USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > New London > A history of the town of New London, Merrimack county, New Hampshire, 1779-1899 > Part 36
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I. Martha N., b. Jan. 25, 1842 ; d. April 20, 1858.
2. Mary E., b. Dec. 24, 1844 ; d. Feb. 18, 1855.
3. Helen F., b. Nov. 8, 1846; d. March 9, 1847.
TRUSSELL, LUTHER M .- Luther Montgomery, youngest son of Moses and Sarah (Knowlton ) Trussell [163], was b. in Hop- kinton, and was two years old when his father removed to N. L. He built the house on Main street long known as " The Willows " from the huge trees that overhang the buildings, now owned by Oren D. Crockett. Luther m., Oct. 14, 1849, Eliza Story of Hopkinton, who d. at N. L., Sept. 8, 1877, aged 65 years. After the marriage of his younger dau., Luther made his home with her, and d. Springvale, Me., May 9, 1888. Chil- dren :
I. Sarah Elizabeth, b. July 30, 1843 ; m., April 8, 1875, John W. Morse, and res. in N. L.
2. Mary Knowlton, b. Jan. 4, 1846; m., June 17, 1882, Rev. Charles Patterson Bennett, pastor of the Baptist church in Shapleigh, Me., where she passed the few brief months of life that remained to her. She was graduated from the New London institution as valedictorian of the class of 1870, and purposed teaching as a profession ; but family claims seemed stronger, and she remained at home, caring for her mother and sister in their last illnesses. Then a life of usefulness and happiness in a new sphere seemed to open before her in the home at Shapleigh. A few weeks after her marriage Mrs. Bennett contracted whooping cough, and her naturally delicate constitution, weakened by the cares of the preceding years, gave way under the force of the disease, and after a few months of extreme suffering she passed away, Feb. 28, 1883, leaving her husband, the little daughter of her sister whom
396
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
she had adopted, and her aged father to mourn the loss of one whose truly Christian loveliness of character endeared her to all who knew her.
WHEELER, ABEL .- Abel Wheeler, b. April 4, 1792, was a descendant of the Wheelers, originally of Sutton, Mass., who settled in Croydon in 1763. His wife, Sarah Jehonnet, of Huguenot extraction, b. 1785, was a woman of intelligence and industry. Abel came to N. L. in 1823, res. on the Tim- othy Crowley place until 1830, removing then probably to Canterbury. About 1840 he settled in Sutton, and there res. until his death, Jan. 18, 1855. Sarah d. August, 1868. Chil- · dren :
I. John G., b. 1821 ; m. Nancy Buswell ; d. 1868. Children : (1). Charles G., b. Dec. 22, 1844 ; m., April 5, 1867, Har- riet McAdams. Children : (a) Warren D., b. May 31, 1868. (b) Carrie E., b. May 4, 1870. (c) Susie H., b. Oct. 28, 1872. (d) Alma J., b. May 9, 1877. (e) Elmer J., twin to Alma J.
(2). James H. (3). Herman D. (4). Cyrus. (5). Alma. (6). Eveline. (7). Elmer.
2. Leonard H., b. Oct. 8, 1822 ; m., Oct. 24, 1854, Lucy B. Hoyt; res. in Sutton, where he was much respected ; enlisted Sept. 15, 1862, Company H, Sixteenth N. H. V. ; discharged Aug. 20, 1863, and enlisted Sept. 5, 1864, serv- ing as sergeant of Company B, Eighteenth N. H. V., and receiving the appointment of sergeant-major Feb. 16, 1865 ; d. in Sutton, Aug. 14, 1877. Children :
(1). Emma, b. May 6, 1857; m., Oct. 5, 1889, James H. Watson of Sutton.
(2). Clarence, b. Aug. 26, 1859.
(3). George, b. Aug. 22, 1861.
(4). Kate P., b. Oct. 15, 1864 ; m., November, 1889, Walter King of Franklin, Mass.
3. Edgar L , b. N. L., 1824 ; m. Kate Worthley ; res. in N. L. Edgar d. Nov. 5, 1879. They had a son, Ralph.
4. Ransom R., b. N. L., May 4, 1826 ; enlisted April 26, 1861 ; served in the First, Fourth, and Eighteenth N. H. V. ; res. in Sutton.
5. Lovell, b. and d. in N. L., 1828.
6. James J., m. Sarah A., dau. of Amos Parker [370].
7. Jonathan Dearborn, b. 1842 ; m. Frances Chapman, and had a son, Mason R .; enlisted Sept. 7, 1861, serving in Com- pany I, Fourth N. H. V. ; d. Wilmot, Sept. 9, 1869.
397
GENEALOGIES, THIRD PERIOD.
WHITNEY, ALEXANDER .- Alexander Whitney came to N. L. in 1826, and bought the present Charles S. Whitney place of Joseph Colby, who had purchased it of Caleb Harriman, the pioneer occupant, only a few months before. The original dwelling stood across the road and north from the present house, which was built by Alexander and his sons. Alexander was a good, honest, every-day sort of a man, a tremendous worker, fond of his home and family rather than of public life. He was a Methodist in belief, and attended church in Wilmot. The Whitneys are a Henniker family, descendants of John and Eleanor Whitney, who embarked at London in April, 1635, and settled in Watertown, Mass. Alexander, fifth in descent from John, settled in Henniker soon after his marriage to Lois Carroll of Hopkinton, Mass., July 10, 1776. The seventh of their nine children, Alexander, Jr., the founder of the N. L. families, was b. Dec. 5, 1789 ; m., Nov. 24, 1814, Lydia, dau. of Zebulon and Polly Foster of Henniker, b. Nov. 2, 1795. Alexander d. Nov. 26, 1878 ; Lydia d. April 27, 1875. Chil- dren :
I. Aaron F., b. March 26, 1815; d. Jan. 1, 1830.
2. Mary S., b. March 29, 1817 ; d. Dec. 14, 1836.
3. Gilman H., b. Nov. 30, 1819; m., Nov. 16, 1848, Sarah Jane, dau. of Nathan Durgin of East Andover, b. May 31, 1825 ; res. in N. L.
4. William S., b. Nov. 1, 1822 ; m., Dec. 15, 1849, Miss Dur- gin, sister of Sarah Jane above ; was a grinder in the scythe shops, and res. at Scytheville ; d. Dec. 20, 1853. Chil- dren :
(1). Ellen, b. Aug. 3, 1851 ; d. April 30, 1854, at Charles S. Whitney's house.
(2). Emma, b. April 26, 1853 ; res. at Manchester.
5. George A., b. Feb. 12, 1825 ; m., Sept. 1, 1852, Anna Eliza, dau. of Peter Jones of Andover. No children. George was killed by lightning June 14, 1854, in the Wilmot woods near Springfield line, about a mile from Perleytown.
6. Alonzo, b. Nov. 18, 1827 ; unmarried ; res. on the homestead. Alonzo went to California in 1853, and remained fourteen years placer mining in Trinity county ; came home for a year's visit, and after four years more in the golden state, settled down on the farm where he was b .; d. June 28, 1898.
7. Emeline L., b. June 15, 1830 ; unmarried ; res. in Iowa.
398
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
8. Livonia M., b. Feb. 6, 1833 ; m., Dec. 4, 1862, Daniel Piper of Sanbornton. They now res. in Medford, Minn. Child : (1). Myra Alice, b. Nov. 15, 1873.
9. Harriet N., b. Sept. 8, 1835; m., Oct. 13, 1867, Irving G. Cate (a veteran) of Northfield ; res. in Boscawen. Mr. Cate was a blacksmith by trade ; occupied the Benjamin Everett place at Scytheville for a brief period. Child :
(1). Alice Carrie, b. Jan. 22, 1878.
Io. Charles S., b. March 1, 1837 ; m., Jan. 5, 1865, Laura Ann, dau. of Uriah Pearson of Sutton ; res. in N. L.
II. Janett M., b. March 30, 1840; m., July 9, 1865, Alonzo Phelps, and res. in Warner ; d. March 28, 1872. Child :
(1). Walter L., m. Lottie Martin of Iowa, June, 1894.
WHITNEY, ARTEMAS .- Came from Goffstown in 1843, and res. on the Hiram Baker place in the West Part.
WHITNEY, GILMAN H .- Gilman H., son of Alexander above, on reaching his majority worked for a time in the brickyard at Hooksett, then in the hat factory of Matthew Haynes Messer at Methuen, Mass. In 1843 he returned to N. L., and res. on the Jacob Dole place near his father. After farming for two years he began lumbering in Wilmot, and built a saw-mill and clapboard-mill about a mile above Wilmot Centre, which he ran for three years. Finally, after engaging in various occupations, he settled down in Franklin, and for a quarter-century peddled tinware for John H. Rowell in the towns of Merrimack county. In 1890 he bought the Samuel Burpee place on Burpee hill, and res. there till his death, after a long and wearisome illness, Feb. 23, 1897. Mr. Whitney was a man of indefatigable industry, kind-hearted, and a good neighbor. He was a Spiritualist in belief, and served as president and treasurer of the Lake Sunapee Spiritualist Campmeeting association. During his residence in Franklin he became a member of Merrimack lodge, No. 28, I. O. O.F., and of Meridian lodge, No. 60, F. & A. M. Mrs. Whitney and her only surviving son, Burke M., res. at the homestead on Burpee hill. Children :
I. Burke M., b. Oct. 26, 1849; unmarried ; res. in Nebraska and South Dakota for seventeen years, then returned to his native state to care for his parents in their declining years.
2. Walter G., b. June 29, 1852 ; d. Aug. 6, 1854.
3. Frank S., b. Aug. 4, 1855 ; d. Aug. 10, 1856.
4. Walter Frank, b. May 9, 1859 ; d. Dec. 27, 1863.
399
GENEALOGIES, THIRD PERIOD.
WILKINS, DUSTIN .- Dustin, son of Dea. Gideon and Sally Wilkins [287], res. on the Moses Haskins place, the Mason Emery place, and other locations. His wife was Elizabeth, dau. of Matthew H. Sargent [280]. Removed to Wilmot, and d. there. Children recorded in N. L. :
I. George W., b. Sept. 15, 1834.
2. Mary E., b. Dec. 29, 1836, at Bradley's Vale, Vt. ; m. Plum- mer Prescott. Mary res. at Franklin with her dau. Lizzie, who m. Edgar Libby. Child : William M.
WILKINS, GIDEON, JR .- The oldest son of Dea. Gideon and Sally Wilkins [287] succeeded Ezekiel Knowlton on the Dr. Morrill place. His wife, Rachel, was the dau. of Ezekiel Knowlton [118]. The family removed to Mansfield, Mass.
WILLIAMS, JOHN .- John Williams of the third generation was the son of John and Almira (Elwell) Williams [287]. His wife, Lydia, was a sister of Jonathan C. Bugbee, who res. at Otterville. John, 3d, built and always res. in the house now owned by his son Harrison. His mother and sister Almira, after their return from Manchester, res. in the Marshall Fales house on Colby hill, where Almira had a millinery and fancy goods parlor. John d. March 26, 1882 ; Lydia d. Jan. 24, 1857. Children :
I. Oscar Le Roy, b. Sept. 6, 1841 ; enlisted, Aug. 15, 1862, Com- pany F, Eleventh N. H. V .; d. in hospital at Annapolis, Md., April 19, 1864.
2. Alvin Bailey, b. Oct. 15, 1843 ; enlisted, Aug. 11, 1862, Com- pany F, Eleventh N. H. V. ; appointed corporal ; killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864.
3. Harrison Bugbee, b. April 24, 1845 ; m., Dec. 16, 1878, Liz- zie M., dau. of Whitman Brown; res. in N. L.
4. Weltha Curtis, b. Nov. 4, 1846 ; m., Nov. 3, 1865, Frank P., son of Enoch Messer ; res. in N. L.
5. Roger, b. June 28, 1848; m., May 10, 1871, Harriet, dau. of Benjamin and Delia (Gile) Farnum ; res. in N. L.
6. George H. A., b. May 6, 1852 ; m., Sept. 8, 1881, Emily Eastman, adopted dau. of Horace Clark ; res. in N. L.
WITHY, WILLIAM .- On the clearing between Morgan and Bunker hills now known as the " Hayes place," William Withy built a small cabin about 1830. His wife was Mary, dau. of Joseph Battles [328].
400
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
WOOD, JOHN .- Oldest son of Joseph and Dorothy (Smith) Wood [288]. John res. in Springfield ; from 1830 was in N. L. on the Edwin F. Messer farm for a number of years ; returned to Springfield, and removed thence to Wilmot, where he d. Tryphosia (Parker) Wood d. Wilmot, March 13, 1858, aged 88 years. Children :
I. Clarissa, b. Dec. 19, 1814; m., November, 1838, Curtis, son of James How Messer ; res. in N. L.
2. Amaziah, b. Jan. 3, 1817 ; m. (1) Phebe Jane, dau. of Dea. Elias McIntire of Lyndeboro, who bore him two children ; m. (2) Mary, dau. of Zephaniah Kittredge of Mont Vernon. Amaziah res. in several places, but after 1858 lived in Francestown, where he d. Feb. 8, 1889. Children :
(1). Ellen Augusta, b. Manchester, Nov. 10, 1844; m., Feb. 8, 1866, Addison, son of Amos Parker ; res. in N. L.
(2.) Elias Augustine (twin to Ellen Augusta), d. at four years of age.
(3.) Mary Jane, b. Wilton, Nov. 11, 1847 ; res. Francestown.
(4.) George Kittredge, b. Bristol, Aug. 19, 1849 ; is a teacher at Francestown.
(5.) Charles Eugene, b. Concord, Aug. 13, 1851 ; m., Oct. 25, 1876, Mary Anna Clark of Deering; is a harness- maker at Hillsborough Bridge.
3. Amos P., b. Dec. 19, 1818; was a harness-maker; m., and res. in Enfield and Haverhill.
4. Orin S., b. 1828 ; d. Aug. 17, 1830.
WOOD, WILLIAM .- Came from Loudon, and res. from 1835 to 1842 at the Benton Stanley farm on Burpee hill, selling in the latter year to Jonathan Russell.
WOODWARD, JOHN D .- John D., second son of Capt. Joseph Woodward below, built the Stephen Dean house and res. there. Sally (Sargent) Woodward was the dau. of John and Susanna (Johnson) Sargent [141], and d. June 12, 1843. John m. (2) Dolly Sargent (sister of Sally). A dau. by the first wife, Almacia, m. Amos, son of Capt. Joseph Woodward. Children by second wife were, Anzel, unmarried, and res. in Oregon ; Alice Jane, m. - McCormack. Dolly (Sargent) Woodward d. March 3, 1885.
WOODWARD, CAPT. JOSEPH G .- Captain Joseph was the oldest son of Eliphalet and Martha (Gage) Woodward [170]. After his marriage he settled in Sutton, and cleared what is
ALBERT S. WORTHEN.
401
GENEALOGIES, THIRD PERIOD.
now the James Prescott farm. Polly (Dole) Woodward, who d. June 13, 1822, was the dau. of John and Molly (Pingree) Dole [91], an able, energetic helpmeet for the enterprising young farmer. Joseph m. (2) Mrs. Betsey Johnson, and in 1835 became a resident of N. L. He built the Solon Cooper house, and d. there Aug. 19, 1863. His youngest son, Amos, res. there until the death of his mother, Sept. 25, 1865, when he sold to Micajah Morgan. Joseph had eight children by his first wife, and three by his second, as follows :
I. Marcus, b. Jan. 12, 1807; m. Olive Bryant of Stoneham, Mass., where they res. ; is deceased, leaving children.
2. John D., b. Aug. 22, 18OS; m. Sally, dau. of John and Susanna (Johnson) Sargent ; res. in N. L.
3. Mary Jane, m. David Stickney ; d. in Dracut, Mass. Four children.
4. Martha, m. John Morey ; res. in Sutton.
5. Drusilla, m. (1) Moses Cilley, res. in Andover ; m. (2), Sep- tember, 1839, Micajah Morgan [365].
6. Milton, went West, and d. there.
7. Salome, m., October, 1838, Enoch Messer [361].
8. Joseph, was adopted by his uncle James Woodward [291].
9. Lawson, m. Miss Ellsworth of Penacook ; res. in Oregon.
IO. Eliza, m., Sept. 3, 1844, Edwin R., son of Ezekiel and Emily (Adams) Sargent [139].
II. Amos, m. Almacia, dau. of John D. and Sally (Sargent) Woodward ; removed to Wisconsin in 1865, thence to Min- nesota, and now res. at Lyons, Neb.
WORTHEN, ALBERT S .- Albert S., son of Jacob below, was but a lad when his father came to N. L., and he grew up to a sterling manhood and citizenship in his adopted town. Trained in habits of diligent industry, he was a landowner in 1836, and res. at " Lakeside." He was highly respected by his fellow-citizens, being chosen to several offices of trust and responsibility. His wife, Sally Abbot, dau. of Theodore Abbot [213], was a vigorous, energetic woman, and her large family were trained up to useful manhood and woman- hood. Albert sold his place to his son-in-law, John Pressey, but he and his wife had their home and d. there. Albert d. May 12, 1885 ; Sally d. July, 1891, and was buried on her 77th birthday. Children :
27
402
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
I. Lorenzo, b. Nov. 12, 1834; m. Dorothy Meigs of Lyndon, Vt. ; res. in Hillsborough.
2. Jerome B., b. May 14, 1837 ; m. Margaret Perkins of New- bury ; res. at Melvin's Mills, Warner.
3. Betsey R., b. Feb. 26, 1840; m., Nov. 28, 1860, John, son of Winthrop and Hannah (Bean) Pressey [374].
4. Eugene B., b. Aug. 21, 1846; m. Mary Law; res in Man- chester.
5. Marietta Abbot, b. Jan. 2, 1849; m. David Bean; res. in Manchester.
6. Ai, b. April 25, 1851 ; m. Dec. 25, 1877, Minnie, dau. of Edmund and Emmeline (Young) Davis ; res. in N. L.
7. Byron, b. June 3, 1853 ; m., Oct. 30, 1877, Mary A. Mathes of Columbia. On reaching his majority Byron went to Manchester, and entered the employ of the Amoskeag Manu- facturing company. His faithfulness to the interests of the company was recognized by a promotion in 1883 to the responsible position of superintendent of wheels, a position which he still fills to the entire satisfaction of his employers. The importance of his duties is best understood by a visit to the immense plant of the company, and an inspection of the pits, wheels, and shafting under his charge. Mr. Worthen is a Democrat of the Jeffersonian school, and his fellow- citizens have recognized his ability by electing him to the board of aldermen for two successive terms from 1891-1894. On the resignation of Mayor Knowlton in 1894, Mr. Worthen was elected chairman of the board, and served as mayor for the remainder of the year with credit to himself and his party. In 1896 he received an appointment to the Street and Park commission for a term of six years. He is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, and has passed the chairs in both the subordinate lodge and encampment, I. O. O. F. Mr. Worthen is a truly successful man, but he owes his success to his tireless industry and eminent faithfulness to duty. In his pleasant home on Lake Avenue heights he and his hospitable wife extend hearty welcome and generous entertainment to a host of friends. Children :
(1). Sadie E., b. Oct. 15, 1880.
(2). Harold M., b. Sept. 14, 1892.
8. Cora E., b. April 1, 1855; m. William Clay, and res. in Manchester.
9. Jacob N., b. Dec. 9, 1857 ; d. April 8, 1859.
WORTHEN, JACOB .- Jacob Worthen, b. January, 1791, was a resident of Amesbury, Mass., at the time of his marriage to
HON. BYRON WORTHEN.
403
FOURTH HISTORICAL PERIOD.
Betsey, dau. of Thomas and Betsey (Sargent) Sargent, b. Amesbury, March 7, 1791. After the birth of the oldest son they removed to Sutton, and about 1820 to Springfield. In 1823 Jacob came to the Otterville neighborhood, and built the house now occupied by Richard Morgan, where he res. for many years. Betsey (Sargent) Worthen d. Dec. 21, 1823, and Jacob m. (2), Irene (Merrill) Dow, widow of Jesse Dow, Jr. [239], who d. December, 1852. Jacob m. (3), Mrs. Mary (Burpee) Abbot, widow of Theodore Abbot [213], and removed to her farm in Sunapee. Jacob d. in Sunapee, Feb. 9, 1879, but is buried in N. L. Children :
I. Albert S., b. Amesbury, Jan. 21, 1812; m. Sally, dau. of Theodore Abbot, and res. in N. L.
2. Thomas S., b. Sutton, Oct. 17, 1818; m., March 6, 1849, Betsey J. Roby of Springfield ; res. in N. L.
CHAPTER IX.
FOURTH HISTORICAL PERIOD-THE NEW TOWN HOUSE- RE-ORGANIZATION OF NEW LONDON ACADEMY-PASSING OF THE FIRST CHURCH AND TOWN HOUSE-ROLLS OF MCCUTCHINS GUARDS AND STATE MILITIA-NEW LON- DON'S RECORD IN THE CIVIL WAR-THE BLIZZARD OF 1862-LAYING OF THE CORNER STONE, AND DEDICATION OF THE NEW ACADEMY-MECHANICS' HALL-STATISTI- CAL DATA-TOWN OFFICIALS, 1851-1875.
The fourth historical period includes the years from 1851 to 1875. The warrant for the annual meeting in 1851 was a vol- uminous document, containing, besides the twelve articles per- taining to town affairs, fifteen questions relative to constitu- tional amendments on which the sense of the voters was sought, and a special article " on the adoption of the Home- stead Exemption bill as proposed by the last legislature." This was altogether too much business to be concluded in one session, and the meeting adjourned to Wednesday. The acme of popular interest seems to have been reached on the Home- stead Exemption bill, the first day's vote standing nearly three
.
404
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
to one against the measure. Near the close of the meeting on Wednesday, however, it was voted " that our Representative be instructed to go for an Exemption Bill in the next Legisla- ture."
A warrant for a special meeting called for April 3, 1851, marks an important epoch. For full seventy years the estab- lished centre of the town had been determined by ancient land- marks-the mills at Hominy Pot, the weatherbeaten church and town house, the first store and postoffice. It was now a quarter-century since the opposing force had secured the loca- tion of a new church building on Colby hill. This church, and the academy building erected in 1836, were the magnet that drew the rest.
In the sixty years since the foundations of the church of the fathers had been laid, the structure had passed through many vicissitudes, and ineffaceable finger-prints of Father Time were everywhere visible. The second article of the warrant above- mentioned was,-
"To act on the petition of Stephen Davis and others : To " see if the town will instruct the selectmen to collect in as " soon as may be all the moneys due this town ; and if so in- " structed, to see what instruction the town will give the select- " men for the disposal of the same. Also to see if the town " will build a new town house."
Out of 243 legal voters less than 150 attended the special meeting. The first part of the article was carried by a small plurality, and the selectmen were duly instructed " to take real estate for security." But the fates were not propitious for a new town house, and its champions were obliged to bide their time.
The annual meeting for 1852 also held over to the second day, and the twelfth and last article of the warrant,-" To see if the town will vote to repair the town house"-after pro- longed discussion resulted in a vote,-
" to choose a committee of five, to take into consideration the " condition of the town house, in regard to repairing the same, " or make a new house out of the old one, and report at some " future meeting. Chose the following persons for that commit- " tee : Hiram Davis, Luther McCutchins, Stephen Davis, . " George W. Everett, Horatio Fales."
405
THE NEW TOWN HOUSE.
So much, therefore, had been accomplished by the friends of the movement. A meeting was called November 2, to vote for presidential and vice-presidential electors, and at this meeting a report from the special committee was requested. For some reason they were not prepared, and were admonished by vote to " attend to the duty assigned them, and make their report at the annual meeting in March next."
The committee report was formally made and accepted,-to the effect that it was not expedient to attempt to repair or remodel the old town house. Having voted to erect a new building, the board of selectmen was authorized "to build a "new town house (and use the old town house in building the " new one as far as it will be profitable), between this and the " first day of November next."
Then came the tug of war on the question of location. The first motion,-to build on land owned by the town, near where the old house stood-was declared in the negative, and the fol- lowing one prevailed :
" that the selectmen be authorized to hire money on the " credit of the town, with which to purchase land, on which to " set the town house, near the ' Four Corners' in District No. " 3, in New London."
How popular feeling was tending at this time, may be in- ferred from the closing record of this meeting :
" that if any person shall be found breaking any glass, or " otherwise injuring the town house, he shall be put into the " House of Correction [the poorhouse] for one month."
But the vantage ground thus secured was not to be retained without a struggle. Three special meetings were called in close succession. The first, held on April 6, resulted in the defeat of an attempt to bring about a reconsideration of previ- ous action, after a hot and somewhat lengthy contest. The selectmen were instructed to purchase a site as near the school- house in District No. 3 as practicable, erect a suitable building thereon, and pledge the town's credit for money to carry on the work. It was also decided not to use the old material, but build an altogether new structure, to be completed by the first of November. So much for the first move. A second attempt, on May 2, for reconsideration, or an extension of the time for building, was also defeated.
406
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
The third and last special meeting, held on June 7, was,-
" To see if the town will vote to instruct the selectmen to " locate the new town house between the Baptist Meeting " House and the 'New Boarding House' in said town, pro- " vided the land can be had and the foundation laid free from " all expense to the town."
Of the 66 votes cast, 36 were in favor of the motion to so in- struct. This ended the contest, and the town house was built where it stands to-day.
The selectmen's book of accounts charges the town as fol- lows :
G. W. Everett, for building town house $1042.50
A. C. Carroll, stoves and pipe for same 91.63 ·
Funnel hooks and chains . 5.43 .
. Settees 70.00
B. C. Clement, wharfing around town house 24.25
Insurance
2.86
Lamps, and hanging lamps
12.50
Oil, wood, and care for one year .
6.92
Table
2.50
The reference to the " New Boarding House" in the warrant last referred to, is " another story." The building of the town house was not the only topic for public consideration in the year 1853. The school at New Hampton, easily first in the state among higher institutions of learning open to both sexes, had been freely patronized by Baptists. After its removal to Fairfax, Vt., in 1852, the friends of education connected with the Baptist churches in New Hampshire began to move towards establishing a new denominational school, with literary instruc- tion of a high order, but without the theological department which had been made a special feature in the courses of study at New Hampton. Early in 1853 prominent members of this denomination came together at Concord, and the follow- ing record has been handed down of that meeting :
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