installed July 15, 1774, at Nottingham, West, N. H., and was then dismissed a second time in 1783. He professed to be a Presbyterian: a church was, therefore, previously, August 16 (1784), established on that foundation, and he was installed by the "Salem Presbytery" removed there for that purpose. On this occasion Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Whitaker, lately dismissed from Salem, Mass., and John Urquhart, late minister of Warren, and Mr. Perley, just installed at Gray, officiated in the ordination. There was at this time in Turner only two hundred and twenty souls. For five or six years his situation was satisfactory, as he enjoyed the praise of his people and his ministerial success was considerable, as he saw his church increase from thirteen to thirty-two members. But the day of ordeal had arrived several of his parishioners had become affected with the Baptist leaven, and, consequently, on the seventeenth of November, 1702, they were incorporated with their brethren in Brookfield into a religious society. Thus weakened, Mr. Strickland like a good shepherd that careth for the flock, agreed to relinquish so much of his salary as the seceders would have paid and strive to live on the rest.1 For the seven subsequent years he rather existed than lived, and on the eighteenth of May, 1797, he took a final dismission. He continued to

reside in town and was sometimes employed as its minister. In 1806, March 12, he was installed the first settled minister in Andover, formerly East Andover. He died there full of years and experience in

1 His wife was Patty Stone, by whom he had fourteen children, eleven of whom survive him. She died May 4, 1805.

the ministry of the Lord, October 4, 1823, a good man, though not a great preacher. His death was in the eighty-fourth year of his age. (See 3 Coll.

Farmer and Moors p. 117, appx. 98.)

REV. NATHANIEL WHITAKER.

REV. NATHANIEL WHITAKER, Nassau Hall 1752, D. D., at Dartmouth College 1780, was installed September 10, 1784, the first settled minister in (Canaan), the present Bloomfield. He had been recently dismissed from Salem, Mass., and removed into this new place in hopes of a happier home. Himself a Presbyterian, he received installation from the Salem Presbytery that adjourned its session at Gray, after reinducting Mr. Perley into the sacerdotal office to Bloomfield. Dr. Whitaker continued his ministry about five years, and then he took a dismission and left the town to labor in some richer vineyards. Dr. Whitaker was not the first nor the last mistaken great man that supposed he should be the Alpha and Omega, in influence and dictation, after a removal into this eastern country. The settlers of a newformed community are often more shrewd and enterprising than those left resident in the places of their nativity. They are, likewise, more jealous of strangers having more intercourse with them; also, abilities and character are as quickly discerned, and as often in requisition as in places older and more populous. An oak standing alone is more readily essayed and even more easily upturned than in a forest.

REV. JOSEPH LITCHFIELD.

REV. JOSEPH LITCHFIELD, Brown University 1773, ordained July 10, 1782, was the second settled minister of the Second Parish in Kittery. He was the successor of Rev. Josiah Chase. Though Mr. Litchfield was old-fashioned in his appearance, manners and style of preaching, and formal in his prayers, he was thought to be unquestionably a pious man, and allowed to be an orthodox minister. But his salary was small and his family large; hence, he was under a necessity of doing more secular labor than was consistent with a full discharge of his parochial duties. His useful ministry was, however, continued through through the lengthened period of little less than forty years. He died at his dwelling-place January 28, 1828, aged seventy-eight years. He was probably the brother of Rev. Paul Litchfield, Harvard College 1775, who died at Carlisle, Massachusetts, November 5, 1827, aged seventy-six years. It is good evidence in support of a minister's usefulness to find that the people of his parish in New England, who have intelligence and think and act with independence, have sat, edified and contented, under his charge and instructions nearly half a century.

REV. PETER POWERS.

REV. PETER POWERS,1 Harvard College 1754, was probably a descendant of an ancestor having the same name, and born in 1643 at Charlestown, Mass. Mr. Powers was many years the minister of Haverhill, N.

1 Originally perhaps "Power." 2 Savage's Wenth 148. Farmer.

H., situated northwesterly of Dartmouth College. Being dismissed in 1784, he proceeded to Deer Isle and the next year took charge of the new church there, being its first pastor. Animated by a lively faith in his Lord, he preached the truth with force and soberness; truth which his Divine Master set home with effectual power upon the hearts of his charge, for in 1798, he had the heartfelt satisfaction of witnessing a revival of religion, which hardly terminated with the succeeding year. All his parishioners were awakened to serious thought; about fifty were subjects of the mighty work, and still others were disciples of reform. In the midst of this refreshing season, Mr. Powers was, however, confined to his house, unable, through illness, to preach to his people from the lively oracles and mingle with them in spiritual sympathies. He died in the fore part of the year 1799, when short of seventy years old. He possessed talents of a superior order, piety that sanctifies the affections and faithfulness that searches the heart, yet never fears, never tires. "An Humble Inquiry into the Nature of Convenanting with God," was published by him three years before his decease. It was logical and able; intended to encounter the practise of the "half-way covenant."

REV. SAMUEL NASH.

REV. SAMUEL NASH, Brown University 1770, in the second class of graduates, was ordained June 21, 1775, the first settled minister of New Boston, the present town of Gray, incorporated in June, 1778. A Congre

gational church was formed of seven male members in August, 1774, with hopes of peace divine and reviving grace. He was, probably, a descendant of the worthy pilgrim whose name he bore and who settled in Duxborough, Massachusetts. Mr. Nash was not the man for a young, rising community, where the social relations are to be formed and strengthened and the original impress of character to be received. It is quite a mistake to think that ordinary abilities and glimmering piety will answer for new and small places. For, surely, new towns need, first of all, able ministers, in the vigor of life, glowing in " their first love," attractive by the fresh beauties of holiness. Such a minister will inspire in his people a relish for divine things which will often be noticeable from generation to generation. Great is a young people's misfortune to have a dull minister. Mr. Nash, unsuccessful and disheartened, took a dismission in 1782, thus closing a pastorate of seven years and a few months, perhaps with regret that he ever entered into the sacerdotal office.

**

HALLOWELL RECORDS.

COMMUNICATED BY DR. W. B. LAPHAM.

John Smith 3d

sometime in 1814.

[Continued from Page 204.]

was born in England. Came to this town Married Margaret, daughter of William and

Jane Vass of this town, formerly from New York. Their children are:

Martha, b. Sept. 26, 1815.

Loisa, b. Oct. 6, 1816.