ing to the persecution, which led to the settlement of Exeter, by Wheelwright,
but as it gives a just representation of the Puritan character in those times.
"Through the whole of his life, Governor Dudley opposed and denounced what
he deemed to be heresy with an honest zeal, which, in these days of universal
toleration, is sometimes referred to, as a blot upon his fame. But the candid
and judicious, who are acquainted with the history of the Puritans, and the
circumstances under which they came into a corner of the new world, and
with an immense toil and charge made a wilderness habitable, on purpose
there to be undisturbed in the exercise of their worship,' will never be found
censuring and railing at their errors. They will rather wonder at the wisdom
of the views, the disinterested nobleness of principle, and self-sacrificing hero-
ism, displayed by these wonderful men, to whom the world is indebted for the
most perfect institutions of civil and religious freedom known among men."
[Am. Quar. Reg. Vol. XV. 301.]

Mr. Dudley of Exeter is noted in Fitch's MS. as and learning." [Belknap, I. 53.] He was born in England in 1606. In New a person of good capacity England, he resided in Cambridge, in Boston, and in Salisbury. He was Representative of Salisbury in 1644. 1650, and died there in 1683, aged 77. His ministry in Exeter he commenced in voted "to give an invitation to Mr. Samuel Dudley, son of Thomas Dudley, In 1656 the inhabitants of Portsmouth the Deputy Governor of Massachusetts, to be their minister, and to give him a salary of eighty pounds a year." He accepted the proposition, and agreed to visit them the next spring; but it does not appear that he ever came." Annals of Portsmouth.] nor Winthrop. She died at Salisbury, April 12, 1643. He had a second and a Mr. Dudley's first wife was Mary, daughter of Gover[Adams's third wife. Besides his descendants of the name of Dudley, there are numerous families in New Hampshire, and elsewhere, who trace their descent from Mr. Dudley of Exeter. Among his descendants were the wife of Gen. Henry Dearborn; the wife of Rev. John Moody; the wife of John Burgin; the wife of Gov. James Sullivan; the grandmother of Tobias Lear, Washington's secretary; and also the mother of Gov. Langdon. For a long list of descendants of Rev. Samuel Dudley, see Exeter News Letter, Aug. 31, 1846.

The Rev. John Clark was the third minister in Exeter.

A church, which continues under the style of the First Church in Exeter, was organized in September, 1698. In the Hampton Church Records is the following entry: "1698. Sept. 11, Dismissed, in order to their being incorporated into a church state, in Exeter, Mr. Moses Leavitt, Mr. Henry Wadley, Jno. Scribner, Mrs. Elisabeth Clark, Mrs. Elisabeth Gilman, wife of Cap. Gilman, Mrs. Tipping, Mrs. Deborah Coffin, Goodwife Bean, Mrs. Mary Gilman, Mrs. Elisabeth Wadley, Mrs. Sarah Dudley, Sarah Sewal, Deborah Sinclar. And Mr. Wear and Cap. Dow were chosen, messengers of the church, to assist in the ordination of Mr. Jno. Clark, at Exeter." The persons who have been mentioned, as having been formerly admitted to the church in Hampton, (most or all of whom lived in Exeter,) constituted nearly half the number, who entered into a church state at Exeter.

The most ancient volume extant of the records of the present "First Church of Christ in Exeter" commences thus, "The order of proceeding in gathering a particular Church in Exeter."

"After conferring together, and being mutually satisfied in each other, we drew up a confession of faith, and the terms of the covenant, which we all signed, the sabbath before ordination. And having sent for the Rev. Mr. J. Hale, (who preached the ordination sermon,) Mr. Woodbridge, Mr. Pike, Mr. Rolfe, Mr. Cotton, and Mr. Toppan, who accordingly came; and on the twenty-first of September, 1698, Mr. Hale, Woodbridge, Pike, and Cotton, laid on hands, Mr. Pike praying before the imposition of hands; Mr. Woodbridge. gave the charge; Mr. Cotton gave the right hand of fellowship; and we were, by the elders, and messengers, of the several churches, owned as a Church of Christ, and John Clark declared to be a minister of Christ Jesus." No doubt Mr. John Hale, of Beverly, was the preacher. He had recently married the widowed mother of Mr. Clark. The other ministers mentioned were undoubtedly Rev. Messrs. Benjamin Woodbridge, minister first at Bristol, R. I., 10

who preached at Kittery in 1688, and, as early as 1699, in Medford; John Pike of Dover; Benjamin Rolfe of Haverhill, Ms., who was killed by the Indians; John Cotton of Hampton; and Christopher Toppan of Newbury. The father of Rev. John Clark of Exeter was Nathaniel Clark, a merchant of Newbury, and one of the early settlers of that town, who married, Nov. 25, 1663, Elisabeth Somerby, daughter of Henry Somerby, one of the grantees of Newbury. Nathaniel Clark was in the expedition to Canada in 1690, and died there, Aug. 25, aged 46, having been wounded on board the ship" Six Friends." His widow, Elisabeth Clark, married Rev. John Hale of Beverly, Aug. 8, 1698. Mr. Hale was chaplain in the expedition in which Nathaniel Clark was mortally wounded. A particular account of Mr. Hale does not belong to this article. Of his views and influence in the affairs of the "Salem Witchcraft" see Amer. Quar. Reg. Vol. X. pp. 247, 248. In that account there is, however, doubtless a mistake as to the original name of the widow of Nathaniel Clark. See also Magnalia, II. 408, and Coffin's Newbury, p. 298. Rev. Mr. Clark of Exeter was born at Newbury, June 24, 1670. gr. H. C. 1690, and ordained at Exeter, Sept. 21, 1698; "married Elisabeth Woodbridge, a daughter of the Rev. Benjamin Woodbridge, already mentioned, and granddaughter of Rev. John Woodbridge, first minister of Andover, and also of Rev. John Ward, first minister of Haverhill, June 19, 1694, Rev. John Clark died July 25, 1705," aged 35. His children were Benjamin, Nathaniel, Deborah, and Ward, who was the first minister of Kingston. The mother of Elisabeth Woodbridge was Mary, daughter of John Ward.

The Woodbridge family has furnished a number of ministers distinguished for talents, learning, piety, and an excellent spirit. Were the notices of them collected, which are scattered in various publications, they would form an interesting memoir.

Rev. John Odlin, the fourth minister of Exeter, and the second minister of the present First Church, was son of Elisha, and grandson of John Odlin, one of the first settlers of Boston. Rev. John Odlin was born in Boston, Nov. 18, 1681, Mr. Odlin was gr. H. C. 1702, ordained at Exeter, Nov. 11, 1706. He married, Oct. 21, 1709, Mrs. Elisabeth Woodbridge Clark, widow of his predecessor. one of the proprietors of Gilmanton. His son, Capt. John Odlin, was one of the settlers of that town. Another of his sons, Dudley, was a physician. Elisha gr. H. C. 1731, and settled in the ministry in Amesbury; Woodbridge was his father's colleague and successor in Exeter. Mrs. Odlin, wife of Rev. John Odlin, d. Dec. 6, 1729. His second marriage was Oct. 22, 1730, with Elisabeth Briscoe, widow of Robert Briscoe, and formerly wife of Lieut. James Dudley, and daughter of Samuel Leavitt. Mr. Odlin d. Nov. 20, 1754, aged about 73, nearly eleven years after his son became his colleague. [Farmer's Reg.; Lancaster's Gilmanton; Exeter Church Cov.] In 1743, May 18, the church "voted to concur with the vote of the town in choosing Mr. Woodbridge Odlin to settle as a colleague with his hon'd father the Rev. John Odlin." During the same month "there were a number of the church separated from their communion." The circumstances will be noticed in the account of the formation of another church.

Rev. Woodbridge Odlin was ordained colleague pastor Sept. 28, 1743. The exercises were, Prayer by Rev. Wm. Allen of Greenland; Sermon by Rev. Mr. Odlin from Col. i: 28; Charge by Rev. Caleb Cushing of Salisbury; Right Hand by Rev. Mr. Rust of Stratham; and Prayer by Rev. Joseph Adams of Newington. Rev. W. Odlin was born at Exeter, April 28, 1718; gr. H. C. 1738, m. Oct. 23, 1755, Mrs. Abigail Strong, widow of Rev. Job Strong of Portsmouth, and daughter of Col. Peter Gilman. Mr. W. Odlin d. March 10, 1776, aged 57. His children were Dudley, Woodbridge, Peter, Elisabeth, Abigail, who was the first wife of Hon. Nathaniel Gilman of Exeter, John, Mary Ann, who was wife of Thomas Stickney of Concord, and Charlotte, wife of Jeremiah Stickney of Dover." [Lancaster's Gilmanton; Exeter Church Records.] Rev. W. Odlin, during his ministry of more than thirty-two years, baptized 1,276, and admitted 36 persons to the church. [Chh. Records.] The "Half-way covenant," "It as it was often called, was then in use, and this accounts for the great disproportion between the admissions to full communion and the baptisms.

provided that all persons of sober life and correct sentiments without being examined as to a change of heart might profess religion or become members of the church and have their children baptized though they did not come to the Lord's table." [Dr. Hawes' Lectures, p. 149.]

Rev. Isaac Mansfield succeeded Rev. W. Odlin, and was ord. Oct. 9, 1776. The exercises were Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Tucker of Newbury; Sermon by Rev. Mr. Thayer of Hampton, from Ezek. xxxiii: 7-9; Charge by Rev. Mr. Fogg of Kensington; Right Hand by Rev. Mr. Webster of Salisbury, 2nd chh.; Prayer by Rev. Edmund Noyes of Salisbury, 1st chh. There were also invited on the ordaining council the churches in Brentwood, Dover, Epping, Greenland, 1st in Cambridge, 2nd in Scituate, and 2nd in Amesbury. Mr. Mansfield was born at Marblehead, Ms., in 1750, gr. H. C. 1767, also M. A. at D. C., 1770; married Mary, daughter of Nathaniel Clap of Scituate, Ms. Mr. Mansfield, "according to his agreement with the parish," was dismissed Aug. 22, 1787, by a council of three churches, of which Messrs. Fogg, Langdon, then of Hampton Falls, and Macclintock were pastors. The result is in the church records. It does not state the circumstances which produced "such a crisis as to render a separation eligible on both parts;" but the council say, "We feel ourselves constrained by duty and love to testify the sense we have of the valuable ministerial gifts and qualifications with which God hath furnished Mr. Mansfield, and which have been well approved not only among his own people, but by the churches in this vicinity." During Mr. Mansfield's ministry of nearly eleven years, 245 were baptized, and 12 admitted to the church. Mr. Mansfield removed to Marblehead. He became a magistrate, and was afterwards known as Isaac Mansfield, Esq. His sons, Theodore and Isaac, were born in Exeter. Mrs. Mansfield died in Marblehead, Feb. 11, 1806, aged 59. He d. in Boston, Sept., 1826, aged 76. His father was also Isaac Mansfield, Esq., of Marblehead : " gentleman of handsome literary acquirements, and spent his days in piety and usefulness." He died April 12, 1792, aged 72. He is supposed to be the same who graduated at H. C., 1742. [Alden's Col.]

a

Rev. William Frederick Rowland was born in Plainfield, Ct., in 1761, gr. D. C. 1784, also M. A. at Yale, 1787. He was ordained in Exeter, June 2, 1790. The churches invited were Hampton Falls, North Hampton, Hampton, 2nd Salisbury, 1st Newbury, 1st Newburyport, Greenland, Stratham, 2nd Exeter, Brattle Street, Boston, Charlestown, 2nd Portland. The exercises were, Prayer by Dr. Macclintock; Sermon by Dr. Thacher of Boston; Ordaining Prayer by Dr. Langdon; Charge by Dr. Webster; Right Hand by Dr. Macclintock; Prayer by Dr. Morse. Mr. Rowland m. Sally, daughter of Col. Eliphalet Ladd of Portsmouth. She died Oct. 12, 1798, at the early age of 24. Extracts from the sermon of Dr. Buckminster of Portsmouth at her funeral, may be found in Alden's Collection, Vol. II., p. 66. Mr. Rowland's 2nd marriage was with Ann, daughter of Col. Eliphalet Giddings of Exeter. She died June 13, 1811, aged 31. Her infant was buried with her. After a ministry of thirty-eight years, Mr. Rowland asked and received a dismission. It took place Dec. 5, 1828. The ministers of the council, whose result is in the church records, were Rev. Messrs. Hurd of Exeter, Sanford of Newmarket, Spofford of Brentwood, and Cummings of Stratham. Mr. Rowland deceased June 10, 1843, aged 82, leaving four children, Sarah Ann, Mary Elisabeth, William Frederick, and Theresa Orne. Mary Elisabeth died in 1845. The sermon at the funeral of Mr. Rowland was preached by the Rev. Mr. Hurd. Mr. Rowland's father was Rev. David S. Rowland, gr. Yale, 1743; settled first at Plainfield, Ct., and afterwards at Windsor, Ct.; where his son, Henry A. Rowland, was ordained his successor, in 1790. During Mr. Rowland's ministry at Exeter, there were 128 admissions to the church, and 295 baptisms. He possessed good talents, was very respectable as a preacher, and gifted in prayer.

Rev. John Smith was born in Wethersfield, Ct.; gr. Y. C., 1821; ordained at Trenton, N. J., March 7, 1826; dismissed Aug., 1828. Inst. in Exeter, March 12, 1829. Exercises on the occasion: Prayer by Rev. Abraham Burnham of Pembroke, N. H.; Sermon by Rev. N. Bouton of Concord; Prayer, Rev. Mr. Miltimore of Newbury; Charge, Rev. Dr. Dana, Newburyport; Right Hand, Rev. Mr. Hurd of Exeter; Address, Rev. Mr. Withington of Newbury; Prayer by

Rev. Mr. Winslow, then of Dover, now of Boston. Mr. Smith's "relation to the people of his charge in Exeter, continued nearly nine years with mutual harmony and affection and with much advantage to the cause of religion." [Result of Council.] At his own request, he was dismissed Feb. 14, 1838, and accepted an appointment from the Amer. Tract Society, to superintend their operations in New Jersey, and in Southern New York and vicinity. He was afterwards installed in Wilton, Ct. During Mr. Smith's ministry in Exeter, the number of admissions to the church was 170, and the number of baptisms 139. The number of church members reported to the General Association in 1836, was 226. Of the children of the Rev. John and Mrs. Esther Smith, there were baptized at Exeter, James Dickinson, Jan. 7, 1830; Esther Mary, June 9, 1833; a second Esther Mary, Oct. 5, 1835; and Walter Mitchell, June 4, 1837. Rev. William Williams was born in Wethersfield, Ct., Oct. 2, 1797, grad. Y. C., 1816; studied theology at Andov. Sem., and with Pres. Timothy Dwight. Settled in Salem over the Branch, since the Howard St. Church, July 5, 1821; dismissed Feb. 17, 1832; settled over the Crombie St. Church, which had separated from the Howard St. Nov. 22, 1832. [Amer. Quar. Reg., Vol. VII., p. 260.] He was installed at Exeter, May 31, 1838. Exercises on the occasion: Prayer by Rev. S. T. Abbott of Seabrook; Sermon by Rev. Milton P. Bramin of Danvers; Prayer by Rev. S. W. Clark of Greenland; Charge by Rev. J. French of North Hampton; Right Hand, Rev. J. Hurd of Exeter; Address by Rev. Edwin Holt of Portsmouth; Prayer by Rev. Mr. Gunnison of Brentwood. Mr. Williams resigned his ministry, Oct. 1, 1842, on account of the state of his health, taken in connection with existing difficulties. Mr. Williams returned to Salem, Ms., where he engaged in the study, and has been since in the prac tice of medicine. The number of members of Mr. Williams's church, as reported in 1841, was 217.

Rev. Joy Hamlet Fairchild was born in Guilford, Ct., April 24, 1789, and was the youngest of sixteen children. His father was Lewis Fairchild. His mother before marriage was Mehetabel Waterhouse of Saybrook, Ct. Rev. Mr. Fairchild grad. Y. C. 1813, studied theology with Dr. Ely of Monson, Ms., and settled in the ministry in East Hartford, Ct., June, 1816; in South Boston, Phillips Church, Nov., 1827. He was installed in Exeter, Sept. 20, 1843. Exercises on the occasion were: Reading of the Scriptures, Rev. S. W. Clark of Greenland; Prayer, Rev. R. W. Clark, Portsmouth; Sermon, Rev. N. Adams, Boston; Prayer, Rev. J. French; Charge, Rev. Dr. Codman; Right Hand, Rev. Mr. Hurd; Address, Rev. H. Winslow of Boston; Prayer, Rev. E. D. Eldredge of Hampton. Mr. Fairchild resigned his office June 18, 1844. His reasons are thus assigned in his letter to the church. "I am accused of a crime which I never committed, but which it is not in my power to disprove. I do not wish to preach the gospel any longer than I can be useful. And as my usefulness must now be ended, I hereby resign my office as Pastor of this church." His pastoral relation was formally dissolved by a Council, called at his own request, July 30, 1844. The doings of the ecclesiastical and civil tribunals in his case are in the hands of the public. After removing from Exeter he was installed over the Payson Church, South Boston, Nov. 19, 1845.

Mr. Fairchild m. 1st, Cynthia Waterhouse of Saybrook, Ct., Oct., 1814. Their children are Harriet Elisabeth, b. Sept. 2, 1815, m. Anthony Ten Eyck, Esq., of Detroit, Mich., U. S. Commissioner at the Sandwich Islands, where she d. Nov. 5, 1846; Lucius Hamlet, b. Jan. 26, 1819. Mr. Fairchild m. 2nd, Mary Bradford, daughter of William Bradford, Esq., of Philadelphia, July 18, 1825. Their children are William Bradford, b. Nov. 2, 1828; Thomas Robbins, b. April 9, 1834, d. May 2, 1835; Florina Tomlin, b. March 13, 1838; Mary Joy, b. May 25, 1843, d. July 10, 1843; Harriet Ten Eyck, b. Dec. 29, 1846.

Rev. Roswell Dwight Hitchcock, the present pastor, was born in East Machias, Me., Aug. 15, 1817, gr. A .C. 1836, Tutor from 1839 to 1842, theological education at Andov. Sem., before and after his tutorship; stated supply at Waterville, Me., one year; ord. at Exeter Nov. 19, 1845. Exercises on the occasion were, Reading the Scriptures, Rev. J. W. Newman of Stratham; Prayer, Rev. Homer Barrows of Dover; Sermon, Rev. Orin Fowler of Fall River; Ordaining Prayer, Rev. J. Hurd; Charge, Rev. O. Fowler; Right Hand, Rev. B. R. Allen of

South Berwick, Me.; Address, Rev. S. S. N. Greely of Newmarket; Prayer,
Rev. James T. McCollom, Somersworth. The father of Mr. Hitchcock, whose
name was also Roswell, was born in Hawley, Ms.; his father removed from
Springfield, Ms. His mother's surname was, before marriage, Longfellow.
She was of Machias. Mr. Hitchcock m. Elisabeth Anthony Brayton, her
mother being of the Anthony family, which was ancient in Bristol Co., Ms.
(To be continued.)

THE NAMES OF THE PROPRIETORS OF NEW HAVEN, CT., IN THE
YEAR 1685.

[This article has been kindly furnished us by Charles William Bradley, Esq., the present Secretary of the State of Connecticut.]

The present orthography of such names as have materially changed their forms given: Alsop for Alsup; Blakeslee or Blakeley, Blackly; Bradley, Bradly; Bristol, Bristoll; Brackett, Brockett; Bunnel, Bunnill; Candee, Cande; Dawson, Dauson: Gilbert, Gibberts; Eaton, Heaton; Higgins?, contraction of Higginbottom, Hingambottom; Hotchkiss, Hotchkis; Humaston, Humerston; Lines and Lynde, Loines; Mallory, Mallery; Merriman, Marriman; Morse, Moss; Molthrop, Multrop; Monson, Munson; Osborn, Osbourn; Payne, Pain; Punderson, Ponderson; Prindle, Pringle; Thompson, Thomson; Turner, Turnor; Umberfield?, Umphervile; Woodin, Wooden.