USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Dartmouth > Quakers and their meeting house at Apponegansett > Part 2
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From the record of a general yearly men's meeting at the house of Latham Clarke in Newport holding business sessions on the 9th, 10th and 12th of 6th month 1699." ("This was just after the completion of the first Apponegansett meeting house.)
On the 9th: "Dartmouth Friends desire to be a monthly meeting apart from Rhode Island." On the 10th the desire was approved and thereafter Dartmouth and Narragansett Monthly Meetings were to compose Rhode Island Quarterly Meeting. On the 12th: "the friends of Dartmouth hath agreed that their monthly men's and women's meeting of business shall be the next second day after the monthly meeting of worship at the house of Peleg Slocum."
The foregoing minutes have shown the desire for a meeting house, the careful planning for it and its site and the naturally coincident desire of the Dartmouth group "to be a monthly meeting." Among the Quakers the monthly meeting, though subordinate apparently to the quarterly and yearly meetings, was and still is the active executive core and spiritual guardian of the local groups. It is the unit that originates, proceeds to action and gets things done. The superior meetings act more as ben- evolent advisers or committees to approve suggested action. Rather rarely do they disapprove or block action.
The men who signed the meeting house subscription were in their thirties and forties, vigorous, active, enthusiastic. They had many family ties with each other in addition to the circum- stance that there were four sets of brothers in the group of twelve. They loved this smiling land of Ponagansett and the farms and orchards they were developing. But had they been able, as I think they were not, to use the pretty flowery phrases of a John Bereton or a Gilbert Archer in describing their "fair fields", "their stately groves," "their pleasant brooks" and rivers, they would have hesitated to use that ability. They lived their poetry. They chose one of the most beautiful spots in the town
for the place where they would come to worship. They brought up their large families in the belief that religion was a way of living, not a written code to which one subscribed, that Indians were children of God, and the Puritans as well (though neither seemed fully aware of their responsibilities), that the form of civil government mattered little, but that the spirit animating those who administered the government mattered very much, that the Quaker teaching of brotherly love could remake the world.
In view of the success which attended the Dartmouth Friends in living out their beliefs we must needs forgive their writing down so little, but it is indeed odd that we should not know the approximate date when the first meeting house was finished were it not for a passage in the journal of Thomas Story. He was the friend of William Penn and at one time an official in the colony of Pennsylvania, an eminent Quaker minister possessed of great learning and culture. In his journal of June 1699 occurs the following:
"On the 7th [ went to Scituate. The day following I rode thirty miles near to Sandwich and hearing that my companion (Roger Gill) was to have a meeting next day at Dartmouth, about thirty-five miles off, after some concern and consideration I resolved to go hither. Accordingly, in the morning, about the break of day, we set forward, and arrived at John Tucker's three miles from the meeting house about half an hour after the ninth hour. Here we rested a little, and then went to meeting and were there before my companion; who when he came, was glad to see me, for the meeting was large, and he had almost lost his voice by a great cold."
There is another later reference to the new house in a letter written by Dartmouth Friends the 11th of 10th month 1699 to two English Friends, William Ellis and Aaron Atkinson, and published in a life of the former. "The Lord opened the hearts of Friends in this place to contribute freely to the building of our meeting house: and it is accomplished, and we had our Yearly Meeting in it. There were many Friends from other
places present and we had a very good meeting for the presence of the Lord was with us to our great comfort and satisfaction; and we have a mens and women's meeting settled amongst us once a month, which is of good service, and we can truly say that Truth doth grow and prosper amongst us and that we have reaped the fruits of your labours, and we pray the Lord to keep us still in love truly to himself and one to another to the end of our days."
The letter is signed by fourteen men and women.
"The fruit of your labours" refers we suppose to the visit to New England in the latter part of 1698 of the two men. One, perhaps both, visited at John Tucker's and attended Dart- mouth meetings. The letter would indicate that they had gath- ered converts and encouraged a meeting place large enough to hold them.
When we try to visualize the carly building our fancy has little to feed on save the proportions decided upon at the meeting at John Lapham's house and our knowledge of what the early Dartmouth dwelling houses looked like. But there would be no chimney we think, and as there would be no need for a loft for use as sleeping quarters, perhaps the roof had less than the usual slant. Our reason for leaving out a chimney is the often quoted minute of 1710 wherein, "Wm. Soule is Appoynted to procure a Pot to make a fire in and Coals to burn in it." The Pot would be an enormous cauldron raised off the floor on large stones.
Very soon the building was found to be too small for the use of the rapidly growing group of Friends in Dartmouth, and it was enlarged in 1702, again in 1727 and a third time in 1743. Perhaps it was in 1743 that the second gallery was built which my great grandfather favored as his place to sit "so that I could look down on people's heads." This was a narrow gallery having room for only two rows of benches and it was built above "the high seats." He was a boy of twelve or thirteen when the house was taken down in 1790. A proposal in 1765 for a fourth enlargement was not carried out.
There is no record showing how many members the vigor- ous meeting had during this period. Indeed for fifty years after the founding of the Society there was no regular mem- bership. Those who attended the meetings and were thought to have "received the Truth" and to hold the views of the Society were considered members. Dr. Edward Tucker estimated the probable number in this meeting before 1750 as 1500. By 1777 the number had decreased to a probable 1100. The largest meetings were held in June directly after the annual meeting in Newport for all New England Friends. At this time a good many ministers from other colonies or from England might come to nearby Dartmouth before going north to Scituate, Lynn and Salem, or south toward Long Island and New Jersey. John Griffith, here in 1766, estimated the number at Apponegansett at one meeting as 2000. Did they all sit down outdoors under the trees, or did they take the windows out of the frames and put additional seats outside so that all could hear? At the Star- buck house on Nantucket, where Peleg Slocum took John Rich- ardson there in his sloop for a meeting in 1701, this later pro- cedure was used "to satisfaction."
If it seems surprising that people assembled here by the hundreds we must keep in mind the number of separate congre- gations that would be represented. Small meetings sprang up here and there all over the Old Dartmouth area, each group meet- ing at first in a private house and later on building a meeting house. Such meetings developed at Acoaxet, Rochester, Acush- net, Newtown (above Smith Mills), Allen's Neck, at the head of the Noquechuck River in Westport, Smith's Neck and New Bedford.
In 1788 Dartmouth and Acoaxet were transferred from the Rhode Island to the Sandwich Quarter. Acushnet and Roch- ester had been transferred thither in 1762.
Not only did the farmers and merchants of this meeting contribute money to build meeting houses in their own town. They subscribed generously toward building meeting houses elsewhere, as extracts from the minutes show.
1705
10£
"to assist Friends at Salem to build a Meeting House"
"money collected for boston meeting house"
subscribed "towards the building of friends meeting in boston"
contributed towards building Leicester Meeting House
1744
26£
contributed towards Taunton and West- erly Meeting Houses
1753
10£
3 s
1754
22£
3s
1754
17£
8s
1758
36£
11s 6d
1759
22£
17s
7d
towards Providence Meeting House and land
1760 163£
11s
towards Providence Meeting House and land
1760
10£
1s
8d
towards Boston Meeting House
1761
45 £
towards Providence Meeting House and land
Here are other extracts from the Monthly Meeting minutes. 1707 15th of 7th mo. "And the matter concarning chusing of two friends for to spake to people to come orderly into meeting as soon as conveniantly they can after they come to the meeting house, and not to stand talking and spending away their time without doors as the maner of some hath ben to their own hurt and to the truble of friends is refered to the next monthly meeting."
1708 5th mo. "and this meeting orders Benjamin Howland to pay out of our stock to Thomas Hadaway eight shillings for the hire of horses for freinds. And six shillings to Daniel Wood for going to Nantucket with freinds."
"and the freinds that was chosen the last monthly meeting for to speak with Peleg Slocumb for to know whether he would give another deed of the meeting house land after another
1707
10£
1709
10£
1738
7 £
collected for Kingston Meeting House collected for Kingston Meeting House for repairs on Warwick Meeting House towards Providence Meeting House and land
method, and they report that sd. Slocumb is not willing. Where- upon the meeting made choyce of Benjamin Howland, Eliezer Slocumb, William Wood, Judah Smith, and Samell Mott for trustees to have a deed made to them from the former trustees In the method that Thomas Story sent to us for the better securing sd. land."
It is evident that the eloquent preacher, Thomas Story, had given helpful legal advice in a letter written perhaps after his second visit to Dartmouth when he had visited the philan- thropic but cautious Peleg and sailed with him across the bay. Story's journal notes, "On the thirteenth day of the fifth month about the tenth hour of the morning I set sail for the island of Nantucket in a shallop belonging to our Friend Peleg Slocum, which under divine Providence, he himself chiefly conducted, and landed there the next morning about six."
As in the case of Thomas Story, visitors were often coun- selors as well as preachers. They were also important distributors of news. There is no doubt that the steady passage back and forth along the Atlantic seaboard and to and from England of these altruistic spirits brought into scattered Quaker groups a constant invigoration. Those visited were kept well informed of events outside their own locality or colony. While their horizon was widened, their common interests were strengthened. By the example of others they were encouraged to stand firmly for their beliefs and the visitors departing, carried fresh messages of cheer to the next community. It must be admitted, however, that from the earliest days of Quakerism some travelled about under concerns which lacked the Divine authority. It was difficult to persuade them of this, as they could and usually did claim that they followed where the Light within led. About the only possible answer to this was, "I think thou art mistaken." It was an answer frequently made and heeded more often than one might suppose.
But to return to the old minutes. Here is one of 7th mo. 1708 - "and John Tucker is appoynted to goe to boston to carry a petition on the behalf of freinds to the govenor and
counsel to desire them to omit the makcing and gathering that part of said rate which is soposed for a preist: the which part freinds can not be active in either making or paying the same, it being contrary to that principle of truth which we make profession of."
One of the Friends in whose behalf the petition was made was Deliverance Smith, a brother of Judah, one of the original subscribers for the meeting house. He had been chosen a Select- man and Assessor, but refused to assess the sum of sixty pounds added to the Queen's tax for the support of a hireling minister. For this refusal he was arrested and imprisoned in Bristol jail.
The Dartmouth Meeting thereupon appointed his brother Judah and Benjamin Howland to hire a farm hand to care for the prisoner's farm, the meeting assuming the expense thereof, "friends having unity with him in his sufferings." They also sent John Tucker up to Boston to see the Governor, but it would appear that Deliverance had spent quite a while in jail before this second move was made.
Two months later the following is recorded. 1708-9th mo. "and John Tucker hath ben at boston with a petition to the governor and counsel as appoynted: but he could not get an answer as yet, whether they will omit the sixty pounds that is soposed for the minister's rate or not - and John Tucker sig- nifies to this meeting that he is not willing to receive aney money for his service in going to boston to the goveneor and counsel on behalf of freinds and others."
John was continued a committee of one and 1709 1st mo. "gives this meeting an account that he hath ben at boston as ordered and the Jeneral Court hath granted an order to the sherif of Bristol to relleise the prisoners they paying him the fees: wich they could not do: therefore they are still continued pris- oners." The fees were collected and sent to Bristol and the prisoners "relleised," but within four months Deliverance Smith fought another round with the state. He with John Tucker, William Wood, William Soule and John Lapham Jr. were im- pressed while at the Dartmouth Town House by John Akin of
the train band to go to Canada in the Queen's service. How the five stated their case that they could not in conscience "act in any warlike posture or use carnal weapons to destroy men's lives" first to Captain Akin at the Town House, then to Col. Byfield at Bristol and lastly to Governor Dudley at Roxbury, and how the latter gave them their liberty to go home "without demanding money of us, or we paying him any" is all set forth in a letter written by them to the Monthly Meeting and read in the old meeting house two hundred and thirty one years ago.
In some similar cases of refusal to perform military duty, Dartmouth Friends were imprisoned and their property seized and sold to pay their fines.
Here is a minute of 1711 which concerns Dartmouth's first school master. Daniel Shepherd of Shepherd Plains, not far from here toward the Tucker Road, taught a school in John Russell's home near the present Town House. Is there perhaps a hint of asperity in the minute such as a man of known tolerance and superior attainments seems often to evoke?
1711-8th mo. 4. "John Tucker and Deliverance Smith are appointed to speak to Daniel Shepherd, and to give him to un- derstand ye order of friends and what he must expect if he comes in unity with us, and he be a member of this meeting."
Persons who attended meetings and seemed to have received the Truth were invited to attend the meetings for discipline, which meant meetings in which all affairs of the meeting, re- ligious concernments and secular business were considered. Min- utes of such meeting were carefully kept. Those invited to attend were regarded as members and their children also when they were old enough and if they were thought suitable. After 1755 the definition of membership became more particular.
Here is a minute that arouses our sympathies.
1713-5th mo. "And this meeting advises that freinds re- strain their children and searvants from going into companies on first Dayes before or after Meeting but go home in good order."
And the next calls for admiration. Dartmouth and Nan- tucket Meetings were the first in New England to question the Quaker toleration of slavery, though George Fox when he visited Barbadoes thirty years earlier had recognized the evil of it and advised Friends holding slaves to free them after a term of years.
1716-1st mo. "And it being proposed by some freinds to this meeting whither it be agreeable to truth to purchase Slaves and keep them term of Life wch is referred to ye consideration of the Quarterly Meeting."
Fifty years would pass, however, before the Meeting would go into effective action against members who held slaves.
1721-6th mo. "John Tucker and Thos. Taber Junr. are appointed to draw up something relating to wiggs, and bring to the next monthly meeting."
1723-8th mo. "Henry Tucker and James Barker are appointed to look for a freind School master that is capable to read, write, and cypher, and to know upon what terms, and to make return to our next monthly meeting of their proceedings."
1724-9th mo. "and a subscription of 20 pounds is agreed upon at this meeting for John Handson a freind living in Dover to the eastward of Boston who has of late had his wife and several children carried away by the Indians, and also his bedding and other cloathing and John Tucker is appointed to receave the money and send it by the first oppertunity."
The constant struggle of Dartmouth Friends against paying a tax for the support of an orthodox minister ended in 1724. The Baptists in the town were equally opposed to the "priests' rate" and joined forces with the Friends.
In 1723 the experiment was tried of the town's choosing a minister from among Friends who would, of course, refuse to be paid. They chose Nathaniel Howland. This was not satisfactory in any wise to the General Court or Assembly which had taxed Dartmouth one hundred pounds for the sup- port of a minister, the choice to be approved by the General Court. Dartmouth refused to raise the tax, but realizing their selectmen would be imprisoned for failure to collect tax, the
town voted to raise seven hundred pounds to pay the expenses of caring for the affairs of the selectmen and of sending an appeal to the King.
The selectmien were imprisoned in Bristol jail as had been foreseen. They remained there for a year and a half and were joined by two selectmen from Tiverton, imprisoned for the same reason. Those who thus suffered for conscience sake were Philip Taber and John Akin of Dartmouth, Joseph Anthony and John Sisson of Tiverton. Some were Quakers and some were Bap- tists, but all were determined that free Englishmen should have religious liberty.
The appeal to the King was successful. After consideration of it at the Court of Saint James by his Majesty Charles Il and the Lords of the Privy Council, it was ordered that the taxes for the ministers' salary should be remitted to Dartmouth and Tiver- ton, and the selectmen who had refused to assess them should immediately be released. This was done and one more important struggle for "perfect liberty in all matters of religious concern- ment" had been won.
1725-3rd mo. "The accounts of some sufferings of Peleg Slocum and John Tucker having their creatures taken away from their Islands called elizabeth Islands Distraint by John Mayhu constable of Chilmark was presented to this meeting. Taken from Peleg Slocum eighty sheep for the Preist's rate and towards the building of a Presbyterian meeting house ye said sheep was sold for 34E Demand was 26£ 12s 11p. And taken from John Tucker on ye like occation one horse sold for 10£ and one heffer sold for 2£ ten shillings; demand was 7£ 15s 19p all taken in ye year 1724; the above sd. sufferings was perused and ordered to be sent to the Yearly Meeting at Rhoad Island."
1757-3rd mo. "The Committee appointed to collect the sum that freinds have suffered on account of wars and fighting distraint and imprisonment, and fines is 198£ 18s which is al- lowed and assumed by the meeting."
1757-5th mo. "380£ Os 4p for ditto."
1760-4th mo. "Subscribed $79 (dollars) for the suffering people in Boston by fire."
"Joseph Tucker and Job Russell have returned from Boston Genl. Court and have got Friends released from Taunton Jail, where some of them have been for many months, and they have a receipt from the Select men of Boston for the $79."
I suppose if there had been no fire in Boston, no distress of others that Friends could in conscience relieve by a subscription of $79, those who would not pay a fine for failing to perform military service would have remained more months in Taunton jail.
In 1772 a committee was appointed to visit those members still holding slaves. Since the minute of 1716 which queried as to whether it were "agreeable to Truth" to hold slaves for a life term, John Woolman, the great apostle for freedom of the slave, had twice visited Dartmouth, in 1747 and 1760. After the second visit some Friends no longer felt easy to keep their slaves and so freed them. However a committee appointed in 1772 to visit those still slave owners makes this detailed report.
"Joseph Russell had 2 negroes in bondage and refused to set them at liberty. Isaac Howland Jr. had one and refused to free him. Rebecca Slocum, widow, 3 negroes in bondage of full age and one or two under age and refused to liberate them, but had ordered them to be freed in her will. John Russell com- plied with advice of Friends so far as to set one or two negroes free and directed in his will that the other should be freed also, the latter being under age. Wm. Sanford had one slave, a female, and promptly set her at liberty. Peleg Slocum freed one and agreed to liberate the remaining ones when 26 yrs. old, they being under age."
By 1772 no slaves were known to be held by New England Friends.
In April 1790 it was decided to take down the meeting house that had been in use for ninety years and build another on nearly the same site. The present house was in use by the fol- lowing September.
It is not difficult to find in southern New England buildings as old as the present Apponegansett Meeting House, which in this year of 1940, has reached the age of one hundred and fifty years. Very few such structures, however have so nearly retained the original exterior and interior form. Some have been carefully "restored" by a historical society or an owner with a love for old times and ways, but in this case one change would enable us to see the building just about as it originally looked. In 1876, the date cut on the west door stone, the old window sashes were taken out and the present sashes set in.
I suppose that the orig- inal sashes held twelve instead of six panes, giving twenty- four panes to each window. In 1790 this was a usual ar- rangement in the large houses built in this locality. At this time, also, the entire building was reshingled. The roof has had, of course to be reshing- led from time to time, and as the years have passed care- ful hands have replaced what rain and snow and wind and sun have weakened.
The building faced the south as, without doubt, the first building had. Even so the two doors opening direct- Southwest Corner with . Stairway to Gallery ly into the meeting room must have let in plenty of cold as they were opened again and again when the Friends assembled in winter weather.
The carriage sheds, which were nearer the road than the meeting house, also opened to the south. There were, I think, two sheds at one time, one on either side of the entrance gate. When the sheds were filled, horses were fastened by rope halters to convenient trees.
Those who came to meeting in 1699 came on horseback or afoot. By 1790 there were many, I suppose, who would arrive in a chaise.
John would drive the chaise up the gentle slope from the road and around to the front, stopping before the west or women's door. There Mary and the children would alight on the old stone horse block and go quietly inside, the older lads using the cast or men's door. By the time John had driven down to the sheds, fastened his horse and walked back to the east door his family were already a part of the silent worship- ing group and hardly stirred an eyelash at his entrance.
Today I see the house within just about as my great-grandfather saw it save for the beautiful warm brown color which the years have given the native pine. Here are the same upright posts of oak, with beauti- fully chamfered edges that support the gallery. Here are three rows of pine benches on three different levels at the far side of the room, ar- ranged so that the ministers The high seats and elders seated thercon would face the assembly. These three benches were called "the high seats". The benches in the body of the house and the gallery were all of the simplest pat- tern that benches with a single board at the back could follow. So nicely planned were they, however, as to width of seat and slant of the uprights to which the back board was nailed, that they are more comfortable than you expect. No cushions were used in
the early days. Despite the inviting pine boards, little cutting of initials or dates appears to have been done. On the seat of the last bench on the men's side there is, however, a carving of a whale, beautifully executed. What more natural subject to swim through the mind of a Dartmouth boy during the long meeting hours?
At either end of the room are huge hooded fire places, unlike any other old fireplaces I have seen in New England. The lower edges of the hoods are rectangular, and are supported at the two outer corners by heavy iron bands which pierce the ceiling and evidently fasten to floor beams of the gallery. The hoods narrow as they rise until at the ceiling they have the appearance of medium sized chimneys. Continu- ing thus, they finally emerge one at either end of the long ridge piece of the roof. The sides of the fireplace were some- what cut back so that the logs on the massive wrought iron andirons Fire Place at the East End of the Room almost seemed to be burn- ing out in the room and many could stand about to warm themselves before the meeting began. One of the hearths is of squared field stones carefully laid.
These may have supported "the iron pot" that William Soule was appointed to buy in 1710 for the charcoal fires in the first meeting house. The other hearth is laid with brick, the same brick of which the chimneys were built.
In cold weather when the gallery benches were not needed the second story could be completely shut off by a curious ar-
rangement. On either side of the central partition which divided the gallery from front to rear, a huge trap door eight planks wide with iron hinges on the side next the partition was shut down. It could not have been made wider if it were to Ican up against the wall, and it was very heavy as it was. But "as it was" it was not wide enough completely to cover the opening. There- fore a second loose part of the door was made with a nice groove along one edge that over lapped the large trap door. Two men could quickly lay down or open these doors.
The meeting room could be divided by vertical par- titions also. This was done at the monthly meetings for business, which in the earlier days men and women Friends conducted separately. This division was also accomplish- ed in a curious fashion.
For three quarters of the distance from the front to the rear of the room par- titions of smooth thin pine, braced with pine crosspieces were lowered by small ropes until they met the low cen- ter partition which, on the main floor, divided the men's from the women's sidc. There were three of these Showing the hinged partition, the sliding par- tition and the trap door partitions which ordinarily were kept hoisted beside the permanent gallery partition. But the fourth section of the par- tition, at the south side of the room, could not be thus hoisted without blocking the door between east and west galleries. This section was therefore hinged and held up to the ceiling by iron hooks catching its edges. When the hooks were released the sec- tion swung down into place. In one of the three sliding partitions
there was also the upper part of a door so that if it were necessary to send a messenger to the men's or women's meetings this door might be used. The lower half of the door remained with the low permanent partition. The messenger's door was near the "highi seats". On the middle high seat the clerk of the meeting sat beside a desk made of a removable wooden shelf resting on two cleats.
There was quite a pleasant stir at the conclusion of the meet- ing for worship which preceded the monthly meeting. That conclusion was marked as at other meetings, by the ceremony of "shak- ing hands". The man who sat at the head of the meeting - that is on the highest bench at the ends nearest the women's side - shook hands with the man next to him. Then everybody shook hands with whomever sat beside him. Very occasionally the head of the meeting shook hands with the woman who sat at the head on the women's side but I think that was in later times and considered an innovation.
Meantime men were lowering the partitions by their ropes, and releasing the swinging partition. The door between the two galleries There was a medley of little sounds which the children greatly enjoyed - a creak of ropes, a clink of metal, a rattle of boards, - delightful sounds. Then all at once the division was complete and the clerks were putting up the little desks and arranging their papers. But they never proceeded at once to the business of the meeting. There was always a little pause as if to remind the children whose cars had been delighted with those creaks and rattles - pleasant messages from a real world - that even the business affairs of a religious society must be conducted solemnly and there must never be any appearance of haste.
My grandfather, Jesse Tucker, wrote of his boyhood ex- periences thus:
"And here in childhood oft I came And sat the meeting through. My childish fancy took free range On all within my view.
"Each crack and crevice, knot and stain, Was pondered o'er and o'er. The post where worms had eaten through And the sunlight on the floor.
"I even now remember well The sound the door-latch made, A harsh, metallic, quivering sound, As in the catch it played.
"Here ranged before my vision sat The elders, not a few. They all, I thought, were goodly men, And reverence was their due.
"And one among the number, Black-eyed and straight and tall, My childish fancy thought him like The great apostle Paul.
"The women Friends in those past days Were clothed so trim and neat, Their cloaks of drab and bonnets plain Bespoke the Friend complete.
"And here and there a maiden fair Had on a white silk bonnet, More fitting for her youthful face Than hat with roses on it.
The lovely proportions of the old room, the hooded fire- places, the white of plastered walls and the warm brown of much pine wood, the smoothly worn wide floor boards, the quaint
stairways to the gallery produce an effect of completeness, such as only masterpieces produce. This is, in reality, the masterpiece created by Dartmouth Quakers, who in general put their fine arts into living harmonious lives, but here wrought a house for the worship of God which perfectly expresses their clear vision of the beauty of simplicity.
Clerks of Dartmouth Monthly Meeting
John Tucker 1699
Isaac Smith 1751
Job Russell 1762
William Anthony, Jr. 1774
Caleb Greene
1785
Joseph Estes
1793
William Anthony, Jr.
1795
Joseph Estes
1796
James Tucker
1801
Isaac R. Gifford 1833
George Almy 1848
Isaac R. Potter 1864
Charles Fisher
1873
Edward G. Wood
1893
Philip A. Cornell
1896
Sarah F. Potter
1903 **
Ellen L. Goddard
1906
Harry R. Sherman 1908
Mary I. Gifford
1939
*During 1892 the men's and womens' business meetings merged but from 1699 the womens' meetings had women clerks.
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