USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Hampstead > A memorial history of Hampstead, New Hampshire, Congregational Church 1752-1902, Volume II > Part 13
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158
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HISTORY.
incidental expenses to raise the full amount to $400 ex- pended.
The children, under the direction of Mrs. Charles H. Sweet, gave a series of entertainments, realizing the sum of $41.40, and purchased the pulpit and chair, and chandeliers, and six lamps for the chapel, as a worker with the V. A. S., whose members have the satisfaction of seeing the parlor and kitchen of the vestry as pleasant and comfortable as the Society in Hampstead ean wish.
Mrs. Mary E. Eastman and Mrs. Albert H. Little solicited funds to assist in building and furnishing the vestry, and collected from one hundred and thirty-six persons the sum of $977.75 towards the objeet in 1886.
Jan. 3, 1888, the members of the Ladies' Social Circle voted " to unite with the Y. P. S. C. E. in holding sociables." The first was held Jan. 11, 1888, in the vestry, with thirty- nine persons present, who were entertained by readings by Miss Mabel Watson and Jennie Coaker, recitations by Frances Buzzell ; singing by a quartette, Messrs. Corson and Spinney, Misses Minnie C. Townsend and Annie L. Kimball of Chester : prayer by Rev. Albert Watson. They collected $2.00, and gave the Y. P. S. C. E. $1.
At the close of the year they voted " to extend a vote of thanks to the Y. P. S. C. E. for their kind and able assist- ance since the societies united," and credited them with $22.49.
Members in 1890 were :-
Mrs. Albert Watson,
Miss Mabel Watson,
Mrs. C. W. Pressey,
Albert L. Eastman,
" Orren E. Follansbee,
R. K. Brickett,
Mary J. Fellows,
Mrs. Mary JJ. Sanborn,
Mary A. Pike,
" Sarah M. Johnson,
.. John W. Tabor,
" MI. Etta Fitts, Miss Clara 1. Irving, “ Mary E. Spollett,
159
HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Mrs. John H. Clark,
66 Charles Bassett,
Carrie A. Moulton,
66 Lillian Sanborn,
Mary E. Corson,
.: Abbie M. Tabor,
Isaac Randall,
Frank W. Emerson,
Wm. A. Emerson,
Nelson Ordway,
.. Belinda G. Wilson,
Mary E. Griffin,
" Mary A. Bragdon,
" Emma A. Little,
Miss Lucy S. Johnson,
Anna M. Bartlett,
" Abbie A. Johnson,
Bessie Grover,
Cora M. Bassett,
Minnie C. Townsend,
M. Etta Hunkins,
Rev. Albert Watson, Edwin H. Whitehill.
John C. Sanborn,
Orren E. Follansbee,
Charles W. Pressey,
I. Win. George.
W. Alonzo Griffin.
The report of the secretary for the year ending Oet. 31, 1890, says : "Considerable interest has been manifested during the year. We have had very pleasant gatherings, and feel very grateful to our young people for their kind as- sistance in making them enjoyable. Less meetings than usual have been held, on account of the " Auxiliary " and our present needs. We were all interested in the repairs of our church, and cheerfully gave way for the time, hoping it might in no way lessen our zeal, but by working together we might strengthen our bond of sympathy. We are all labor- ing for one common cause, and thus best promote the objects of the L. S. C."
The Ladies' Auxiliary was organized April 10, 1890, with the following officers : President. Mrs. William Fellows : vice-president, Mrs. George R. Bennette ; secretary and treasurer, Miss Mary E. Spollett.
This Society continued until Jan. 20, 1891, when it voted to unite with the " Ladies' Social Circle," and passed over to that organization all the material for aprons, etc., on hand, with the twenty dollars in money which they had unex- pended.
160
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HISTORY.
During the nine months of its existence six hundred and seventy three dollars were raised and expended as follows :
For new cushions for the pews, . $310 68
For decorating the walls of the church, etc.,
249 25
For cleaning and varnishing pews, 60 00
For ventilators,
20 65
For incidentals,
12 42
To the Ladies' Social Circle,
20 00
$673 00
The ladies of the " Auxiliary " then desired a new pulpit set, but felt that they must work on until they earned the money to pay for it, when Col. Albert L. Eastman, who was then confined to his bed by his last illness, urged them to select a set and put it in place. When it was done, the fol- lowing note was received in the last handwriting of Mr. Eastman :-
" To the Ladies of the Auxiliary Society, Miss Mary E. Spollett, Secre- tary and Treasurer :-
The pulpit furniture selected by you for the Congregational Church has been paid for by the undersigned, as per bill enclosed, amounting to $140.21. They now beg leave to present the same, through you, to the Congregational Church and Society of Hampstead, N. HI.
Respectfully, ALBERT L. EASTMAN AND WIFE."
The members of the Auxiliary were :-
Mrs. Orren E. Follansbee,
Benj. F. Rowe,
" Nelson Ordway,
66 W. Alonzo Griffin,
66 Emma A. Little,
John C. Sanborn,
William Fellows,
R. K. Brickett,
". E. L. Spinney,
William Sanborn,
Mrs. Isaac Roundy,
" Horace R. Sawyer,
John E. Mills,
Mary A. Pike,
Belinda G. Wilson,
Frank W. Emerson, Miss Abbie A. Johnson,
" Clara A. Irving,
" Anna W. Bartlett,
" Mary E. Spollett,
161
HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Mrs. C. W. Pressey,
Albert L. Eastman,
" Albert Watson,
·: George R. Bennette,
" John H. Coark,
. John S. Corson,
.. John W. Tabor,
Miss Lucy S. Johnson,
" Mabel A. Watson,
" Sarah O. Brickett,
" Nettie M. Follansbee,
.. Minnie C. Townsend,
Rev. Albert Watson,
Isaac W. George,
.. Charles Tabor, Frederick Spollett.
Nov. 4, 1891, the circle met with Mrs. John S. Corson at their annual meeting, and it was voted " to give $40 an- nually towards parish expenses until otherwise decided."
That the ladies worked assiduously from week to week, from 1890 to 1895, is shown by the following resolutions :-
" Whereas, the Ladies' Social Cirele, with untiring zeal and industry, and a grand devotion to the interests of the Christian Church and Soci- ety with which they are connected. have seenred and generously given results of mueh labor and effort towards the beautifying and adornment of the ehureh edifice; and
Whereas, Mrs. Fellows, Mrs. Eastman. Mrs. Ordway. Mrs. Chandler, and others, with a large spirit of unselfishness, and of lively interest in the well being of the church. have given with unsparing hand to the same beneficent end.
Resolved, That we, the Society of the Hampstead Congregational Church, do hereby express our most hearty appreciation of the lavish expenditures and gifts, and extend to them one and all our hearty thanks for the same.
Respectfully submitted,
F. E. MERRILL, Committee W. II. DAVIS, on
J. S. CORSON, Resolutions, OLIVER PUTNAM. Clerk.
During the year ending Dec. 31, 1901, the ladies had met forty afternoons for work, one evening sociable, eight enter- tainments, one Easter sale, one Christmas sale, and the total cash receipts were $903.61 from all sources.
Early in January, 1901, the ladies residing in Distriet No. 1, being deeply interested in raising funds for the contem- plated repairs on the church, but living too far from the
162
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HISTORY.
centre to often meet with the L. S. C., organized an auxiliary, with Mrs. Albert H. Little, vice-president, in charge. Meet- ings were held weekly at the several homes in the neighbor- hood, and a similar line of work carried on as in the main Circle, namely, making quilts, aprons, fancy work, etc. In the summer, when the church repairs called for money, the Auxiliary paid the treasurer of the Circle $78.64, as the result of their work. A particularly interesting feature was the making of an album quilt containing five hundred or more names, which netted them $50 at ten cents cach. The quilt was presented to Mrs. Rufus P. Gardner. In soliciting names for the quilt the largest number secured by any per- son was one hundred and twenty by Mrs. Benj. F. Rowe.
The members of the Auxiliary in District No. 1 were :-
Mrs. Albert H. Little,
Helen Frost,
Mary E. Putnam,
" Mary A. Pike,
Mrs. Sabrina D. Noyes,
Henry Noves,
Herbert W. Mills,
" John Mills,
John W. Garland, 66 Benjamin F. Rowe,
Charles W. Garland,
Miss Lulu J. Corson,
Eugene L. Spinney,
Charles HI. Whittier,
Amasa W. Hunt,
Carrie E. Sherman.
Arthur H. Little,
With unfaltering zeal, the work by the members of the Social Cirele has been harmoniously and pleasantly carried on to the completion of the one hundred and fiftieth anni- versary of the Congregational Church, and they commence on another period of existence under the most auspicious circumstances. The members of the Circle for the years 1901-02 are :-
Mrs. Mary E. Eastman, Mrs. L. M. Wells,
" Aaron Smith,
Isaac Randall,
Amos Fitts, " Arthur M. Emerson,
Elisabeth H. M. Smith,
" Mildred R. Garland,
163
HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Mrs. Mary A. Tabor,
Mrs. Wm. H. Woods,
Albert H. Little,
Forrest E. Merrill,
" William Fellows (dec'd),
Alden Pillsbury,
. H. W. Tabor,
Frank Pillsbury,
" J. W. Sanborn,
George Hoyt,
" John H. Clark,
Joseph Frost,
Mary J. Sanborn, (. W. Pressey,
John S. Corson,
66 Wm. H. Davis,
Frank W. Emerson,
Benjamin Hart,
Sabrina D. Noyes,
Charles W. Garland,
" Rufus P. Gardner,
Amasa W. Hunt,
C. B. Gilman,
Miss Mary E. Spollett,
H. D. Huntoon,
" Gertrude S. Pillsbury,
Geo. R. Bennette,
" MI. Lillie Hoyt.
HONORARY MEMBERS.
Rev. R. P. Gardner,
Fred S. C. Grover,
Nathaniel Bartlett,
H. Walter Little.
Maurice Randall,
Forrest Merrill,
E. B. Woodward,
Mahlon D. Currier,
W. A. Little,
C. W. Pressey,
Harold E. Corson,
J. W. Sanborn.
List of the officers from 1852 to 1902. as follows :-
SUPERINTENDENTS AND PRESIDENTS.
Mrs. Susan D. Bartley, 1852. Miss Esther Bartley, 1853, '54. '55, 56, '57. Mrs. John C. Drew, 1858, '59, '60. Adeline H. Eastman, 1861, '62.
Fred Kent, 1863.
.: E. M. Locke, 1864, 65.
" T. C. Pratt, 1866, '67. J. H. Clark, 1868.
" E. W. Bullard, 1870, '71, '72, '73, 74. R. K. Briekett, 1875, '76. Albert Watson, 1877, '82. Mary E. Eastman, 1878, 79, '83, '84. '85, '86, '87, '92, '93, '94, '96, '97.
164
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HISTORY.
Mrs. C. W. Williams, 1880, '81.
" John Page, 1881.
Miss Mary E. Spollett, 1888.
Mrs. Charles W. Pressey, 1889.
John S. Corson, 1890, '91.
R. P. Gardner, 1895.
James W. Sanborn, 1898, '99, 1900, '01 to '02.
VICE PRESIDENTS AND ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS.
Mrs. Susan R. Eastman, and Mrs. Nabby Brickett, assistant, 1852.
.. Hannah J. Drew, 1853, '54, '55, '56, '57.
F. A. Pike, 1858.
T. C. Pratt, 1860.
Win. Sanborn, 1861, '62.
66 David S. Clark, 1863.
" Tristram Little, 1864, '65, '66.
.. Clara A. Clark, 1865.
Miss M. Jennie Little, 1868, '69.
Mrs. Mary C. Brickett, 1870, '71, '72.
E. M. Locke, 1873, '74, '75.
Mary J. Sanborn, 1876.
Wm. A. Emerson, 1877, '78, '79.
C. W. Pressey, 1880, '81. Alfred P. Emerson, 1882.
" Nellie T. Ordway, 1883.
O. E. Follansbee, 1884, '92, '93. John S. Corson, 1885, '86, '95, '98, '99.
Wm. Fellows, 1887. Mary E. Eastman, 1888, '89.
John C. Sanborn, 1890, '91.
66 R. P. Gardner, 1894.
66 J. Wm. Sanborn, 1896, '97. Albert H. Little, 1900.
Henry W. Tabor, 1901 to '02.
SECRETARIES AND TREASURERS, 1852 To 1902. Mrs. Adeline H. Eastman, 1852. Miss Judith S. Eastman, 1853.
" Emma E. Ordway, 1864, '65, '66.
165
HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Mrs. Elizabeth P. Ordway, 1857, 58, '59. Miss Sophia A. Greenleaf, 1860.
Ann M. Howard, 1861, '62, '63, '64, '65, '66, '67.
M. Jennie Little, 1868, '69.
Mrs. Lizzie W. Davis, 1870, '71, '72, '73.
" Mary E. Eastman, 1874, '75, '76, '77.
Miss Annie E. George, 1878.
" Abbie A. Johnson, 1879, '80, '81. " Katie E. Coaker, 1882.
Mrs. Abbie I. Little, 1883, '84, '85, '86.
Miss Mary E. Spollett, 1887 to 1897.
M. Etta Tabor, 18SS, '89.
Mrs. R. P. Gardner, 1898, '99.
John S. Corson, 1900, '01, '02.
The money raised by work, sales, annual dues, entertain- ments, and other means, including free will offerings, year by year, as accurate as can be taken from the books of the societies, are as follows :-
1852, to year ending October. 1853, $13.62
1876. 1877.
93.81
1854,
58.90
1878,
49.15
1855,
41.02
1879,
107.32
1856,
32.87
1880,
143.29
1857,
15.53
54.92
1883, 1884,
185.06
1862,
34.23
1885,
68.74
1863,
9.00 33.92
1886, 1887, 1888, 1889,
44.38
1865,
9.46
67.88
1866-'67,
65.05
54.35
1870,
90.00 55.40
1892,
124.89
1872,
37.38
1893- 94.
667.17
1873,
58.48
1895,
163.90
1874, by " Levee, " ete ..
253.77
1896,
242.00
1875,
76.48
1897,
. 177.71
1881, 1882. 122.00
149.30
1858-59,
1860,
74.85
1861,
1,521.16
1864,
1868-169,
16.33
1890, 1891,
718.25
122.29
1871,
67.45
60.72
49.05
166
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HISTORY.
1898,
133.01 1901 to 1902, - 903.61
1899,
.
145.99
1900,
400.73 Making a total of $9,513.16
besides numerous works of charity during the past fifty years.
Of the original members joining the Society in 1852 only Martha J. Adolphus (see No. 637, Church Mem.), Miss Judith S. Eastman (No. 361), Emily S. Davis (No. 235), and Mrs. Clara A. Clark (No. 525), are now living, the latter being the only lady that has retained her membership unbroken during the fifty years.
MUSIC.
The Puritans brought with them for their service of song " The Book of Psalms, English, both in prose and metre," by Henry Ainsworth. The third book published in America was " The Whole Book of Psalms, faithfully translated into English metre." This book had no tunes ; the people sang " by rote and varied the melody." Cotton Mather said, "A little more art was found to be necessary," and a revision was made of the Psalms, which edition was called " The New England Psalm Book."
In those days there was no instruction in music. The fathers of the churches remembered the tunes as they had learned them in childhood, and taught their children the same tunes. They all sang the Psalms with variations, and no two churches could sing together the same tune. It is written that " in 1714 the service of song had become an abomination," and that Rev. Thomas Symmes of the church at Bradford, Mass., Rev. John Tufts of the church in New- bury (now West Newbury), and others, introduced singing by note and parts. This method in singing was not looked upon with favor in the churches of New England. " Women
167
HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
fainted, men left the house," and even ministers opposed it "as a work of Satan."
Rev. Mr. Tufts says : " The care of the old time choris- ters was to set the tune at such a pitch that the people could sing it without squeaking above or grumbling below, and beat the time so that they could reasonably sing together."
" Elder Ruling Tenney stood before the pulpit in the rude meeting house on the brow of the hill in the old Pentucket burial ground and set the tunes, while only four or five eould sing them, and they with such torturing and twisting that no one could tell the tune."
In the days of the organization of the church in Hamp- stead there were few tunes in use-Standish, London, and Eighty-fifth Psalm, St. Mary's, and the like. The words of the hymns were lined out in couplets. The deacons read the first line and pitched the tune, using a sort of whistle, which was " homemade " and could be lengthened or shortened to give lower or sharper sounds, the whole congregation joining in the singing of the line. Another line was read, and again the melody was taken up by the people, and so on to the end of the psalm. This was called " deaconing the hymn."
Nov. 12, 1753, at the house of Deacon Benjamin Kimball, it was voted " to sing Dr. Watts' Psalms at sacramental seasons."
March 31, 1767, it was voted in town meeting " to give eight feet in length and four and one-half feet in width be- fore the deacons' seat for the use of those who lead in sing- ing."
April 14, 1767, voted, " to give one-half of the men's gal- lery on the west side of the meeting house, in the room of the pew before the deacons' seat, the upper end of said seat, for the use of the singers."
Dec. 6, 1774, voted, " to exchange the two seats that were given the use of the singers and give them an equal privi- lege in the front gallery."
168
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HISTORY.
March 29, 1775, voted, " that one-third of the front gal- lery be allowed for a seat for those persons that lead in sing- ing, the division to be made as followeth, viz .: Beginning over the pillar standing in the pue belonging to the family of Currier and extending as far as the woman's gallery as to complete one-third of the length of one whole front, and that they may have liberty to build a pue if they see fit to do so at their own charge, and that they may raise the floor in the fore seat on a level with the floor of the second seat, and voted that Jeremiah Ames, John Calfe, Moses Little, Caleb Emerson, Abner Little, Eliphalet Poor, and Jona. Eastman be a committee to seat said pue of singers."
The introduction of musical instruments to aid in the ser- vice was in September, 1797, when Rev. John Kelly held a meeting at his own house, and voted " to give leave to the singers to use a bass viol in the meeting house and a tenor one." In some towns the advent of such musical viols was a source of displeasure among the clergy, as well as congre- gations. One minister is said to have shouted, " Sing the 112th Psalm and fiddle it to your hearts' content."
In Chester, N. H., "Samuel Graham carried his bass viol into the meeting house on Thanksgiving day of 1806, and no sooner did he begin to sound it than Deacon William Wilson and Moody Chase left the house in hot haste."
The first viol used in the Hampstead meeting house was made by the Prescotts of Chester, and as far as research shows the Ayer family brought forth the first musical strains. John Little played the large bass viol for about twenty years in the gallery of the old meeting house. In 1825 " James Brickett bought of Capt. Jesse Ayer one large bass viol for use in the meeting house for $13.00." Occasionally some one, particularly Paul Heald of Atkinson, would assist in the music with some brass instrument.
The Hampstead Sacred Musical Society was organized Dec. 7, 1840, in " Amos Buck's Hall," which stood where
169
HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Daniel Emerson's house now stands. Dr. J. C. Eastman was chosen chairman ; Henry Putnam, secretary ; and Benj. B. Garland, president ; Jona. Kent, vice-president ; Jacob Irving, treasurer; A. M. Merrill, first chorister; R. K. Brick- ett, second chorister. There were twenty-eight men and ten female members, with twenty-two patrons.
The constitution adopted was in part as follows : -
" Deeming it important, in order to secure good music in any surety, that those who are willing to assist should organize and frequently meet for practice, and that they should avail themselves of all of that infor- mation and correction which every choir must have in order to sing with accuracy and taste, and that they should be provided with suitable books and instruments, the subscribers, for the purpose of securing good music in the Congregational meeting house in Hampstead, hereby agree to form themselves into a society to be known as the Sacred Music Society, and most honorably pledge ourselves to each other to make every proper exertion to promote the object of the Society."
ART. 1. The members of this Society shall consist of singers. Other persons who may be willing to assist by advice. votes, and otherwise. shall be styled . Patrons.'"
Members who signed this constitution, from 1840 to 1880, were as follows :-
A. M. Merrill, Orren Chandler, Lorenzo Frost,
Henry Putnam,
Simon Merrill,
Charles W. Peasley,
N. H. Little,
Josiah S. Page,
Jacob Irving,
John S. Corson,
Edwin H. Kent,
R. K. Brickett,
John T. Eastman,
Rufus H. Bailey, Edward King, Andrew M. Moulton,
Albert W. Ayer,
George II. Rowe,
Ralph Brickett,
Mary B. Eastman, Elizabeth Emerson,
E. R. Smiley, Joseph Eastman, William Tenney, Josiah C. Eastman, E. B. Mooers,
Judith S. Eastman, Mary Emerson,
Meribah H. Putnam, Susan E. Putnam,
-
170
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HISTORY.
Benjamin Sargent, C. P. Ayer,
G. Bartlett,
J. H. Richardson.
D. H. Emerson, E. H. L. Gibson,
H. L. Hoyt, J. P. Shannon. N. C. Smith,
Betsey H. Davis,
Leonard Hutchens,
Charles W. Grimstone,
William Minot,
Mary E. Davis.
.J. Chase Eastman, Isaac W. Smith,
Elizabeth Heath,
John JJefferson,
Sabra F. Tewksbury, Emily S. Davis,
J. B. Sanborn,
John A. Renton,
Mary E. Kent,
Benjamin F. Merrill,
Mary J. Brickett,
W. H. Hoyt, Caleb Moulton,
Paul Heald,
Isaac Tewksbury.
George A. Allen,
John D. Irving,
Helen M. Putnam,
H. C. Sawyer, Sarah E. Chandler, Julia E. Little, Susan E. Pepper, Lucy A. Sawyer.
Mary A. Eastman, Elizabeth M. Locke,
C. M. Chase, Abbie F. Chandler,
.Joseph K. Harris. Nathaniel Frost,
E. S. Tenny,
William A. MeNiel,
William Jones,
Hannah W. Merrill, Mary C. Smith, Hannah HI. Palmer,
Belinda A. Sawyer, Betsey Minot, Judith A. Sargent, Almira Sargent,
Mary E. Ayer,
C. M. Davis, Clara A. Kent,
Mary J. Heath,
Martha H. Sanborn,
Mary S. Kent, S. Lizzie Sawyer, Julia A. Merrill, Helen M. Nichols,
J. F. Gibson, J. H. Clark, F. H. Sawyer,
William H. Davis,
C. N. Stevens, R. C. Smith, E. G. Wood, George O. Jenness, George W. Eastman,
Annie S. Moulton, Belle Moulton,
Ley A. Bullard,
Mary E. Clark, Mattie E. Irving,
171
HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Henry S. Sprague. David Clark,
John W. Garland,
Jona. C. Little.
Daniel L. Sawyer,
Etta M. Tabor.
Nellie T. Randall.
Paul S. Davis.
Eliza S. Page,
Sara A. Little. Carrie A. Moulton.
PATRONS.
Joshua Eastman,
Rev. John Kelly.
John Emerson, Isaac Tewksbury,
John B. Richardson,
Benjamin B. Garland,
Henry Putnam,
Isaac Smith,
J. C. Eastman,
John M. C. Bartley.
Ezekiel Bartlett,
Jona. Kent,
Jesse E. Emerson,
David Irving,
Moses Heath,
A. M. Marshall,
M. H. Brickett,
John P. Stickney, Lorenzo Babb,
Enoch Ordway,
E. R. Smiley,
Benjamin Sawyer,
Ezra Davis,
Amos Buck, Clark Noyes,
Edwin Grimston,
S. S. Shannon,
Horace R. Sawyer,
Charles E. Davis,
David Irving, B. L. Merrill,
Horatio Emerson.
Voted, April 4, 1848, that " the musical instruments be- longing to the Society for the use of the choir be under the care of the chorister, and the Society to keep the instruments in repair and find lights for the choir when they meet to sing."
In 1851 an effort was made to provide a more suitable aid to their music in the form of an organ, which had become common in most of the New England churches. A subscrip- tion paper was circulated among the friends of better music in the church, and was successful, as follows :--
A. E. Colby, William Hoyt,
Onslow Bailey,
James Gibson,
172
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HISTORY.
"We. the subscribers, agree to pay on demand the sums annexed to our respective names for the purchase of an organ, to be owned and contracted for by the Congregational Church and Society in Hamp- stead, to be placed in their house of worship, and to be used for the benefit of said church and society and the congregation worshipping with them."
James Calef, 5.00
John W. Garland, $1.00
Jesse Ayer,
20.00
Amos Ring, 2.00
R. K. Briekett, .
5.00
Fred A. Pike, 1.00
N. C. Smith,
5.00
Giles O. Marble, 2.00
W. M. Bartley,
5.00
F. J. Stevens, 2.00
A friend,
5.00
Tristram Little, 2.00
Jonathan Kent.
5.00
Albert W. Ayer, 2.00
Isaac Smith,
15.00
Tappan Eastman, 2.00
Joseph Chase, .
20.00
Hiram Nichols, .
2.00
Nelson Ordway,
5.00
Benjamin Sawyer,
2.00
J. D. Ordway.
5.00
Hezekiah Ayer. .
2.00
II. L. Hoyt.
1.00
Daniel HI. Emerson, .
2.00
Wm. C. Little,
5.00
Frederick Emerson, . James II. Hoyt,
1.00
Wm. Sanborn,
5.00
Dudley Emerson,
10.00
Joshua Eastman, Samuel Pillsbury,
5.00
Giles F. Marble, 1.00
Amos Buek,
2.00
David Little, 2.00
Caleb Moulton, .
2.00
Joseph Sargent,
1.00
John Jefferson, .
2.00
Benjamin Pillsbury, . 2.00
.50
E. H. Kent,
2.00
C. E. Woodman,
.50
Daniel Nichols, .
2.00
C. H. Shannon, .
1.00
Benj. B. Garland,
2.00
A. W. Perley,
1.00
Amasa Eastman,
1.00
Abner Kent,
1.00
Wm. Johnson, .
2.00
Dudley George, .
1.00
Abial Ordway, .
1.00
John Ordway,
5.00
John Jackson, .
.50
Enos Colby,
1.00
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Jan. 9, 1853, the Orthodox Congregational Society of Hampstead, N. H., bought of Wm. B. D. Simmons & Co., of Boston, one second hand parlor organ for $200 ; also paid R. K. Briekett for making a false roof for better security of the organ, $2; Wm. Sanborn, for iron work, $1; and Isaac Smith, for alpacca and lock, $1.
Simmons & Co. gave the Society an obligation, as follows :
10.00
Silas Griffin,
5.00
6.00
Perley Ayer,
2.00
A female friend,
2.00
A. N. Merrill,
173
HAMPSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
" We hereby obligate to receive as part payment (for an organ of any size which we may build) the organ soll to Mr. Bartley of Hampstead, N. H., and allow for it in part payment for a new one one hundred and fifty dollars, any time within five years, provided it receive no other injury than comes of natural nse.
The price of a new organ to be a fair price, such as we now receive say like the organ in the Methodist Church in Cambridgeport, Mass., for six hundred dollars, or according to our price book of 1853."
Miss Mary C. Smith was the first organist, and continued for several years. With the new organ a new impetus was given to singing in the church.
October, 1854, it was voted " that the singers meet once a week in the Town Hall, and that ' Ancient Harmony ' be used at the sings.'
In 1858, Caleb Moulton was chosen "to get up a singing school," and for several years singing schools were held each winter and largely attended.
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