FREEWILL BAPTISTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
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��EARLY HISTOR Y OF THE FREEWILL BAPTIST DENOMINATION
IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
��BY JOSEPH FULLONTON.
��The early history of this denomination in the State is the early history of the de- nomination itself, as it originated here, and is the only religious sect chat took its Tise in the State. Its origin was in the country township of New Durham, in the year 1780. It is seen, therefore, that its first century will be completed two years hence. Already some arrange- ments have been devised for a Centennial Celebration when the century shall be completed. The triennial General Con- ference, held last October in Fairport, New York, decided that the next session (in 1880), be held in some convenient place not far from New Durham, and that in connection with it there be a de- nominational Centennial Celebration. It is impossible now to tell where the ses- sion will be held, but probably at Dover or Great Falls, and undoubtedly the Cen- tennial services will be at New Durham.
The founder of this sect of Christians was Benjamin Randall. He was a native of Newcastle, and was born February 7, 1749. The family was of English origin. A Mr. Randall came over after 1700, and settled in Newcastle. He had a son Ben- jamin, who was born January 13, 1726. He max-ried a Miss Marden, and these were the parents of Benjamin Randall, who founded the denomination.
Mr. Randall made a public profession of religion in November, 1772, and united with the Congregational church under the pastoral care of Rev. Stephen Chase. He had heard the celebrated Whitefield preach in Portsmouth two days before, but towards him felt a great opposition. But on Sabbath, September 30, 1770, tak- ing Rev. Mr. Chase to Portsmouth in a boat to preach there that day, at noon he heard that Mr. Whitefield had died in Newburyport that morning. He remem- bered his preaching, was troubled, and
��about two weeks later found himself in possession of new feelings, and ever af- ter lived a new life. Before uniting with the church he married Miss Joanna Oram of Kittery.
After a time there was a change in his denominational views, and. August 14, 1776, he was admitted to the Baptist church in Berwick, the rite of baptism being administered by Rev. William Hooper, near what is now Great Falls village, on the Berwick side of the river. Mr. Hooper lived afterward, if not then, in Madbury. He died there in 1827, aged 82 years.
Mr. Randall commenced preaching ear- ly in 1777. In March, 1778, he left New- castle and took up his residence in New Durham, which was his home the re- mainder of his life. April 5, 17S0, he was publicly ordained to the work of the ministry. About that time in the Bap- tist churches there was some opposition to the doctrine of Calvinism, which doc- trine was held by the churches to a con- siderable extent. Mr. Randall was op- posed to it, and there being in New Dur - ham and vicinity a number of like views, a church organization was judged advi- sable. This was effected June 30,1780. It was in a private house, about half a mile south of the " Ridge." The house was standing half a dozen years ago, and probably now remains. The floor of a front room where the organization took place was of pitch-pine plank, fastened down with wooden pins. This remained when seen by the writer, in 1871. Elder Randall presented a covenant, and four males and three females adopted it, and became a church. Before the year clos- ed six others united, and early in 1781 fourteen more were added.
Elder Randall " builded better than he knew." That is, he had no idea he was
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