USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Walpole > A history of Walpole, New Hampshire, Volume I > Part 63
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On the following Sunday morning, September 6, 1903, Bishop Niles delivered the sermon and confirmed the following persons: Hudson Eliot Bridge, Edwin K. Seabury, Helen A. Wotkyns, Grace F. Sherman, Roy Simpson Burt, Ida Burt, Lucy Cobb, and Miller Deal. There was also a vesper service that day, conducted also by Bishop Niles and Canon Bryan.
A year later, during the rectorship of the Rev. Robert Merriman, work began on a combined parish house and gymnasium. This building, at- tached to the church building, was dedicated on September 11, 1905, and work was completed in May of the following year. This was the first gymnasium in Walpole Village and was used for both parish and com- munity activities.
In 1917, St. John's Church assumed the role of a Summer mission; and, from 1921 through 1931, there were only a few services a year (held in the months of July and August). In 1932, the Rev. Louis Reed assumed the responsibility of St. John's as one of four mission churches under his direction as rector. Mr. Reed lived in Charlestown and conducted a service at St. John's each Sunday-usually in the afternoon. Occasionally there were visiting clergy and sometimes a seminarian would take the services during the Summer months. In this manner the parish main- tained a reasonably active worship life; the Wardens saw to the repairs of the physical plant; and the women in the parish organized occasional programs and sales for budgetary and social purposes.
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In the late winter of 1961, steering committees from St. John's, Wal- pole, and St. James, Keene, met under the encouragement and direction of the Rt. Rev. Charles F. Hall to discuss the possibilities of yoking the two parishes. After considerable discussion, it was agreed that a clergy- man should be called to serve the two parishes. He would live in Walpole and divide his time as Curate of both parishes. The Rector of St. James, Keene, would assume the titular rectorship of St. John's and oversee the work that was to be done there. Thus the Rector, the Rev. Chandler H. McCarty, and the combined Vestries called the Rev. James G. Estes to assume the duties of the new curacy. Mr. and Mrs. Estes took up residence in the rectory (formerly called the parish house) at Walpole in Septem- ber 1961.
In the ensuing months, a concerted effort was made to rejuvenate the overall structure of St. John's. A Church School was opened, and an Every Member Canvass was conducted. The gymnasium was refurbished and provided with a heating plant and in November was rededicated as the Parish Hall to be used for the educational and social activities of the parish. In January of 1962 the Annual Meeting was held and the following men were either returned or elected: Senior Warden, G. Leigh- ton Bridge; Junior Warden, Clifford A. Foster; Clerk, Stephen B. Wil- liams; Treasurer, Donald MacNaughtan; Vestrymen, John Crehore, Francis Wood, Chester Rouillard, James H. Smith, Mark B. Howard, and F. W. Maclean. In late Spring Mr. MacNaughtan resigned and Caswell Menard was appointed Treasurer. A new Hammond Spinet organ was given as a memorial to George A. Fogg, Lois T. Motte, Pauline F. Hug- gan, and Major H. Eliot Bridge and dedicated on Thanksgiving Day 1962.
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APPENDIX
MASSACHUSETTS GRANT:
Conditions of grants by Massachusetts 1735-6: To lay out 63 lots; to settle 60 families within 3 years; each family to build a house at least 18 ft. square and 7 ft. stud; to clear, fence and bring under cultivation 6 a .; to set aside a lot for the minister and a lot for the school; to build a meeting house; to settle an orthodox minister within 3 yrs. Sometimes bonds of £20 to £40 were required.
NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANT:
WALPOLE CHARTER, 1752
Province of New Hampshire
George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Brittain France & Ireland King de- fender of the faith &cª
To ALL Persons to whom these Presents Shall Come Greeting
Know Ye that We of our Especial Grace Certain knowledge & Mere Motion for the due Encouragement of Settling A New Plantation within our Sª Province By & with the Advice of Our Trusty & well beloved Benning Wentworth Esq our Governour & Com'ander in Chieff of our Sª Province of New Hampshire in America & of our Council of the Said Province have upon the Conditions and reservations hereafter made Given & Granted & By these Presents for us our heirs & Successors do give & Grant in Equal Shares unto our Loving Subjects inhabitants of our Said Province of New Hampshire & his Majtys Other Governments and to their heirs and Assignes for ever whose names Are Entered on this Grant to be Divided to and Amongst them into Sixty Seven Equal Shares All that Tract or Parcel of Land Scituate Lying & being within our Province of New Hampshire Containing by Admeasurement twenty three thousend and forrty Acres which Tract is to Contain Six Miles Square & no more out of which an Allowance is to be made for high ways and unimprovable Lands by Rocks Mountains Ponds & Rivers One thousend & forty Acres free According to A Plan thereof made & Presented by our Said Governour's orders & hereunto Annexed Butted & bounded As follows- (Viz)-Beginning at the Stake & Stones near Connecticut River which is the North West Corner of Westmoreland from thence extending Northerly by Connecticut River to the South West Corner of a Tract of Land Called Number four from thence to Ex- tend South Seventy Eight Degrees East And A Line from the first Bounds mentioned of the Same Course (Viz) South Seventy Eight Degrees East each line so far as to Include the Contents of Six miles Square between the Said River & A North & South Line by the Needle on the East closeing the bounds Afore Said and that the Same be & is in- corporated into a Township by the name of Walpole and that the Inhabitants that do or Shall Hereafter Inhabit Said Township Are hereby Declared to be Enfranchised with and Entituled to all & every the Previledges & Immunities that Other Towns within our Said Province by Law Exercize & Enjoy & further that the Said Town as soon as there Shall be fifty families resident & Settled thereon Shall have the Liberty of holding Two fairs one of which Shall be held on the And the other on the Annually which Fairs Are not to Continue & be held Longer than the respective following the Said respective Days and As Soon as the Said Town Shall Consist of fifty families a market Shall be Opend & kept one or more days in Each week as may be tho most Advantagious to the Inhabitants also that the first meeting
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for the Choice of Town officers Agreeable to the Laws of our Said Province Shall be held on the Third Wednesday in March next which meeting Shall be notyfed by Benjamin Bellows who is hereby Also Appointed ye. Moderator of the Said first meeting which he is to Notify & Govern Agreable to the Laws & Customs of our Said Province And that the Annual Meeting for ever hereafter for the Choice of Such Officers of Said Town Shall be on the third Wednesday in March Annually To have & to hold the Said Tract of Land as above Expressed Together with all the Previledges and Appur- tinances to them & their respective heirs & Assigns for ever upon the following Condi- tions (Viz)-that every Grantee his heirs or Assigns Shall Plant or Cultivate five Acres of Land within the Term of five Years for every fifty Acres Containd in his or their Share or Proportion of Land in Sª Township & Continue to Improve & Settle the Same by Additional Cultivations on Penalty of the forfeiture of his Grant or Share in the Sd Township & its reverting to his Majty his heirs & Successors to be by him or them regranted to Such of his Subjects as Shall Effectually Settle & Cultivate the Same That all white & other Pine Trees within the Said Township fit for Masting our Royal Navy be carefully Preserved for that use & none to be Cut or felld without his Majesties Especial Lycence for So doing first had & obtained upon the Penalty of the forfeiture of the right of Such Grantee his heirs & Assignes to us our heirs & Successors, as well as being Subject to the Penalty of any Act or Acts of Parliament that now Are or hereafter Shall be Enacted That before any Divission of the Said Lands be made to And Amonst the Grantees A Trace of Land as near the Center of the Township as the Land will Ad- mit of Shall be reserved & marked out for Town Lotts one of which Shall be Allotted to Each Grantee of the Contents of One Acre Yielding & Paying therefor to us our heirs & Successors for the Space of Ten years to be Computed from the Date hereof the rent of one Ear of Indian Corn only on the first Day of Jan'y Annually if Lawfully Demanded the first Payment to be made On the first day of January next following the Date hereof Every Proprietor Settler or Inhabitant Shall Yield & Pay unto us our heirs & Successors Yearly & Every year forever from And After the Expiration of the ten Years from the Date hereof namely on the first Day of January which will be in the Year of our Lord Christ One thousend Seven hundred & Sixty Two One Shilling Proclamation money for every hundred Acres he so owns Settles or Possesses & So in Proportion for a Greater or Lesser Tract of the Said Land which money Shall be paid by the respective persons abovesaid their heirs or Assigns In our Council Chamber in Portsmouth or Such officer or officers as Shall be appointed to receive the Same And this to be in Lieu of all other rents & Services whatsoever In Testimony hereof We have Caused the seal of our Said Province to be hereunto Affixed Wittness Benning Went- worth Esq our Governour & Commander in Chieff of our sd Province the thirteenth of Febry in the Year of our Lord Christ 1752 and in the Twenty fifth year of Our Reign-
B Wentworth
By his Excellencys Com'and with Advice of Council
Theodore Atkinson Secry
Entred & recorded According to the Original Charter und the Province Seal the 13th Day of FebTy 1752 Theodore Atkinson Secry
The Names of the Grantees of Walpole-Viz-
Benjamin Bellows
Robert Clerk
Jerahmeel Powers
Joshua Moor
Joseph Goodridge
John Taylor
John Sterns
Moses Gould jun™
Jonathan Bradstreet jun™
Benjamin Gary
Benjamin Taylor
John Darling jun™
Amos Kimbal
Benjamin Bellows jun™
Thomas Brown
William Sterns
John Averil
Joseph Win
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William Nutting
Samuel Moor
Barzilia Willard
Ebenezer Harris
Joseph Bellows
Caleb Willard
Levi Willard
Moses Gould
Peter Bellows
Thomas Sterns
Paul Crocker
William Down
Timothy Bancroft
William Spear
Abijah Sterns
Ephraim Kimbel
Joseph Blodget jun™
John Litch John Spafford
John Darling Abijah Willard
John Bellows Jonah Moor Joseph Sterns
Nehemiah Gould
Abel Willard
Benjamin Sterns
Jonathan Wetherby
Samuel Gibbs
John Russell
Samuel Johnson jun™
Samuel Hunt
Sampson French
Timothy Harrington
Paul Wetherby
Joshua Willard
Stanton Prentice
Jonathan Willard
His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq one Tract of Land to Contain Five Hundred Acres which is to be accounted two of the Sª Shares, one whole Share for the Incor- porated Society for the Propagateing the Gospel in Foreign Partes One whole Share for the first Settled Minister of the Gospel in Sd Town, One whole Share for A Glebe for the ministry of the Church of England as by Law Established,-Theodore Atkinson, Richard Wibird, Samuel Smith, John Downing Sampson Sheaffe John Wentworth jun™- Attest™ Theodore Atkinson Sery
Entred & recorded from the Back of the Charter for Walpole this 13th Febry 1752 Theodore Atkinson Secry
On the original charter there was a plan with the following notations:
"Plan of Walpole 600 Rods in an Inch"
North line "S 78° East 3 miles& 100 Rods" East Line "Nine Miles North by the Needle"
South Line "S 78° East 5 miles & 10 Rods
the Dividing Line between Westmoreland & Walpole"
West line "Part of Connecticut River" The island is shown.
The charter was renewed March 12, 1761 because "the sd Grantees have represented that by the Intervention of an Indian War since making the Said Grant impracticaable to comply with & fullfill the Conditions aforesd.
The above is from STATE PAPERS NEW HAMPSHIRE by Batchellor Vol. XXV Town Charters Vol. II, pp. 593-8. This same source gives a bibliography of material on Walpole.
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BELLOWS-ATKINSON AGREEMENT
"Memorandum of an Agreement and Partition made this ninth day of September Anno Domini one Thousand seven Hundred and Sixty six between Theodore Atkinson of Portsmouth in the Prov. of N. H. Esq. and Benj. Bellows of Walpole in said Prov. Esq. Whereas the sd Parties are now Tenants in Common in a certain Tract or Tracts of Land lying and being in the Township of Walpole aforesd, two thirds of which Lands belongeth to the sd Benjamin and one third part to the sd Theodore and the Parties having agreed to make a severance have and by these Presents do agree that all the Lands in the several Places hereafter mentioned shall and are hereby set off as the Share and Proportion of the sd Theodore Atkinson and to be accounted his part and held by him in severalty Viz/ Two Thousand seven Hundred and Sixty four acres lying and being on the Easterly Line of sd Township of Walpole beginning at a tree marked for the South East corner two miles North of the South East corner of sd township marked on the East Line of sd Town and runs North by the needle nine Hundred and Sixty rods to a tree marked being the North East corner then runs West twelve Degrees North one Hundred and Seventy rods to the corner of Lot No. one in the Easternmost Range of Lots in sd Township then runs South thirty-five Degrees West on the East Range of Lots seven Hundred and twenty rods to a Lot of James Bundy then on the East Line of that Lot and the other Lot as the Line runs to the Road that leads to Keene then Easterly on sd Road about Eighty rods to a white ash tree marked by sd Road then runs East twelve Degrees South to the first mentioned corner as may be seen by the Plan of sd Town. Also another Piece of Land in sd Township Containing Two Thou- sand and Twenty-eight acres and lyeth toward the North part of sd Town beginning at a tree marked at the East Line of sd Town and runs West twelve Degrees North Eight Hundred and forty rods to a corner then runs North one Hundred rod then runs West twelve Degrees North to Connecticut River then runs up sd River two Hundred and Twenty rod to a white oak marked against the Great Falls then runs East twelve Degrees South three Mile and one-half to the Town Line then run South one Mile to the first mentioned corner. Also one Thousand acres of said Land lying on Connecticut River and begins at a stump marked and runs South four Hundred and Eighty rods to a tree marked then runs West seventeen Degrees North three Hundred rod to the River then runs up sd River about two Miles to a tree marked then runs East thirty-five rod to sd Stump first mentioned. Also one Certain Island called the Great Island and contains about Ten acres. And that all the residue of the Lands in sd Township Except the Publick Lots and Governor's Farm be and hereby is set off as the two thirds of the sd Benjamin's to all which the sd Theodore and Benjamin has agreed to hold in severalty to them and their Heirs and Assigns forever. To which Agreement and Division we have hereunto set to our Hands and Seals the Day and Year above sd.
Signed Sealed & Delivered In Presence of
James Stoodly Peter Merry
Theodore Atkinson (seal) B. Bellows (seal)
Prov. of New Hamp. Sept. 10th 1766 Then the above mentioned Theodore Atkinson and Benjamin Bellows acknowledged the above instrument to be their Act and Deed respectively before me. James Stoodly Jus. Peace.
Received & Recorded 4th September 1770
D. Pierce Red.
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COPY OF THE LAST WILL OF COL. BENJAMIN BELLOWS.
"In the Name of God, Amen:
"I, Benjamin Bellows, of Walpole, in the County of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire, Esq., being of health of body ... and, first of all, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Mary Bellows, the improvement of the one third part of my now dwelling-house, and the third part of my now improved lands in Walpole, with the improvement of my barn on the east side of the road, so long as she, the said Mary, shall continue my widow. I also give to my said wife one yoke of oxen, three cows, and one horse, which she shall please to choose out of my stock; also a cart, plough, yoke, and chain, all which she is to have the improvement of during her life, these then to be returned, or the like stock, to my children; and I further give to my said wife one third part of all my household furniture, to be set off to her to dispose of as she shall think fit amongst my children as she shall see cause. I also give her a side-saddle and bridle, and fifty pounds lawful money, to be paid her when she shall call for the same; and if my said wife shall see cause to marry, then the improvement of my house and lands to return to my children, that is, willed to her, she has done with them, and in lieu thereof, to have a hundred dollars per year, paid her by my children, to be equally divided, that is, about eleven dollars each per year.
"Imprimis. I give to my well-beloved son, Peter Bellows, and his children, . . . six hundred acres of land in Walpole, and lyeth above the Great Falls on Connecticut River; said land lyeth in Walpole, and bounds west on said river; north on land called the Governor's Farm; east on my own land, and south on land of Col. Atkinson . .. with one yoke of oxen, two cows, and a horse, and one hundred pounds in cash, to be laid out to finish his house, and fifty pounds to cloathe his family.
"Impr. I give and bequeath to my well-beloved son, Benjamin Bellows, four hundred acres of land in Walpole; bounded south on the town line; west on land sold to one Burt and one Fisk; north on land sold to William Smeed; east on land of Booth, Nicho- las, and Maj'r Richardson ... together with what I have given him by deed, and the fourth part of all my estate which may be left, not disposed of after my estate is settled and paid out all legacies; also I give him one hundred pounds for his trouble in set- tling my estate; and I further give him one yoke of oxen, two cows, and a horse.
"Impr. I give to my well-beloved son, John Bellows, a certain piece of land in Wal- pole aforesaid, and contains about four hundred acres, be the same more or less; and it begins at the north-east corner of a hundred acre lot given him by deed, and to run north ten degrees; east till it comes to the south line of Col. Atkinson's land; then runs west on Col. Atkinson's land till it comes to what he has a deed of, till it comes to Connecticut River; and I further give him four hundred acres of land east of the line given heretofore, to lye in a square form, where he shall pitch the same, and this . . . with what I have heretofore given him deed of, to be his full part and share in my estate, except one yoke of oxen, two cows, and a horse, which is to be given out of my stock.
"Impr. I give to my well-beloved son, Joseph Bellows (land in other towns) . .. with one yoke of oxen, two cows, and a horse . . . out of my stock.
"Impr. I give to my well-beloved daughter, Abigail Bellows, my house and land I bought of Moses Brown, on the east side of the road to Westmoreland; as also fifty acres of the lot Denison lives on, on the south side, and about twenty-three acres ad- joining, called "Mepas" lot, which land I give to her and heirs of her body for ever, not to be disposed of out of the family. Said lands contain about one hundred and thirty acres, the house, and the house Doctor Ashley lives in. I do also give . . . the one third part of all my household furniture after my decease, to be kept for her till she comes to the age of twenty-one or marries ... further give her the sixth part of all my personal estate that shall be left after my estate is settled . . . further give forty acres of land, being the land Daniel Bixby lives on ... bounded north on land of
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Aaron Hodgskins; west on land of Delano; south on lands of Hinds; east on Bundy. Also ... one yoke of oxen, two cows, and a horse, and one hundred pounds in money.
"Impr. I give to my well-beloved son, Theodore Bellows, about eighty acres of meadow land and about two hundred acres of upland, lying adjoining to the land given to John Bellows, and south of his land, beginning at an oak stump in the corner of John Bellows's land fence, and runs north, as the fence runs to the river, about twenty-six rods; then runs down by the river about one hundred and fifty rods to a walnut tree, marked near the end of the ditch; then runs on the ditch; goes through the meadow to the end of the ditch; then to run east by the needle about four hun- dred rods to the line of John Bellows's land to a white oak tree, marked for a corner; then to run north on John Bellows's land ... to a corner, being a white oak; then to run west on his land to first-mentioned stump. And I also give about two hundred and forty acres to my said son Theodore, called my great pasture, bounded west on land of Col. Atkinson; south on land of Jona'n Hall; east partly on land of Babcock and the road as it is now fenced; and north on land of John Bellows; and I further give ... three hundred pounds in money ... to help him build a house and barn . .. and the fourth part of what estate shall be left, both real and personal, in Wal- pole ... also one yoke of oxen, two cows, and one horse, also a cart, yoke, and chain.
"Impr. I give to my beloved son, Thomas Bellows, about three hundred and fifty acres of land and meadow in Walpole with all the buildings thereon, being the house and land I now live on and improve, reserving to his mother the part I heretofore willed her. Said land begins at the walnut tree marked, at the river at the end of the ditch being the south-west corner of Theodore's land, and runs down the river one hundred and twenty rods to a walnut stump ... near the lower fence; then runs east through the meadow till it comes to the meadow fence; then runs south about twenty rods ... to a corner; then runs east to a great white pine, so as to take the spring, and so to continue east by the needle till it comes to the line of John Bellows land; then runs northerly on said John's land ... to the southeast corner of Theodore's land; then runs west by Theodore's land to the east end of the ditch, so on the ditch to first-mentioned corner ... and I further give to said son Thomas three hundred acres of land on the east line of said town, to begin at Col. Atkinson's corner; and run south to the end of the lots laid out, being about two hundred and sixty rods; then to run west as the lot lyeth and on Col. Atkinson's till it makes three hundred acres . . . and fourth part of the estate I shall leave undisposed of in Walpole, and I give him one yoke of oxen, two cows, and a horse, also a cart, yoke, and chain.
"Impr. I give to my well-beloved daughter, Molley Bellows (land in Westminster) . . . I also give to my said daughter the one third part of all my household furniture, which I shall leave to be set off to her, and kept safe by my executors for her till she comes to the age of twenty-one or marries, . . . and one yoke of oxen, two cows, and a horse, and one hundred pounds in money, which is her part of my estate.
"Impr. I give to my well-beloved son, Josiah Bellows, about four hundred acres of land and meadow in Walpole, and beginning at a walnut stump being the south-west corner of Thomas Bellows's land, and runs south on the river till it comes to land of Doctr. Chase; then east on said Chase's land and runeth to the meetinghouse land; thence on that and land of Mr. Sparhawk and Mr. Fessenden to the north end of his land; then runs east by said Fessenden's land to land Trotts; then on land of John Kilburn; then on land till it comes to Moses Stearns; then on land of Stearns about northwest to a road; then on said road till it comes to Thomas Bellows; then west on his land to firstmentioned corner by the river. Also a lot of land, called Jonathan Jenni- son's lot, being about one hundred acres, and bounded south on land of Mr. Sparhawk, west on Kilbourn's and north on Hartwell, east on Bordman . .. also three hundred pounds in money, to help him build a house and barn; and I further give him the fourth
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part of all my lands which is not here willed, and the fourth part of my personal estate not disposed of, and one yoke of oxen, two cows, and a horse, and a cart, yoke and chain.
"Impr. I give to the town of Walpole one hundred acres of land in Walpole for the use of a Grammar School to be kept at the School house near where the meeting house now stands, provided the town will clear and put under improvement sixty acres of the land in six years, which improvement is to be let for the use of said school and no other use made thereof; said land to be laid out by a committee, where it is not here- tofore disposed of.
"Impr. I give to my daughter in law, Mary Willard, (land in Keene).
"Impr. I give to my son in law, John Jennison, fifty acres of land in Walpole, north of the road to Alstead, in a good form, to be laid where he shall pitch the same between the road and Col. Atkinson's land, not before disposed of, for one of his sons.
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