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��health he did not complete his course. He was ordained pastor of the Baptist church in West Haven, Vt., in 1824. He remained there as pastor until he came to New London early in 1836, where he became a member of the church, and was received as its pastor July 3, which place he held until April 8, 1844, when he resigned his pastoral charge, but remained with the church in the service of the New Hampshire Baptist convention until autumn, when he removed to Chester, Vt., where he was pastor of the church for some ten years. From there he removed to Ley- den, N. Y., where he remained as pas- tor of the church for some ten years, when he returned to Vermont for a few years, at Hinesburg and in that vicinity, when he returned to Leyden, where, after a protracted illness, he died June 29, 1869, in the 72d year of his age.
He gave the prime of his life, the vigor of his manhood, to the church here. Large additions were made to it during his stay. The demands upon his time and strength were such as in these days would be deemed severe, with three preaching services on the Sabbath most of the time, and two or three other meetings during the week. In speak- ing of these arduous duties, his son, Rev. A. W. Sawyer, d. d., president of Acadia College, N. S., in his line to me, says : "But he was strengthened by the sympathy and affection of his people. The memory of the kindness he there experienced and the friend- ships he there formed were cherished by him to the last, and lightened the burdens of his declining years. His last year in New London was less pleas- ant to him because of his opposition to the anti-slavery agitation, but his views afterwards changed somewhat, so that he firmly held the conviction that the United States should be a land of free- dom. " He took an interest in what- ever benefited the people with whom he lived. He was one of the founders of the original New London Academy, and always was deeply interested in the school. But first of all he felt that he was called to preach the gospel. This work he loved. He enjoyed most the
��presentation of those doctrines termed evangelical. Feeling the strength and comfort of these truths in his own soul, his presentation of them to his people was often with remarkable clearness and power.
The ministers that have followed Mr. Sawyer, are all, as I am informed, still living, and are known much better to you than they are to me, therefore any sketch of their lives will not be at- tempted by me. They are as follows :
Mark Carpenter, came in 1844, left in 1849 — 6.
Ebenezer Dodge, came in 1849, l eu " in 1853—5.
Peter M. Hersey (Christian), came in 1849, left in 1853 — 5.
H. F. Lane (C. B.), came in 1854. left in 1857 — 4.
Lucien Hayden, came in 1857, left in 1869 — 12.
Asa Randlett (F. W. B.), came in 1859, left in 1861 — 3.
F. D. Blake (C. B.), came in 1870, left in 1873 — 4.
S. C. Fletcher, came in 1874, and re- mains in 1879 — 6.
The church frequently, and I think generally, depends as much upon the character and conduct of its deacons, for its standing and reputation with the world, as it does upon its ministers, so I have examined your church rec- ords to see who have been the deacons in New London, and so far as I know the church has been very fortunate in the selection of its deacons.
Ebenezer Hunting, elected January 8, 1789.
Matthew Harvey, Zebedee Hayes, elected July 5, 1793.
Jonas Shepard, Peter Sargent, Jr.. elected April 3, 181 2.
David Everett, Dexter Everett, elect- ed June 16, 1825.
Joseph C. Herrick, Micajah Mor- gan, elected April 21, 1849.
Hunting was alone for about four and a half years, then Deacons Harvey and Hayes for nineteen years, then Deacons Shepard and Sargent for 13 years, then the two Deacons Everett for 24 years, and last Deacons Herrick and Morgan for 30 years.
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