Vermont AHGP

Part of the American History and Genealogy Project

Religious History

By C. A. Smith

The first church organized in town was a Congregational church. Deacon Nathan Benton and Philemon Ashley were among its early and prominent members. The school-house, and afterward the town house at the village, were used as places of worship. Public worship was maintained until about 1840, when the membership being quite small, the church was merged in the Congregational church at S. Duxbury, the services at first being held at Moretown and Duxbury alternately, but afterward at S. Duxbury alone. The Congregational Church at S. Duxbury was founded at an early period.

Among its first members were Reuben Munson, Hezekiah Ward, and Earl Ward, his son. Messrs. Seeley and Pomeroy were the earliest pastors. This church is the only church in Duxbury, the people of N. Duxbury being better accommodated at Waterbury. It has never had a large membership. Its relations with the M. E. church at Moretown are of the most cordial character, and for several years the pastor of the M. E. church at Moretown has been the acting pastor of the Congregational church at S. Duxbury.

Methodist Church

Amasa Cole was probably the first Methodist preacher in Moretown. He was a local preacher living near Middlesex. Soon after, in 1809, Joshua Luce, a local preacher from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, settled in town. He, with his wife and daughter Roxana, were probably the first Methodists in town. By their efforts a Methodist church was soon organized, and Moretown became a part of the old Barre Circuit, Vermont District and New England Conference of the M. E. Church, a circuit embracing Barre, Montpelier, Middlesex, Moretown, Waitsfield and Warren.

In the town clerk's office there is a record of the certificate of the ordination of Amasa Cole as a deacon by Bishop McKendree, at Durham, Maine, June 4, 1814, also of that of Leonard Foster, by Bishop Asbury, June 10, 1818. Zadoc Hubbard, Ebenezer Johnson, Calvin Clark, Barnabas Mayo and William Harris were among the leading members prior to 1820.

The first church edifice was built in 1832, at the Common. This was occupied for 22 years, until in 1854, the present church at the village was erected. The old church still stands, though unoccupied. Messrs. Frost, Newell, Steele, Peirce and Haskell were among the earliest itinerants on this circuit, while Bishop George, Wilbur Fisk and Elijah Hedding (afterward Bishop) have officiated here.

Rev. Justin Spaulding was born in this town in 1802. He was for some years a missionary in South America, afterward a presiding elder in New Hampshire Conference. His health failing, he returned to his native town and resided here until his death.

Rev. Nathan B. Spaulding was born in Moretown; entered the Methodist ministry from this town. He belonged successively to the New England and to the New Hampshire Conferences, in which he held a prominent position. A partial failure of health necessitated a retirement from the itinerancy in middle life. He located in his native town, and continued to preach occasionally as health and opportunity permitted until his death in 1863.

The topography of this town is such that the inhabitants of large portions of its territory can more conveniently attend church at Northfield, Montpelier, Middlesex and Waterbury than at Moretown village. The M. E. church is the only Protestant church in town. At some periods of its history its membership has been much larger than at present; but its condition and prospects are very hopeful.

Mrs. Smith says in her paper, "the first Methodist meeting was held in Mr. Slayton's barn." It is probable, says our record, that we credit to Rev. Mr. Currier, that Mr. Cole was the first Methodist preacher in town. He resided near Middlesex, and was accustomed to walk from home to the Common, preach, and return without dinner for the reason that "Jack did not eat his supper," none was offered him to eat. In the winter season this walk and work must have been very fatiguing, especially when he broke his own path through the snow, often knee deep.

When the people of Moretown heard the cannon's roar at Plattsburg, the townsmen met at the tavern kept by Joshua Luce, on the farm where Alvin Pierce now resides, to see who would volunteer to go to Plattsburg to repulse the British. This was in 1812. Both the local preachers were present and heartily encouraged the men.

Mr. Luce was a local preacher, but farming was his main occupation. He preached on the Common, in the dwelling house of Ebenezer Johnson, and in the school house.

Among the prominent members of the Methodist Church in 1820, and for some years subsequent, were Ebenezer Johnson, who was town clerk prior, for some years, to 1832, when Dr. Kingsley succeeded him, Calvin Clark and Barnabas Mayo, whose names are among the substantial and influential members of the Methodist family of that date.

William Harris and his excellent wife, known as "Aunt Ruth," were noted for their generosity, keeping what was called a Methodist tavern, and many a weary itinerant found shelter and food and rest in the home of "Aunt Ruth."

In 1832, the first Methodist meeting house in town was built on the Common, and for 22 years it was occupied in regular meetings. But in 1854, Moretown Hollow, now village proper, built the house now used for worship. For some years before the church building was erected at the Hollow, the Methodists worshipped in the town-house in the village or Hollow, and at the Common alternately. Soon after the church was built, in the village the Common meetings were nearly abandoned, and meetings held at the new house only. Three prominent men, who became ministers of the Gospel, had their origin in this town. Rev. Justin Spaulding, son of Levi and Thankful Spaulding. His widow and several children are now residing in Moretown and vicinity.

The Methodists of Moretown and the Congregationalists of South Duxbury have alternate meetings at present, and have but one pastor. They have a good congregation and an excellent Sabbath School. If anyone who may read this listened to a concert by the South Duxbury Sabbath School on the first Sabbath of October, 1876, they will doubtless bear testimony to the truthfulness of the above statement, in calling the school an excellent one. For the present prosperity of the Methodist Church in Moretown, any one desiring can see the Annual Minutes of Conference, 1876. The parsonage buildings have been repaired and neatly fitted up this year.

Ministers from 1860 to 1881

Rev. Lemuel C. Powers

Catholic Church in Moretown

Those of this faith are almost entirely Irish. The first settlers were Daniel Murray, John Hogan, Patrick Calvy, Patrick Farral and Daniel Divine. They purchased lands on what is called South hill. Most of them commenced with very limited means, but by industry have generally prospered, and will now average with others of the town in wealth. There is one school district almost all Irish pupils.

There are now 90 who have grand lists, and probably 75 voters. Among the prominent men of the present are Andrew Murray, Daniel Hassett, Patrick Lynch, Thomas and Charles McCarty, and the three Kerin brothers. Moretown is now a central point for the Catholic population of South Duxbury, Fayston, Waitsfield and Warren. The first priest officiating here was Father Jeremiah O'Callaghan, who, if we are correctly informed, was the first Catholic priest in Vermont.

The first resident Irish priest, but not the first Catholic priest in Vermont. There was a resident priest, undoubtedly, at the old French Mission of St. Catherine, in Wells, at the Isle La Motte Mission of St. Anne and the French Mission in Swanton, some interesting account of which will be given in the history of the late Rev. John B. Perry, of Swanton, to be embraced in this work, of any of which missions we would be particularly pleased to receive any information that any person may be able to communicate, however trifling apparently.

Every little link helps in putting together the broken chain that binds us to the early days. Our histories are very obscure so far back; the least little incident is the little track to the explorer that leads to the clue. There have been also missionary priests earlier than Father O'Callaghan, as Rev. James Fulton, the venerable pastor now of the Church of the Holy Redeemer, East Boston, who was an early missionary in Vermont. "He resided in Burlington, officiating there and in this town, and probably in other places. Father O'Callaghan was also an author, and wrote five volumes on different subjects. The second priest officiating here was Father Drolet, the third, Father Druon, the fourth, Father Duglue, the fifth, Father Galligan, who resides at Waterbury, officiating there, in this town, and in Northfield.

The land for building a church on, and also for a burial ground, was given to the Catholic society by Col. Miller of Montpelier, in 1841. In 1858, the society built their present church building on South hill, which is a little more than a mile from the village, nearly east. They contemplate building a new church edifice in the village, at no very distant future.

The Rev. Fathers O'Callaghan, Daly, Drolet, Maloneya and Coopman, O. M. J., visited occasionally this mission, before Rev. Z. Druon built the Church (St. Patrick's) in 1860. The lot upon which the church stands had been given many years before by three members, to be used partly as a burying ground. The number of Catholic families in this mission is about 40; mostly farmers. They are attended now by Rev. Thomas Galligan, from Waterbury, and were previously, after the departure of Father Druon, attended from Montpelier by his successor there, Rev. Joseph Duglue, who had the pastoral care of them for a few years.

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Middlesex Vermont | AHGP

Source: History of Washington County Vermont, Collated and Published by Abby Maria Hemenway, 1882.

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