Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-08-20

than eighty years since Brigham Young was born
IN Nottingham. Tradition tells where, but "
gives Two places mile apart. Who is to he be-
lieved? Nobody living absolutely knows that
controversy at once The members Of this church
were consistent rrfurmcrs, willing to he reformed
themselves II necessity required. on the sist day
~ NAV, lsit, the Wesleyan MvthOdists organized
81 Utica, y. y. one OF their principal features
was opposition to slavery, and they also took a
81 long position against iniemperancc and secret
societies. 1t was not long before the church I'm
whingham began 10 feel the influence OF these
doctrines, and there seemed to be better pros
pGct OF reform among the rctOrmers than else
where. On the 18Th day Of Dec, ts45 the society
voted that Rev. Ebcnezcr Davis should give the
lnNerSnlisls the first chance TO purchase
their haii OF the meeting house, and II this prop
usiton was not accepted to convey 1t by deed to
the Wesleyan MethOdlsts, N thought proper.
About this time nine OF the most active members,
impressed with the idea that the whole body OF
ietormers were about 10 unite with the Wesleyaus,
withdrew from the Reform Methodist church and
organized themselves into a church or society to
be known by the name OF the Nottingham Wes-
lcyan church. TO individuals Knowing the mem.
beIs Of his church before and after the change,
the transformation seems more like dissOlving
view Than anything else. on the bh Of Feb, 1s4T,
Rev. EbcEczcr Davis, DOrthy Davis and two 9TH
rrs united with the new church ana here the rec
ord closes. After this date preaching was sup
hhed part OF the time Tor two years, Elder Day Of
Loar, Mass, occupying the desk. Nathaniel Da-
WIS OF Bennington, whose name appears on the
nrsl grand list, was born IN 1860 and settled in
this town IN l1IG. He spent his long life on one
farm aud died March "a, 1910, at the age of 10 on
his 18th birthday. His son, EbcncZcr known as
Elder Davis, was born in 1884. He lived ana died
on mis- fathers farm, 1t being the same place where
+. g. Davis now resides His death occurred Ju-
~ -, 1879, NJ the age Of 81 years. He began to
preach IN 1894, at the age Of ~, as minister Of
the Methodist Episcopal church. when the Re
formed Methodist church was organized IN 1879
Elder Davis became member AMI It's first pastor.
lie was tn, only Methodist Clergyman in town for
a great many years, and no man was more sincere
anu faithful Ia discharging every duty. lie was
never as popular as he ought to have been. but we
must remember that he was born In Whltlngham
We are too apt to neglect our own people, take I'm
strangers, anu get taken IN well. We nick
dull and worthless stones I'm foreign lands, while
the glitter Of It diamond ut Home Is TOO coinmon-
place to be noticed. This has to do with the cmgra-
lion of young persons from your midst. When you
undertake to circumscribe the legitimate aspira-
uuns OF young man without compromising the
Iull scope OF his genius ana his Intellect, one Will
be taken and the other left. You viii be left.
The doctrine Of universal salvation began to be
pteacntd IN ms country as early as 1850, and
when the Rev. John Murray arrived from England
III lilO, and began topreach, large occasions
maue 20 thae denomination. The time when the
lhlversalist church was established as a church
organization IN this town Is not known to me, un-
less II was the one formed by Elder Bally I'm 1871
there was preaching here 10y that denomination
at an early day, but to what extent is not known
1t Is profitable that no church having a record and
existed here TIL Dec. lSI9 A minister by the
name q Winchester preached In this Old church
several times In 1921 II has been claimed that
ms was the celebrated Elhanan Winchester, but
lie died IN Hartford April lSih 1891. two years be-
tore the church was built. and twenty-five years
heiofe this minister was here. Rev. Samuel p
skinner preached here once IN three weeks some
nity years ago, and was succeeded by Rev. Mr.
Newell, who also preached once in three weeks
Rev. Nilliam $. BaOu followed Mr.. Newell. /
am not able to give dates az to when these several
preachers began or closed their labors In 1888
Rev. Hosea +. BallOu, son of the celebrated Ho-
sea BallOu ~ Boston, father OF Judge RallOu,
your accomplished town clerk, came to preach III
this town. He wad then young man and n trm
believer IN the doctrine OF universal salvation. lie
preached what he believed and his influence and
example were both in the interest Of good morals
Justice and humanity. A large portion OF his NE
mas been spent here, and the people have frequent
ly honOred him with public office. He removed to
Wilmington In 1851, where he now resides. His
experience as clergyman has been extensive.
lie has preached in 81 towns, Ot1Catcd at 900 we'd
dngs aud attended 400 funerals, lie has been a
member Of the Legislature Of Vermont ana Con-
stltutionul Conventions five times, justice OF the
peace 10 years, Officially connected with banking
Wilmington Savings Bank, and has settled 90
tates lie was 81 years OF age on the 4th oflast April
and to-day has shown his interest in this town by
his presence. In lS4l Rev. Mr. Bay of Whining
ton organized a church here and held meetings in
the new meeting house near DR.. Gillctt's. Nehe-
man Sabln ana John Brigham were the deacons.
sabbath school was started and for a time was
quite prosperous. recollect that was member
Of The Bible class, but saw more outside the Bible
Than inside and this was one OF the early oppor-
tunities that ! lost. This church and school de-
cllucd, and both were soon discontinued The
Universalist society at Jacksonville was organized
Dec, slst, ls49. Leonard Brown was chairman and
C'rus W. Carley clerk, which ofice he held till
Dec. 20, 1854. Farley Starr, David JlsOn and Obed
Foster were chosen directors. Leonard Brown,
Farley Starr, John Brigham, David Jillson, p. II.
SUMNER James RODtGtS ana samuel MuruOck were
chosen committee to locate and make plan for
a meeting house. They were also to ascertain
how much money could he raised by subscription
for building On the 2Sth OF JAN, 1850, the COM
mittce reported and the society voted to build a
meeting house in accordance with said report.
James Roberts, David JILL ON and Leonard Brown
were chosen as "A building committee. on the "a
day of Feb. 1880, contract was made with Geo
Porter to build the house There was no DELAY on
the part Of Mr.. Porter, and the house was finished
during the summer of ls5O. There Is no record OF
the dedication, a transaction that ought to have
been infinitely described, but 1t occurred soon af-
ter the house was completed. Rev. Hosea 7. Bal
lou preached in this house once in two weeks, and
at times more frequently Hi 1851. He was sue
ceedcd by Rev. jeremiah Clifford who has preached
here most OF the time up to 1871. Since that time
the pulpit has been supplied by Rev. WIN. Pratt,
W. y. BARRIER ana others.
The denomination known as Freewl Baptists
was founded by Benjamin Randall, who was one
OF George Whiie1ed's hearers at Portsmouth n
H., Sept IS, 100, two days before his death. The
tlOquCnCc OF this celebrated divine ana the uneX-
nccted tidings Of his DEATH resulted in the CONVEX
sion Of Randall who entered the ministry in 1917,
as Baptist but he was soon called to account for
advocating new doctrine. In 1850 he organized
Freewill Baptist church in Durham. y. H., and
from this small beginning has sprung up denom-
nation employl at present nearly 1000 ministers.
Their Efforts IN behalf of education have been Of
great value to this country. On the 3Uth day of
August, 1880, meeting was held in Nottingham
Tor the purpose OF organizing Freewill Baptist
church, The following persons were present: FL
der EphIaim Gates, OF Lcyden, Mass; Elder Abner
Leonard, OF liinsdale, n. H.; and Elder Daniel
Leonard Of Dover,.Vt. John Bulden OF Dover vi:
Lceniiaie Deacon AUtel Hathaway, Of Dover, VT;
DCa. Calvin Bucklin and Enos Martin OF Halifax,
VI, and Dea. SOlyman Bell, OF COleraine, Mass.
These persons formed themselves Into an ccCeSi-
nStical council. Elder Dauie Leonard was chosen
moderator and Elder Abuer Leonard clerk. The
following persons being DESTROYS OF forming a
church, We're then and ;herc examined Us TO their
doctrna views OF the Scripture: "Mary Ball, Julia
Griffin, Lewis Fuller, Nancy NJ. Burnham, Claricy
Bigalow, Origen Bail, Polly COrkins Sally W. Biga-
low, Amos Chase, Lucy Chaise, Josiah Blanchard,
sumner Bigaow, Elizabeth Grnin, Caleb Corkins
aud Vets Grimm" They also related their expert
guCtS, and AFTER EXPRESSING "A desire tC be formed
inlua church, "and agreeing together TO watch
over each other IN love- ana TO take the Holy Scrip
ture for their rule and practice, were organized i'll
10 II church, with full power TO act as all other
churches OF Christ by receiving the hand Of fellow
shp by Elder Daniel Leonard. On the 3Olh OF Au-
gust the church "voted to send three messengers
10 the Dover quarterly meeting, to be holden in
GullfOrd on the fourth and llth days of September
next, IN order TO- DIN the Free Baptist connection.
Josiah Blanchard, Lewis Fuller and Aaron Chase
were the delegates.
On tho Il OF November, 1880, the church "yoted
that Jasper hunt, Lewis Fuller and Josiah Blanch-
ard make inquiries Of the church and society US
to the eXpediency OF building u westinghouse"
The church and society were separate Organiza-
tons and Kept separate records. The society was
organized on Saturday, Nov goth, 1880, less than
three months after the church. The first vote tax
after electing Luther Pierce, clerk, In rela-
ton TO erecting house for public worship.
On the 21th day Of Nov 1880, the society voted to
build westinghouse on lana of Josiah Blanchard
ut he foot OF the hlll east OF his house. On the
lOlh OF Mulch ISL Tue society voted 10 recall the
vote OF Nov. 2lth 1880, In relation TO the location
VI IA westinghouse, ana at the same time voted to
hulld the house ON land OF Niets Griffin, east Of his
ShOuse. Josiah Blanchard, Jasper Hunt, and Lew
isS Fuller were chosen committee to draft plan
Of nhe house, "hc posts to be as low as will answer
for GSCching above the windows; and to make
for It's erection, call public sale OF pew
ground, Net out the Joiner work and md out the
expense ONthe hOuse.n
At mcetlne<s held March 18Th aud 22d, 1881, eight
pews were solcS for sl5l 80 at average OF about
$40 each. May Sh, 1881, 'VOted to recall the vote
passed for erectNpg Westinghouse on land of
Vets Grimm. VoieSl to erect a house on land Of
James Roberts, ACROSS the road, opposite the for
mer place" ON the 20hA Of May, 1881, Horace Rob
Will Baptist Society, as sNte fora westinghouse.
This lot had front OF lion feet and contained
about half an acre. 1t was solNl for nifty dollars.
In 1888 the pulpit was furnshed\ with a cushion
and new trimmings, jan. 7th, iSs3\Silas Warren
was appointed a committee TO supGStintend the
building of sheds. Jasper Hunt was aNpoiuted to
draw up a constitution.
On the Sth OF October, 1910, the society mat and
transacted the following business: ''Ihe Rree-
~ an Baptist Society of Nottingham beiug met Nc-