Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/237

 METHODISM IN PORTSMOUTH.

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��district, and William Stevens. Alfred Metcalf, and Thomas Asbury, were ap- pointed to Salisbury. Mass., Poplin, and Salem, N. H. This year is mem- orable in the history of Metho !ism in Portsmouth. Although no regular appointment was made, yet the society was organized in 180S. Classes had been formed previous to that time ; but they were not permanent. The church register makes 1809 the time of organ- ization ; but it is believed to be incor- rect, as it errs in some other historical particulars. Rev. Samuel Kelley. when preparing his historical discourse, had access to some who had been mem- bers of the first class, and they named 1808 as the year in which the church was formed; and in 1859, when Rev. D. P. Leavitt preached his dedication sermon at the new chapel on Daniel street, it was the impression of the old- est members of the church, then living, that 1S08 was the correct date. A class was probably organized by George Pickering in the house owned and oc- cupied by Samuel Hutchings, No. 12, Washington street, situated on the East side, second house south fronVTeffer- son street. Rev. Messrs. Pickering, Metcalf, and Stevens, r reached in the town, interchanging their labors as was customary on the circuit system. The preachers and friends had been embar- rassed for the want of a suitable place for public worship ; but during the year a house was secured. The Univer- salists, having erected their church on Pleasant street the year previous, va- cated the one the society had occupied on Vaughan street, which was purchas- ed by the Methodists in 1808. Rev. George Pickering was active in nego- tiating for the property, and finally secured it for £2,000. Pews were reserved by the former owners to the value of $500, so that the amount paid in cash was $1,500. The fol- lowing well-known citizens constituted the committee selected by the new society ; namely, Samuel Hutchings, Joshua Johnson, Benjamin Gardner, John Underwood, and Nathaniel S. Pierce. While the negotiations for the

��purchase of the house were progressing, Jesse Lee was on his final visit to New England. He had been absent about eight years. July 29, 1808, he was in Portsmouth for the last time, and made this record in his Journal : " I put up at Mr. Hutchings', and at night preached in the old meeting house belonging to the Universalists. I had a crowded house, owing to a pre- vious notice being given that one of our preachers on that night would preach on a particular subject. How- ever, he gave place to me. and I found a good degree of freedom in speaking, and was glad to be there. Two of our preachers were in town ; they had just begun to preach in that place, and they intend to continue it every Sabbath, and withal they contemplate purchas- ing the old meeting house in which I preached, if they can. It has a bell and steeple, and is fitted up with pews." The next day Mr. Lee crossed the river into the province of Maine, returned to Boston by another route, and soon left New England for other fields of labor, where he remained un- til his earthly career was ended. " The first Methodist Episcopal society in Portsmouth" was incorporated by the New Hampshire Legislature in 1808, and Samuel Hutchings, Nathaniel S. Pierce, Joshua Johnson, John Under- wood, Caleb Stearns, Benjamin Gard- ner, Samuel Hutchings, jr., Benjamin Hill, and Nathaniel Souther, are named in the act as corporators. From this period there was preaching on the Sab- bath regularly, Portsmouth being con- nected with other towns on the circuit system until 1812, when it first became a station.

In 1S09 John Brodhead, Alfred Metcalf, Isaac A. Scarritt, and Daniel Perry, were appointed to Portsmouth circuit, Rev. Messrs. Brodhead and Metcalf chiefly supplying the desk. In 1 8 10 John Williamson, Orlando Hinds, and John Brodhead, were appointed to Portsmouth and Green- land ; Asa Kent, Benjamin Sabin, and John Jewett, to Salisbury, Poplin and Salem. Messrs. Williamson and Kent

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