EXETER. _"Exeter New Church," afterwards called "The Second
Church of Christ in Exeter."_[19] A considerable number of the
members of the First Church seceded, and "embodied into a New
Church, on a day of Fasting and Prayer, June 7, 1744." There is
an error in several publications, giving 1748 as the date of the
formation of that church. This error is found on the monumental
stone of Rev. Daniel Rogers, in the graveyard, in Exeter. It is
not strange that, in so long an inscription, there should have
been, through inadvertency, an omission, by the engraver, or in
his copy, of the word _installed_, immediately after the name.
The words, _Pastor of a church gathered in Exeter_, should have
been marked by a parenthesis. The inscription on the gravestone
was copied by Alden, into his Collections, and thus currency has
been, unintentionally, given to the error. Original documents
show the facts in the case.
The causes of the _secession_, which issued in the establishment
of a New Church in Exeter, were of a religious nature, but the
presentation of them does not come within the scope of this work,
and besides, we have not space for their discussion.
The _Rev. Daniel Rogers_ was born in Ipswich, Ms., in 1707, and
graduated H. C. 1725. He received ordination, without a pastoral
charge, by a council, which met at York, July 13, 1742. The
ministers of the council were Rev. Messrs. Jeremiah Wise of
Berwick, Me.; Nicholas Gilman of Durham, N. H.; John Rogers of
Kittery, (now Eliot,) Me.; and Samuel Moody of York, Me. Rev.
Daniel Rogers "had been many years a tutor in Harvard College,
was a pious faithful minister of Jesus Christ, and a worthy son
of Rev. John Rogers, pastor of the first church in Ipswich, who
died, Dec. 28, 1745, in his 80th year. _He_ was a son of John
Rogers of the same place, a physician, and preacher of God's
word, and President of Harvard College, who died, July 2, 1684,
aged 54 years. _He_ was eldest son of the Rev. Nathaniel Rogers,
who came from England, in 1636, settled at Ipswich, colleague
pastor with the Rev. Nathaniel Ward, and died, July 2, 1655, aged
57 years. _He_ was son of the Rev. John Rogers, a famous minister
of God's word at Dedham, in England, who died Oct. 18, 1639, aged
67 years. _He_ was grandson of John Rogers of London, Prebendary
of St Paul's, Vicar of St. Sepulchre's, and Reader of Divinity,
who was burnt at Smithfield, Feb. 14, 1555, first martyr in Queen
Mary's reign." [_Monumental Stone; Alden's Epitaphs._] Rev.
Daniel Rogers died, Dec. 9, 1785, aged 79. When the Covenant of
the 2nd church was adopted, it was signed by 30 males and 11
females. During Mr. Rogers' ministry, 22 males and 39 females
were added. It is well known, that Mr. Whitefield preached a few
times at Exeter. During the last week in September, 1770, he
preached four times in Portsmouth. On Saturday morning he rode to
Exeter, and preached to a large concourse of people, assembled
in the open air. It was his last sermon. In the afternoon, he
rode to Newburyport, where he died the next morning, on the 30th
of September. He was interred on the 2nd of October. Of his
pall bearers were Rev. Dr. Haven of Portsmouth, and Rev. Daniel
Rogers of Exeter. "When the corpse was placed at the foot of the
pulpit close to the vault, the Rev. Daniel Rogers made a very
affecting prayer, and openly confessed that under God, he owed
his conversion to that man of God whose precious remains now lay
before them. Then he cried out, O my father, my father! Then
stopped and wept, as though his heart would break; and the people
weeping all through the place. Then he recovered, and finished
his prayer and sat down and wept." [_Dr. Gillie's Memoirs of
Whitefield._]
The _Rev. Joseph Brown_ was educated at Lady Huntingdon's
Seminary, and was settled in the ministry at Epping, Essex,
England, until he came to this country. When dismissed at Exeter,
he removed to Deer Isle, Me., where he was installed, 1804, and
where he died, Sept. 13, 1819, aged 57. From the death of Mr.
Rogers to the close of Mr. Brown's ministry, in the 2nd church in
Exeter, there were added fourteen males, and twenty-four females.
During Mr. Brown's residence at Deer Isle, he was engaged in
soliciting aid for some charitable enterprise. For that purpose
he called on some of the people of Portsmouth. They received
him kindly, and only objected that they had just been doing for
_this_,--_that_,--and _the other_ objects of benevolence. His
reply is worthy of notice for the sentiment it contains: "I love
to come among these _have been doing_ folks." On the church
book are the baptisms of his son Americus, in 1793; his son
Charles Moulson, in 1794; and his son Daniel Rogers, in 1797.
Rev. Charles M. Brown has been a zealous and useful Seamen's
Chaplain. From the close of Mr. Brown's ministry, in the 2nd
church in Exeter, to 1802, there were admitted three males, and
nine females. There is then a chasm in the records, till Sept.
18, 1823, when a majority of the members remaining in Exeter,
and they females, met at the house of Mrs. Martha Poor. Their
proceedings are regularly entered in the church book, the last
date being May 22, 1824.
They had no pastor after Mr. Brown. For a few years they had
occasional preaching. They never formally disbanded; but most
of them united, or mingled in the observance of religious
ordinances, with other churches. Their meeting-house stood where
Maj. Waddy V. Cobb's house now stands, on Front street.
_A New Church was formed Dec. 24, 1813_, which is now styled
"_The Second Church in Exeter_." The ministers invited on
the occasion by Letters Missive from "several members of the
Religious Society, in the Upper Congregational Society in
Exeter," were the Rev. Messrs. Porter of Rye, Holt of Epping,
Abbot of Hampton Falls, Webster of Hampton, and French of North
Hampton.
Mr. Hosea Hildreth, professor of mathematics and natural
philosophy, in the Academy, and who was also a preacher,
supplied the pulpit for some time. Mr. Hildreth was ordained in
Gloucester, Ms., in 1825; and installed in Westborough, Ms., in
1834. He died in Sterling, Ms., his native place, July 10, 1835,
aged 53.
_Rev. Isaac Hurd_, pastor of the present Second Church, was born
in Charlestown, Ms., Dec. 7, 1785; graduated H. C. 1806; studied
theology with Rev. Dr. Osgood of Medford, Ms.; and afterwards at
Divinity Hall, in Edinburgh, Scotland; and commenced preaching in
the city of London. He was ordained pastor of the First Church
in Lynn, Ms., Sept. 15, 1813, resigned May 22, 1816, and was, by
the unanimous invitation of "The Second Congregational Church, in
Exeter," installed their pastor, Sept. 11, 1817. The sermon was
preached by the Rev. Daniel Dana, D. D., of Newburyport, from 2
Tim. i: 7.
The father of Mr. Hurd was Joseph Hurd, Esq., of Charlestown,
Ms., whose brother, Isaac Hurd, M. D., graduated at H. C. in
1776, and was a physician of celebrity, in Concord, Ms. The Rev.
Mr. Hurd married, March 16, 1819, Mrs. Elisabeth Emery of Exeter,
whose maiden name was Folsom. One of the sons of Mr. Hurd died in
early childhood. His other son, Francis Parkman Hurd, graduated
at H. C. in 1839, and received the degree of M. D. from the
University of Pennsylvania, in 1845.
GOSPORT, or Star Island, is one of a cluster of eight small
islands usually called The Isles of Shoals, composed of beds of
rocks, partly covered with soil. They are about nine miles from
Portsmouth Light House, and twenty-one from Newburyport Lights.
Five of these islands are within the limits of Maine. Of these,
Hog Island is the largest of the whole group, and contains about
350 acres. Of the three in New Hampshire, Gosport, or Star
Island, formerly called Appledore, is the largest, and contains
150 acres. White Island, on which the Light House is located,
is only one acre. These islands were visited, as early as 1614,
by the celebrated navigator, John Smith, who gave them his own
name; but they have long been called "The Isles of Shoals." They
invited settlement, merely by the advantages they furnished for
fishery. This business was prosperous, for about a century,
previous to the American Revolution. The population varied from
300 to 600, employing a number of schooners and other craft. A
meeting-house, previous to 1641, was erected on Hog Island, where
the people from the several islands used to assemble. There was
also a Court House on the same island. At a subsequent period, a
meeting-house was built on Star Island, where the greater part of
the inhabitants have resided.
_Rev. Joseph Hull_ came from England, and settled in Weymouth,
Ms., in 1635. He resigned in 1639, and afterwards preached at the
Isles of Shoals. He is mentioned as "of the Isle of Sholes," by
Dr. Cotton Mather, in his list of the first class of New England
ministers. [_Magnalia_, Vol. I., B. 3.]
_Rev. John Brock_ came to New England in 1637. He commenced
preaching in Rowley, and afterward labored, a number of years,
at the Shoals. He was esteemed eminently pious. The celebrated
Mr. Mitchel of Cambridge said of him, "He dwells as near heaven
as any man upon earth." Rev. John Allin of Dedham observed, "I
scarce ever knew any man so familiar with the great God as his
dear servant Brock." There were several remarkable coincidences
between Mr. Brock's prayers and providential occurrences
afterward. A man, whose principal property was his fishing-boat,
and who had been very serviceable in conveying to the place of
meeting the inhabitants of other islands, lost his boat in a
storm. He lamented his loss to Mr. Brock, who said to him, "Go
home, honest man, I'll mention the matter to the Lord, you'll
have your boat to-morrow." Mr. Brock made the matter a subject
of prayer. The next day the anchor of a vessel fastened upon the
boat and drew it up.
The people were persuaded by Mr. Brock to observe one day in
each month, as an extra season of religious exercises. On one
occasion, the roughness of the weather had for several days
prevented fishing. On the day of meeting, the weather was fine,
and the men wished the meeting put by. Mr. Brock, perceiving that
they were determined not to attend, said to them, _If you will
go away, I say unto you, catch fish if you can. But as for you
that will tarry and worship the Lord Jesus Christ this day, I
will pray unto him for you, that you may take fish till you are
weary._ Thirty men went away, and five tarried. The thirty caught
but four fishes. The five, who tarried, went out afterward and
took about five hundred.
Mr. Brock continued at the Shoals till 1662, when he removed to
Reading, Ms., where he was settled, as successor of Rev. Samuel
Hough, whose widow he married, and where he continued till his
death, in his 68th year. For other particulars of Mr. Brock see
Magnalia, Vol. II., B. 4, and Am. Quar. Reg., Vol. VIII., p. 140,
and Vol. XI., pp. 176, 190.
_Rev. Samuel Belcher_, who graduated H. C. in 1659, was preacher
at the Shoals in 1672. From 1698 to 1711, he was pastor of the
2nd church in Newbury, which became the 1st in West Newbury. He
died in Ipswich, his native place, Aug. 13, 1714, aged 74. "He
was a good scholar, a judicious divine; and a holy, humble man."
[_Am. Quar. Reg._, Vol. VII., p. 259.]
_Rev. John Tucke_ is understood to have been the only pastor
ever ordained at the Shoals. The writer of this article has not
been able to ascertain how the people were supplied, during the
forty years immediately preceding the settlement of Mr. Tucke.
Mr. Tucke was the son of _John_, who was the son of _Edward_, who
was the son of _Robert_, who emigrated from Gorlston, Suffolk,
Eng., about the year 1636, and was among the first settlers in
Hampton, N. H. Mr. Tucke's ordination sermon was preached by Rev.
Jabez Fitch of Portsmouth, from Matt. iv: 19--_I will make you
fishers of men._ It is said that Mr. Tucke was furnished with a
large library, and was, notwithstanding his isolated situation,
extensively acquainted with the affairs of his times. He was one
of the forty-five ministers, whose attestations, by letter, to
the revival in 1743, were published. His remains rest in Gosport.
The following inscription on his monumental stone, has been
considered a just tribute to his memory.
Underneath
are the remains of the
Rev. John Tuck, A. M.
He graduated at Harvard
College A. D. 1723--was ordained
here July 26. 1732
and died August 12. 1773.
Æ. 72.
He was affable and polite in his manners;
amiable in his disposition;
of great Piety and Integrity;
given to hospitality;
Diligent and faithful in his pastoral
office, well learned in History and
Geography, as well as general
Science, and a careful Physician
both to the bodies and
The souls of
his people.
Mr. Tucke married, Nov. 26, 1724, Mary Dole of Hampton, a
descendant of Richard Dole of Newbury.
Rev. John Tucke, son of Mr. Tucke of the Shoals, was born in
1740, graduated H. C. 1758; ordained at Epsom, Sept. 23, 1761,
married, March 4, 1762, to Mary, daughter of Rev. Samuel Parsons
of Rye. Love M., daughter of Mr. Tucke of Epsom, married Simeon
Drake. These last mentioned were the parents of Samuel G. Drake,
M. A., of Boston. Mr. Tucke of Epsom remained in that place till
the time of the Revolution. While on his way to join the army as
Chaplain, he was taken with the small-pox, of which he died in
Salem, N. Y., Feb. 9, 1777, in the 37th year of his age.
Not long after the death of the Rev. Mr. Tucke of Gosport, the
war of the Revolution commenced. The inhabitants were exceedingly
exposed; business was arrested, and many left the Islands not
to return. The population for the last half century, has varied
from 66 to 103. The preachers who have resided there have also
instructed the school, and have been supported in part, by
the inhabitants, and in part by contributions from benevolent
societies, and individuals. Near the beginning of the present
century, _Rev. Josiah Stevens_ was located at the Shoals. There
was at that time, a comfortable parsonage house, and a stone
meeting-house, which was also the school-house, on Gosport. Mr.
Stevens was much respected and beloved, and very useful as a
minister and teacher. He was born in Killingworth, Ct., about
1740. In mature age, he removed, with his wife and five or six
children, to Newport, N. H. He aided in founding the church in
that place, and was one of its deacons. He served two short terms
in the Revolutionary war; and was in the battle of Bennington.
A fellow-soldier spake of him, as a man of decided piety, who
amidst the bustle of the camp, was constant in his morning and
evening devotions. Immediately after the adoption of the State
Constitution, he received a civil commission, and transacted much
business, as a magistrate. He was often engaged in teaching.
After commencing to preach, he labored for a time in Goshen. His
father was Josiah Stevens. A son of Rev. Mr. Stevens, Maj. Josiah
Stevens, was also a deacon of the church in Newport, where he
died, in 1844, aged 81. _He_ was father of Hon. Josiah Stevens of
Concord, who was born in Newport, Jan. 28, 1795, and was in 1838
elected Secretary of State. _His_ eldest son is Josiah. The Rev.
Mr. Stevens died in Gosport, where the following inscription is
found on his gravestone:
In memory of the Rev. Josiah Stevens, a faithful instructor of
youth, and pious minister of Jesus Christ, (supported on this
Island, by the Society for propagating the gospel,) who died,
July 2, 1804, aged 64 years.
_Rev. Samuel Sewall_, who labored several years as pastor in
Edgecomb, Me., removed in 1824 to the Isles of Shoals, "being
employed by a benevolent society in Newburyport and vicinity, as
a missionary, and continued in this employment until the time
of his death." He died in Rye, N. H., after a short sickness,
March 16, 1826, leaving the character of an exemplary Christian,
and a devoted and useful minister. _Rev. Origen Smith_, of the
Free-will Baptist denomination, preached there in 1837. Recently,
the Society for Propagating the Gospel have employed _Rev. A.
Plumer_ as preacher, and Mrs. Plumer, as teacher.
GREENLAND. It is not ascertained when the church was gathered
at Greenland. It consisted of nineteen members when the _Rev.
William Allen_, their first minister, was ordained. He was born
in Boston, Ms., in 1676, graduated H. C. in 1703; ordained July
15, 1707; died, Sept. 8, 1760, aged 84. Rev. Dr. Langdon, in his
sermon at the ordination of Mr. Macclintock, as colleague, said
to the people. "Let not your affections be withdrawn from _him_,
who has spent his strength in your service; and now, bowing
under his infirmities, is no longer able to perform his public
work; but is preparing to leave _you_, that he may join the
church triumphant. Remember he is still your pastor; and, tho'
he cannot minister to you as formerly, he is still concerned for
your spiritual welfare, pouring out his soul the more earnestly
in prayer for you, as he sees the time of his departure is at
hand." During Mr. Allen's ministry 293 were added to the church.
In 1728, forty-four were added; in 1735, thirty; in 1742, thirty;
in 1756, the last year of his active ministry, thirteen. Mrs.
Eleanor Allen, his consort, died Jan. 16, 1734-5, aged 52; "an
early convert, eminent for holiness, prayerfulness, watchfulness,
zeal, prudence, weanedness from the world, self-denial,
faithfulness, and charity." Mr. Allen is said to have married,
for his second wife, Elisabeth Weare of Hampton Falls.
_Rev. Samuel Macclintock, D. D._, second pastor, was a son of
Mr. William Macclintock, who came from the north of Ireland, and
settled in Medford, Ms.; was a respectable farmer, the husband
of four wives, the father of nineteen children, and died aged
90. His third wife accompanied him to this country. She was
the mother of Samuel, who was born at Medford, May 1, 1732. He
was religiously educated, from early childhood. His classical
education, which commenced in the grammar-school, at Medford,
was continued under the instruction of the celebrated Master
Minot, at Concord, Ms.; and, afterward, under the preceptorship
of the Rev. Mr. Abercrombie, a clergyman, eminent for piety and
learning, in an Academy, near Northampton, Ms. Mr. Macclintock
graduated at the College of New Jersey, 1751. Before the
expiration of his senior year, he was invited, by Pres. Burr,
to accept an appointment to a tutorship, which, on account of
other plans, he declined. He was ordained at Greenland, colleague
with Mr. Allen, Nov. 3, 1756. The strain of Dr. Macclintock's
preaching was evangelical, serious, instructive, plain, and
practical; his style manly and nervous; his delivery solemn
and unaffected. His sermons were always the fruit of close
application, and finished with a degree of accuracy, that few
attempt, and fewer attain.
He ardently espoused the cause of his country; and was repeatedly
with the army in the Revolution, in the capacity of Chaplain.
Three of his sons fell in the contest. He had fifteen children by
his first marriage, and one by his second. His last preaching was
on the annual Fast, April 19, 1804. He died of a pulmonic fever
on the 27th of the same month. His funeral sermon was preached
by Rev. Dr. Buckminster of Portsmouth, from 1 Cor. iii: 22. The
executor of Dr. Macclintock's will was directed by him, to place
only a plain stone at his grave, for which he had prepared the
last sentence of the following inscription.
"To the Memory of Samuel Macclintock, D. D. who died April 27,
1804, in the 72d year of his age, and the 48th of his ministry.
_His body rests here in the certain hope of a resurrection to
life and immortality, when Christ shall appear, the second time,
to consummate the great design of his mediatorial kingdom._"
[_Alden's Epitaphs; Dr. Buckminster's Serm._]
Dr. Macclintock's publications were, a Sermon on the Justice
of God in the Mortality of Man, 1759; the Artifices of
Deceivers, 1770; Herodias, or cruelty and revenge the effects
of unlawful pleasure, 1772; Sermon at the commencement of the
new Constitution in New Hampshire, 1784; Correspondence with
Rev. John Cosens Ogden, 1791; Sermon, The Choice, occasioned by
the drought, the fever, and the prospect of war, 1798; Oration,
commemorative of Washington, 1800. [_Allen's Biog. Dic.;
Piscataqua Evan. Mag._ Vol. I.]
_Rev. James Armstrong Neal_, third pastor in Greenland, was a
son of John Neal of Portsmouth, afterward of Londonderry, who
married Mary Leavitt of North Hampton. Their other children were
Moses Leavitt, Esq., of Dover, N. H.; John, superintendent of
the Orphan house, Charleston, S. C.; Mary, wife of Maj. Gershom
Cheney, of Rutland, Vt.; Sarah B.; Sophia W., who married Capt.
Samuel F. Leavitt of North Hampton; Joseph, of Hampton; and
Nathaniel P., of New Sharon, Me. Rev. Mr. Neal was born in 1774.
He had a good academical education, and was some years preceptor
of a young ladies' school, in Philadelphia. He was patronized
by Rev. Dr. Green, to whose church he belonged, and under whose
direction he commenced his theological studies. Although he
had not been a member of any college, such were his literary
attainments, that Dr. Nesbit, President of Dickinson College,
conferred upon him the degree of M. A. in 1802. Mr. Neal received
license from the Piscataqua Association. He was ordained at
Greenland, May 22, 1807. The exercises were, Prayer by Rev.
Peter Holt of Epping; Sermon by Rev. Jesse Appleton of Hampton,
from Hag. ii: 6, 7; Ordaining Prayer by Rev. William Morrison
of Londonderry; Charge by Rev. Timothy Upham of Deerfield;
Fellowship by Rev. J. French of North Hampton; Prayer by Rev.
H. Porter of Rye. Mr. Neal possessed popular talents, and died
much regretted, after suffering greatly, from an organic disease
of the heart, July 18, 1808, aged 34. He married Christiana
Palmer, a lady from Kelso, Scotland. They had two sons. The
oldest, John P., died Nov. 14, 1806, aged 2 years. Their other
son, Joseph Clay Neal, has resided in Philadelphia, and is known
to the public, as the editor of the Philadelphian; author of
the Charcoal Sketches. [_Piscat. Ev. Mag._; _Alden's Epitaphs_;
_Graham's Mag._]
_Rev. Ephraim Abbot_, fourth pastor in Greenland, was of the
Concord branch of the Abbot family. He was born in New Castle,
Me., in 1779. His father was Benjamin, who was son of Benjamin
of Concord, who was son of Thomas, who was son of George, who
settled in Andover, Ms., in 1647, and who is said to have
emigrated from Yorkshire, England. Rev. Mr. Abbot of Greenland
graduated H. C. 1806, and at And. Theo. Sem. 1810, and was
ordained at Greenland, Oct. 27, 1813. The sermon was by Rev.
Eliphalet Pearson, LL. D., from Matt. x: 16. Mr. Abbot married
Mary Holyoke, daughter of Dr. Pearson, who, after he resigned
his professorship in the And. Theo. Sem., resided in Mr. Abbot's
family, in Greenland, where he deceased, in 1826. For some
account of Mr. Abbot's missionary labors, before he was settled
at Greenland, see "The New Hampshire Repository," Vol. II., No. 2.
Mr. Abbot's health becoming infirm, in consequence of a wound in
his side, and not being able to confine himself entirely to the
labors of a pastor, he became the first preceptor of the Academy
in the place, established by George Bracket, Esq. He resigned
his ministry, Oct. 28, 1828. The _church_, at his ordination,
consisted of nineteen members. During his ministry thirty-seven
were added. He removed to Westford, Ms., and took charge of
the Academy in that place. His second marriage was with Miss
Bancroft, daughter of Amos Bancroft, M. D., of Groton, Ms.
_Rev. Samuel Wallace Clark_ was born in Hancock, N. H., Dec.
15, 1795, graduated D. C. 1823; ordained at Greenland, Aug. 5,
1829. His father, John Clark, was grandson of Robert Clark, who
emigrated from the north of Ireland to Londonderry, N. H., in
company with the early settlers of that place; though not among
the first. Rev. S. W. Clark was the second of ten children, and
the eldest of four sons. His brother, Rev. William Clark, was
several years pastor of the 1st church in Wells, Me., and has
since been extensively known, in his agency for the A. B. C. F.
M. Rev. Mr. Clark of Greenland married Frances M., daughter of
Dea. Robert Clark, for many years an elder of the Presbyterian
church, in New Boston. She deceased July 12, 1832, leaving one
child, Frances Wallace. Mr. Clark's second marriage was with
Rebecca Elisabeth Howe, a descendant of the Pilgrim, John Alden.
She is a daughter of Josiah Howe, M. D., of Templeton, and
afterwards of Westminster, Ms. The children of Mr. Clark, by
the second marriage, were John Howe, Lucy Barrow, and William
Wallace; the last of whom deceased Aug. 19, 1846.
When Mr. Clark was ordained, his church consisted of twenty-eight
members. In 1846, there were forty communicants.