Congregational Church History & membership :Hooksett, Merrimack Co, NH

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Submitted by: Rick Giirtman  rickman@worldpath.net
Date: December 5, 2000
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This is from "The History of Merrimack and Belknap Counties, New Hampshire".
Edited by D. Hamilton Hurd and Published in 1885.


The Congregational Church was the first established society in town, but
Methodism was probably preached by itenerant ministers at as early a date.
Early in the history of the first settlers of our locality, church
privileges were enjoyed by travelling a long distance to Chester, Dunbarton
or Pembroke. As early as 1770, Samuel Martin, Daniel Martin, John Martin,
Caleb Dalton and Daniel Foster had their parish rates given in on account of
living as far from the meeting house. This was an important reason, prior to
the formation of the town, for it's incorporation. Rev. Joseph A. E. Long
first ministered to the people of Hooksett in the year 1824. He held
meetings in different places in town, at periods up to the year 1828. He
then being called very eloquent, and in the capacity of an evangelist, was
instrumental in forming a sentiment to organize a Congregational Society.
So, accordingly, on January 22, 1828, an organization was perfected. The
following proceedings occured at the council:

    "Hooksett, Jan. 22, 1828.
    At an Ecclesiastical Council, convened by virtue of letters from several
    individuals in Hooksett for the purpose of taking into consideration the
    expediency of organizing a church of the Congregational order to this
    place.

    Present: Rev. Abraham Burnham, Joseph Kittredge, delegates from church
    in Pembroke; Rev. Roger C. Hatch, from church in Hopkinton; Rev. William
    R. Talbert, Elder Foster Towns, from church in Nottingham West; Rev.
    Nathaniel Bouton, Rev. Nathaniel Abbott, from church in Concord; Rev.
    Henry Wood, Elder Jonathan Aiken, from church in Goffstown.

    The Council was organized by choosing Rev. A. Burnham, Moderator; Rev.
    N. Bouton, Scribe. The meeting of the council opened with prayer by the
    moderator. Attended to communications from the individuals who are
    candidates for church membership. Roger Dutton presented a letter of
    dismission and recommendation from the church in Weld, Maine. Mrs.
    Zebiah and Miss Mehitable Hersey presented a letter of dismission and
    recommendation from the church in Dunbarton. Sarah Head and Mary
    Otterson communicated their Christian experience in writing. Susan
    Moulton expressed the reasons of her hope in Christ and Arria Mitchell
    did the same. Whereupon, 'Voted, unanimously, that it is expedient to
    embody the above individuals into a church of Christ.'"

Agreeably to the foregoing vote, the above-named individuals were
acknowledged as a regularly constituted Church of Christ in connection with
the following exercises. Hymns were sung and prayer offered by the Rev. Mr.
Hatch. Sermon preached by Rev. Mr. Bouton from Acts ii. 47. Confession of
faith and covenant administered by Rev. Mr. Burnham; the fellowship of the
church expressed by him. The Rev. Mr. Talbot offered the concluding prayer.
"Voted, that the council be dissolved." It was voted by the above council
that J. A. E. Long act as moderator of the church. The following members
composed the church at it's organization who subscribed to the Articles of
Faith and Covenant; Roger Dutton, Susan Moulton, Sarah Head, Zebiah Hersey,
M. Hersey, Mary Otterson, Arria Mitchell, Mrs. Poor, all of whom have since
deceased. The following have since been admitted:

1828.-- Feb. 15, Nancy Towns by profession; Feb. 17, Rachel Dutton and
Rebecca Batchelder by profession; Feb. 23, Mary Sawyer by profession; Mar.
29, Hugh Taggart, Elizabeth Taggart, by letter; June 21, Joanna Saltmarsh,
Sally Sawyer, by letter; Aug. 30, Rosanna Whittier, Phebe Hawes, and Eunice
Kimball by letter; Oct. 25, M. Martin, Caleb Johnson, Jason Johnson and
Foster Townes, by letter; Dec. 28, Margaret Brown and Anna Poor by letter,
and Hannah Upham by profession.

1829.-- Hannah Taggart by profession; Joseph Blanchard, Polly Blanchard,
died July 4, 1843; April 26, Dolly Ames, died Aug. 3, 1829; June 28, Nathan
Kimball, excommunicated, and Maria Davis, Mary Abbott Austin and Ann Brown;
July 25, John Osgood and Mary Osgood, by letter.

1830.-- April 25, Sarah Brown, died April 3, 1831, Hiram Brown and Mary
Brown; June 26, Sally Head; June 27, Ruth Baker; Oct. 24, Dolly Whittier and
****** Dollof.

1831.-- April 24, Nancy Bradley Cleasby; Sept. 4, Martha Otterson.

1832.-- Jotham D. Otterson.

1833.-- Jan. 6, Malvina Straw, Sophronia Tucker and Charles Bayles and
Harriet Bayles.

1836.-- Hazen Saltmarsh; Nov. 5, Mrs. Hazen Saltmarsh, died Jan. 17, 1855.

1837.-- July 14, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Simpson, letter from church in
Dorchester, N. H.; Oct. 6, Calvin Guild, Jr., letter from church in
Uxbridge, Mass., and Margaret Guild, letter from church in Uxbridge, Mass.;
Oct. 13, Paula P. Warren, letter from church in Nashua, N. H.

1838.-- June 3, William Blanchard, deceased; John Garland and Lucy Ann
Chase, died; Aug. 5, Chatham Orr; Sept. 30, Widow Hannah Parker.

1839.-- Feb. 10, Mrs. Mary Ann Gage; Mar. 3, Charles Gault and wife, by
letter from church in West Parish, Concord.

1844.-- April, Nancy Whittemore, by letter from Lowell, Mass.

1846.-- Aug. 29, James W. Perkins and wife, by letter from Warner, N. H.;
James Putnam and wife, by letter from Goffstown; Mrs. Samuel Noyes, by
letter from Pembroke; Oct. 30, Charles A. Daniels, by letter from Franklin,
Mass.; Mrs. Nugul, by letter from Alexandria.

1847.-- Mrs. Charles A. Daniels, by letter from Pembroke; Mr. and Mrs.
Stephen Ballard, by letter from Andover, Mass.

1848.-- Feb. 17, Mr. and Mrs. Luther Shedd, by letter from Amoskeag; Miss E.
Shedd, by letter from New York; Feb. 20, Mrs. Julia Ann Head, by letter from
Lowell, Mass., Mrs. Sarah Saltmarsh and Miss Abigail L. Goss; May 14, Mrs.
Jabez Green, by letter from Pembroke; Mrs. Lydia S. Goss, by letter from
Winchendon, Mass.; Mrs. Ann Brown, by letter from Amoskeag; June 25, Miss
Mary Whinden; July 23, Miss Nancy Brown, by letter from Milton, Vt.

1850.-- Mar. 10, Mr. J. C. Gile; July 14, E. A. Saltmaesh.

1852.-- Mr. and Mrs. Edwin A. Russel; May 2, Mr. and Mrs. John Dana, Miss
Anna M. Eastman, Jane Whidon, Elizabeth B. Saltmarsh and Rebecca W.
Saltmarsh.

1856.-- Jan. 5, Wm. Forbes and wife, by letter from Oakham, Mass.; Thomas M.
Bacon and wife, by letter from Franklin, Mass.; July 6, Martha Noyes; Nov.
9, Elizabeth Converse.

1857.-- Mary Young, by letter from Deerfield, N. H.; May 3, Mrs. Hiram
Austin, Mrs. Phoebe J. Russel, John Austin, Elizabeth S. Noyes.

1861.--Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Marden, by letter from Chichester and Manchester;
Jan. 6, Mr. and Mrs. John Shirley and Mrs. Sarah A. Dennison.

1862.-- Sept. 7, Mrs. Lucy A. Morgan.

1863.-- Oct. 30, Mr. and Mrs. James P. Ela, by letter from Methodist Church
in town.

1864.-- Mr. and Mrs. William O. Gordon, from church in Danbury.

1866.-- May 6, A. Burnham and wife, from Haverhill, Mass.; Nov. 2, Mrs.
Sarah M. Russel, from Chichester.

1872.-- March 18, Mrs. Susan G. Goss and Mrs. Mary E. Otterson, from church
in Chichester.

1880.-- July 1, Mrs. Persis Church and Mrs. Sarah Pronk, from Campton,
N. H.; Sept. 2, Mrs. Eliza Sykes, from Manchester, N. H.; Sept. 12, Eli
Walker; Nov. 4, W. H. Otterson, from church in West Concord; Mrs. Ida W.
Lakin, from church in Pittsfield, N. H.; Annie Ordway, Nellie Gordon, Lucy
Hammond and Mrs. J. W. Prescott; Dec. 30, Mr. Pierce Porter, Frank H. Colby,
Mrs. Sarah B. Ordway, Nancy C. Converse, Mary C. Walker, Nettie M. Colby,
Nettie R. Jones, Nora M. Kimball and Lizzie E. Thompson.

1881.-- March 3, Charles A. Tenney, letter from Nashua; Mrs. Emery Austin,
letter from Henniker; Mrs. Lizzie J. Tenney, Mrs. Lydia J. Wyman, Mrs. Myra
J. Gordon and Miss Nancy C. Rowell; April 28, Eben C. Chase; July 3, Maria
A. Clark.

1883.-- Mrs. F. E. Stevens; April 29, John C. Rollins and Mrs. M. L. Morse.

1884.-- Jan. 6, Orrin J. Prescott and wife, Mrs. Eben J. Bucket; July 6,
Miss Susan C. Rowell; Sept. 7, Rosetta M. Ordway and Angelina D. Mitchell,
from church in Manchester; Winfield S. Head, Mr. L. Otterson, Mr. and Mrs.
F. C. Towle, Mrs. Julia A. Hazeltine, Mrs. Ruth Head, Mr. Henry Otterson
and Mr. George A. Lakin.

All the above is a complete record, as far as can be ascertained, of the
membership of the Congregational Church since its formation. Of the
clergymen who have ministered to the church a full account cannot be given.
Sometimes, at periods intervening between the resignations and ordinations
of different pastors, the pulpit was supplied for a year or less by
clergymen of whom there is no record. The first clergyman was the Rev. J. A.
E. Long. He was born in Amesbury, Mass., and was a son of Nathan Long. He
graduated at Harvard College in 1818, and afterwards at the Cambridge
Divinity School; was ordained as an evangelist in Kensington, N. H., in
April, 1822. After preaching a year he removed and labored as an evangelist
in different places, and quite successfully in Hooksett a few years prior to
the formation of the Congregational Church, when he was accepted as a
settled preacher. He was in Lyman, Me., in 1836, and afterwards labored a
short time in Kensington. He afterwards settled in Hooksett, and for a
number of years was a conspicious person, know as "Priest Long." Many people
living can relate pleasing anecdotes of his suave temperament, polished
manner and somewhat eccentric habits. He died suddenly in 1859, leaving a
wife, son and daughter. His widow is now living at the age of eighty-seven,
in Chelsea, Mass. Mr. Long was succeeded by Rev. Charles Boyter. Mr. Boyter
was a missionary and was first installed at Springfield, N. H., in June,
1828. After preaching there two years, he preached at different parts until
his location in Hooksett, in 1833, where he labored until 1835. He
afterwards preached in Acworth, N. H. April 30, 1835, Rev. Humphrey Moore
was ordained as pastor, and acted until 1836. He afterwards preached in 
Merrimack, Amherst, Greenfield. He was succeeded by Rev. W. C. Greenlief, in
1837, and he, in 1838, by Rev. S. E. Jewett, who preached an indefinite
period with some other clergymen of whom no record is made. On the last
Sabbath of February, 1846, Rev. James W. Perkins commenced his labors.
August 30, 1846, the present house of worship was dedicated. It was erected
this year by contributions, the largest contributors being Samuel Head and
wife. The Rev. Mr. Perkins labored until 1848. He preached in Francestown in
1844; in Alstead, 1846; Hillsborough in 1852, where his health gave out June
16, 1852.

Rev. John Lawrence became pastor in 1848. He ministered to the people until
1850. Mr. Lawrence is still living at an old age in Cambridge, Mass. On
December 5, 1850, Rev. J. W. Tarlton was ordained. Mr. Tarlton was a son of
William and Comfort (Wallace) Tarlton; was born in Epsom, N. H., February
19, 1817; prepared for college at Homer, N. Y.; graduated at Dartmouth
College, 1842; teacher in Boston 1842-44; student at Yale Theological
Seminary two years and Andover Theological School one year. He was without
charge at Boston, Mass., 1855-68, and Watertown, Mass., from 1868 till
death. Sometimes engaged in evangelistic labors, and acting pastor at North
Chelsea (Revere), two years. Married, February 3, 1854, Betsey Dutton,
daughter of Deacon Roger and Rachel (Sawyer) Dutton, of Hooksett, N. H. Died
in Watertown, of congestion of the liver and lungs, February 27, 1883, aged
sixty-six years. Rev. William Forbes was ordained November 8, 1855, and was
supported until May 2, 1857, when he sent in his resignation, but continued
to serve until December 23, 1858, when he was dismissed. He afterwards
preached in Deerfield. Mr. Forbes was succeeded by the Rev. E. H. Caswell,
who occupied the pulpit one year, until May 31, 1860, when he ceased his
labors. On July 8, 1860, Rev. Marvin Leffingwell commenced to supply the
pulpit; after preaching two years Sabbaths, was engaged for one year. Mr.
Leffingwell preached until the year 1865. During this time he strongly
advocated the cause of the Union in the pulpit and out. He was succeeded by
Rev. A. Burnham, who performed the duties of pastor from July 16, 1865,
until March 31, 1872. Mr. Burnham was a devoted Christian, a thorough
scholar, and his memory is indelibly imprinted on the minds of many who live
in Hooksett. He died a few years ago in West Stewartstown, N. H. The church
was supplied by different preachers until the year 1873, when the Methodist
and Congregational Churches were united. This departure was followed by an
era of great success, when church matters and attendance were greatly
enhanced. The Congregationalist members earnestly acquiesced in supporting
Methodist preachers. The Rev. J. E. Robbins was the first pastor under the
new order of things, he serving until 1876 with great success. Mr. Robbins
has preached in Plymouth, Lebanon and Portsmouth since, and is now presiding
elder in the Claremont District. The next was Rev. B. W. Chase (Methodist),
who served one year, afterwards preaching in Sunapee and the West. Mr. Chase
was succeeded by Rev. S. G. Kellogg (Methodist), three years. Rev. Mr.
Kellogg is a distinguished minister, has been presiding elder, and since has
preached in Marlow three years, and is now at Sunapee, N. H. The next call
was made to Rev. Charles H. Taintor (Congregationalist). Mr. Taintor
preached in Weare, N. H., one year, before locating in Hooksett, and prior
to that period was an evangelist. Mr. Taintor's administration, from 1880 to
1882, was a fruitful one. He labored with much zeal and earnestness. The
records show more accessions of new members by profession than under any
administration of his predecessors. His estimable wife was an earnest
collaborator in the cause. Mr. Taintor, after deliberate consideration was
very pronounced and earnest, and he did much towards shaping and perfecting
the affairs and records of the Congregational Church. Mr. Taintor was called
to Milford, N. H., where he labored with his usual success for two years. He
is now secretary of the Congregational Church Building Society in the West,
with headquarters at Chicago. Mr. Taintor was succeeded by Rev. J. C.
Rollins, who commenced to supply the pulpit in November, 1882. He was
previously located in Webster two years, supplying the Methodist Episcopal
Church. In June 1883, he received a call from the Union Church to settle
with them as their pastor, being ordained and installed June 27, 1883. Rev.
C. W. Wallace, D. D., preached the sermon. In the words of one of the
counsel, "the examination was more than satisfactory." During Mr. Rollins'
term the church was remodeled inside and out at an expense of about fifteen
hundred dollars, and before the close of his work every cent of debt of
church, society and Sunday School was paid in full. Mr. Rollins was called
to the pastorate of the Milford Church December, 1884, and was installed
February 27, 1885. Mr. Rollins' service in Hooksett was successful,
displaying rare talent as a preacher of power and worth. His ministrations
in Milford are successful, and large congregations assemble to hear his
brilliant pleadings. Since the building of the church numerous improvements
have been made. A bell was given the church in the year 1852 by a number of
contributors. In the year 1879, Deacon Hiram Austin, Martin L. Otterson and
FRank C. Towle were appointed trustees to receive a legacy of five hundred
dollars bequeathed to the church by Mary Young. In the year 1882, Jabez
Green presented a deed to the society of the parsonage lot and building,
valued at about fifteen hundred dollars; also, Mrs. Jabez Green, the same
year, donated a silver communion service, costing seventy-five dollars.
These monuments of philanthropy speak praises to the noble benefactors, who
are still living at this time. The following deacons have served the church;
Roger Dutton, Hugh Taggart, Luther Shedd, Hiram Austin, Martin L. Otterson.