USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Brentwood > Annuals of the Brentwood, N.H. Congregational church and parish > Part 1
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Gc 974. 202 B75d 1771725
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
C
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01187 8409
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/annualsofbrentwo00dean
ANNALS 2hp
OF THE
BRENTWOOD, N. H.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND PARISH.
-
BY
BENJAMIN A. DEAN. Efter n. H
BOSTON: PRESS OF T. W. RIPLEY, 138 CONGRESS STREET. 1889.
1771725
842087 .22
1: Annals of the Brentwood, N.E., Congregational church and parish .. Boston, 1889.
CHELF CARD
377955
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٠
ANNALS
OF THE
Brentwood (N. H.) Congregational Church and Parish.
[Sources and References : Town, Parish, Society, and Church Records of Brentwood, Exeter, Kingston, the Hamptons, and other towns; N. H. State and Town Papers, especially vols. 9 and 11 ; Original Papers at Boston Public Library, Concord His- torical Rooms, and State House; and in hands of Mr. Winthrop Dudley and Miss Mary A. Sanborn, of Brentwood; Miss Sanborn's 43 years' Records of Church Matters; N. H. Repository, 1847; Rev. James Boutwell's Centennial Discourse, 1851; Hazen's N. H. Ministers; the County Records of Deeds and Wills; also Town Histories, Family Genealogies, and Cemetery Inscriptions.]
IN 1731 those families of Exeter who lived from 3 to 6 miles west of the Meeting House began to meet for public worship (having preaching, it would seem) at the house of Edward Colcord, Jr., which was on the north side of the road at what is now called Marshall's Corner, at the highest point of the road. In 1735 they united with several families in the south-east, part of what is now Brentwood, in erecting, directly opposite said Colcord's on that rising ground between the present Jonathan Robinson's and William Hook's, a Meeting House. March 20. " Sundry persons belonging to the west end of the town " (this band) petition "that the town would consider the diffi- culty they are under in going to the public worship of God in the winter time, . and that they would allow them something towards the maintaining of a Minister among themselves the next winter." March 31. Exeter Parish re- fused their request. 1737, March 15. Parish is petitioned again "by more than 10 freeholders," of the same locality, "to make them some allowance towards finishing their Meeting House and supporting the charge of hiring a Minister for some part of the year." March 28. Petition again refused. 1738, June 15. The Town voted that the 2 miles strip of "perpetual common- age " on the western end of the township be laid out and divided among the in- habitants. Sept. 26, 1738. Forty-two inhabitants of the same neighborhood now petition the town to be set off as a separate parish, with the bounds about the
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same as the present Brentwood. A third of these, with their wives, became, later, members of the Brentwood Church. They say in petition : "We * * * for divers years have labored under inexpressible disadvantages," specially "because of great distance from the public Meeting House, so that even in the summer season we and our families cannot attend regularly and con- stantly on the public worship of God, as we would do; and in the winter season, for divers years past, have thought it best to be at the expense of sup- porting preaching amongst us without any abatement of our Rates to the support of the Ministry [i. e., at Exeter]; and having made some provision and been at some cost toward building a Meeting House among us." They say, "We are desirous, as soon as may be conveniently, to settle an Orthodox Gospel Ministry among us." The warrant of Nov. 7 had this request, which, Nov. 14, the town rejected. However, it voted to have one-third of the school money expended at this "western end of the town," and this shows its populousness. 1739. Among those petitioning to be annexed to Massachu- setts were fifteen who, later, became members of the Brentwood Church. 1740, Oct. 1 and 3. Mr. Whitefield preached at Hampton, on the green, to a numerous audience. 1741, Jan. 8 and 9. Mr. Tennent preached at Hampton. Feb. 26. Public Fast on account of War with the Indians. 1742, Jan. 28. Thirty inhabitants in the western part of Exeter ask to have a Town Meeting warned forthwith; they again ask to be set off, naming bounds. For seven years they had been paying their Exeter Parish tax, and also "carrying on, at their own charges, at their new Meeting House, the public worship of God, through winter, spring, and fall;" and "the Minister who had hitherto preached to them was, at their earnest desire, willing to continue with them in the Ministry." Feb. 22. Exeter granted the petition, with these bounds : " Beginning at the head of New Market line, then running on a south line to Exeter Great Fresh River, and then half a mile up said River, and then south to Kingston line, and so to the head of the Township; * pro-
vided that the aforesaid Parish do settle an Orthodox Minister of Christ, and maintain and support the same, and all other Parish charges within the same, of themselves." To this vote Timothy Leavitt and 17 others "enter their dissents." These wanted a parish of smaller area, all of it within about two miles of their new Meeting House. They would take the eastern half, and leave by itself the western half, which was more thinly settled and farther from meeting. But the majority of the petitioners wanted both halves in the new parish, making its centre two or three miles west of the new Meeting House.
Among the reasons why each settler strove to secure the place of wor- ship near him were the extreme difficulty of the roads, and especially the perils from the prowling Indians; two years later war was proclaimed with France, an ally of the Indians; four years later Ensign John Dudley's house (a half mile south of this Meeting House of 1735) was appointed a "Garrison House," and about this time there were several other Garrison Houses within a mile or two. During the three or four previous decades, and within the
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range of 25 miles from this place, some hundreds of settlers had fallen or been captured by the Indians. About 20 of the 60 male members of the " Union " Church were in the military service some time during the next 16 years March II. Forty men send a counter petition to the General Court of the Province of New Hampshire, that " as we have erected a House for the pub- lic worship of God in the most convenient place as we then and now think." the petitioners for the larger area have not their request, "till we can appear and are heard against it." March 17. Fifty-four freeholders - thirteen of whom afterwards joined the Brentwood Church -petition the General Court for incorporation as a Parish. They say that for the most part they live above five miles from the Exeter Meeting House; and they ask that these forty counter petitioners of March 11 be required to file their objections in some public office. Next, through a petition of more than thirty freeholders, who aimed to annul the Town action of Feb. 22, a Town Meeting was held May 17, in which this aim was defeated. May 20. The same ones, led by Andrew Gilman, ask the General Court to let them "poll off " to the old town of Exeter, if the Brentwood Parish line is fixed. Next, June 7, seven- teen of these send, at their own charges, two of their leaders to plead before the General Court for their smaller parish. 1742, June 26. This Town action of Exeter was confirmed by the General Court in an Act incorporating the " Parish of Brintwood," and empowering four men to go, according to petition of a majority of those within the larger area, and determine where the Meet- ing House should stand. July 19. The first legal Parish Meeting was held " at the Meeting House." "Put to vote that preaching be held and main- tained by a Parish charge in the Meeting House in the Parish; and passed in the negative." Aug. 9. Voted, "That there be money raised - £100 - for the hiring of a Minister one quarter of a year to preach in the Parish." It was raised by " Rates," and there were 126 tax-payers. Timothy Leavitt. Edward Colcord, and James Dudley, Jr., chosen a committee to agree with minister ; preaching to be held one half of the time on the north side of the river, and the other half on the south side; selected the Meeting House for the north side, and Nicholas Gordon's house for the south side. Much of the south side was inaccessible to the Meeting House. Rev. Elisha Odlin, of Exeter, received this year £66 for preaching in Brentwood. Sept. 13. Voted for minister's pay each Sabbath £3, in bills of old tenor (worth, perhaps. $4). Nov. I. Voted-25 "entering their dissents to the whole meeting " -that the Meeting House be erected two miles west of Brentwood's east line, and midway between Kingston and Epping lines ; and a man was chosen to make return of this site to the General Court Committee of Determination. On the same date Exeter chose Samuel Gilman its agent to General Court concerning its Brentwood Parish line. Nov. 15. Voted - 14 dissenting to all proceedings - that the parish shall continue the preaching as before on each side of the river till Annual Meeting (March 22); and that the selectmen shall call a minister. Nov. 16. Forty-five families, joined later by 12 others, wishing "to continue the public worship of God in the present Meeting
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House which some years past they erected," and where they "have carried on the public worship at their own cost," petition the General Court that they " may be free from all charges to any other house that shall be built," and that they may be set off as a separate Parish. Nov. 23. Petition of Humphrey Wilson and others, asking to be exempt from the charges of building a Meet- ing House ; voted that the petitioners serve the selectmen of Brentwood with a copy ; general hearing to be in January. 1743, Jan. 12. Rev. Joseph Whipple writes in "almanack": " Brintwood Parish on Religious Accounts ; I preach A. M .; Mr. Webster, P. M." This seems to have been a Fast looking towards calling a minister. A little later, like "religious exercises " were held here by Revs. Moody, Fogg, Seccombe, and Coffin. Feb. I. The Gene- ral Court Committee for fixing the Meeting House site were Richard Wibird, John Downing, George Walton, and Jonathan Thompson. All but the first came, and were taken over the parish by the selectmen ; and then decided that the site should be on the west side of the "Gully," where the church edifice now stands. Feb. 3. Parish meeting warned, and Feb. 14, committees chosen to get a deed of the land which was fixed as the site; and to employ men to get timber and all other stuff needed for building ; and to agree with carpenters ; house to be 60 feet by 40 feet ; frame to be fit to raise June 10 next on said lot ; seven shillings per day for a man with his oxen.
May 24. Assembly dismissed the petition of November 16, 1742; and when, May 25, the Council's Secretary and Mr. Wibird brought it down for them to reconsider it, they sent message to the Council, May 26, that they did not count the Committee's Return in fixing the site agreeable to the Act that appointed them (i. e., because only three of the four shared in that Return). June 6. Voted, six months' preaching by " Rates," the selectmen to agree with the minister and decide where the preaching shall be ; half the meetings to be on each side of the river. June 20. At parish meeting, moved " That the Meeting House [at Marshall's Corner] be established for the place of public worship of the Parish of Brentwood, provided the Petitioners for said House will finish it off at their own cost and charges; and we will come under obligations to set off all such as apprehend themselves inconven- ienced therefor, wherever required, excepting the Petitioners for said House." Negatived. This year, for preaching on south side of the river, Rev. E. Odlin received at least £39, and £54 were paid some unnamed preacher. For preaching on the north side, in the Meeting House, Timothy Leavitt received for some minister £44; and ten years later Brentwood Parish "allowed " Rev. Josiah Chase's bill for £30 " for 1743-2." June 27. Thirty-two families, appealing to the General Court, recite their outlay to build Sanctuary and support the gospel ; and for substance ask to be relieved from other parish burdens,-those connected with the new Meeting House,-and to be set off by themselves. July 1. The " Assembly " seems inclined "either to two Parishes or to all meeting at the Meeting House already built," for some limited time ; and they send a Committee to re-examine the matter. July 11. Of the 126 Brentwood freeholders, 65, being " the major part of the Parish," say to the
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General Court that they " are not dissatisfied with its decision " that the new Meeting House should stand at the "Gully." On this paper are represented 29 of the 53 who in 1751 formed the " Gully " Church ; while on the petition of June 27 are some 20 of those forming the Union Church of 1756. The parish was divided about two to one : on each side were worthy families and influential citizens. Of the Assembly Committee of three sent July I to view Brentwood affairs, two recommend that the whole Parish continue at the old Meeting House four years, and then a majority of the voters of the parish determine the site for a new Meeting House. The Assembly, after hearing the third Committee-man's reasons for not signing, wholly dismissed the matter.
As soon as the Fall of 1743 the new Meeting House was framed ; but the "Selectmen would neither raise the building nor pay the workmen, nor levy the tax that was voted for the Meeting House." December 5. Moved by Parish that those who petitioned General Court [July 1] to be " set off " to the [old] Meeting House, should be set thereunto by metes and boundaries. Negatived. To the proposal to "invite a sufficient number of ministers to come and hold a Fast here preparatory to the calling a minister to settle among us," voted no. December 10. Thirty-six families again ask the Gen- eral Court that they, and such others as shall choose later to join them, may be exempt from the expense of the new Meeting House and Brentwood Min- istry, in order to support their own public worship already established. In these 36 families was more than one-fourth of the parish property, and from them there came into the Union Church (1756) 18 members. To this request to "poll off " the Council assented, and was willing to let every one who should settle in Brentwood Parish within three years join them ; and Dec. 15 it voted that the petitioners should serve the Selectmen of Exeter and Brent- wood.to appear in April following. But Dec. 26 fifty-eight remonstrate that such " polling off " "would be detrimental to them and us, neither being able to support a Minister;" and it " would add confusion about setting the Meeting House ; " besides, at much cost the Meeting House frame had been made ready. The Assembly foreseeing that some would next ask to " poll off " to Kingston and others to Epping, and thereby Brentwood Parish would be broken- up ecclesiastically, dismissed the petition Dec. 30, according to the desire of 58 other freeholders, remonstrating.
1744, March 29. On the question, " Shall Mr. Josiah Chase preach two months, first month on north side of River [at old Meeting House], then on south side ?" it was voted no. A yea vote would have encouraged the north side to keep itself separate and try again to secede. Paid T. Leavitt for minis- ter and for keeping him £44. April 16, voted - 42 entering their dissent to all the proceedings of the meeting- that there be six months' preaching in the parish by way of "Rates; " the Selectmen to agree with a minister for the term of time, and appoint where the preaching shall be held. Voted, a Committee to receive the Meeting House frame for the parish. May 26. The 36 families named at December 10, 1743, seeming to have despaired of
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relief or sympathy from the Assembly, now appeal only to the Governor and Council, "that we may still continue the Public Worship of God in our own Meeting House, and not be forced to go to the Meeting House which some of the other part of the Parish would have us, which we could not do (in time of war) without the utmost hazard of the lives of ourselves and families. The "place where their Meeting House is proposed to be set, being in the midst of a great swamp and very hazardous and also difficult to go to either in the Spring or Fall of the year," "we must humbly leave ourselves and our dis- tressed circumstances to the pity and compassion of your Excellency." The rest of the request is pathetic and moving. 1744, Sept. 17, Meeting House frame - lacking joists and sleepers - accepted by the Parish Committee. Oct. I. Parish empowered the selectmen to raise the frame on the spot where it was framed, at parish expense. The same day the Provincial Council voted to advise the Governor to grant the aforesaid 36 petitioners, at the old Meet- ing House, a charter of incorporation. Oct. 8. Twelve men, " having heard by chance that the Governor and Council had sent a surveyor to the Parish of Brentwood to divide it; remonstrate, and ask a year's liberty for consideration on what his Excellency shall see fit to give us." Oct. 27. The Governor and Council regardless of the Assembly issued a King's patent for "Keeneborough Parish," "to have continuance forever ; " " reserving to his Majesty all white pine trees within the plan of survey ; " authorizing it to call and settle a min- ister, and levy taxes for his support, and hold its first parish meeting within 30 days, exonerating the inhabitants of Keeneborough from their parish duty in Brentwood ; Harvard College President and Senior Fellows, or Revs. Jabez Fitch and John Odlin to recommend the first Minister. Thus, by the authority of the Province, a parish was created within a parish. It contained about 19 square miles, and embraced three-fifths of Brentwood, taken on the · north and east sides. This charter with Gov. Benning Wentworth's auto- graphic signature has been found and is now in the Concord, N. H., Historical Rooms.
1745. The Keeneborough Parish soon proceeds to lay a tax on all liv- ing within its bounds. Feb. 11. Israel Smith living therein, being imprisoned for its " Rates," complains to the Brentwood Selectmen, who warn a Brent- wood parish meeting for Feb. 18. On February 12, a Keeneborough parish meeting is warned for Feb. 18, " to defend their Constable, Samuel Dudley, · against any that shall commence action against him," in collecting parish taxes or "Rates." Feb. 18. Brentwood parish, after declaring such taxing to be "not agreeable to the vote of Brentwood Parish," voted "that Elisha Sanborn be an Agent to act in full power of Brentwood Parish to try it out in final Law or petition to General Court in that affair, to see if these persons have power to proceed as they have done." April, Keeneborough Parish is having preaching at least 3 months, supported by its own "Rates." Probably this minister was Rev. Benj. Tappan, who was ordained Sept. 17, 1745, at Manchester, Mass. May 2, 1746. Keeneborough sent him £15, being "part payment for his Preaching at K." April 2. Elisha Sanborn; agent for Brent-
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wood Parish petitions the Assembly to interpose against this Governor's patent for Keeneborough, and protect Brentwood in its sole right to tax within its bounds. After deliberation, the Assembly, in May, addressing the Governor and Council, speaks of their Keeneborough charter as " an open usurpation of a power appertaining to the General Assembly in conjunction with the Gov- - ernor and Council, and a manifest invasion of the just rights and privileges of the people whom we represent, and an infringement on the rights of the Par- ishioners of Brentwood, and an oppression of them in particular." They "earnestly request " the Governor and Council "seriously to reconsider this matter and to recall the Keeneborough Grant * * * and thereby put an end to the strifes." And they add: "We esteem ourselves obliged to make a stand against every attempt made to deprive the people of their just rights." They say, further, for substance : In the event of your not relieving us, we think we should be inexcusable if we should not apply to the King. In a courtly way they hint their fear that the Council had not maturely deliberated on the case.
May 9. Proposed in Keeneborough warrant to put up the window-frames of their Meeting House, and clapboard it, and glaze the windows, and have three or four months' school, and continue their preaching. May 29. Brent- wood Parish : committee appointed to agree with a minister to preach three months at the house of Samuel Jones or thereabouts. A committee to take care of the Meeting House frame, pile it up and cover it with pine boards. 1745, .paid Mr. Tufts £20 for preaching. Soon after Oct. 28 the Deed of Brentwood Meeting House site was obtained. The land was donated by Capt. James Leavitt. Nov. 4. A committee was fully empowered to provide for and raise the Meeting House frame, to provide stuff, to get underpinning rocks, window-frames, hemlock covering boards, clapboards, shingles, nails, joists, floor-boards, workmen, etc.
1746, Jan. 6. "Whereas the Keeneborough inhabitants have been at a great charge in hiring a Minister, as they say, and have not been set off ac- cording to the Laws of the Province, and have not power to collect money for defraying their charges, voted that the £95 raised on Polls and Estates by Brentwood Officials within Keeneborough line be given to the Keeneborough people to defray their own charges, on conditions they will stand for the interest of the Parish of Brentwood, and not contend for a party any more." 1746. Paid by Brentwood to committee in Keeneborough £50 towards what was voted them. This union measure doubtless gave several months' preach- ing at the Keeneborough Meeting House. March 26. Voted three months' preaching at the house of [Deacon] Jeremiah Bean, Jr., or thereabouts : a committee chosen to agree with a minister. May 28. Elisha Sanborn chosen to represent Brentwood Parish on behalf of Israel Smith in the Keeneborough suit against Smith for ministerial rates; and {50 voted to defray charges of suit. July 4. Paid Rev. Mr. Tufts £49} for preaching. Paid Benjamin Fifield 63% for piling up Meeting House frame. 1747, Jan 5. Rev. Josiah Chase, receipts for £82 paid by Keeneborough, "in part of what is due me
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for preaching." March 16. Brentwood voted "that we leave off contending in the law with Keeneborough at present, and not do any more work on the Meeting House where it now stands, until we know who we do it for." March 17. Selectmen paid Mr. Ephraim Robinson 18s. 2d. for rum and sugar to raise the Meeting House. April 27. Meeting House not yet raised ; voted a "Committee to take care of the nails and pile up the stuff that hath been provided." Only £50 voted for the current year's parish expenses, the proposition for three months' preaching having been voted down. July 28- 29. The anti-Whitfield Convention of Ministers at Exeter. July 31. Whitfield preached at Exeter. Sept. 16. The Keeneborough selectmen had on hand £272. Oct. 13. "Ministers' Convention at Hampton."
The records of the Church in Lexington, Mass., tell us that June 16, 1745, Nathanael Trask, Jr., was admitted to the church, and Nov. 22 (new style, December 3), 1747, dismissed to the church in Keeneborough. We may fairly assume that Mr. Trask began his labors there some weeks or months before offering himself to join the church. How long before that time this church was organized, and whether by council, is not known. Dr. A. H. Quint says : "Organizing churches without councils was then common." This Keeneborough church probably had then from 25 to 35 members. Those marked I in the Church Roll (p. 29) were, we may believe, among its original members. Its Deacon, Timothy Leavitt (probably a son of Deacon Moses Leavitt, of Exeter), had been here 35 years; a thrifty, positive man, ardent for his church; Chairman in 1745 and 1748 of the Keeneborough Parish Selectmen. He died early in 1756, just after the Union Church was formed.
The Lexington Church Records for Thursday, Nov. 26 (Dec. 7), say : "Chose Capt. William Reed, Capt. Benj. Reed, Jonathan Lawrence, messen- gers for Mr. Trask's ordination at Keeneborough." Lexington Town History says these "three of Mr. Trask's old neighbors were sent as delegates to his ordination, to show their respect for him." Rev. Joseph Whipple, of Hampton Falls, in his Interleaved Almanack for the year 1747, Dec. 2 (13), says : "Fair, warm, pleasant; Mr. Trask ordained at Keenborough." In Hampton Church Records we read: Nov. 29 (Dec. 10), 1747 [Sunday]. "The church voted that Deacons Moulton and Philbrick should attend me to the ordination of Mr. Nathaniel Trask at Keenborough. N. B. - This church did not see their way clear to act in the ordination above mentioned, because the parish was not regularly set off. Attest : W. Cotton, Pastor."
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