Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/257

 METHODISM IN PORTSMOUTH.

��231

��Mass. In this mansion the early itin- erants were hospitably entertained with great liberality by Abraham Bemis. His property was inherited by his daughter, Mary, who, at nineteen years of age, married Mr. Pickering, and the Bemis mansion became the per- manent home of the family during her husband's evangelist life, not more than one fifth of his married life of fifty years and more having been spent with his family. His widow died in April, r 859, aged S3. We have not the space to further portray the remarkable virtues, pietv, and firmness of Rev. George Pickering who, having well done the work of an evangelist, and made full proof of his ministry, passed to his home in Heaven, " pure in character, laborious in life, triumphant in death." Rev. John Brodhead was born in Lower Smithiield, Monroe county, Pa., Oct. 22d, 1770. He entered the Itineracy in 1794, and was appointed to the Northumberland circuit in Penn- sylvania ; in 1795, to K enr < Delaware, extending his labors into New Jersey and Maryland. Assigned by the bishop to New England, he was, in 1796, ap- pointed to Readfield, Maine ; in 1797, to Lynn and Marblehead, Mass. ; in 1797, to Warren, R. I. ; in 1799, again to Readfield, Me. In 1800 and 1S01 he was Presiding Elder of the New London District; and in 1802 of the Vershire (Vt.) District. In 1803 he was stationed at Hanover. N. H. ; in 1804, 1S05. 1806 was Presiding Elder of N. H. District; in 1807-8 of the Boston District; in 1809-10 was sta- tioned at Portsmouth, N. H. ; in 1811, Newmarket, Durham, and Portsmouth ; in 1S12, Newmarket and Durham. From 1 813 to 18 19 he was superannu- ated ; in 1820 was stationed at New- market and Kensington ; andfromi82i to 1837 he was either effective, super- numerary, or superannuated. His last appointment was at Seabrook and Hampton missions in 1837. He died at South Newmarket, N. H., April 7, 1838, in the Brodhead mansion, now in possession of the family. He well sustained the relation of effective.

��supernumerary, and superannuated for the period of 44 years, and was emi- nently successful as a minister of the gospel, and regarded as a "prince and a great man in Israel." He was an eloquent and powerful preacher, sol- emn, persuasive, and at times well nigh irresistible. He was also exceedingly able and popular as a Presiding Elder. Influential in the councils of the church and distinguished as a citizen ; of no- ble and commanding presence ; dig- nified in mien ; affable, kind and mag- nanimous, he was greatly beloved and honored. He held several public po- sitions with great credit ; was chaplain to the New Hampshire Legislature, mem- ber of the State Senate i825-6,and Mem- ber of Congress from 1828101833. Re- sisting the most urgent importunity, he declined to have his name presented as a candidate for the office of gov- ernor of New Hampshire, preferring to labor and die in the gospel harness. He married Mary, the daughter of Captain Thomas Dodge, Lisbon, N. H., who was born at Ipswich, Mass., and died at South Newmarket, Aug. 28, 1875, a g e d 93, an estimable woman, of marked character, many virtues and christian activities. Six sons and six daughters honored the memory of their father and mother and proved worthy of their parentage.

Rev. Alfred Metcalf was born Jan- uary 2, 1777 ; died at Greenland, N. H., June 4, 1837. I am unable to re- cord the place of his nativity ; but his father moved, shortly after his birth, to Marlborough, N. H. He united with the church in 1800; his public labors commenced in 1802.

In 1803 he was received into the trav- eling connection of the New England Conference, and in 1809 preached on the circuit which included Portsmouth. His health becoming impaired, he lo- cated in iSioand resided at Greenland. He however continued to preach with great acceptance, and was abundant in labor, improving every opportunity to preach the word. After serving the church with great fidelity and zeal for thirty-four years, he died in peace.

�� �