YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY AN ACCOUNT OF THE SEVERAL RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES IN PORTSMOUTH, NEW-HAMPSHIRE, FROM THEIR FIRST ESTABLISHMENT, THE MINISTERS OF EACH, TO THE FIRST OF JANUARY, 1805. > BY ..TIMOTHY AUBEN, JTTN. n » MEMBER OF THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ANB OP THE SOCIETY IN THE STATE OF NEW-YORK FOR THE PROMOTION OV AGRICULTURE, ARTS, AND MANUFACTURES. BOSTON .- PRINTED BY MUNROE, FRANCIS, Ec PARKER, JHAKSPEARE'S HEA^J, NO. 4 CORNHILL. 1808. * ACCOUNT OF RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES PORTSMOUTH, It is a subject of regret, that the first volume ofthe Ports- mouthy town records has not been preserved. The second, after exhibiting a few extracts from the former, commences with the transactions of the year 1652. It is considerably mutilated with age, and ought, ere now, to have been trans cribed. Nothing is to be found in it, from which we can learn who were employed, as preachers of the gospel, in this place, which was first settled by Europeans in 1623, prior to Richard Gibson. A grant was made, by the ancient inhabitants of the lower end of Pascataqua, of fifty acres of land, for a glebe, on the ' 25th of May, 1640. From the instrument,* by which this sequestration was effected, it appears that a parsonage house and chapelf were already erected on the premises, and that the * Town records. t Appendix, note A. 6 Account qf the Religious Societies the people had chosen Mr. Richard Gibson for " their first parson." " He J was sent from England, as minister to a fishing plantation, belonging to one Trelawney. He was wholly ad dicted to the hierarchy and discipline of England, and exer cised his ministerial function, according to the ritual. 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 the country." The inhabitants of Portsmouth, having been left, in 1638, by the widow, who was the executrix of Mason, the original proprietor, to shift for themselves, were, for several years, un der a government of their own formation, as were those of Dover and Exeter, respectively ; but, in April, 1641, these petty repubhcks put themselves under the jurisdiction of Mas sachusetts. It was, probably, about this time, or soon after, that Gibson took his departure. " In December, § 1642, those ofthe lower part of Pascata qua invited Mr. James Parker, of Weymouth, [near Boston J a godly man, to be their minister. He by advising with di vers of the magistrates and elders accepted the call and went and taught among them, this winter, and it pleased God to give great success to his labours, so as above forty of them, whereof the most had been very profane, and some of them professed enemies to the way of our churches, wrote to the magistrates and elders, acknowledging the sinful course they had lived in, and bewailing the same, and blessing God for calling them out of it, and earnestly desiring that Mr. Parker might be settled among them. Most of them fell back again, jn time embracing this present world." Doctor Belknap asserts, that he had been a deputy in Mas sachusetts, that he was a scholar, and that, after leaving. Ports mouth, he removed to Barbadoes and settled there. At a town-meeting,* 11 April, 1655, the inhabitants' *' generally acknowledged themselves willing" that Mr. Browne \ Belknap's New-Hampshire. $ Winthrop's Journal. * Town records. in Portsmouth, New-Hampshire. 7 Browne should continue their minister, as he had been, if he were so pleased. Whence he came, how long he tarried, and whither he went is not known. At a town- meeting,* 27 October, 1656, it was voted to send to Mr. Samuel Dudley,son ofthe deputy governour,with whom the selectmen-!; agreed, on the 10 of the following month, to be their minister, to come the next spring, and to have fourscore pounds a year. He settled in Exeter, where he died, in 1683, at the age of 77. The selectmen:): sent Henry Sherburne, 7 September, 1657, to a Mr. Woster,^ with a call from the inhabitants of Ports mouth to be their minister, in case they and he should agree, he giving them a visit. Whether he came, or not, does not appear. Although several candidates were successively employed in this town ; yet no one was ordained, till almost fifty years,, from the time of its first settlement, were elapsed. Of the temporary preachers, already mentioned, Gibson || was the only one, who followed the ritual of the English church. The selectmen,^ Brian Pendleton, John Cutt, Richard Cutt, William Seavey, and Henry Sherburne were empow ered by the town, 27 August, 1657, to build a new meet ing house. This was, accordingly, erected on the rise of land a few paces to the southward of Pickerin'p mill dam, and, in 1664, it was furnished with a bell. In 1660, Richard Cutt was chosen by the selectmen to superintend the work of trans forming the old meeting-house, which, in 1640, was called a chapel, into a dwelling-house for the use of the min ister. The * Town records. t Called townsmen frequently at that period. J Town records. § So written in the town records. fl Langdon in reply to Ogden. IF Town records. o Acc&unt of the Religious Societies The reverend Joshua Moodey,* the first, who was ordained in Portsmouth, is supposed to have begun his labours here, early in 1658. He wa6 then supported by eighty-six sub scribers. There was a formal vote of the *town, 5 March, 1660, for his regular establishment in the ministry. A church, hov, ever, was not gathered, in this place, till the year 1671 ; though Mr. Moodey appears to have preached here statedly from the time of his first coming. This part of the country owed much to the talents, the christian example, and the pas toral fidelity and zeal of this distinguished character. His ac count of gathering and carrying on the church of Christ in Portsmouth, which is written in a fair hand, will, no doubt, be more acceptable, than any abridgment of it, which the au thor of this compilation can offer. It has therefore been cop ied from his records and is here subjoined. "Portsmouth, N. E. anno 1671. After many serious endeavours, which had been used by the then minister of the place, since tne pastor ofthe church there, in publick,and by several of the inhabitants in private, the Lord, without whose presence and blessing man builds but in vain, was pleased, at length, to lay the foundation of an house for himself in this place, of the beginning and progress whereof here follows a brief but true account." " In the winter tirne ofthe foregoing year, viz. 1670, there were several meetings together of the minister with several of the inhabitants, who were members of other congregations in the country, and by providence settled inhabitants in Ports mouth, to discourse and confer about that great work and ne cessary duly of entering into church fellowship, that them selves might enjoy all the ordinances of the Lord's house and their little ones also might be laid near God's altars and brought up under the instructibn and discipline of his house. Nor could they, that were members of other churches, any longer satisfy themselves to live without the enjoyinent of these edifying and strengthening ordinances,that their souls had in some measure, formerly tasted the good of, though now for some years, been kept from. Others also well affected to the work professed their longings after those fat arid marrowed things * So spelled by him. ¦ in Portsmouth, New-Hampshire. ,5 things in God's house, and their readiness to join with them in helping to build, if they should be found fit for the same." " Hereupon, several assembled in private, and sought the Lord by fasting* and prayer, that he would discover to us a right way, there being many fears and discouragements before us, for ourselves and our little ones, and we hope we may say he was entreated of us, as the event hath in some measure, blessed be his name, made manifest." "It was agreed that those, which were in full communion with other congregations abroad, should acquaint the respec tive churches, to which they did belong, with the motion on foot, and desire their advice, approbation, countenance, and prayers therein, which was accordingly done." " There was a meeting appointed in a private house, wherein all, that had given in their names for the work, were to assemble and to read each to other a reason of the hope, that was in them, by giving account of their knowledge and experience, that so they might be satisfied one in another, and be capable of joining together as members of the same body. Several days were spent in this exercise, to the mutual re freshing and endearing of the speaker; and to the awakening. and warning of others of the neighbours that were, as they had liberty to be, present at these exercises." " In fine, there was another meeting to inquire whether all, that had made relations, were so satisfied onein another, as to their relations and conversations, as that they could with free dom of spirit join in a body together, and unite in the same society, according to the rules of Christ. What ground of scruple lay upon the spirits of any, with reference to one or other of the forementioned company, was lovingly and plainly propounded, and satisfaction was ingenuously tendered on the ope party and accepted by the other. Furthermore, 'we did discourse of and discover our apprehensions and persuasions concerning the order and discipline of the house of God, And there was a unanimous consent unt0 wnat nacl been pub- lickly delivered in many sermons in the latter end of the year 1670, and the beginning ofthe year 1671, from Ezekiel xliii. 10, 11, 12, about the laws, ordinances, and forms of the house, with the goings out thereof and ihe comings in thereof. Of * Ezra viii. 2i, 22, 25. B i(i Account of the Religious Societies- ¦ Of such high concernment did and do we account it to be for peace and edification of the whole, that both pastor and peo ple should in these matters, at least for the substance, and as near as may be in mere circumstantials also, speak the same things." " Hereupon, there were some appointed to acquaint the civil authority, according to the law ai the country, with what was thought on among us, that by the good liking and encouragement of the same, we might make an orderly and comfortable proceedure in the work before us. Which be ing done, several churches were sent to and entreated to send their elders and messengers upon the , which was ap pointed for the gathering of the church and ordination of pfficers therein. The church of Cambridge was sent to, be cause the pastor did belong to that church. They brought his dismission. Also the church of Ipswich, Rowley, and Hampton. They met accordingly, and governour Leverett camp also." " He that was appointed pastor preached in the morning out of Ezekiel xlviii. ult. After sermon some intermission was made, and, on their meeting again, the pastor with all those, who were to be the beginners ot the new church, made their relations, and those, who were members of other churches* had their dismissions, and all made their relations whether members or non-members, and they were approved of by the messengers of churches and embodied into a church by an ex plicit covenant. Then the pastor was ordained after the unanimous vote, of the church for choice of him and liberty given to all the congregation to object, if they had aught to say. He was ordained by several of the elders at the desire of the church, Mr. Cabot giving him his charge, and Mr. Wheelwright the right hand of fellowship. Then the pastor ordained Samuel Haines deacon, with imposition of hand and prayer. A psalm was sung and the congregation dismissed by the pastor with a prayer and blessing." " The church covenant that those, who first embodied, did on that day publickly and solemnly enter into." " We do this day solemnly and publickly, in the presence of God and his people, avouch the one only living and true" God, Father, Son, and Spirit, to be our God, and his word or revealed will to be our rule, and do with ourselves give up our m Pdrtsm6uth\ New-Hartips'hirb. 11 •ur children to be the Lord's. We do also professedly and heartily subject ourselves to Jesus Christ, as the head of his church, and 'do covenant and promise that we will submit our selves td the government of Christ in thfS particular church, according to the laws of his house, that we will watch over our brethren and be watched over by them, according to rule, and that we will in all things so demean ourselves towards our pastor and fellow members, as also towards all others, as be comes the gospel, that, the Lord may dwell among us and bless us, and we may be a peculiar people to his service and glory. And all this we promise by the help of Jesus Christ, and in his name, looking up to him for his assistance, as being of ourselves capable of doing nothing. Subscribed by Joshua Moodey, John Cutt, Richard Cutt, Elias Stileman, Richard Martyn, Samuel Haines, James Pendleton, John Fletcher,; and John Tucker." In 1684, while lieutenant governour Cranfield was at the head of the province, a very extraordinary kind of persecution", for this part of the world, took place. Mr. Moodey had dis tinguished himself by his independent and faithful manner of preaching and the strictness of his church discipline. The following anecdote* is given in brief ; but shows something ofthe man. A Scotch ketch had been seized arid carried out of thehari bOur, by night, the owner of which, G***** J******, a" member of the church, swore, upon trial, that he had not had a hand in sending her away, and that he knew nothing about it; but, the circumstances were such, there were strong suspi cions that he had perjured himself. He found means, how ever, to settle the matter with Cranfield, so that " he forgave* him all ;" but Mr. Moodey judged it necessary, riotwitlv standingwhatthegovernoiirhaddone,todosomething to vindi cate the honour of his church . He preached a sermon ' ' upon swearing and the evil of false swearing," had several church meetings, called the offender to account, and, at1 letigtH;- brought him to a publick confession. This proceeding, on the part of Moodey, irritated Cranfield to the highest degree. In order to have opportunity to Jet off the artillery1 of his Ven geance upon the persevering and conscientious pastor, he wafc determined'to put the uniformity act into operation ; the con sequence * Brawn from Mewdey's retWdW 12 Account of the Religious Societies sequence of which was,that Mr. Moodey was indicted, 5 Feb ruary, 1684, and was imprisoned for thirteen weeks. The following statement is in his own language. " The pastor wa«f indicted by governour Cranfield for re fusing to administer the sacrament of the Lord's supper unto him, after the way ofthe church of England, and because he had often administered it after another way. He pleaded lib erty of conscience, allowed by the commission, but was im pleaded by Joseph Ray nes, king's attorney, and was sent to prison, where he continued thirteen weeks, and then, by the intercession of some friends, was dismissed with a charge to preach no more on penalty of further imprisonment. The persecution being personal, and his mouth utterly stopped, while the other ministers in the province were undisturbed, and there being a door opened to preach elsewhere, it was thought adviseable for him to take up with a call to the old church in Boston, where he, continued preaching till the year 1692, and then by advice of a council, he returned to Ports mouth again in the beginning of the year 1693. The judge of the court was [captain of the fort] Walter Barefoot, the justices Mr. Fryer, Peter Coffin, Thomas Edgerly, Henry Green, and Henry Robey. Overnight, four of the six dis sented from his imprisonment ; but, before next morning, Peter Coffin, being hectored by Cranfield, drew off Robey and Green. Only Mr. Fryer and Edgerly refused to consent, but by the major part he was committed. Not long after, Green repented and made his acknowledgment to the pastor, who frankly forgave him. Robey was excommunicated, out of Hampton church for a common drunkard, and died excom municate, and was by his friends thrown into a hole, near his house, for fear of an arrest of his carcase. Barefoot fell into a languishing distemper, whereof he died. Coffin was taken by the Indians and his house and mills burnt, himself not slain but dismissed. The Lord give him repentance, though no sign of it have appeared. Psalm ix. 16." " The church was often visited by the pastor, in this inter val, and kept up their private meetings and fasts, and so held together, though some removed, and others were taken away by death."* After the departure of Cranfield, messengers were, several times, * Moodey's records, in the hands of Rev. Dr. Buckminster. in Portsmouth, New-Hampshire. 1& times, sent from Portsmouth to Boston to treat with Mr. Moodey about his return. Copies of the letters, which passed between him and the selectmen upon this subject, are preserv ed in our town records, from which it appears that the affec tion between him and the people of his former charge was mu tually retained. Some difficulty, however, seems to have sub sisted in his mind, so that he thought it adviseable not to leave Boston without the recommendation of a council. He was, accordingly, urgent that the church at Portsmouth should con cur in a measure, which he considered as important. The people, for what reason it is uncertain, did not second his pro posal, and at length, as Mr. Moodey made it a sine qua non, relinquished the expectation of his return. During Mr. Moodey 's absence, one Gilbert Laurey preach ed at Portsmouth for a season. John Cotton, son of Seaborn Cotton, who afterwards succeeded his father in the ministry at Hampton, was invited to settle in this place and take the over sight of the flock ; but he* advised that further application should be made to Mr. Moodey, who, in the beginning of 1693, by recommendation of an ecclesiastical council, prev iously obtained, resumed his pastoral charge over a people, by whom he had been greatly esteemed, and with whom he spent the remainder of his days in usefulness, harmony, and love. Joshua Moodey was born in England, as is supposed, and was brought to this country when very young. His father, f William Moodey, was one ofthe early settlers of Newbury, and lived on a place about a mile to the southward of Rev. Mr. Popkin's meeting house. Joshua Moodey was gradua ted, at Harvard College, in 1653. From the catalogue it ap pears that he was one ofthe fellows of his alma mater, and BelknapJ asserts that he was invited, upon the death of presi dent Rogers, which happened, in 1684, to take the oversight of the College, which he modestly declined. Being on a visit to Boston, he died, after a short illness, on the sabbath, 4 July, 1697, in the 65 year of his age. Doctor Cotton Mather preached his funeral sermon from these words, " Looking steadfastly on him, they saw his face, as it had * Town records. t Letter from Rev. Silas Moodey, of Arundel, to the author. App. note B. t Hist. New-Hampshire. 14 Aottmfa of the ReMgwmSdcktvk had been the face of an angel." His eulogist calls him that man of God. %uam mult a quam paucis ! He gives- him a very excellent character to which* the reader is referred,' as the limits of this compilation wouid be too much'extfehded by quoting it entire. The list of Mr. Moodey 's baptisms amounts to onfe hundred and teri only. The number of communicants, which had been admitted into the church at Portsmouth, previous to 1697, is one hundred anf" sixty. One work, of which Mr.- Moodey was the author, was print ed at Boston by Richard Pierce, in 1685, 12mo. p. 109. It is entitled " A practical discourse concerning the choice ben- " efit of communion with God in his house, witnessed unto " by the experience of saints as the best improvement of time, " being the sum of several sermons on Psalm 84y 10, preach- " ed at Boston, on lecture days." This little volume is ac companied with a preparatory address, to the reader, by Rev. James Allen, which gives it a handsome and just encomi um. What other works he published is not known. The ninety-third volume of Mr. Moodey's manuscript ser mon,, the last of which is numbered 4070, and dated, 30' S-'p* ember, 1688, is in possession of the author of this account ; and, likewise, a copy of a very solemn exhortation, delivered by* ' this noted divine, 6 March, 1686, before the execution of a male factor, who had been convicted of murder./ This copy is suppos ed to be in the hand writing of John Templestone, to whom it belonged, in 1687. The settlers of Strawberry Bank, as the town plat of Portsi mouth, especially that part of it comprising and in the vicinity of Church Hill, was originally Called ; Of Great Island, or New castle ; of Sandy Beach, a part of Rye; of Sagamore, or Witch Creek ; and of Greenland! used to resort to the Banky or Portsmouth, for publick worship till about the last of tho seventeenth century. Rev, Nathanael Rogers was ordained in this place, 3 May, 1699: He was a descendant from John Rogers; who suffered martyrdom in the reign of queen Maryland inherited' so much of the spirit and talents of his renowned ancestor, that his- labours in this part of the" vineyard", like" those- of his learned * Magnalia. t App. noteC. m Portsmouth, New -Hampshire. 15 / iearned and pious predecessor, were abundantly blessed by the great Head of the church. An unhappy division, as it gave rise to considerable animos ity, originated among the inhabitants of Portsmouth, in 1712. At that time, it was thought expedient to build a new meet inghouse ; and, as the northern part of the town was then be come populous, it seemed reasonable that it should be fixed in -a situation rnore central, than was the antient one, at Picker y's dam. It is said that the people at the south end woe willing that the new meeting house should have been erected on the spot where Mr. Joseph Haven's house now stands, or on the rise of ground nigh it. This, however, was too far from the~ nortfr end to meet the ideas of the inhabitants in that quarter. They had determined upon the northeastern corner of the twelve acre lot, reserved as part of the glebe, for building the new house of worship. The tradition is, as handed down by some, that the people of Greenland,* who were desirous ©f a separation from Portsmouth, were induced to come for ward, in a spirited manner, to aid in carrying the vote of the town agreeably to the wishes of the north end, and that those, whom they thus befriended, were, in their turn, to assist in making Greenland a separate corporation. The point was gained, and Greenland experienced the kindness, which tradi tion says had been promised. The author of this compilation has been told that, although the minister and a majority of the town were in favour of re pairing to the new house, when completed, for publick wor ship, yet a majority of the antient church was in the opposi tion. If this were a fact, it is probable that some ot them were so far advanced in life, or otherwise so infirm, as not to be able to attend in the sanctuary ; because there is a regular vote of the church, in the records kept by Mr. Rogers, dated 7 January, 1713, authorising and directing him, on "the next sabbath come se'nniglit, to preach in the new meeting house, and to continue preaching there, as formerly at the old ljaeeting, and to perform all other offices, which appertain to his function." The people, at the south end, appear to have much resent ed ¦ j1 — — ¦ * Newcastle, to which Rye was attached, was set off several years heftre. 16 Account of the Religious Societies cd the proceedings of the major part. At a general town meeting 9 September, 1713, captain John Pickerin, who was warm in the cause of the south end, was chosen moderator. After passing two votes, it is said, disorders arose and the jus tices dissolved the meeting ; yet Pickerin put a number of things to vote, which were carried ; such as, that* the old meeting house shall continue town meeting house forever,and, when too much decayed with age to be repaired, that a new one shall be erected in its place ; that the glebe land formerly given by the town for the use of the ministry shall wholly re main to the benefit of the minister, who shall officiate in , said house ; that a committee shall wait upon Mr. Rogers to see if it be his pleasure to continue preaching at the old meeting house, during his abode in the town, if not, that the said com mittee shall provide an able minister, for the said place of wor ship, and agree with him for his salary, which agreement, so made, shall be ratified and fulfilled by the town, &c. It is hardly probable that there would have been such an uphappy misunderstanding in the town, were it not for the ad vantage, which, as some thought unfairly, the north end gained over the south, relative to the glebe. However, it is certain the patronage of the glebe, or the right of presentation, according to the original grant, was to be in the " parishion- " ers, or greater part of them, forever ;" so that, if the vote for placing the new meeting house, on the spot, where it now stands, were in all respects fairly obtained, the inhabitants, at the south end of the town, had no reason to complain, seeing they chose to forego the privilege of their part of the glebef rather than be under the necessity of walking a few rods fur ther to attend publick worship. When Mr. Emerson came to preach in the old meeting house, it gave dissatisfaction to Mr. Rogers and his church, insomuch that they made attempts for calling a council to ad vise upon the subject. Whether any council ever met and, if it did, what was the result, is unknown. The reverend Nathanael RogersJ was son of John Rogers, president * Town records. t This glebe land, which would now be of great value, was mostly dis posed of, at long leases, many years ago, for a trifling consideration. \ App. note D. in Portsmouth, New-Hampshire. 17 president of Harvard College, and was born at Ipswich, 22 February, 1669. He was graduated at Cambridge, in 1687, and died, 3 October, 1723, and was interred, as was his suc cessor also, in the ancient burial ground, usually called the Point of Graves. The slate, which was let into his monu mental stone, and upon which his epitaph was written, is not to be found. The late president Stiles, when a preacher in this town, copied off the inscription, which by that mean, has been preserved and is here subjoined, as the best eulogium in &e power of the compiler to offer the Historical Society. Hie sepelitur reverendus Nathanael Rogers,. A. M. Jesu Christi minister fidelis ; prosapia studiis evangeliis devote oriundus ; ingenio, eruditione, integritate, moribusque suavissimis valde omatus ; benevolentia;, fidei, pietatis exemplar illustre ; theologian consultissimus ; concionator prasclarus ecclesise pastor vigilantissimus ; natus est Ipsvici, 7 mo. kalendas Martii, MDCLXIX. In Jesu sinum efflavit animam 5to. nonas Octobris, MDCCXXIII. » rona1? pn» isr Mr. Rogers kept a record of his baptisms, admissions into the church, and marriages ; but, as some part has been lost, the number of neither can be determined. He was repeatedly solicited to publish some of his sermons, but ever declined. The reverend Jabez Fitch succeeded Mr. Rogers. His ehurch records, if he kept any, are supposed to be lost. The time of his installation is unknown. Being a resident* at Cambridge, he was invited, in the lat ter part of 1702, by the antient parish of Ipswich, to settle as colleague * Letter from Reverend Levi Frisbie to the author. c 18 Account of the Religious Societies colleague with reverend John Rogers. He was, according ly, ordained in the course ofthe following yetj. On. the 13 of December, 1723, soon uiter the vacancy at Portsmouth, he withdrew* from his pastoral office at Ipsw ich, on account of the incompetency of his support, and was pro bably established here, in a short time after. The people of his former charge were displeased at his leaving them ; yet, such appears to have been their regard, they repeatedly exert ed themselves for his return. It is not certain that his reir ov al was ever sanctioned by the voice of an ecclesiastical coun cil. Pecuniary differences, between him and the peopit of Ipswich, were not finally adjusted till 22 September, 1726, and then by way of arbitration. He was bomf at Norwich in Connecticut, in April, 1672, and was the fourth son, by a second marriage, ol revert i id James Fitch. He was graduated at Harvard College, in 1694, and was both a tutor and a fellow of that seminary. Fiom this circumstance it may be conjectured that he was a gentle man of distinguished talents and learning ; and, especially, as he was called to a settlement at Ipswich, which, at that peiiod, was one ofthe principal parishes in the country, and had htc-n furnished with a series of ministers of the first reputation. He died of a nervous fever, 22 November, 1746, in the 75 )ear of his age, after a pious and useful ministry in Portsmouth of more than 20 years' continuance. He had a taste1 for historical researches and made a collec tion of facts, relative to New- Hampshire, of which doctor Belknap availed himself, when writing upon this state, and tor which he has given credit. Four sermons are extant, which Mr. Fitch published while at Portsmouth. The first, from Psaim xxviii. 5. was occasion ed by the great earthquake, which happened, 29 October, 1727. The second was preached in Gosport, on one ofthe Isles of Shoals, 26 July, 1732, at the ordination of rever end John Tucke, from these words, " I will make you fishers of men ;" Matthew, iv. 19. The other two, from Jeremiah xiv. 8, 9. were designed to lead people to a religious improve ment ofthe throat distemper, which prevailed in 1735 and 6. He also published an account of that fatal disorder, as it ap peared, * See note in the preceding page. f App. note E. in Portsmouth, New-Hampshire. 19 peared, in Newhampshire, for fourteen months prior to 26 Ju ly, 1736.' The north Parish, 6 November, 1745, invited Mr. Sam uel Langdon, he having been the grammar school master in Portsmouth, to assist Mr. Fitch. It was stipulated that he should have Liberty to continue his school, so long as the aged minister should be able to perform the duties of his station, and then become his successor in office. Mr. Langdon was not ordained till 4 February, 1747. At this time the number of communicants, in the church commit ted to his care, exceeded one hundred and sixty. Being invited to take the oversight of Harvard College, his ministry in this town ceased, 9 October, 1774. In 1780, he resigned the presidency of that institution and, once more, en tered on the milder task of teaching a church of Christ. He was installed at Haniptontalls, 18 January, 1781. His exten sive knowledge, hospitality, patriotism, and piety secured to him, in this calm retreat, the affection and respect of the peo ple of his charge and of his numerous acquaintance. He de parted this life, 29 November, 1797, having nearly completed the 75 year of his age. He was a native* of Boston and became a graduate of Har vard College, in 1740. He received the degree of doctor of divinity from the university of Aberdeen, in Scotland, and was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sci ences. The following is a list of the doctor's publications. Possi bly, some are omitted. 1. A sermon, from Jeremiah xxiii. 28, 29, delivered in Greenland, 3 November, 1756, at the or dination ofthe late reverend Samuel Macclintock, D. D. 2. Joy and gratitude to God for the long life of a good king and the conquest of Quebec, a thanksgiving sermon, preached at Portsmouth, 10 November, 1759, from the 13 first verses of Psalm xxi. 3. An impartial examination of Mr. Robert San- deman's letters on Theron and Aspasio, printed in 1765. 4. A summary of christian faith and practice, drawn up, princi pally, in scripture language, printed in 1768. 5. A sermon, from Micah iv. 5. on the coincidence of natural with revealed religion, delivered at the Dudleian lecture, in Cambridge, I November, 1775. 6. A sermon, from 1 Thessalonians, ii. 13, preached * App. note F. 20 Account of the Religious Societies preached in Dublin, New- Hampshire, at the ordination of reverend Edward Sprague, 12 November, 1777. '7. A ser mon, from Ecclesiastes, vii. 1, delivered in Cambridge, 9 May, 1779, occasioned by the death of professor Winthrop. 8. A sermon from Deuteronomy, iv. 5, 6, 7, 8, preached at Con cord, at the annual New-Hampshire election, 5 June, 1788. 9. Observations on the revelations of Jesus Christ to saint John. 8vo. p. 337, printed in 1791. 10. A discourse, from 1 Tim othy, iii. 14, 15, delivered in Portsmouth, before the Piscata- qua Association, 26 January, 1792. 11. Corrections of some great mistakes committed by reverend John Cosens Og- den, printed in 1792. 12. Remarks on the leading senti ments of reverend doctor Hopkins' system of doctrines, in a letter to a friend, printed in April, 1794. In 1761, colo nel Joseph Blanchard and doctor Langdon, having taken great pains to prepare, published a map of New- Hampshire, which they inscribed to honourable Charles Townsend, esquire, his majesty's secretary at war and one ofthe privy council. The late doctor Stiles* preached his first sermon in the north parish, 6 April, 1777, and agreed to remove to Ports mouth and carry on the work of the ministry, for one year, or till he should return to his flock in Newport. He, according ly, on the 29 of May following, brought his family to this place, and staid till the summer of the next } ear, when he repaired to New-Haven, having been previously chosen president of Yale College. From the benefit of his instructions and example, and from the acquaintance, which the people formed with him, during his continuance here, his name will long be mentioned with respect, in this part of the country. In 1776, reverend David Macclure, D. D. now settled at East Windsor, in Connecticut, had an invitation, which he did not accept, to take the pastoral care of this church and con gregation. Reverend Joseph Buckminster, D. D. was ordained, 27 January, 1779. The baptisms from that time to the pre sent, amount to nearly eight hundred, and the admissions into his church, in the same period, to seventy-five. From the re cords of Samuel Penhallow, esquire, who has been clerk of the north church, ever since June, 1757, the number of baptisms, from * Church records. in Portsmouth, New-Hampshire. 21 from that date to this, is sixteen hundred and sixty-seven, and the admissions one hundred and sixty-one. Haines, Fletcher, Keais, and Morse were deacons, ih this town, at an early period. Since the time of Mr. Rogers the following is a list of those, who have filled the office of deacon in the north church. Captain Tobias Langdon, Samuel Hart, Thomas Peirce, Thomas Peirce, son to the former, Samuel Sherburne, Samuel Penhallow, esquire, William Parker, esquire, father of the late bishop Parker of Boston, Daniel Lunt, Elisha Hill, Ammi Ruhamah Hall, and Job Harris. The two last and deacon Penhallow are still living. The plate belonging to this church consists in six cups of antique form', dated 1705 ; a christening bason, dated 1714 ; a tankard, given, in 1764, by Mrs. Mary Gambling, widow of honourable Benjamin Gambling, esquire ; and two large flagons, the silver for making which was given by Thomas Wibird, esquire, who died 12 November, 1765, in the 59 year of his age.* SOUTH PARISH NOT INCORPORATED. It has already been suggested that a part of the inhabitants of Portsmouth, at the time a majority repaired to the new, or north meeting house, in 1713, chose to continue the assem bling of themselves together, for publick worship, at the an tient building near Pickerin's dam. Rev. John Emerson was invited, 24 May, 1703, f to set tle in the ministry at Newcastle, where he was soon after or dained by reverend messieurs John Cotton, John Pike, and John Clark. In 1712, for what reasons the author of this work has not been able to ascertain, his pastoral relation was dissolved. Having, for some time, preached in the old meet ing house, in Portsmouth, he was installed there, 23 March, 1715. Rev. Christopher Toppan,J in presence of reverend Caleb Cushing and Theophilus Cotton, gave him the custom ary charge. Mr. Emerson was a native of Ipswich and received the honours of Harvard College, where he was educated, in 1689, He very providentially escaped|| with his life, 27 June, the same * North parish incorporated 1791. t Newcastle records. | Emerson's records. j) Belknap's New-Hampshire. 22 Account of the Religious Societies same year, by declining, though strongly urged, to lodge at the house of major Waldron, in Dover, on the fatal night, when the Indians wreaked their vengeance on the unsuspecting inhabitants of that place. He crossed the Atlantick, in 1708, spent some time in the city of London, and was handsomely noticed by queen Ann. He died, on the 21 of June, 1732, in the 62 year of his age, and was interred in the Cotton burial ground. The old meeting house was constantly used, during the life of Mr. Emerson ; but, soon after his death, was converted into a dwelling house. In 1731, the present south meeting house was built. Alter it was raised, Mr. Emerson made a prayer upon a stage, fixed in the frame for the occasion, and it is still recollected, by the aged, that he particularly gave thanks, that no accident had happened in preparing, and putting the frame togrther. This was the last publick exercise he performed. During his ministry, in Portsmouth, he baptized seven hun dred and sixty-two, and received into his church one hundred and twenty-four. Forty of these were added in course of a year after the great earthquake of 1727. Mr. Emerson took care to cherish a becoming remembrance of that alarming providence by preaching an occasional discourse, ever after, on the evening of the 29 of October. It is to be regretted that none of his sermons were published, as they would, no doubt, have done honour to his memory. He is said to have been an agree able companion and a faithful preacher ofthe gospel.* Rev. William Shurtleff was ordained at Newcastle, in 1712. He was invited, upon the death, to become the successor, of Mr. Emerson. He was, accordingly, installed in the south parish of Portsmouth, 21 February, 1733. Mr. Shurtieftj was a native of Plymouth, in Massachusetts, and was numbered among the graduates of Harvard College, in 1707. He left this world for 'a better, 9 May, 1747. ' His remains, as were those of Mr. Strong, were deposited under the communion table of his church. No stone has been e- rected to his memory. His name, however, will long be mentioned with respect, for his uncommon meekness and pa tience under great trials and for distinguished piety as well, as pa-;:oral fidelity. During his ministry in this place, he bap tized more, than seven hundred, and admitted one hundred and * App. note G. t App. note H. in Portsmouth, New -Hampshire. 23 and thirty communicants. He was a great friend and promo ter ofthe revival of religion, which became so gentK.i about the time of 1742. In the course of this year, he had sixty- three added to his church.* Mr. Shurtleff published, 1. A sermon, from Galatians ii. 2, which he preached in the parish oi Rve in Newcastle, 14 Sep tember, 1726, at the ordination of reverend Nathanael Morril. 2. A sermon from Psalm cxvi. 3, 4, 5, delivered at New cas tle, 1 January, 1727, in commemoration oi the sufferings, preservation, and deliverance ol a company ot manners, some years before, shipwrecked on Boon Island ; w ith an j.ddress to hon. John Wentworth, esq. 3. A sermon, from Revela tions ii. 1, preached at North Hill, in Hampton, 31 October, 1739, at the ordination of reverend Nathanael Gookfo. 4. A sermon, from Luke xxiii. 42, occasioned by the execution of Sarah Simpson and Penelope Kenny, f and in the hearing of the former, delivered 27 December, 1739. This sermon is preceded by an address to the reader, of which Mr. Fitch was the author. 5. A sermon, from Romans x. 1, preached in Boston, 18 September, 1741, at a monthly evening lecture. 6. An account ofthe revival of religion at Portsmouth, pub lished in the 22 and 48 numbers of the Christian History for 1743. After the decease of Mr. Shurtleff, several candidates were employed in the South Parish. Of those, who officiated the longest, were Mr. Samuel Moody, the late preceptor of Dum- mer Academy ; the late John Phillips, LL.D. the munificent founder of the Academy at Exeter ; and reverend Daniel Little, the late esteemed pastor of the church at Kennebunk, in the town of Wells. Reverend Job Strong was ordained, 28 June, 1749. He was a native of Northampton^ , in Massachusetts, and was graduated at Yale College, in 1747. It is much to the honour of this young Melancthon, that he was one, of the two, par ticularly recommended § by the pious David Brainerd to the commissioners at Boston, as a promising character for mis sionary * Shurtleff 's records. t These were the first executions in the state of New-Hampshire. i App. note I. § See Brainerd's Life. 24 Account of the Religious Societies sionary labours among the Indians. He sat out for Ohono- quaugo* the last of 1747 ; but, having reached Schoharie, he was taken unwell, and stopped four days' journey short ofthe place of destination. However, he spent about six months on this tour, and returned so full of the expectation of future usefulness among the poor natives of the wilderness, that he was determined, having put his hand to the plough, not to look back. The people of Portsmouth had heard an excellent account of Mr. Strong, and delegated Matthew Livermore and Henry Sherburne, esquires, to Northampton, to invite- him to this place. Mr. Edwards, supposing him to be raised up in providence to water the seed, which Brainerd had suc cessfully sown, was unwilling he should go to Portsmouth, but upon the express condition, that he should shortly resume his missionary labours. The gentlemen, who went after him, were obliged to promise Mr. Edwards, that they would not use their influence for his establishment in this place. How ever, though they kept their word, the people here soon gave Mr. Strong an invitation to settle with them. He gave a negative answer, and went to the commissioners in order to receive directions, as to his further services among the abo rigines ; but, his health was so impaired, they were fearful of his inability for the task, and relinquished their claim to him. The call at Portsmouth was renewed and accepted ; but the people had opportunity to rejoice in his light only for a little while. He died after a short and painful illness, on Monday, 30 September, 1751, at about the age of 27. His baptisms were one hundred and four, and his admissions eleven. The author of this work has seen no publication from his pen, except a letter, preserved in Brainerd's life, addressed to his parents, which, in some measure, evinces the piety of his heart, and the interest he took in the religious welfare of the poor Indian tribes. Reverend Samuel Haven, D.D. the present seniour min ister of the South Parish in Portsmouth, was ordained, 6 May, 1752. At the time of his settlement, the church consisted of two hundred members. The baptisms, from the period of doctor Haven's establishment, to 1 January, 1805, amount to about * Information from rev. Gideon Hawley, who was a missionary also among the Indians. ¦iu P&(tpm8i$h\i Nep'sHattipshiM. &£ about ttwo thousand, ,and the admissions to two hundred (and rthirty. Rev; Tifffothy Alden, junior, .was ordained collegiate, pas tor, ,20 -November, 1799. The following is a list, of those, who;have officiated, as dea cons in this church,: so far as can readily be determined. .Riebard Shortifidge, James Sherburne, capfciin Mark Lang don, Daniel Jackson, Isaac Williams, John Marshall, John .Noble, Nadab Moses,. John Marshall,' son of the former of that name, Jonathan Locke, and Solomon Cotton. The lthree,last iare- still living. The plate belonging to the south church consists in six an tient cups, without' date ; a christening,. bason, the fruit of a i bequest, jtnadebj' captain George Walker, in 1740 ; and a tankard^given by Mrs. , Mary ©farts, 29, July, 1729. He was ,or4ained by the bishop of London * The south-meeting-house- is an important land mark for mariner* -aoirang. into Piscataqua harbour. The steeple was struck with lightr ning, 7 May, 1759, and was greatly! injured. A particular narrative, of . the effects was written by doctor Haven, and was published in Fowle'a New-Hampshire Gazette, number 136. It was also struck once before. t Belknap's "New-Hampshire. $ App. note K. <¦§• Letter from rev. Asa M'Farland, who obtained the substance of* 8)is paragraph from Mrs. JUehe. D 26 Account of the Religious Societies London for a society in Providence, Rhode- Island, whither he repaired, and tarried till his removal for this place. He spent the remainder of his days, as a missionary, with the episcopal church in Portsmouth, and died, soon after Mrs. Browne, in 1773, having just entered his 74th year. His character is respectfully given in the following quotation from a letter* addressed by the bereaved church, 2 July, 1773, to the secretary of the society for propagating the gos pel in foreign parts. " Good conduct, a most noble and be nevolent disposition, excellent preaching, sound doctrines, and good oratory were qualifications regularly exhibited and ever conspicuous in our late faithful divine." He published, 1. A sermon from Proverbs xxii. 6, deliv ered 27 December, 1739, the day appointed for the execution of Penelope Kenny. 2. A sermon from Proverbs xxiv. 21, on the folly and perjury of the rebellion in Scotland, preached at Portsmouth, 23 February, 1746. 3. A sermon from Isaiah i. 20, delivered on the annual fast, 6 May, 1757. 4. A sermon, on the doctrine of election, from 1 Peter, i. 2, preached at Portsmouth, 1757. 5. Remarks on doctor May- hew's Incidental Reflections, by a son of the church of Eng land, printed in 1763, are supposed to have been written by Mr. Browne. After the death of this gentleman, the episcopal church was for many years neglected, having only transient supplies. Rev. John Cosens Ogden, a native of New-Jersey, and or dained by bishop Seabury, became his successor, in Decem ber, 1786. He was a preacher of popular talents, but too great a bigot for this age of Catholicism. Some imprudences, which w ere more the fault of his head, than of his heart, oc casioned dissatisfaction in the minds of his people, so that he found it expedient to leave them, in 1793. He afterwards, at times, showed symptoms of a mental derangement, and is said to have died suddenly at Chestertown, Maryland, in 18O0.f His publications, which the author has seen, are, 1. A ser mon from Nehemiah v. 19, delivered in Concord, New- Hampshire, at the annual election, in June, 1790. 2. A ser mon from 1 Corinthians i. 10, preached in Nottingham, 7 September, 1790, before the Columbian Lodge. 3. An address delivered at the opening of Mr. Benjamin Dearborn's academy * Church files. t App. note L. ix Portsmouth, New-Hampshire. 27 academy in Portsmouth, on Easter Monday, 1791. 4. Let ters occasioned by the publication of an epistolary correspon dence, which had been carried on between him and the late doctor M'Clintock. Rev. Joseph Willard, the present rector of Saint John's church, was ordained deacon, in the city of New- York, 22 February, 1795, and priest, on the 24 ofthe same month, by right rev. Samuel Provost, D. D. His baptisms amount to nearly four hundred. Many valuable donations have in times past been made to this church, which, from one cause and another, have been lost. The plate, at present belonging to it, consists in two large fla gons, a christening bason, a cup, and a salver, with the royal stamp, said to have been presented by the queen of England, at an early period of the church, in honour of whom it was cal led, originally, Queen's Chapel ; and a cup given by captain Christopher Rymes, in 1736. The late Theodore Atkinson, esquire, gave two hundred pounds sterling, the interest of which is laid out in bread, which is distributed, every sabbath, among the poor of the church, agreeably to an article in his will. An elegantly printed bible, from the Clarendon press, was presented, in 1793, by Arthur Browne,* esquire, representa tive in parliament for the university of Dublin, in Ireland, to this church, in token of his affection and respect for a con gregation of which his grandfather was formerly pastor. An elegant marble baptismal vase stands by the altar with a brazen cover, upon which is the following inscription, said to have been written by Wiseman Clagett, esquire, viz. " Sara, Catharina, et Anna Elizabetha, Johannis Tufton Ma son cohortis structoris filise ornatissima hoc baptistorium, ex Gallicis manubiis apud Sinegalliam, sub auspiciis predicti Johannis acquisitum, ecclesise Anglicanae apud Portsmouth in provincia, vulgo vocata New- Hampshire, liberaliter con- tulerunt Anno Domini, 1761, et vicqsimo sexto praedica, tionis Arthuri Browne, Wiseman Clagett, et Samuel Liver- more ecclesia? procuratoribus." IN- * Arthur Browne, LL.D. late fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, and Sing's professor of Greek, was a son of rev. Marmaduke Browne of Newport. [18G7.] See Literary Miscellany. $& JccVtin? t>f the Religious Societies JNOBfENBEN'T CONGREGA'TTON Al SfOCrETY, rNCO'R'P»- R'ATeD' IN 1796. In 1757, a number of persons, of both sexes,, withdrew from1 the congregational churches in this towm They stated* that, in tiieir opinion, the Cambridge platform for discipline and the New-England confession' of faith' for doctrine ought) to l)e followed, as being agreeable to God's word,, and estab-- lished by authority. In 1758, the foundation' of a third congregational society was laid, and, in November, 1760, land was* purchased for building a meeting-house, f which was so far completed as to be opened by the 17 of May, 1761. The principal people concerned, in the formation of this society, were Joseph Cot ton, John Elliot, Abraham Elliot, Perk his Ayers, Ebenezeu Jose, ofthe church, and Benjamin Mackay of the congrega, tion. The church was embodied 14 October, 1758, being assisted by the reverend messieurs John Palmer and Paul Parks, the former of whom occasionally visited this new church, and administered the ordinances till the time of Mr. Prown's settlement. Reverend Samuel Drown, a native of Bristol, Rhode- Island, was ordained 2 November, 1761, by reverend Alexander Miller of Plainfield, Paul Parks of Preston, and John Palmer of Windham, Connecticut. He was principally distinguished by an honest sincerity and zeal in the Redeem er's cause. He was beloved by his people, and laboured a- rftong them in the work of the ministry till his death, which took place, in his '50 year, 17 January, 1770. The baptisms jn this chuich, at the time of his decease, had amounted to eighty-one, and the communicants to seventy -six. Of these sixteen were received in 1764. After the death of Mr. Drown, reverend Joseph Mar shall, of Canterbury in Connecticut, had an invitation to be come his successor ; but he declined on account of some domestick afflictions. In 1779, reverend Curtis Coe, now of Durham, having received a call from this church, answered in the affirmative ; and * Letter from the aggrieved, preserved among doctor Havetl'a re- fiords, + App. note M. in Portsmouth^, Mew-Hampjhirt. £9 and the day/ fon ordinationi was appointed., The council was convened, but did not agree, to the disappointment of the people, and Mr. Coe withdrew. Reverend Joseph Walton, the present pastor of this church, became a ruling elder, in 1777. He used to read and expound the scriptures, on the sabbath, while without a minister, till, at length, the church invited him into the pulpit. Has performances were so acceptable that he received an in>- vitation to take the pastoral oversight of the floek, and was ordained by his church, 22 September, 1789, without other assistance. His baptisms are seventy, and' admissions thirty- four. Fifty-seven were baptized by various ministers, in the interval, previous to his settlement. The Cambridge platform, with a few exceptions, was adopted at the first formation of this society. Accordingly, die following, at sundry times, have been chosen, and have officiated', as ruling elders, viz. Joseph Cotton, John Elliot, who afterwards became a Sandemanian, Theodore Moses, George Jerry Osborne, and Anthony Langford, the two last living ; and the following, as deacons, viz. Abraham Elliot, Perkins Ayers, Samuel Bowles, Samuel. Drown, son of the former pastor, and James Day, the two last of whom are still living.* SANDEMANIAN SOCIETY. Mr. Robert Sandemanf came to this country about the year 1764. His peculiar tenets attracted the attention of many, and gave rise to a new denomination in the christian world. Several societies were soon formed, which are called by his name. The most of them, however, are reduced to a small number of members. One of these societies was form ed in Portsmouth. A building was erected, for a place of publick worship, which stood on Pleasant-street, nigh the spot where, since its demolishment, colonel Thomas Thompson has built his dwelling-house. Daniel Humphreys, esquire, has statedly officiated, for a number of years, as a teacher to this little flock. UNI- * The author is indebted for a considerable part of the information relative to the independent congregational society, to rev. Mr. Walton, t App. note N, 30 Account of the Religious Societies UNIVERSAL SOCIETY, INCORPORATED IN 1793. The first formation of a society of universalists, in Ports mouth, was about the year 1780. Regular meetings com menced in 1782, and, in two years after, Mr. Noah Parker began his ministrations, which continued till his death, 17 August, 1787. From this period, the supplies of the pulpit were only occasional, till 1794, when reverend George Richards received an invitation to settle here, which he ac cepted, and was ordained, in July, 1799. The meeting-house was built, in 1784, under the super intendence of the honourable George Atkinson, Jeremiah Libbey, and Jacob Treadwell, esquires. Mr. Atkinson was a liberal benefactor. At present no church is formed. Chil dren are received by dedication and prayer, but water is not used, unless their parents conscientiously request it. Up wards of a hundred have passed this form since the estab lishment of Mr. Richards in this place.* BAPTIST SOCIETY. In September, 1802, a baptist society was formed in Ports mouth, by the instrumentality of elder Elias Smith. The ehurch, which was first gathered in March, 1803, consists, at present, of one hundred and seventy-five members, twenty- four of whom belong to other towns. LASTLY. At a certain period, while there was but one religious so ciety in Portsmouth, there was an attempt to form a parish at the Plains, two miles from the state-house. A building was erected, in which there was occasional preaching, till about the middle of the last century, when it was taken down. App. note O. Intelligence from reverend Mr. Richards. in Portsmouth, New-Hampshire. 31 AFFJENBIX. The following notes, connected with a work necessarily comprising many minutiae, may not, perhaps, be unaccepta ble to the reader. Note A. Twelve acres of the glebe were within the present town plat, abutting, forty-four poles, upon Pleasant and Court- streets, and extending to the westward. The parsonage house is said to have stood upon the spot, where the late doctor Langdon erected his dwelling-house, now owned by honourable John Goddard, esquire. The building, which, in 1640, was called a chapel, appears ever after to have been called a meeting-house, when any thing was said about it. The late Mr. Ogden supposed, from the manner in which the instrument of conveyance was worded, that the original donors ofthe glebe designed their gift for the support of the episcopalian mode of worship. His intemperate publication on the subject, in 1791, drew forth a reply from doctor Lang don, which gives a rational statement of the matter. It was while the inhabitants of Portsmouth were under a government of their own fabrication, in 1640, that they made a grant of fifty acres of land for a parsonage, in the words of doctor Langdon, " With a general pious design, that the advantages of publick religious worship might be enjoyed among them, as they had endeavoured to form a civil government. But in the first beginnings of their government, they had no laws to render votes of town-meetings valid, with respect to property ; nor any forms of conveyance of any kind, but such as were taken from the laws of England. Therefore, the inhabitants thought it necessary to confirm their vote of a parsonage by a legal deed, and no other forms existed, but such as were peculiarly accommodated to the church of England. Ac cordingly, they drew a deed in the best manner they were able, Which was signed and authenticated by the governour and some [nineteen^ of the inhabitants, and in which several appropriate church terms were unavoidably used. But, that they might secure to themselves the sole management and benefits 32 Account of the Religious ."Societies benefits of this parsonage, they expressly reserved in the deed the right of presentation, that is, of patronage ; by which re servation, they had a right; to chuse and induct whatever min isters they pleased, and consequently to worship in any. form which they should think best." In the deed, alluded to, fifty acres of land for a glebe are granted to " Thomas Walford and Henry Sherburne, churdh wardens, and their successors forever, as feoffees in trust." Hence, officers under this name were appointed from time to time in the antient congregational society of Portsmouth ; and although, when the society was at length divided into two, the one retained the glebe, the other as well, as that, fol lowed the practice, and does to this day, of chusing, annually, ' three or four wardens. Note B. William Moodey had three sons, Samuel, Joshua, and Caleb, who, according to tradition, were born in England. Mr. Moody of Arundel is a descendent from Samuel, and those in York, district of Maine, of this name, from Caleb;* The pear trees were, hot long since, standing in Newbury, which Joshua Moodey engrafted while an undergraduate.* Nothing very satisfactory has been ascertained . as to the names or the number of reverend Joshua Moodey's children. He had one daughter, who married Pike, several of whose children were baptized by their grandfather. Rev. Jonathan Russell of Barnstable, grandfather of the late Eleazar Russell, esquire, of Portsmouth, . married another daughter. It is. presumed that Samuel Moodey, who was a temporary preacher at Newcastle, prior to the setdement of Mt. Emer son, and who, in 1705, was an inhabitant of Boston, was his son. After this compilation was finished, the author received a letter from rev. William Bentley of Salem, from which the following extract is subjoined, as exhibiting an honourable testimony to the manly independence and benevolent disposi- * tion of Mr. Moodey. " In the times of the -witchcraft in Salem village, no per son, distinguished for property, and known in the commer cial * Rev. Silas Moody's letter to the author. in Portsmouth, New-Hampshire. 38 eial world, was accused but Philip English. He came young into America from the island of Jersey, lived in the family of Mr. Hollingworth, a rich inhabitant of Salem, and afterwards married his only daughter and child, Susanna. The wife had received a better education, than is common even at this day, as proofs, I hold, sufficiently discover." " From some prejudices, as early as 21 April, 1692, she was accused of witchcraft, examined, and committed to prison in Salem. Her firmness is memorable. Six weeks she was confined ; but, being visited by a fond husband, her husband was also accused and confined in the same prison. By the intercession of friends, and by a plea that the prison was crowded, they were removed to Arnold's gaol in Boston till the time of trial." " In Boston, upOn giving bail, they had the liberty of the town, only lodging in prison. Upon their arrival Messrs. Willard and Mobdey visited them, and discovered every dis position to console them in their distress. On the day before they wtre to return to Salem for trial, Mr. Moodey waked Upon them in the prison, and invited them to the publick worship. On the occasion he chOse for the text, if they PERSECUTE YOU IN ONE CITY, FLEE TO ANOTHER. In the discourse with a manly freedom he justified every at tempt to escape from the forms of justice, when justice was Violated in them. After service Mr. Moodey visited the pri soners in the gaol, and asked Mr. English whether he took notice of his discourse ? Mr. English said he did not know Whether he had applied it as he ought, and wished some con versation upon the subject. Mr. Moodey then frankly told him that his life was in danger, and he ought by all means to provide for an escape. Many, said he, have suffered. Mr. English then replied, God will not suffer them to hurt me. Upon this reply, Mrs. English said to her husband, do you not think that they, who have suffered already, are innocent ? He said, yes. Why then may not we suffer also ? Take Mr. Moodey 's advice. Mr. Moodey then^told Mr. English that, if he would not carry his wife away, he would. He then informed him .that he had persuaded several worthy per sons in Boston to make provision for their conveyance out of ihe GOlony, and that a conveyance had been obtained, encour E aged 34 Account of tlie Religious Societies aged by the governour, gaoler, &c. which would come at midnight, and that proper recommendations had been obtain ed to governour Fletcher of New-York, so that he might give himself no concern about any one circumstance of the jour ney ; that all things were amply provided. The governour also gave letters to governour Fletcher, and, at the time ap pointed, Mr. English, his wife, and daughter were taken and convened to New- York. He found beiore his arrival, that Mr. Moodey had dispatched letters, and the governour, with m„ny private gentlemen, came out to meet him ; and the governour entertained him at his own house, and paid him every attention while he remained in the city. On the next year he returned." " In all this business, Mr.- Moodey openly justified Mr. English, and, in defiance of all the prejudices which prevail ed, expressed his abhorrence of the measures, which had obliged a useful citizen to flee from the executioners. Mr. Moodey was commended by all discerning men, but he felt the angry resentment ot the deluded multitude of his own times, among whom some of high rank were included. He soon after left Boston and returned to Portsmouth." " Mrs. English died in 1694, at 42 years of age, in conse quence of the ungenerous treatment she had received. Her husband died at 84 years of age, in 1734." " This is the substance of the communication made to me at different times from madam Susanna Harthorne, his great- granddaughter, who died in Salem 28 August, 1802, at the age of 80 years, who received the account from the descend ants of Mr. English, who dwelt upon his obligations to Mr. Moodey with great pleasure." Note C. In the early settlement of this part of the country, such was the, attention to the preached word, women used frequently to walk from Greenland to Portsmouth, six or eight miles, in order to attend publick worship. Note D. At the ordination of Mr. R.>gtrs, reverend William Hub bard of Ipswich gave the pastoral charge, Mr. Pike of Dover the in Portsmouth, New-Hampshire. 35 the right hand of fellowship, Mr. Pay son of Rowley began, and Mr. Cotton of Hampton concluded* the service of the day with prayer. The Mr. Rogersf of Portsmouth was one of the sons of John Rogers, £ a physician by profession, but occasionally a preacher, who, in 1682, became the president of Harvard College. He was therefore a grandson oi the Nathanael Ro gers, who came to New- England in 1636, and settled at Ips wich. The Nathanael last mentioned was son§ of the cele brated John Rogers,of Dedham, in England, who was a grand son of John Rogers, the first martyr in queen Mary's reign. In other words, the grandfather of Mr. Rogers of Portsmouth was a great-grandson of him, who nobly suffered at the stake in Smithfield, 4 February, 1555. Mr. Rogers of Portsmouth married Sarah Purkiss. Her mother was originally a Pemberton, and living in her second widowhood, then of the name Elatson, in the family of Mr. Rogers, in 1704, when the antient parsonage was burnt, she was so scorched, as to survive only a few weeks. At the same time an infant child of Mr. Rogers, and a negro woman, likewise perished. The following is a list of the children of reverend Nathanael and Sarah Rogers. 1. Honourable Nathanael Rogers, esquire, physician, whose wife was the widow Rymes, but originally Dorothy Sherburne, and whose only child is honourable judge Rogers of Exeter. 2. Sarah, the wife of reverend Joshua Gee of Boston. 3. Elizabeth, who lost her life in the flames, as before suggested, at the age of seventeen months. 4. George, a merchant, who married Lydia, a sister of gov ernour Hutchinson. 5. Elizabeth, the wife of reverend John Taylor of Milton. 6. Mary, the wife of Matthew Liver- more, || esquire, of Portsmouth. 7. John, who died at the age of five years. 8. Daniel, an apothecary in Portsmouth, who married Mehetabel Rindge. 9. Margaret, who died at the aee of twenty-two, unmarried. 5 Note * Records left by Rogers. t Letter from Mr. Frisbie. t President Leverett married a daughter of president Rogers. § See Magnalia. _ , || Mrs. Greenwood, his daughter, helped the author to this list of Mr. Rogers' children. 3§ Account of the Religious Societies Note E. Mr. Fitch married Elizabeth Appleton, daughter of colo nel John Appleton of Ipswich and sister of the late reverend doctor Appleton of Cambridge. These are their children. 1. Elizabeth, who was the wife of John Wibird, esquire. The late reverend Anthony Wibird of Quincy was their son. 2. Mirgaret, who was the wife a son of reverend Henry Gibbg of Watertown. 3. Mary, who was the wife of Francis Cabot, e quire, of Salem. 4. Ann, who was the first wife of rever end Nathanael Gookin of North-Hampton. 5. John, who was graduated, at Harvard College, in 1728, studied physick with doctor Nathanael Sargent of Hampton, and died in early life. Two brothers,* Thomas and James Fitch, or in the antient way of writing the name, Fytche, came from Booking in the county of Essex, England, to America, in 1638. Thomas settled at Nor walk, in Connecticut, and was the father of Thomns Fitch, the governour of the state. The history of rev erend James Fitch is handsomely given in his epitaph, as may be seen at Lebanon, in Connecticut, and is here added. " In hoc sepulc.hro deposits? sunt reliquas viri vere reveren- di domini Jacobi Fitch, D. D. • Natus fuit apud Bocking in comitalu Essexias in Anglia Anno Domini, 1622, decembris 24 ; qui postquam linguis et Uteris optime institutus fuisset, in Nov-Angliam venit, aetatis 16, et deinde vitam elegit Har- fordise per septennium sub institutione virorum celeberrimo- rum domini Hooker et domini Stone. Postea munere pasto- rali functus est apud Saybrook per annos 14. Mine, cum ecclesice majori parte Norvicem migravit et ibi cjeteros vits annos transegit in opere evangelico. In senectute vero prse corporis infirmitate necessario cessabat ab opere publico ; taademque recessit liberis apud Lebanon, ubi, semi-anno fere exacto, obdormlvit in Jesu, ar)no 1702, novembris 18, astatis suss 80 j vir ingenii acumine, pondere judicii, prudentii, crnritate sancta, laboribus, et omni moda vitas sanetitate, per- itia quoque, et vi concionandi nulli secundus."f This * Extracted from a letter to the author, dated 28 February, 180 written by reverend Ebenezer Fitch, D. D. president of Williams' Col lege. f Supposed to have been written by Mr. Fitch of Fj, rtsmouth. in Portsmouth) New-Hampshire. 37 This Mr. Fitch married for his first wife Abigail Whitfield, a daughter of reverend Henry Whitfield of Guilford, Connec ticut, of whom some account is given in Magnalia. Their children were James, Abigail, Elizabeth, Hannah, Samuel, and Dorothy. Reverend James Fitch married for his second wife Priscilla, a daughter of major John Mason of Norwich. Their children were Daniel, John, Jeremiah, Jabez, Ann, Na thanael, Joseph,and Eleazer. These fourteen, except the last, lived to have families of children, from whom a numerous pro geny has descended. Note F. At the ordination of Mr. Langdon, reverend Mr. Cotton ©f Hampton begun with prayer, Mr. Shurtleff gave the charge, and Mr. Adams of Newinglon gave the right hand of fellow ship and concluded with prayer. Doctor Langdon married Elizabeth Brown, a daughter of reverend Richard Brown of Reading, in Massachusetts, by whom he had nine children, four of them died in infancy. The other five arrived at mature age and had families. L Samuel, who is not living. 2. Paul, a graduate of Harvard College in 1770. 3. Richard. 4. Elizabeth, the present wife of the honourable David Sewall, esquire, of York. 5. Mary, the present wife of the honourable John Goddard, esq. of Portsmouth. Note G. Mr. Emerson married Mary Barter of Salem, by whom he had the following children, who survived their father. 1. Ma ry, who was the wife of Francis Winkley, of Kittery. 2. Eli zabeth, who was never married. 3. Ann, who was the wife of captain Stephen Greenleaf, of Portsmouth. 4. Sarah who was the wife of Davis, of Portsmouth. 5. Dorothy, who was the wife of Elihu Gunnison, esquire, of Kittery, 6. Martha, who was the wife of Flint, of Plastow. There were several others, vyho died young. Note H. Mr. Shurtleff married Mary Atkinson, a sister of the late Theodore Atkinson, esquire. Several anecdotes are related of this lady, from which it seems that she was not that amiable and endearing bospin friend, which so good a man deserves. Mr. 38 Account qf the Refygious Societies Mr. Shurtleff had no children, but many brothers and sis ters, the following of whom lived to mature age, viz. Jabez, Thomas,' Ichabod, John, Barnabas, Samuel, Nathanael, Su sanna, Sarah, and Abigail. He was the second son and was named for his father, who, in advanced age, removed to that part of Plympton now called Carver. His mother was a daughter of Barnabas Lothrop, who was a son of reverend John Lothrop oi Barnstable. The name of reverend Mr. Shurtleff's grandfather was Wil liam also. He lived in Marshfield and was killed with light ning,* in 1666. The tradition is that he was endeavouring to comfort his wife, who was much terrified at the severity of the tempest, and had just taken an infant from her arms and was seated, having one 'child between his knees and the other two ih his lap ; yet the flash of lightning, which killed him, did neither of them nor his wife any injury. Note I. Rev. Jonathan Edwards preached a sermon from John xiii. 15, 16, at the ordination of Mr. Strong, which was printed. Rev. messieurs Jeremiah Wise of Berwick, Joseph Adams of Newington, John Rogers of Kittery, Samuel Chandler of York, and Samuel Langdon of Portsmouth were also of his council. Mr. Strong married Abigail Gilman, daughter of colonel Peter Gilman, of Exeter, 6 December, 1750. His infant, whom he name*} Nathanael, prematurely born, died, and was buried, 28 September, 1751. He preached on the following day, which was the sabbath, from these words, " Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." He was seized with the bilious colick between meet ings, and on Monday, departed this life for a better, greatly la mented. Note K. Mr. Browne was a son of rev. John Browne, who remov ed from Scotland to Ireland. He married Mary Cox, a daugh ter of rev. Thomas Cox, D. D. of Drogheda, by whom he had * This part is mentioned in New-England's Memorial, though not so minutely as some of his descendants, at Plymouth, have related t« the author. in Portsmouth, New*- Hampshire. 39 had nine children, viz. 1. Thomas, who was born in Dublin, in 1728, and died at Portsmouth; 2. Marmaduke, who was born in Providence, was educated at Trinity College in Dub lin, was ordained by the bishop of London, and settled at Newport, Rhode-Island, where he ended his days. 3. Lucy, whom Mr. Smith, a British officer married. 4. Jane, whom the late honourable Samuel Livermore, esquire, married. 5. Mary, whom reverend Mr. Sargeant, formerly of Cambridge, married. The three last were born in Providence, the follow'- ing at Portsmouth. 6. Ann, whom Mr. Saint Loe, a British officer, married. 7. Elizabeth, who was first the wife of ma jor Robert Rogers, but now of captain Roche at Concord, New-Hampshire. 8. Arthur. 9. Peter. Note L. Mr. Ogden married Mary Wooster, the only daughter of the late general Wooster, by whom he had three children, viz. Mary, David, and Aaron, the second of whom is not living. Note M. This meeting house was built at Durham Point, where it was the place of publick worship in the days of rev. Hugo A- dams. It was taken apart to be brought to Portsmouth, and was originally about fifty by forty feet ; but, in 1767, was lengthened by the insertion of twenty feet. Both the other congregational churches as well as the episcopal, were enlarg ed, in 1761. Note N. Mr. Sandeman's epitaph, as may be seen at Danbury, in Connecticut. " Here lies, until the resurrection, the body of Robert Sandeman, a native of Perth, Northbritain, who, in the face of continual opposition from all sorts of men, long and boldly contended for the antient faith, that the bare work of Jesus Christ, without a deed or thought, on the part of man, is sufficient to present the chief of sinners spotless before God. To declare this blessed truth, as testified in the holy scriptures, he left his country, he left his friends, and after much patient sufferings, finished his labours at Danbury, 2 April, 1771, a- ged 53 years." « Deign, Christ, to come so nigh to us, As not to count it shame, To call us brethren. Shall we blush At aught, that bears his name ? Nay, 4© Account of Religious Societies. Nay, let us boast in his reproach, And glory in his cross. When he appears one smile from him Shall far o'erpay our loss." Note O. Reverend Mr. Murray, now of Boston, first preached the doctrine of universal salvation, in Portsmouth, about the com mencement of the revolutionary war. In 1790, a general convention ofthe universal societies met at Philadelphia and published articles of faith and a plan of church government, A general convention, of this denomi nation in the New- England states, assembled, 1794, in Mas sachusetts, and has continued to hold an annual meeting, in September, ever since, when from thirty to forty societies are usually represented. YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 9002 04062 9785