Vermont AHGP
Part of the American History and
Genealogy Project
Churches of Woodbury, Vermont
Freewill Baptists
It appears the first settlers were Freewill Baptists, and were connected with a church in Cabot until 1820, or 22, when through the efforts of Elder Ziba Woodworth, of Montpelier, they had a church formed in town. David Herrick and wife, Elisha Benjamin and wife, Mrs. Robert Bradish, Gideon Burnham and wife, Thomas Ainsworth and wife, John Bettis and wife, Mrs. John Thomas, Nathan Jackson and wife, and Nehemiah Jackson and wife were the principal members, located in different parts of the town. There were two deacons, David Herrick and Nehemiah Jackson. The church was re-organized about 1850; most of the old members having now died or moved away. Elder Isaac Swan was settled as their pastor. I will mention here the names of Elder Gideon Sabin and Elder Ephraim Ainsworth, who are said to have been of that faith; but Elder Sabin never united with the church, and Elder Ainsworth died before the church was organized. Elder Sabin was the first settler and first preacher. Elder Ainsworth was well advanced in life when he came; but both lived out their allotted time, and died in the town.
In 1816 there was a class formed by Elder Amasa Cole; John Goodell and wife, Capt. Joel Celley and wife, Anna Goodell, and Squire Jennings and wife were some of the members; but the first record proof is found in 1847, when the first class numbered 26 members; the West Woodbury class, 10. John Tibbetts was leader, and Asaph Town, Esq., steward, which office he held until his death, in Jan. 1871.
Christian Church
The first church of this order in these parts seems to have been composed of members from four towns, Cabot, Marshfield, Calais and Woodbury, and was organized about 1820, with 40 or 50 members, and in a few years run up to 60 or 70. Meetings were held a share of the time in Woodbury, Elder John Capron, of Marshfield, J. R. Pettengill and R. Thompson being the first preachers. Subsequently, through the efforts of Elder Samuel Thurber, a church was formed in town whose members exceed that of either of the other churches. The meetings of the first church were held at the dwelling-house of Thos. Harvey, he and his wife being prominent members; afterwards, meetings were held at the Harvey school-house, which is in the east part of the town, and where the members nearly all resided. Elder Orrin Davis, of Calais, has preached a portion of the time for several years since to this society: also Elder Silas Wheelock, of the same town, has supplied the desk some, but for the last 4 years, Elder Jerome D. Bailey, resident of this town, has preached at the town-house and Harvey school-house from one-fourth to three-fourths of the time.
Source: History of Washington County Vermont, Collated and Published by Abby Maria Hemenway, 1882.
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