254 Petitions of Persons of Rumford, &c. That the ill consequences of abandoning the said Garrison the year past, has been severely felt by us. That the said Lovejoy appears desirous of residing there again, Provided he might be favoured with such a number of soldiers as just to keep his Garrison with a tolerable degree of safety, and that, as an additional encouragement to us to appear as Petitioners on his behalf, and to your Excellency and Honours to grant our said Petition, he will become engaged with all convenient speed to erect a forge for the making of Barr Iron* which may also stand under the command of the said Garrison-which undertaking would probably be vastly advantageous to all the Towns and plantations up this way, as well as to the General interest of the Province. We therefore pray as well on behalf of our selves as the said Lovejoy-That your Excellency and Honours would take the premises into your wise consideration, and grant unto the said Lovejoy such a protection as may encourage him to re-enter and possess his at present abandoned Garrison for the ends and purposes above mentioned and your Petioners shall, as in duty bound ever pray. John Chandler, Ebenezer Eastman, Ezra Carter, Nath. Abbott, Isaac Waldron, Amos Eastman, Edward Abbott, Stephen Gerrick, John Towle, George Jackman, Richard Jackman, Richard Flood, Jacob Flanders, William Peters, Philip Caul, John Corser, William Emery, Joel Manuel, John Flanders, Philip Flanders, Stephen Call, Phineas Stevens, Nathaniel Malloon, William Danford. [The foregoing belonged to Contoocook.] James Scales, Jeremiah Clough, William Miles, *[The forge was erected by Capt. Henry Lovejoy, and was in operation many years. The remains of it are still visible.] William Forrest, Thomas Clough, Josiah Miles, John Gipson, Archelaus Moor, Moses Danforth, John Forrast, Thomas Danforth, James Head, Benjamin Blanchard, James Gipson, William Moor, Samuel Moor, William Forest, Jr. Saml. Shepherd. [The preceeding belonged to Canterbury.] Isaac Chandler, James Osgood, Seborne Peters, Abraham Kimball, Joseph Pudney, Ben. Fifeld, Jacob Hoyt, John Burbank, Caleb Burbank, Amos Abbott, John Chandler, [jr.] Benjamin Abbot, Ephraim Farnum, Daniel Chase, Henry Lovioy, Jeremiah Stickney, Aaron Stevens, Stephen Farrington, Stephen Hoyt, George Hull, Samson Colbe, Ebenr. Eastman, jr. Philip Eastman, Jeremiah Eastman, Nathaniel Eastman, Joseph Eastman. [These five were brothers.] Daniel Anis, Nathan Stevens, Ebenezer Virgin. [The preceeding belonged to Rumford. Rumford, January 2nd. 1747-8. Memoir of Rev. Nathan Parker, D. D. Pastor of the South Church and Society in Portsmouth. By SAMUEL E. COUES. The Rev. NATHAN PARKER, D. D., pastor of the South Parish of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, died on the 8th of November, 1833, in the 52nd year of his age, and in the 28th year of his ministry. His character demands an especial notice, for as a faithful minister of the gospel, he wielded an extensive influence, and his life afforded strong evidence of the power of the religion he professed. The ancestors of Dr. Parker, generally, were distinguished for their energy and integrity of character. The first of whom there is any record, is Thomas Parker, one of the puritan set tlers of New England. He Settled at Lynn, and was admitted Freeman by the Massachusetts colony in 1637. Ile afterwards removed to Reading, and was among the earliest settlers of that place. His son, Nathaniel, born on the 16th of May, 1651, was the first person buried in the West Parish in Reading; he gave the common and burial ground. His grandson, Nathaniel, was born in 1679; he was married to Elizabeth Knight of Andover, Mass. and had eight children. Nathan, one of them, and the grandfather of Dr. Parker, was born February 16, 1719; he married Tabitha Gould of Stoneham, and had a numerous family. His son Nathan was born February 21, 1749, married Phebe Pratt in december 1777. By this marriage there were two sons and a daughter. Phebe who died in early life, Edmund who still resides at Reading, and NATHAN the subject of the present notice, who was born on the fifth day of June, 1782. The father of Dr. Parker was a farmer, independent in his circumstances. He afforded to his son all the facilities in his power for an education, yet much was left to be accomplished by his own personal exertions. In early life, he was accustomed to assist in the work of the farm, and at that time such was his fondness for study that he would often rise before day that he might finish his work so as to return earlier to his books. To his own energy of purpose he was indebted for the means of his usefulness for he enjoyed no peculiar advantages, nor was his reputation dependent on any of those favourable circumstances, which so often give the direction of the life. As a boy, he was distinguished for decision of character, and for the love of truth. Frank and open hearted, full of life and spirits, he was beloved by his companions and was their leader in their active sports. At an early age, he possessed an influence over his associates, which even then was exerted only for their good. He was fitted for College at Boxborough, under the care of his uncle, the Rev. Mr. Willard, and graduated at Harvard in the class of 1803. After receiveing his degree, he remained at Cambridge one year in the prosecution of his theological studies. He then taught a school in Worcester and finished his course of studies there with the Rev. Dr. Bancroft. He was a tutor in Bowdoin college for two years previous to his ordination. He entered upon his ministerial labors in the year 1808, being ordained pastor of the South Church and Society in Portsmouth on the 14th September of that year. He commenced his pastoral duties under many discouragements. The Parish over which he was settled presented no cheering prospects.Reduced in numbers, weakened in strength, for several years, it had struggled for mere existence. To common minds it would have appeared a forlorn undertaking to reanimate and rebuild this society. In order to show what was its situation, and what the exertions of Dr. Parker accomplished, it may be well to recur to the history of the Parish previous to his ordination.Before the year 1713, there was but one congregational society in Portsmouth. The meeting house stood on an elevation near the south bridge. In that year, a part of the society removed to a new meeting house in the central part of the town. The remainder, constituting the South Parish, continued to occupy the old building until 1732, when they also erected a new house of worship near the former site. The Revd. Mr. Emerson was their minister from 1715 to 1732; the Revd. Mr. Shurtlif from 1733 to 1747; the Revd. Mr. Strong from 1749 to 1751. The Revd. Dr. Haven was ordained in the year 1752 and died in 1806, but owing to the infirmities of age his ministry can hardly be said to extend beyond 1799; the Revd. Mr. Alden was then settled as colleague pastor, and continued with the society, until 1805, when he was dismised at his own request. Under the ministry of Dr. Haven the parish was large and prosperous. In 1799, it contained about one hundred and fifty families. After this time, from the operation of many unfavorable circumstances, it rapidly diminished. For three years preceeding the ordination of Dr. Parker, the pulpit was vacant, the house being kept open by engagements for short periods, as at that time the parish was so burthened with debt, it was not deemed prudent to attempt the permanent support of a minister. In the year 1808, the debt was discharged by the strenuous exertions of a few, determined to keep alive the fire on the altar of their fathers. Even then, the attempt to settle a clergyman was considered an experiment. In the invitation to Dr. Parker, the weakness of the Parish was alluded to, and some doubts expressed of their ability to pay the salary for any great length of time.The number on whom taxes could be assessed was only about fifty, on many of them, but little dependance could be placed for pecuniary aid; the number of families was only seventy and of these, one half at least were the families of widThe meeting house was old, and inconveniently situated in a remote part of the town.Every feature and circumstance of the Parish Ows. $ |