548    RELIGION.

More than a century before any Baptist church existed in this
State, Hanserd Knollys came to Dover and afterwards became
an eminent Baptist. Mr. Knollys was a graduate at Cambridge
College, England, and ordained by the Bishop of Peterborough in
1629. Becoming afterwards a Puritan minister, he came to this
country, and to Dover in 1638. He organized the first Congrega-
tional church in Dover, being the second in the State. In 1641, he
returned to England and organized a Baptist church in London,
where he remained till his death in 1691.

The number of Baptist churches in this State in 1755, 1; 1780,

9 ; 1800, 26; 1853, 96 ; 1860, 92 ; and in 1870, 102. Church or-
ganizations, ninety church edifices, capable of seating 31,935 per-
sons, with church property valued at $ 492,200; in 1860, its proper-
ty was only valued at $ 246,500.

Christians.—Number of churches in 1850, 25; in 1860, there
w^Tere tliirty-three churches and church edifices, capable of seating
8,934 persons, with church property valued at $43,150; in 1870
there were nineteen churches and church edifices, capable of seat-
ing 4,600, with church property valued at $ 42,400.    ^

Episcopalians.—This denomination was among the earliest es-
tablished in the State. A church was erected at Portsmouth prior
to 1638, and Rev. Richard Gibson was the first minister, who re-
mained until 1642.

In 1860, there were seventeen church edifices, capable of holding
820, with church property valued at $112,700 ; in 1870 there were
twenty-one churches and twenty-two church edifices, capable of seat-
ing 7,475, with church property valued at $ 203,800.

Freewill Baptists.—The first church of this denomination in
New-Hampshire, was founded at New Durham, in 1780, by Elder
Benjamin Randall. This denomination was recognized as a dis-    f

tinct sect by an act of the legislature, December 7, 1804.

In 1860, there were ninety-seven church edifices, capable of seat-
ing 27,324 persons ; and church property, valued at $ 162,600 ; in
1870, there were eighty-two churches and church edifices capable    *1

of seating 19,900 persons, with church property, valued at $ 167,300.

Friends or Quakers.—The Friends made their appearance in
New-Hampshire at a very early date, and at first suffered severe
persecution. A society was formed at Seabrook as early as 1701.

Number of churches, in 1850, was 15 ; in 1860, there tvere twelve
church edifices, capable of seating 4,200 persons, with church prop-