Rev. Daniel Emerson

Daniel Emerson graduated at Harvard College in 1739 and immediately prepared himself for the work of the ministry. He was ordained on the 20 April 1743 at the second Church of Christ in Dunstable.

Mr Emerson continued a faithful venerated minister of the society until 27 Novemeber 1793, a period of more than 50 years, without a change, or "wish to change his place." At this date, Rev. Eli Smith, who had married Mr Emerson's grand daughter, was settled as his colleague. During that long period the salary, in accordance with the tenor of the contract, was assessed upon the inhabitants of the town at the annual March meeting, and always voted, so far as it appears from the record, without dissent or opposition. For this payment the assessments were, in the mentioned years, as follows:

1753 £777 10s 6d O.T. (old tenor) 1760 £404 9s 8d O.T. 1761 £415 6s 0d N.H O.T. 1763 £404 9s 8d N.H. O.T. 1770 £ 67 13s 8d L.M. or Silver, when paper money appears to have gone wholly out of fashion.

In 1755, during the old Fench War, Mr Emerson officiated as chaplain to the famous rangers, of which Robert Rogers, (afterwards major in the Royal army) was captian. John Stark, (afterwards General in the continental service) was lieutenant, and also to the regiment commanded by Col. Joseph Blanchard of Dunstable. In this position he was considered the ranking officer, because his family coat of arms bearing three lions.

On this service, Mr Emerson kept a journal which has been preserved; some extracts of which follow:

July 8, 1775 being Tuesday. Set out from my own house after comforting ourselves to God by solemn prayer in which brother Emerson was greatly enlarged. Went to Leitchfield and preached from ... in which exercise I enjoyed some enlargement. Oh that I might be used as an instrument to glorify God! went that night tp Gen. Starks at Derryfield where I was kindly entertained with B.D. Cummings.

Friday July 11th. Set out with a guard to the army at Bakerstown where by the good hand of God I arrived safe that night. Was kindly received by the Col. & Army. Prayed with the regiment but had little enlargement. O that I may be delivered from the fear of man who brings a snare & be prepared both in body and mind for campaign. Lodged in the camp, much better than I feared, slept some & rose refreshed early in the morning.

Friday 18th met with nothing extraordinary alas profanity is too common may God send down his Holy Spirit to convince the poor creatures of sin, righteousness & judgement.

Monday 8 Sept .... After prayers we were late went to bed but could not sleep, found my heart crying to God for my friends in what condition soever the were. We were out Tuesday without any further intelligence that we could depend upon, though we took 3 prisoners, one a captain, yet we knew the faith of a Frenchman is not worth much.

Besides this service in 1755, Mr Emerson was chaplain in 1758, in Col. Hart's regiment. He was occupied about six months in each. It is told of him, when the regiment was on inspection, that Chaplain Emerson presented his bible to the inspecting officer.

One of his letters to his wife, dated at Crown Point in 1755, was brought to Hollis by his dog, which he had trained to such duty.

Mr Emerson exerted a salutary influence upon the schools of this frontier town. In 1771, the town voted that the school's expenses be laid out in the usual manner, and "that Mr Emerson keep the grammar school for the town as usual," viz: "to teach all those in the town that shall present themselves in the languages."

Scholars came from other towns to fit for college under Mr Emerson. In 1770, the Governer of the province, Hon. John Wentworth, in sending his son to Mr Emerson for instruction, concludes his letter, "I can never think any expense too great which he benefits by and therefore gladly commit him to your care, not doubting but I shall rejoice in making you the most gratefull acknowledgement for his improvement."

In 1890, the citizens of the town, embracing natives who were resident elsewhere, by dollar contribution, placed in the church a memorial window to Rev. Daniel Emerson, it being the north window on the west side of the audience room, and opposite another in memory of Rev. Eli Smith, his colleague and successor.

Directly in the rear of the present edifice, and near the headstones that may be seen above the cemetery wall, rest the bodies of Rev. Mr Emerson, his wife, and many of his descendants to the present generation.

Professor Charles Wesley Churchill, in his address at the anniversary of the settlement of Hollis, N.H. spoke thus:

'One of the ablest advocates of the "New Light" doctrines was Daniel Emerson, a famous skater and wrestler, who had recently become the first pastor in the new town of Hollis.

Under the preaching of Whitfield he had forsaken a wild life at Harvard College, and followed the great preacher from place to place. He received into his own ardent, strong, impulsive nature, the influence of the mighty man of God. The disciple, in his turn, became a flaming "New Light."

He was a kind of Congregational Bishop in his region. No man in southern New Hampshire was to extensively known, whose influence was so powerful on the surrounding ministers and churches. Rev. Eli Smith had been his celleague the last eight years of his life; but, aside from his preaching and pastoral duties of labour, Mr Emerson did much to give form and impulse to education in Hollis and region around, by keeping a grammar school, a part or a whole of the year.

In the town records for 1771, when Mr Emerson had been pastor for twenty-eight years, there was a note that he should keep the grammar school as usual. This would seem to imply that he had thus taught for years, if not during the whole of his past ministry. This school was kept six months in each year until 1774, when it was extended through the whole year.

As a result of Mr Emerson's preaching and teaching, with the great force, ardour and enthusiasm of his character, there were, before the revolutionary war, twelve young men from the town graduated from college, of whom eight became clergymen.

As father Emeson preached ex-tempore with great force, eloquence and action, his association once enjoined upon him to write a sermon to preach before them; but he had it before him bottom upwards while delivering it.

Once, while preaching with all his might, his large, powdered wig sailed from the lofty pulpit down into the broad aisle, where one of the deacons, in a very reverent manner, took it up in both hands and carried it to its owner, who put it on with a jerk, without having disturbed the devout gravity of his hearers or checked his own rushing speed and force of eloquence.'

Mr Emerson was not married when he settled at Hollis. During the summer following his ordination, he built his first house, the location of which is in doubt, for it was burned 11 April 1744. Mr Emerson brought his bride to town in the autumn of that year so we may presume that he rebuilt his house in the summer. (Source - Emerson Family Genealogy)

The Inscription to the memory of Mr Emerson reads:

Bneath this monument lise the Mortal part of Rev. Daniel Emerson. He was born at Reading, Mass., May 20, 1716, Graduated at Harvard College 1739, And was ordained April 20, 1743, to the Pastoral care Of the Church and Congregation of Hollis Which then consisted of only 30 Families. He was an honest man given to Hospitality; An affectionate husband and tender Parent; A faithful Friend and Patriotic Citizen; An Evangelical, zealous and unusually successful Preacher Of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Highly Esteemed by his people, his praise was in all the Churches. A.D. 1793, he voluntarily relinquished one half his salary To promote the settlement of a Colleague, From which time his pious walk and occasional labours Evinced an unabating love for the cause of Christ, Until nature failed and he fell asleep in Jesus, September 30, 1801, aged 85 years.

He was ordained to the pastoral care of the church & congregation of Hollis April 20, 1745 which then consisted only of 30 families

He served in the French war as chaplain of Col. Joseph Blanchard's regiment in the Crown Point expedition of 1755.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Mar 26 2021, 17:29:23 UTC