In Memory of Deacon John Porter

Deacon John Porter (1791-1872)

The window located on the north east corner, nearest the pulpit, was given in remembrance of John Porter.

According to The History of Buckland 1779-1935 by Fannie Shaw Kendrick, Deacon Porter was an orphan who was adopted and raised in Buckland by Nathan Bachelor (1765-1846).

Porter spent most of his life in Buckland except for a brief period when "about 1860 he removed to Cedar Falls Iowa but soon returned…."

Deacon Porter married Mary Chapin of Ashfield on New Year’s Day 1812. There is no record of them having children of their own. They adopted William T. Chapin, whose name was changed to William Chapin Porter. He married and lived in the Western USA.

Porter taught in many of the schools in Buckland and is said to have not only taught Mary Lyon (1797-1849), founder of Mount Holyoke College, but that he was instrumental in Lyon securing her first teaching position.

In an 1879 letter to the people of Buckland in honor of the town's Centennial celebration, Bushnell White, U. S. Marshal at Cleveland, Ohio wrote of Porter: "We have famous teachers and famous schools in this city, but none of the former equaled Deacon John in his method of teaching, in the interest excited, and in the results accomplished. He taught in that house in winters of 1826-27-28. He was a good and great man; lieutenant and captain of the artillery, the best drilled company in the county or state; superintendent of the Sunday-school and leader of the church choir." According to White, in 1829 Deacon Porter brought the first barrel of wheat flour to Buckland.

Another record from Buckland's Centennial festivities provides a rather humorous report of all the roles that Porter played in the Buckland community. George D. Crittenden, in his speech about Buckland's "Town Fathers," told this anecdote to the thousands of folks gathered:

"Years ago, a party of Buckland people settled on the Holland Purchase, 300 miles west of here, in the state of New York. Years afterwards a Buckland man went out there and they asked him who was the first Selectman in town, and he replied, ‘John Porter.' ‘Who is your Deacon?' was the next question, and the answer was, ‘John Porter.' ‘Who leads your choir?' ‘John Porter.' ‘Who is Superintendent of your Sabbath School?' ‘John Porter.' ‘Who is Justice of the Peace?' ‘John Porter.' ‘Who commands the Militia company?' ‘John Porter.' ‘Whom did you send to the Legislature last year?' ‘John Porter.' Out of patience, the next question was, ‘For heaven's sake, who made you?' And promptly came the response, ‘John Porter.'"

John and his wife Mary are both buried in Taylor Cemetery.  They died within months of each other in 1872, John in February and Mary in July.

This window was given by Porter’s grandchildren.

Window symbolism: Pomegranate fruit (center panel) is also known as ‘Grained Apple.’ It is one of the most prominent fruits mentioned in the Bible. It is one of the world’s oldest cultivated fruit which is believed to originate from Persia around 4,000 B.C. In fact, some people believed that this fruit is the original fruit that Adam and Eve ate in the Garden of Eden that resulted to their banishment from the presence of God.