the time they were students at the academy here. She states that they were both preparing for the ministry; if so, one of them changed his course. Mr. Baldwin graduated from the Dartmouth medical school in 1823, and became a successful practitioner of medicine; of Mr. Cochran we shall learn more by and by, as he found a wife in Hancock. Their names, however, in this connection should not be forgotten, as they were the pioneers in a good work. They had but three scholars, Lucinda Hills, Mary Wason, and Sally Ober. Mrs. Boyles says: "It was a new thing, and the children seemed afraid of it." The date of this school could not have been far from 1820. Mrs. Boyles was married and left town in 1825; she writes that no other Sunday school was established in Hancock while she resided there. It must not, however, be inferred that the religious training of the children was neglected. Perhaps as much pains. was taken in that direction as has been in later years.1 (See Doctor Clark's address.) About seven hundred children have been baptized by the different pastors of the church since its organization. BAPTIST CHURCH. Dec. 17, 1805, a council representing the Baptist churches in Mason, Dublin, and New Boston, met at the house of Joseph Eaton in Greenfield, and organized a church, which was known by the name of the Baptist church in Peterboro' and Society Land, until Aug. 19, 1824, when it was voted to call it "Society Land Baptist Church." May 24, 1835, it was voted that it be called in the future the Baptist Church of Christ of Hancock and Society Land.2 A meeting-house was built in Greenfield some time previous to 1812, and as early as 1826, a meeting-house was built in Society Land (now Bennington). John Colby, Dea. Eli Maynard, Dea. Asa Knight and some of his family, Samuel Goodhue and John Brooks, with members of their families, with perhaps other residents of 1 It is said that during the latter part of Rev. Mr. Paige's ministry, and later, a good sister, Mrs. Patience (Ward) Ware, was in the habit of inviting the children over to the school house in the village during the noon intermissions, and telling them Bible stories, and also asking them questions. The first organized Sunday schools in connection with the church work were commenced during Rev. Mr. Burgess' ministry, and have been actively continued since that time. A temper ance organization is connected with this Sunday school, and has been for years. When Bennington was incorporated in 1842, the name of the church was again changed to Bennington Baptist church. In 1852 it was voted to hold the meetings at South Antrim, and at the present time it is known as the South Antrim Baptist church. Hancock, were active members of this church at an early period of its history. Eli Maynard was chosen deacon Nov. 4, 1827; Asa Knight was chosen to the same office April 16, 1829. Rev. Stephen G. Abbott united with this church in 1838 at Hancock, where at that time there was a branch. Rev. James A. Boswell was pastor in 1835; Rev. Frederick Page, in 1836; Rev. John Woodbury in the early part of 1837. Sept. 4, 1837, a call was given to Zebulon Jones to become pastor, and he was ordained to that office. On the 22d of April, 1840, the church voted unanimously that it was expedient to form a new church at Hancock Center. This meeting was held at the "Lit. & Sci. Institution," where it is proba ble religious services had been held since its establishment in 1836. It was voted that the church be organized the 6th of May following, and that Rev. Mark Carpenter, of Keene, and Rev. David P. French, of Sullivan, and their delegates, be invited to attend on the occasion. These brethren were present at the time appointed, as were also Levi Willard, of Keene, as a delegate; Rev. Orrin O. Stearns, Rev. S. Abbott, and W. C. Richards, who was at that time principal of the "Lit. & Sci. Institution." It was decided to comply with the request of those who called the council. It was voted that a letter from the Hancock and Society Land Baptist church, in the possession of those wishing to form the new church, would be received as satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the persons whose names were in that letter. The following are the names of those whose names were in this letter of dismission and recommendation; said letter being signed by L. A. Fletcher, church clerk, and dated April 28, 1840: John Brooks. Abram Davis. Jonas Hutchinson. Harry Knight. Samuel Hartshorn. The exercises at the recognition of the church were as follows: 1. Reading of Scriptures and introductory prayer by.......W. C. Richards. 2. Sermon by...... 3. Consecrating prayer by................ 4. Right-hand of fellowship by. 5. Address to the church by.. 6. Concluding prayer by. 7. Benediction by...... Rev. M. Carpenter. ........Rev. S. Abbott. ...... Rev. D. P. French. .Rev. Orrin O. Stearns. ..Rev. M. Carpenter. ..Rev. S. Abbott. At the close of this service Dr. Jonas Hutchinson was chosen church clerk, and continued its clerk until his removal from town. We insert his autograph here: Jones Hutchinson The whole number of persons who became members of this church was sixty-one. Services were continued until 1852, when a majority of the members having either died or moved away, the church was virtually given up. As far as I have been able to learn, the pastors that served the church after its organization at Hancock Center, were Rev. Orrin O. Stearns, who was dismissed from the church Nov. 6, 1841; Rev. Sem Pierce, who was pastor in the years 1842-44; Rev. Henry Archibald, who was pastor in 1846-47; Rev. Lorenzo Tandy, who was ordained pastor of the church Feb. 16, 1848, and dismissed at his own request, May 2, 1849, and Rev. William M. Guilford, who was pastor in 1851. The confession of faith of this church was decidedly evangelical and thoroughly Baptist. The following is the order of exercises at the ordination of Rev. Mr. Tandy: 1. Reading of Scriptures by. 4. Ordaining prayer by. 5. Charge by.. 6. Right-hand of fellowship by.. 8. Concluding prayer by........ .Rev. S. Dearborn, of Marlboro'. .Rev. O. O. Stearns, of Milford. David Woods and Samuel Hartshorn were chosen deacons June 6, 1840. Stephen Buxton was chosen to the same office June 6, 1846; Stephen Buxton was also chosen church clerk Nov. 6, 1841. Circumstances did not favor the growth or the perpetuity of this church, but this was not on account of any fault on the part of the members; they were good and true men and women, and in other fields of usefulness to which many of them removed, they have been able to accomplish more than it was possible for them to do within the limits that circumscribed them here. In 1822 Rev. Lemuel Willis, then a young man, was instrumental in forming a Universalist society, which though never thoroughly organized sustained preaching at intervals for nearly forty years. About the same date Rev. Zenas Adams, from Marlow, organized a Methodist church, which has ceased to exist. Several Catholics, natives of the Emerald isle and their descendants, are now residents of the town, and a few persons are Spiritualists. Mention has already been made of the fact that Mr. Chandler, who supplied the pulpit of the Congregational church for a time, was a Unitarian; several other Unitarian clergymen also occupied the pulpit at intervals during the time between the pastorates of Mr. Paige and Mr. Burgess. The Miller excitement, in 1843, had its share of attention, and an apostle of what was known as the "Latter-Day Saints" visited the town, and once at least occupied the meeting-house, but it is not recorded that he made any converts. MEETING-HOUSES. We have already given a detailed account of the building of the first and second meeting-houses. In addition we can only say that there is a tradition that a small Methodist meeting-house was built in the western part of the town, some years ago, but not a vestige of it remains. In 1836 the Congregational church erected a two-story brick building, the lower story of which has from that time to the present been used for various religious purposes; before the meeting-house was repaired in 1851, this vestry (as it has always been called) was used mainly for public services in the winter. In 1879 the "slips" were removed, the room, modernized, and at the present time it presents quite an attractive appearance. The Baptist society used for its religious services the lower story of the "Lit. & Sci. Institution." CHAPTER XI. MARRIAGES. The following list of marriages has been prepared by Mrs. E. E. Hayward; some assistance has been rendered by others, but with 1 New furnaces for heating the meeting-house are now being placed in position, preparatory to extensive improvements which are contemplated in the early sum mer of 1888. one or two exceptions the names here given she has taken from the original records. Four volumes of town and one of church records have been diligently searched, and we here give the result. No attempt has been made to go behind the records, or to make any alterations, not even in spelling the names, unless there has been found to be good reason for so doing. No additions have been made, but as great care has been exercised, it is to be hoped that no mistakes will be found. The arrangement may not be all that could be desired, but as the records were kept it could not well be otherwise. Previous to 1860, no definite plan was followed, but each person that solemnized marriages made his return sometimes several years afterwards, and the record was made where most convenient. Although in one sense marriage may be deemed a civil contract, and a few of the persons whose names appear below were united in marriage by justices of the peace, yet as the great majority have recognized the fact that it is a divine ordinance, we have placed this record in close connection with the preceding chapter as a portion of the same general subject. BY JAMES HOSLEY, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. 1788, Sept. 11th. Eleazer Ames and Polly Russell, both of Hancock. Sept. 14th. Abraham Davis and Rebecca Williams, both of Hancock. Dec. 2d. Robert Case and Elizabeth Robinson, both of Society Land. 1789, April 16th. David Hosley, of Hancock, and Elizabeth Chase, of Peterboro'. Nov. 12th. Salmon Blodgett and Sarah Williams, both of Hancock. John Whitcomb and Betty Hosley, both of Hancock. Robert Miller, of Hancock, and Betty Clary, of New Ipswich. 1791, March 24th. Daniel Morse and Jane Grimes, both of Dublin. May 2d. Samuel Gordon and Lydia Ames, both of Hancock. Aug. 23d. Samuel Hosley and Polly Dodge, both of Hancock. BY REV. REED PAIGE. 1790, Aug. 30th. Sept. 10th. Dec. 14th. Dec. 26th. Dec. 30th. 1792, Sept. 11th. David Davis and Hannah Davis, both of Hancock. Oct. 7th. |
