USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > North Bridgewater > History of North Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to the present time, with family registers > Part 9
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" The master of the vandue, chose by the precinct then proseded to the sail of the Pews, to the Number of 47, on the flore of the Meeting House." The number, names, and price of each being as follows : -
£ s. d.
Pew No. 1 Ebenezer Snell,
18 16 0
2 Ebenezer Packard,
16 18 8
3 Nehemiah Lincoln,
15 9 4
4 Zachariah Gurney Jr.,
10 10 8
5 Issachar Snell,
14 2 8
66 6 Daniel Manly and Ephraim Cole,
17 17 4
66
7 Elisha Gurney,
17 12 0
8 Josiah Packard,
18 00
9 Matthew Kingman,
18 10 8
" 10
Simeon Brett,
13 12 0
" 11
Abiezer Packard,
17 6 8
" 12 Thomas Thompson,
16 00
66 " 13 Isaac Packard,
21 12 0
" 14 Barnabas Howard,
18 13 4
"$ 15
Alexander Kingman,
17 68
66 "$ 16 Adamn Howard and Zebedec Snell, 22 0 0
“ 17 Nathaniel Southworth,
14 80
" 18 Josiah Ilayden,
18 13 4
MEETING-HOUSES.
91
£ s. d.
Pow No. 19 Abia Keith,
22 5 4
"' 20 Daniel Amcs 16 16 0
21 William Packard,
14 13 4
“ 22 Abia Packard,
14 28
“ 23 Simeon Cary,
15 9 4
24 Jonathan Cary,
15 14
25 Thomas Packard,
14 18 8
“ 26 John Howard,
14 16 0
“ 27
Jacob Packard,
no account
66
28 Barnabas Pratt,
13 6 8
" 29 Robert Howard,
18 16 0
" 30 Charles Snell,
18 16 0
1
66 " 31
Thomas Reynolds,
20 13 4
66 “ 32
Zachariah Cary,
16 .0 0
66 " 33 Samuel Brett,
14 16 0
" 34
Benjamin Ames and Nathaniel Linfield,
14 18 8
“ 35
Reuben Packard,
14 13 4
" 36
Issachar Snell,
22 2 8
" 37
Joseph Richards,
18 13 4
" 38
Daniel Richards,
24 16 0
66 " 39
Robert Thompson,
15 14 8
" 40 Barnabas Packard,
16 28
66 " 41
Abel Packard,
23 12 0
" 42
David Packard,
18 16 0
" 43
Ensign Henry Kingman,
14 18 8
" 44
Capt. Lemuel Dunbar,
14 16 0
" 45 Jabez Field,
13 6 8
" 46
Seth Harris,
14 16 0
" 47 Eliphalet Philips,
16 00
After the sale of the above pews " the Precinct aGorned the meeting to Monday the forth Day of Jenuary at twelve o'ck, M." "agreeably to agornment the precinct gathered together and the vandue master, chosen by the precinct, for the sail of the pews proseded and made sail of sixteen pews In the front Gallery," the number, names, and prices of which were as follows : namely, -
NAMES.
£ s. d.
Pew No. 1 Isaac Fuller,
20 13 4
2 Issachar Snell, 20 80
3 Luke Perkins, 26 13 4
66
4 Issachar Snell, 21 2 6
5 Issachar Snell,
24 5 4
92
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
NAMES.
£ s. d.
Pew. No. 6 Jonathan Hayden,
14 8 0
7 William Edson, 14 5 4
66 8 Barnabas Howard and Jabez Field, 18 8 0
60 9 Joshua Packard,
13 17 4
« 10 Jacob Packard,
29 17 4
11 Nathan Packard and Simeon Packard, 10 00
" 12 William Shaw,
10 16 0
“ 13 Josiah Perkins,
9 9 4
“ 14 Dependence French & Theopolis Curtis Jr., 12 13 4
66 “ 15 Levi French & Isaac Brett, 12 80
" 16 Dr. Phillip Bryant & Seth Bryant, 12 2 8
January 5, 1762. "Voted to Buld a meeting house of the same demenshons of the South meeting house In Bridge- water, excepting two side Gallary to be bult in seets," also " voted to Buld the meeting House the next summer, within twelve month from the aforsaid Date hereof," and " voted that all the posts of the Body of the meeting House shuld be sawed and the house faced South." Robert Haward, Cap- tain Simeon Cary, and Mr. Abia Keith were chosen a com- mittee for " prosicuting the Bulding the meeting House in the North Precinct." "Voted that the house shuld be Shil- ingled with sedar shingles."
Monday, November 8, 1762. " A meeting was called to see if the precinct will vote to Buld a Belfree to the meeting house," and it was voted to "Build one over the East Dore," also " voted to Buld a porch over the west Dore, and to sell the stairways for pews to the highest Beder." It seems nothing had been done towards forwarding the build- ing of the " Belfree " in January, as another meeting was called to meet January 17, " to see if the precinct will vote to buld the Belfree, and spire, already voted to be built, pro- vided it can be don by subscription, and without taxing the precinct," which was voted in the affirmative, also " voted that the Belfry should be twelve feet square, and eighty-five feet high from the grown." Capt. Simeon Cary, Isaac Pack- ard, and Barnabas Howard were chosen a committee to
I
SECOND MEETING-HOUSE OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL PARISH (Centre Village). Erected 1762. Removed 1827.
1
PLAN OF PEWS OF THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE.
93
MEETING-HOUSES.
" Buld " the same. In the spring of 1762 the building was commenced. The frame was raised in June, 1763, and in December of the same year the house was completed, and dedicated to the worship of God the last week of that month. Rev. Mr. Dunbar preached the sermon in the forenoon of the day of dedication, from text, Isaiah Jx. 7: "I will glorify the house of my glory." Rev. John Angier, of the East Parish * preached a sermon in the afternoon from the text, Psalms cxxii. 1: "I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord." The first sermon preached in the new meeting-house, by Rev. Mr. Porter, was from text, Haggai ii. 9: " The glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former." The carpenters that performed the car- penter work upon this house were Dea. Jonathan Cary, Ben- jamin Packard, Micah Packard, Seth Packard, Barnabas Pratt, Thomas Pratt, Job Bryant, Gamaliel Bryant, Samuel Hayden, Phinehas Paine, Jeremiah Beals. Col. Josiah Hay- den was the master workman of the inside of the house. Col. Simeon Cary, who was one of the building committee, was master of the outside of the house. Col. Hayden also built the pulpit and sounding-board. All of the above me- chanics belonged in the town.
We have already seen that the precinct voted to have a steeple built by subscription ; but for some reason which does not appear on record, it was not all paid in. For this purpose the pew back of the " Deckon seet " was put up for " sail " to help pay the committee that built it what expense had been incurred. May 17, 1764. "Voted to sell the old meeting house for the use of the precinct in jenerail."
" Alas ! there came a luekless day, Our meeting house grew old, -- The paint was worn, the shingles loose ; In winter it was too cold.
Now East Bridgewater.
94
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
They called it an old-fashioned thing, And said it must be sold."
Also voted the same day to " Geet a Bell for the New Meeting House, not exceeding six hundred Wate." Daniel Howard Esq., Capt. Abiel Packard, and Lieut. Henry King- man were chosen a committee to purchase the same. Oc- tober 24, 1765, " Voted to Build stairs to the Belfree." It seems the bell of the new meeting-house became broken from some cause, and at a meeting held October 10, 1768, to see if the precinct would vote to mend the bell, voted in the affirmative, also " voted that Lt. Henry Kingman should geet it mended." We presume that the bell was past mending, as we afterwards find, December 11, 1769, a vote "to geet a new Bell of Seven hundred wate. Lt. Henry Kingman, Col. Simeon Cary, and Capt. Isaac Packard were appointed a com- mittee to go and agree with Mr. Hubbard, for the making and taking down of the old Bell and hanging the new one." January 11, 1770. " Voted to Imploy Mr. Aaron Huburd and Mr. Gellomer to new Run the Bell, and that it shall be of Seven hundred wate." In the carly part of 1772, a num- ber of persons became " larned " in the rules of "musick " under Mr. Billings, and asked that seats might be assigned to them in the south part of the women's gallery. This re- quest was complied with, as follows : November 30, 1772, " Voted to the singers the South part of the women's Gallary During pleasure." We find this produced some dissatisfac- tion, and efforts were made to restore the seats back to the women. Various meetings were called until, April 8, 1773, a special meeting being called, the " Question was put by the moderator to see if the precinct will vote to restore the Southerly part of the womens gallary to the womens use again." It was "voted in the negative." April 3, 1775. The above vote was reconsidered, and a vote passed " allow- ing the north part of the womens seets During the pleasure
95
MEETING-HOUSES.
of the Parish," also " voted to build a pair of stairs in the Belfree." December 11, 1788. "Voted to sell the Deef Seet." Also " voted to sell the two hind seets each side of the Broad alley." Now the parish begin to think that some repairs are needed, and a committee of three were chosen to report what repairs were necessary. Job Bryant, Moses Cary, and Jeremiah Beals were that committee, who re- ported the following to be done: "new sett the Glass in putty, paint the Door, windows, and walls, and the platform of the Belfree be covered with Led." Voted "that the win- dow frames and sashes be painted white."
March 19, 1789. " Voted to build a porch provided it can be Don without expense to the parish, and also to put seats in the porch and Belfree for the negroes, and sell the room where the stairs and negro pew now are." Thus we see that in this year the negroes were to sit in the loft pro- vided on purpose, which created no little feeling on the part of the colored population.
March 4, 1795. "Voted to shingel the Meeting House the front side, to be completed by the 15 of Sept."
In the year 1800, we again find a disagreement between the colored people attending worship and sitting in the same seat with the white people, which very much annoyed some of them, and to remedy this trouble a meeting was held Au- gust 4, " To see what measures the Parish will take to pre- vent the blacks from occupying the seats appropriated to the use of the white people, so as to prevent any disturbances in time of Public worshipe," at which time it was "Voted that the side galleries and the seats in the Body of the meeting house be appropriated to the use of the white people, and the seats in the porch above to the use of the blacks."
January 19, 1801. " Voted to erect seats in the front gal- lery for the singers, in front of the front pews," and " voted that they be erected in a surkerler forme." April 30, 1801.
96
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
" Voted to paint the inside work that has heretofore been painted, to be under the direction of the Parish Committee." Early in the year 1805, the people of the parish, wishing to improve the looks of their house of worship, called a meeting, which was held March 11, 1805, "To see if the Parish will repair the meeting Hous, and what repairs they will make the year insuing." At this meeting a committee of nine was chosen to view the house and report at the adjournment of the meeting. This committee consisted of the following per- sons : Capt. Abel Kingman, Capt. Howard Cary, Major Caleb Howard, Jeremiah Beal, Jesse Perkins, Gideon Howard Esq., Perez Southworth, Silas Packard, Daniel Packard. This committee report " that it was necessary to make new the wast bords and water table from the north east corner of the meeting hous, and on the South side, to the South side of the Porch door, that as many of the sashes as are defective should be made new, and such repairs on the doors as shall be found neccessary ; that the bell fraim, banisters, &c., be made new, and all the trimmings together with the spire be painted, that the body of the house together with the rouff be paint- ed." A committee of five were appointed to select a color for painting, who reported " white, one shade on the yallow." Moses Cary, Jonathan Beals, and John Wales were chosen a committee to carry the above repairs into execution. Au- gust 30, 1805. " Voted to Polish the Vain."
December 5, 1816. We again find a vote respecting the seating of the colored people, as follows: Voted "that the Peopel of color may occupy the two Back seats in the west gallery of our meeting house & no other scats, or that they may have ground for one pew in the north west corner of the Gallery and ground for another pew in the North East corner of the Gallery as they Choose, and that the Parish clerk serve the people of color with a copy of this vote."
In 1818 the subject of warming the meeting-house came
97
MEETING-HOUSES.
up in the following manner: some of the churches in the neighboring towns, having found it a luxury to have the house of God warmed and made comfortable, thought it would not be too much of a sin to enjoy the same comfort. The idea at first met with serious opposition; for the first article in a warrant, concerning the purchasing of a cast-iron stove, was negatived, which move was made December 10, 1818, as fol lows: " Voted to have the article of getting a stove inserted in a warrant for the next spring meeting ; " and in the follow- ing spring, March 25, 1819, " voted the stove or stoves to a committee of five," consisting of Col. Caleb Howard, Daniel Howard, Esq., Abel Kingman, Esq., Capt. Zachariah Gurney, Eliphalet Kingman. December 13, 1819. This committee
reported it " inexpedient to get a Stove." March 7, 1822. " Voted the South part of the East Gallery for the use of the young women." Previous to February, 1823, this Parish had been known by the name of the " North Parish in Bridge- water." December 2, 1822. The parish " voted to take measures to alter the name of the North Parish of Bridge- water, and that it be called the 'First Parish in North Bridgewater,' also voted that the Parish take measures to petition the Legislature to carry the above into effect." Caleb Howard, Esq., Perez Crocker, and Perez Southworth were appointed to petition the Legislature in behalf of said parish ; " so that from that time forward it was known as the " First Parish in North Bridgewater." In the carly part of 1824, the bell of this parish was found broken, and Abel Kingman, Esq., Caleb Howard, Esq., and Rev. Daniel Hun- tington were chosen a committee to purchase a new one, March 2, 1824, with discretionary power to " gitt a Bell of the wate of from 10 to 12 cwt." A bell was purchased of George H. Holbrook of West Medway, Mass., April 17, 1824, which was
* The town of North Bridgewater, having been incorporated June 15, 1S21, is the reason for having the name of the parish changed. 13
98
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
warranted for one year with fair common usage, and weigh- ing 1,242 lbs., at an expense of $465.75. An article was insert- ed in a warrant for parish meeting, March 2, 1824. " To see if the Parish will agree to make any alteration in the form or shape of the Meeting House either inside or out, or to make any repairs to either." This was the first movement toward rebuilding or repairing the old house. At this meeting it was voted to make some alteration, providing that they can agree with the pew-holders on reasonable terms. For this purpose a committee was chosen to see upon what terms the pew-holders would consent to " give up thare pews." This committee consisted of Howard Cary, Silas Packard, Capt. David Ames, Nathaniel Littlefield, Bela Keith, Eliphalet Kingman, Capt. John Packard, Capt. Asa Jones, Col. E. Southworth, Israel Packard, Capt. Jeremiah Beals, who were to report at the next meeting, which report was as fol- lows: " 25 were willing to have their pews apprised, 24 will- ing to sell, 13 willing to exchange their old for new ones." "Voted not to accept of the committee's report," and also " Voted they wouldn't make any alteration in the Meeting House." February 25, 1825. " Voted to dismiss the article concerning alteration of the Meeting House." September 4, 1826, the subject was again brought before the Parish, " To see if the Parish will agree to alter, repair, or rebuild thair Meeting House." A committee of fifteen were chosen to take the subject into consideration, who reported in favor of building a new house. October 23, 1826. Voted to choose a committee of five out of town to apprise the pews in said meeting-house. Col. Royal Turner, of Randolplı, Ezra Fobes, of Bridgewater, Wade Daley, of Easton, John Belcher, Micah Nash, of Abington, were appointed said committee, who pro- cccded to their duty November 7, 1826, and apprised the whole, amounting to $2,750. February 16, 1827. Chose a committee of eleven to nominate three as building committee,
99
MEETING-HOUSES.
and six as advising. Abel Kingman, Lieut. Isaac Packard, and Benjamin Kingman were appointed as the building com- mittee, and the two first named resigning, B. Kingman was chosen as agent to build the house, and Bela Keith, Esq., Asa Jones, Daniel H. Cary, Col. Isaac Littlefield, Lieut. Ephraim Cole, and John Tilden, Jr., were chosen as advising committee. A committee of five were appointed to locate the house, con- sisting of the following persons : Silas Packard, Jesse Per- kins, Esq., Col. Edward Southworth, Col. Cyrus Porter, Abel Kingman, Esq., who reported in favor of setting the house its width south, and half its length west. Report accepted March 16, 1827.
The old house was taken down in April of this year. On the first day of the week in which this was to be done, and the ground cleared for another house, a sermon was delivered by Rev. D. Huntington, the pastor of the church, from Zach- ariah xii. 6: " And Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem." And as many of the society could not go abroad to worship while the new house was in process of building, it was thought best to provide tempo- rary accommodations. For this purpose an addition was made to the sheds at the southwest corner of the green, in which seats were provided for the congregation, and to which the pulpit of the old house was removed. And the author has often been told that, in that humble place, there were many precious hours spent, and some of the most interesting seasons of religious exercise enjoyed there that ever they ex- perienced. The new house of worship was completed in No- vember; so that the sheds were occupied by them during the interval of time between those dates. The house was ded- icated November 27, 1827, with highly appropriate and inter- esting exercises.
November 15, 1827. At a meeting of the parish the follow- ing persons were chosen a committee of arrangements for the
100
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
dedication of the new house; namely, Benjamin Kingman, Capt. David Ames, Col. Nathan Jones, Col. Isaac Littlefield, Lieut. Ephraim Cole, also Silas Packard and Benjamin King- man were appointed and authorized to convey the pews to those that purchased. Voted that the sale of pews take place Wednesday, November 28, 1827, to commence at nine o'clock A. M.
The following shows a list of the pews sold, the number, names of owners, and price for which they sold. Zenas French of Randolph, Vandue Master.
5 Azel Gurney,
101.50
37 Micah Shaw,
125.00
6 Robert Howard,
104.00
38 Arza Keith,
128.00
7 James Cary,
110.50 39 Col. Edward Southworth, 140.00
8 David Edson, Jr.,
106.00 40 Thomas Wales,
173.00
9 Simcon Packard,
103.00
41 Lieut. Ephraim Cole,
195.00
10 HIczekiah Packard,
98.50
42 James Littlefield,
206.00
11 Eliphalet Kingman,
98.00
43 Jacob Fuller,
204.00
12 Joel Ames,
100.50
44 Isaac Packard,
205.00
13 Ornan Cole,
85.50
45 Jeremiah Beals,
200.00
14 Francis Cary,
94.00
46 Arza Packard,
190.00
15 Moses Packard,
93.50
47 Theron Ames,
180.00
16 Ezekiel Merritt,
86.00
48 Abel Kingman, Esq.,
175.50
17 Zibeon French,
75.00
49 Josiah W. Kingman,
155.00
19 Asa Ford,
56.00
51 Charles Keith,
132.50
20 Apollas Packard,
38.00
52 Alpheus French & Son,
124.00
22 Bela Keith,
40.00
54 Joel Packard,
56.00
23 Josiah Fuller,
49.50
55 David Ames,
32.25
.24 Josiah Packard,
69.50
56 Abel Kingman, Esq.,
30.00
25 Ziba Keith,
94.00
57 Samuel Tribou,
54.00
26 Robert Packard, Jr.,
94.50
58 Martin Cary,
80.00
27 Simcon Leach,
102.00
59 Noah Ford,
120.50
28 Abel Kingman, Esq.,
103.00
60 Col. Cyrus Porter,
133.50
29 David Ames,
108.50
61 Eliphalet Kingman,
140.00
30 Luke Packard,
117.00
62 Bela Keith,
155.00
31 Benjamin Kingman,
115.00
63 John Thompson,
169.50
32 Josiah Brett,
123.00
64 Col. Nathan Jones.
178.50
33 Micah Faxon,
127.00
65 Isaac Littlefield,
182.00
34 Isaac & Jonas Keith,
128.50
66 Turner Torrey,
202.00
35 Silvanus French,
127.50
67 Josiah Ames,
203.00
30 Isaae Curtis,
134.10
68 Rositer Jones,
196.00
18 Col. Edward Southworth,
72.00
50 John W. Kingman,
140.50
21 Ambrose Packard,
21.00
53 Lysander Howard,
95.50
101
MEETING-HOUSES.
69 Asa Jones,
197.50 102 Mark Perkins,
107.00
70 Silas Packard, Esq.,
195.50
103 Isaae Packard, 89.00
71 Miealı Faxon,
173.50 104 Barzilla Cary, 90.00
73 Nathaniel Ames, 123.50 105 Oliver Leach, 77.00
74 Howard Packard, 127.00 106 Jonas Reynolds, 85.00
75 Nahum Perkins, 135.50
107 Barzilla Field,
114.00
76 Darius Littlefield,
136.00
108 S Jusiah Dunbar (half), 54.25
77 Silas Packard,
133.50
Mark Perkins (half), 54.25
78 Jabez Kingman,
128.50
109 Albert Smith, 97.00
79 Benjamin Ames & Galen Pratt,
125.00
80 Isaac Littlefield,
122.50
81 Alva Noyes,
117.50
114 Benjamin Ames & Galen Pratt, 47.00
84 Lysander Howard,
102.50
85 Daniel Ford,
94.00
119 Bela Keith, 26.00
86 Samuel Alden,
71.00
121 John Wales,
20.00
87 Eliphalet Kingman,
58.50
124 Simeon & Hezekiah Packard, 24.50
89 Seth Copeland,
31.50
126 Josiah Brett (half),
18.75
90 Zenas Thayer,
30.50
126 Moses & David Packard
(half), 18.75
92 Zenas Brett,
42.50
127 Bela Keith,
30.00
93 Mareus Copeland,
47.00
129 John Shankland, 26.00
94 Eliphalet Kingman,
57.00 132 Silas Packard, 18.75
95 Alva Noyes,
60.00
134 Isaae Keith,
23.00
96 Daniel H. Cary, 73.50
135 John Wales,
33.50
98 Jesse Perkins,
66.50
137 Eliphalet Kingman,
43.50
99 Jesse Perkins,
70.00
140 Lemuel French,
44.00
100 Heman Packard,
103.00
141 Abel Kingman,
40.50
101 Lieut. Ephraim Cole, 105.25
110 Oliver Dike (half),
38.75
Hosea Alden (half), 38.75
111 Nehemiah Lincoln,
42.50
82 Galen Warren,
112.50
83 Martin Cary,
107.00
Isaae Curtis (half), 43.00
115
Luke Packard (half), 43.00
88 Benjamin Packard,
48.50
91 William Lewis,
37.25
November 28, 1827. Voted that the three easterly pews in the north side of the gallery be reserved for young women. And again the subject of seating the colored people comes up, and it was "Voted that the South west and North west pews be reserved for the people of Colour." January 14, 1828. At a meeting held this day, "To see if the parish will vote to procure a timepiece," it was "voted to defer the subject of getting a timepiece to a future meeting." January 28, the same subject was brought before the parish for action, when it was " voted not to do anything respecting getting a timepiece."
102
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
The report of the agent in building the new house reported as follows, January 14, 1828 : -
"The total cost of the new house, including the furniture, as furnished at the expense of the parish, was seven thousand five hundred and nine dollars and seventeen cents. The old house sold for four hundred and three dollars and thirty- seven cents, which, deducted from the cost of the new build- ing, leaves the nett cost seven thousand and ninety-five dol- lars and eighty cents."
Also at the same time " voted that the Parish committee be instructed to build Horse sheds for those that want them at cost. Benjamin Kingman chosen as agent to build them." March 24, 1828. Jesse Perkins, Col. Edward Southworth, and Benjamin Kingman were appointed to view the ground in front of the meeting-house with reference to erecting a fence, who reported in favor of erecting one, "to extend 40 feet front of the house of a circular form, of 20 Stone Posts, and Iron rods or chains." January 24, 1832. A new bell was procured. Thomas Gurney and Abel Kingman, Esq., were the purchasing committee. The bell was manu- factured by George Holbrook, of Medway, Mass. Also, in April of the same year, a clock was procured by subscription, which was made by George Holbrook above named, costing three hundred dollars, placed upon the church April 11, 1832. The proprietors of the clock offered it to the parish upon their paying what outstanding accounts were unpaid, which offer was accepted, and $62.88 paid for the same. Monday, January 21, 1833. The subject of warming the house was brought before the society again, "To see if the Parish will pro- cure a stove or any other apparatus for warming their meet- ing house." A committee of five were chosen " to get infor- mation respecting the best mode of warming their Meeting House, and to what course is pursued in other Societies, and report at the next March meeting." Turner Torrey, Lysan-
103
MEETING-HOUSES.
der Howard, Darius Littlefield, Eliphalet Kingman, and Ephraim Cole, committee for the above. After report of committee, December 30, 1833, " Voted that they would not consent to have a stove in our meeting house providing it was done free of expense to the Parish." Monday, August 10, 1835. Chose a building committee of five persons to build a parsonage house, - Edward Southworth, Abel King- man, Benjamin Kingman, Bela Keith, and Rositer Jones, com- mittee. At last the parish concluded to warm the house, which appears by a vote passed November 28, 1835. Heman Pack- ard, Col. E. Southworth, and Ephraim Cole were chosen a committee to provide stoves for the meeting-house. Truly a most remarkable innovation when compared with the for- mer custom of sitting during long sermons, shivering and shaking as though it were wicked to be made comfortable. Judging by the records, this people, like most other societies, were occasionally troubled with naughty boys, as April 13, 1844, " Voted to choose a number of persons to take care of the boys in the gallery." March 8, 1852. An article was inserted in the warrant, calling a meeting of the parish, " To see if the Parish will make a general repair and revision of their meeting house, and take measures that may be proper to settle with the pew holders." "Voted unanimously to make a general repair and revision of their meeting house." " Also made choice of Benjamin Kingman, Oakes S. Soule, and Marcus Packard a committee to procure plans for reseat- ing and repairing the meeting house, and report at a future meeting." March 22, 1852. The committee appointed to get a plan for reseating and repairing " reported in favor of building a new house, and recommend that the Parish thor- oughly review the whole subject deliberately." This report was accepted, and the same committee were appointed to " in- vestigate and get such information in relation to the whole matter of building and repairing their house as they may
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