.  Jonathan, 

m 

Eastman,  Rev.  Edmund, 

114> 

Edgecomb, 

151 

Eaton,  Mr.  Ebenezer, 

164 

Ellsworths, 

165 

Eastport, 

208 

Episcopalians, 

223 

Eaton,  Rev.  Joseph, 

242 

Fay  r weather,  Rev.  Samuel^ 

21 

Fletcher,  Rev.  Nathl.  H. 

23 

Foster,  Rev.  Jacob, 

2S 

Fisk,  Mr. 

82 

Falmouth. 

35 

Fairfield,  Rev.  John, 

5» 

Fessenden,  Rev.  J.  P. 

62 

Freeport, 

70 

Freeman,  Rev.  Charles, 

115 

Foxcroft,  Rev.  Samuel, 

118 

Fisher,  Rev.  Jabez  P. 

14-4 

Fisher,  Rev.  Jonathan, 

157 

Frothingham,  Rev.  Wm, 

169 

Fryeburg. 

177 

Fessenden,  Rev.  Wm. 

17T 

Farmington, 

1% 

ArPENDlX, 

or 

Foster,  Rev.  Isaac, 

196 

Fairfax,  or  Fredonia^ 

20^ 

Freeman, 

216 

Fairfield, 

216 

Friends, 

245 

Gorges,  Sir  Ferdinando, 

S 

Gorges,  Thomas, 

S 

"Gorgiana,  City  of. 

s 

Greene,  Rev.  Percival, 

to 

Gregg,  Rev.  William, 

40 

Oilman,  Rev.  Tristram, 

65 

Georgetown, 

74. 

Gorham, 

€9 

Gould,  Rev.  Jonathan, 

124 

Gray, 

125 

Greely,  Rev.  Allen, 

186 

Gould,  Rev.  Daniel, 

187,  191 

Gilead, 

19» 

Gillet,  Rev.  Eliphalet, 

198 

Gerry,  or  Malta^ 

205 

Garland, 

220 

Gardiner,  town  of, 

227 

Gardiner,  Doctor  Sylvester, 

227 

liubbard.  Rev,  Jeremiah, 

20 

Hemmenway,  Rer.  Moses, 
6 

22 

OS  API'ENDIX. 

Hartwell,  Rev.  Jonas,  ^ 

Hllliard,  Rev.  Joseph,  3* 

Henry,  Rev.  Hugh,  46 

Hovey,  Rev.  John,                                        *  ^^ 

Harpswell, 

Hasey,  Rev.  Isaic,  ^^^ 

Herrick,  Rev.  Jacob,  ^^^ 

Hancock,  county  of,  ^^^ 

Huse,  Rev.  Jonathan,  ^^^ 

Hebron, 

Hall,  Rev.  Samuel  R,  ^^^ 

196 

202 

212 

220 

226 

2i2 

lOS 

117 

176 

214 

21 


Hallowell, 

Hall,  Rev.  Hezekiah, 

Holt,  Rev.  Fifield, 

Hampden, 

Hilliard,  Rev.  Timothy, 

Hooper,  Rev.  William, 

Interior  of  York  County, 

do.     of  Cumberland  County, 

Ingraham,  Rev.  John  H, 

Industry, 

Jefferds,  Rev.  Samuel, 

Johnson,  Rev.  Alfred, 

Jenks,  Rev.  William, 

Jewett,  Rer.  Caleb, 


85 
90 


APPENDIX.  69 

Jelvett,  Rev.  Paul,  109 

Johnson,  Rev.  Samuel,  151 

Jewett,  Rev.  David^f  195 

Kennebunk,  2S 

Kittery,  29 

Kellogg,  Rev.  Elija!b  42 

Kennebunk-port,  60 

Kellogg,  Rev.  Gardiner,  88 

Kennebeck,  County  of,  194 

Kendrick,  Rev.  Daniel,  203 

Kingsfield,                                            ,  216 

Lyman,  Rev.  Isaac,  11 

Lankton,  Rev.  Samuel,  14 

Little,  Rev.  Daniel,  23 

Lord,  Gen.  John,  29 

Litchfield,  Rev.  Joseph,  33 

~5Lancasrer,  Rev.  Thomas,-  48 

Loring,  Rev.  Nicholas,  -64 

'  tyman,  Kev.  Asa,  S5y  88 

Lombard,  Rev.  Solomoni  89 

Loring,  Rev.  Levi,  108 

Lebanon,  108 

Limington,  113 

Limerick,  114 


70  AFPKNDl^. 

Lyman,  116 

Litchfield,  I53 

Lawton,  Rev.  C.  J.  17Q 

Lord,  Rev.  John,          '  176 

Lovell,  186 
Lovejoy,  Rev.  Daniel^                                       202,  208 

Lyon,  Rev,  James,  206 

Lubec,  209 

Loom  IS,  Rev.  Harvey#  219 

Lord,  Rev.  Nathaniel^  24-2 

Lutherans,  262 

Lee,  Rer.  Jesse,  277 

Maine,  original  limits  of,  8 

Moody,  Rev.  Samuel,  10 

Messenger,  Rev.  RoseweH^  12 

Moody,  Rev.  Joseph,  1  ^ 

Martin,  Rev.  Richard,  ^ 

Merrill,  Rev.  Stephen,  5t 

Morse,  Rev.  John,  31. 

Merriara,  Rev.  Mathew,  34. 

Mikimore,  Rev.  William,  41 

Murdock,  Rev.  Thomas  J;  42' 

Morrill,  Rev.  Moses,                          '  57 

Moody^  Rev.  Silas,  61 

>lerrill,  Rev.  Enos,  7L 


APPENDIX.  71 

McClanethan,  Rev.  William,  75 

Morton,  Rev.  James,  75 

Miller,  Rev.  John,  96 

Moseley,  Rev.  Elisha,                •  123 

Maret,  Rev.  Daniel,  124 

Minot,  126 

Merrill,  Rev.  Josiah  G»  130 

Murray,  Rev.  John,  133 

McLean,  Rev.  Alexander,  148 

Moore,  Rev.  Thomas,  150 

Merrill,  Rev.  Daniel,  160 

Mason,  Rev.  William,  162 

Mount  Desert,  162 

Mitchell,  Rev.  David  M>  176 

Malta,  or  Gerry,  505 

Machias,  206 

Monson  Plantation,  216 

Methodists,  ^75 

Newmarch,  Rev.  John,  29 

Nichols,  Rev.  Ichabod,  38 

New-Casco,  40 

North- Yarmouth^  63 

Nason,  Rev.  Reuben,  71 

Noyes,  Rev.  Jeremiah,  90 

6* 


72  APPENDIX. 

New-Castle^  IQO 

Newfield,  115 

New-Gloucester,  117 

Nash,  Rev.  Samuely      •                .  125 

Nourse,  Rev.  Peter,  fwfi  ,▼»>;        16G 

Norway,  190 

New-Sharon,  202 

Norridgewock,  212 

Noble,  Rev.  Seth,  218 

Gljphant,  Rev.  Davids  23 

Otlsfield,  130 

Oxford,  County  of,  177 

Oxnard,  Mr.  Thomas.  22^ 

Oltiey,  Rev.  Gideon,  230 

Payne,  Rev.  Robert,  20 

PIpon,  Rev.  John,  23 

Piscataqua,  plantation  of  26 

Peppeiell,  Sir  William,  29 

Portland,  38 

Payson,  Rev.  Edward,  4-2 

'Pierce,  Rev.  Thomas,  ^^ 

Prentice,  Rev.  Thomas,  -50 

Payson,  Rev.  George,  61 

Pownal,  73 

Parsonsfield,  ^^^ 

Perley,  Rev.  Samuel>  125 


APPENDIX.  73 

Pidgin,  Rev.  William,  129 

Pemaquid,      •  1*6 

Pownalborough,  150 

Packard,  Rev.  Hezekiah^  150 

Parker,  Rev.  Freeman,  151 

Powers,  Rev.  Peter,  158 

Penobscot,  town  of,  160 

Powers,  Rev.  Jonathan,  16Q 

Price,  Rev.  Ebenezer,  167 

Prospect,  1*70 

Paris,  193 

Pittston,  20s 

Peet,  Rev.  Josiah,  214. 

Penobscot,  County  o#,  218 

Penobscot  Indians,  235 

Presbyterians,  264« 

Quakers,  245 

Rish worth,  Edward,  10 

Richardson,  Rev.  Gideon,  22 

Rogers,  Rev.  John,  32 

Rand,  Rev.  Asa,  91 

Rolfe,  Rev.  Benjamin,  14<1 

Roby,  Rev.  Thomas,  129 

Raymond,  131 

Riddel,  Rev.  William,  14'9 

Ripley,  Rev.  Lincoln,  1^^ 


7*                                   APPENDIX, 

Rum  ford, 

291 

Rice,  Rev.  Jacob, 

192 

Rutherford,  Rev.  Roberti 

172 

Robbinston, 

207 

Roman  Catholics,                            .^,. 

233 

Ralle,  Father  Sebastian, 

233 

Romagni,  Rev.  James  R. 

235 

Ryan,  Rev.  Dennis, 

236 

Randel,  Rev,  Benjamin, 

270 

Scotland,  parish  of. 

12 

Stevens,  Rev.  Benjamin, 

30 

Spring,  Rev.  Alpheus, 

32 

Smith,  Rev.  Thomas, 

36 

Sawyer,  Rev.  Benjamin, 

40 

Scarborough, 

<44. 

Saco, 

51 

Smith,  Rev.  Amasa, 

72,184 

Stone,  Rev.  Samuel, 

72 

Smith,  Rev.  P.  T. 

87 

Stone,  Rev.  Nathaniel, 

88 

Sandford, 

109 

Sweat,  Rev.  Moses, 

109 

Shapleigh, 

115 

Standish, 

123 

Scott,  Rev.  Jonathan, 

126 

Sawyer,  Rev.  John, 

143 

APPENDIX,  7^ 

Se^all,  Rev.  Samuel,  15^ 

Sedgewick,  ^^^ 

Spaulding,  Rev.  Philip,  16* 

Sullivan,  1^^ 
Strickland.  Rev.  John,  180,  189 
Sewall,  Rev.  Henry,                                            ^87,  190 

Sumner,  ^^^ 

Sewall,  Rev.  Samuel,  189 

Sweden,  ^^^ 

Stone,  Rev.  Daniel,  199 

Sewall,  Rev.  Jotham,  200 

Smith,  Rev.  David,  203 

Steele,  Rev.  Marshfield,  207 

Somerset,  County  of,  210 

Starks,  ^15 

Solon,  215 

Strong,  216 

Screven,  Rev.  Willinm,  239 

Starman,  Rev.  John,  262 

Thompson,  Rev.  John,  28, 123 

Thompson,  Rev.  William,  4-7 

Tilton,  Rev.  Nathan,  50 

Turner,  Rev.  John,  59,  1 1 1 

Townshend,  Rev.  Mr.  89 

Thatcher,  Rev.  Josiah,  90 

Topsham,  98 


y6                                 APPENDIX 

Turner,  town  of. 

178 

Thurston, *ev.  David, 

196 

Tappan,  Rev.  Benjamin, 

199 

True,  Rev.  Henry, 

174. 

Thomaston, 

176 

Temple, 

208 

Ten  Broeck.ilev.  P.  S* 

2i26 

Unity,  parish  of, 

26 

Veazie,  Rev.  Samuel, 

70^ 

Urquhart,  Rev.  John, 

166,  171 

Union, 

172 

Unity,  town  of. 

SOS 

Vassalborough, 

204 

Wells, 

15 

Wheelwright,  Rev.  Johi^ 

15 

White,  Rev.  Benjamin, 

22 

Wade,  Rev.  John, 

27 

Wise,  Rev.  Jeremiah, 

28 

Wis  wall,  Rev,  John, 

41,224. 

Williams,  Rev.  Ebenezer, 

41 

Westbrook, 

41 

Williard,  Rev.  Samuel, 

54 

Webster,  Rev.  Nathaniel) 

57 

Whitcomb,  Rev.  Elihu, 

58 

Woodbury,  Rev.  Samuel, 

66 

Whiton,  Rev.  Otis  C. 

73 

APPENDIX. 

71 

Wodwich, 

H 

Winship,  Rev.  Josiah, 

82 

Winter,  Rev.  Francis, 

83 

Wallis,  Rev.  Hu^h, 

S4> 

Windham, 

.«7 

Wight,  Rev.  John, 

87 

Ward,  Rev.  Nathan, 

102 

Whiting,  Rev.  Thurston, 

103 

Weston,  Rev.  Daniel^ 

125 

Weston,  Rev.  Isaac^ 

Hi 

Wiscasset, 

150 

Ward,  Rev.  Jonathan, 

151 

Warren,  Rev.  Silas, 

169 

Waldo  patent. 

171 

Warren, 

172 

Waldoborough, 

175 

Whiting,  Rev,  Francis  L. 

178 

Waterford, 

187 

Weld, 

192 

Winthrop, 

194 

Washington,  County  of. 

^06 

Whitaker,  Rev.  Nathaniel, 

210 

Williams,  Rev.  Thomas, 

21^ 

Warren,  Rev.  Joseph, 

226- 

York, 

S 

SRRATA. 

I>^gc  20.  lith  Kne  from  top  for  ''  graduated'*  read  ««  graduates.**  p.  29^ 
The  notes  at  the  bottom  of  page  should  change  places,  p.  40,  sd  line  from 
fcottom  for  "Holes"  read  "Boles,''  P.  49,  7th  line  from  top,  for  "  even" 
tead  "  ever."  p.  5z,  note,  for  'recited'  read  '  cited  '  p.  74,  in  running 
title  for  "  Cumberland''  read  "  Congregationaliits."  P.  99,  7th  line  from 
top,  for  "  from"  read  "  of.  "  P.  123,  note,  for  "4,'  read  "  5."  p.  185, 
17th  line  from  top,  for"  selected"  tead  "  elected."  P-  193,  the  note  attached 
to  Weld  should  have  been  attached  to  Gilead.  P.  igS'  the  notes  on  this  page 
should  change  places.  P.  I97,  add  to  note  "  Moore  of  Pownalliorough, 
Winship  of  Woolwich,  and  McLean,  of  Bristol,  with  Delegates  from  their  sev- 
eral  Churches.  p.  201,  8th  line  from  top  for  "1896'  read"  I79<5,"  P. 
103,  5th  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Hcndiick  read  "  Kendrick  "  The  .■same 
altcrklion  on  the  next  page.  P  208,  6th  line  from  bottom,  for  "sensus'*  reaU 
« census.'  P  209,  Note  should  be  attached  to  the  sketch  of  Eastport. 
Running  titc  of  Chapter,  for  "  Suirerset"  read  "  Somerset."  P  220,  3d 
line  from  bottom  for  "  Church"  read  "  Churches."  P  225,  13th  line  fVorm 
top,  for  "  mumbers"  read  "  memben.  '  P  226,  6th  line  from  bo' (am, 
for  »  Petous  read  'Petius.'  P227,2d  line  from  top,  for  ♦  Coney's  minislry' 
read  "  Rev.  Mr.  Olney's  ministry."  P  235,  13th  line  from  top,  for  "  Caii- 
Icawx''  read  "  Cailleaux  '  P  255,  I2tk  line  from  bottom,  insert  ♦  removed 
from*  between  the  words  '  principally'  and  '  Harp.weil.'  P  265,  7th  line 
from  top,  for  '  Hustor'  read  ♦  Huston,'  P  274,  In  the  r^arginal  reference, 
for  9  read  10. 


OCi  :  5  1933