Mr. Stearns was tall in person, and interesting in his pulpit performances. He held the untiring attention of his audience, which not unfrequently filled the seats and aisles of his meeting-house, while, in pleasant weather, a number stood abroad around the doors and windows.
Of the printed sermons of Mr. Stearns, two were on 1 John iv: 8,—"God is love." These were preached in Exeter, and printed after his death, at the request, made to him in his last sickness, of Hon. John Phillips, for the use of the members of the Academy. Another was on early piety, with a brief memoir of Samuel Lawrence, preached Sept. 19, 1779. Another was a Fast sermon.
Mr. Stearns married first, Sarah Abbot of Andover. They had three sons and three daughters. One of the sons was John Stearns, Esq., of Deerfield, N. H. Mrs. Stearns died in November, 1766. In September, 1767, he married Sarah Ruggles, daughter of Rev. Samuel Ruggles of Billerica, who was a grandson of Rev. John Woodbridge of Andover, and great-grandson of Gov. Thomas Dudley. By the second marriage, also, Mr. Stearns had three sons and three daughters.
Rev. Samuel Stearns, son of Rev. Josiah Stearns, by his second marriage, was born in Epping, April 8, 1770; graduated at H. U. 1794; studied theology with Rev. Jonathan French of Andover; and was ordained in Bedford, Ms., April 27, 1795, where he died, Dec. 26, 1834, aged 65. He married Abigail, daughter of Rev. Mr. French of Andover. She was a descendant from John Alden, one of the first Pilgrims, who is said by some to have been the first person, who leaped upon the rock at Plymouth, New England, in 1620. Rev. Mr. Stearns of Bedford lived to see three of his sons settled in the ministry. Rev. Samuel Horatio Stearns, ordained over the Old South Church in Boston, Ms., April 16, 1834, died in Paris, France, July 15, 1837. His remains were brought to his native country, and rest in Mount Auburn Cemetery. Rev. William Augustus Stearns, ordained at Cambridgeport, Dec. 14, 1831, married Rebecca Alden Frazer of Duxbury. Rev. Jonathan French Stearns was ordained pastor of the first Presbyterian Church in Newburyport, Sept. 16, 1835. He married first, Joanna Chaplin, daughter of Dr. James Prescott Chaplin of Cambridgeport. He married secondly, Anna S. Prentiss of Portland, Me. Sarah Caroline, a daughter of Rev. Mr. Stearns of Bedford, married Rev. Forest Jefferds, who was ordained at Epping, and afterwards installed at Middleton, Ms. Charlotte Esther, a daughter of Rev. Samuel Stearns, married Rev. Jonathan Leavitt. He was ordained at Bedford, and afterwards installed at Providence, R. I. Rev. Josiah Howe Stearns, son of Dea. William Stearns and grandson of Rev. Josiah Stearns of Epping, was ordained at Dennysville, Me., Nov. 6, 1844, and married Eliza Kilby, daughter of John Kilby, Esq., of that place. The mother of Rev. Josiah Howe Stearns, who was, before marriage, Abigail Richards Howe of Templeton, Ms., was a descendant of John Alden of Pilgrim memory.
Rev. Peter Holt, third pastor at Epping, was son of Joshua Holt, Esq., whose brother, Rev. Nathan Holt, was pastor of the second Church in Danvers, Ms. Rev. Peter Holt studied theology with Rev. Mr. French of Andover. He was installed over the Presbyterian church in Peterborough, March 7, 1827; resigned April, 1835; preached in Deering from 1835 to 1841. See notices of Mr. Holt by Rev. Mr. Whiton, in the N. H. Repository, Vol. I. No. 3. Rev. Mr. Holt of Epping married Hannah, daughter of Rev. Nathan Holt. They had seven children. Two survive, Sarah and Mary; the first of these married Samuel Endicott of Beverly. Nathan died at Epping, in his 12th year, of whom there is an obituary in the Piscataqua Evan. Mag. Vol. IV. p. 36. The family of Mr. Holt is traced to Nicholas Holt, who came from England to Newbury, in 1635, removed to Andover, and was one of the ten males who founded the church there in 1645. [Coffin's History of Newbury; Abbot's History of Andover; Farmer's Genealogical Register.]
Rev. Forest Jefferds, who succeeded Mr. Holt, was son of Samuel, who was the son of Samuel, who was the son of Rev. Samuel Jefferds of Wells, Me., whose father emigrated from England to Salem, Ms. Rev. Samuel Jefferds was favored with a revival of religion in Wells, in 1741-2, and was one of the attestors by letter to "the happy revival of religion in many parts of the land." [Tracy's Hist. Great Awak., p. 295.] Rev. Forest Jefferds received his classical and theological education at the Theological Seminary, Bangor, graduated 1825, was installed at Middleton, Ms., May 2, 1832, resigned May 15, 1844. Mr. Jefferds married Sarah Caroline, daughter of Rev. Samuel Stearns of Bedford.
Rev. Calvin Chapman was next ordained in Epping. A new house of worship had been erected, which was dedicated in connection with the services of his ordination. He graduated at Andover Theological Seminary, 1842, married Lucy B. Emerson of Parsonsfield, Me. Mr. Chapman is now settled at Sacarappa, Me.
Rev. Mr. Corser was a son of David Corser of Boscawen, who was a son of John, and grandson of John of Newbury, Ms., who emigrated to this country from Scotland, about the year 1690. John, with David his son, removed from Newbury to Boscawen, in the early settlement of the town, and purchased the whole of that tract of land, which, from their name, is called Corser's Hill. Mr. Corser studied divinity with Rev. Dr. Harris of Dunbarton, and was ordained in Loudon, March 5, 1817. He was dismissed from his charge Sept. 20, 1838. He preached as a supply at Northfield and Plymouth, till 1845. Since then he has supplied at Epping, where he now resides. His son, Samuel B. G. Corser, graduated at Dartmouth College, in 1841.
(To be continued.)