USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Hampstead > A memorial history of Hampstead, New Hampshire, Congregational Church 1752-1902, Volume II > Part 12
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Flora A. Tabor,
Grace 1. Leach,
Clara E. Fitts.
Honorary member-W. Amos Fitts.
The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, auxiliary to the N. H. Branch of the Woman's Board of Missions, was organ- ized May 31, 1874, with Miss Ann M. Howard, president, and thirty-three members. Only eleven are living in 1902. Mrs. Mary J. (Heath) Sanborn has been secretary and treas- urer from the organization to 1902. The members have contributed in all $452, an average of fifteen dollars annu- ally.
The members in 1902 are :-
Mrs. Martha(Sanborn ) Ordway, Mrs. John H. Clark,
.. Clara A. Davis, Isaac Randall,
Miss Sarah O. Brickett,
Calvin A. Merrick,
.. Agnes Millar,
". Aaron Smith,
Mrs. Mary C. Atwood,
W. Amos Fitts,
Belinda G. Wilson,
Charles O. Cass,
James W. Sanborn,
Charles W. Pressey,
John W. Tabor,
Mary E. Eastman,
Mary J. Sanborn, Miss Mary E. Spollett, Mrs. Joseph G. Brown,
Sabrina D. Noyes,
Alden Pillsbury,
Miss Gertrude S. Pillsbury.
W. Alonzo Griffin,
" Martha (Sanborn) Ord- way,
Miss Mary E. Spollett, " Mary F. Heath,
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HISTORY.
The ladies have, without doubt, added their efforts and aid to every good work through all of the years of the growth of the church, but in attempting to write a history covering a period of years in which no official record seems to have been kept, we can only give a few facts as told by old people, which they had heard from their elders, concerning the work done by the women of the Hampstead church in the early part of the past century. Weare told that the ladies in 1830 took great delight in their sewing circle, that they made dickies, both ruffled and plain, stocks, collars and wrist- bands, which they sold to the gentlemen who joined them at the substantial supper and the social hours of the evening ; that donation parties were an interesting feature of the work of the ladies, and many a sick and needy family in Hamp- stead was relieved by their kind offerings.
We find no written record of an organization until 1852, when they subscribed their names to the following constitu- tion :-
ARTICLE 1. The name of this association shall be the Hamp- stead Ladies' Charitable Society.
ART. 2. The object of this society shall be to create funds, by work or other approved means, to be appropriated to such objects of charity as shall be agreeable to a majority of the members at any regular meeting.
ART. 3. Any lady contributing annually twenty-five cents to the funds of the association shall be a member.
ART. 4. The officers of the society shall be a superintendent, two assistant superintendents, and secretary, who shall be the treasurer. These shall appoint as many collectors as they shall deem expedient, and shall constitute a board of managers.
ART. 5. There shall be an annual meeting of the association at such time and place as the board of managers shall desig- nate. when a report shall be presented by the secretary, officers elected for the ensuing year, and such other business transacted to promote the objects of the association.
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HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
ART. 6. The society shall meet at least once a month, to- gether or in sections, as may be agreed upon by its members.
ART. 7. This constitution shall be subject to an alteration at only a regular meeting, and upon the recommendation of the board of managers.
The names of the signers of this constitution were :
Mrs. Susan Bartley,
Betsey E. Eastman,
Susan R. Eastman,
Susan E. M. Stevens,
Nabby K. Brickett,
Elizabeth Calef,
Adeline H. Eastman,
Martha Jane Adolphus,
Sally Harriman,
Judith S. Eastman,
Elizabeth Emerson,
Sally Heath,
Clarissa Kent,
Eliza Jane Nichols,
Susan C. Eastman,
Lois Sanborn,
Polly Ayer,
Clara Ann Kent,
Mary Jane Kimball,
Elizabeth Ann Smith,
Eliza S. Ordway,
Abigail R. Heath,
Elvira Ordway,
Ann M. Howard,
Emma E. Ordway,
Martha B. Marble,
Louisa M. Ordway,
Sabra F. Tewksbury,
Nancy Ordway,
Emily J. Davis,
Hannah H. Chase,
Priscilla Sawyer.
Elizabeth M. Chase,
The proceeds during that year, 1852, were $13.62, of which 86.53 were expended as follows by the society : One piece of cotton cloth, $2.30 ; two spools of cotton and but- tons, 14c .; needles, 9c. : chimneys, 25c. : oil, 35c. ; one piece of cotton cloth, 82.20 ; a blank book, 20c. ; and the remain- der of their money was given to the " Seaman's Friend So- ciety " at Portsmouth.
The officers chosen for the year 1852 were : Mrs. Susan Bartley, superintendent ; Mrs. Susan Eastman and Mrs. Nabby Brickett, assistants ; Mrs. Adeline H. Eastman, sec- retary and treasurer.
In 1853 additional members were Esther Bartley, Hannah
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HISTORY.
Drew, Mary Griffin, Mary J. Heath, Mary S. Kent, Ruth G. Merrill, Mrs. Pillsbury, Angeline Simpson, Ann E. Sawyer, Mary P. Eastman.
June 7, 1852, they met at Mrs. Tappan Eastman's, with fourteen members present, and reorganized by the choice of Miss Esther Bartley as superintendent ; Mrs. Tappan East- man and Miss Mary P. Eastman, assistants ; Mrs. Adeline H. Eastman, secretary and treasurer ; and they also voted to meet at the different houses and take tea, two kinds of food only to be served, and that the proceeds for the year should go to the Home Missionary Society.
Aug. 6, 1853, they met at the house of Mrs. Marble, with thirty-six members present. The meeting was opened by prayer by Mrs. Elizabeth Emerson. Then they ent a piece of cloth into sheets and pillow cases. Mrs. Mount gave them one dollar, and they received from a member who brought her own work, three cents.
Sept. 7, 1853, forty members were present at Mrs. Joseph Chase's. The ladies finished the piece of cloth eut at the last meeting and bound a half set of shoes.
Oct. 5, they met at Mrs. John Heath's, and with thirty-five present made fifteen pairs of overalls, they being eut and fitted by the superintendent previous to the meeting, and shoes were bound amounting to $2.12.
Nov. 8, at Mrs. John D. Ordway's, some of the time was devoted to reading from the Memoirs of Mrs. Greenleaf. Thirty-five ladies made sixteen pairs of overalls, and ladies who brought their own work paid 49 cents.
Dec. 13. forty-five met at Mrs. Kimball Briekett's and bound shoes.
January, 1854, forty-seven present made overalls and bound shoes ; singing and prayers.
Jan. 31, fifty-six met at Mrs. Nelson Ordway's and bound shoes amounting to $2.20.
Feb. 14, seventy-five met at Mrs. N. C. Smith's, where they
147
HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
sold confections and had many contributions from the gen- tlemen, and remarks by Mr. Bartley, their pastor.
Feb. 28, eighty met at Mrs. Tristram Little's and bound shoes, etc.
March 8, forty met at Mrs. Drew's and bound shoes.
April, fifty met at Mrs. Bartley's.
May, forty met at Mrs. Silas Griffin's.
June 29, 1854, twenty met at Mrs. Benj. Pillsbury's. The secretary reported as follows of the year's work: The soci- ety has met thirteen times, besides the annual meeting. List of articles made by the society and presented to the " Sea- man's Friend Society," Boston : Two and one-half pairs of sheets, 82.65 ; six pillow cases, $2.10 ; two pairs shirts, $2.26. Cotton cloth remaining, $2.33; yarn and knitting, 50c. ; quilt. $2: money received for work, $47.16, and remaining as avails for the year $50.13, which was appropriated in the following manner : Thirty dollars was given to constitute Rev. Mr. Bartley a life member of the American Home Mis- sionary Society ; fifteen dollars to the Mission among the Chinese in California, receipts for which have been received, and also a bundle valued at $6.91 to the Seaman's Home in Boston.
Sept. 6, 1854, sixteen ladies met at the meeting house and listened to a reading by Mrs. Bartley upon being " ready for every good work," after which a new constitution was adop- ted and a new force of officers elected : Mrs. Esther Bart- ley. president ; Mrs. Hannah J. Drew, vice-president ; Miss Judith S. Eastman, secretary ; Miss Emma E. Ordway, treas- urer : and Mrs. Elizabeth P. Ordway, Mrs. Louisa M. Ord- way, Mrs. Nabby K. Brickett, Mrs. Phebe L. Sawyer, Miss Abby R. Heath, were chosen directresses. They adopted as a preamble, " Believing that union is strength, and that vol- untary associations for benevolent purposes have a direct tendency to promote and strengthen the kindred feelings we ought to cherish towards each other, the subscribers propose
148
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HISTORY.
to form themselves into a society, the object of which shall be the extension of the knowledge and influence of the gos- pel and mutual improvement, and for this purpose we adopt the new constitution."
The new constitution was not materially different from the one formed in 1852, except they were to be governed by a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, and five directresses. " That one-half hour of each meeting should be devoted to reading," and that " any gentleman who sus- tains a good moral character may become a member of this society by paying twenty-five cents annually." The only new members of the forty ladies who signed the constitution were : Marietta Buck, Mary J. Drew, Annette Colby, Julia A. Colby, Betsey P. Little, Mary A. Pike, Lydia A. Ring, Mary J. Titcomb, Sophia A. Greenleaf, Abby B. Spollett.
The work was carried on as in 1853, and Mrs. Susan Bartley was made a life member of the American Home Missionary Society by the payment of thirty dollars from their proceeds for the year 1854.
It was in these years that the society was very dear to its members. (See No. 423, "Sketches of Members.")
In 1856 there were twenty members, but their meetings were largely attended, as in March, 1856, at Mrs. N. C. Smith's, they had seventy present, collected $7.08, and pre- sented Mr. Bartley with twelve dollars as a gift.
Jan. 11, 1860, the society was again reorganized, and their constitution very little changed. The following members signed it for the year :-
Mrs. Susan Batchelder, Mrs. Thomas K. Little,
R. K. Brickett,
" William C. Little,
Elizabeth Calef,
" Caleb Moulton,
Miss Nancy Marston,
Miss Abby Currier, Julia A. Colby, Nancy Ord way,
Mrs. Jesse Davis, Mrs. Nelson Ordway,
Adeline Eastman, " J. D. Ordway.
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HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Mrs. Dea. Eastman,
George W. Eastman,
Miss Sophia A. Greenleaf,
" Benjamin Sawyer,
Mrs. Sally Harriman,
" William Sanborn,
Isaac Heath,
" John W. Tabor,
Miss Ann M. Howard,
" John Ordway,
Abby R. Heath,
" John C. Drew,
Tristram Little,
Mrs. John Jackson,
« Amos Ring,
Dea. Kent,
" Sarah Chandler.
HONORARY MEMBERS.
Rev. T. C. Pratt,
Mr. L. W. Frost,
Mr. Amos Buck,
" John S. Titcomb,
" D. H. Emerson,
" Frank Kent,
" Nelson Ordway,
" George W. Eastman.
" N. C. Smith,
They elected Mrs. John C. Drew, president; Mrs. T. C. Pratt, vice-president; Sophia A. Greenleaf, secretary and treasurer.
Voted, that thirty dollars in their hands be appropriated to constitute Rev. T. C. Pratt a " life member of the Ameri- can and Foreign Christian Union." There were nearly a hundred persons present.
In 1860 there were forty-four members-thirty-five ladies and nine gentlemen-and they had sixteen meetings, all largely attended.
From 1860 to 1868 the society meetings were well at- tended, and in the form of a social, with readings and other entertainments in the evenings at various homes. Sept. 8, 1862, it is recorded at a meeting at R. K. Brickett's, " a good number of young people were present, and cheerfulness and sociability prevailed." And Aug. 20, 1862, " a number of the volunteers were present, and addresses made by Mr. Pratt, Messrs. Garland and Buck in a happy manner." Much
Mary J. Heath,
Miss Sarah Little,
Mrs. T. C. Pratt,
Henry Putnam,
150
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HISTORY.
of the money raised was given to the "Soldiers' Aid Soci- ety." Few meetings were holden without at least seventy- five persons present.
In September, 1867, the annual meeting was held at the house of Mrs. Tappan Eastman, with few present, and the reorganization of the Society was effected by voting to take some of the funds collected at the social and purchase mate- rials for work, and that Mrs. T. C. Pratt have charge of the Charitable Society only, and Mrs. J. Henry Clark look after the social gatherings connected with it. The members ad- mitted at that time were :-
Mrs. Mary E. Irving,
Miss Mary E. Merrill,
W. H. Brickett,
" Lucy A. Sawyer,
.J. HI. Clark,
Mrs. B. F. Herrick,
Isaac Smith,
Tristram Little,
Mary Brickett,
Miss M. Jennie Little,
.J. T. Brickett,
" Lizzie Locke,
L. W. Frost,
" Edwina Eaton,
Luther Chase,
Henry Putnam, John C. Little,
Hannah Titcomb,
Ann Howard,
John Jackson,
T. C. Pratt,
Linus H. Little,
E. M. Locke,
George O. Jenness,
" Tappan Eastman,
Adin T. Little,
Sally Harriman,
Charles Peasley,
Abby Brickett,
Frank H. Sawyer,
Benjamin Sawyer,
B. Frank Herrick,
" Lizzie Hunkins,
John H. Clark,
Miss Mary A. Merrill,
Dea. Jona. Kent.
Nov. 5, 1867, the ladies met for work in the afternoon at Mrs. Kimball Brickett's, and only eleven members present. Knitting was introduced and six pairs of hose commenced, and in the evening of that day the social was held at Mrs. Jesse Emerson's, and about " fifty present and a royal good time enjoyed."
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HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Trouble ensned, and in 1868 only three members would unite with the society-Mrs. E. M. Locke, Mrs. Colby, and Mrs. Nelson Ordway.
We find no records of meetings holden until December, 1870, when a few ladies met at Mrs. John H. Clark's for the purpose of forming a " Ladies' Benevolent Society, which was organized with Mrs. E. W. Bullard as president, Mrs. Mary C. Brickett as vice-president, Mrs. Wmn. H. Davis as secretary and treasurer, and a committee in each school district to find places to hold meetings-Mrs. Wm. C. Little, No. 1; Miss Mary J. Heath, No. 2: Miss H. A. Eastman, No. 3; Mrs. M. A. Eastman, No. 4.
The constitution drawn by the committee, Mrs. E. W. Bullard, Mrs. Mary C. Brickett, Mrs. Wm. H. Davis, and Miss Ann M. Howard, was as follows ;-
" PREAMBLE .- We, the ladies of the Congregational Church and Society, believing that volunteer association for benevolent purposes has a direct tendency to promote and strengthen the kindred feelings we ought to cherish towards each other, and that we ought to be ready for every good work, we therefore pro- pose to form ourselves into a society with the design to promote these objects. We therefore recommend and agree to be gov- erned by the foregoing constitution.
ART. 1. This Society shall be called " The Hampstead La- dies' Benevolent Society."
ART. 2. The object of this Society shall be to cultivate ac- quaintance with ladies in different sections of the town, to promote unanimity of feeling on all subjects tending to elevate society generally, and also to procure funds for benevolent pur- poses.
ART. 3. Any one over fourteen years of age can become a member of this Society by paying twenty-five cents annually.
ART. 6. In order to increase the funds it is expected that all present at any meeting, whether members or not, shall pay five cents.
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HISTORY.
Articles 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10, relating to business of the offi- cers, etc.
The members belonging to the Benevolent Society were :
Rev. Mr. Bullard,
William H. Davis,
Mrs. George O. Jenness, " John Titcomb,
Horace R. Sawyer,
Miss Helen A. Eastman,
John H. Clark,
Mrs. William Sanborn,
R. K. Brickett,
" M. Irving,
J. S. Titcomb, Dea. Sanborn,
" Nathaniel Smith, " Rufus C. Smith, Miss H. E. Hoyt, Mrs. M. C. Brickett,
Joseph Chase,
John W. Tabor,
James Knight,
George W. Eastman,
H. C. Eastman,
" M. A. Currier,
J. D. Ordway.
H. C. Eastman,
J. L. Cunningham,
Isaac Heath, Miss Anna L. Heath, Mrs. E. M. Locke,
Nelson Ordway,
Tristram Little,
Tristram Little,
Sally Harriman,
Rufus Bailey,
Sally Hubbard, Miss A. M. Howard.
Caleb J. Hoyt, Mrs. E. W. Bullard,
R. K. Brickett,
" Benjamin Sawyer, Amos Buck,
Miss Mary J. Heath,
Abner Chandler,
Abby R. Heath, Mrs. C. J. Hoyt, " J. H. Clark,
" Susan V. Eastman, Mr. Jacob Irving, Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Griffin,
Fannie Williams, infant,
George R. Bennette.
Mrs. J. Kimball,
Mrs. C. J. Sherman.
" W. H. Davis, Miss M. E. Clark,
Dr. W. E. Bullard,
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Pressey, Miss Agnes Millar,
" Incy A. Bullard, Mrs. Nelson Ordway, Miss Nancy Ordway, Mrs. John JJackson,
Nathaniel Smith,
Silas Tenney,
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HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
The members held meetings at the various homes of the members, with afternoon work on quilts, shirts and knitting work, and a social gathering in the evening, interspersed with songs, recitations and games. In 1877 the secretary says : " Less interest has been manifested during the past year and less meetings held than any previous year." Only nine meetings of the Benevolent Society were held in 1878. In May it is recorded that " The Ladies' Sociable met at the Town Hall ; prayer by Rev. Albert Watson ; 'the Social Gem' was prepared by Misses Cynthia S. Mills and Susie C. Smith, and recitations by Rev. Albert Watson and Master Charlie Grover." They received $4 by admission at the door.
The Benevolent Society held few meetings until Jan. 14, 1880, when the members met with the "Sociable " at Mrs. Alfred Emerson's, Jan. 14, where there were eighty persons present, and the members of the Benevolent Society "ex- cused themselves to elect some new officers."
Very little interest was manifested in the meetings, the "sociable " being the leading attraction for the young peo- ple of the parish. The members were :-
Rev. and Mrs. Albert Watson, Edwin S. Pressey, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Emerson, Dea. and Mrs. C. W. Williams, E. M. Locke, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. W. Pressey, Mr. and Mrs. John H. Clark, Dea. and Mrs. Wm. Sanborn, Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Pike, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph G. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Moses B. Little, Mrs. M. E. Corson, Mr. and Mrs. Tristram Little, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Ordway, Mr. and Mrs. Ezra W. Foss, Mrs. R. K. Brickett, Jesse B. Shirley,
Mrs. Margaret Marshall,
Tappan Eastman,
Laura Corson,
Belinda G. Wilson, Mary E. Irving,
Win Fellows,
Almira Perley,
Lizzie Hunkins, Martha E. Lake,
Lizzie Coaker,
Lizzie Little,
Abner Chandler,
Miss Abbie F. Chandler,
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HISTORY.
C. H. Wood,
Miss Abbie Pillsbury,
Daniel H. Emerson,
Nellie F. Perley,
Mr. and Mrs. P. H. Shannon,
Abbie Heath,
Capt. William Griffin,
Ann M. Howard,
Col. Albert L. Eastman,
66 Imcy S. Johnson,
Willie 1. Love,
66
Abbie A. Johnson,
Arthur Bond,
Judith Eastman,
Rufus H. Bailey,
Clara A. Irving,
Fred Clark,
.. Annie E. George.
The first four months of 1880 were memorable for the enjoyable evenings spent by the members of the Sociable and their young friends. In January they met with Mrs. Alfred Emerson, with eighty present ; February, with Mrs. Charles W. Pressey, thirty-six present: March 3, with Mrs. Charles Osgood, with eighty present ; March 19, Mrs. Eben Hoyt's, with twenty-two present; March 31, at Mr. Giles Marble's, with forty-two ; April 18, at Mrs. Dea. Sanborn's, fifty-three attending ; and April 18, at Mrs. E. M. Coaker's, with fifty- seven present. At each meeting there were various games, charades, recitations, readings and singing by the young people. They then adjourned until autumn, when the par- ties were again resumed. The secretary, in her annual report for the year ending Oct. 29, 1881, records : "For various reasons it has not been thought best to meet as often as in some years past. We trust, however, that some good has been accomplished, which shall benefit not only those of us who have met together to enjoy a social hour, but some less favored than ourselves." The report of the year showed that they held ten meetings, a membership of fifty-five- thirty-seven ladies and eighteen gentlemen-and raised $31.81 : that they had sent $10 to foreign missions, two bar- rels of clothing and two dollars sent to the Kansas refugees, and $19.91 spent for necessary articles for the church.
At that date, Oct. 29, 1881, they voted "to revise the constitution," by a committee consisting of Mrs. E. M.
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HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Coaker, Miss Abbie A. Johnson, and Mrs. Mary E. Eastman, which was adopted at an adjourned meeting, Nov. 9, 1881, at Y. M. C. A. Hall, as follows :-
ART. 1. This society shall be an auxiliary to the Congre- gational Church at Hampstead, and its name shall be " The Ladies' Social Circle."
ART. 2. The object of this Society shall be to cultivate ar- quaintance with ladies in different sections of the town, to pro- mote unanimity of feeling on all subjects tending to elevate society generally, and also to raise funds for the benefit of the church and society, and for other objects, as shall from time to time be decided on by a vote of the Society.
ART. 3. Any lady over fourteen years of age may become an active member, and any gentleman over fourteen years of age may become an honorary member by paying twenty- five cents annually.
ART. 4. In order to increase the funds it is expected that all present at any meeting, whether members or not, shall pay five cents.
ART. 5. The officers of the Society shall be a president, vice-president, and secretary, who shall also act as treasurer.
ART. 6. There shall be an annual meeting of the Society early in October, when a report shall be presented by the secre- tary, officers elected for the ensuing year, and any other business transacted as shall be deemed necessary to promote the objects of the Society.
ART. 7. The officers may at any time call a special meeting by giving due notice in the church.
ART. 8. Eight members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
ART. 9. This constitution shall be altered or amended by a two-thirds vote of the Society at any regular meeting.
ART. 10. Each meeting shall be closed with prayer.
The officers then chosen were: Mrs. John Page, presi- dent; Mrs. Alfred Emerson, vice-president; and Katie E.
156
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HISTORY.
Coaker, secretary and treasurer. The members joining the " Ladies' Social Circle " in 1881, Nov. 9, for the following year, were :-
Mrs. E. M. Coaker,
Mary E. Eastman,
C. W. Williams,
" John Page,
" J. Henry Clark, C. W. Pressey,
Belinda Wilson,
Alfred Emerson,
O. E. Follansbee,
" R. K. Brickett,
" Mary A. Bragdon,
" E. M. Locke,
" Lizzie Little,
" Nellie Ordway,
" Bailey,
" Abner Chandler,
" Nelson Ordway,
Mary E. Corson,
" Laura A. Corson
Amanda Cass,
Miss Judith S. Eastman,
" Katie E. Coaker,
" Lizzie Johnson,
Abbie A. Johnson,
Lucy Johnson,
Annie Graham,
Miss Ann M. Howard,
Nellie Perley,
Ada Nichols,
Alice M. Little,
Mary E. Spollett,
Agnes Millar,
Rev. and Mrs. Albert Watson, Mrs. Joseph G. Brown,
" Lewis Little,
" Lizzie Hunkins, Mr. Wm. H. Davis,
Dea. John Page,
John S. Corson,
J. Henry Clark, Capt. Moffatt,
Col. A. L. Eastman,
Charles H. Emerson,
Charles W. Garland, Mariner Chase,
John Lawton,
Isaac Randall,
Forrest E. Merrill,
Dr. Isaac Tewksbury,
George E. Lake,
George G. Williams, F. W. Coaker.
The first meeting of the " Ladies' Social Circle " was held at Mrs. E. M. Coaker's, with eighty persons present, who were entertained with instrumental music by Susie Stimson and Etta Hunkins, singing by Abbie F. Chandler, Mrs. Coaker, John S. Corson and William H. Davis. Prayer by Rev. Albert Watson. $8.65 was collected, also a present from Miss Hannah Howard of $10.
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HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
From this meeting the members of the Social Circle showed an interest in the work from year to year, and during the colder season meetings were held every two weeks at the homes, which were largely attended and enjoyed.
In June, 1886, several deeply interested ladies who were tireless workers, and seeing urgent need of funds to finish and furnish the parlor, kitchen, etc., incident to the new vestry, in a manner creditable to the church organization, pledged themselves to work especially for that cause, but not realizing the extent or how much they might accomplish, no special records were kept, It is, therefore, from the reminiscences of Mrs. G. R. Bennette and other of the ladies interested that we are indebted for items concerning their work.
The first meeting was held in the Town Hall, where a dozen or more ladies met and talked over plans of how they could raise the most money for their purpose, and adjourned to meet with Mrs. E. M. Locke in one week, when many more ladies met with them, and they named themselves the " Vestry Aid Society," which included most of the ladies of the church and society who were conveniently situated to be helpers. They chose Mrs. Mary E. Eastman, Mrs. Mary J. Fellows, Mrs. E. M. Coaker and Mrs. George R. Bennette, directresses to provide work. They also agreed that any person attending should pay five cents and improve every moment doing fancy work for a coming " sale about Christ- mas." As the year rolled around they saw so many things needed to beautify the new vestry that with increased inter- est they kept on busily working to plan how they could in- crease the funds so much desired. A few more months and the members of the V. A. S. held receipted bills for $365.65, expended as follows : Paid to the building committee, $140 ; for dishes, $50.66: for shades, lamps and oyster bowls, 837.80 ; for parlor carpet, $15.47 ; for glassware, $7.50 ; for a mirror, $6.50; table for the parlor, $4 ; for mantle, $1.43 ;
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