Brentwood. In Dec. 12, 1748, according to Farmer's Statistics of New Hampshire ministers, Rev. Nathaniel Trask was settled in this place.
"Jan. 18, 1756, this church [Hampton church] was sent for to install the Rev. Mr. Trask at Brentwood. They chose Deacons Tuck and Lane, who went. And the affair was completed with love and peace, decency and good order. Mr. Odlin and Flagg prayed. I preached, Col. iv: 17. Mr. Whipple gave the charge. Attest, W. Cotton, Pastor."
Over a church newly organized, Mr. Trask was installed, as stated in the records of Rev. W. Cotton, Jan. 21, 1756.
Mr. Trask retained the pastoral office in Brentwood, 41 years; though he ceased from his pulpit labors, about two years before his death, which occurred Dec. 12, 1789, at the age of 67. He married Parnel Thing, June 15, 1749. Their children were Elizabeth, born July 30, 1750, died in Brentwood, Parnel, born July 2, 1752, died Sept. 8, 1756. Nathaniel, born Sept. 8. 1754, died Sept. 5, 1756; Mary, born Sept. 14, 1756. Parnel, born Aug. 27, 1759, died July 21, 1762. Samuel, born Sept. 10, 1762, settled and died in Brentwood, where his son and daughter now live. Jonathan, born Dec. 12, 1764, settled in Mount Vernon, Me.
From the decease of Mr. Trask, the church was without a pastor eleven years and a half. During that period, more than a hundred individuals were employed as candidates for settlement, or as supplies. Eight or ten, successively, received and declined invitations to settle.
At the ordination of the Rev. Ebenezer Flint, the church had become reduced to six male and thirteen female members. Mr. Flint died suddenly, Oct. 12, 1811, aged 42, leaving a widow, who died at the age of 72 years.
He studied theology with the Rev. Dr. Emmons. He married Mary, daughter of Deacon Kendall of Tewksbury, Ms. Two of his children were Mary K., who married Ebenezer Orne, and Abigail J., who married Jonathan Robinson, 3rd. The youngest son of Mr. Flint, Ezra M., married Louisa P. Haynes of Charlestown, Ms., and now lives there. The eldest, Ebenezer, resides in Brentwood, unmarried.
From the time of Mr. Flint's death, the church was destitute of a pastor more than four years.
Rev. Chester Colton preached at Brentwood, July 21, 1813. He proved to be the Barnabas they needed; and the friends of religious order, being encouraged and strengthened, settled him. Rev. Mr. Rowland of Exeter preached the ordination sermon, from 1 Cor. i: 21, and Rev. Dr. Pearson of Andover, Ms., gave the charge.
The people became ardently attached to Mr. Colton, and his labors were blessed. He was dismissed at his own urgent request, on account of an inflammation of his eyes which forbade application to study. Mr. Colton's vision was, in a few years, so far restored, by rest and medical treatment, that he resumed the labors of a pastor, and was installed at Lyme, Ct., Feb. 12, 1829. Recently he has labored under the direction of the Connecticut Missionary Society, in North Goshen, Ct.