USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Sullivan > A history of the town of Sullivan, New Hampshire, 1777-1917, Volume I > Part 40
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14. THOMAS SNELL NORTON (a second engagement), supplied this church and the church at East Sullivan, from Nov. 5, 1882 until Apr. 1, 1883. For a more complete account of his general work, see before (pastor No. 7).
15. GEORGE WARREN ROGERS, born in Lynn, Mass., Jan. 12, 1821 ; grad- uated at Newbury, Vt., Seminary ; ordained as a Methodist Episcopal minister, Apr. 8, 1850; supplied North Truro, Mass., 1850-51 ; Little Compton, R. I., 1851 - 52 ; Quincy, Mass., 1852-53; Uncasville, Conn., 1853-54; Willimantic, Conn., 1854-55 ; Plainfield, Conn., 1855-57 ; Hazardville, Conn., 1857-59. He studied, without graduation, at the Andover Theological Seminary, 1859-60. He then entered the ministry of the Congregational church, and was settled at Farmington Falls, Me. (also supplying New Vineyard, Me.), 1860-62; Mercer, Me., 1862-63 ; Salem, N. H., 1863-69; Augusta, Ga., 186)-70; Lynn, Mass., 1870-1880 ; Gilsum, N. H., from 1880 until his death, there, Mar. 6, 1888. While living in Gilsum, he supplied the Sullivan pulpit on Sunday afternoons, from June 1, 1884 to Dec. 1, 1884, and again from Sunday, June 7, 1885 to Sunday, Dec. 6, 1885, and on occasional Sundays at other times.
16. FREDERICK BRAINARD PHELPS, born at Belchertown, Mass., Feb. 8, 1829; was one of the forty-niners, who went to California during the gold craze of 1849. After eight years returned to Belchertown, to assist his father. He graduated at the Hartford Theological Seminary in 1870; was ordained at Lowell, Vt., Oct. 1870 ; remained there nine years ; was then four years at St. Johnsbury East Parish, then three years at Erving, Mass. He first preached at Sullivan, Mar. 7, 1886, and was the acting pastor of the Sullivan church from Apr. 1, 1886 to Apr. 1, 1889. During the first two years he supplied the East Sullivan church on Sunday afternoons. During the last year, he also supplied the Gilsum church, and continued to do so for five months after resigning at Sullivan. He then preached four and a half years at Irasburg, Vt. On June 1, 1894, he began an engagement at Whiting, Vt., where he still resides. All the preceding pastors of this church are now (Oct. 1905) deceased.
17. OSCAR HENRY THAYER, born at Warren, Vt., Dec. 5, 1847, not ordained, a lay evangelist who has preached considerably in different parishes. He sup- plied the Sullivan pulpit from Sunday, May 18, 1890, until Sunday, Nov. 20, 1892, a period of about two and a half years, laboring some of the later part of that time at East Sullivan. He is a builder and contractor at Keene.
18. JOSEPH FAWCETT (a second engagement), who supplied the Sullivan pulpit from Sunday, Nov. 27, 1892, until Sunday, July 16, 1893. For a fuller notice of him see No. II of this series of pastors.
A Miss Milton and another lady evangelist occupied the pulpit of this church on the Sundays, June 4 and June 11, 1893.
19. ISAMBERT B. STUART, now (1905) of Hooksett, N. H., supplied the pulpit for three months, from Sunday, July 23, 1893 until Sunday, Oct. 22, 1893.
20. LORENZO D. PLACE, supplied the Sullivan and East Sullivan pulpits from Sunday, Oct. 29, 1893 to Sunday, Dec. 3, 1894. He is still living at Hicks- ville, Long Island, N. Y.
21. JONAS HAMILTON WOODSUM, born at Roxbury, Mass., Oct, 7, 1868, graduated at the Gordon Missionary and Training School in Boston, 1896, and at Newton Theological Seminary (Baptist) 1900. While at the Boston school,
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.
he supplied the two Sullivan pulpits from July 28, 1895 to Nov. 1, 1895. He was assistant pastor of the 2d Bap. church at Rochester, N. Y., 1896-7 ; was ordained at the Baptist church at Hyannis, Mass., April 16, 1891, where he still remains.
In 1896, a Miss Bond and another lady evangelist supplied the pulpit, from Sunday, July 26, to Sunday, Sept. 13.
22. HERBERT WALKER, born at Brant Broughton, Lincolnshire, Eng., Mar. 14, 1871, educated at the Lay College, at Revere, Mass., for his theological train- ing. He took no college course. He was called to become the pastor of the Sullivan churches, June 27, 1897, and accepted the call and began his ministry, July 4, 1897. He was ordained for this purpose in the Calvinistic Congregational church at Fitchburg, Mass., July 8, 1897. He was recognized by the Sullivan church, Jan. 2, 1898. His pastorate closed, Sept. 14, 1902. He was the first pastor, in the ecclesiastical sense, since Mr. Norton. All who had served in the mean time were acting pastors, without special installation and regular settlement here. After leaving Sullivan, Mr. Walker went to Bartlett, N. H., where he still remains.
23. TALMAGE MACAULAY PATTERSON, born at Waterford, N. B., Nov. 10, 1875 ; graduated Cobb Divinity School, connected with Bates College, Me., 1899 ; ordained in the Free Baptist church at New Gloucester, Me., July 6, 1899 ; served at Wilmot Flat, N. H., Sept. 1, 1899 to Sept. 1, 1900 ; at the Hudson Sq. Free Baptist Church of Lynn, Mass., Sept. 20, 1901 to Mar. 30, 1903. Began his ministry in Sullivan, Apr. 1, 1903; installed there as pastor, Mar. 10, 1904. He is the present pastor (1905).
DEACONS.
On Jan. 5, 1793, Elijah Carter and Roswell Hubbard were chosen to " dis- tribute bread and wine at the sacrament, until the further consideration of the church." The following were elected deacons, on the dates named. All served until death if not otherwise noted.
May 10, 1798, ELIJAH CARTER; accepted, July 5, 1798; dismissed to the church at Keene, May 1, 1815.
May 10, 1798, Roswell Hubbard, declined.
May 10, 1798, ZADOK NIMS, accepted and appointed, July 5, 1798; died, Jan. 31, 1842.
Sept. 5, 1798, JOSIAH SEWARD, accepted, Jan. 20, 1799; died, July 10, 1828. May 8, 1816, BENJAMIN KEMP; accepted, Jan. 5 (?), 1817 ; died, July 6, 1843.
Nov. 27, 1828, BENJAMIN FROST ; accepted, July 1I, 1833 ; he sold his farm in Sullivan, Feb. 18, 1837, and left town.
Apr. 26, 1838, SELIM FROST accepted the office of deacon ; resigned, Mar. 5, 1858.
Apr. 26, 1838, JOSEPH FELT accepted the office of deacon ; dismissed, May 25, 1851, to Winchester.
Sept. I (?), 1851, ASA E. WILSON, was absent from 1859 to 1866, dismissed May 2, 1880, to Nelson.
Mar. 5, 1858, Alonzo Farrar chosen as deacon, but declined.
Apr. 29, 1858, CHARLES P. LOCKE; dismissed to Marlborough, June 28, 1865. June 28, 1865, Alonzo Farrar again chosen deacon and declined.
June 28, 1865, Charles Mason chosen deacon and declined.
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Dec. 30, 1869, ATWELL C. ELLIS, dismissed to East Sullivan church, June 20, 1860.
Dec. 30, 1869, LUCIUS NIMS, dismissed Dec. 20, 1875, to be one of a new church at East Sullivan.
May 4, 1876, ALANSON A. NIMS, died Oct. 9, 1883.
Sept. 3, 1880, JEWETT MORSE, died Apr. 2, 1900.
Aug. 10, 1895, ALONZO FARRAR, died, Sept. 24, 1895.
Aug. 10, 1895, AUGUSTUS F. NIMS, died, Mar. 25, 1897.
Apr. 25, 1897, JOSEPH N. NIMS, still serving (1905).
Jan. 15, 1899, EUGENE MARSTON, still serving (1905).
MODERATORS.
The several pastors have been the moderators of the church, while serving in that capacity. In the absence of any pastor, it was formerly customary to choose some neighboring clergyman to act as such, although it was not expected that he would be present at any meeting unless especially summoned. He was expected to exercise a sort of fatherly care for the parish and give advice when asked for it.
At the organization of the church, Oct. 17, 1792, REV. AARON HALL of Keene was chosen as such a moderator, who served until Mr. Muzzy was settled, although, on Aug. 13, 1797, Rev. Edward Goddard of Swanzey appears in that capacity, perhaps acting for a single meeting, as there is no record of his election as a stated moderator.
At a meeting of Aug. 30, 1797, Mr. Muzzy is called Moderator pro tempore. It is therefore possible that Mr. Goddard was chosen as Moderator on the 13th of that month, as the " pro tempore," is not appended to his title.
On Feb. 18, 1830, REV. SETH ARNOLD of Alstead was chosen as such a Moderator.
On July II, 1833, REV. SAMUEL C. BRADFORD was chosen as such a Mod- erator.
On July 2, 1840 (?), REV. ALANSON ALVORD, already supplying in town, was chosen Moderator. He was later installed as pastor.
This appears to be a complete list of all who were chosen to fill the office of Moderator between pastorates.
CLERKS.
The pastors have likewise served as clerks of the church during their terms of service. Between pastorates, and during some of the supplies, laymen have been chosen to fill that important office.
As a rule the records of the church have been as nearly complete as could have been expected, much more nearly complete indeed than similar records of churches in neighboring towns. There are many omissions, some of which are important and to be regretted. Ancient church records often recorded, besides admissions to the church and baptisms, all the deaths and marriages of the town. Such was the case in Sullivan. The admissions to the church, with dates, are completely recorded, from the first to the present. The baptisms have all been recorded, with the full dates, except in a very few, perhaps less than a half dozen,
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cases. All marriages are recorded which were solemnized by the pastors of the old church, and these include very nearly all which were solemnized in Sullivan, after the settlement of Mr. Muzzy. The exceptions are mostly those performed by the Baptist clergymen and by justices of the peace. The deaths of the town were very nearly all recorded, down to the time when the custom began of noting them in the annual town reports. The few exceptions, mostly in the first part of the nineteenth century, were those connected with the Baptist church. A little confusion was produced in the dates of the deaths, because, at first, Mr. Muzzy often used the funeral date instead of the death date.
Between pastorates and during supplies of the pulpit, the following laymen have served as clerks :-
Roswell Hubbard, chosen Oct. 17, 1792, until Mr. Muzzy's ordination.
Selim Frost, Feb. 18, 1830, until Mr. Wright's installation, and again, on July 2, 1840 (?), until Mr. Alvord's installation.
Samuel Locke, appointed at the dismission of Mr. Alvord. He served until Mar. 5, 1846, when the new pastor, Mr. Norton, took the office.
Asa E. Wilson, chosen, Jan. 4, 1859.
Atwell C. Ellis, chosen, May 29, 1859.
Rev. G. W. Stinson began this duty, Dec. 29, 1859.
Atwell C. Ellis, appointed, Sept. 3, 1870, served until June 20, 1880.
Alonzo Farrar, chosen, Jan. 2, 1881 (having probably kept the records after the resignation of Mr. Ellis), served until Apr. 25, 1897.
Winfred J. White, chosen, Apr. 25, 1897, served till Oct. 10, 1897.
Mrs. Frances A. White, chosen, Oct. 10, 1897, served until Jan. 15, 1899, when Rev. Herbert Walker assumed the duties, as pastor. The latter was suc- ceeded by the present pastor, Rev. T. M. Patterson.
GIFTS.
The old church has not been favored with many gifts, and with none that could be called large, although some were quite large if we consider the resources of the donors.
The first gift was certainly quite small in value, but it received a grateful recognition by the town, which at a town meeting, on March 13, 1792, voted " That the thanks of the town be returned to Capt. Abel Allen for the present of a thumb-latch for the meetinghouse door."
The second gift was of communion plate, of two cups and two flagons, of very fine pewter, of the ancient character so much admired in later days, by the brothers, Roswell and Erastus Hubbard. One cup and one flagon are each in- scribed
Presented to the Congregational Church in Sullivan, N. H., by Roswell Hubbard, Esq. 1826.
The other cup and flagon are inscribed in the same way, except that the name is Erastus Hubbard. The church accepted the gift, Sept. 16, 1826, with the fol-
·
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lowing record : " At a church meeting, voted, that we gratefully acknowledge the beneficent donation of Bro. Roswell Hubbard, Esq., and Bro. Erastus Hub_ bard, Esq., in presenting the body two flagons and two cups for sacramental use, and would wish, as a memorial of the same, to have this vote of thanks recorded on the church records.
Recorded by William Muzzy, Pastor."
After the present meetinghouse was built, a son of the first pastor presented the pulpit with a very fine Bible, on the fly-leaf of which is written : -
Presented to the Congregational Church Sullivan, N. H., By W m. M. Muzzy, Philadelphia, August 1850.
James Comstock, who died, Apr. 6, 1861, by his will, gave a valuable wood- lot to the society counected with this church, to which his widow added $200, and Asa Ellis, who died, Feb. 14, 1874, by his will, presented the society with the building and lot which constitute the parsonage. The vote of recognition and gratitude is thus expressed on the records :
" We, the First Orthodox Congregational Parish in Sullivan, N. H., wish to record our indebtedness to Br. James Comstock and his wife, Mrs. Lucy Com- stock, both deceased, for their donation of a wood and timber lot and two hundred dollars in money, the interest to be used for the support of preaching."
" We, also, desire to express our grateful remembrance of our Br. Asa Ellis, deceased, and our thanks to his widow, Mrs. Lucy Ellis, for the donation, by will, of a valuable house, buildings, and land, all of which to constitute a parsonage for the use of said church and parish forever."
Under date of Aug. 31, 1874, is a recognition of a valuable gift of a commun- ion service by Dea. and Mrs. A. C. Ellis.
" The Congregational Church in Sullivan very gratefully acknowledge the gift of a rich and beautiful communion service presented by Dea. Atwell C. Ellis and his wife, July, A. D., 1874." The plate is inscribed :
Presented to the Ist Congl. Church in Sullivan BY Dea. and Mrs. A. C. Ellis, July A. D. 1874.
Mar. 11, 1889, Dauphin W. Wilson gave the church $500, to be used in such manner as may be seen by the following instrument :
" Know all men by these presents that I, Dauphin W. Wilson, of Keene, N. H., desiring to make some testimonial of my respect and esteem to the First Congregational Church in the town of Sullivan, in the County of Cheshire, where I used to attend meetings, do donate and give to said church in trust the sum of
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.
$500.00 (five hundred dollars), the same to be securely invested, for the following purposes : The annual income thereof is to be used and expended in repairing the church building, the parsonage and in the support of preaching, -- the same to be appropriated by vote of the members of the church, or by any committee by them chosen, -- and the principal sum shall be invested as the church may direct from time to time. --- Provided, however, should said church cease or neglect to have preaching for the space of two years, then said $500.00 shall be paid over to the Cheshire County Bible Society, together with any accumulation of interest for general purposes. I direct that this instrument be preserved and recorded in the records of said church, for future reference."
" Witness my hand and seal, this eleventh day of March, 1889." Witness, Silas Hardy. Dauphin W. Wilson. (Seal)
On May 29, 1894, the church met and formally accepted a legacy of one hundred dollars ($100.00) left them by the will of the aforesaid Dauphin W. Wilson, who died at Keene, Mar. 17, 1892. The income was to be used in keep- ing in repair his lot in the cemetery.
On Sept. 1, 1895, a vote of thanks was returned to Dea. Jewett Morse and wife for the present of a tablecloth and towel to the church, for use at the com- munion service.
TREASURERS.
In early times, the small funds required for the purposes of the communion table were probably taken in charge by the deacons. No treasurer was chosen until March 8, 1810, when Erastus Hubbard was chosen. Probably each one in the following list served until the next was chosen.
Erastus Hubbard, Mar. 8, 1810; who left town so long before the election of the next treasurer that the deacons must have taken care of the funds for several years ; Selim Frost, Dec. 3, 1846; Asa E. Wilson, Oct. 29, 1857 ; Atwell C. Ellis, Mar. 3, 1859 ; Asa E. Wilson, Jan. 14, 1871 ; Alanson A. Nims, Jan. 2, 1873; Alonzo Farrar, Jan. 2, 1881 ; Winfred J. White, Apr. 25, 1897 ; Mrs. Frances A. White, Oct. 10, 1897; Samuel S. White, Jan. 15, 1899; the last recorded treasurer, as we go to press.
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
On the second Monday in April, 1825, a Sunday School Association was formed, with Rev. Mr. Muzzy, President ; Dea. Josiah Seward, Vice Pres .; Selim Frost, Superintendent of Sunday School; Samuel Locke, Librarian and Treas- urer ; Samuel Locke, Clerk ; Erastus Hubbard, Calvin Locke, Amos Wardwell, a committee to buy books for the library ; and Elijah Frost, Roswell Hubbard, Nat. Evans, Mrs. John Mason, Abigail Hubbard, and Betsey (or Elizabeth) Morse, Directors. It will be interesting to know that the following were chosen as the first board of teachers in the school : Joseph Seward, Nathaniel Evans, Charles P. Locke, Nancy Locke, Cynthia Locke, Mary Cummings, and Grace S. Wiggin (a sister of Mrs. Nathaniel Evans). It was voted to use as text books, from which teachers could give lessons " the Holy Scriptures, Wilber's Reference Testament, Cummings's Questions, Emerson's Historical Catechism, Wilber's Biblical Cate- chism, Watts's Divine Songs, Hymns for Infant Minds, and the Selections." It was voted that " at the close of the exercises of each year, the scholars shall
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
receive a serious and an affectionate address, either on the Sabbath or some other convenient day, from some one whom the directors may appoint." Sub- sequent presidents were James Sawyer, May 4, 1828; Rev. Josiah Peabody, Apr. 18, 1829; James Sawyer, May 2, 1830; Joseph Felt, Apr. 8, 1833; Rev. Joel Wright, Apr. 12, 1835; Samuel Locke, Apr. 30, 1837; Rufus Mason, Apr. 28, 1839; Selim Frost, Apr. 23, 1840; D. Grosvenor Wright, May 2, 1841 ; beyond which date the records of the association are not continued. Selim Frost continued to be the superintendent of the school for many years, until Apr. 28, 1839, when D. Grosvenor Wright was chosen. Joseph Felt followed, Apr. 23, 1840, and was the last named in the old records. It would be impossible to give a complete list of the teachers, and probably not possible to give an exact list of the superintendents who followed Mr. Felt. The writer well remembers the school as it was during the ministries of Mr. Norton and Mr. Stinson. It was then in a very flourishing condition, with ten or a dozen well-filled classes. Of course there are now very few children in comparison with the olden time, but the school is still all that conditions can warrant.
SOCIETY.
The old custom of supporting a minister by the town ended in Sullivan with the ministry of Mr. Muzzy. We have already (see page 385) spoken upon this subject. When the town ceased to hire and pay ministers, it became necessary that there should be a responsible body to perform that function. Hence an organization called a SOCIETY was formed in connection with the church, to devise the ways and means of raising money and sustaining preaching. Such a society was organized in Sullivan on June 6, 1827. At a subsequent meeting, on' June 27, they adopted a series of by-laws for their government.
The treasurers before 1834 were: Joseph Seward, June 23, 1827 to May 4, 1829; Roswell Osgood, from last date to Jan. 23, 1833; Samuel Locke, from last date to Jan. 20, 1834. The clerks for the same period were : Joseph Seward, June 23, 1827 to Jan. 23, 1833; Benjamin Frost, from last date to Jan. 20, 1834. Since 1834, the clerk has always, at the same time, been treasurer. These clerks and treasurers have been the following, each serving from the date following his name to the election of his successor : Benjamin Frost, Jan. 20, 1834; Samuel Locke, Jan. 18, 1836; Selim Frost, Jan. 13, 1840; Atwell C. Ellis, Jan. 5, 1858; Alanson A. Nims, Dec. 21, 1880; Mason Adams Nims, Dec. 18, 1883 ; Jewett Morse, Dec. 16, 1884; Mason A. Nims, Dec. 17, 1895; Eugene Marston, since Dec. 19, 1899.
The meetinghouse sextons are always somewhat important personages. Previous to 1799, there is no record of the appointment of any. The old first meetinghouse, to that time, had probably been cared for by James Rowe, who lived nearest to it of anyone. From 1799 to 1833, both years inclusive, the town of Sullivan elected men to fill this position, at the annual town meetings. In some years they received a very modest compensation for their trouble, although it may be seen by certain quaint votes that the town was quite particular that they should earn their pay. Those elected by the town were the following, who were chosen at the annual meetings of the years named, each serving till the election of a successor : 1799, James Rowe; 1800, Josiah G. White ; 1801,
45
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.
James Rowe; 1803, Josiah G. White; 1804, James Wilson; 1805, Thomas Powel (who lived in a house just west of the Whites) ; 1807, Josiah G. White ; 1809, Enoch Woods; 1811, John Wilson, for $1.75; 1812, Philip Proctor, for $1.65; 1813, Aaron Baker, for $2.05; 1814, Caleb Winch, Sr., for $2.50 ; 1815, Ebenezer B. Collester, for $5.00; 1816, Erastus Kemp, for $5.00 ; 1817, Ebenezer B. Collester, for $4.92; 1818, Roswell Hubbard, for $4.50 ; 1819, George Hub- bard, for $3.30; 1820,, Roswell Hubbard, "the meetinghouse to be kept well sanded, swept once every two months, the snow to be kept off the steps, and to be opened and shut on Sabbaths and all other public days through the year "; 1821, Roswell Hubbard, for $2.95; 1822, Emerson Baker, for $1.80; 1823, Ebenezer B. Collester, for $1.89; "Voted to have the doors that open into the body of the meetinghouse hung with weights "; 1824, Selim Frost, for $2.40 ; 1825, John Winch, for $3.00 ; 1826, George Hubbard, for $4.00, " to provide fuel for stove and keep a fire in it when necessary," the first time that such a requirement appears on record; 1827, Gilman Miller, for $4.00; 1828, Calvin Locke, for $4.35 ; 1829, Calvin Locke, for $5.00, " not to be paid unless conditions were complied with "; 1830, Wm. Comstock, for $3.90 ; 1831, Joseph Seward, for $3.90, " Voted not to sand the meetinghouse "; 1832, George Hubbard, for $4.75 ; 1833, Charles P. Locke, for $4.85.
After this, the town did not elect any more meetinghouse sextons, so far as the records show. The First Congregational Society then engaged them from that time to the present day. Benjamin Kemp, Jr., who lived near, appears to have been the caretaker from 1833 to 1840. After this, the following : 1840 to 1846, Benjamin Kemp, Jr. ; 1846 to 1850, Samuel Pond; 1850 to 1854, Benjamin Kemp ; 1854 and 1855, Hersey Wardwell ; 1855 and 1856, Seth Nims ; 1857 and 1858, Amos Wardwell ; 1859 to 1864, Hersey Wardwell ; 1864, Wm. Leland; 1865, John Locke ; 1866 to 1881, Fred A. Farrar (and his father) ; 1881 and 1882, Fred C. Nims; 1882 to 1885, Seth Nims; 1885 to 1896, Jewett Morse; 1896 to 1901, Willard M. and Frank E. Jewett, together; 1901 to the present time (1906), Frank E. Jewett.
The moderators and select committees of the society are so numerous, and the list of collectors so large, that we cannot undertake here to give the list which would include about all the names of members of the society and, in some instances, many times. Nor in the list of church officers could we include all the delegates to the various conventions nor the numerous minor committees.
SALARIES.
It was a special duty of the society to provide a salary for the minister, which was practically all the charge upon the society, except the heating of the meetinghouse and a modest compensation to the meetinghouse sexton, and excepting also needed repairs and insurance. Mr. Muzzy (later spelled Muzzey) received $500 as a settlement. He built and lived in his own house. His salary was to be £65 per year, to be increased 40 shillings a year, until it should amount to £75 per year. This would have been about $375 a year in the later money. He was also to have 35 cords of wood drawn yearly to his house and the privilege of taking three Sundays each year to visit his friends. The salary of Mr. Peabody was $300 a year, but he only remained about eleven months as pastor. The salary of Mr. Wright was $350 a year; of Mr. Alvord, $400; of
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Mr. Norton, $325, at first, and finally $400; and of Mr. Stow, $600. The last named minister was an exceptionally able man for so small a town. Since then the salaries have varied considerably. The present salary is $500 per year. The pastors have had the use of a parsonage, in addition to salary.
GIFT.
The society (as distinguished from the church) received one gift of which no account appears upon the distinctive records of the church. At a meeting of the society, Dec. 25, 1877, a Christmas gift from Mason J. Osgood, a native of the town and a son of the late James W. Osgood, was received. It was " Voted to accept and adopt the following preamble and resolution : Whereas Mason J. Osgood has shown his interest in the First Congregational Church and Society in Sullivan by a substantial gift of $50.00 (fifty dollars) :
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