Rev. Nehemiah Porter

Nehemiah graduated from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1745. He was ordained at the 2nd Parish Church of Ipswich (in the Chebacco section of Ipswich, now called Essex) on 3 Jan 1750 and lived happily among his parishioners for most of the sixteen years he was their pastor. In March 1762, some members of the parish threatened to join the Separatist Church (4th Parish of Ipswich). The parish voted to ask him to leave and when he refused they withheld his salary for two years. A council of the area churches was called in 1762 to help settle the dispute but it continued through 1764. The Church was said to be in full charity with him and were grieved at the opposition you make to his ministry and the trouble you give to him and to us. This was stated to the parish committee who were the ones in opposition. The Church proposed a day of fating and prayer to help deal with the situation.

In the meantime Nehemiah won a court case against the inhabitants of the Parish, causing the Parish to levy taxes on all Polls and Estates in the Parish. At last in April 1766, referees appointed by the court ruled that every contact between the Reverend Porter and the 2nd Parish of Ipswich be dissolved. The last recorded communication to the Parish states that he wished for the prosperity and comfort of the Parish as if it were my own.. He was dismissed in June 1766.

During this time, in 1763, Nehemiah's wife died, leaving him with nine children, although it is possible that Elisabeth, born in 1761, who died young, may have predeceased her mother.

Reverend Nehemiah Porter, age 47 years, and his son Nehemiah, age 14 years, arrived in Yarmouth Township on 6 Jun 1767 on the schooner Industry, Joshua Pitman Terfry (sic), skipper. Father and son lodged on Saturday night with Doctor Woodbury and on Sunday Reverend Porter preached his first sermon with about 100 people assembled at Mr. Rose's. At his second Sunday Service he estimated that 140 to 160 people attended. I hope these were fine days as otherwise it seems impossible that any house could hold such a large attendance.

During the following weeks Rev. Nehemiah visited the People, preached and cruised the area. On occasion he preached in Chebogue. On 8 July of the same year 100 acres was laid out to him and he purchased on 13 August from James Mattenly his "Harbour Lot" consisting of 52 acres, later known as 1st Division #68, next to the Meeting House lot. On this lot he evidently built his house.

On August 3 there was a Parish Meeting to make a choice of a person for their minister and Rev. Porter was approached. On 19 August he gave his answer to the Society Committee of Esquire Durkee, John Walker, and Capt. Jeremiah Allen. They proposed for support £45 the first year, then an additional £5 each year until the total reached £65. Nehemiah returned his thanks but said he could not accept this as the amount was insufficient, or as the Lord has ordained that they who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel. The matter was left at this point for further consideration.

The same day, Nehemiah presented a Church Covenant and it was agreed that next Lord's Day all would hear the Covenant and the next week could voice objections.

On August 22 Nehemiah mentions that Cousin Samuel is very poorly and on the 25th he gave him a physick which worked well.

Nehemiah was a Yarmouth Township Grantee and received 2 shares: 1st division: lot 138; 2nd division: lots 98 and 62; and 3rd division: lots 117 and 14.

On 2 September 1767 the 1st Church in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, was organized. The members entered into covenant with God and with one another September 2nd 1767. Later there were differences in the Church. It is quite possible that this was due to Reverend Porter's acceptace of members who formerly were not Congregational members. One individual was listed as Episcopal and another Church of England.

Nehemiah had logs cut, lumber sawed, and hauled to his lot for the barn roof. Meanwhile he mowed hay, cleared land, and burned brush and on 9 October raised the barn roof in the morning and in the afternoon went on board the schooner Swan to go to New England. However, the weather was bad and they did not leave until the 12th; arriving finally, after a stormy trip, at home in Chebacco (now Essex) in Ipswich on 17 October, with his son, where he found his family all well.

He returned to Cape Forchu with his son John at sunset on 25 August 1768 and they lodged the first night with Nehemiah's brother Hasadiah. His son Nehemiah had gone to New England, sailing from Cape Forchu on 18 August. As usual Reverend Porter preached on Sunday - a full meeting at Benjamin Brown's.

On Monday the 29th he finished getting four cattle, eleven sheep, twenty and one-half bushels of Indian corn, and other stores all landed safely. On 4 September he preached and his son Nehemiah returned, with Mr. Redding, and brought six sheep (two ewes, three wethers, and one ram).

On Monday the 5th he put up window sashes and 'cas'd' them. During the rest of the month he apparently preached, did some haying, brought the sheep from 'the Point' (Chebogue?) to the Island Marsh. He noted that his brother began to mow in Chegoggin and he stacked hay. His son Nehemiah worked a number of days for Mr. Butler.

On Saturday October 15 he set sail from Cape Forchu; arriving home in Chebacco on October 27, 1768. No further mention of his sons Nehemiah and John appear in this document.

Nehemiah wrote from Beverly [Mass.] to his beloved children Hannah, Nehemiah, Ebenezer, and Joseph in Yarmouth on 9 Dec 1771 that we had good passage, got into Marblehead Sabbath Noon. I have concluded to winter here and began my school Wednesday 4th where I kept three years ago. ... Your brother John works at Rowley with one Mr. Tinney a House-Joiner - Samuel is yet at his brother [Allen] Bakers, but talks of a Shoe-Maker and of going to Portsmouth where your Brother Baker has a Brother an apprentice. I am thinking Some Time in the Summer Sarah may go down and Hannah come up.

He counsels his children's behaviour: study, bible reading, and prayer. He further states: The great and prevailing Reason why I came not down this Winter is the raging Anger of Some of the principle People which may prevent my coming in the Spring - I hope you will not be discouraged - if you meet smaller Injuries, the best way is not to mind them - use your own best Judgement about your Business - Advise with your Uncle [Hazadiah] about any thing you need - and let me know in the Spring what you Shall want Sent down.

On 25 September 1773 he wrote from Gloucester: Saturday - My dear children - I left Easton last Monday and have done preaching there, and came for Salem last Wednesday. He went on board Captain Foote's boat but the weather was stormy and he concluded not to come at this time. One reason was: I do not understand that any person belonging to Cape Forchu desires to see me there as a preacher, not even for a little while - and none of my Friends have advised me to go thither again - and I think it most likely to be God's will that I should go where I may be best employed - and tho I long to see you, yet I must deny myself the Pleasure, for what I rather think is my Duty.

He expects Hannah and Ebenezer to come up this fall and he warns about small pox. Hannah was to bring with her only such household stuff as she would want on her passage for what shall we do with household stuff here until we were going to keep house here. We can send to Cape Forchu for household stuff when we want it. Let good care be taken of all your things there.

On 21 December 1774 Reverend Nehemiah was installed as pastor of the Congregational Church in Ashfield, Massachusetts where he ministered for 45 years. To the end of his days he continued to preach from the pulpit. Two days before he died he complained of not feeling well.

On 6 June 1775 his son Nehemiah wrote from Yarmouth: I received yours of May 28 and June 10 ... you desired me to take good care of your interest here which you may depend upon. I have collected nothing at present but I hope to very soon.

During the Revolutionary War Nehemiah served as Chaplain in General Gates Army. He left Ashfield soon after 16 Aug 1777 and did not return until after the surrender of Burgoyne. I did not find a record of his service in the Continental Army at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. So it may be that he did not join but accompanied troops and held prayers.

From Ashfield, on 31 Mar 1802, he wrote to his nephew Hasadiah Porter about the death of your dear and honoured Father who died at my house on the sixteenth day of this month of March about half an hour after four oClock p.m.

On 31 Aug 1812, Reverend Nehemiah Porter wrote his last [surviving] letter from Ashfield, Massachusetts to his son Nehemiah in Yarmouth. Here we have a different birth date: You may remember my age, 92 the 2nd Day of last April. He is still able to preach; his wife very feeble; your two sisters at Ipswich very well; your three brothers here well; your daughter Rebekah Redfield and her husband well, they presently live at Father's in Conway; your cousin Hasadiah is here, having been captured at Sea by a Portland Privateer, arriving last Saturday. I have disposed of my estate, and have divided my Books among my Children and I have eleven Books for you, all in octave, my preaching Bible is one - Mr. Pyle's paraphrase on the Old Testament from the beginning to the End of Esther four Volumes - Mr. Vincent's Explanation of the Shorter Catechism one - Dr. Dudridge's Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul one - Pyle's paraphrase on the Acts and the Epistles two - Dr. Mathers Christian Philosopher one - and Josephus Second Volume Hystory of the Antiquities of the Jews - and besides these eleven Books I have for you twenty two valuable Pamphlets ... I have settled my Estate and I have given to each one their Portion and there is nothing more for them to receive except four Dollars to each of them - I have thought of late that what I gave to you and left with you was full as valuable as what I have had for them - I hope I have done [well] for your younger Brother who has always been with me, and has to supply me any my Wife so long as we live.

An interesting invoice addressed to the Reverend Nehemiah Porter in New England states: 1772 Jeneary (sic) 31 to Esqr Durkee for dressing a dog skin 6 pence & kip skin 3 shillings 8 pence bringing the total to 4 shillings 2 pence.

There is a wonderful story that appears in the Nehemiah's obituary [Boston Recorder 12 Aug 1820] concerning the ordination of Thomas Shepard, who was the author of the obituary. In June 1819, the Rev. Thomas Shepard was ordained the second colleague with Mr. Porter. Hundreds, if not thousands, will remember to the day of their death, the novel and melting scene of the ordination day. They will remember the venerable appearance of their senior pastor, bending under the weight of about 100 years, as he passed along the broad aisle, leaning on his two staffs; they will remember the firm and steady step with which he ascended the pulpit stairs without aid, the fervency with which he engaged in the consecrating prayer, with his apostolical hand on the head of his young colleague, and the distinct, audible, and affectionate manner in which he addressed a few dying words to his beloved flock, in the form of a charge. With his second colleague he lived in great harmony and Christian affection until his death.

Reverend Nehemiah Porter was a very interesting man and I have found his writings and what others have said about him fascinating. In some ways he seems to have been ahead of his time; in others quite a stickler for the way he held steady to the course of his upbringing. With vigour he walked God's earth; never forgetting that it was and is God's handiwork. [From The Porter Family of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia p. 25-29.]

GEDCOM Source

@R1653607730@ U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s 1,7486::0

GEDCOM Source

Place: Nova Scotia, Canada; Year: 1766; Page Number: 198 1,7486::2632640

GEDCOM Source

@R1653607730@ U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s 1,7486::0

GEDCOM Source

Place: Nova Scotia, Canada; Year: 1766; Page Number: 198 1,7486::2632640